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Q: Ubuntu 18.04 Both Drives hang at boot on raid I am having booting issues with Ubuntu on 2 hard drives.
I built this rig with Nvidia i6800 motherboard, and 2 HDs,
The reason for 2 drives is one is the main and the other is a backup.
GRUB BOOTS
Main SATA:  ST2000DMOOB-2FR102

Backup SATA: WDC WD20EZAZ-00GGJB0

With 2 memory slots gone bad out of the 4 on that i6800 MB, I decided to change out the motherboard.
And I did to a: Intel DQ77MK Quad Core i5 3470 3.2GHz 8GB DDR3 Motherboard CPU RAM Combo - 14381
Now with better hardware Ubuntu on both drives is running great!
The problem is booting, both drives hang here:
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [    4.399682] sd 3: [sdb] Write cache: enabled, read cache: enabled, doesn't support DPO or FUA
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [    4.439785]  sdb: sdb1
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [    4.448272] sd 3: [sdb] Attached SCSI disk
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [    4.677222] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [   93.650765] raid6: sse2x4   gen() 14885 MB/s
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [   93.714763] raid6: sse2x4   xor() 10192 MB/s
Jan  4 17:47:39  kernel: [   93.770764] raid6: sse2x2   gen() 12508 MB/s

Between , ata6: SATA and raid6, is 1.4 minutes. is there a way to see what happening?
Jan  3 23:02:40  kernel: [    2.595791] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)
Jan  3 23:02:40  kernel: [   92.398272] EXT4-fs (sda1): mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. Opts: (null)

This time at ata6: SATA and EXT4, 1.5 minutes, I'm very curious what is causing this delay.
I have no idea what the problem is, yet google searching has led me to a lot.
There is no floppy disc option in the bios.
Really like to get this fix, it takes some time to boot.
Thanks for you help.
Using the command:
nano /etc/fstab

Main Boot Drive  /etc/fstab
 # <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=3ba4b7d5-9192-43b6-a2b8-955b8eb4ed7c /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1

2nd Boot Drive
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=3bbd0470-d6a3-48e8-8884-e5b2d28fcd00 /               ext4    errors=remount-ro 0       1
/swapfile                                 none            swap    sw              0       0

I know the errors are setting drives to read only and that's ok, but why is it taking so long to boot?
So it seems there is a mounting problem, like I said, this is over my head, and I'm learning more everyday.
A fix for this would be great!
I no longer get the ubuntu loading screen, not sure why?
Thanks for the help.
dmesg | grep SATA

$ dmesg | grep SATA
[    1.105157] ahci 00000:1f.2: AHCI 0001.0300 32 slots 6 ports 6 Gbps 0x2d impl SATA mode
[    1.143179] ata1: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf6336000 port 0xf6336100 irq 26
[    1.143379] ata3: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf6336000 port 0xf6336200 irq 26
[    1.143496] ata4: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf6336000 port 0xf6336280 irq 26
[    1.143693] ata6: SATA max UDMA/133 abar m2048@0xf6336000 port 0xf6336380 irq 26
[    1.451472] ata1: SATA link up 1.5 Gbps (SStatus 113 SControl 300)
[    1.851525] ata3: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
[    3.163558] ata4: SATA link up 3.0 Gbps (SStatus 123 SControl 300)
[    3.483549] ata6: SATA link down (SStatus 0 SControl 300)

*******UPDATE*******
I was planning on using the bios to set which drive to boot from but GRUB jumps in and seems to ruin my plans.
Now if I lose the main drive, I cannot boot from the backup drive, I need to fix that. Hopefully I can!
The Ubuntu install on both drives is default from file system to swap to ect...
It appears only the main drive boots, there is a boot.log file there but, no info in the boot.log file on the back up drive, just a blank empty file.
There are files for the kernel.log and system with info in them on the backup drive.
"No btrfs" with both drives using ext4 I see no need for that system.
So I will remove it, since it is not needed.
"No swap partition (this will effect hibernation)", this seems to compensate for lack of memory no problem there, I have 8g of memory  was planning on going to 32 if needed.
"GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash noresume"
I moded that line already with,
"GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""
Now i can see the drive booting.
"GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="noresume"
Is that the way I should edit that line in that file?
 I want to keep seeing the booting on screen.
open(or create) /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/resume.conf
replace(or add) RESUME=UUID=xxx with RESUME=noneissue
That folder conf.d is empty on both drives.
No problem creating a file.
How do I find the "UUID" and if there is two, which one should I use?
Thanks for your help....

A: The booting issue was because of Ubuntu.
I upgraded to 20.04 and it screams blazing fast at boot now!
The problem was Ubuntu.


I have a 1979 Wing Series Hawk. I am looking the wiring diagram for this particular guitar as it seems to have been modified. The two volume controls are push pull pots. I am not sure this was standard wiring. Someone also replaced one of the pickups.
Anyone live in the Salem Oregon area.
Maybe you could try one of the tele bridges that look cut off for installing a humbucker, or a strat hardtail brige.
it apart. I cannot think of of any guitar I would trade it for.
I have one of those and someone replaced the bridge pickup with one of the JB humbuckers , it is to small for the ring and it is also black. Does anyone know what would replace it and look original ?
for output to see what will replace it.
bad could it be? It looks like all of the parts you need would be bolt on.


Gold engagement rings that are handmade out of 14k gold. Their texture simulates a frozen surface in organic shaped rings.
Leave us your finger sizes in a comment at check out.
Or send us an email at orr@orr.is .


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Briggs & Stratton to open Alabama distribution hub, creating 20 jobs
AUBURN, Alabama — Briggs & Stratton Corp. announced plans today to open a 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Alabama, adding 20 new jobs to its significant manufacturing presence in Auburn.
The new Alabama distribution hub, focusing on Briggs & Stratton engines and other products, will allow the company to reduce delivery times to its customers in the Southeast region. The new facility is expected to be operational by spring 2019.
The Auburn center is part of a broader strategic plan by Briggs & Stratton to consolidate a number of smaller warehouse operations throughout the U.S. into two large operations. The company will also open a new distribution hub in Germantown, Wisconsin, under this plan, which will be in addition to the company's existing service and parts distribution center located in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
"By consolidating our current footprint into two large distribution centers, we're increasing efficiencies to more effectively serve our customers," said Bill Harlow, director of global distribution and warehousing at Briggs & Stratton.
Briggs & Stratton announced plans to produce commercial Vanguard engines at its Auburn plant in late 2017. Now, it plans to open a massive distribution center in Auburn. (Image; Governor's Office, Hal Yeager)
Briggs & Stratton, which has operated in Auburn for 23 years, is one of the city's largest industrial employers, with more than 430 workers. (Image: City of Auburn)
"The locations in Germantown and Auburn will provide a North American enterprise distribution footprint that supports our strategy and customers with optimal inventory and order delivery while managing space and capital investment."
Briggs & Stratton's decision to add the Alabama distribution hub comes less than one year after the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company launched a major expansion at its Auburn manufacturing facility.
In October 2017, the company announced a $12 million project to begin production of Vanguard commercial V-twin engines in Auburn, eventually creating 50 jobs. The new warehouse will be used to store these engines, along with other products, for final shipment.
"I'm encouraged to see Briggs & Stratton expand again in Alabama because I know that means that they are finding all the ingredients they need for success right here in our state," Governor Kay Ivey said.
"This represents a powerful endorsement from a leading manufacturer and shows once again that we are open for business."
Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the addition of the distribution hub reflects the high level of confidence Briggs & Stratton has in its Auburn operation and the workforce there.
"Supporting world-class companies like Briggs & Stratton that are looking to grow in Alabama is a high priority for the state's economic development team," Secretary Canfield said.
"They've been a great corporate citizen in Auburn for many years, and we look forward to seeing them continue to grow in the state."
'EXCITING TIME'
Briggs & Stratton, which began operations in Auburn in 1995, is one of the city's largest industrial employers, with more than 430 workers. Its existing manufacturing facility primarily produces twin-cylinder engines for lawn-mowing equipment.
"Auburn is happy with the continued commitment of Briggs & Stratton to our community," Mayor Bill Ham said.
Dave Rodgers, senior vice president and president — engines and power at Briggs & Stratton, said the decision to open the new distribution hubs aligns with the company's commitment to invest in being a "partner of choice" in the communities where it operates.
"We're already enhancing two of our existing plants in Auburn, Alabama, and Statesboro, Georgia, to bring production of our commercial Vanguard V-Twin engines back to the U.S., and we're continuously investing in our research and development efforts to create products that help make work easier and lives better — it's an exciting time to be at Briggs & Stratton," he said.
Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment.
2A to expand its Auburn foundry, creating over 50 jobs with $15 million project
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Governor Kay Ivey announced today that 2A S.p.A., a prominent Italian die-casting company, plans to invest $15 million to...
Briggs & Stratton to invest $12 million in Alabama expansion, creating 50 jobs
AUBURN, Alabama – Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. plans to begin production of Vanguard big block V-twin...
Auburn mayor: BCS Championship Game exposure a lift for Alabama city
PASADENA, California – Regardless of how the pigskin bounces in Monday night's BCS Championship Game, Bill Ham Jr., the longtime mayor of...
Tags: Auburn, Briggs & Stratton
Walmart opens $135 million distribution center in Alabama

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We predicted that 3D printing was capable of executing miracles and that it would soon become the talk of the day. Recently, a woman received world's first 3D Printed implant for her skull.
So why did she need the implant in first place? 3 months ago, a 22 year old Dutch woman was brought to UMC Utrecht hospital with a rare disease. The disease thickens the patient's skull and adds pressure to the brain. The woman in question was losing her eyesight when she was brought to the hospital and was unable to control her face. Bon Verweij is a surgeon at UMC Utrecht and according to him, when the patient was brought to hospital; her skull was 5 cm thick which was basically 3.5 cm thicker than the average human. Owing to her condition, immediate operation was critical.
The process started with scanning of patient's head and production of her skull's 3D model. Using this model, Verweij and his team was able to design and then print a cranial implant (half dome) by using biocompatible plastics. The last phase was the most complicated one and it lasted for 23 hours during which the UMC Utrecht team carried out the removal of upper half of patient's skull and replaced it with the custom built prosthesis.


