Each investor highlights their own unique approach to evaluating and selecting startups for investment.
Nick: For this installment of Venture Investor Strategy, we have Imran Ahmad of OCA Ventures. Imran, if you had to sum up your investment approach and evaluation strategy for early stage startups, how would you describe it and how is it unique or differentiated from other venture investors?
Imran: So OCA is O'Connor and Associates, by its moniker, and O'Connor and Associates was at one point the largest—or one of the largest—derivatives trading firms in Chicago and across much of the world. So our background in that financial technology, financial services sector is part of our uniqueness in our own DNA. That being said, we do invest in a lot of core technology businesses and that's really our bread and butter today. Its computer science and electrical engineering type businesses that you would think of. So software, not necessarily hardware.
My own personal philosophy when it comes to investing, however, really stems from what I'll call human nature and values. So I'll give an example. Every time I evaluate a company, I try to determine if it falls into one of three buckets. The first bucket is, people are lazy. I put myself in that category. I'm stupid and lazy. And it really makes a different when you're evaluating a product. Is this product going to make my life easier and is it simple to use? I do not want to have three clicks to do a task when I can have one click to do a task. And PayPal realized this a little bit later in the process when they did one-click checkout. And it makes a big, big difference regarding the success of a product. If you can make people's lives easier so they don't have to do as much, or if you can make people's lives simpler, so they don't have to understand as much—one of our big investments is a company called Base CRM. And it's a CRM platform a lot of people liken to Salesforce, but it's a lot more simple than Salesforce. If you were to look at Base's UI and Saleforce's UI, you would say that Base is better. It's much easier to ingest data. It's much easier to track your sales leads, and that's really how I try to look at investments.
The last sort of big industry human nature bucket that I look into is people, at the end of the day, are self-serving. And it may come across that I am down on people. I am not, I think people are great. But at the end of the day, there's things in human nature that drive people to adopt new products, and if you don't fit or get to one of those—one of those traits, you're gonna be in trouble.
I know some investors only look at look at companies that—if you're involved in one of the seven deadly sins, that's the type of deal they'll invest in. so those human nature type of analyses are very difficult to do, but just understanding that you're trying to make people's lives simpler and easier guides a lot of my product decisions and guides a lot of my investment decisions.
Nick: Is there one of those human nature characteristics that stands out on investments that you've made?
Imran: I'd say the biggest one is people are lazy. And that, you'll see, in almost every investment that we've made, and that I've made, has sort of stemmed from that trait. If you can make people live easier when they go in and out of a parking garage, that's our investment in SpotHero. That is a big, big benefit that you are providing to the world. And you'll see that theme, even with Pangea. If you can find people who don't have to go to a Western Union brick and mortar and you can go to the Bodega down the street, I will probably use that service. And so I'd say that the people are lazy aspect really is a common thread. And, again, it's not to denigrate people, it's just the nature. We want things to be simpler.
Nick: Yeah, something you said a bit earlier, we've talked a lot about purchasers and users of a product and ultimately removing friction in both processes. Removing friction in the purchase process, and removing friction in the sue model and making it easier to adopts and engage with.
Nick: For this installment of Venture Investor Strategy, we have Dave Berkus. Dave, if you had to sum up your early stage investment strategy or philosophy, how would you describe it, and how is it unique or differentiated from other venture investors?
Dave: I pick my battles by picking the areas in which I have some knowledge. And so it is internet, software, gaming, software and systems, and for me, now it's becoming more big data because I have more experience in big data. And I, through my associates and friends, invest in medical technologies as well. By selecting just those areas where I have expertise available to me or expertise of my own, I am feeling like I'm gaining a little edge. And in many cases, I go onto the board or sometimes now to the advisory board of those companies, so it's not just a monitor and investment, is to leverage the opportunity and use whatever skills I can to help those companies to grow.
Nick: So today we're speaking to Rob Go of NextView Ventures. Rob, can you talk about how you evaluate and select early stage startups and how that may be unique from other venture investors?
Rob: Yeah, so, you know obviously selecting early stage companies is very much an art. And every venture investor essentially looks at the same three things, right. Team, product, and market. I would say a couple of things that we look at that are maybe a distinctive slice of these things. First on the team side, we tend to look for what we call authentic founders. So these are founders who approach a problem, not in an academic kind of way when they say "What are some problems that are interesting? Let's solve a problem" but rather are going after experiences that are, you know, deeply personal or born out of very, very direct experiences, and that why they're starting these companies, and that's why they have a unique insight into solving these problems. So we love authentic founders.
On the product side…we, you know—I tend to think of companies that can deliver a product or service that has the potential to be ten times better, faster, or cheaper than the competition and also has the potential to have ten times the market share of their next closest competitor. And so essentially what we're looking for is two things. One is that there is something about the technology or the product that is an order or magnitude better than what exists, because the startup being two times better typically doesn't cut it. And then the second is that you have the potential for high market share because there is some increasing returns to scale in the business, either through a network effect or some other source of defensibility so that when you win, you can really dominate a market and become extraordinarily large and it's worthwhile.
And then on the market side—I have a blog post on this, but a lot of people are fixated on "Is this market really big and is it growing?" I think that's a little bit simplistic. We tend to think what are—sort of it's—it's very academically, like Porter's Five Forces. Like "is this an attractive market?" across a bunch of different dimensions. And we tend to believers that—you know, the old adage that when a great team meets a lousy market, the market retains its reputation. We're mindful that it's very difficult to win in a challenging market. But we're also excited with founders that can great new markets and maybe shift the dynamics of a market to something that's more attractive down the road.
Nick: Are you looking for founders that are creating a market or fundamentally changing the paradigm of a market, or do you also go after technologies in existing markets?
Rob: Yeah, we do a little bit of both. You know, one of the things that we talk about it going for goloso companies. So goloso's a slang for a spectacular, beautiful goal in soccer. One of my partners, Lee, is a soccer nut and so we coined that phrase. And we talk about that a lot. "What's the goloso of this business?" and so we do look for companies that are either gonna transform a market by doing something completely different or inventing a new market where one didn't exist, or a different sort of market existed before. Because venture is an outliers kind of business, and you need to go after opportunities that have the potential to completely change markets and be industry defining companies. And so we tend to like those opportunities.


