text:
Babushki! Jedward! Catering at last for the press centre! Today promised much for Eurovision hacks. If truth be told, I got pretty much what I was expecting: lamb kofte, rice and the salty white drink in a carton you think is going to be yoghurt that they seem to like in these parts. Apparently it's made by leaving milk to curdle just a little bit to generate the different taste.
A similar thing happens to fanboys and bloggers at the venue. Left to curdle in the Eurovision bubble, we generate our own hype. Today was all about that, especially regarding the entries from Russia and Ireland. Otherwise, Cyprus and Denmark were other acts high enough up in bookmakers' lists to merit plenty of interest.
Here's my take on the day's events which featured the second half of songs in the first semi. A handy page with all the video footage can be found at this Dutch site.
Russia's practice caused the first real ripple in the win market since rehearsals began, as if the drift in their odds since March had been because people had forgotten them and now they were reminded that yes, six old dears in full ethnic regalia demand a 'Party for Everybody'.
The betting market is a short-sighted beast, because this performance was pretty much as in the national final, except the strange contraption behind them turns out to be a stove from which they collect a cake during the instrumental bridge. It all looked cute on camera, though I'm one of those people for whom the novelty wears off within about 20 seconds. You can leave me in the 'this won't finish in the top three' camp.
Jedward were hotly anticipated in the last slot. What we got was unsurprisingly similar in style to last year with the added prop of a water feature that looks like it was planted by Charlie Dimmock. The boys (in blue) stand within it near the end of 'Waterline' without getting wet – for the moment, anyway.
Vocally they were ably assisted and they continue to bring a tremendous amount of energy to the stage. The question remains how Europe will feel about witnessing their schtick again, but it has to be said that being the last upbeat, gimmick-y performance in a semi full of upbeat, gimmick-y performances should see them in the final come May 26.
Reports on Cyprus were generally positive because it wasn't the car crash that some expected. In fact, they can teach the Greeks a few lessons this year, like bring a decent backing vocalist and look like you have done plenty of preparation before rehearsals.
But I'm still not concerned about my liabilities on Cyprus having laid it in the Top 10 market. Ivi Adamou was vocally adequate, nothing more, whilst the choreography and backdrop doesn't really lift the song enough on stage. However, it's certainly in with a decent chance of qualifying on this basis.
If you saw Soluna Samay's winning performance of 'Should've Known Better' in the Danish national final, then today's rehearsal was a facsimile of that. I always reserve the right to change my mind, but in this case, I'm continuing to stand by my opinions expressed back in February. This is pleasant and well executed, but may get forgotten by televoters if given an early draw in the final.
Unlike many others, I didn't think there was much wrong with the Austrian rehearsal. The Trackshittaz and their three backing dancers worked the stage well. Again, it's pretty similar to what we saw in the national final – pole-dancing, ass-shaking and all – with a few differences.
The boys put in a bit more choreography; have a go on the poles themselves; and the girls' asses will be lit up on the night judging by the tube-like things that were strapped to their knickers. Overall, they look like they are having lots of fun. None of this changes my opinion that juries will behave like a bunch of prudes and punish it.
Hungary's Compact Disco put in a vocally decent performance, once again suggesting that the studio used for their national final wasn't fit for purpose. After watching the band at the London Eurovision Party, I reckoned that the lead singer's supposed lack of charisma wasn't such a big problem. However, that's no excuse for him not to look at the camera at all. In fact, even when it's shoved in his face, he turns the other way, like a waiter who doesn't want to take your order.
This can be rectified. What is not changing, apparently, is the way he uses one catwalk and the guitarist another, leaving the band looking far too spread out. At the moment, 'Sound of Our Hearts' sounds better than it looks.
Thankfully Moldova are putting on a show, which they can usually be relied upon to do. This again looks much like the national final performance, though the camerawork promises to be make it more effective than it seemed there. Pasha is in fine voice although he does sweat up, as I used to say paddock-side at the races. With this fine draw, plenty of friends and its catchy trumpet riff, 'Lautar' has lots going for it regarding qualification.
Israel has the best backdrop seen so far with its Dali-esque clocks. Otherwise I have niggling doubts, much as I like 'Time'. The lead singer sounds fine but is not a telegenic presence. The backing singers are cute but either they weren't high enough up in the mix or they couldn't project. Either way, the chorus which they have to carry was getting lost. Losing time is never a good idea.
All you need to know about San Marino is that one of the backing dancers carries a tablet computer at all times during the routine, even when flapping his arms around. This just about sums up the whole enterprise of 'The Social Network Song' and its level of hopelessness.
So that's semi one all sorted, right? If only. Let me know what you think of today's rehearsals below.
10 comments to Eurovision 2012: May 14 Rehearsals
After seeing the pretty classy Moldovan video (studio filmed one) as well as the Eurovision in Concert live performance that was very well sung, I've backed Moldova pretty heavily to Q. My reasoning was that the performance would easily be good enough, backed by the good running slot and Moldova's friends.
However, now they're back to the in my eyes seemingly retarded choreography. This makes me afraid that it will be shunned by juries, the same way Ovo Je Balkan was. If I understand you correctly, you don't really share my concern here, Daniel?
Thanks for good coverage, as always!
Hi David, actually, my first reaction when I saw the choreography was disappointment that it followed the national final mess rather than the official video. However, the camerawork makes it look much better than it did in Chisinau.
It does mean that 'Lautar' goes the full monty as a piece of light entertainment, but it's probably easiest to sell it that way – it plays to the song's strengths. Would 'Ovo Je Balkan' have scored any better with a more serious presentation? Probably not, I would argue.
Thanks for the reply. It's a shame videos of the camera feed can't be seen on YouTube – imo the one really big advantage of actually being there, as you are! It's somewhat comforting to hear that it looks better on camera now than it did in the NF, at least – even if I'd still prefer the video setup.
And you might very well be right about Ovo Je Balkan.
Dancing would help if it was any good. The dancing has changed but it's still a mess (it will still Q).
Shame because his band look really good. He could have his two backing singers, guitar, drums and trumpet – the song's about a trumpet ffs. (His voice and the song don't seem to need the backing, he could even have his French horn and violin instead of the two girls).
Romania's similar in that it's upbeat with a strong singer who has a lot of charisma and movement. The difference is that they look like a credible band with interesting musicians.
Agree with this, particularly on Cyprus. I see it as this year's Rockefeller Street–fun and modern song with a cute singer who, despite her best efforts, doesn't quite do it justice live. It'll qualify but I see it flopping in the final (maybe not quite as much as RS did, but far from the the top 10.
Re Austria: staging startingly good, song, IMO, horrific. I can barely stand to listen to it (though of course rehearsal videos are never as high quality as the semi/final vids and maybe that was the problem). Don't see it qualifying. If, say, Romania or Greece had sent it, *maybe*, but Austria doesn't have that many friendly votes–Hungary? Switz?–to fall back on.
Hungary just sounds like some alt-rock album filler and though I may be biased, it's not exciting like other rock-ish songs this year are like Slovakia, or Switzerland, with whom it has to share the semi.
Oh, Jedward–don't you know Eric Saade already DID water on stage? It is simply outrageous? Can't the Irish participants hire themselves a choreographer who will be able to stage their own dance?
In all seriousness, Jedward sounds fine. Only problem? They're out of sync with the dancing. Twin on right is ahead of twin on left and and Right's dance moves are a little sharper. You know, I'm really not that judgmental about dancing (I can't at all myself, so if anything, I'm sympathic when someone flops) so I don't think I'm being overly harsh. Or am I? Maybe it's stylized and meant to be like that, but I hate it and it feels sloppy. Still like the song though.
Thanks for this Daniel–and now I can look forward to hearing if my beloved Belorussian band can at least pretend to speak English live.
Ayran is an acquired taste but great. Refreshing and cool on a hot day, and probiotic. Did they only extend catering to the press centre today? :/
Hahaha, I said pretty much the exact same thing about Ireland on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/eurovicious/status/202057722659741696 – you're stealing my lines, Daniel 😉
Oh no, Austria still have light-up bums? Every time I think it can't get more objectionable and offensive they somehow make it worse…
No lines stolen, I promise! Reminds me that during the Montenegrin rehearsal yesterday I thought to myself, great, write a Trojan horse gag. Within an hour it had been used on just about every other site 🙂
Only teasing 😉 yeah, I saw the Trojan horse line trotted out a few places yesterday…
Israel – nice enough performance but the song isn't accessible enough to qualify
San Marino – looks and sounds better than was expecting, but it's still too ridiculous to qualify
Denmark – good move keeping the same outfits as in the NF as I think it just makes her more memorable. She's very charming and this should sail through, and with a late draw could finish in the top 5
Cyprus – I don't know why I had ruled this out as a qualifier because it is a decent enough Eurovision by numbers song. It's back in the running now because the performance is adequate, though bit ropey on the la-las. Much better than Greece.
Hungary – huge improvement vocally which I was expecting anyway, because the sound engineering in the NF was terrible. But he is also giving a much more confident performance. Still expecting to sneak through in 9th or 10th.
Russia – it's as good or as bad as I was expecting really. I'm still hoping the juries will slaughter it, but I fear they may just go along with it.
Austria – disappointing now they've lost the neon/darklight effect, though I think it's one that will make more sense when there's an audience there like with France 2010. Borderline!
Moldova – I was thinking most likely it's going to be that happy party song that always comes 17th in the final, but it's quite a good routine and I'm starting to worry that if the draw is very kind to them, it could pull off a surprise win. Hopefully not though.
Ireland – those backing singers are pretty useless. The water feature looks lame. It's qualifying but I don't see them as a contender now.
Agree with most of that, though Moldova doesn't have a hope of winning the whole thing (the song is baffling and indecipherable) and Austria is v unlikely to qualify.


