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SEC ups climate risk...
SEC ups climate risk disclosure ante for US companies
by Will Nichols, 24 March 2022
The US has historically lagged Europe and even countries in Asia in terms of corporate requirements in disclosing climate risk. But new rules announced by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) this week demanding companies disclose a host of climate-related information would move the country to the forefront of climate reporting – and impose greater burdens on business.
The rules, which are subject to a 60 day consultation period, align closely with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFDs) and place the onus on companies to report on material risks, as well as direct and indirect emissions. The SEC's adoption of the TCFD benchmark also highlights a broader move towards a common, comparative standard investors can use to assess a company's performance and valuation.
TCFD rules in progress across the world
Fundamental shift in climate reporting on way
Requirements to disclose information about identifying and managing physical and transition risk, alongside how those risks affect corporate strategies and future financials, are designed to spur companies into providing investors with a more accurate picture of a company's long-term outlook.
Companies will also be required to go beyond current levels of emissions reporting to include carbon pollution arising from the use of products and services (Scope 3), as well as direct operations and energy use. While about 20% of US-listed companies disclose carbon emissions voluntarily, only a tiny proportion publicly issue Scope 3 figures that illustrate their full impact – many fearing the reaction of the markets and investors if they publicise the huge figures. Investors will now be able to see the full picture, without corporates effectively hiding emissions by assigning them to third parties.
But while investors, who have by and large been pushing these rules, will welcome greater insight, companies will need to navigate a fundamental shift in the way they think about, manage and report on climate risk. As the reporting will be through financial filings, the financial, risk, and compliance functions will need to take the lead from more traditional sustainability-focused teams, requiring an overhaul of systems, processes, and expertise. For example, only around one in 10 companies currently conducts scenario analysis in line with TCFD standards.
Stress testing operations and strategies under different pathways, as below, and then integrating those results into strategies is a complex and time-consuming process. Plus, the process of capturing the impacts of cascading climate risks than can affect businesses, such as migration or civil unrest, remains in its infancy and is largely overlooked.
Adoption of new climate disclosure rules not guaranteed
Adoption of the new rules would be a rare bright spot for President Biden, whose climate agenda has slowed to a halt as a finely-balanced Congress, the ongoing pandemic and events in Ukraine suck up time and resources.
And there is a reasonable chance these rules may not come to pass: business groups including the US Chamber of Commerce have pledged to battle the SEC in court and have already helped tank the Federal Reserve nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin, who would have proved an ally to SEC Chair Gary Gensler on this issue.
However, global companies will find that the rise of climate risk reporting regulations across the world will compel them to provide this information in other jurisdictions, even if the SEC's proposals are weakened or defeated.
Momentum for integrated reporting irreversible
Those with their ear to the ground will recognise this as just the start of an integrated reporting explosion. The consolidation of frameworks is already well underway and there is a widespread recognition that emissions reporting is no longer sufficient when material disclosures are needed.
How a company manages climate risk disclosure will increasingly affect its valuation and the ability to raise credit, so it is vital they get this right. Especially as investors are now also starting to demand information on broader aspects of environmental performance. Disclosures on forests and water have been accelerating, while the launch of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFDs) last week brings standardised natural capital reporting closer than ever. Getting systems in place for climate will ultimately position companies to deal with future requirements more effectively.
Read our 5 step guide to TCFDs now!
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Will Nichols
Head of Climate and Resilience