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ELECTEX
Irelands Electrical Awards 2020
Electrical Magazine
3 is the magic number
Redesigned by Dublin-based firm, The Building Consultancy, earlier this year, the Customer Experience Room had to demonstrate to clients the services Three is capable of providing in an innovative, concept driven way.
Karl O'Donovan, Director at The Building Consultancy, worked on the project.
"We managed to create quite an animated room as opposed to something static. As there was an issue with echo in the room, we used panels from Ecophon and we specified LED strip lights on the top side of the panels to create a halo effect. We're very happy with the end result."
Connor O'Hare and Marc Barry from Premier Contracts designed and supplied the lighting installation, while Andrew Mac Loughlin from Phoenix Electrical installed the system that was ultimately specified.
Marc says that because the project was well planned out from the start, and the actual build only took approximately two-and-a-half weeks.
"That included fabrication of all parts and sourcing of systems as well," he said. "We were working to drawings and had everything pre-planned and prefabricated so we were ready to go in and actually install it on time."
The RGB lighting system that was specified, along with the baffles was a challenge.
"We needed to find a solution that worked because when RGB lights are a strip light, they're very much a straight line," added Marc. "They'd have maybe a 10-20 degree turning capability on them but we needed them to go a full 360 degrees around the circular baffles. The challenge was to source a product that would satisfy that requirement."
The team at Premier Contracts spoke with Andrew O'Hare at CEF Ltd and Joseph Kumor at Lumeno Lighting in Galway who helped them plan out the actual lighting installation before it was designed and supplied.
"We didn't want to use standard, off-the-shelf domestic RGB lights so we ended up getting the RGB strip control system from Lumeno in Galway. It's an excellent system, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it or to use it again.
"Joseph from Lumeno was on hand at all times to answer any questions we had; he even answered the phone to me at 8pm in the evening. I can't recommend them enough."
Once the system was chosen, Andrew Mac Loughlin set about installing it.
"I've used the system once or twice before, it's very straightforward. I've used quite a few LED strips over the years; this is definitely one of the most complex while at the same time one of the easiest to use."
Andrew says a significant amount of work was required for the LED strips themselves as each one requires a cable to come back to one central point.
"It's all controlled from one central point; you don't have to link from one to the other, you can bring a separate cable back each time and control it all from one point. It's very simple to use and really was the best option for the project."
THE PROJECT TEAM
Premier Contracts
Unit 53 Parkwest Enterprise Centre, Parkwest, Dublin 12
T: (RoI) 01 612 0564 or (NI) 00353 (1) 612 0564
M: (RoI) 086 0437793 or (NI) 00353 86 0437793
W: www.premiercontracts.ie
The Building Consultancy
14 Whitefriars, Peter Row, Dublin 2, Ireland
T: (RoI) 01 6341000+353 or (NI) 000353 1 6341000
W: www.thebuildingconsultancy.ie
Phoenix Electrical
7 Church Place, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
T: (RoI) 01 285 1139 or (NI) 00353 1 285 1139
W: www.phoenixes.ie
Customer Experience Room
Over 20,000 ECS cardholders sign-up for Electrotechnical Certification Scheme
D&V Network Solutions Ltd provides exceptional service
ELECTEX 2020 dates announced for Belfast and Dublin
The premier league of trade events!
Grand (lighting) designs
3000 green bottles hanging from the ceiling
ELECTEX CORK 2019
Knauf takes flooring to another level
Big changes ahead for Irish installations?
Products297
Industry Latest122
Company News104
Wiring44
Tools & Workwear40
Case Studies34
Electrical Magazine Ireland
© Copyright Karen McAvoy Publishing Ltd


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Texas LTL Carrier Central Freight to Close Doors
December 13, 2021 • by Vesna Brajkovic • Bookmark +
Central Freight Lines will shut down its more than 2,000-employee business after 96 years.
Photo: Central Freight
Beginning Dec. 13, Central Freight Lines will no longer pick up freight. The Waco, Texas, less-than-truckload carrier announced it will shut down its business after 96 years due to debt, leaving more than 2,000 truck drivers and other employees out of a job.
Central Freight will deliver the freight currently in its system, company officials wrote on its website, ceasing operations by Dec. 20.
The company said it is coordinating with regional LTL carriers to afford its employees opportunities to apply for other LTL jobs in their area. On Central Freight's Facebook page, several users are commenting on the latest post with possible job opportunities.
Central Freight said in a statement that the company was unable to fund ongoing operations, find a buyer for the business, or fund a reorganization.
"We make this announcement with a heavy heart and extreme regret that the company cannot continue after nearly 100 years in operation," Central Freight Lines officials said in a statement. "The company explored all available options to keep operations going. However, operating losses sapped all remaining sources of liquidity, and the company's liabilities far exceed its assets, all of which are subject to liens in favor of multiple creditors."
The company said it was unable to get commitments to fund ongoing operations, find a buyer of the entire business, or fund a Chapter 11 reorganization. "Given its limited remaining resources, the company concluded that the best alternative was a safe and orderly wind-down. As we complete the wind-down process, our primary goal will be to offer the smoothest possible transition for all stakeholders while maximizing the amount available to apply toward the company's obligations," said Bruce Kalem, Central Freight's president, in that statement.
Central Freight is in negotiations to sell a substantial portion of its equipment. According to published reports, one competing LTL that likely will buy some of Central's equipment and hire some of its drivers is Virginia-based Estes Express Lines.
CFL last year received the maximum award of $10 million through the PPP (Paycheck Protection Program.) In the fall of 2020, there were rumors that the company was shutting down its Western operations, which the carrier said were untrue at the time, according to published reports. That was followed by a management shake-up in December, with owner Jerry Moyes stepping in as interim president and CEO. He said at the time his goal was to optimize the company's existing LTL services while expanding product offerings to deliver more for CFL customers.
Central Freight was one of HDT's Top Green Fleets of 2019.
Read more about Central Freight Lines LTL


The Fitzpatrick Company, well known supplier of the FitzMill Comminutor for over 70 years, is now introducing the Fitz-cM Classifier Mill. Fitzpatrick brings their background of supplying high quality precision process equipment to Classifier Mill Technology. Fitzpatrick's background in the Chemical, Food, Mineral and Pharma industries has been applied to this equipment for a rugged yet sanitary and cleanable design.
The Fitz cM Classifier Mills are designed to provide size reduction with integrated classifier to insure the desired product is achieved. The mill operating principle is mechanical impact size reduction which minimizes the operating energy costs. The internal air flow then leads the material to the integrated air classifier to separate the desired product from the material that is still too large. The Classifier operating principles balance centrifugal force and drag force to generate a high precision method of classifying particles according to size and density. The oversize particles are then automatically returned to the milling chamber until they are reduced to the desired size. By adjusting the milling and classifier parameters, the system can be set up to achieve a wide range of size reduction objectives, from 97% below 150 microns to 97% below 10 micron.
Units up to 75 HP feature a double walled main housing, which greatly reduces noise break out and ensures product contact parts are easily removed for cleaning.
Bearing housings feature co-axial drive shafts, to enable the mill rotor and classifier wheel to be independently driven and the speed of each varied to optimize the system for each application. Cooling is available for the bearings, in addition to air purging if required.
Fitzpatrick offers complete engineering for systems that are customized for specific applications. Fitzpatrick also offers a service team for equipment training and process optimization. Let Fitzpatrick put its many years of Size Reduction experience to work for you.


Years ago, the cloud was either a myth or an advanced, new perk for call center managers looking to get a leg up on the competition. In 2008, the adoption rate of cloud-based contact center solutions was a mere 2.2 percent; however, by 2011, that figure more than doubled to 5.9 percent, and by the end of 2015, it's expected that about 18 percent of all contact center seats will be in the cloud.
Needless to say, operating a cloud-based contact center is no longer just a perk…it's a necessity. Here are three reasons why you need to take your call center operations to the cloud if you haven't done so yet.
According to a study conducted by LinkedIn, 54 percent of companies consider security their top concern for transitioning to the cloud; however, a study by Mimecast shows that in actuality, 57 percent of companies saw increased security with cloud computing compared to more traditional computing methods. Additionally, cloud contact centers are known to have better defense against payment fraud and other counterfeit activity.
The cloud computing market was projected to peak at around $150 billion by the end of 2013 by industry analysts including Gartner and Merrill Lynch, with much of this growth coming from pressure from businesses to move into the cloud computing realm to gain a competitive advantage. What makes you think that your competitors haven't already tapped into the potential of which the cloud has to offer? Not much.
While this may seem like common knowledge, it's never a bad idea to reinstate the fact that cloud-based tools lead to enhanced productivity in the contact center. Not only does cloud computing infrastructure better arm your disaster recovery plan (which will boost productivity when facing downtime), but cloud-based software enables you to deploy in only minutes, which leads to quicker customer connections. Additionally, cloud-based features like virtual queuing, hosted predictive dialer and seamless multi-channel integration all allow for better overall flexibility and efficiency.