text:
Nature-based Tourism Strategy
Competition: Terms and Conditions
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The promoter of this competition is the ACT Government's Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (Promoter) 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City ACT 2601. ABN 65 473 927 828
The purpose of this competition is to reward participation in the YourSay Nature-based Tourism Strategy survey.
The competition period is from 8am 26 September 2018 closing at 5pm on 5 November 2018. No late entries will be accepted.
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The promotion is inviting people to participate in the YourSay Nature-based Tourism Strategy survey.
To enter, agree to provide your given name, email address and postcode.
Competition entry is free (excluding internet charges).
Employees of the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate are not ineligible to enter.
The promotion is open to residents of Australia.
There is no limit to the amount of entries per entrant.
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The three winners will be drawn after 5 November 2018 by staff at the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. The decision of the judges will be final with no correspondence entered into.
Each of the three winners will win a family (2 x adults and 2 x children tickets) pass to the National Zoo and Aquarium. Valued at $120.00
The winners will be notified by email within 2 days of the draw and are required to contact the Promoter to accept their prize within four (4) weeks of the notification.
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The Promoters accept no responsibility for any variation of the value of the prize, and reserve their right to substitute another prize, or component of a prize, without notice to the winner.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We're excited to announce the debut of a new collaboration featuring trumpeter Kim Macari at this year's Edinburgh International Jazz Festival. With support from EIJF, Kim will team up with Italian pianist Enrico Zanisi to form a new quintet playing music by both leaders.
The band will perform in a double bill with Thelonious Monk Prize winner Melissa Aldana on July 20th, 8pm at Festival Theatre Studio. Tickets will be £15 and go on sale on May 6th.
Stay tuned for more news on this new project.


text:
Update: Five Arrested in Connection with Fatal Shooting of Cleveland Heights Bar Owner Jim Brennan
Posted By Alaina Nutile amcconnell@clevescene.com> @AlainaNutile on Thu, Jul 3, 2014 at 10:30 AM
Photo via Brennan's Colony, Facebook
Update II:
Five people have been arrested in connection with the slaying of popular local bar owner Jim Brennan, who was shot at his Cleveland Heights establishment, Brennan's Colony and Tavern, earlier this week. He died from his injuries on Monday at MetroHealth Hospital.
Cleveland.com reports that five people have been arrested, between the ages of 20 and 23, who either have "information and/or are believed to be involved" in the fatal shooting.
Names have not been released, and charges have not yet been filed, but both will likely happen in the next few days.
Police said Brennan was shot when two people broke into his Lee Rd. restaurant on Monday, likely searching for cash.
Clevelanders east to west have been mourning his loss this week, with hundreds gathering for a vigil on Tuesday night, while area business owners pooled money to create a $25,000 reward for information on Brennan's killers.
While police do have five suspects in custody, anyone with additional information is asked to contact Cleveland Heights police at (216) 291-4987.
Update (posted 6/30/2014 at 5:00 p.m.): NewsNet5 confirms that Brennan's Colony owner Jim Brennan has died at MetroHealth Hospital.
Originally posted: 4:35 p.m.
The owner of the popular Cleveland Heights bar Brennan's Colony and Tavern was shot earlier this afternoon during an alleged robbery, and has been taken to MetroHealth Hospital.
Details are fairly scarce, though Fox 8 reports two people entered the bar, located on Lee Rd. and Silsby Rd., declared there was a hold-up, and took Jim Brennan to the basement where he was shot.
Police are currently searching for suspects, and details on Brennan's condition have not been released.
Tags: Brennan's Colony, Shooting, Image
Jump to comments (15)
« American Idol is Hosting Season XIV… | No One Gives a Shit About Car Acces… »
Speaking of Brennan's Colony, Shooting
Baltimore Ravens LB Malik Harrison, Former OSU Buckeye, Shot in Leg Downtown Sunday
Two Men Indicted for Double Homicide at My Friends Restaurant
18-Year-Old Charged in Shooting of Cleveland Police Detective and Informant
More by Alaina Nutile
Euclid Man Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor After Egging Neighbor's House More Than 100 Times
Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Kidnapping Son, Bringing Him to Cleveland Under Fake Name
PHOTO: Here's What the Cleveland Public Square Renovations Look Like Right Now
Tartine Bistro Read More
Merry Arts Pub & Grille Read More
Lucky's Café Read More


text:
__all__ = [
            'JobProgress'
          ]

from .JobProgress import JobProgress

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;

namespace ScriptFlow.SimpleDesigner.View
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für StoryTasksView.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class StoryTasksView : UserControl
    {
        public StoryTasksView()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
    }
}