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Tucker Robs Rush Hour 3
Published: Nov. 20. 2005 4:00 PM
Chris Tucker has finally managed to put the money where his inordinately big mouth is. Whether or not he's actually worth it (which I dare say is up for some serious debate), Rush Hour 3 producers have caved to Tucker's demands for a $20 million salary (the same amount he was paid for the second film) against 20% of the gross, which could equal big bucks if the movie does as well as its predecessors.
So, if Tucker made that much on the last film, why would it be such a big deal now? If you've been paying attention to the box office you'd know film studios are scared shirtless over the major drop in sales. Big budget movies are risky business these days and the best place to start cutting is actor salaries. As we all know, they're grossly overpaid as it is - pun intended.
According to Variety Tucker received the promised paycheck after giving up on demands for final script approval. Perhaps he's figured out he's going to sound loud and obnoxious no matter what the line is, so who cares what words are coming out of his mouth.
A somewhat humbler Chan is only receiving $15 million dollars against 15% of the gross. He can expect a much bigger check than Tucker though. Mr. Chan will own distribution rights for the film in Hong Kong and China where his name carries a heck of a lot more weight than Tucker's does here.
Now that the big stars are in place the little details can be addressed, like getting a budget and approval to actually make the film. Jeff Nathanson, writer for Rush Hour 2 is attached to put together a script and Brett Ratner, who directed the first two films will also return. Between Ratner's many other projects on deck (including the much debated X-Men 3) it's hard to understand how he'll find time. Producers want to shoot the film next summer for a 2007 release.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The team stayed in Niseko, and explored the surrounding backcountry, including Kiroro, Mount Yotei, and the Goshiki Onsen area. I was fortunate enough to drive them around to a few backcountry spots, and got some great video alongside Angela." Matthew Standall.


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Q: Plot average on subplots (pandas) I've managed to plot subplots from a groupby. I have two columns 'A', and 'B', which I want to plot on subplot (1 per value in 'B') with their respective averages.
I prepare my data by counting, dropping the duplicates, and then summing it up (if there is a more elegant way to do it, please let me know!).
df = pd.DataFrame([[1, 'cat1'], [1, 'cat1'], [4, 'cat2'], [3, 'cat1'], [5, 'cat1'],[1, 'cat2']], columns=['A', 'B'])
df = df[['A','B']]
df['count'] = df.groupby(['A','B'])['A'].transform('count')
df = df.drop_duplicates(['A','B'])
df = df.groupby(['A','B']).sum()

Then I unstack it and plot it with subplots:
plot = df.unstack().plot(kind='bar',subplots=True, sharex=True, sharey=True, layout = (3,3), legend=False)
plt.show(block=True)

I would like to add the mean for each category, but I have don't know:
1. How to calculate the mean. If I calculate it on the unstacked groupby, I get the mean of the count, rather than the value 'A'.
2. Once I have the mean value, I don't know how to plot it on the same subplot.
Any help is welcomed :)
--
Edit following Nickil Maveli's answer:
What I'm trying to achieve is to plot bars of the grouped values on A, and to plot a vertical line with the mean value on B. So using the graphs from Nickil Maveli, this would be:
From what I've found on stackexchange, I think I should be using plt.axvline(mean, color='r', linestyle='--'). However, I don't know how to call have a different mean per plot.

A: IIUC, you can use agg on the mean and count to compute averages and counts beforehand.
df_1 = df.groupby(['A', 'B'])['A'].agg({'counts': 'count'}).reset_index()
df_2 = df.groupby('B')['A'].agg({'average': 'mean'}).reset_index()

Followed by DF.merge on column B, as it is the common column in both the groupby operations. Then, the duplicated entries among columns A and B can be removed.
df = df_1.merge(df_2, on='B').drop_duplicates(['A', 'B'])
df.drop('average', axis=1, inplace=True)
df = df.groupby(['A','B']).sum()

Make modifications to the second dataframe to let column A take the mean values.
df_2['A'] = df_2['average']
df_2 = df_2.groupby(['A','B']).sum()

Using Layout and Targetting Multiple Axes.
fig, ax = plt.subplots(2, 2, figsize=(8, 8))

target1 = [ax[0][0], ax[0][1]]
target2 = [ax[1][0], ax[1][1]]

Count groupby plot.
df.unstack().plot(kind='bar', subplots=True, rot=0, xlim=(0,5), ax=target1,
                            ylim=(0,3), layout=(2,2), legend=False)

Mean groupby plot.
df_2.unstack().plot(kind='bar', width=0.005, subplots=True, rot=0, xlim=(0,5), ax=target2,
                    ylim=(0,3), layout=(2,2), legend=False, color='k')