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'It's A Basic Human Right': The Fight For Adaptive Fashion
From constrictive corsetry to blistering 6in heels, the oft-quoted line: "You have to suffer for fashion," has afflicted humanity for centuries (however much it seems alien to our current wardrobe of Zoom-friendly sweatpants). But what happens when even a simple garment is disabling? Or when suffering for fashion is not a stylistic choice, but an everyday reality that can affect someone's quality of life?
For many disabled people, off-the-peg clothes are inaccessible and cause discomfort, from fiddly buttons to seams that chafe in a wheelchair. "Clothing plays an important part in living well," says Monika Dugar, the co-founder of Reset with Usha Dugar Baid, an adaptivewear brand that launched at a virtual event during London fashion week. "Due to restricted mobility, clothing choices can impact whether people with disabilities can operate functionally."
Inspired by Dugar's father, who has Parkinson's disease, the first Reset collection fuses op-art prints with solution-based design; think jackets with Velcro closures and a polo neck with easy-entry shoulder fastenings. "Every garment has to make a statement; a statement where design and functionality merge," says Dugar. "We go through multiple stages of prototypes, testing and feedback."
Thinking about fashion in this way requires designers to become engineers, utilising problem-solving, innovation and empathy. Although she studied at the London College of Fashion and completed internships at Paul Smith and Mary Katrantzou, Dugar's foray into adaptivewear is self-taught. "An important part of the process is failing – and recognising this – to bring the best solution," she says. "Designing for people with disabilities isn't a trend, it's a necessity."
The launch of Reset reflects a growing demand for disability-friendly fashion. With the adaptive clothing market forecast to be worth nearly £280bn by 2026, it is unsurprising that a handful of brands have their sights on this overlooked consumer group.
This month, Nike released its first hands-free trainer. Three years in the making, the Nike Go FlyEase aims to revolutionise footwear for people who can't put on shoes independently. The design features a "bi-stable hinge", which allows the wearer to slip in, step down and get moving in one action, requiring no bending or unfastening.
In addition to the established brands, there are several startups in this space. Take Unhidden Clothing, a label offering minimalist wardrobe staples that accommodate colostomy bags, with the option to request further alterations at checkout.
Then there is Megami, which is redefining post-mastectomy lingerie with its sultry bras that feature discreet pockets for prostheses. Another is I Am Denim, which designs stretchy jeans for wheelchair users and people undergoing abdominal surgery; a hidden Lycra panel sewn into the waist prevents discomfort when seated.Advertisement
Despite encouraging statistics and inclusive product launches, adaptivewear remains a niche market and is struggling to reach consumers. A recent New York Times investigation exposed how algorithms routinely blocks adaptive fashion adverts from platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. Mostly, it comes down to product misidentification: items promoting medical devices are automatically rejected for policy violation. Here, technology is an impediment for the adaptivewear market, but used correctly it offers vast potential.
Advances in 3D printing will revolutionise fashion for disabled consumers. Whether it is a specific leg length, to accommodate amputations, or easy-access fastenings, individual features can be edited on to printed garments. "It allows the customer to tailor the tightest of details. Areas of 'bespoke editions' can be saved as a file that's used on various items, not just the one look," says Leanne Elliott Young, a co-founder of the Institute of Digital Fashion. "This means a lot for those who don't fit into fashion's old-school structures."
Other innovations include fuseproject's Seismic powered suit, a wearable device that augments the body with cyborg-like abilities. The bodysuit contains electric muscle power to improve strength and mobility. The Dutch designer Pauline van Dongen, meanwhile, has prototyped smart knitwear. Her Vigour cardigan monitors the wearer's biometrics through sensors in the yarn to aid physiotherapy treatment. There is also a biotech company pioneering fabric that releases antioxidants and nutrients into the skin.
With expensive price tags, long waiting lists and unavailability in developing countries, adaptivewear will unintentionally increase inequality among disabled people. Governed by commercial incentives, companies put profit-making over providing unfettered access. It raises the question: should consumerism be attached to products that address medical needs?
"Adaptive design is a basic human right," says Maura Horton, the founder of the e-commerce site Juniper, which is launching in the UK this year. Aiming to be the Asos of disability-friendly clothing, Juniper will make adaptivewear more accessible than ever. "If we are doing our jobs correctly, there will not be an up-charge for adaptive design," says Horton. "More designers exerting the space will help form a competitive landscape."
As fashion faces a moment of reckoning, adaptivewear sets a precedent for diversity. From the design process to the models and end customers, it is a world where inclusion can no longer be an afterthought.
from → Fun Stuff
← DWP Has Paid Out £32 Million To Claimants So Far For PIP Errors
Marguerita Moorcroft Obituary →


A super-rare full on-site ticket from the 1971 Heavyweight Championship fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The undefeated champions met on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden in New York. In arguably his greatest performance Frazier prevailed, knocking Ali down in the final round en route to a unanimous fifteen round victory.
The fight was a sellout and virtually everyone who had a ticket attended. Subsequently very few full tickets from the event have surfaced. We are proud to present one of those examples here, fresh to the hobby. Purchased by a British fight fan who had to cancel their travel plans at the last moment, the ticket had been kept by the family until they recently decided to part with it. The ticket names the fighters and includes a section, row and seat number. It has been graded authentic in VG-EX condition by PSA. The only thing preventing it from being mint is a light paper clip indentation to the right edge. To all essential purposes it appears mint. An exceptionally rare opportunity to own a full ticket from the Fight of the Century.


The world of eBooks has exploded, but it goes well beyond the Amazon bestseller list. Thousands of businesses have found the value in creating their own eBooks for use in content marketing efforts. Of course, if you've never created an eBook in the first place, it can be more than a little tricky. Follow these tips to ensure that you achieve success.
Your Purpose: If you're interested in primarily providing value to readers, then you can feel free to create a lengthy eBook that explores the topic in depth in order to do so. However, if the purpose of the book is to whet the appetite of customers or potential customers, then you need to keep it shorter.
The Topic: Not all topics demand several hundred pages to explore them fully. No matter how interesting you think the growing conditions of a subspecies of tropical mushrooms might be, chances are good that they can be exhausted within a few chapters. Conversely, the factors that go into creating a running shoe from design to production could run into the hundreds of pages. Make sure the length of the book relates to the topic itself.
Your Audience: Different audiences have different attention spans. A younger audience wants the most crucial information right now, while an older audience might be willing to read a longer book to get the information they need. Plan for your audience.
Before you worry about file format, cover design, typography or any of the associated minutia with creating eBooks, you need one thing – the actual content. Who will write the book? What role will you have? Will you be the author, or will you only be supplying the outline and pertinent information? What credentials does the writer have if you're outsourcing it, or delegating to a team member? What sort of oversight or editing is provided to ensure that the book holds up to consumer expectations?
Whether you're going to publish the eBook as an EPUB or as a PDF, you need to consider design factors. Despite the age-old mantra of "don't judge a book by its cover", we all do it, and we do it all the time. Make sure your cover looks good. If you can't afford a graphic designer, avoid the temptation to embellish too much. Simple is better when you're doing it yourself and you lack design skills. You also need to consider the interior design and layout – what pictures or other graphics will be used, and where will you source them? What about the flow of the text? Chapter layout and design?
These are just a few of the considerations you'll need to make when creating an eBook for content marketing. With the right planning and the right team in place, you can use this affordable solution to build your success.


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thumb|right|Carte de l'Égypte. La Legio II Flavia Constantia était stationnée à Cusae (Al-Qusiya).

La Legio II Flavia Constantia (Légion II flavienne « digne de confiance » ou « de Flavius »)  fut une légion de l'Empire romain, créée vers 296/297 par l'empereur Dioclétien pour surveiller une région de Haute-Égypte après une rébellion causée par des hausses de taxes décrétées par l'empereur pour financer ses campagnes militaires. Dioclétien, alors en campagne en Syrie, vint lui-même mettre un terme à celle-ci.  Une fois la rébellion terminée, la légion fut stationnée à Cusae où elle devait demeurer par la suite. La légion existait encore au  et fut probablement annihilée lors de l'invasion des Perses en 619. Son emblème ne nous est pas parvenu.

La légion pourrait être l'une des deux légions qui ont donné naissance à la légende du « Massacre de la légion thébaine ».

Histoire de la légion

thumb|left|Insigne de la légion peint sur ses boucliers.

Au début de son règne en 293, Dioclétien procéda à des réformes en profondeur de l'administration civile et de la défense militaire de l'empire. Après avoir créé la tétrarchie, système de gouvernement où chacun des deux Augustes (Dioclétien  et Maximien) était secondé par deux Césars (Galère et Constance), il doubla le nombre des provinces et créa une structure régionale regroupant les 100 provinces en douze diocèses.
Il réorganisa également l'armée, créant pour chaque tétrarque une armée mobile (comitatenses), alors qu'un système de fortifications (limes) établi le long de la frontière était gardé par des unités permanentes (limitanei). Tout en conservant les 39 légions déjà existantes, mais dont certaines n'étaient pratiquement plus que l'ombre d'elles-mêmes, il leva au moins 14 nouvelles légions dont les I et II Iovia, II, III et IV Herculia, III Diocletiana, I Maximiana et I Isaura Sagittaria.