[00:22:44] GreyFoxx: So, to commit some changes is it as simple as a "git commit" followed by a "git push" ?
[12:22:06] danielk22: markk: It looks like there is some overlap in the UPnP stuff you're committing with stuff I added in the recording branch for the OCUR recorder.. Do you have a branch out there I could look at?
[12:23:13] markk: danielk22: no – just fixing/adding things as I see them at the moment :) anything in particular that clashes?
[12:24:03] markk: danielk22: I assume the ssdp notify stuff is relevant?
[12:24:23] danielk22: I haven't tried to merge it back yet, I just know that for instance I added full autodiscovery on the backend a while back + there was another commit message that reminded me of something I already did.
[12:26:34] danielk22: Yeah, that code was changed a bit. I pretty much touched the whole UPnP stack though. I was thinking of the multicast commit though, I created a new class for multicast in the mythtv-rec2 branch, one that multicasts on all interfaces.
[12:27:04] danielk22: yep, and waiting long enough.
[12:27:49] danielk22: I've been thinking of short-circuiting that once all the things we're looking for are found, but if you see a need for finding everything I won't..
[12:35:59] danielk22: markk: The thing I'm waiting for on the backend is all the OCUR recorders to respond. And they can't be started up until they respond. Probably it makes sense to start a full search, and only block until required things respond — but handle the other stuff as it comes in.
[12:39:01] danielk22: What's the overall plan? Would it help if I tried to hurry UPnP bug fix merges over from mythtv-rec2 to master? The OCUR recorder is far from ready so it wasn't really high on my list.
[12:43:15] markk: danielk22: I'm mostly done with the frontend upnp changes (I think) – just fixing a few niggles; but they shouldn't affect you. other than that I'm starting to look at handling content from other media servers on the network (via scanning in the backend). Are there many upnp changes in your branch?
[12:46:14] danielk22: markk: There are a number of changes, but I don't mind merging in changes you make. I'm more concerned about you running into the same bugs I did and wasting time implementing a fix. One that you might run into is that some media devices require a particular header to advertise the UPnP version supported.
[12:47:00] danielk22: GreyFoxx: The "git push" shouldn't return to the command line until the change has been uploaded.
[12:47:17] GreyFoxx: [master 8bf5157] This patch adds IPv6 support to mythbackend and mythfrontend. I've been running this patch since XMas with no problems at all.
[12:48:13] danielk22: GreyFoxx: Perhaps you pushed it to some other tree.. look at git branch -a and what branch your branch is tracking.
[12:48:59] danielk22: if you cloned from something other than github you need to add the github url to your push..
[12:49:39] danielk22: what does "git status" return?
[12:49:54] GreyFoxx: to # Your branch is ahead of 'origin/master' by 1 commit.
[12:50:57] danielk22: maybe you forgot to do the push? "git pull --rebase; git push"
[12:52:26] danielk22: When you do "git push" what does it say on the command line?
[12:55:56] danielk22: GreyFoxx: even if the commit message takes some time to appear it should have been pullable right away..
[12:56:15] danielk22: Perhaps github is having some problems..
[16:51:35] danielk22: How do I see the compile errors?
[16:56:24] GreyFoxx: Do any of you do any win32 builds?
[17:00:49] davide_: GreyFoxx, or anyone else: does 8bf5157f break things in an ipv4 only environment? it appears to for me. specifically, "mythserver->listen(QHostAddress::AnyIPv6, port)" in MainServer::MainServer() fails. Shouldn't it fall back to ipv4 if ipv6 fails, or better, open both ipv4 and ipv6?
[17:02:25] GreyFoxx: Do yo uhave some logs of the error?
[17:04:32] GreyFoxx: And I should check, what platform? Linux based host?
[17:08:32] Beirdo: would you like me to check that in?
[17:09:51] davide_: GreyFoxx: sorry for the delay, had some cut-n-paste issues. see http://pastebin.com/9e3k7wFd.
[17:10:25] GreyFoxx: david: This is a linux host right?
[17:10:56] davide_: yes, and it does not support ipv6 in any way.
[17:13:02] davide_: 'cept i don't even build the ipv6 in my kernels. i haven't wanted to make the time worry about the network security implications.
[17:13:12] Beirdo: we'll get it all worked out.
[17:13:37] GreyFoxx: stuart: What platforms in particular?
[17:14:58] davide_: debian, i think, but i wasn't paying close attention when the issue came up a while back. i believe there is a /proc or /sys setting to control it so, in theory, it could be any linux box.
[17:16:52] Beirdo: danielk22: I have the first compile fix ready for checkin for PPC. Would you like me to push through and try to catch them all?
[17:17:29] stuarta: GreyFoxx: do you still do mysql over v4, or leave that to Qt libraries?
[17:19:06] Beirdo: well, try AnyIPv6, and if it fails, try again with Any?
[17:25:14] danielk22: Beirdo: Sure go ahead and push that bswap fix.. so far I've only gotten so far as clicking on stdio for the PPC and I only see warnings listed.
[17:41:19] Beirdo: well, the build slave is my old PPC laptop, so... run a manual build on it, see if anything else pops.
[17:52:50] GreyFoxx: Is this related to the include file you were talking about Beirdo ?
[17:53:18] Beirdo: I was? I think kormoc maybe?
[17:59:30] danielk22: GreyFoxx: That looks like something else. Like maybe pulling kernel headers into userspace.
[17:59:46] danielk22: "struct __kernel_fd_set fd_set"
[18:00:55] Beirdo: err, core is built.
[18:07:58] Beirdo: what kernel version?
[18:12:39] Beirdo: hmmm, wonder if they had a buggered header in those particular kernel version?
[18:29:29] danielk22: GreyFoxx: in the IPv6 changeset it looks like we send our UPnP address out with unencoded square brackets around our IPv4 address. I thought square brakcets were only an IPv6 thing? No?
[18:31:04] danielk22: This is all in RFC 3513 ?
[18:33:03] danielk22: GreyFoxx: Well concentrate on work now :) I'm just thinking we might want to only use the square brackets for IPv6, for maximum backward compatibility.
[18:46:40] GreyFoxx: Ever just want to strangle a coworker? Unfortuntely they did the problem years earlier and no longer work with you ?
[18:55:31] GreyFoxx: Why not do it? Potential breakage of some sort ?
[18:56:39] taylorr: Beirdo: is it breakage on the client or server side?
[18:57:06] danielk22: taylorr: client side.. but easily fixed by just aborting the rebase "git rebase --abort"
[18:58:54] taylorr: danielk22: have you warmed up to git yet or are you still against it and want to move back to svn?
[18:58:59] danielk22: The times a rebase will work poorly is when there has been a lot of overlapping development in two trees.. then merge is a bit smarter.. for instance in mythtv-rec2 I can't rebase it on top of master everytime I do an update, but a merge does work. But with all smaller feature patches I rebase.
[19:02:39] danielk22: taylorr: I still think svn is better for our use case, but I'm not going to push hard on moving back.
[19:04:59] Beirdo: did you do a make distclean?
[19:06:48] danielk22: I think about 60% of the git problems were either due to not being sufficiently prepared for the move or due to github.. The other 40%, git's own complexity, we can't do much about. But at least most of us here know git 101 now and can help casual contributors.
[19:13:06] danielk22: Beirdo: "major" 1/ not useful that often 2/ github is actually quite painful when you are more than a few thousand miles away from their servers; the slowness of the speed of light + 2 dozen web 2.0 round-trips == painfully slow, when the pages don't time out entirely.
[19:13:40] Beirdo: that doesn't surprise me actually.
[19:14:12] Beirdo: hmm. Well, once we get the server situation more in hand, we'll see what we can pull off.
[19:14:47] danielk22: yeah, best of both worlds kinda thing.
[19:17:04] Beirdo: danielk22: you like the interface cgit gives?
[19:21:20] danielk22: Beirdo: I don't like the tree view very much. Maybe with our own server we could get the trac tree view to work, or we could just continue to use the github tree-view. It doesn't need to be all-or-nothing.
[19:26:17] danielk22: yeah, maybe someone else will attack that problem by the time we get our servers in order.. if not, it's not like we don't have the knowhow and talent around here to scratch some itches, given sufficient time and itchiness.
[19:26:40] Beirdo: yeah. If I have to learn some python in the process, so be it.
[20:03:29] danielk22: Beirdo: Nah, I can deal with the problems post merge. Except for the UPnP changes and OCUR recorder I merged most of the changes in this morning.
[20:05:53] okolsi: Beirdo: could you try those or do you see any problems with those?
[20:07:39] Beirdo: try specifically without the --disable-v4l ?
[20:09:16] stuarta: hmmmm. build borked for anyone else on NuppleVideoRecorder?
[20:11:55] stuarta: NuppelVideoRecorder.cpp:2619:74: error: no 'void NuppelVideoRecorder::FormatTeletextSubtitles(VBIData*)' member function declared in class 'NuppelVideoRecorder' ???
[20:12:15] Beirdo: you using --disable-v4l?
[20:27:01] Beirdo: OK, looks easy enough to tweak. You got it?
[20:28:55] danielk22: stuarta: okolsi: I'll commit a fix in a few minutes.
[20:31:31] stuarta: danielk22: feel free to commit your fix. s/FormatTeletextSubtitles/FormatTT/ i assume?
[20:32:32] danielk22: stuarta: Beirdo: both, but I don't think those two are sufficient.
[20:40:50] danielk22: stuarta: The real problem is mythtranscode it uses the NVR, but the NVR inherits from V4LRecorder.
[20:42:16] danielk22: well yeah, but I'd like to fix this before then..
[20:54:23] danielk22: stuarta: okolsi: I've committed a compile fix..
[21:16:28] danielk22: stuarta: k, I'll put something in a pastebin shortly..
[21:30:47] danielk22: Beirdo: what is new-logging exactly?
[21:33:41] danielk22: Yeah, but I don't see how that would be difficult to merge, isn't that mostly going to live within the VERBOSE macro?
[21:33:57] danielk22: Yeah — as in sounds good.
[21:34:22] danielk22: ah, because of the threading changes.. got it..
[21:45:07] GreyFoxx: 2011-05–16 18:44:55.512 IPv6 Found!
[21:52:54] Beirdo: Ahoy there, Captain.
[21:53:39] danielk22: bah, I can't log into trac to close & lock #9709. Anyone else having trouble with trac?
[21:54:39] iamlindoro: and by sort of, I mean, "is"
[22:14:00] danielk22: iamlindoro: I've pointed out that his filesystem is out to lunch in my reply... I actually ran into something like this last year after buying my first SSD. It posted incredible statistics, except when it just decided not to do anything for a minute at a time.. His RAID configuration/system is similarly busted.
[23:54:52] wagnerrp: anyone messing with the server?


This walk: 2015-9-9. Plaster / Plaister Down, Sampford Spiney parish boundary stones, Devil's coach horse, Sharpitor, North Hessary Tor, Sampford Tor, Heckwood Quarry, Vixen Tor, Saddle Rock, Cloven Saddle Rock, Windy Post, Pew Tor.
Plaster / PlaisterDown car park (almost) and any colour car you want - as long as it is silver (almost)!
World War II bomb crater.
Devil's coach horse (different link).
North Hessary Tor tv transmitter station.
Pewtor Cottage (other names for Pew Tor are Pu Tor and Putor).
Is this marked by the feather and tare method or by the wedge and groove method?
Another view of the cut cleft.
I have seen better sunbeds!
Google Earth image of the granite blocks along the seaward side of Plymouth Breakwater!
Edit - I have been corrected regarding these blocks: sometime in the mid/late-1960s, students were employed, presumably by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, to clean the huge metal moulds that these massive concrete sea defence blocks were made in.
See the "W" signifying Whitchurch on the other side?
Second attempt at the group photo - you have to click on the photo to see the naughty first photograph!
Windy Post, on the skyline.
"SB" on the western face.
Double parish boundary stones, the old one (left) was broken and replaced with the one on the right, at SX 53760 74734.
Bullseye stone that governs the takeoff of water into a side leat going towards Oakley Farm etc.
One of the 1847 mason's marks around Pew Tor beyond which it was forbidden to take stone: more information in the 28th December 2011 walk.
Full details of the Sampford Spiney parish boundary stones can be found in Dave Brewer (2002), Dartmoor Boundary Markers, Halsgrove, pages 166-173.
This walk was reached by driving from Whitchurch, out past the Whitchurch Inn, across the golf course, follow signs to Princetown, then Moortown, parking on the grass just after turning left for Moortown - marked by thre yellow cross on the map (at SX 52377 72896).
Distance - 6.62 km / 4.11 miles.


Hayley Cunningham is a trained collaborative practitioner and committee member of Queensland Collaborative Law (QCL).
The terms Collaborative Law and Collaborative Practice are both used to describe a process for negotiation.
The collaborative process is a shared binding commitment to avoid going to Court. The goal is to identify the underlying needs of both you and your former spouse, and explore all of the alternatives that might be available to meet those needs.
If this process is chosen then a meeting will take place, with both you and your former partner/spouse present, and legal representatives for both parties. An agenda may be drawn up, and there may be discussions about entering into a participation contract. A series of further meetings (each of around two hours or so – maybe longer) may take place over a number of weeks to identify the issues and work through the possible options for resolution.
The participation contract will exclude your lawyer from representing you if Court proceedings are commenced. This agreement is to ensure a commitment to the process and free exchange of information.
Experts can be involved. This includes social workers / psychologists / psychiatrists / counsellors in parenting case, or a valuer/accountant/financial advisor in financial cases.