text:
— For Wesley
Dean Francisco parked behind the back of a condominium complex, thirty minutes east of where he grew up on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The city of Rosemead seemed as harmless and gentle as its name, an appropriate setting for Dean's new line of work. He'd been trying his best to fit in, which seemed as impossible and unlikely as his homecoming after the Navy. His parents never understood why he was sent back with his canvas duffle bag hefted over his shoulder and a slip of paper folded and tucked in the little sleeve pocket of his Dickies jacket meant for lighters and matchboxes. After weeks of interrogation, his mom and pops eventually kept their lips pursed in strict Filipino stoicism and made excuses to the family, trying to pretend it was better to have Dean home safe.
He walked the gravel path to the three townhouses with their wood paneling and white trim. They looked out of place, cheap imitations of houses in the Hamptons. Dean had never been to the Hamptons, and if asked couldn't say where on the map it was, but he'd go in a heartbeat if given the opportunity.
The complex was unassuming, resembling any other cheap housing sprung up overnight in a suburb like this. Fumbling for his key to open the gate, he was surprised by a freckled, gray-haired man in fishing hat and pale yellow trousers, who stood just a few feet away. His dog was one of those sausage breeds that yipped. The old man stared like he was waiting to see what would happen or who might appear when Dean crossed the other side of the gate. Dean tried to pay him no mind but was troubled that he'd never seen this man before and that the stranger was so obviously curious about the buildings where Dean worked.
He mentioned nothing to the receptionist at the front when he clicked the door shut at the lobby. She barely nodded in his direction but kept to her typing as Dean went straight to the back room. Empty of decorations, the staff area felt cold and barren compared to the cheery setting of the lobby. Dean preferred the starkness though. Everything else about the place had been so foreign, so rosy, so sunny, and cloying—everything that had nothing to do with his life.
His Uncle Reynoldo, or Tiyo Rinky, got him the gig by pulling in a couple of favors, said he knew JianJun Fong, the partner of this husband and wife operation. Tiyo Rinky swore he was actually related to JianJun, or Mr. Fong as Dean called him, by some odd link, his cousin's cousin's husband or something like that. According to Dean's uncle, JianJun meant "building the army." There was no coincidence to that, Tiyo Rinky had insisted, nudging his nephew with an elbow and giving a ridiculous wink when he relayed news that Dean had gotten the job.
"It's okay. There was already more of them here than us to begin with. So long as we help one another out. Just don't shame your family, sigue? One step out the border." He made a slitting motion against his neck.
Happy to land a job more in sync with what he'd been training for as a hospital corpsman, Dean's past gigs at the super-mart and his post watching security cameras in a downtown parking lot had less secrecy and restriction, but they were the kind of jobs that made leaving his brain at home mandatory. What most people didn't understand and what had frustrated Catie his ex-girlfriend so much was that Dean needed to be challenged. Only he couldn't be bothered to motivate himself. Someone else had to constantly prod and push. Here the stress was persistent and spiked without warning. He wasn't supposed to talk about where he worked, what he did, and certainly never mention who was here. Made to sign a confidentiality agreement before starting, Dean wondered how legally binding it really was, considering the circumstances.
Doused with a heavy dose of pink wallpaper and paint, if cheap prints of Impressionist paintings weren't decorating the walls, then it was photos of babies, silhouettes of expectant moms swathed in tulle, or grinning infants and toddlers plopped down in a mess of building blocks or spinning on a carousel. Instructional posters were tacked here and there, which Dean only guessed at by the pictures and diagrams: what to eat, which stretches were good for baby and mommy, and how dads can help before and after baby is born. Dean made his rounds, reading the charts Meifen left. She'd be back from her break soon.
During his time in the service, he'd seen things, most of them training exercises turned horrible: hypothermia, near drownings, gashed legs with exposed bone, and lacerations across body parts that sometimes made death seem the better option. Then there were the burns. Dean would never forget the fourth degree burn that incinerated not just the flesh but a part of the soul. He remembered the smell, and the look on the officer's face. Teeth clenched. Eyes watering. The man couldn't stop tearing, as if the few drops of liquid could cool down the body.
While the guest-patients ate lunch together, Dean checked their rooms and reviewed their charts. Any complications, any change in blood pressure, heart rate, a stabbing pain in the lower back, or bleeding, and the families if local were to be called immediately. Sometimes, though rarely, Mr. or Mrs. Fong would drop off guest-patients at Saint Mercy's Hospital, less than twenty minutes away, but never, never on any occasion was anyone allowed to call for an ambulance.
Meifen was pretty good at catching early symptoms and heading off most emergencies on their watch before anything got too serious. Dean had been convinced she was the best nurse he'd ever work with since she was harder and faster than any of the officers he'd seen in service.
He checked that the bassinets had fresh linen, that every room was fully stocked with diapers, formula, and sterile baby bottles, and that all the equipment was in working order. He tried to ignore the guests' personal items left carelessly on their beds or strung over chairs and dresser drawers: panties ballooning in size, bras that seemed more like gag gifts, assortments of massage lotions and oils, and corn starch spilled across nightstands. Dean could easily see Robbie and Lamont razzing him as he tread through rooms cluttered with frilly nightgowns and pink terry cloth robes with fuzzy pink slippers. He could only imagine what his buddies who were still in the Navy would say if they saw him as he was last week, slipping a plastic, water-proof I.D. band over the crinkled, softest of the soft skin onto a tiny newborn's wrist. The only person who might be proud of Dean now would have been Catie. She would have kept his secret without the snide jokes.
The other day, he had stepped in for Meifen on an admissions assessment. Dean evaluated the patient-guest recently arrived from Guangdong. She spoke broken English but seemed to understand what he needed from her. Quiet with long hair to match her tall body, her face was splotched with red marks and her pretty eyes puffy underneath. When Dean listened to her heart rate, he noticed an erratic beat that didn't show on the original chart she'd brought. After taking her blood pressure and checking her reflexes, he knew he had to call the Fongs.
What followed was an ugly scene. Though there had been no blood, no exposed bone, or horrific burn wounds, the woman started crying, clutching her belly like it might drop to the floor. She couldn't afford to stay at the hospital before delivery. Everything had been arranged by her family in China to be here, and there was no chance of getting her money back. Still, Mrs. Fong didn't budge. The policies were clear. Dean's boss pointed to the poster pinned next to the examination room's window. She didn't need to read it word for word but repeated by memory the conditions denying admission printed in Chinese. Thyroid disease was at the top of the list. Dean was made to wait at the door so he could escort the woman out the building. He wanted to quit after that and wondered how he'd gotten so soft. He'd learned to load and fire assault weapons for combat as easy as cauterizing a wound and found fear to be an unstoppable force. It kept the blood pumping, the body moving, and the mind ready. Here, he saw how fear could immobilize, too. He didn't recognize it in this form, so closely twinned and fully dependent on hope.
In the recreation room, the television played another Chinese soap opera, but the volume was turned to mute. The women were talking loud, most likely gossiping. One of them told a story, and Dean could only guess what she might be saying. The rest listened, nodding their heads as they dropped li hing mui, salty dried plums, over ice cream then scooped up the treat, indulging in their afternoon sweets. They had seven guest-patients total this week, five of them waiting their turn to hold their bundle of fuss and joy, yet only three sat in the rec room, eyes bright, earrings tinkling as they shook with laughter at the end of the joke.
He wondered how much they missed home and what they thought of the country where they would be sending their children soon as they were old enough to get the best education their money could buy. The only glimpse of the U.S. most of these mothers-to-be had to enjoy was of the colorless streets outside the windows and the endless supply of orange juice and cable TV that kept them busy as they waited in secrecy, expecting their babies to be born as U.S. citizens in a county hospital. For now they were Chinese nationals hiding out in an anonymous corner of Los Angeles, bellies big with life and hearts full of hope to give their children what they could only imagine.
Dean finished his rounds and checked in on two guest-patients recently promoted to full-fledged moms. They kept to their rooms, waiting to return home or until their visas ran out. He knocked on each of their doors and asked if they needed anything. Sometimes the husband stuck around staying at a hotel nearby, and other times they remained in China, anxious to meet their American-born daughter or son. Dean always felt intrusive when he saw the new mothers. They looked so exhausted no matter how much their child beamed pink and puckered, wriggling tiny fists in the air.
He had forgotten about the seventh expectant until he caught her in her bathroom. She rarely joined the others in the recreation room and barely spoke at mealtimes. She had dropped something on the floor and with her bulging belly was having an impossible time trying to retrieve it. Dean scooped it up for her, returning the cell phone. She started to trudge back to bed, waddling in discomfort. Dean made a quick survey of her supplies, seeing what needed restocking, but aside from the tangled bedsheets, the crumpled pillows, and a few of her personal items scattered on the chest of drawers, the place looked as if she'd barely arrived. With a miserable expression, she stopped in the middle of the room and spoke with surprising energy.
"He keeps kicking and kicking. Like he knows something is up," she said. Her nose was small, her bangs framed her pale face, and she had a natural flush of red to her lips.
Dean answered though he knew he shouldn't, "Course he knows something's up."
She waved to him, impatiently, "Come feel."
Dean didn't want to, but she grabbed his hand and placed it firmly on her belly. The kicking was a drumbeat. He could almost hear music to it. He smiled and looked to her, but she had no smile to return. She might be in pain or something terrible could be happening. Dean felt a rise of panic and asked if she was all right, ready to page Meifen or even call the Fongs.
"Can I get you anything?"
She shook her head and stood there.
He looked around the room. A faded bouquet of carnations drooped on a dresser drawer. Her suitcase sat on a chair, unpacked, clothes hanging out of it. Most of the women liked to make the suite their own. They brought framed pictures of their family and had potted plants delivered from the florists. Their husbands would drop off bags from Tiffany's and Bloomingdale's filled with gold bracelets, diamond pendants, maternity lingerie, perfume, and their favorite sweets. Everyone compared the gifts, both staff and patients. Who brought the biggest bouquet? Who got the most balloons? Anytime a delivery was made the patients eyeballed the deliverer, tensing with hope that someone was thinking of them. Sometimes Dean found pink cardboard boxes tied with ribbons or string sitting on the staff kitchen counter. A women's husband or family would drop off chashu bao or shrimp dumplings, but sometimes the smell could turn against the expectants, so boxes of chocolate, bags of cookies, and packages of egg tarts were left for the staff.
The seventh expectant started talking, and Dean couldn't stop her.
Roulan was from Shanxi. Always sunny and dry, the valleys and hills that bordered her hometown stayed green year round. She went to a good school, an expensive school, where they taught her American English and culture. Her husband had to stay and keep their small business running. Their families were eager, messaging and texting almost every hour, anxious for good news. Just as she said this, Roulan's phone buzzed in her hand, but she set it on the nightstand, eyeing it warily.
Dean tried to remember when she'd been admitted and if he'd seen anyone visit her. Nothing and no one came to mind. She was one of those who slipped in and out wordlessly, smoothly, as if getting routine dental work, but it wasn't just routine dental work here.
All the women came from money or made enough of it to fly out and stay long enough to make a claim for a better life and a better education for their children. Roulan was no exception. Her parents wanted grandkids. That's why she was here. She went on faltering now and again in her second language, hungry for company.