La Legio II Flavia Constantia, de même que la Legio I Maximiana, furent créées en 296 ou 297 par Dioclétien pour assurer le contrôle de la nouvelle province de Thebais (Haute-Égypte) créée par la partition de l'ancienne province unifiée d'Égypte. On lui donna le cognomen ou surnom de Flavia Constantia en l'honneur du césar Flavius Valerius Constantius qui deviendra empereur sous le nom de Constance Chlore (césar : 293, empereur 305, décès 306). Le surnom « Constantia » joue sur le fait que le nom du césar Valerius était Constance (fiable, digne de confiance).

La création de ces deux légions avait été rendue nécessaire par la révolte qui s'était déclarée en Égypte à la suite de la promulgation par le préfet Aristius Optatius d'un nouveau régime de taxation, révolte facilitée par le fait que de nombreuses troupes avaient été retirées d'Égypte et envoyées vers le front de Syrie où se trouvait alors Dioclétien. La révolution éclata presque partout à la fois : en Thébaïde dans les cités commerçantes de Coptos et Ptolémaïs, au Fayoum et au Delta, ainsi qu'à l'importante métropole d'Alexandrie, deuxième ville de l'empire après Rome. Les rebelles proclamèrent alors un nouvel empereur, Lucius Domitius Domitianus dont les monnaies montrent qu'il cherchait à se présenter comme empereur à parts égales avec Dioclétien et Maximien. Craignant que cette révolte ne vienne détacher les provinces d'Orient de Rome comme cela avait été le cas sous Valérien et Zénobie, Dioclétien quitta lui-même le front syrien pour venir rétablir l'ordre en Égypte durant l'automne et le début de l'hiver 297. Il ne parvint à  reprendre Alexandrie qu'après un long siège au printemps 298 et tira vengeance en mettant la ville à feu et à sang. L'armée réussit à rétablir l'ordre dans le reste du pays, mais la domination romaine se fit durement sentir : les villes de Coptos et de Busiris qui avaient été au centre de la révolte furent détruites. Les nouvelles taxes, accompagnées d'un recensement général furent mises en place sous la supervision de l'empereur et la province d'Égypte fut officiellement divisée en trois nouvelles provinces : Aegyptus Iovia, Aegyptus Thebais et Aegyptus Herculia .

Le quartier général de la Legio II Flavia Constantia était situé dans la région de Thèbes/Luxor où elle construisit une forteresse qu'elle partagea avec la Legio I Maxima. Par la suite, elle fut transférée à Cusae (en grec : Kusai; aujourd'hui Al-Qusiyya) où elle aura son quartier général jusqu'au . À titre de limitanei, ses légionnaires avaient comme tâche de protéger la frontière (limes) sud de l'Égypte des incursions de tribus nomades avoisinantes.

Sous l'empereur Théodose (r. 379-395) qui avait fait de la stabilisation des frontières l'une de ses priorités, une nouvelle Legio II Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum fut créée devant se joindre à l'armée mobile (comitatenses) de l'empereur sur le Danube. En 380, avec Gratien, Théodose arrêta les Goths en Épire et en Dalmatie. Il installa une partie des Ostrogoths en Pannonie et, en 382, une partie des Wisigoths en Mésie. Devenu peuples fédérés (foederati), les Goths purent servir dans l'armée romaine en compagnie des légionnaires venus d'Égypte (Aiguptoi).

Selon la Notitia Dignitatum, recension datant des environs de l'an 400, la Legio II Flavia Constantia Thebaeorum servait alors comme comitatenses du Magister militum per Orientum (maitre des milices d'Orient) et était stationnée à Cusae sous les ordres du  Dux Thebaidos (Gouverneur de Thébaïde).

Elle existait encore au  et fut probablement annihilée lors des invasions perses de l'Égypte en 619.

Mythe de la « Légion thébaine »

Le massacre de la légion thébaine (ou thébéenne) aurait eu lieu sous Dioclétien entre 285 et 306 à Agaune, aujourd'hui Saint-Maurice en Valais.

Trois légions romaines pourraient être au cœur de cette légende : la Legio I Maximiana, la Legio II Flavia Constantia et la Legio III Diocletiana. Selon une « passion »  attribuée à Eucher, évêque de Lyon au , Maurice d'Agaune, commandant de cette « Légion thébaine » et d'autres officiers, furent envoyés par le  coempereur Maximien Hercule persécuter les chrétiens de Martigny. Les soldats de cette légion étant eux-mêmes chrétiens coptes refusèrent de ce faire et furent exécutés. Les invraisemblances historiques du texte de même que le fait que seul le mot « Thèbes » permet de relier l'histoire à l'une ou l'autre de ces légions, rendent son authenticité douteuse .

Notes et références

Notes

Références
Pour les références « AE », voir Clauss/Slaby, Epigraphik-Datenbank dans la bibliographie

Voir aussi

Bibliographie
Sources primaires
  Ammien Marcellin. Res Gestae, éd. J. Fontaine, E. Galletier, M.A. Marie, G. Sabbah, LBL, Paris, 1968-1984.
  Notitia Dignitatum (Liste des dignités). On peut en trouver le texte en ligne sous : http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/source/notitiadignitatum.asp.
 Zozime. Historia Nea (Histoire Nouvelle), édition et traduction François Paschoud, 3 tomes en 5 volumes, Paris, les Belles Lettres, 1971-1989.

Sources secondaires
  Bowman, Alan K. "Egypt from Septimius Severus to the death of Constantine". (dans) Averil Cameron, Peter Garnsey (éd): The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 12, The Crisis of Empire, AD 193-337, University of Cambridge, Cambridge 2005 .  .
  Bunson, Matthew. Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. New York, FactsOnFile, 1994..
 Carrié, Jean-Michel et Aline Rousselle, L'Empire romain en mutation : des Sévères à Constantin, 192-337, Paris, Éditions du Seuil, 1999. .
 .
  Clauss/Slaby. Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby (EDCS) [en ligne] http://db.edcs.eu/epigr/epi_einzel.php?s_sprache=de&p_bellegstelle=CIL+03%2C+12394&r_sortierung=Belegstelle [archive].
  Lewis, Naphtali. Life in Egypt under Roman Rule, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1983.
   Emil Ritterling: "Legio (II Flavia Constantia)". (dans)  Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). Band XII,2, Stuttgart 1925.
  Otto Seeck, Notitia dignitatum. Accedunt notitia urbis Constantinopolitanae et laterculi provinciarum. Berlin, Weidmann, 1876, réédité sans altération chez Minerva, Frankfurt am Main, 1962.

 Seston, William. Dioclétien et la tétrarchie : 1. Guerres et réformes, 284-300, Paris, Éditions de Boccard, 1946.
  Speidel, Michael Alexander. "Die thebäische Legion und das spätrömische Heer". In: Otto Wermelinger, Philippe Bruggisser, Beat Näf und Jean M. Roessli (Ed.). Mauritius und die Thebäische Legion/Saint Maurice et la Légion Thébaine: Actes du colloque, 17-20 Sept. 2003. Academic Press Fribourg, Fribourg, Saint-Maurice, Martigny 2005, .
 Wermelinger, Otto . Saint Maurice et la légion thébaine, Academic Press Fribourg, 2005.
  Williams, Stephen. Diocletian and the Roman Recovery. New York, London, Routledge, 1997. .

Articles connexes
 Légion romaine - Liste des légions romaines
 Dioclétien
 Legio I Maximiana

Liens externes

  Lendering, Jona. Legio I Maximiana. URL: http://www.livius.org/articles/legion/legio-ii-flavia-constantia/
  "Legio I Isaura Sagittaria" dans Imperiumromanum.com, URL: http://www.imperiumromanum.com/militaer/heer/legionen01_09.htm.

02, Flavia Constantia
Dioclétien
Unité ou formation militaire créée au IIIe siècle