Adjusting the spacing between subplots.
plt.subplots_adjust(wspace=0.5, hspace=0.5)
plt.show()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The upcoming Chargers season may or may not fill you with excitement, but you know what definitely should? Rooftop pool parties, reggae beer fests, and the rest of this can't-miss September action in San Diego.
Soak in a rooftop Labor Day pool party There ain't no party like a rooftop pool party, so close down summer the right way. The party runs from 1-7pm (with a hosted vodka bar from 1-2pm), and there'll be performances by DJs Toro y Moi, Plastic Plates, Rambo V, 2Shoes, Salter, and Tuff Turf all day.
Soak in a rooftop Labor Day pool party Andaz San Diego RoofTop600 There ain't no party like a rooftop pool party, so close down summer the right way. The party runs from 1-7pm (with a hosted vodka bar from 1-2pm), and there'll be performances by DJs Toro y Moi, Plastic Plates, Rambo V, 2Shoes, Salter, and Tuff Turf all day.
Taste the Taste of Old Town Thanks to the success of last year's event, you'll can try samples from 13 restaurants at Taste of Old Town again this fall. From 6-9pm, hop on the trolley to ride from location to location through Old Town as you enjoy live entertainment and try bites and spirits while supporting Meals-on-Wheels.
Taste the Taste of Old Town Old Town Thanks to the success of last year's event, you'll can try samples from 13 restaurants at Taste of Old Town again this fall. From 6-9pm, hop on the trolley to ride from location to location through Old Town as you enjoy live entertainment and try bites and spirits while supporting Meals-on-Wheels.
Eat through the San Diego Reader Feast Dozens of the best San Diego food trucks and restaurants will have bites available along with samples from local wineries and breweries. A portion of ticket sales and all proceeds from the cash bar will go to benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
Eat through the San Diego Reader Feast Broadway Pier Dozens of the best San Diego food trucks and restaurants will have bites available along with samples from local wineries and breweries. A portion of ticket sales and all proceeds from the cash bar will go to benefit the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
Party on a Neon Night cruise Party on the water aboard the Adventure Hornblower during Neon Nights at Sea from 7:30-11pm. The boat, full of neon-wearing party people, will depart on a glow cruise around the bay with views of the San Diego skyline.
Party on a Neon Night cruise Grape St Pier Party on the water aboard the Adventure Hornblower during Neon Nights at Sea from 7:30-11pm. The boat, full of neon-wearing party people, will depart on a glow cruise around the bay with views of the San Diego skyline.
Talk (and party) like a pirate Seaport Village is hosting Landlubbers Day in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day. Come dressed as a pirate from 1-4pm and you'll find live entertainment from San Diego's pirate-themed band the Jackstraws, a "Talk Like a Pirate" contest, and pirate's booty food and drink specials throughout Seaport Village.
Talk (and party) like a pirate Seaport Village Seaport Village is hosting Landlubbers Day in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day. Come dressed as a pirate from 1-4pm and you'll find live entertainment from San Diego's pirate-themed band the Jackstraws, a "Talk Like a Pirate" contest, and pirate's booty food and drink specials throughout Seaport Village.
Get dirty at a Mud Run This year's course has 12 mud- and foam-filled obstacles to get through plus massive mud pits. Sign up for either the early-bird or the late-riser races, but whichever time you choose to compete, the proceeds will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. When it's all over runners get a T-shirt and your first beer is free.
Get dirty at a Mud Run Del Mar Fairgrounds This year's course has 12 mud- and foam-filled obstacles to get through plus massive mud pits. Sign up for either the early-bird or the late-riser races, but whichever time you choose to compete, the proceeds will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation. When it's all over runners get a T-shirt and your first beer is free.
See how you'd stack up as a Marine If you want to see how you measure up to our country's heroes, then sign up for the 14th annual BootCamp Challenge at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. This three-mile run will have 60 Marine drill instructors "encouraging" participants along the course as they tackle 40 obstacles only used by the Marine Corps recruits including log hurdles, cargo nets, and push-up stations. Proceeds from the race benefit the Marine Corps Community Services.
See how you'd stack up as a Marine Marine Corps Recruit Depot If you want to see how you measure up to our country's heroes, then sign up for the 14th annual BootCamp Challenge at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. This three-mile run will have 60 Marine drill instructors "encouraging" participants along the course as they tackle 40 obstacles only used by the Marine Corps recruits including log hurdles, cargo nets, and push-up stations. Proceeds from the race benefit the Marine Corps Community Services.
Get fat on beer New Belgium's Tour de Fat is the most fun you'll ever have at a fundraiser and the event is back again in Golden Hill Park. The festival promotes biking as sustainable transportation with a costumed bike parade, live music, and plenty of beer from noon to 5pm. Proceeds benefit the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association.
Get fat on beer Golden Hill Park New Belgium's Tour de Fat is the most fun you'll ever have at a fundraiser and the event is back again in Golden Hill Park. The festival promotes biking as sustainable transportation with a costumed bike parade, live music, and plenty of beer from noon to 5pm. Proceeds benefit the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition and the San Diego Mountain Biking Association.
Hit a reggae-style beer fest Harrah's Resort Southern California will host the second annual Hop Heads & Dreads reggae and craft beer festival from 3-7pm. Rock out to live entertainment from headliners The Expendables and Mike Love while drinking local craft beers and eating from the best food trucks in San Diego.
Hit a reggae-style beer fest Harrah's Resort Southern California Harrah's Resort Southern California will host the second annual Hop Heads & Dreads reggae and craft beer festival from 3-7pm. Rock out to live entertainment from headliners The Expendables and Mike Love while drinking local craft beers and eating from the best food trucks in San Diego.
Kick off the San Diego Film Festival The San Diego Film Festival kicks off today and runs thru October 4th. The opening-night film will be shown at the Reading Cinemas in the Gaslamp at 7pm followed by the opening-night party at the Andaz Hotel. The fest will continue with five days of parties, movies, panels, actors, and film makers.
Kick off the San Diego Film Festival Various locations The San Diego Film Festival kicks off today and runs thru October 4th. The opening-night film will be shown at the Reading Cinemas in the Gaslamp at 7pm followed by the opening-night party at the Andaz Hotel. The fest will continue with five days of parties, movies, panels, actors, and film makers.