For the first time since he started here, Dean had a conversation, a real conversation that wasn't about initial screenings or fees for discharge. He knew he should cut her off, but how could he after all she had confided. Roulan didn't want children and yet was days away from delivery. There wasn't much for him to say about that, but she wasn't looking for any specific response either.
Catie was a couple weeks late once, and Dean thought he was ready for it. He even surprised himself, how giddy he was, which scared Catie even more. She had plans. She was years away from becoming selfless, she had said. He remembered how she talked about self-preservation being vital and that it was okay to be selfish every now and again. She told him this when he got off the drugs and stopped drinking and reminded him after he'd gone clean that it was then her turn to get her life together. Dean was supposed to work while she went to school full time and finished her degree, but he'd always had difficulty holding onto jobs and couldn't imagine needing one bad enough to support another person.
Dean told Roulan about the importance of self-preservation. He wanted to say something about Catie and the life they had planned together, but Roulan just nodded like she wasn't listening. She told him what she had wanted to see in L.A. and all the places she had hoped to visit while she was here like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon, but soon as she arrived she put was on bedrest. She was lucky enough to make it to the recreation room some afternoons to visit the other expectants. Truth was she didn't want to see them or hear them go on about how excited they were to hold the wriggling, crying, itty-bitty things in their arms.
Her hands fell to her sides as she looked away from herself like she was refusing her body and her current swollen state. Only her labored breathing filled the room, and Dean tried to imagine the pressure she must feel every second of every hour for the last nine months. Each part of her body strained to support a life she wasn't sure she wanted. She breathed so loud and so heavy, Dean wondered if there was any oxygen left for him in the stale room. He thought to open a window but didn't want to risk her getting chilled, so he stood there, unsure how to help.
"They said none of you could come to hospital with us."
She kept her gaze on the wall, but Dean knew she was looking elsewhere. Roulan was some place that only existed as a feeling, an image in the mind. She probably couldn't describe it if Dean asked her because soon as anyone tried to put words to it, the place got too big or too small or had too much muchness to leave room for freedom and possibility. Dean had tried all his life to get there but wasn't even sure where there was. This woman was trying to get there, too, he realized.
"You been to China?" she asked.
Dean shook his head. He'd been stationed in Japan but never stepped foot in China.
"You could go. You look like someone who need to be out in the world." Her gaze fell on the tattoo that peeked from his scrub sleeve. A Navy insignia. He was proud of it.
Dean's boss admired it, too, and had said, "The ladies might like to have something nice to look at before they deal with the worse pain of their life." He gave a playful punch to Dean's shoulder. "But—" he stopped himself all of a sudden. His eyebrows so black and bushy, Dean had a hard time thinking this man a doctor though he had owned a practice in Monterey Park for twenty years. Mr. Fong raised a finger in warning. "No talking to them. Remember that. We don't want them to get comfortable here. If they're comfortable, they're not careful, and we draw too much attention. Next thing we know we have police come sniffing. Soon as we get a visit from authorities, this place is over. Be smart. Be straight. Got it?"
Dean's life for the last four months had been all about trying to be smart and straight. He hadn't dropped the ball yet.
Neither of them heard Meifen come in until the bedroom door swung open.
"Why are you out of bed?" she asked in English and started scolding Roulan in a flurry of Chinese.
Dean collected his things, trying to avoid Meifin's look of rebuke. As if it had been his fault Roulan wasn't following doctor's orders. Roulan didn't say another word and acquiesced to Meifin, letting the nurse prop up her legs, so the swelling in her feet would lessen. Meifin fussed with the pillows and switched on the TV while Roulan patiently waited in silence.
Back in the recreation room, the other expectants were knitting, flipping through magazines and TV channels, and eating avocado ice cream. They were tired, all that waiting, as uncomfortable and puffed up as they were. Their bodies turned against them, diverting energy and nutrients toward that little ball of life at their core. Soon they'd return to their rooms to prepare for a restless and uneasy night, trying to fall asleep while their backs ached, their hearts burned, and their organs were pushed and kicked in every direction as the babies shifted inside of them.
For now, they talked of the things they wanted for their unborn children, reminding one another why they were here: top schools, medical practices, a law firm, big houses in the hills where snow blanketed wide lawns and frosted the roofs. They wanted to make good with their money, so their children's children could do the same.
Dean hadn't thought of traveling in a long time. He was supposed to be getting his nursing degree, but when he stopped going to classes he was dropped from the program and was supposed to reapply. By that point, Catie had enough. For her, traveling out of the country seemed just another temptation, another means of falling back into old ways. She hadn't realized that he joined the Navy so his restlessness had an aim. Any place outside the country beat wasting away in some sun-cracked suburb.
On his way home from work, Dean stopped at Walgreens to pick up some shaving cream and toilet paper. He stood in line at the register listening to mind-numbing music play overhead. A woman in front of him had set down a bottle of cheap sparkling wine and a pack of condoms on the check-stand. With a crooked grin, the clerk rang her up then glanced back to Dean with the same smug look. Dean turned away and caught a display ad for passport photos. Only $9.99, the sign read.
He thought about it for a second. There was still money in the bank for next year's tuition, yet he hadn't started the paperwork for reapplying. He considered all the places he had tried to convince Catie to go with him: Thailand, Rome, the Caribbean.
The photo technician looked like a bearded Albert Einstein. He had a thick set of gray hair pulled into a ponytail. Leading Dean down the beer and wine aisle, they stopped in front of the potato chip display, and the technician pulled down a white backdrop, placing a stool in front.
"Have a seat," he said with a thick Eastern European accent.
Dean sat down while the old man rearranged stacks of twelve packs, so they wouldn't be in the picture. Temptation was all around. Nothing was ever easy.
"Don't smile. They don't like that at the agency."
Dean wasn't smiling.
He heard the camera click a couple of times, and they were back at the lab counter, scrolling through the photos. The technician resized one and made small talk asking where Dean planned to go. He answered vaguely about China.
"Go for it. Go anywhere, somewhere while you're still young. I had the best vacation of my life in Greece. It was supposed to be two weeks. Turned out to be five. I slept in a hammock every night. Ate fish from the sea. Drank ouzo. Got laid. Best time. Ever."
Dean said nothing and tried not to remember the push of skin against skin in hot summer heat or the daze of alcohol-drenched afternoons. He was starting to feel hung over. He paid for his photos, accepted well wishes from the technician, and went home thinking about how he could swing a trip to China next month.
The picture came out surprisingly nice. Dean looked clean and handsome. His hair kept the part he'd combed in earlier and his face seemed to shine. He held a steady gaze, didn't blink or do anything out of place that he tended to do in photos. Dean looked confident, like he knew what he was doing and where he was going.
The next day he brought the photo with him to work. After he made his rounds, he planned to go to Roulan's room and show her, but when he got there the place was empty. The bed was stripped of its linen, and the bathroom blocked by a mop bucket and ringer.
Dean hadn't expected her to leave so soon and realized how foolish that was. He didn't like to think of Roulan at the hospital all by herself just as she predicted with nurses rushing around her and the noise of other patients also in need. He could just imagine all the machines beeping, lights buzzing, visitors bumping into her bed while she tried to get some rest and not think of the trial her body would be put through or the stranger who would be with her for the rest of her life.
Dean wanted to check on her but knew this was off limits. None of the staff could follow the women. Nothing and nobody was supposed to lead authorities back here. This place didn't exist once the children were born and the women went back to China. He wondered what these mothers told their kids when they were old enough to ask.
Hoping she'd come back, Dean had a feeling Roulan was one of the types who wouldn't. What would be the point? She'd return to Shanxi and give her parents and in-laws the grandchild they'd asked for, and she and her husband would save and save for the American education they promised. Then soon enough their child would come back here just as alone and unsure as Roulan had been.
In the recreation room, the women were eating their lunch at the dining table. Dean hated going in the kitchen when they made their own meals. He thought he'd gotten used to the weird things pregnant women ate, but they seemed to be competing against each other in a never-ending contest. Every patient put a new spin on weirdness. It was pineapple and dried fish today or rice balls and barbeque-flavored chips.
They spoke in Chinese, and, once in a while, the ones who were strong in English would call out questions for Dean.
What city had the least crime?
Which was the nicest college town to visit?
Where were all the pretty autumn leaves they always saw in the pictures?
Why did everyone love American football so much?
They sat at the table, looking as if they were sharing a family meal—only they weren't family. They came from different regions of China, and they'd return to their different regions and keep their children for a few years until they could send them back.
The front door creaked open. Dean hoped it was Roulan. The women gushed and hurried as fast as pregnant women could to the lounge area. Chatter filled the place again, interspersed with cooing and ahhing. Dean peeked out from the staff workroom and saw one of the patient's returning with a pink bundle cradled in her arms. She had left here a day or two ago. He couldn't remember her name but recalled the constant cups of rice tea she liked to sip. Her hair had been flattened, her cheeks puffy, but she smiled so wide Dean thought her face would never give up a grin like that.
The women gathered 'round her then cleared a space for her on the sofa. The baby cried a little, and they all laughed. Dean listened as he finished his shift and thought about what he'd do when he got home, which was the last thing he liked to think about, that empty dark place.
Laughter rang out again. One of the women called to Dean and came to the back room waving him on. He followed her to the recreation room to make sure everything was all right. They wanted him to see the baby, insisting he hold her. They must have thought he handled babies all the time since he worked here, but Dean wasn't used to infants. He had his cousins, his nieces and nephews, who ran around Lolo's house screaming, banging their heads against sliding doors and dog-piling one another in the backyard. Dean let their mothers take care of the kids and lingered at the BBQ grill or in front of the TV watching the fight or the basketball game. There was no fight or basketball game on here. There was nowhere to go, no other choice except to hold the baby.
The newborn wriggled in his arms. He felt her small limbs, the spine and elbows through the tender flesh. She seemed like she could squirm right out of his hands and didn't look at him at first, gazing at anything else but Dean. She turned to the women around her then to the wallpaper on the side until finally she'd had enough and had to stare straight up. She blinked and blinked, and he automatically reached for her blanket to wipe the goop from each corner of her eyes. She licked her lips, kicked out and then seemed to study Dean with intent.
The women watched and turned to one another commenting and asking questions.
Did he have children?
Of course not, he's too young. Look at him.
Someday he'll be a father.
Would he learn to change diapers?
He's a medic. Of course he can change a diaper.
Some of the other women weren't so sure.
Dean ignored them and tried hard to keep the baby from crying. Her eyes were so light they looked almost blue. She was soft in skin and seemingly weightless as if she could float away if she wanted. Dean clutched her even tighter and started to gently rock her while she continued to study him.
Finally, one of the other women decided he'd had enough of a turn, and hers was next. She scooped the bundle right out from him. His hands and arms felt loose. All of a sudden he didn't know the purpose of those limbs anymore.
Rashaan Alexis Meneses has received fellowships at The MacDowell Colony and The International Retreat for Writers at Hawthornden Castle, UK. Her fiction and non-fiction has been featured in various journals and anthologies, including Puerto Del Sol, New Letters, BorderSenses, Kurungabaa, The Coachella Review, Pembroke Magazine, Doveglion Press, and the anthology Growing Up Filipino II: More Stories for Young Adults. Visit her online at rashaanalexismeneses.com.
© 2017 Rashaan Alexis Meneses