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


DIY projects have become a popular trend in society today. It's cool to create and have the bragging rights on your accomplishments! In the process, you gain a lot of knowledge about the project and it also becomes easier to maintain and fix problems. It's even possible you may save money on the initial work as well as ongoing maintenance and repairs. But what if you don't have the time, patience or finances to risk a project going bad? Let's face it, there are some things that are best left to the professionals. An oil change for your car is one of them. Just don't forget to take care of your exterior. Rio carwash has plenty of wash options to suit your automobiles needs!
1. When it is something that must be done by an expert.
2. When it is dangerous to health, causes safety issues, or can harm the environment.
3. When it makes no monetary sense.
4. When it is too messy or too much trouble.
1. To do an oil change, you need an oil drain pan, filter wrench, car ramps, rubber gloves, funnel, and wiping towels. The initial investment before you do your first oil change is about $60. In addition to the cost of materials, you have to pay someone to dispose the used oil and filter properly.
2. Engine oil is toxic even when it is new. If someone accidentally inhales or swallows engine oil, or if it splashes into someone's eyes or face, immediate medical attention is a must. Used engine oil is far more dangerous and is also a carcinogen. Any contact with used oil is bad for your health. Being a toxic substance, automotive oil poses serious environmental risk and requires careful disposal.
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An average oil change costs about $30. When you consider that you are going to do it only once in a year, it is not a huge amount. Even if you don't consider the initial investment and just account for the cost of materials, your time, and the effort, you can expect to save less than $5 per oil change. Is a saving of $5 a year worth the trouble and the risks?
You are probably wondering how quick-lube outlets are making money from oil changes when the margin is so low. The reality is that they are just breaking even, or in most cases, taking a small loss on oil changes. They are doing this only to get customers into their shop. They make their money by convincing customers to buy other products or services such as a change of air filters or cabin filters, wheel balancing, spare parts, repairs, and new accessories. For these add-on services, they have healthy margins and they make up for the small negative margin for oil changes. In fact, many shops offer discounts and promotions for oil changes. You may get it for as low as $15, or they may bundle it with free services such as tire rotation or a general inspection.
Considering the above marketing strategy, the economics, risks, and the trouble, you are better off opting for a professional oil change at a service center. Just ensure that they don't saddle unnecessary repairs or accessories on you.
1. Change oil according to the recommendation of the manufacturer. Your oil change shop may ask you to change the oil every 3,000 miles or so, but this is not required for most modern cars.
2. Take the bait but leave the hook alone. Don't spend money on repairs or upgrades that the shop recommends unless you are convinced that they are necessary. Even if you decide to go ahead with other add-ons, check the prices from other shops to ensure that you are not being taken for a ride.
3. Before you take your car to the shop, look for deals on the Internet. Many oil change shops offer deals and discount coupons that can result in good savings.
There are many advantages of doing things yourself, but giving your car an oil change is not one of them. If you want to go DIY with vehicle maintenance, look for things that are easy and safe. Changing the air filter is something that you can easily do in less than five minutes. It will also save you some money.


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Tilo flower: Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and analgesic. Strengthens the skin's defenses. Relieves itching and tightness of delicate skin. Very moisturizing and soothing.
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Geranium Oil: Antibacterial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and skin astringent. It treats many conditions of the skin, like acne, eczema or cuperosis. Relieves sunburn. Reinforces veins and capillaries.
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Apply daily, morning and evening, on face and neck after cleansing and toning ritual.


In the Swim: How to Clean Pool Locker Rooms - Kaivac Cleaning Systems according to Athletic Business.com along with specialty products like flow-through flooring or decking. Check manufacturer specifications before maintaining these floors. Be sure to choose cleaning chemicals that will not damage or prematurely age permanent fixtures bolted to locker room floors like bench legs or stall walls.
Wet environments and chlorinated air will rust, warp and prematurely age metal and plastic laminate lockers. If these are installed in your locker area try to keep them as dry as possible. Better yet, choose whole plastic or phenolic lockers. Designed for use in harsh environments, these lockers can be scrubbed and completely hosed out. Check them nightly for forgotten food or wet suits.
It doesn't matter how clean pool locker rooms are, if the air humidity isn't properly handled the space will always feel and smell dank. Very wet areas like the shower, steam room and sauna should have their own air system that exhausts directly out of the building. Changing areas should also have a constant supply of fresh air.
To keep that air moving, architects recommend installing ceiling fans. This added boost dries surfaces faster, reduces standing water and impedes mold growth.
To further control water, consider adding a wall-mounted swim suit dryer. This high-speed device spins bathing suites, taking them from sopping wet to barely moist while diverting water down a drain.
For more tips on how to clean pool locker rooms, click here.
Swim season is almost here and while everyone loves splashing in the pool nobody wants to change in an unpleasant locker room. Keeping these areas clean isn't just about aesthetics. Overly wet floors become a slip hazard, constantly damp lockers warp and humid environments encourage the quick growth of bacteria and mold.
Controlling water is just as important as removing soil, sweat and organisms. Here's some tips to help you clean and dry pool locker rooms quickly and thoroughly.
When specifying flooring materials for pool locker rooms, architects and designers usually choose ceramic tile and grout. The rugged combination looks good, resists slips and can be laid continuously from the floors to the walls. To increase both slip resistance and design impact, architects often choose smaller tiles which requires more grout per square foot.
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Hey my name is Regina, I am 31. years old and I was born in Hamburg, Germany. I am in Toronto for the purpose of a working holiday and to explore this gorgeous city and country.
In March 2011 I finished my studies for Social Work at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences with a degree of Bachelor of Arts. Previously I made an apprenticeship as a graduated nurse.
I always loved animals, especially dogs, but my family didn't have the time to keep one. So, I used to do dog walking and taking care for the neighbours' dogs and cats to supplement my income in Germany during high school. During my studies I took care of the dogs of friends and others family's, including keeping them for the weekend or vacation times.
In Germany, we've adopted my dog Paula from an animal shelter. She was about 1.5 years old when we gave her a new home. She is a mixed up between a wire-haired Dachshund and a Westhighland White Terrier. She recovered soon from her bad experience. To handle her hunting instinct and her very special Terrier character and to learn more about how to train dogs we visited a dog school. After she passed the training lessons we used to do dog agility with her.
During my visit at the dog school I learned a lot about dog behaviour and how to deal with dogs issues.
Working as a dog walker is the great opportunity being surrounded by dogs and taking care of them. There is now better reward than the wag of the tail of a happy dog.


Wizard's First Rule, written by Terry Goodkind, is the first book in the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth. Published by Tor Books, it was released on August 15, 1994 in hardcover, and in paperback on July 15, 1997. The book was also re-released with new cover artwork by Keith Parkinson in paperback on June 23, 2001. The novel was adapted to television in the 2008 television series Legend of the Seeker.
Goodkind had no trouble selling his first book to a publisher. "I'm sort of the exception that proves the rule," he says. "I wanted to be represented by the best agent in the country and I wrote him a letter. He asked to see the book and he liked it. He showed it to a number of publishers. Three of them had an auction. Ten weeks after I'd written 'The End' it sold for a record price," the most money ever paid for a fantasy novel by a first time author.