Hello and welcome to the Photos by Keshia Blog page!
This is just a little space I get to really show off all my amazing clients. Today on the blog is my boudoir gal, LeAnn!
She literally rocked her session. I mean, look at her hair! LOVE it!
Boudoir can carry a sigma of being a little much for some people. But in 2019 I am here to break those lies!
Boudoir is absolutely amazing. It is empowering, boost confidence, and overall is so stinking FUN!
If you are intersted in a PBK boudoir session, slots book fast, so lets chat!


text:
Shell's Colossal Miscalculation in 2011 of Today's LNG Price: Largest-Ever $12-$17-Billion "Floating Facility" Shut Down, Months After Shipping First LNG. Done in by Long Price Collapse
by Wolf Richter • Aug 21, 2020 • 57 Comments
Built to profit from sky-high LNG Prices in Japan. Sunk by surging US LNG Exports, multi-year collapse in LNG prices, global LNG glut.
The Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011 triggered a series of events at the Fukushima power plant that led to catastrophic meltdowns in three of its six reactors, which led Japan to take the remaining of its 54 operating reactors offline, as a new regulatory and safety regime was established for reactors to come back on line. This caused a mad scramble to switch to other forms of power generation, including power plants fired by natural gas, which Japan has to import as liquefied natural gas (LNG), which triggered a blistering spike in LNG prices that caused all kinds of enormous long-term investments to be commenced around the world, including in the US and in Australia, in order to export super-lucrative LNG into booming Asian demand.
But in 2014, the price of LNG started sinking, and in 2015, it plunged, and those investments became huge money pits – including perhaps the largest of them all, Shell's floating LNG-factory, the Prelude FLNG, at a length of 1,600 feet, the largest floating facility ever built, and at an undisclosed cost estimated to have been in the range between $12 billion and $17 billion, now languishing off the coast of Australia (the red hull is the Prelude, the smaller ship in front of it is a huge LNG tanker; image by Shell):
In April 2014, the average spot price of LNG at arrival in Japan was $18.30 per million Btu, according to Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI). This is as far as its data series goes back.
In July 2020, the average spot price of LNG at arrival in Japan was $4.10/mmBtu, according to METI, but that was up from $2.60/mmBtu in May, which had been the low point. July's average price, despite the increase since May, still represents a 78% collapse from the price in April 2014:
In the US, natural gas at the Henry Hub traded in 2014 in the range mostly between $4-$5/mmBtu and would later collapse below $2/mmBtu. A similar price differential to LNG for Japan was occurring in Australia. And a lot of money went to work to arbitrage this price differential, in the US, in Australia, and elsewhere.
Shell made the decision to build the Prelude in May 2011, following the March 2011 earthquake, assuming that pricing of LNG would play out long-term as it was playing out at the time in Japan, with South Korea, Taiwan, and particularly China also being huge and growing LNG buyers. The logic was that demand for LNG would go through the roof, as would prices. The hull of the ship was built in a shipyard in South Korea.
In June 2019, the Prelude, by then operating in the undersea-gas-producing Browse Basin about 125 miles off the coast of northwestern Australia, transferred the first load of LNG to a tanker, a momentous event. By that time, the average price of LNG in Japan had dropped to $7.50/mmBtu. A month later, it hit $4.70/mmBtu. Shell has not disclosed how many shipments have occurred since then.
The Prelude, according to Shell, has a production capacity of "at least" 3.6 million tonnes per year of LNG, 1.3 million tonnes per year of condensate, and 0.4 million tonnes per year of liquefied petroleum gas.
Shell owns 67.5% of the Prelude. INPEX, Japan's largest oil exploration and production company, owns 17.5%. South Korea's state-owned natural gas company KOGAS owns 10%. And Taiwan's state-owned oil, natural gas, and gasoline company CPC Corporation owns 5%.
In theory, the advantage of a floating production platform is that there are no land-based approval hoops to jump through. In theory, Shell could just position the ship in a remote area with undersea gas, develop the field, produce natural gas, liquefy it, and offload the LNG cargo onto tankers in a smooth operation.
But that's not how it worked out.
Australia's ABC News reported today that the Prelude had been shut down in February, citing a statement by Shell that also said that "regular offtake of LNG, LPG and condensate cargoes" had taken place until January, and that the shutdown occurred due to "an electrical trip."
Shell didn't say why, after six months, the facility was still shut down and declined to say when production would restart, but said, "This is the final phase in the multi-stage, multi-faceted, restart process."
"We will be in a stronger position to talk about timing of production and cargo once that has been completed," Shell said, according to ABC.
"Prelude is a multi-decade project and its success will be measured by delivering sustained performance over the long-term," Shell said.
ABC "understands" that Australia's National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is assessing Prelude's revised safety management systems, following three incidences that the agency described as "dangerous occurrences," including two that involved "loss of hydrocarbon containment."
Now there is a vibrant discussion going on among observers whether the highly complex and immensely costly engineering marvel has a future in a world that is experiencing an LNG glut, after years of huge investments in LNG projects around the world, including in the US, which has become a major LNG exporter over the past few years.
This ramped up production of LNG globally has caused prices to plunge in prior years, as the chart above shows, despite fairly strong demand. But since the Pandemic kicked off, demand has also plunged.
After US LNG exporters hit a record of 8.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in January 2020, the Pandemic cut demand globally, and by July US LNG exports had collapsed by 60%, to 3.1 Bcf/d, as global prices had dropped, making exports of US LNG at spot market prices uneconomical.
But the highly-complex engineering marvel, now white elephant moored by eight huge chains to the seabed off the coast of Australia, having already swallowed billions of dollars, requires very high prices of LNG to be economical, such as those seen from 2011 through 2014, but not seen since.
While LNG prices have ticked up from the lows, and while they may rise further, they remain very low, and even if they rise further would still be very low. And given the excess and growing production capacity globally, prices are not likely to return to 2014 levels.
So Shell will need to figure out what to do. The original plan was to keep the Prelude at the location for 20-25 years to develop gas fields. But in April, Shell said in a statement cited by ABC that, "due to the global economic downturn, including the sharp drop in oil price, declining markets and uncertainties with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic," it would delay a final investment decision on developing a gas field needed to keep the Prelude operating in future years.
It comes down to costs and being bypassed by technological innovation, amid stagnating demand for electricity. Read… US Coal Consumption Plunged to Lowest Since at Least 1973. Why There's No Hope for Coal
Tags:LNG
← Australia's Construction Industry Faces "Bloodbath," Says Lobbying Group Clamoring for Bailout, after Riding up the Housing Bubble
Haunting Photos of San Francisco's Desolate Financial District During Morning "Rush Hour": Visual Effects of Work-from-Home →
57 comments for "Shell's Colossal Miscalculation in 2011 of Today's LNG Price: Largest-Ever $12-$17-Billion "Floating Facility" Shut Down, Months After Shipping First LNG. Done in by Long Price Collapse"
nick kelly says:
I hate to say this but maybe all the opposition that stalled LNG pipelines and terminals on BC's coast has saved the industry a lot of money.
Maybe, but Kitimat is still under construction and I believe Howe Sound is as well.
Other people's money….but jobs for locals. The pendulum continues to swing. Current low energy prices aren't forever, that is a certainty.
char says:
Not that many jobs for locals.
Prices are low now but will demand be low in a few years. a lot of jobs have gone so all the state are thinking about creating work for the unemployed. And the solution they have come up with is building a lot of green energy which kills gas demand.
raxadian says:
As long as fracking exists and as long as Solar Energy and Wind power keep getting cheaper..
HAHAHA!
Joe Saba says:
always thought these were easy targets for terrorists
big round ball – at least it would make nice fireworks
kam says:
Paulo:
Lots of jobs for China. Nothing is made in B.C.
Canada, at best, is an assembly plant for China, including the LNG plants.
Trinacria says:
And, I'm sure the management will get generous bonuses for their brilliance in strategic planning. Are there consequences anymore, whether is be large corporations, churches, not for profits and, of course goobermint….
td says:
Of course, the obvious thing to do would be to sail that ship to Kitimat and refrain from building a local plant. The gas fields to support it already exist in Canada, whereas they would have to be developed in Australia as per the article. Of course, that assumes a pipeline can be built to the coast which is far from a done deal.
My bet is that no LNG facilities will be built in Canada in the medium term and that the associated pipelines don't get built.
Garrett Nichols says:
We the pipeline is getting built as is the kitamat facility, pipe is being welded and laid as we speak
Holy crap that thing costs as much as one of the US Navy's new state-of-the-art aircraft carriers.
Prof. Emeritus says:
I'm pretty sure price tag is not the only thing they have in common:
-Both have awful cash flow outlooks
-Greenpeace and pacifists equally despise them
-They probably both take on hookers at a regular base
-Both off-shore drilling and aircraft carriers are disasters waiting to happen
-The general public perceives LNG and the Navy as cool things
Keith Bulls says:
Chevron's Gorgon project is similarly expensive. Mammoth technical undertaking to build floating infrastructure in expectation of high LNG prices.
Gosh, too bad the Japanese disaster wasn't profitable enough, right Shell? I hope there is still a parking (mooring?) spot if the cruise line ships haven't used them all.
But, I do think this miscalculation mishap qualifies for a bail-out. Yo, Jerome.
Thinking the same thing. Now that they have let the world know that any disaster is worthy of a Trillion $/Euro/Yen/Yuan they should open up the checkbook. Think about all the jobs that could be saved by creating just a few hundred ones and zeros.
DR DOOM says:
Japan is our bitch. The Hun is stirring and returning to Winnie's assessement of either the throat or your feet. Putin is enabling the Hun out from under the skirt. Japan is not material and yet is the darling of bobbing talking heads . Myopic analysis yields a narrow result.
Tom Pfotzer says:
"The Hun is stirring and returning to Winnie's assessement of either the throat or your feet."
Stuff your ugly charactizations.
Germany is doing a very fine job of growing from and through previous mistakes. Too bad "Winnie" and Uncle Sugar haven't learned as much from their mistakes.
And neither have you. "Myopic analysis yields a narrow result" … you can mouth the words, but can't do the thinking and growing.
Please do rebut. I'm of Germanic descent, and this is a subject that needs a little attention.
Perhaps Shell should re-cristen the Prelude as the 'Nostromo' instead.
Yancey Ward says:
LOL! I was thinking the same thing looking at it.
Maybe Shell can retool that boat to brew Sake?
That's gotta hurt!
Ro says:
Fed needs a new Special purpose Vehicle that can float for 25 more years and ship the floating liquidity to Shell in the meantime.
This is typical management thinking in the energy industry I worked in for 35 years. Everyone jumps on the "new demand" and builds the $hit out of production facilities until the demand is satisfied and excess capacity comes online right about when the prices for the products drop.
Then the companies have a fire sale and sell the excess manufacturing plants to lower tier competition that couldn't afford to build them in the first go around. Once sold, those new competitors undercut the already low prices and make life even more miserable for the Big Guys who overbuilt in the first go around.
I've seen this drill a few times now in olefins, nat gas, crude oil, and now LNG.
We are in a world of extremes.
Natural gas the same price as 20 years ago, but the world is in an EV stock bubble.
Stock market at all time high, government bond yields at all time low yields.
House prices at all time high and record number of people not paying mortgage.
Record number of obese while politicians tell us people don't have food.
Virus probably leaked out virology lab, vaccine to save us made in virology lab.
baldski says:
I agree. Crude oil tanker charter rates exploded in the early 70's because of the Arabs and the oil majors began building VLCC's (Very Large Crude Carriers) by the dozens only later to take them from delivery to layup on their maiden voyages.
But Shell won't be selling this B*tch….it's way to big and not land based. It must cost a fortune to run this plant. And, LNG plants are very, very dangerous.
I hear tell that the poor, stressed corals are in need of some 'infrastructure improvements ….
'empty' infrastructure, of course.
LouisDeLaSmart says:
@ Anthony