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Hello! Please try to include the date of your party or event. If you have a picture or idea, please upload the file at the bottom and we can start working towards your vision!
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A digital-only prequel story is be on the way next month to tie in with this Autumn's big screen Dredd film.
The book, simply titled Dredd 3D, will act as a lead in for the Karl Urban movie that's set to open on September 21st here in the States. It's no toss away read though, so don't judge (get it?) it too quickly, as Dredd 3D will be written by 2000AD's Matt Smith (he kinda knows the source material). It will also feature the first comic appearance of the film's main bad-gal, Ma-Ma (Lena Headey of Game of Thrones fame).
There's no exact date as of yet for the comic (it's just listed as August), but you can have a peep at its cover today- the hand drawn piece by Greg Staples is shown above.


Plans, organizes and directs strategic communications, marketing, and outreach for the community college district. Plans, develops strategies, manages, and advocates for the District with internal and external relations, media relations, community outreach, and the marketing of services. Serves the Chancellor and Board of Trustees as the public information and media communications professional and advisor. Serves as spokesperson for the District and as executive director for the Coast Community College District Foundation.
The Director, Public Affairs and Marketing, is responsible for directing, coordinating, facilitating, and accomplishing the District's community relations and public information goals and strategies. The Director is also responsible for integrating outreach and communications efforts to reach the public, other government agencies, and the media. The position requires considerable skill and considerable experience at mobilizing and managing district-wide efforts to support and advocate priorities established by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. The Director is a member of the Chancellor's Cabinet and crisis communication team.
Plans, facilitates, and develops comprehensive communications strategies and programs and manages internal and external communications.
Plans, organizes, and directs the work of Public Affairs and Marketing, directing and coordinating staff and services to keep the District and its colleges engaged with the community, businesses, and local governments; and proactively addresses public affairs and information.
Advises the Chancellor and other administrators on issues related to communications (e.g., internal communications, external communications, marketing, traditional and new media relations, and constituency correspondence) by producing, writing, editing, and preparing information and materials for public consumption.
Assists and advises in communications on sensitive public issues in order to appropriately position the District with the media and general public.
Directs public information and media relations activities, including personal contact with media, preparation and distribution of press releases and other written communications, and providing appropriate responses to media inquiries.
Directs the preparation and review of communication materials that interpret the District to its internal and external publics. Coordinates information gathering from across the district and its colleges for use in preparation of news releases, and other materials, including fact sheets, brochures, articles, reports, advertising, social media, and video.
Directs District-wide marketing efforts, including the development and production of a wide variety of communications and informational resources and materials, including the Web site, fact sheets, brochures, articles, reports, advertising initiatives, social media tools, and other digital media products.
Serves as a first point of media contact for occurrences and incidents. Works in collaboration with District Public Safety personnel to communicate with the public in a way that conveys positive messages.
Serves as the executive director of the District Foundation. Oversees planning, preparation of agendas and minutes, and supports Foundation board members in their role.
Plans, organizes, and directs events that support the role of the District, District Office, and District Foundation.
Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.
The position requires professional knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of public information, public relations and community outreach programs. Requires considerable specialization in marketing communications and public information. Requires considerable knowledge of media relations. Requires some knowledge of methods used for student recruitment and retention. Requires knowledge of the principles and practices of promoting higher education, including fee-based services. Requires knowledge of departmental and project budgeting techniques and financial management. Requires working knowledge of the principles of management and supervision, including performance measurement. Requires skill at using a computer and peripheral office equipment for personal use and presentations. This includes software applications for spreadsheets, word processing, database management, and specialized packages/applications. Requires advanced written and oral language and human relations skills to influence internal and external customers, make formal presentations, conduct training, and to manage the performance of others. Requires sufficient math skills to perform business financial calculations and statistical analysis. Requires advanced human relations skill to adapt to diverse personalities and styles, establish harmony and cooperation with work teams inside and outside the District, facilitate group discussions, make formal presentations, apply strategy in discussions, and carry out complex negotiations.
Requires the ability to develop and implement annual goals and objectives for a function and specific programs and promotions. Requires the ability to learn and apply applicable requirements of the education code and College policies. Requires the ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with college staff, community members, media representatives and co-workers. Requires the ability to direct and prepare news releases and other materials. Requires the ability to demonstrate sound judgment and creativity in the application and interpretation of events, situations, rules, and regulations. Requires the ability to write in a variety of styles, including professional reports, print media, broadcast media, social media, and online. Requires the ability to proofread and edit accurately, and compile presentation-quality reports. Must be able to train and provide direction to others and to organize and manage multiple projects. Requires the ability to work flexible hours as the job requires, including evenings and weekends.
The position typically requires a Master's degree in communication, journalism , or related discipline and six years of progressive experience in journalism, media, corporate communications, marketing communications, or community relations. A Bachelor's degree and eight years of experience may be accepted.
Requires a valid driver license.


text:
GEO Group: Amend-And-Extend Is In Sight
May 08, 2022 4:54 AM ETThe GEO Group, Inc. (GEO)CXW239 Comments
Double S Capital
On May 2, GEO announced that a final definitive agreement has not been reached with the creditor ad hoc groups.
Major terms of the proposed amend-and-extend transaction were agreed upon, however.
GEO is expected to enter into a new non-disclosure agreement with the creditor ad hoc group to finalize an agreement.
I will discuss the proposed transaction and the treatment of each security.
Photography By Tonelson/iStock via Getty Images
As I previously wrote, while the parties were far apart on terms initially I believed an amend-and-extend transaction was possible. On May 2nd, GEO (NYSE:GEO) released another cleansing material, highlighting that consensus was reached by parties on major terms. In the same press release, GEO mentioned that a new non-disclosure agreement will be signed to allow the negotiation to continue. I expect a definitive agreement to be signed in 1H2022. I will illustrate the proposed transaction first, then show a quick cash flow model, and finish with some comments from each of the security's perspective blow.
Proposed Transaction
The status quo cap structure is shown below as a reminder. GEO has ~$1.5 billion secured debt, ~$1.0 billion unsecured bonds, plus ~$360 million other debt, gives a total of close to $3.0 billion of consolidated debt. The reason for this proposed amend-and-extend transaction is not because GEO lacks sufficient cash flow to service interest payments - it's the fact that it faces a $2.0 billion maturity wall between 2023 and 2024 and refinancing this debt stack is nearly impossible in this ESG-focused environment.
Q1-2022 10-Q
Let's first acknowledge that GEO has the support from the senior secured part of the capital structure, which is crucial for making a deal happen. Here are the proposed treatments for different parts of the debt stack:
Term Loan can choose to either (A) take pro rata $115 million cash paydown and roll the rest into a new term loan or (B) roll the entire piece into the new term loan at 105% of the face value. Excess cash flow sweep will be used to pay down the term loan, in addition to a 5% amortization.
Revolving Credit Facilities is given a combination of (1) commitment reduction, (2) a portion of the stub term loan, (3) a new Exchange RCF and (4) a new term loan. Excess cash flow sweep will be used to pay down the RCF, after the term loans are paid back entirely.
2023 and 2024 Senior Notes can choose to either (A) receive a combination of cash and the new second lien notes (2L notes) or (B) roll the entire piece into the new 2L notes at a premium. Parties disagree on the cash paydown and premium for 2024, and are 0.25% difference on the coupon.
2026 Senior Notes is given 100% of new 2L notes capped at 50% of the 2026 senior notes outstanding, subject to all 2026 Anchor Participants (i.e. lead bondholders who are part of the negotiation process) up-tiering into the new 2L notes.
Assuming a 70% term loan participation rate and 80% senior notes participation rate, below is my understanding of the pro forma capital structure. I used a probability weighted average for the two options to illustrate the final pro forma capital structure. I could be low on the amount of 2023 and 2024 notes choosing option B (i.e. no cash paydown) as the anchor participants seem to want to take more securities over cash.
Author's Estimate
Here are illustrative sources and uses of cash/non-cash to demonstrate the proposed transaction. Effectively the proposed transaction is using a combination of cash paydown, more certainty around deleveraging, higher coupons, and up-tiering for the unsecured bonds to incentive all parties to extend the maturity wall from 2023-2024 to 2026-2027.
Cash Flow Model
I put together a quick cash flow model to analyze the impact of the contemplated transaction. Here are my assumptions:
FY2022 EBITDA and Capex are the midpoints of the new guidance. I then assumed 3% YoY drop which lines up well with the previous cleansing material.
Cash tax was shown in the previous cleansing material as well.
Interest expenses account for the pro forma capital structure. I assumed a 2% benchmark rate for the floating debt.
The contemplated transaction asks for an 80% excess cash flow sweep and an anti cash-hoarding provision (i.e. cash on hand above $150 million will be used to pay down debt).
My model shows $42.5 million increase in interest expense for 2.08% increase in weighted average cost of debt, which is roughly inline with GEO's comment about $18-$20 million increase for every 1% increase in cost of debt. Net-net, the deleveraging path is better than I modeled previously due to lower weighted average cost of debt and higher EBITDA.
As you can see, 1L leverage drops from 1.9x to 1.0 over this period as almost all excess cash will be applied to pay down the RCF and Term Loan balance. Total net debt should sit below 4.0x by FY2023 and drops to 3.3x by FY2025.
Security Selection
GEO Equity
GEO popped +12% on the news and outperformed recently vs. the market, but except for the narrative changing from unpredictable election outcomes, I'm still negatively biased towards GEO's equity. The bankruptcy/severe dilution risk is almost off the table but going forward the creditors are keeping a very tight leash on where the excess cash flow can be applied. Specifically, GEO can only apply $5.0 million per year towards dividends/share repurchases, which mean there won't be any institutional-size buyer that's required to rerate a stock (of course we shouldn't ignore the power of the retail crowd).
I still prefer CoreCivic (CXW) over GEO if you want to invest long-only in the private detention center space. I still recommend long CXW/short GEO as a pair trade. GEO stock should underperform CoreCivic in the medium term for lack of share buyback capacity.
2023 And 2024 Senior Notes
While there are minor disagreements on terms still, the 2023 and 2024 noteholders are in a relatively great position as they are given a few decent options: noteholders can either choose to take some chips off the table or stay invested in a more senior position. Extending credit in a second lien position at <3.0x leverage for close to 10% where the first lien debt is getting paid off aggressively is a pretty good proposition.
Additionally, since the transaction gives GEO some secured capacity to take care of the 2023 and 2024 stubs at maturity, it is not a bad idea to be a holdout in the 2023 notes. This is a sub-1 year bond at ~7.5% YTM. I would not recommend being a holdout in the 2024s however, as the risk/reward isn't as favourable (2.5 year term and ~8.5% YTM).
2026 Senior Notes
I was previously wrong about the 2026 senior notes. While I highlighted the risk that the ad hoc group "could potentially make a bilateral deal with GEO to only roll up their 2026s holdings and leave the smaller holders in a subordinated position", I viewed this as a tail risk thinking that GEO and the ad hoc groups would want a clean structure. However, it turned out that while the 2026 senior notes are not left out of this transaction entirely, only 50% of the existing 2026 notes are given the opportunity to uptier, and most importantly, this is "subject to all 2026 Anchor Participants uptiering into Exchange 2L Notes". This means retail noteholders will be partially stuck with some less liquid and subordinated bonds while the institutional holders can uptier their entire holdings.
Cleansing Material
Having sad all this, I don't know why the below highlighted language is in the proposal. Let me know in the comment section if you have some ideas.
This is of course very disappointing but there are a couple of silver linings. First, there is a springing maturity on the new term loan and credit facility tied to the 2026 notes which means GEO will be motivated to take the 2026 notes out 90 days prior to the scheduled maturity, making the "effective maturity" January 2026. I also believe GEO will take care of the stub 2026 notes well ahead of the springing maturity (maybe sometime in 2025). This reduces the term of the bond and increases the annualized return potential.
Second, GEO's 2L leverage ratio is essentially the same as CoreCivic total net leverage at ~2.7x. CoreCivic 8.5% 2026s is trading around 7.5% YTM. Let's assume GEO new 2L notes should trade at 8.0% YTM for a higher overall leverage (let's ignore the higher seniority and longer term for a second). Where the stub 2026 notes should trade post transaction depends on how much additional yield is required for the additional leverage. I think a 3.5-4% additional yield is fair, which puts the 2026 stub notes at 11.5-12% yield. This translates to a bond price of $81.5-83. This is not far off from where the 2026 notes is trading today ($83.5-84.5 range). In other words, I don't think the stub 2026 should drop much lower. Also keep in mind that GEO is a deleveraging story going forward, which should help support the bond price.
I'm encouraged to see that GEO is close to a definitive agreement with the creditor groups to push out the huge maturity wall. The contemplated transaction is affordable from an interest expense servicing perspective, and also forces GEO to de-lever in a meaningful over the next few years. Given the lack of shareholder return, I still prefer CoreCivic over GEO as an equity investment. Given the deleveraging plan, I'm comfortable holding GEO's bonds. Among the three series of senior notes, I equally like the 2023s and 2024s. The 2026s is not given the fair treatment in my opinion, but I believe this is fully priced in.
This article was written by
Event-driven, fundamentally oriented value investor. My favorite quote - if you want to be the smartest person in the room, go to an empty room - something like that.
Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Additional disclosure: I'm long GEO 2023s and 2026s.