In the past five years, there seems to have been a boom of anthologies which have as their locus an interest in the representation of the margins of a still definitively Western- (and white-) dominated literary field. From postcolonial experiences in We See a Different Frontier (eds. Fabio Fernandes and Djibril al-Ayad; 2013) to afrofuturist and multiculturalist visions in Mothership (eds. Bill Campbell and Edward Austin Hall; 2013), to historical marginality in Long Hidden (eds. Rose Fox and Daniel José Older; 2014), anthologies have become a significant space in which efforts to expand and diversify the visible scope of science fiction can take place. In many cases, such anthologies serve as a corrective to SF/F's blindness to what may once have passed under the proverbial radar, as in the recently released Terra Incognita (ed. Nerine Dorman; 2015), a successor to Ivor W. Hartmann's Afro SF (2012). Anthologies are also perfect vehicles for highlighting thematic trends in sf/f short fiction. This is the case with How to Live on Other Planets, edited by Joanne Merriam and published by Upper Rubber Boot Books: featuring reprints of 25 works of fiction and 14 works of poetry from the past 15 years, How to Live on Other Planets, though flawed, successfully encapsulates sf/f's malleability and is a welcome addition to an already diversifying field.
At its most basic, How to Live on Other Planets is an anthology about the immigrant experience, but far from treating the concept exclusively in its literal interpretation, Merriam's selections traverse the myriad ways in which meetings between alien "things," from foreigners both terrestrial an extraterrestrial to infections, ghosts, and even entire planets, affect the individuals involved. In the preface, Merriam highlights the uneasiness we tend to have with those who come from elsewhere, bridging her personal experiences as a Canadian to the anthology's concern with the "natural comparison of alien to alien" (pg. 8). It is that sensation of uneasiness or alien-ness which guides the majority of the anthology's works, and, thus, might be a more accurate description of the shared theme.
Indeed, some of the strongest stories and poems in the collection are those which most clearly engage with the alien-ness of their subject matter through a relation to the anthology's theme. Ken Liu's "Ghost Days," for example, uses a 24th-century genetically modified human, Ona, and her rejection of the artifacts of a distant human past, to frame a narrative about cultural preservation and racial alienation in the 20th century. The story, as such, symbolically links Ona's identity struggles in the midst of non-modified human teachers to the identity struggles of two generations of Chinese immigrants, providing a nuanced account of the ways in which we can become alienated by the culture around us. This theme of the complications of identity amongst immigrant populations also forms the center of Tom Greene's "Zero Bar," which explores a near future in which genetic modifications to skin tone exist. The story follows the struggles of a Mexican-American woman as she relates her experiences with the casual racism of contemporary America, with particular focus on the exoticization of ethnic women and the stereotypes about Mexican labor by white men. The story made me immediately think of George Schuyler's Black No More, though Greene's narrative frames the character's conflicted feelings about whitening her future child as a process arisen from past experiences; Schuyler's text, meanwhile, is focused on a world where that decision has already been made. Lastly, Rose Lemberg's somber poem of Jewish immigration, "The Three Immigrations," merges the speaker's past, present, and future to examine the effects of forced migration. One of the poem's repeated lines, "I made three languages to hide in" (pg. 160), attaches additional meaning to the impact of language on the immigrant experience, and this is a sub-theme which is present in many of the stories in this anthology—such as Anil Menon's "Into the Night."
A handful of the stories in the collection also deal with the alien in a more literal sense. Mary Anne Mohanraj's "Jump Space," for example, details a scientific mission to a world whose slave class is a race of furred humanoids who have an aphrodisiatic effect on humans. This is easily my favorite story from the collection, as Mohanraj weaves together an anthropological tale with that of a family of polygamists and their complicated social structure, creating a tapestry of socio-political issues which, though not fully resolved by the conclusion, are ambiguous in all the right ways. Sarah Pinsker's "The Low Hum of Her" also injects the alien into an existing social structure. The story beautifully explores a young woman's relationship with a mechanical replica of her deceased grandmother in the midst of her family's flight from their home country due to the rise of Nazi Germany and the flight of Jews to America via Ellis Island. The alienation of the protagonist, as such, comes at the hands of two traumas: one of forced alienation from one's home and one from the death of a loved one and the distancing effect of a metaphorical reincarnation. Benjamin Rosenbaum's "The Guy Who Worked for Money," however, shifts the process of alienation in the opposite direction, detailing life in a society in which network-based social interactions and their popularity or "good will" manifest as currency; Rosenbaum deftly explores how such a society might design its own mechanisms of alienation, and his protagonist, Nera, becomes the narrative's necessary victim. The story's commentary on contemporary internet culture is particularly poignant today given the increasing impact online social behavior has on how individuals are perceived, especially insofar as we use that online behavior to judge others.
The anthology's most visible flaws lie in its structure and its tendency to present stories which feel incomplete. To the first: perhaps this is a flaw in my own reading protocols, but the majority of the poetry gave the impression of serving as a palate cleanser for the politically and socially heavy themes of the preceding stories. For me, these came off less as in conversation with the larger theme or the stories surrounding them and more like signposts or "breathing spaces," with notable exceptions such as Lemberg's "The Three Immigrations." Structurally, I would have preferred the anthology to split the fiction and poetry into their own sections, as this would have limited the often jarring shift between literary genres; doing so might also have allowed the individual poems more clearly to interact with each other in a manner similar to the fiction. Unfortunately, the existing structure made the poems easier to forget than the fiction that surrounded them.
To the second: though incompleteness can serve as a literary device, it is most effective when it arrives out of a thought-provoking ambiguity or a clear shift in a character's consciousness. Stories which neither conclude in the traditional sense nor bring their characters to a reasonable end-point—even an intentionally ambiguous one—always leave a remainder in the form of a longing for a "more" that never comes. As well-written as the stories in this anthology may be, there are a number of stories which fall into this category of remainders. Nisi Shawl's "In Colors Everywhere," for example, is a beautifully written allegory of the imperial penal colony system in which a matriarchal society realizes that its exploitation will involve the use of women's bodies as incubators. Though thankfully nuanced in its approach to colonial politics, the story ends just as the women of this world realize what is about to happen to them. It is a story of awakenings both literal and metaphorical, but it is also a story which demands a wider canvas, such as a novella-length treatment. Other stories, such Deborah Walker's "Speed of Love," about two women discussing the protagonist's apparently illegal relationship with a time-dilated man, feel much like vignettes, beginning in medias res and ending there; compared to some of the other stories in this anthology which do more to explore the worlds they present or the plots they establish, these vignettes feel out of place.
Despite these flaws, I would be remiss not to declare my deep appreciation for this anthology: first, because of the way it can be positioned within the larger field of sf/f anthologies; and second, because the collected stories at worst provoke one to think about the human tendency toward alienation or the less appreciated counter-tendency to design methods for acceptance. There are numerous other stories worth mentioning here. Lisa Bolekaja's "The Saltwater African," about two African slave sisters in Mississippi and the slave blacksmith who comes between them, is as exceptional as the tales I have already mentioned. So too are Zen Cho's "The Four Generations of Chang E"—a strange tale of moon immigration and moon rabbits—Tom Doyle's "The Floating Otherworld"—about an American man's travels through what appears to be the Japanese underworld (reminiscent, I thought, of Nobuo Nakagawa's Jigoku (1960))—Daniel José Older's "Phantom Overload"—about ghost immigrants and the undead police who keep an eye on him—and so on. Suffice it to say, the stories and poems in this collection are, for the most part, exceptional at addressing a related theme and in exploring the social effects of immigration and alienation. Collected together, they make for a memorable themed anthology.
Shaun Duke is a reviewer, podcaster, and PhD student at the University of Florida studying science fiction and postcolonialism. His work can be found on his blog, The World in the Satin Bag, or on his two podcasts: Totally Pretentous: A Podcast About Great Movies and the Hugo-nominated Skiffy and Fanty Show. He also happens to be a sentient toaster.
Shaun Duke is a reviewer, podcaster, and PhD student studying science fiction, Caribbean literature, and postcolonialism at the University of Florida. His work can be found on his website, or on his three podcasts: Totally Pretentous: A Podcast About Great Movies , the Hugo-nominated Skiffy and Fanty Show , and Shaun's Rambles . He also happens to be a sentient toaster.


text:
Peter Pan at Birmingham Rep
Home > Birmingham > Christmas | Family | Theatre | Theatre Reviews
by dpm (subscribe)
dpm is a Birmingham-based freelancer with experience of arts and lifestyle features.
Event: 30/11/2019 - 19/12/2019
A very different Peter Pan
Peter Pan flies into Birmingham Repertory Theatre this Christmas – but it's not Peter Pan as we know it. This new modern production brings Peter Pan right into the present day and into the heart of Birmingham.
With stunning sets, dramatic music and lots of high-flying special effects, this is no pantomime but still succeeds in being a Christmas show with lots of fun.
Peter Pan reimagined
Peter Pan is first seen chasing his shadows around Wendy's kitchen. When she finds a stranger sitting in her home, Wendy initially challenges him and then agrees to help him, reaching for the stapler to re-attach Peter to his shadows. Wendy is growing up in a foster home in inner-city Birmingham and has faced most problems so she seems particularly unfazed by this strange visitor.
Instead, she befriends Peter and decides to take both of her brothers, John and Michael, with her on an adventure to Neverland. Here she finds a group of Lost Ones, children whose parents have lost them, living at a skateboard park and dressed in a rag-tag array of recycled costumes.
As if this isn't bad enough, Wendy then encounters the embittered Hook, here played by Nia Gwynne, who is desperate to find Peter Pan and kill him in revenge for him cutting off her arm and feeding it to the giant crocodile.
Gwynne is a masterly villain, chasing Pan and the Lost Ones around the stage, scything through the air with her hook and planning evil on all sides. But she hasn't counted on the determination of Pan and his friends not to walk the plank!
Wendy is played by Cora Tsang as a blend of feisty and angry but with a soft inside which she discovers through her new friendships. Lawrence Walker's Pan is childish, keen to have fun and unwilling to accept any responsibility but there's also a sense that he would secretly like Wendy's life.
Peter Pan and Wendy
The production has been co-adapted by Georgia Christou and Liam Steel, who also directs. They've certainly taken Peter Pan in a new direction, replacing the fairy tale elements with an urban harshness which makes the domestic scenes very real. That's not to say that Neverland is normal – when you have giant crocodiles appearing to gobble up one-armed villains and flying children who refuse to grow up there has to be some level of the fantastical.
Impressive sets
The sets are really impressive. We begin on the housing estate but are soon flying through the skies to Neverland where we also meet mermaids under the sea and are taken on board the pirate ship.
When J M Barrie created Peter Pan, he was writing very much for his place and time, this new version sets the story very definitely in modern day Birmingham in a Peter Pan which is very much reimagined.
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Why? A very modern Peter Pan
When: Until 19 Jan
Website: birmingham-rep.co.uk
Where: Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad St, Birmingham B1 2EP, United Kingdom
Cost: From £15
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I went along. It was appalling- completely stripped of all its magic the amount of tutting, eye rolling and sighs were audible.
We walked out at the break and so did hordes of others. However, it's hard to have read likeminded stuff about this abomination, as so many pander to an extreme liberalism that locks down honest debate.
This is from someone anti Brexit, who voted Labour, but this ill thought adaptation was the wrong platform for social issues.
by menol (score: 0|2) 754 days ago


Selvin & Ilene | Teaser Trailer from Wilson Sarkis Photography on Vimeo.
Alex & Trish | Wilson Sarkis from Wilson Sarkis Photography on Vimeo.
Antone & Nancy | Wilson Sarkis from Wilson Sarkis Photography on Vimeo.
Marvin & Dena Teaser from Wilson Sarkis Photography on Vimeo.