The lights have dimmed on the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con. Throughout the past weekend there have been spectacular reveals ranging from the first look at new movies like Aquaman to the king of monsters himself Godzilla. Whatever franchise you follow, there has been something new for everyone!
Many people think that SDCC is only for comic lovers and cosplayers, and while that's mostly true, there have been some other reveals outside the world of Marvel and DC! For example, the extremely popular comic turned teen drama show Riverdale got some special news. Fans will be excited to find that season three of the critically acclaimed series will be returning and there is even a new trailer. Not a fan of high school drama? Like your entertainment with a little more… blood? Maybe check out the new Purge TV Series!
This convention has definitely been stacked full of events relating to such a broad range of new content! It's sad to see the weekend have come and gone so quickly, and I know I will be waiting patiently for next year's event. But luckily, for all the fans of pop culture out there, they won't have to wait too long! New York Comic-Con is happening from Oct 4, 2018 – Oct 7, 2018!
Secrets and rumors are already spreading about what juicy new trailers will be revealed. Large groups such as the Impractical Jokers are already RSVPing for the convention which will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. A slew of fantastic voice actors, comic book writers, and various other media legends are scheduled to make an appearance!
Broadcast Management Group is already excited for New York Comic-Con and hopes you are too! Follow us on social media to get updates and info on some of the projects BMG has worked on in the past!