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TUSMA (Abkürzung für Telefoniere und Studenten machen alles) war eine 1949 von Studenten der Technischen Universität Berlin gegründete studentische Arbeitsvermittlung in West-Berlin und später in Gesamtberlin, die 2005 Insolvenz anmeldete. Die TUSMA war ein eingetragener Verein mit einer Ausnahmegenehmigung zur Arbeitsvermittlung. Die Gründung der TUSMA erfolgte unter anderem, weil die Ost-Berliner Machthaber politisch missliebigen Studenten die Stipendien verweigerten. Die Studenten waren somit auf einen Zuverdienst angewiesen. Der erste Auftrag war die Reparatur einer Klingel. Zeitgleich zur TUSMA, die in der Hardenbergstraße residierte und neben Studenten der Technischen Universität auch die der damaligen Universität der Künste sowie der Technischen Fachhochschule betreute, wurden die Heinzelmännchen als studentische Arbeitsvermittlung an der Freien Universität gegründet. Sie wurden später vom Studentenwerk Berlin übernommen und waren somit im Gegensatz zur TUSMA ein Projekt des Studentenwerks, das eine Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts ist. Die Heinzelmännchen existierten bis 2019.

Blütezeit der TUSMA
Während der Zeit der Berliner Mauer erhielten Arbeitnehmer in Berlin die Berlinzulage, dies betraf auch die Studenten. Somit hatten die Studenten einen hohen Anreiz sich über die TUSMA vermitteln zu lassen, da sie trotz Provisionszahlung an die TUSMA noch zusätzlich Geld von der TUSMA ausbezahlt bekamen, daher wurden auch längerfristige Arbeitsverhältnisse gern über die TUSMA abgewickelt.

Da viele Studenten vor ihrem Studium bereits eine abgeschlossene Ausbildung oder Lehre hatten, konnten Arbeitgeber Studenten mit speziellen Fachkenntnissen über die Fachvermittlung anfordern. Somit hatten Unternehmen die Möglichkeit kurzfristige Engpässe bei Fachkräften auch mit kompetenten Studenten auszugleichen. Nach dem Fall der Mauer fiel auch die Berlinzulage weg, und es gab für die Studenten kaum noch einen Anreiz sich über die TUSMA vermitteln zu lassen. Besonders die längerfristigen Arbeitsverhältnisse wurden nach der ersten Vermittlung oft direkt mit den Arbeitgebern abgeschlossen um die Provision zu sparen.

Sondervermittlung TUSMA-Weihnachtsmannaktion
Besonders bekannt waren die studentischen Weihnachtsmänner und Engel der TUSMA, die vor Weihnachten vermittelt wurden. Die Tätigkeit als Weihnachtsengel oder Weihnachtsmann setzte einen Besuch bei den Familien voraus, für deren Kinder die Bescherung am 24. Dezember vorgesehen war. Bei der Vorbesprechung wurden von den Eltern persönliche Informationen über die zu bescherenden Kinder mitgeteilt und die Besuchszeit zur Übergabe der Geschenke vereinbart. Ab 2000 bis zum Ende der TUSMA kooperierten die Weihnachtsmänner gemeinsam mit den Heinzelmännchen als "der Berliner Weihnachtsmann" und führten Bescherungen in Spitzenzeiten zu Weihnachten in bis zu 10.000 Berliner Familien durch.

Die TUSMA finanzierte sich ausschließlich durch die Vermittlungsprovisionen der eingetragenen Studenten, während die Heinzelmännchen durch Mittel des Studentenwerks finanziert wurden. Insbesondere die TUSMA-Weihnachtsmannaktion wurde von einer Gruppe Studenten organisiert, die den von der TUSMA finanzierten "Oberweihnachtsmann" tatkräftig und kreativ mit unbezahlten Telefondiensten unterstützte. Der Erfolg dieses Konzeptes zeigte sich dadurch, dass die Weihnachtsmannaktion immer noch mehr Aufträge hatte, als die Werbemittel der TUSMA für die Weihnachtsmannaktion drastisch gekürzt werden mussten und nur noch die Heinzelmännchen die Stadt plakatierten. Nach der deutschen Wiedervereinigung stiegen die Auftragszahlen der Weihnachtsmannaktion derart, dass zum ersten Mal bezahlte studentische Telefonkräfte eingesetzt werden mussten. Diese wurden durch die erhöhten Provisionen der vermittelten Studenten finanziert. Die TUSMA-Weihnachtsmannaktion war auch die erste, die nach langer Pause wieder Weihnachtsengel in Begleitung von Weihnachtsmännern vermittelte. Die Heinzelmännchen folgten dem erst Jahre später. Nach internen Streitigkeiten erfolgten im Jahr 2004 Ausgründungen unter anderem der Berliner Weihnachtsmannzentrale durch einen ehemaligen TUSMA-Studenten, der es allen Bürgern ermöglichte an Heiligabend als Weihnachtsmann und -engel in Berlin und Umland aufzutreten, unabhängig vom Studentenstatus. Die ersten Akteure der Berliner Weihnachtsmannzentrale stammten zu einem großen Teil aus dem Pool ehemaliger TUSMA- und Heinzelmännchen-Weihnachtsmänner, die weiterhin nach ihrem Studium diese Tätigkeit ausüben wollten und dies bei den studentischen Arbeitsvermittlungen nicht mehr durften.

Die gemeinnützige TUSMA war auch ein logistisches Unikum; als erste in der deutschen Geschichte durfte sie die Lohnsteuern der Studierenden verrechnen und fungierte somit als effiziente Schnittstelle zwischen Finanzamt und den Arbeitgebern. Zeitweise waren bei der TUSMA 20.000 Mitglieder eingeschrieben. Somit wurde die studentische Kultur West-Berlins über 50 Jahre auch von der TUSMA mitgeprägt.

Sonstiges
Zu Zeiten, als die Weihnachtsmänner der TUSMA noch in Konkurrenz zu den Weihnachtsmännern der Heinzelmännchen standen, bestellten die TUSMA-Weihnachtsmänner für ihre eigene Weihnachtsfeier einen Weihnachtsmann von den Heinzelmännchen.

Weblinks

 Weihnachtsmänner sind pleite. In: taz, 22. April 2005
 Vortrag Pressekonferenz 2009. Die Geschichte des Berliner Weihnachtsmannes
 Im Kübelwagen durch Berlin. Alumni-Seite der TU Berlin vom 25. Mai 2016

Berliner Verein
Arbeitsmarkt
Studentengeschichte (20. Jahrhundert)
Technische Universität Berlin
Gegründet 1949
Abkürzung