To design a specialised system that needs to be sea water corrosive resistant (cost tenfolds), is highly flamable and is suceptible to weather, is imensly costly and complex. I am not even talking about the fact that most of the parts cannot be of the shelf and need to be custom made increasing maintenance a 10-fold. Since you were in the industry can you please help me understand what is the benefit of this kind of structure, cost wise or logisticaly? I dont get it…I really dont?
I'd love to see the Capital Appropriation Request for this monster. I'd bet it was justified on some the following benefits:
1. High LNG prices going out decades (the sales guys estimates, I'm sure).
2. Captive offshore gas field with lots of capacity.
3. No land-based pipelines needed with difficult to obtain permits to construct (5 – 10 year permitting process).
4. Minimal environmental impact from air emissions and no big air permitting process.
5. Wastewater treated on the unit and authorized to put back into the sea. (Or used onsite after desalination)
6. "It would be as easy as a large oil/gas producing platform to build"…good luck with that!
7. "Other offshore gas plants exist" – ARCO had one in the Java Sea offshore Indonesia. I worked on it for a spell…. but it was NOWHERE near as big or complex as this one.
8. Some exec in Shell got a big bonus for this idea..LOL!
I think HollyWooden needs a hand with a rig here …
You heard it here first –
"Augaworld – the Big Kahuna"
..because things like this get built, out of equal parts cleverness, avariceness, .. and hubris! 'Bidness in a nutshell' .. or in a case such as this, maybe a clamshell is more apt.
Did wonders for the Titanic now, didn't it, splitting in two like a cold crab leg.
Realist says:
I wonder about what the effect on LNG pricing will be if the US doesn't manage to stop the Nordstream 2 from being completed.
None, Nordstream 2 is not to bring more Russian gas to Europe but to stop using the Ukrainian gas network to transport gas from Russia to Europe.
Dadbeh Arshid says:
I believe starting this project was mistake at the very beginning. I when you aim to be the first LNG exporter and building first FLNG platform ever, you have to have ultimate strength at least in technology, human resource or natural gas to guide the market. Besides, production coat and human resource cost here in Australia is much more than production cost in the Middle East. When the LNG and natural gas price drops sharply , end user companies may find the way to pay the cancellation fees and join less cost projects in other regions.
Maybe the low LNG prices will encourage the usage. In Thailand I noticed that trailer trucks are often LNG powered. Where you would have a sleeper, there are 2 or 3 horizontal tanks. LNG filling stations everywhere. I have seen a few trucks and stations in China, but very few.
Just Some Random Guy says:
That's the energy business. It takes years to build facilities during which time the price can swing dramatically.
endeavor says:
Oh, I don't know. Will come in handy some day in the future. Especially if warp drive does't pan out.
This is sad. I am on the record as being a bit of a luddite but exceptions must be made for engineering marvels like the Prelude.
But something made me tick: from the decision to build to "first gas" eight years elapsed. That seems enormous. Granted, the Prelude is one-of-a-kind but still… Did I read that right, Wolf?
Yes, you read that correctly. This was a huge project. Everything on it was complicated and huge and took a long time. It took a long time to design and plan. No one has ever built any ship of this magnitude, and so there were fundamental problems, such as a regular shipyard couldn't build the hull, etc. etc. The keel was laid in 2013. In June 2017, the Prelude started its journey from South Korea to Australia. In December that year, it was in position. There was a final assembly and finishing process. A year later, Dec 2018, production started. June 2019, first cargo was shipped.
These are monster projects. I'm sure it was exhilarating to work on it — all the problems that needed to be overcome. But I sure as heck wouldn't want to work on it now.
Unlike a regular liquefaction facility that gets its gas from a pipeline, this facility produces gas from the seabed then processes the mix of gasses to separate natural gas from the other gases and liquids, and then liquefy the natural gas. So there is a lot more going on in this facility than just liquefaction. In addition, you can have some very rough weather out there. If that thing pops when its storage is full of LNG, it's likely good night for the poor souls on it.
And it was assembled in Australian waters by Australians. Huge wage costs.
And like all Pioneering Projects. The next guy to build one has the benefit of not making all the pioneering mistakes.
"Jeez, that's simple, what's the big deal in building that from scratch?"
And never forget that Murphy is your partner.
So, in essence .. it's a collossal floating gas 'cracker' installation, subject to rapidly changing atmospheric and oceanic weather conditions .. as it simultaneously fights the incessent effects of corrosion via alien sealife, and seawater.. Got it!
'MOTHER!! I turned the cooling units back onnn!'
wkevinw says:
There is a terminal (more than one?) in the Gulf of Mexico that was built to import NatGas and now exports it. The whole market is in reverse compared to the original plan.
– Efficiency
-Fracking
The only problem here is Shell's profits. Does anyone see the glass half full here? They invested in LNG to provide clean safe energy and the price came DOWN. Would it be better somehow if LNG prices doubled? This is great news for industry and consumers. The BOJ has no problem buying dodgy assets, they should step right in. I say good news somebody made the right decision.
MarMar says:
LNG is not the kind of thing I would characterize as clean or safe.
CleanER and safER than oil and coal, perhaps. But not clean nor safe.
t.s. says:
The cost overruns on this project must be enormous. If Dubai can build a plant for 4 billion and claim it to be expensive and produce diesel, jet fuel and gasoline, then what is really going on?
Gorgon (Barrow Island – West Aust) ended up at $65B I believe. Initial estimate was $35B.
The construction camp looked like 4 * resort, and the plant is a monster
9Booger says:
Shell recently sold their Marcellus shale midstream operations also.
I have worked for a nat gas company for 20 years, not that far from the Marcellus. For the first 10 or so years, we would take gas from Canada, and run it south. One the shale took off, it all changed. The nat gas industry constantly changes. The company I work for was looking at an LNG partnership on the East Coast 10, maybe 12 years ago, but it never panned out.
Phillip says:
Is there hope for an increase in the natgas price once the frackers stop pouring money into the ground? I think the thesis that the fracking revolution was only possible with ultra low financing costs. They never had positive cash flow. But with Chesapeake and other frackers going belly up, and the natgas price being so low, that surely the frackers won't be able to continue to get more money to drill away and continue to lose money.
The enviros are lining up against NG as clean energy, and there is no economy of scale. Doubtful the utilities who threatened to drop NG will actually go through with it. In South America they have dual use Propane and CNG autos. NG is still about half the price per BTU of gasoline? The experts who say gasoline is somehow more practical than NG confound me. All the CAFE standards, different blends of crude, refinery pollution and safety issues, then we outsource some, and export other refinery products? How can anyone believe the current refining system is practical, or safe?
JasonK Canadanoyed says:
Maybe a quick, expensive conversion to a desalination device making sea ice for Saudi? It processes alot of water anyway, gots lots of power, and eats money. Using pressure-at-depth also, and harvesting H3O2 and the salts to give engineers a good year of work. What are white elephants made for? Remedial work to pad the ponzi machine. More
DanS86 says:
What hath central bank policy wrought???
Michael Storch says:
One wonders about the financial implications.
Q/ Does it matter that it operated at all?
Q/ What are the accounting impacts, eg, can you depreciate an asset if it never got to be an asset, or must it be immediately expensed ?
Q/ Who would have borne what cancellation costs if it had never operated at all ?
There is yet more game afoot, Wolf !
Khowdung Flunghi says:
"Stranded Asset" – (From Wikipedia)
Stranded assets are "assets that have suffered from unanticipated or premature write-downs, devaluations or conversion to liabilities".[1] Stranded assets can be caused by a variety of factors and are a phenomenon inherent in the 'creative destruction' of economic growth, transformation and innovation, as such they pose risks to individuals and firms and may have systemic implications.[2]
The term is important to financial risk management in order to avoid economic loss after an asset has been converted to a liability. Accountants have measures to deal with the impairment of assets (e.g. IAS 16) which seek to ensure that an entity's assets are not carried at more than their recoverable amount.[3] In this context, stranded assets are also defined as an asset that has become obsolete or non-performing, but must be recorded on the balance sheet as a loss of profit.[4]
brobob says:
no mention of the Russian gas plants in the arctic that China invested in. How has that affected price and demand in asia?
Interesting story.
Of course many know that the big three resource exports from Australia are Iron Ore (Current price around US$129 or so), coal (met and thermal), and LNG.
The only one with its price currently holding up is iron ore. LNG was supposed to over take both iron ore and coal exports in value as a result of high demand and high prices.
Of course, this is only one of the numerous LNG projects that were built in Australia. Another one, Gladstone, on the east coast uses CSG for its source.
So what did all this mean to Australia?
Well, all those nifty projects in the LNG sector pushed up economic growth, wage costs, and the Australian dollar.
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) pushed up interest rates to 'cool' the economy. It didn't make one bit of difference in the oil/gas/mining/immigration sectors at all.
What it did do was decimate domestic production in other sectors and increase imports.
So what about natural gas in Australia?
Well, Western Australia managed to put in place a requirement that prducers would have to set aside a certain amount for domestic use. So they were/are okay.
What about the east coast and Victoria?
The LNG export craze resulted in a shortage of domestic natural gas on the eastern side of Australia and Victoria. Of course, the various state government bans and restrictions on natural gas exploration and development including a ban on fracking and land based exploration/ production of NG here in Victoria didn't help either.
New South Wales also implemented some new rules and regs as well which also hit the sector.
Add in the fact that the CSG projects were coming up short in production amounts to fill the export contracts and that made the situation even worse resulting in more production diverted from the domestic market.
So here in Victoria natual gas prices exploded upwards. We pay about $A20 per mcf at the retail residential price – thats's about US$14 per thousand cubic feet.
(Makes those solar hot water heaters a real good deal!!)
Industrial entities that had to go on new contracts with the higher prices were in big trouble and lots of them that use natural gas shut down as their costs went up.
And the most absurd thing of all?
People are talking about building a LNG IMPORT terminal here in Victoria to import natural gas!!!!
Supposedly the highest LNG exporter, with some of the highest domestic LNG prices, and as you say plans to import (what may amount to some of our own gas) and barely a peep from the plebs, they have no clue.
Corrupt to the bitter end ….. just as we deserve !
DC Long says:
Fukushima fuel pool and reactor breached due to power failure. They survived the Wave and Earthquake intact. Bye bye if you live downwind of one of these gadgets that needs the failing grid to stay stable.
Joe Saba
No reply button on post.
I know you cannot detonate LNG but flameless explosions can occur when LNG hits water.
Nick Smith says:
Natural gas itself makes a lazy fire. The big fires and explosions we see on the news are from compressed natural gas, which when mixed with air in the proper proportions; explode violently and or burn rapidly. The proportions need to be between 5-15% Natural Gas to Air. LNG will not burn (I have extinguished matches and small torches in beakers of this liquid), but a larger torch flame will boil the surface enough to create the gas we use. The gas evaporated from a pool of LNG will burn, but the flame will usually self extinguish when the heat source is removed. If a large enough flame can get going where it can boil the surface while burning off, then the combustion process becomes self sustaining. This still will not explode though, just burn off in a lazy type of imperfect combustion. At this point if water is added (possibly to try extinguish the flame), it will actually boil the LNG surface by warming it above -162 Celsius more rapidly. This creates a much larger amount of gas and therefore a larger flame but it still won't explode. The linked page shows Methane (Natural Gas) will only support combustion in very low concentrations.
Lastly, the Coastalgaslink.com website shows 0% of the pipe has been installed in any of the 8 sections which will be required to transport natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to Kitimat. While work continues, it is at a much slower pace than in previous years. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if this project gets shelved.
Thanks for the excellent article Wolf.