There is rarely a happy medium with Halloween. You either love it or hate it. While many homeowners get into the spirit of the fantasy and love the atmosphere, others could simply do without pumpkins, witches, goblins and ghosts. Whether you love it or not, Halloween is a holiday that comes every year and will continue to do so. Decorating your home for the holiday doesn't mean that you have to give up your favorite china or change your color scheme completely.
Halloween décor doesn't have to be black and orange. Pumpkins come in all different colors and you can incorporate your décor into your current color scheme with a Halloween themed banner or sign. If you're looking for something festive but not glaringly obvious, use decorations in your current color scheme.
Halloween is all about trick or treating, right? Doesn't this mean that there should always be candy around the house? Place glass vases full of different treats on end tables or countertops to provide your guests with a special treat whenever they are around. Nothing says Halloween like a vase full of black licorice next to a glass bowl of candy corn.
Spider webs are one of the creepier Halloween decorations, but are perfect for placing in the corner and forgetting about. Decorate your home with spider webs to add a subtle touch of the holiday to each room.
If you hate changing your decorations each time a new holiday rolls around, choose decorations that work for the entire season. Pumpkins and bowls of candy look great for several months, and keeping your current color scheme simplifies the process greatly.


text:
Q: Grep matching and looping through directory and store in different output files I have 3 files as follows:
1.out
a
b
c

2.out
g
h
abcd
a
h

3.out
b
c
e
a

I need one line above and one line below in the file where the pattern 'a' matches and stored in the new corresponding file
for file in *.out;do grep -A 1 -B 1 'a' $file > $file_output.txt; done

A: _ (underscore) is a valid character in a variable's name.
This means that $file_output.txt uses the variable file_output and appends the string .txt to its value.  If that variable does not exist, then you now have a file called .txt.
To tell the shell that the variable name ends before the _, use curly braces around its name:
"${file}_output.txt"

Also note the quoting of the variable expansion (will be needed if any file in the current directory has a whitespace in its name (file 1.out) or a filename globbing character ([123].out or *.out or similar)).
Final loop:
for file in *.out; do
    grep -A 1 -B 1 'a' "$file" >"${file}_output.txt"
done


Legislation, regulation, tax challenges and help with lettings are topics being covered at a landlords' forum taking place at the Civic Centre in Addlestone on 7 November.
Organised by Magna Carta Lettings, Runnymede Borough Council's private rented lettings service, the forum is open to all landlords in the borough. Legal and regulation issues facing landlords will be explored by a representative of the National Landlords Association while the topic of tax for those letting properties will be discussed by Kreston Reeves Accountants.
Magna Carta Lettings will explain the service available through the Council as well as the recent expansion of what is offered and there will also be information from Happy Energy on the heating and insulation grants available to landlords.
The forum starts at 6pm, with arrival from 5.45pm, and is free to attend but confirmation of attendance via EventBrite is requested. Refreshments are available through out. Further information about the event is available by emailing james.hunt@runnymede.gov.uk or by calling 01932 425870.


text:
Трка на 10.000 метара је атлетска дисциплина која са тркама на 3.000 и 5.000 метара спада у трчање на дуге стазе. Трчање у овој дисциплини се одржава на стадионима и износи 25 пуних кругова.

Трка на 10.000 метара је олимпијска дисциплина, која се налази на програму Летњих олимпијских игара у мушкој конкуренцији од 1912. у Сктокхолму, а у женској од Олимпијских игара 1988. у Сеулу.

Најбржи мушкарци претрче ову дистанцу за око 27 минута, што даје просечну брзину од 6,17 м/с или 22,22 км/ч. Најбрже жене постижу резултате око 30 минута, што даје просечну брзину од 5,55 м/с или 20 км/ч.

Листа најбржих на 10.000 метара

Мушкарци
Статистички подаци на дан 9. јуна 2017.

Жене
Статистички подаци на дан 9. јуна 2017.