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home Page > Picture Archives > Year 2006 > Album 555 > Photo 22 > Similar
555-22. An octagon at the 22nd floor of Louisiana State Capitol, with allegorical winged figures guarding the corners. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
.../2006/555/21.htm similar
View from Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
House Chamber in Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
Senate Chamber in Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
The Pioneers statues west of entrance of Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
The Patriots monumental statues east of entrance of Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Louisiana, December 2, 2006
Formal rose gardens and Old Arsenal Museum to the east from Louisiana State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, December 2, 2006
Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge, side view. Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Ironwork and a rotunda of Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
A spiral cast iron staircase in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
A circular staircase around a central column in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Cast iron spiral staircase in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Cast iron circular staircase in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Stained glass dome of spider web shape in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Ceiling glasswork supported by a center column in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Cast iron staircase and stained glass dome in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Steps and a landing of a cast iron spiral staircase in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Central column supporting parasol of a multicolored stained glass dome in Old State Capitol. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Saint Joseph Cathedral at 412 Main Street in downtown. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 30, 2006
Alligators guarding fishing ships "Cecilla" and "Capt. M. T." in Venice. Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, April 15, 2006
A domed structure in the second floor and an opening to the third floor of Missouri State Capitol. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
Grave of Sam Houston at west entrance of Oakwood Cemetery showing Sam Houston carved from grey granite on his horse flanked by allegorical figures of Victory and History, view from Avenue I. Huntsville, Texas, December 18, 2008
Sam Houston gravesite marker at west entrance of Oakwood Cemetery (erected by Pompeo Coppini 4/21/1911, shows carved Sam Houston on his horse flanked by allegorical figures of Victory and History). Huntsville, Texas, December 18, 2008
Crosses and figures on tops of tombs in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 3. New Orleans, Louisiana, August 6, 2006
Float No. 13 "1953: Famous Figures in Mythology" of krewe of Proteus at Mardi Gras parade on Saint Charles Avenue. New Orleans, Louisiana, February 27, 2006
Second floor rooms in Greenwood Plantation. Saint Francisville, Louisiana, October 14, 2006
Louisiana State museum Cabildo and Saint Louis Cathedral at early morning. New Orleans, Louisiana, January 30, 2006
Blue orange-winged horses float of krewe of Orpheus at Mardi Gras parade on Saint Charles Avenue. New Orleans, Louisiana, February 27, 2006
A winged horse in a window on Bienville Street near Decatur Street in French Quarter. New Orleans, Louisiana, October 7, 2006
Interior of Missouri State Capitol, view from the second floor, with the State Museum in background. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
View from the second floor of Missouri State Capitol, with exhibits of the State Museum in background. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
The Presbytere (a part of the Louisiana State Museum) and Saint Louis Cathedral on Chartres Street, view from Jackson Square, in French Quarter. New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 2006
A dog guarding Robinson-Jordan House in Garden District. New Orleans, Louisiana, March 6, 2005.
Cannons in front of State Museum Cabildo on Jackson Square in French Quarter. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 9, 2006
The second floor of Missouri State Capitol. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
Rotunda of the second floor of Missouri State Capitol. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
The second floor and the rotunda of Missouri State Capitol. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
A dome of Missouri State Capitol, from the second(?) floor. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
A domed structure in the second floor of Missouri State Capitol. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
Interior of the dome of Missouri State Capitol, view from the first floor. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
Rotunda of Missouri State Capitol, with History Hall in background, view from the second floor. Jefferson City, Missouri, September 17, 2005
View of Indiana Avenue around intersection with Capitol Avenue from the 17th floor of One American Square building. Indianapolis, December 1, 1999.
Winged figures on tapestry in Hermitage Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, February 7, 2018
Figures of winged animals at the top of Russian Museum. Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 27, 2011
Louisiana truck V625826 with precipitated silt at Charbonnet Street in Lower Ninth Ward. New Orleans, Louisiana, January 23, 2006
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church at 1235 Louisiana Avenue at a corner of Chestnut Street in Touro neighborhood. New Orleans, Louisiana, May 11, 2006
Old oak in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Rectory of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church at 1307 Louisiana Avenue at a corner of Chestnut Street in Touro neighborhood. New Orleans, Louisiana, May 11, 2006
A house at Old River Road. Hahnville(?), Louisiana, December 15, 2006
Headstones in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Oaks in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
A house at Old River Road. Edgard, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
Tombstones of Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Live oak in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Tombs of Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church at 1235 Louisiana Avenue at a corner of Chestnut Street in Touro neighborhood, view from the entrance. New Orleans, Louisiana, May 31, 2006
A fish on a beach in Grand Isle State Park. Louisiana, April 2, 2006
A beach with a fish in Grand Isle State Park. Louisiana, April 2, 2006
Row of workers cabins in Laurel Valley. Thibodaux, Louisiana, December 10, 2006
Mike s Restaurant on Lessard Street. Donaldsonville, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
"Walking" oak near Peristyle in City Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 16, 2006
A sidewalk of Saint Charles Avenue in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 2006
Entrance of Audubon Park at rain. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 24, 2006
A big oak near East Drive in Audubon Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 2006
Overgrown headstones in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Makeshift headstones in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
A pedestrian bridge in City Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 16, 2006
Somewhere near Ursulines Street in French Quarter in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 13, 2006
Tombstones and oaks in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
An oak near Dreyfous Drive in City Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 16, 2006
Old sugar mill in Laurel Valley. Thibodaux, Louisiana, December 10, 2006
A house at 2177 Old River Road. Edgard, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
Buildings of Laurel Valley Village. Thibodaux, Louisiana, December 10, 2006
Giambrone "Row" houses at 606 - 622 Lessard Street. Donaldsonville, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
An island in a lagoon of City Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 16, 2006
Tombs of Carrollton Cemetery at morning. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 19, 2006
Primitive tombs in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
Shipwreck scene on a tomb erected by Joseph Barelli in memory of his son died during explosion of steamer Louisiana in 1849, in Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2. New Orleans, Louisiana, June 18, 2006
A beach of Grand Isle State Park. Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, November 4, 2006
Remains of beach forest in Grand Isle State Park. Louisiana, April 2, 2006
Home Place Plantation at Old River Road. Hahnville, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
A concrete lion at Peristyle in City Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 16, 2006
A house at 1428 First Street in Garden District in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
Evergreen Plantation in fog, view from Old River Road. Vacherie, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
A house in the area of Third Street in Garden District in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
A ruin on Charles Street near Railroad Avenue. Donaldsonville, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
A tomb of a cemetery near Saint Patrick Street. Donaldsonville, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
Jogging on West Avenue of Audubon Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 2006
A public statue in north end of Audubon Park in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 14, 2006
Cabins of workers along a pond in Laurel Valley. Thibodaux, Louisiana, December 10, 2006
Houma Plantation, view from River Road. Darrow, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
A house on Railroad Avenue near Albert Street. Donaldsonville, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
Bocage Plantation, view from River Road. Darrow, Louisiana, December 23, 2006
Capitol Extension on north side of Texas Capitol. Austin, Texas, December 24, 2008
A dead armadillo on River Trail in Tickfaw State Park. Springfield, Louisiana, September 10, 2006
Caire s Landing on Old River Road in fog, view from a levee. Edgard, Louisiana, December 15, 2006
Peeling paint and tilted headstones in Holt Cemetery in fog. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 18, 2006
A sidewalk of Camp Street near Coliseum Square at rain. New Orleans, Louisiana, December 21, 2006


text:
( function($) {

ChiliBook = { //implied global

	  version:            "2.2" // 2008-07-06

// options --------------------------------------------------------------------

	, automatic:          true
	, automaticSelector:  "code, pre"

	, lineNumbers:        !true

	, codeLanguage:       function( el ) {
		var split = $( el ).attr( "class" ) ? $(el).attr("class").split(" ") : [];
		var recipeName = split.length > 0 ? split[0] : "";
		return recipeName ? recipeName : '';
	}

	, recipeLoading:      true
	, recipeFolder:       "" // used like: recipeFolder + recipeName + '.js'

	// IE and FF convert   to " ", Safari and Opera do not
	, replaceSpace:       " "
	, replaceTab:         "    "
	, replaceNewLine:     "
"

	, selectionStyle:     [ "position:absolute; z-index:3000; overflow:scroll;"
						  , "width:16em;"
						  , "height:9em;"
						  , "border:1px solid gray;"
						  , "padding:15px;"
						  , "background-color:yellow;"
						  ].join( ' ' )

// ------------------------------------------------------------- end of options

	, defaultReplacement: '$$' // TODO: make this an option again
	, recipes:            {} //repository
	, queue:              {} //registry

	, unique:             function() {
		return (new Date()).valueOf();
	}
};

$.fn.chili = function( options ) {
	var book = $.extend( {}, ChiliBook, options || {} );

	function cook( ingredients, recipe, blockName ) {

		function prepareBlock( recipe, blockName ) {
			var steps = [];
			for( var stepName in recipe[ blockName ] ) {
				steps.push( prepareStep( recipe, blockName, stepName ) );
			}
			return steps;
		} // prepareBlock

		function prepareStep( recipe, blockName, stepName ) {
			var step = recipe[ blockName ][ stepName ];
			var exp = ( typeof step._match == "string" ) ? step._match : step._match.source;
			return {
				recipe: recipe
				, blockName: blockName
				, stepName: stepName
				, exp: "(" + exp + ")"
				, length: 1                         // add 1 to account for the newly added parentheses
					+ (exp                          // count number of submatches in here
						.replace( /\\./g, "%" )     // disable any escaped character
						.replace( /\[.*?\]/g, "%" ) // disable any character class
						.match( /\((?!\?)/g )       // match any open parenthesis, not followed by a ?
					|| []                           // make sure it is an empty array if there are no matches
					).length                        // get the number of matches
				, replacement: step._replace ? step._replace : book.defaultReplacement
			};
		} // prepareStep

		function knowHow( steps ) {
			var prevLength = 1;
			var exps = [];
			for (var i = 0; i < steps.length; i++) {
				var exp = steps[ i ].exp;
				// adjust backreferences
				exp = exp.replace( /\\\\|\\(\d+)/g, function( m, aNum ) {
					return !aNum ? m : "\\" + ( prevLength + 1 + parseInt( aNum, 10 ) );
				} );
				exps.push( exp );
				prevLength += steps[ i ].length;
			}
			var prolog = '((?:\\s|\\S)*?)';
			var epilog = '((?:\\s|\\S)+)';
			var source = '(?:' + exps.join( "|" ) + ')';
			source = prolog + source + '|' + epilog;
			return new RegExp( source, recipe._case ? "g" : "gi" );
		} // knowHow

		function escapeHTML( str ) {
			return str.replace( /&/g, "&" ).replace( /</g, "<" );
		} // escapeHTML

		function replaceSpaces( str ) {
			return str.replace( / +/g, function( spaces ) {
				return spaces.replace( / /g, replaceSpace );
			} );
		} // replaceSpaces

		function filter( str ) {
			str = escapeHTML( str );
			if( replaceSpace ) {
				str = replaceSpaces( str );
			}
			return str;
		} // filter

		function applyRecipe( subject, recipe ) {
			return cook( subject, recipe );
		} // applyRecipe

		function applyBlock( subject, recipe, blockName ) {
			return cook( subject, recipe, blockName );
		} // applyBlock

		function applyStep( subject, recipe, blockName, stepName ) {
			var replaceSpace       = book.replaceSpace;

			var step = prepareStep( recipe, blockName, stepName );
			var steps = [step];

			var perfect = subject.replace( knowHow( steps ), function() {
				return chef.apply( { steps: steps }, arguments );
			} );
			return perfect;
		} // applyStep

		function applyModule( subject, module, context ) {
			if( ! module ) {
				return filter( subject );
			}

			var sub = module.split( '/' );
			var recipeName = '';
			var blockName  = '';
			var stepName   = '';
			switch( sub.length ) {
				case 1:
					recipeName = sub[0];
					break;
				case 2:
					recipeName = sub[0]; blockName = sub[1];
					break;
				case 3:
					recipeName = sub[0]; blockName = sub[1]; stepName = sub[2];
					break;
				default:
					return filter( subject );
			}

			function getRecipe( recipeName ) {
				var path = getPath( recipeName );
				var recipe = book.recipes[ path ];
				if( ! recipe ) {
					throw {msg:"recipe not available"};
				}
				return recipe;
			}