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Detailed analysis of crash statistics based on Australia and United States databases. These analyses, in concert with other results, served as a basis for improving our understanding of the characteristics of young driver crashes. This process was complemented by additional information on young and novice drivers derived from recent behavioural studies.
Graduated licensing is a high profile approach of significant current interest for controlling the way in which novices are introduced into the driving population. Graduated licensing schemes have been debated widely over the past 20 years. The Young Driver Research Program included an evaluation of Graduated Licensing Schemes implemented in Australian States and Territories.
Policies aimed at reducing the risk exposure of young drivers are likely to be effective. The program considered in detail the topic of exposure reduction. In particular, an overview of the possible role of exposure reduction measures in lowering the incidence of young driver crashes was conducted. This overview was intended to provide a comprehensive basis for a detailed consideration of such measures. It is worth noting that countermeasures associated with graduated licensing and exposure reduction are frequently closely associated in analysis and implementation.
To aid consideration of exposure reduction an in-depth analysis of the qualitative dimensions of exposure was conducted using both a nationwide driver survey and direct sampling of drivers.
A minority group of young problem drivers has been widely regarded as contributing a very significant part of the overall problem associated with novice drivers. This concept was addressed in detail in the research program.
The research program analysed in depth the fundamental question of the relative importance of age and experience as contributors to the novice driver problem.
In what follows, the conceptual basis for the FORS young driver research program is briefly overviewed. The findings of the major components of the research program are then presented briefly. These findings do not necessarily represent initiatives proposed by FORS. Application areas will be discussed that appear to have promise for the development of effective novice driver programs, but just as importantly areas will be identified that the FORS program research concluded would be less likely to provide a sound basis for effective or efficient countermeasure development.


When your swag needs an upgrade, head to Haus of Swag for the latest gear! The Haus of Swag is "influenced by free thinkers, creatives and folks who fight conformity". The brand believes that when it's time to be the first at creating something amazing, you have to push past fear, do it anyway and wait for an influential outcome. Those elements grace every one of their t-shirts from Fly Girl to One Dope Chick.
You're welcome, Vashti! Love Ven & Rose's products.
Yessssss keep pushing, Kristina! (email us, too) Thanks!


Sometimes a question arises, "can a house be sold while in probate in Charlotte North Carolina?", and the answer is that it can be sold if simple steps are followed. As real estate investors in Charlotte North Carolina, Elair Properties LLC advises sellers to go through the following steps and also suggests other investors check the procedures when they go for buying property on probate period in Charlotte.
As real estate investors in Charlotte North Carolina, Elair Properties LLC advises sellers to go through the following steps and also suggests other investors check the procedures when buying property in probate in Charlotte.
Can a house be sold while in probate in Charlotte, North Carolina? Yes, but make sure to follow these steps first!
So, as real estate investors, we look for buying property on probate in Charlotte North Carolina that has already sought property appraisal.


Can't be with us on October 11th but love to help anyway? Don't want to run but love our cause and want to help? Are you running the Da Boys BREAD (for schools) RUN in either our Half Marathon or our 5K - and still want to do more?
You will be a perfect Angel!
. . . and you can help any school your heart desires . . . an elementary school - a middle school perhaps - a Jr or Sr High - or a college or university. Any school you choose.
Be an Angel. It feels really good all year round.
Da Boys BREAD (for schools) RUN will be audited by a Certified Public Accountant – the results will be made public.
First — 60% of your Angel gift goes directly to the school you name when you register as an Angel.
Then — 30% of your Angel gift goes into a pool of funds for the Angel schools' cash prize drawings.
Your school can win one of three places in the "Virtual Angel Run" that will take place following the live race completion on October 11. This drawing provides an opportunity for 3 schools to each win a significant cash prize. As an Angel Non-Runner, you will receive one "drawing coupon" in your school's name placed in the bin for every $25 of your gift. Following the live run on October 11, there will be a drawing supervised by a CPA firm until the names of 3 schools are drawn. The first school name drawn will be the 1st place winner, the 2nd school name drawn will be the 2nd place winner, and the 3rd school name drawn will be the 3rd place winner. All of this 30% of Angel Non-Runners' gifts will be distributed this way among the winning schools of the 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place drawings.
If an Angel Non-Runner does not indicate a school preference when registering, their entire gift (less the host-school share) will go to into the drawing prize pot for the "Virtual Run" drawing.
As stated above, each Angel Non-Runner's gift will provide one drawing coupon for each $25 of their gift to be placed into the drawings bin.
Finally — 8% of Angel gifts goes to the host school in your state and 2% goes to Fabius-Pompey Schools.