Рекорд Србије

Извори

Види још
 Освајачи олимпијских медаља у атлетици — 10.000 метара за мушкарце
 Освајачи олимпијских медаља у атлетици — 10.000 метара за жене

Атлетске дисциплине

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A closer look at how copyright enables creators to safeguard their work.
The Association of Photographers (AOP) fought tirelessly for the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act that thankfully came into force in 1988. But what does copyright actually mean for a commercial creative today?
Copyright underpins the nature of how nearly all photographers make a living (the words 'copyright' and 'licensing' are equally applicable to all forms of creative output, not just photography). As a form of intellectual property and enshrined in legislation, it is a property right and gives creators the ability to generate income by licensing the use of their endeavours, as opposed to selling 'units' of work.
This notion of selling use not unit is vital to making our businesses sustainable, as well as maintaining and safeguarding the creative industries. If you want to have a successful commercial career, you can't just rely on your photography skills, you need to have the business knowledge to back it up – and understanding copyright is a major part of this.
Copyright – or, the right to prevent and control copying – gives us flexibility and gives our clients and buyers protection over the use of a creative piece of work. However, not enough clients and buyers understand that this creator's right is enshrined in law, and that fees paid to us do not automatically confer ownership or title in the work to them.
It's no different to if you were to buy a music track or a book: you do not own the content, but have purchased the right to use a copy for yourself. You might own the paper the book is printed on, but you do not own the words themselves. Likewise, you might own the hard drive or media the image sits on, but you do not own the image itself.
The fees we charge cover our investment in skills, training, equipment such as cameras, insurance, some profit (we're in business, after all) and generally also include some element of licensing. This helps keeps costs to the client lower than they would be if the client wished to own the work created outright.
Unless a photographer assigns the copyright in their work in writing to someone or has accepted the terms of a contract that contain a copyright assignment, the ownership of the intellectual property rights, or copyright, remains firmly vested in the creator.
Sitting alongside the economic element of controlling copyright is a set of moral rights, enshrined in the same legislation. These are there to help protect us, in terms of reputation (and hence our ability to earn), as well as affording the client or commissioner some protection in the form of the right to prevent publication in certain circumstances. They are what's called inalienable rights, so they cannot be sold or assigned, but they can be waived and often we will see contracts that seek an assignment of copyright as well as a waiver of moral rights.
Lastly, it is worth mentioning that there are several exceptions to copyright law; instances when the law does not apply to certain uses of works protected by copyright. We might consider these to be important to balance the rights of the creator against the needs/desires of a potential user of a piece of work. Suffice to say that the copyright regime in the UK is one of the best there is.
This article was originally published in Computer Arts, the world's best-selling design magazine. Buy issue 280 or subscribe.


Alcoholism can affect anybody, irrespective of his or her race and economic status. Be it an adolescent, an adult or an elderly, addiction to alcohol can lead to a disaster on anyone's life. Now, a new research conducted at the Oregon State University (OSU) has found another dark side of this illness. The study has revealed that the existing symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) make it difficult for individuals to continue taking naltrexone, a prescription drug to treat the disorder. This, in turn, might delay the treatment for the condition. The study findings were published recently in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Sarah Dermody, an assistant professor in the School of Psychological Science in OSU's College of Liberal Arts, said that the study findings would help researchers understand the ways in which the effectiveness of medication can be improved by getting involved with the concerned patients. Dermody's focus was on studying the dangerous behaviors that one indulges in, including alcohol and nicotine use, with an aim of developing a better understanding about the factors that lead to such behaviors and the ways in which one can deal with them.
Heavy drinking days, weekends and strong craving days were found to have lesser chances of the patients taking medications.
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 15 million people aged 12 or older had an AUD in 2016. However, only a few of them seek treatment for their condition. The common treatment for alcoholism includes detoxification, medication, or a combination of both. It is important that one follows the treatment plan as well as take prescribed medications to achieve their goal of sobriety.
In you are looking for details about one of the best alcohol addiction treatment centers in Arizona, the Alcohol Addiction Treatment Arizona can help. Call at our 24/7 alcohol addiction helpline number 866-671-1510 or chat online with one of our experts to know the details about the finest treatment facilities in Arizona.