			try {
				var recipe;
				if ( '' == stepName ) {
					if ( '' == blockName ) {
						if ( '' == recipeName ) {
							//nothing to do
						}
						else { // ( '' != recipeName )
							recipe = getRecipe( recipeName );
							return applyRecipe( subject, recipe );
						}
					}
					else { // ( '' != blockName )
						if( '' == recipeName ) {
							recipe = context.recipe;
						}
						else {
							recipe = getRecipe( recipeName );
						}
						if( ! (blockName in recipe) ) {
							return filter( subject );
						}
						return applyBlock( subject, recipe, blockName );
					}
				}
				else { // ( '' != stepName )
					if( '' == recipeName ) {
						recipe = context.recipe;
					}
					else {
						recipe = getRecipe( recipeName );
					}
					if( '' == blockName ) {
						blockName = context.blockName;
					}
					if( ! (blockName in recipe) ) {
						return filter( subject );
					}
					if( ! (stepName in recipe[blockName]) ) {
						return filter( subject );
					}
					return applyStep( subject, recipe, blockName, stepName );
				}
			}
			catch( e ) {
				if (e.msg && e.msg == "recipe not available") {
					var cue = 'chili_' + book.unique();
					if( book.recipeLoading ) {
						var path = getPath( recipeName );
						if( ! book.queue[ path ] ) {
							/* this is a new recipe to download */
							try {
								book.queue[ path ] = [ {cue: cue, subject: subject, module: module, context: context} ];
								$.getJSON( path, function( recipeLoaded ) {
									book.recipes[ path ] = recipeLoaded;
									var q = book.queue[ path ];
									for( var i = 0, iTop = q.length; i < iTop; i++ ) {
										var replacement = applyModule( q[ i ].subject, q[ i ].module, q[ i ].context );
										if( book.replaceTab ) {
											replacement = replacement.replace( /\t/g, book.replaceTab );
										}
										if( book.replaceNewLine ) {
											replacement = replacement.replace( /\n/g, book.replaceNewLine );
										}
										$( '#' + q[ i ].cue ).replaceWith( replacement );
									}
								} );
							}
							catch( recipeNotAvailable ) {
								alert( "the recipe for '" + recipeName + "' was not found in '" + path + "'" );
							}
						}
						else {
							/* not a new recipe, so just enqueue this element */
							book.queue[ path ].push( {cue: cue, subject: subject, module: module, context: context} );
						}
						return '' + filter( subject ) + '';
					}
					return filter( subject );
				}
				else {
					return filter( subject );
				}
			}
		} // applyModule

		function addPrefix( prefix, replacement ) {
			var aux = replacement.replace( /()/ig, "$1" + prefix + "__$3" );
			return aux;
		} // addPrefix

		function chef() {
			if (! arguments[ 0 ]) {
				return '';
			}
			var steps = this.steps;
			var i = 0;  // iterate steps
			var j = 2;	// iterate chef's arguments
			var prolog = arguments[ 1 ];
			var epilog = arguments[ arguments.length - 3 ];
			if (! epilog) {
				var step;
				while( step = steps[ i++ ] ) {
					var aux = arguments; // this unmasks chef's arguments inside the next function
					if( aux[ j ] ) {
						var replacement = '';
						if( $.isFunction( step.replacement ) ) {
							var matches = []; //Array.slice.call( aux, j, step.length );
							for (var k = 0, kTop = step.length; k < kTop; k++) {
								matches.push( aux[ j + k ] );
							}
							matches.push( aux[ aux.length - 2 ] );
							matches.push( aux[ aux.length - 1 ] );
							replacement = step.replacement
								.apply( {
									x: function() {
										var subject = arguments[0];
										var module  = arguments[1];
										var context = {
											  recipe:    step.recipe
											, blockName: step.blockName
										};
										return applyModule( subject, module, context );
									}
								}, matches );
						}
						else { //we expect step.replacement to be a string
							replacement = step.replacement
								.replace( /(\\\$)|(?:\$\$)|(?:\$(\d+))/g, function( m, escaped, K ) {
									if( escaped ) {       /* \$ */
										return "$";
									}
									else if( !K ) {       /* $$ */
										return filter( aux[ j ] );
									}
									else if( K == "0" ) { /* $0 */
										return step.stepName;
									}
									else {                /* $K */
										return filter( aux[ j + parseInt( K, 10 ) ] );
									}
								} );
						}
						replacement = addPrefix( step.recipe._name, replacement );
						return filter( prolog ) + replacement;
					}
					else {
						j+= step.length;
					}
				}
			}
			else {
				return filter( epilog );
			}
		} // chef

		if( ! blockName ) {
			blockName = '_main';
			checkSpices( recipe );
		}
		if( ! (blockName in recipe) ) {
			return filter( ingredients );
		}
		var replaceSpace = book.replaceSpace;
		var steps = prepareBlock( recipe, blockName );
		var kh = knowHow( steps );
		var perfect = ingredients.replace( kh, function() {
			return chef.apply( { steps: steps }, arguments );
		} );
		return perfect;

	} // cook

	function loadStylesheetInline( sourceCode ) {
		if( document.createElement ) {
			var e = document.createElement( "style" );
			e.type = "text/css";
			if( e.styleSheet ) { // IE
				e.styleSheet.cssText = sourceCode;
			}
			else {
				var t = document.createTextNode( sourceCode );
				e.appendChild( t );
			}
			document.getElementsByTagName( "head" )[0].appendChild( e );
		}
	} // loadStylesheetInline

	function checkSpices( recipe ) {
		var name = recipe._name;
		if( ! book.queue[ name ] ) {

			var content = ['/* Chili -- ' + name + ' */'];
			for (var blockName in recipe) {
				if( blockName.search( /^_(?!main\b)/ ) < 0 ) {
					for (var stepName in recipe[ blockName ]) {
						var step = recipe[ blockName ][ stepName ];
						if( '_style' in step ) {
							if( step[ '_style' ].constructor == String ) {
								content.push( '.' + name + '__' + stepName + ' { ' + step[ '_style' ] + ' }' );
							}
							else {
								for (var className in step[ '_style' ]) {
									content.push( '.' + name + '__' + className + ' { ' + step[ '_style' ][ className ] + ' }' );
								}
							}
						}
					}
				}
			}
			content = content.join('\n');

			loadStylesheetInline( content );

			book.queue[ name ] = true;
		}
	} // checkSpices

	function askDish( el ) {
		var recipeName = book.codeLanguage( el );
		if( '' != recipeName ) {
			var path = getPath( recipeName );
			if( book.recipeLoading ) {
				/* dynamic setups come here */
				if( ! book.queue[ path ] ) {
					/* this is a new recipe to download */
					try {
						book.queue[ path ] = [ el ];
						$.getJSON( path, function( recipeLoaded ) {
							book.recipes[ path ] = recipeLoaded;
							var q = book.queue[ path ];
							for( var i = 0, iTop = q.length; i < iTop; i++ ) {
								makeDish( q[ i ], path );
							}
						} );
					}
					catch( recipeNotAvailable ) {
						alert( "the recipe for '" + recipeName + "' was not found in '" + path + "'" );
					}
				}
				else {
					/* not a new recipe, so just enqueue this element */
					book.queue[ path ].push( el );
				}
				/* a recipe could have been already downloaded */
				makeDish( el, path );
			}
			else {
				/* static setups come here */
				makeDish( el, path );
			}
		}
	} // askDish

	function makeDish( el, recipePath ) {
		var recipe = book.recipes[ recipePath ];
		if( ! recipe ) {
			return;
		}
		var $el = $( el );
		var ingredients = $el.text();
		if( ! ingredients ) {
			return;
		}

		//fix for msie: \r (13) is used instead of \n (10)
		//fix for opera: \r\n is used instead of \n
		ingredients = ingredients.replace(/\r\n?/g, "\n");

		//reverse fix for safari: msie, mozilla and opera render the initial \n
		if( $el.parent().is('pre') ) {
			if( ! $.browser.safari ) {
				ingredients = ingredients.replace(/^\n/g, "");
			}
		}

		var dish = cook( ingredients, recipe ); // all happens here

		if( book.replaceTab ) {
			dish = dish.replace( /\t/g, book.replaceTab );
		}
		if( book.replaceNewLine ) {
			dish = dish.replace( /\n/g, book.replaceNewLine );
		}

		el.innerHTML = dish; //much faster than $el.html( dish );
		//tried also the function replaceHtml from http://blog.stevenlevithan.com/archives/faster-than-innerhtml
		//but it was not faster nor without sideffects (it was not possible to count spans into el)

		//opera and safari select PRE text correctly
		if( $.browser.msie || $.browser.mozilla ) {
			enableSelectionHelper( el );
		}

		var $that = $el.parent();
		var classes = $that.attr( 'class' );
		var ln = /ln-(\d+)-([\w][\w\-]*)|ln-(\d+)|ln-/.exec( classes );
		if( ln ) {
			addLineNumbers( el );
			var start = 0;
			if( ln[1] ) {
				start = parseInt( ln[1], 10 );
				var $pieces = $( '.ln-' + ln[1] + '-' + ln[2] );
				var pos = $pieces.index( $that[0] );
				$pieces.slice( 0, pos ).each( function() {
					start += $( this ).find( 'li' ).length;
				} );
			}
			else if( ln[3] ) {
				start = parseInt( ln[3], 10 );
			}
			else {
				start = 1;
			}
			$el.find( 'ol' )[0].start = start;
			$('body').width( $('body').width() - 1 ).width( $('body').width() + 1 );
		}
		else if( book.lineNumbers ) {
			addLineNumbers( el );
		}