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Energy, Environment & Resources
Non-Profit & Social Impact
Combatting Climate Change With Artificial Trees
BY MATT WILLIAMS | 4 min read
In 2013, the NOAA reported that CO2 concentrations in the upper atmosphere had reached 400 ppm. What's worse, NASA reports that they could get as high as 800 ppm by 2100, which would result in an average temperature increase of 4.5 °C (8 °F). This change would make like intenable for many regions of the planet, triggering a series of draughts, floods, shortages and humanitarian crises the likes of which the world has never seen.
As a result, there are many who think that lessening our dependence on fossil fuels and coal - mainly by switching over to sustainable, renewable sources of energy - is simply not enough to avoid this worst-case scenario. In addition to producing less in the way of carbon emissions, we also need to start actively removing the carbon we are currently producing from the atmosphere.
One such person is Professor Klaus Lackner, the Ewing and J. Lamar Worzel Professor of Geophysics in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering and the director of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy at the Earth Institute of Columbia University. For the past few years, he and Alan Wright - the senior staff associate at the Lenfest Center - have been working on the development of a carbon capture technology that operates much the same as trees do, only better!
Whereas trees rely on photosynthesis to remove CO2 from the air and produce oxygen, their invention pulls carbon dioxide from the air using bits of whitish-beige plastic that look like artificial leaves. These leaves consists of a resin that is similar to the kind that is used to pull calcium out of water in water softener. This resin is then coated with sodium carbonate, a compound that reacts with carbon to create sodium bicarbonate (aka. baking soda).
The technology is not unlike that employed by submarines and space shuttles, where "CO2 scrubbers" turn human exhalations into recycled, breathable air. However, such devices do not come cheap, mainly because it takes quite a bit of energy to seperate the CO2 from the scrubbers once they have pulled it from the air.
That is where the real genius of Lackney's invention comes into play. In addition to being able to soak up CO2 very quickly, all that is needed to seperate it from the resinous material is water. In a series of demonstrations, Lackner and Wright have used a vacuum chamber (shown below) to show how their leaves can absorb CO2 and then release some or all of it, simply by being washed clean. This, they claim, is there cost-effective answer to the problems of air pollution and climate change.
Contained within a vacuum chamber, the captured carbon is removed using only water. Credit: Youtube/Columbia News
"We need ways of getting the carbon dioxide, which is emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels, back," he said. "In the long term, we need to collect so much carbon dioxide to solve the climate change problem, and the greenhouses are a step on the way. Our goal is to use this to demonstrate you can really capture carbon dioxide and that you can do it at an affordable level."
According to Lackner. a single tree outfitted with an array of artificial leaves would be roughly the same size and production cost of a car. More importantly, it would be able to collect about 900 kg (2000 lbs, or one Ton) of carbon from the air a day - the equivalent of the greenhouse gases produced by 36 motor vehicles in a day. Ten million of these artificial trees, he estimates, would sop up 12 percent of the CO2 that humans add to the atmosphere each year.
The question then is, what to do with all that carbon once it is retrieved? One option is to compress it down and pump it underground - a process similar to what coal-fired power plants are considering using their own form carbon capture technology. In this process, carbon is removed from coal plant emissions by scrubbers located in the smoke stacks, which is then condensed and stored for later use.
Captured carbon could be sequestered underground or used to scour oil reservoirs. Credit: Joe Zeff Design/Columbia University
Another would be to use this CO2 for a process known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where it is pumped into old oil wells as a solvent to scour lingering hard-to-get oil from the ground. EOR currently boosts US oil output by 10 percent a year, and the US government estimates that state-of-the-art EOR with carbon dioxide could add 89 billion barrels of oil to the nation's recoverable oil resources - which is more than four times the country's existing reserves.
Another option is to add hydrogen to the CO2 and convert it into liquid hydrocarbons, essentially turning air pollution into a source of biofuel for vehicles that would burn clean. This latter option is especially attractive because it offers the possibility of a smoother transition between our current state of fossil fuel dependence and our eventual adoption of cleaner methods.
Instead of eliminating cars, airplanes, tankers, gas stations, and an entire energy infrastructure that is dependent on oil and gas, we could simply convert it all to run on hydrocarbon fuels. This has the added bonus of give humanity many more years with which to make the switch over to electric cars, planes, and renewable energy sources. In short, we could save the environment without making any huge changes to our lifestyles.
As always, necessity is the mother of invention, and there are few things more necessary than survival. There is no indication when Lackney and Wrights work might yield a working tree-prototype or when large-scale production might be possible. But given the potential and ease with which it functions, and the benefits it entails, it would be most surprising if artificial trees didn't start popping up very soon in major cities all over the world.
And be sure to check out this video from the Lenfest Center showing Lackner's concept in action:
energy.columbia.edu/
news.columbia.edu/carbondioxide
www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/articles/view/2523
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page5.php
fortune.com/2011/10/07/the-business-of-cooling-the-planet/
ngm.nationalgeographic.com/big-idea/13/carbon-capture
www.bbc.com/future/story/20121004-fake-trees-to-clean-the-skies
www.scientificamerican.com/article/prospects-for-direct-air-capture-of-carbon-dioxide/
www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/elist/eListRead/carbon_capture_technologies_that_could_help_fight_climate_change/
www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/2013-state-climate-carbon-dioxide-tops-400-ppm
www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2013/02/artificial-trees-as-a-carbon-capture-alternative-to-geoengineering/
ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY
How to Poop In Outer Space
All Charities Should (Ultimately) Self-Destruct
NASA Launches the Space Poop Challenge
Embrace the Chaos: Designing for an Antifragile Future
New Partnership Boosts Crowd-Powered Fact Checking Challenge
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The HeroX Spotlight Series: Introducing Alex Allakhverdiyev
HeroX is an amazing group of humans who believe in making the world a better place through innovation and crowdsourcing. Our culture and core values are top priority and each and every HeroXer embodies them. This blog series aims to introduce the world to these amazing humans!
5 Key Insights from COP26
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, took place between 31 October and 12 November 2021. The purpose of this highly anticipated, and also highly debated, conference was to facilitate the world's leaders in creating a shared strategy for protecting our planet's environment.
Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge: The Future of Underground Inspection by Duquesne Light Company
DLC is excited to announce that their crowdsourcing competition, Monitoring Electrical Cable Challenge is officially open and accepting submissions! Innovative minds from across the world are invited to participate in this new and challenging project.


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Home > My Services > My community > Help using the internet
Help using the internet
We are encouraging members of the public to use computers in the Guildhall, Marshall's Yard, Gainsborough to help them make job searches, improve their CVs, access information on benefits, and much more.
Anyone who isn't confident using computers or needs support or advice in accessing the various websites or getting the full benefits from them, can get help from friendly staff and volunteers.
The staff and volunteers work with customers at their own pace, with private one-to-one sessions offering in-depth support. Free expert advice and support is also on offer for help with improving employability and job applications.
Over 600 people have already benefited from this service and many have spoken with enthusiasm about the help they have received.
Stephen wasn't very confident using online services, but after receiving regular support on sending his CV to prospective employers from the project's employment adviser, he was successful in his application to a local company. Stephen said "without the support given to me I wouldn't have been able to send any email applications. I wouldn't have been able to get back into work."
So if you think you could benefit from this service, come along to the Guildhall any weekday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (10.00 a.m. start on Wednesdays) and make use of the computers in whatever way suits you best.
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Find and talk with us online, or contact us directly by online form or email


Since taking over the series formerly known as AMA Superbike, the KRAVE Group, led by former world champion Wayne Rainey, continues to face the uphill climb of rebuilding American road racing, which has fallen on hard times.
For 2018, MotoAmerica made huge rule changes and have worked to rebrand the once-popular series. Revzilla has a nice article on how the changes have gone. Late in 2018, the AMA announced a deal that will keep the AMA Superbike Championship with MotoAmerica through the 2029 season.
One major challenge the series faced was getting a good TV package. The series previously aired on beIN Sports, not exactly a very well-known network, but will move to Fox Sports in 2019. The series announced today that FS2 is now the new "Home of MotoAmerica Superbike Racing," with the network airing 90 minutes of live or same-day coverage of the MotoAmerica Superbike class on both Saturday and Sunday from each of the 10 rounds of the 2019 championship.
In addition, there will also be 90-minute re-airs within seven days of each event on FS2, with a total of 45 hours of the series scheduled.
Saturday, April 6: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Superbikes (Race 1), 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 7: Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta Superbikes (Race 2), 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 13: Circuit of The Americas Superbikes (Race 1), 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 14: Circuit of The Americas Superbikes (Race 2), 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 4: VIRginia International Raceway Superbikes (Race 1), 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 5: VIRginia International Raceway Superbikes (Race 2), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 1: Road America Superbikes (Race 1), 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 2: Road America Superbikes (Race 2), 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 15: Utah Motorsports Campus Superbikes (Race 1), 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 16: Utah Motorsports Campus Superbikes (Race 2), 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 13: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Superbikes (Race 1), 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 14: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Superbikes (Race 2) 6 p.m.
Saturday, August 10: Sonoma Raceway Superbikes (Race 2), 9 p.m.
Sunday, August 11: Sonoma Raceway Superbikes (Race 2) 11 p.m.
Saturday, August 24: Pittsburgh International Race Complex Superbikes (Race 1), 7 p.m.
Sunday, August 25: Pittsburgh International Race Complex Superbikes (Race 2), 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 7: New Jersey Motorsports Park Superbikes (Race 1), 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 8: New Jersey Motorsports Park Superbikes (Race 2), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 21: Barber Motorsports Park Superbikes (Race 1), 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 22: Barber Motorsports Park Superbikes (Race 2), 9 p.m.


ITIL JET Programme / Japan Forum > Professional/Employment > Non-JET Career / Education > What kind of qualifications does one need?
View Full Version : What kind of qualifications does one need?
I recently graduated from school with a B.A. in both history and Japanese, and I studied in Japan during the fall 2011 semester. During my time there I worked as an English conversation partner at an independent language learning lab, and volunteered for community outreach services and taught English to locals. I graduated with distinction in three years, and I am a phi beta kappa, so my academic record is also pretty strong.
I applied for JET and obviously didn't get to the interview stage, but applied for Interac this past recruitment season and got all of the way too the end but didn't get the job. I found this puzzling because throughout the process, the people at Interact told me my chances were very good, and my recruiter at the interview told me that I was pretty much going to receive the position.
I want to work as an ALT in Japan as I am sure most of us here do. I am curious if you can tell me what I can do to improve myself for the ALT companies, because as previously mentioned in another thread, Japanese companies do not disclose why a candidate was declined.
Should I just keep trying to apply for a variety of companies with my current resume? Should I seek a TEFL certification and if so what do you recommend?
I sincerely appreciate any advice or assistance the ITIL community can provide.
Sounds like you're pretty qualified. Just work on your SOP and interview skills. You can have perfect qualifications and still be rejected if you come off as a weirdo.
Yeah if you have those qualifications and aren't getting in it's almost certainly that you're interviewing badly because of nerves/socialawkwardness/overtotakusyndrome. Or you could have just been unlucky. Whatever reason I would say you don't need another qualification.
As to whether you should keep applying for different companies, that's something only you can answer. Do you want to get to Japan that badly? Is it worth the time commitment? Can you afford not to start applying for jobs soon? Would you rather wait a year and apply for JET again?
It sounds to me like you're overthinking/overdoing this, and could possibly be missing something very obvious (are you a socially awkward weirdo? I am, and had to hide this fact during the interview).
As stated above, social awkwardness, being too shy, not enthusiastic enough, being interested in Japan only for anime/manga, etc. would probably disqualify you. Althoughthe majority of ALTs that I have met in Japan tend to fall into at least two of those categories, so either they are better than you at hiding it or you have something else that you are lacking.
I might add that if you are too specific in placement, you probably wont get hired. Tokai jobs tend to be taken by people that are already in Japan. If you just want to get hired, tell them that you are willing to go anywhere in a way that doesn't sound too eager.
It is reassuring to hear that my qualifications are not necessarily falling short. I apologize for the wording on my first post, as I wrote it pretty quickly, and I left out a couple of potential issues.
I had an interview for another position and I asked my roommate to look over my interview sheet and he said that "you seem to write what they want to read rather than about yourself," I.E. I say the standard phrases. I also remember that during my interview, when the recruiter asked me questions, I would take a second and think about my answer, but I thought that was normal. If you have advice on how to change that or improve, I welcome it.
I am very flexible with placement, and my only preference is for a rural area, because I am originally from a small village in Massachusetts and I love that type of community. I could see how I could come across as too eager because I stress my willingness for rural area, but everyone seems to hire for rural areas so I thought that would be a plus.
I do really want go back to Japan because I would feel it would be a waste to study Japanese history and language and not spend a long time in Japan.
Maybe if you're answering questions with standard phrases it's not coming across as sincere? One thing that interviewers really look for in any applicants for any job is the ability to give concrete results that show how they have learned from past experiences.
Q: "How will you be able to deal with the stress of moving to a foreign country?"
A: "I'm a very laid back person and I deal with stressful situations well."
A: "I have already experienced a move far away from my family when I went to college, from Massachusetts to Colorado. Once I arrived in Colorado and began my studies, I also found a part-time job. Learning to keep up with many responsibilities at the same time, while still keeping in touch with my family, has prepared me for the stresses of moving to a foreign country."
Okay, maybe that's not the best example; but in general, concrete answer with a past experience = win.
Otherwise idk why they wouldn't hire you. You have great qualifications, your English is exceptionally coherent (written, anyway), and with good interview skills you should be a very strong candidate. Keep trying!
Last time I got a job in Japan I was told by the recruiter that one of the reasons I was hired was because I had a very friendly and warm smile and when I gave her a demo lesson she felt very comfortable. I never gave it much thought before that, but being warm and friendly does go along way when working with English as a foreign/second language learners.
Last time I got a job in Japan I was told by the recruiter that one of the reasons I was hired was because I had a very friendly and warm smile and when I gave her a demo lesson she felt very comfortable.
Plus you're good with your tongue?