text:
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Karly Lane
Third Time Lucky MP3 CD – 1 February 2020
Karly Lane (Author)
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Poppy's Dilemma
Morgan's Law
Six Ways to Sunday
Bridie's Choice
Gemma's Bluff
Karly Lane lives on the beautiful Mid North Coast of NSW in Australia. A certified small town girl, she is most happy in a little town where everyone knows who your grandparents were. She writes women's fiction – everything from romantic suspense to family sagas and life in rural Australia.
Norma Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this Karly Lane novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, depicting a small town and it's residents, its gossips, its troublemakers, accusations,and lies, with a delightful love story woven throughout, from young prohibited love, to adult deceit and revenge, then back to what was meant to be. Well written Karly.
Reviewed in Australia on 5 October 2019
I love to escape in a Karly Lane book and I really enjoyed this one . Great characters and storyline
Jo-Ann
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great story by Karly
Reviewed in Australia on 29 November 2016
At first I struggled with the main characters name but the more I read the more it so suited her character.
As always couldn't put this book down! Engaged me from the very first word until the last .... thank you xo
love karly lane
Rebekah Montgomery
Love this author
Marcia@Book Muster Down Under
5.0 out of 5 stars Rural Fiction that Tackles Real Issues
December Doyle returned home to Christmas Creek two years ago to try and pick up the pieces of a life that turned out to be a lie. Unable to move on, she hasn't really been living but merely surviving, after giving up her little Melbourne café to work two jobs and live in the granny flat on her parents' property while she pays off the huge debt that her husband left hanging over her head.
The only daughter to be born within three generations of the Doyle family, Em has always loved Christmas Creek and living there again has started her thinking of ways to revive the little regional town that is barely just surviving.
When Seth Hunter left Christmas Creek more than a decade before, he swore he'd never return to the town that refused to accept him because of his misfortune at being born into the wrong family but, after a newspaper article piqued his interest, the pull suddenly became too strong for him to ignore.
Now a successful businessman, he's come a long way from the boy who lived on the wrong side of the tracks and, whilst small towns have long memories, he's also never forgotten the only girl who ever made him feel like he could be someone more than a no-hoper.
"When everyone thinks you're nothing, you start to believe it" – Seth
It's when Seth finds out that the town committee have vetoed December's ideas to boost tourism that he approaches her with an offer too good to refuse.
For December, accepting the offer is the easy part. It's realising that the man he has become is very different to the teenage boy she once knew and that, even while the magnetism that played havoc with her heart all those years before is still present, there is far more to Seth's return than he is letting on.
"Once I put my mind to something I very rarely let anything stop me" – Seth
Well, you're going to need to push aside the laundry and the housekeeping for a few hours this weekend!
Because that's exactly what I did last weekend when Queensland found itself in the midst of a disgusting heatwave that had us all rushing for either the pool or the air-conditioning. Of course, I chose the air-con and, with great gusto, settled in to read this latest by Karly Lane. I'm a sucker for a "bad-boy", "second-chance" romance and I immediately knew that I'd made the right choice when Karly's characters' emotions started making my stomach do fluttery flip-flops.
Karly is extremely adept at bringing the heartache and conflict of a realistic situation to the fore, allowing the reader to empathise with her characters and I found myself warming to Seth (don't you just love that name?) and December very quickly. They are strong, independent and thoroughly likable and I couldn't help but fall for Seth with his battered heart and tortured soul.
Whilst December loves the town, Seth is the opposite because it brings back so many painful memories and it is the contempt from the townsfolk along with his feelings of inadequacy that drive the hate, bitterness and anger he feels towards those that shattered the dreams of a boy who only ever wanted to belong.
On the opposite end of the scale, the chemistry between these two sizzles right from the start and, as memories of their youth intrude seamlessly into the narrative, pulling us into their world of teenage emotion and angst, there is a warmth and intensity that offers the reader a glimpse at the torch they once carried for each other.
Karly not only gives us rural romance but her stories always tackle real issues that plague small Australian towns and this one is no exception as she highlights the fact that big business is slowly choking off their sources of revenue, thus making us completely aware of how, without important injections of capital, their landscape and livelihoods is rapidly changing.
Did I mention that Granny Doyle is an absolute hoot!!
With her vivid characterisation, magical sense of place, heartfelt emotion and a dash of hope where hope has been lost, Rural Fiction's Favourite Daughter gives us a moving story about family, betrayal, love and the power that the past can hold over our lives. You will laugh, you will cry but most of all, you won't want to put this heart-warming Aussie Christmas tale down until you are satisfied that things are going to work out.
3.0 out of 5 stars It is perhaps best if we consider that this is a rural romance ...
Karly Lane's book, Third Time Lucky is a lovely adaptation of a Christmas novella. It's a story that translates well to the longer format but it's also one that is difficult to write about without revealing some crucial plot points. It is perhaps best if we consider that this is a rural romance that poses and solves a number of questions, including: is it possible to forgive the past? Can you learn to love after you've been duped by your partner and left a widower? Can young lovers that were once torn apart rekindle their relationship? Do you choose revenge or forgiveness after being slighted?
This novel stars December Doyle, a strong and relatable character who lives in a small and mountainous town in country NSW called Christmas Creek. Doyle is a kind character that only sees the best in people. She's also the only female to be born into her family for some time. As a result of this, she is often protected by her well-meaning but stubborn father and brothers.
Doyle finds herself newly single. Her childhood sweetheart, a former bad boy-turned-successful businessman named Seth Hunter returns to town just as she is beginning to pick up the pieces and rebuild her life. What ensues is a period where the main and supporting characters meet again and reassess their past relationships, rights and wrongs.
Third Time Lucky sees Karly Lane penning another intriguing romance novel. Lane is a country girl and it is obvious in her authentic prose and descriptions that are quite detailed and multi-faceted. Third Time Lucky is an easy and breezy read that will make you want to kick off your heels, relax into a couch and enjoy a simple but satisfying romance tale.
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Reading
Easy reading. I enjoyed the book
Viki Brinkman
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing character development in a typical small town.
A similar theme to Karly"s other stories but good character development ll the same.
Susan Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
This book was a very good read the story line was great and the ending was fantastic a true love story.
Reviewed in the United States on 4 January 2017
Enjoyed this book I read all her books
Very enjoyable,