	} // makeDish

	function enableSelectionHelper( el ) {
		var element = null;
		$( el )
		.parents()
		.filter( "pre" )
		.bind( "mousedown", function() {
			element = this;
			if( $.browser.msie ) {
				document.selection.empty();
			}
			else {
				window.getSelection().removeAllRanges();
			}
		} )
		.bind( "mouseup", function( event ) {
			if( element && (element == this) ) {
				element = null;
				var selected = '';
				if( $.browser.msie ) {
					selected = document.selection.createRange().htmlText;
					if( '' == selected ) {
						return;
					}
					selected = preserveNewLines( selected );
					var container_tag = '<textarea style="STYLE">';
				}
				else {
					selected = window.getSelection().toString(); //opera doesn't select new lines
					if( '' == selected ) {
						return;
					}
					selected = selected
						.replace( /\r/g, '' )
						.replace( /^# ?/g, '' )
						.replace( /\n# ?/g, '\n' )
					;
					var container_tag = '
';
				}
				var $container = $( container_tag.replace( /\bSTYLE\b/, ChiliBook.selectionStyle ) )
					.appendTo( 'body' )
					.text( selected )
					.attr( 'id', 'chili_selection' )
					.click( function() { $(this).remove(); } )
				;
				var top  = event.pageY - Math.round( $container.height() / 2 ) + "px";
				var left = event.pageX - Math.round( $container.width() / 2 ) + "px";
				$container.css( { top: top, left: left } );
				if( $.browser.msie ) {
//					window.clipboardData.setData( 'Text', selected ); //I couldn't find anything similar for Mozilla
					$container[0].focus();
					$container[0].select();
				}
				else {
					var s = window.getSelection();
					s.removeAllRanges();
					var r = document.createRange();
					r.selectNodeContents( $container[0] );
					s.addRange( r );
				}
			}
		} )
		;
	} // enableSelectionHelper

	function getPath( recipeName ) {
		return book.recipeFolder + recipeName + ".js";
	} // getPath

	function getSelectedText() {
		var text = '';
		if( $.browser.msie ) {
			text = document.selection.createRange().htmlText;
		}
		else {
			text = window.getSelection().toString();
		}
		return text;
	} // getSelectedText

	function preserveNewLines( html ) {
		do {
			var newline_flag = ChiliBook.unique();
		}
		while( html.indexOf( newline_flag ) > -1 );
		var text = '';
		if (/<br/i.test(html) || /<li/i.test(html)) {
			if (//ig, newline_flag );
			}
			else if (/|<\/ol>|
]*?>/ig, '' ).replace( /<\/li>/ig, newline_flag );
			}
			var el = $( '
' ).appendTo( 'body' ).hide()[0];
			el.innerHTML = html;
			text = $( el ).text().replace( new RegExp( newline_flag, "g" ), '\r\n' );
			$( el ).remove();
		}
		return text;
	} // preserveNewLines

	function addLineNumbers( el ) {

		function makeListItem1( not_last_line, not_last, last, open ) {
			var close = open ? '' : '';
			var aux = '';
			if( not_last_line ) {
				aux = '
' + open + not_last + close + '
';
			}
			else if( last ) {
				aux = '
' + open + last + close + '
';
			}
			return aux;
		} // makeListItem1

		function makeListItem2( not_last_line, not_last, last, prev_li ) {
			var aux = '';
			if( prev_li ) {
				aux = prev_li;
			}
			else {
				aux = makeListItem1( not_last_line, not_last, last, '' )
			}
			return aux;
		} // makeListItem2

		var html = $( el ).html();
		var br = /
/.test(html) ? '
' : '
';
		var empty_line = '
' + book.replaceSpace + '
';
		var list_items = html
			//extract newlines at the beginning of a span
			.replace( /(]+>)((?:(?: |\xA0)
)+)(.*?)(<\/span>)/ig, '$2$1$3$4' ) // I don't know why  does not work here
			//transform newlines inside of a span
			.replace( /(.*?)()(.*?)(?:<\/span>(?: |\xA0)
|<\/span>)/ig,       // but here it does
				function( all, before, open, content ) {
					if (/
/i.test(content)) {
						var pieces = before.split( br );
						var lastPiece = pieces.pop();
						before = pieces.join( br );
						var aux = (before ? before + br : '') //+ replace1( lastPiece + content, open );
							+ (lastPiece + content).replace( /((.*?)(?: |\xA0)
)|(.*)/ig,
							function( tmp, not_last_line, not_last, last ) {
								var aux2 = makeListItem1( not_last_line, not_last, last, open );
								return aux2;
							}
						);
						return aux;
					}
					else {
						return all;
					}
				}
			)
			//transform newlines outside of a span
			.replace( /(
.*?<\/li>)|((.*?)(?: |\xA0)
)|(.+)/ig,
				function( tmp, prev_li, not_last_line, not_last, last ) {
					var aux2 = makeListItem2( not_last_line, not_last, last, prev_li );
					return aux2;
				}
			)
			//fix empty lines for Opera
			.replace( /
<\/li>/ig, empty_line )
		;

		el.innerHTML = '
' + list_items + '
';
	} // addLineNumbers

	function revealChars( tmp ) {
		return $
			.map( tmp.split(''),
				function(n, i) {
					return ' ' + n + ' ' + n.charCodeAt( 0 ) + ' ';
				} )
			.join(' ');
	} // revealChars

//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// the coloring starts here
	this
	.each( function() {
		var $this = $( this );
		$this.trigger( 'chili.before_coloring' );
		askDish( this );
		$this.trigger( 'chili.after_coloring' );
	} );

	return this;
//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
};

//main
$( function() {

	if( ChiliBook.automatic ) {
		$( ChiliBook.automaticSelector ).chili();
	}

} );

} ) ( jQuery );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Woman, 18, dies in Canterbury crash as man arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving
Four other occupants of the vehicle were taken to a local hospital
Matt Drake
The accident took place earlier this morning at 4.45am (Image: KentLive)
Sign up for a weekly travel round up and all the latest breaking news from the roads, rails and beyond delivered straight to your inbox
An 18-year-old woman has died after a crash in Canterbury this morning (December 3). Police were called to the crash involving a red Ford Fiesta at 4.20am at The Old Gate Inn roundabout on the A2050 New Dover Road.
No other vehicles are believed to have been involved. Officers attended along with South East Coast Ambulance Service and Kent Fire and Rescue Service and an 18-year-old woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other occupants of the vehicle were taken to a local hospital. None of the passengers are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries.
READ MORE: Major road closed as investigation work carried out - live updates
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. Officers from Kent Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) are appealing to anyone who saw what happened, or has relevant dashcam or CCTV footage, to come forward. Anyone with information should call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798538, or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference RY/LB/132/22.
If you have seen or heard anything you think we should know about, or in relation to this, please contact the KentLive newsdesk by email at kentlivenewsdesk@reachplc.com
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us via our Facebook page or on Twitter @kentlivenews.
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El Distrito de Ludwigslust (en alemán: Landkreis Ludwigslust) es el distrito de mayor superficie del estado federal de Mecklemburgo-Pomerania Occidental (Alemania). Se encuentra ubicado al sudoeste del estado federal. Los distritos vecinos son al norte el distrito de Mecklemburgo Noroccidental y la cicudad libre (kreisfreie Stadt) de Schwerin, al este el distrito de Parchim, al sudeste limita con el distrito de Brandenburgo de Prignitz, al sur con el distrito de Baja Sajonia de Lüchow-Dannenberg, al sudeste con el distrito de Luneburgo y al oeste con el distrito del estado federal de Schleswig-Holstein de Lauenburgo. La capital del distrito se encuentra ubicada en la ciudad de Ludwigslust.

Geografía
El territorio del distrito de Ludwigslust se encuentran los ríos Boizenburgo/Elba y Dömitz así como el Elba, al norte de la ciudad de Schwerin.

Historia
El distrito sufrió una reforma en el año 1994 convirtiéndose en la composición de municipios y Amt que hoy en día se conoce, los municipios provenían del Kreis Hagenow y los Ämter Rastow y Stralendorf del distrito de Schwerin-Land con el distrito de Ludwigslust.

Composición del Distrito
(Recuento de habitantes de 30 de junio de 2006)

Ciudades
 Boizenburg/Elbe, ciudad * (10.779)
 Hagenow, ciudad * (12.252)
 Lübtheen, ciudad (4.804)
 Ludwigslust, ciudad * (12.884)

'''Unión de Municipios/Ciudades (Amt)

Enlaces externos
 Página oficial del Landkreises Ludwigslust

Ludwigslust


I admit it—when it comes to drinking, I'm a lightweight, if not a teetotaler. Yes, I can tolerate a glass or two of wine, a single serving of beer, or a completely diluted glass of vodka screwdriver (as long as I'm the one making it). But when Kookie assigned me (via Skype, no less) this long-haul task of reviewing Belgian beers, the first thing that popped in my head was "you want a non-alcoholic drinker review beers?! Seriously?!".
So, what has a girl who doesn't really drink, nor even enjoy drinking beer, got to do? Start with something equally lightweight as her, in this case a serving of Belle-Vue Kriek in her current-favorite Italian taverne Friday night.
Yes, you've read the heading right, Belle-Vue Kriek is a popular brand of cherry beer. Hm, cherries and beer…how did that happen? Simply put, the beer brew gets an additional ingredient in the form of sour cherries (which may or may not be pitted) or cherry syrup before undergoing refermentation to convert the additional sugars into alcohol. So what remains is the berry taste without the sugary sweetness, which effectively masks the bitter hop aroma and sour taste of lambic beer.
Taking the initial sip, I was impressed. It was sweet, but not cloying, with a subtle malt background and cherry notes blending nicely in the aroma and taste. And the bitter tang of hops was muted instead of masked. And no alcohol aftertaste. Overall, a light drink fitted for the cream-based pasta. 😀 And if I wasn't aware that this had an alcohol content, I would have mistaken it for a soda, except for the really subtle flavors that no cola can have.
I conclude that, for lightweight drinkers like me (who cannot tolerate the bitterness of our local brands of beer), starting with only one serving of Belle-Vue Kriek is recommended.
Interesting… I remember seeing that logo somewhere here (or I might be generously mistaken). I'd try that. Would you know how it compares to dark beers (such as Guinness or even San Miguel Cerveza Negra)?
Try it! It's a Belgian beer too. Maybe you will like it. It's a very sweet beer, fruity, and not bitter at all. I cannot drink really dark beer too.
I generally like Belgian beers because they are fruitier (and ale-er). I like the Leffe Blonde beer too. Very light tasting.
Although my alcohol tolerance has improved while here in the States, (I think) and I can actually differentiate beers now, Im still a "sweet drink" girl.
Ooooh, you had Leffe! That's what a labmate of mine is recommending for me to try. Though what the lab plans to do is to get me drunk. Ahahahahahahaha.