The tongue twisters are written on this page with stressed vowels in bold type, but I suggest that you learn Russian tongue twisters the same way you learned those in your native tongue – listen first, then repeat what you've heard.
Although I am not a professionally trained actress or speaker, I invite you to listen to my standard, Russian pronunciation to help you sound more like a native speaker. Enjoy!


When traveling away from home for an extended period of time, I always take advantage of the the handy-dandy hold mail service our US post office provides. There's no fear of mail getting wet in my less-than water-proof mailbox, going missing, or having no room to fit after several days' accumulation.
At the end of the hold duration, I have the wonderful option to have my mail delivered in bulk right to my very front door. What service and peace of mind! I wish I had this option in other areas of my life. How grand would it be to put a hold on laundry, receiving electronic communications/notifications, trials and tribulations—just about anything we choose?
In all seriousness, the process of putting my mail on hold is a simple one. It's a choice I make and a quick click of a button. But, the "hold button" isn't only used on just my mail, and I promise it's not the only time you use it either.
"…To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts" (Hebrews 4:7, KJV).
Pending our travel or day-to-day schedules, we have a tendency to set up temporary hold patterns in one area of our life we really shouldn't: our relationship with God. We don't need to log onto a Website and set up a hold schedule. We make a decision in our mind (heart) we've had enough of God for the day and put a mental hold on our relationship with Him. We put a spiritual hold on the messages coming to us from glory.
When I'm in a spiritual funk, I always see God convicting me about what I'm doing at every turn. When my flesh gets out of whack, it's easy to want to push back on God and say, "that's enough. I don't need any more spiritual instruction today." We can't shut God off and then pull Him out of the postal bin when it's convenient for us (or when we're in a better mood).
My mother recently articulated her woes of held mail delivery. Multiple times, she's had to call the post office and inquire as to the location of her held mail. It just doesn't show up when it's supposed to after being put on hold. When we make the conscious decision to put God on hold enough times, He might linger a little while before returning to us. After our fleshly episode, He might want to see if we truly want Him in our life (Psalms 25:4–5).
My mother's been lucky to find her mail in a short amount of time after her search, but with God, we might not always be as fortunate. The more we choose to put God on hold—in duration and frequency—there will come a point in time when we won't be able to find God in the random post office bin anymore (Genesis 6:3; Isaiah 55:6). I don't want to run the risk of losing my "knee-mail" from God. Do you?
Lord, help us today to make a conscious decision not to put You on hold. We need to hear from You every hour of every day. Guide our footsteps and help us to be a vessel that brings You honor and glory. Help us desire to hear Your voice and seek after your correction. Don't let us look to You only in a convenient season. Thank you for helping us keep our heart focused on You, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
It's time to stop putting God on hold. Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17) and let His praise forever be on our lips (Psalms 34:1)!


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And Then, Five Years Went By...
By Avi Quijada
Category: Featured Stories
I remember when I discovered X-Files News. I remember the feeling so clearly that I can vividly feel the smell of my office. They had cleaned the floors with some lavender cleaner and someone had burned the coffee in the break room down the hall. That's not quite important right now, but in retrospect, it was probably the most remarkable moment of my life.
It really was, I just didn't know it, yet.
I wasn't lucky enough to be part of the founding team of this website, but I joined shortly after. The long hours that come with working at XFN became second nature; the constant thinking and planning, all the cork and dry erase boards, all the ideas scribbled in napkins, and the heartache and the rewards of being part of a fandom that outweighs any other in enthusiasm, intelligence and ambition.
X-Files News turns five today. According to the Center of Disease Control, if we went to preschool, we should be able to recite the alphabet by now, name colors and numbers and hop on one foot for extended periods of time.
I'm happy to say that we seem to be healthy students. We have excelled at this by practicing out favorite request: Greenlight XF3. Many of you have joined us in our constant chant for this desire and we're delighted to be in such company.
The CDC adds that by now a five year old would also be prone to have friendships and can tell what's real and what's make believe. As years went by, we've sailed through many ventures. We have grown and learned a lot since we first set ourselves up to be part of this website and this community.
Our initial objective, back when Holly Simon brought XFN to life, was to inform the fans of a movie that had six years in the making. We would then learn the ups and downs that entailed that production; we were excited with every new discovery, and with every new spoiler. We were excited to see Mulder and Scully again.
From informing you the latest news about the X-Files Cast and Crew, to organizing charity campaigns and fan initiatives, Skype files marathons, fan events, we have been part of an ongoing education that always leaves us room to keep wanting more.
Since then, XFN has also reached to other arenas, inspired by the show and the people that feed us with creative energy, and so we dared to come up with XFN Productions - our own production company. Just a small thing that challenges us to dream of other ways to service this fandom but also keep going and exploring this ever changing community.
It is my belief that one of the most important things that this website has allowed us is the opportunity to relate to each of you, finding understanding and support that makes this such a wonderful experience.
I don't think we say it enough, but we would be nothing if it weren't for the very supportive community that we feed from. The X-Philes are the most resilient and intelligent fandom there is, in my humble opinion. I know that every fan community will say this about them, but we have the chops to speak about our road in the fandom universe. We're fans of a show that premiered over nineteen years ago, and instead of dying down, we keep getting stronger.
This is why XFN will be here until we see this through, and we're not alone in this. That's what makes us strong as a fandom, and that's what makes us proud to be part of it.
Along the years organizations such as Big Light, Grupo The X-Files Chile, X-Files Memories, X-Philes in Japan, X-Files Memories, LAX-Files, Akte-X, IBG, X-Files Russia, XFU, Haven, Area 42, Club X-Files Argentina, Club The X-Files Mexico, X-Philanthropy, Back to Frank Black, Beyond The Sea and Aussie X-Files Fans on Facebook have been part of this community's struggle to guarantee our presence.
We've been blessed with the opportunity to count with the support of all of you and even the studio, and the cast and crew of the show. You have been nothing but generous and gracious when it comes to relating to the fans and that's not the norm.
I know there are more of you around the world that have hopped with us in this train along the way, and I apologize in advance for forgetting to mention you, but know that you're present in every plan that we explore, in every email that we read, in every frustration, in every moment of candid happiness.
That's when I realize that we also have learned how to recognize what's true to us. Time might pass, sometimes leaving us tired and breathless, even making us lose hope, but the resistance to let go will always be there. That proves to me that the people that share our beliefs are in this for the right reasons, and this doesn't come lightly. You folks are here because you've learned that this show is not just another empty hour of entertainment in the programming of a network, but it's been the school to many of you that have dared to dream beyond it.
Many of you have become scientists, artists, writers, law enforcement agents, directors, producers, researchers, philosophers, to just quote a few. In a nutshell, all of you became truth seekers on your own realm, because you were inspired in part by the dream of someone that dared to believe in something that seemed intangible once, and now is part of this world's cultural footprint.
I will be forever grateful of the people that have joined our venture within our ranks. The time spent in this little hobby of ours comes with great sacrifice and we often forget that it comes with a price, mainly because we've learned that the amount of satisfaction that this gives us could not be rewarded with money. In hindsight, I think if we were paid to do this it probably wouldn't hold the same value that it does.
So to our body of reporters, editors and general staff around the world, that disregard time zones and sleep patterns, bills and time apart from your families, I wish there was a bigger word I could use to recognize your tireless commitment to XFN and the phile nation. A THANK YOU will have to suffice for now.
I hope that this milestone will mark the beginning of many projects that are still to come to fruition; and there are many on our list, especially that little one known as XF3. 2012 might have sneaked up on us, it might have shown up before we even noticed, but it doesn't mean in any way that is a sign to quit this fight.
One of the things that sometimes go unnoticed or forgotten is that each and every one of us at XFN is still a fan at heart. One of those people that will pop in Fight The Future, recite the lines and smile when we see our heroes fight the good fight. Each of us is as excited as any of you. Don't forget that. Our hearts leap and race every time we relish on the memories and the possibility of more X-Files to come. So to quote that man that always inspires us, "Don't give up!" because we won't.
Happy 5th anniversary to my XFN family, wherever you are and whenever you are; I'm proud to lead this team of fighters, and honored to be among you. You have made me who I am, and I hope I've served you right.