Social worker Kara Tierney-Trevor says schools are the last remaining institutions that students and families can rely on for a range of needs.
Schools are the place where English and math instruction are taught, but also where a student may have their only meal.
In her 15 years at South Portland High School, Tierney-Trevor said she has witnessed an evolution in how schools and social workers respond to and are expected to respond, to a variety of student and community needs.
"South Portland is a snapshot of real life. we have the haves and have-nots here, and a growing immigrant population. We have more racial, ethnic and sexual diversity than we've ever had before, which makes the community really rich, interesting and dynamic," Tierney-Trevor said.
When Tierney-Trevor started her career, there was a lot of concern in the profession about which positions would survive because social workers were not essential teaching staff.
Tierney-Trevor said additional responsibility has been added in part because many community resources no longer exist for students who are uninsured, underinsured, or are growing up in poverty. The impact of cuts to MaineCare and social services are felt at the community level and are in some ways mitigated by the school's expanding role in children's lives.
Tierney-Trevor holds a dual master's degree in social work and pastoral ministry from Boston College. Her first job out of college was in the admissions department at her Alma mater, the former Catherine McAuley High School in Portland.
She said while working with young people who had a variety of social and emotional issues, she recognized she had a positive rapport and natural connection with youth, while also realizing she didn't have the skill set she knew was needed to work with more serious mental health issues that were emerging.
"And, I always had a sense of wanting to do work with meaning, and that felt more like a vocation than a profession – with an element of serving and giving back to the community," she said of what drew her to social work.
She is the only social worker assigned to the general student population at South Portland High School. Other social workers at the high school are dedicated to serving students eligible for special education.
Tierney-Trevor said her caseload ebbs and flows, and she must often triage cases based on severity.
Typically, she may see a student once due to a single incident, such as substance abuse, where she will try to divert the individual into intensive community counseling, or pair them with the Sweetser school-based clinician. Much of the work consists of assessing students and determining how much help they need.
"I don't chase students. I don't have the capacity, but I also feel it's respectful of the development at the age high school students are at to help them self actualize what they need," she said.
She typically works with 30-50 students at a time.
The team Tierney-Trevor works with day to day includes two assistant principals, the school resource officer, sometimes the school nurse, or guidance counselors.
Tierney-Trevor said the way she interacts with students has evolved to include contact via a work cellphone, where she gives out her number, and in turn collects student's numbers. When working with teenagers, a cell phone is invaluable, she said.
When she first advocated to get the phone, a lot of students the team was most concerned about were truant, so it was imperative to figure out how to find the means to meet students where they were.
Tierney-Trevor said the school still does make home visits, but they are sporadic, and not as common a practice as in previous years.
A part of the job that has also evolved, and she particularly enjoys, is being more proactive.
Tierney-Trevor said she helps students decide what type of social work support is helpful to them, and to negotiate what that will look like – whether it's meeting on their lunch break once a week, or during part of a study hall. She said she aims to be flexible with what works, knowing she can't replicate an outpatient service or therapist experience.
Working with agencies outside of the school has also led to greater community involvement and opportunity.
Tierney-Trevor partnered with the Opportunity Alliance and two years ago, and at the encouragement of the South Portland Police Department, applied for a $500,000 federal grant to start SoPo Unite, a community coalition focused on working with youth to prevent substance abuse. The grant can be renewed after five years and up to 10 years.
"It allowed us to rally the community – parents, businesses, police – in coming together for a common cause of working with youth," she said, noting that preventing substance abuse includes components of wellness, mental health, community service and education.
The group holds monthly meetings with members and youth groups at the middle and high school, and their role is to spread "the cool factor" about avoiding substance use. This allows for grassroots, community-oriented prevention work. She said although it is specific to substance abuse, the work is all-encompassing.
With Al Giusto, the school resource officer, she goes into health classes to talk about resources and support in prevention, coping strategies to manage stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression.
"We've gotten away from teaching true coping skills for the level of stress society and culture presents everyone. It's infiltrated into the collective mindset. How do we respond to all of this, how can students get quiet, focus and manage stress," Tierney-Trevor said.
Tierney-Trevor also said punitive measures cannot be the only form of discipline applied as punishment in cases at the school.
In the coming months the School Board will consider revising its discipline policy in accordance with student behavior, with an emphasis on a more restorative justice approach for certain offenses, she said.
It's also important the community understand the complexity of the problem and recognize there's almost always another side to what's going on.


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A well-deserved retirement
The Lewis family has announced that Serena's Song has been retired from broodmare duty and will be pensioned at Denali Stud, where she has spent her life since retiring from racing. Her pensioning is well earned, for she has more than done her duty by her owners, her fans and her breed.
The champion American 3-year-old filly of 1995, Serena's Song won eight Grade I races at ages 2 through 4 and earned $3,286,388. Tough, sound and with plenty of attitude, she whipped males in the Jim Beam Stakes (USA-II) in the spring of 1995, earning a Beyer speed figure of 114. She failed to stay in the Kentucky Derby (USA-I) after setting the early pace but came back to hand the boys another beating in the Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-I), becoming the first filly to win the race.
Serena's Song has been no less stellar as a broodmare. Her five sale yearlings fetched a collective US$11.2 million, and Serena's Song has been a fine producer of racehorses as well. Her runners include Coronation Stakes (ENG-I) winner Sophisticat (by Storm Cat), Grade II winners Grand Reward (by Storm Cat) and Harlington (by Unbridled), Grade III winner Schramsberg (by Storm Cat) and multiple listed winner Serena's Tune (by Mr. Prospector).
Both Serena's Tune and Sophisticat are stakes producers, and the former mare is the granddam of the highly regarded Honor Code, now back in action after being knocked off the Triple Crown trail by injury last year. Serena's Song's winning 4-year-old daughter Serena's Melody is still in training, and the mare has a 2014 filly by Medaglia d'Oro who may provide a fitting coda to her dam's record.
Answers to Friday trivia question of 12/26/14
Our question was on the favorite treats or food items of some famous horses. Here's the lineup:
Corn on the cob -- Beldame
Oranges -- Man o' War
Chocolate sundaes -- Kelso
Pizza -- John Henry. (For the record, John Henry also liked coffee with cream and sugar.)
The Malibu Stakes and Horse of the Year
Man. After watching the video of the Malibu Stakes, all I can think is that Shared Belief is one game little sucker. Unfortunately for him, a lot of the Eclipse Award voters have probably already put in their ballots, because that was certainly a worthy performance. He was cutting back in distance, hooked some quality speed horses, came down wide, and just plain refused to be beaten. I don't know whether he'll be Horse of the Year or not. I don't even know if he'll win his division. But as much as I love California Chrome, if I had a vote, I'd have to give Shared Belief the nod.
Friday trivia challenge for 12/26/14, take two
Hmmm, looks like that one was a little too easy. Elaina has it already -- it's John Galbreath, who bred and owned 1963 Kentucky Derby winner Chateaugay and 1971 Derby Stakes (Epsom Derby) winner Roberto.
So, how about a second helping? Since we've all just devoured our Christmas goodies. special foods seem like a good topic. Most horses munch happily on hay and oats, with the occasional carrot, apple or sugar lump for treats, and many Thoroughbreds have a taste for peppermints. Some have had more unusual likings, though. To taste the sweet rewards of this trivia challenge, name the famous horses in the Library who enjoyed 1) corn on the cob, 2) oranges, 3) chocolate sundaes, and 4) pizza.
Friday trivia challenge for 12/26/14
Name the first person to breed and own winners of both the Kentucky Derby and Derby Stakes, and the horses with which he or she accomplished the feat.
Over two thousand years ago, a baby was born in Bethlehem to a poor Jewish peasant. His mother had no doctors or nurses to attend her, only a young husband who was probably just as scared as she was when the pains of birth hit in a filthy, crowded stable. A feeding trough had to serve as a cradle, providing the only place where the infant could lie and not be trampled by the beasts that shared the rough shelter. The only visitors were not happy relatives and friends but some shepherds from the nearby hills, bearing a strange tale of a vision of angels that had pointed them to the child. God, they said, had visited His people and had given them a savior at last.
That was the first Christmas. Two thousand years later, God's gift to man in the form of that child seems as strange as ever -- a child who was born to die. He never wielded any weapon but words; he never had wealth or political influence. His most devoted followers were mostly drawn from the rejects of society; the learned and powerful hated him for his scathing words against their hypocrisy and greed. Finally condemned by his own people, his sentence confirmed in one more dreary act of colonial oppression by an imperial power, he should have faded into the obscurity from which he came after he gasped out his life on a Roman cross.
He should have -- but he did not. Instead, he has become the central figure of human history. We may believe or reject the message that his disciples gave their lives to proclaim: that they had seen him risen as a living man and therefore knew that he was both the Son of God and the Redeemer who had saved them from their sins by his death. But none can deny that Jesus of Nazareth has affected more lives than all the conquerors and kings and sages of the earth put together, so that we divide time itself by his birth and give gifts in the season that bears his name. May each of you know the gift of the peace with God that he came to give.
Answer to 12/19/14 Friday trivia challenge
The two American horses who were voted Horse of the Year honors under two different trainers are 1) Challedon, who was trained by Louis Schaefer when he won the title in 1939 and by Don Cameron when he was voted Horse of the Year in 1940 and 2) Forego, who was trained by Sherill Ward in 1974 and by Frank Whitely in 1975 and 1976.
Special credit goes to Joanna, who noted that Henry of Navarre also had different trainers in two seasons in which he is considered Horse of the Year; however, his championships are retroactive based on the consensus of racing historians and were not voted on.
Regardless of any deficiencies in the field for the Los Alamitos Futurity (USA-I), Dortmund proved two things: he is determined and he is fast, both pretty good things to have going for you on the Triple Crown trail. How good he really is will not be answered until he meets some stiffer competition, but he has certainly passed every test set him so far.
Besides class, the other question regarding this strapping son of Big Brown is how far he will want to go. So far, Big Brown has been more a sire of milers than anything else, although his son Ground Transport is a stakes winner at 10 furlongs. The 3x3 cross to Danzig in Dortmund's pedigree also suggests "miler" more than "stayer." In current American racing, though, a miler with a high cruising speed can be a dangerous customer in longer races if given a favorable trip, so Dortmund certainly can't be counted out of the Triple Crown picture this early on that score.
The dam line is also rather ambiguous. Dortmund's dam Our Josephina was a stakes-winning sprinter but in fairness was not really given a chance to be anything else. Her sire, Tale of the Cat, scored his biggest win at 7 furlongs and is similarly bred to to Johannesburg, a champion juvenile who failed to train on. Her dam Ropa Usada (by Danzig) did not race but is a half sister to 1985 Champagne Stakes (USA-I) Mogambo (by Mr. Prospector), another horse who was essentially a miler. The nearest confirmed source of stamina is Dortmund's third dam, 1977 American champion juvenile filly Lakeville Miss, who trained on to win the 1978 Coaching Club American Oaks (USA-I). That's not all that reassuring, but then, Big Brown himself is really more a miler-bred type, and look what he accomplished. Like father, like son? Could be.
Two American horses have each been voted Horse of the Year honors under two different trainers. Name the horses, their trainers, and the year in which each trainer conditioned his famous charge to the Horse of the Year title.
A Grade I for this?
On Saturday, five 2-year-olds will enter the starting gate for the $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (USA-I). That's right -- five colts for Grade I black type and a piece of half a million.
I realize that most of the top juveniles have already been put away for the winter, but awarding Grade I brackets for a race like this is an embarrassment to the grading system. Of the five contestants, one (No Problem) upset the Grade III Bob Hope Stakes in his last start; another (Mr. Z) was second by a nose in the Grade III Delta Jackpot and was Grade I-placed earlier in the season. The rest of the field is lightly raced, with three maiden wins and a first-level allowance among them. There are certainly some promising colts here, but you'd think that given the light credentials of this bunch, a few more trainers would have been encouraged to let their youngsters take a chance.
It's always possible that the winner will prove to be quite a nice horse. But it's also entirely possible that the winner will retire as a Grade I winner with nothing else to speak of on the resume. Which only goes to show that not all black type is created equal, whatever the level.


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Investments Interest rates
Why retail is no longer king of muni investors
By Christine Albano - April 03, 2018, 7:00 a.m. EDT 8 Min Read
Individual investors haven't been themselves lately. The retail crowd has been scaling back direct ownership of municipal bonds amid growth of managed product alternatives in recent years, a trend that's been exacerbated by market volatility.
"Household sector holdings — direct retail and separately-managed accounts (SMAs) — for the most part are shown by the Fed to have quite literally collapsed," George Friedlander, managing partner at Court Street Group Research LLC, wrote in a March 16 weekly municipal perspective.
Friedlander cited the year-end Fed Flow of Funds report, released March 8, that showed household ownership fell by $103 billion to $1.570 trillion at the end of 2017, from $1.673 trillion at the end of 2016. According to the Fed's latest figures, households own 40.7% of the outstanding debt in the $3.8 trillion municipal market.
Declining volume and rising interest rates, as well as low yields and tbe overhaul of tax laws that just took effect have kept retail investors largely on the sidelines for most of 2018.
But analysts said they noticed the pullback long before 2017.
"Since the financial crisis, the percentage of individual buyers of municipals has dwindled and has given way to more professionally-managed retail buyers institutionally," said Howard Mackey, managing director of NW Financial Group said.
The collapse of the triple-A bond insurance market following the financial crisis added to the fall, he noted.
"Without insurance a lot of individuals were reluctant to make purchase decisions" over nearly the last decade, he said.
"Now that you don't have that credit assurance in the market a lot of individual buyers have turned over their credit decisions and purchases to professionals through SMAs and private wealth management groups," Mackey said.
Rethinking Rates
Since many of the retail crowd's investment choices are dictated by current and future interest rates, their direct ownership of municipals fluctuates, analysts said.
In his report, Friedlander questioned whether the household category's reign as the most dominant holder of municipal debt is slowly disappearing -- or already over -- largely due to recent ongoing market uncertainty and interest rate volatility.
He said of particular concern currently is the anticipated continued increase in short term rates.
"While we do not expect Fed funds to have to be pushed up too sharply from the current 1.25% to 1.50% level, the market consensus has priced in roughly four more hikes, or up to the 2.25% to 2.50% range," he wrote.
"We expect retail investors to be wary of lengthening maturities while this pattern is ongoing, even as they get paid somewhat better for staying relatively short," Friedlander's report continued. "We are also concerned that chaotic economic policy in Washington, such as the risk of a trade war, could keep retail investors relatively short in average maturity for a while."
Friedlander suggests direct retail buyers will continue to prefer bonds in the short to intermediate range — when and if they do buy.
"We have seen no evidence, as yet, that individuals are willing to move out along the yield curve, for the most part staying inside 10 years, plus a smaller amount of long 'yield' paper," he wrote.
Low yields may have triggered this pattern, according to Friedlander, and the trend has solidified because of concerns over Fed tightening. "If those concerns subside, we may see some more longer direct retail buying," he wrote.
In the meantime, he believes their distance from direct ownership of munis has not only led to a drastic decrease in household ownership over the last year, but also a decade long decline from historically higher levels.
Household ownership has been noticeably declining since 2010, Friedlander pointed out, when it was as high as $1.871 trillion. He believes the $302 billion decrease is hard to ignore.
The Fed itself outlined a decade long decline in direct household holdings of municipals in a separate 2017 report.
The Central Bank data indicated that direct retail holdings by households declined over a 10-year period to $1.5 trillion in 2016 from $1.6 trillion in 2006. The household category includes individual holdings of municipal bonds, as well as hedge fund holdings of municipal securities, which are not separated by the Federal Reserve in its calculations, that report said.
"This decline may reflect the move to ownership of municipal securities through mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, and may also reflect a decrease in demand for individual securities caused by a prolonged period of low interest rates," the 2017 Fed report said.
Friedlander believes the year-over-year -- and decade long -- data indicates that retail has lost its footing as the top holder of municipal bonds.
Scarce Supply
Other analysts, meanwhile, believe overall retail demand for individual municipal bonds is still inherently strong, but has been hard to recognize lately due to uncertain market conditions, such as low supply and a lengthy period of rate volatility, among other concerns.
While it's true that retail demand has been somewhat muted lately, retail participation is being largely curtailed by the low volume, according to Pete Stare, managing director at Hilltop Securities Inc. in Dallas.
"Professional retail, like SMAs and trust departments, are being choosy, but buying," he said, pointing to their participation in a few select large issues that surfaced in the last two weeks.
"The biggest problem with the market is we have had such little volume we really haven't had enough to test the impact of the new tax reform on investors," Stare said in an interview.
The lowering of the top tax bracket to 37% from 39.6% has decreased the attractiveness of municipal bonds and dampened demand among high-net-worth investors, other analysts said.
With volume so spotty lately — such as the less than $3 billion in new issues that arrive in the week of March 19 — there is little for the buy side to focus on, Stare added.
Institutional demand isn't necessarily dominating the market either, he noted.
"It's really a combination" of retail and institutional activity in the market, but it's sporadic depending on supply, Stare said. "It's more or less buy by appointment -- depending on transaction," he continued.
Contributing Factors
Friedlander and other analysts said there are still many reasons that direct retail ownership tumbled from its historic highs — and may continue to decline.
Besides the direction of interest rates, other circumstances, like low reinvestments and low yields, are also contributing to the decline, they said.
"A large portion of the reduction isn't from the sale of munis, but from the fact that a large proportion of retail holdings are old paper with imminent calls, or relatively short maturities," Friedlander said in his report. "These holdings continue to roll off to bond calls and maturities." However, the roll-offs are not being replaced as they historically were, and that restrains new demand, according to Friedlander.
Direct retail investment in municipals may be continuing to fall faster than total household sector flows suggest, due to the transition of many financial advisors away from giving advice on individual securities and toward encouraging investors to move assets into SMAs, Friedlander said in his report.
"SMA data is difficult to aggregate," he wrote, "but we continue to believe that a portion of total household sector assets is moving toward them."
"Given the SMA tendency to use laddered maturities that end no longer than 10 years, increased use of SMAs does not support the longer intermediate range, where demand remains spotty," he added.
Besides an aversion to interest rate risk, the use of fixed income assets in retirement accounts as a part of a total portfolio, and, to a degree the boom in equity prices, are also impacting the decline of direct household ownership, according to Friedlander.
Potential increase in demand
While analysts agree direct ownership by households has been lackluster lately — some say the households are still a major holder of tax-exempt debt — and could be poised to increase ownership under certain future improving market, legislative, and rate conditions.
For instance, pending legislative developments could boost demand for municipals, Peter Block, managing director of credit research at Ramirez & Co. suggested in his weekly municipal report on March 19.
As part of a broader banking bill, the Senate recently voted 67 to 31 to include municipals as "level 2B" high-quality liquid assets — HQLA — toward a bank's liquidity coverage ratio, or LCR.
"Should the House pass the Senate bill, or at least the muni HQLA provision, this is clearly a positive demand-side catalyst for the muni market," Block wrote.
He described banks as collectively the "distant number two" holder of municipals at $571 billion, or 15% of all bonds outstanding as of Dec. 31, with individuals holding approximately 41%, and the remainder by other investor categories.
Stare of Hilltop said increased volume and investor-friendly credits should be positives for the market.
For example, new essential service revenue bonds have recently appealed to conservative investors for their strong credit quality, while airport offerings are of more interest to total return buyers because they provide more incremental yield.
"More supply will bring better participation from all sectors of the market," Stare said.
Despite the recent obstacles potentially reducing direct retail ownership of municipals, Friedlander believes their reign could resurface if rates moved "appreciably higher."
"But for now," he wrote, "this isn't your grandfather's retail-dominated investment space."
Christine Albano -
Investments Interest rates Bond yields Investment banking Mutual funds