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text:
Uses and Production of Ammonia by the Haber Process
In 1909 Fritz Haber established the conditions under which nitrogen, N2(g), and hydrogen, H2(g), would combine to produce ammonia, NH3(g) using:
(i) medium temperature (≈500oC)
(ii) very high pressure (≈250 atmospheres, ≈25,500kPa)
(iii) a catalyst (a porous iron catalyst prepared by reducing magnetite, Fe3O4).
Osmium is a much better catalyst for the reaction but is very expensive.
This process produces an ammonia, NH3(g), yield of approximately 10-20%.
The Haber synthesis was developed into an industrial process by Carl Bosch.
Equilibrium Considerations
The reaction between nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas to produce ammonia gas is an exothermic equilibrium reaction, releasing 92.4 kJ mol-1 of energy at 298 K (25oC).
N2(g)
nitrogen + 3H2(g)
hydrogen heat, pressure, catalyst
2NH3(g)
ammonia ΔH = -92.4 kJ mol-1
OR, including the enthalpy change as a product of the reaction:
ammonia + 92.4 kJ mol-1
By Le Chetalier's Principle, increasing the pressure on the reaction mixture favours the formation of ammonia gas:
Increasing the pressure causes the equilibrium position to move to the right resulting in a higher yeild of ammonia since there are more gas molecules on the left hand side of the equation (4 in total) than there are on the right hand side of the equation (2).
Increasing the pressure means the system adjusts to reduce the effect of the change, that is, to reduce the pressure by having fewer gas molecules.
By Le Chetalier's Principle, decreasing the temperature of the reaction mixture favours the formation of ammonia gas:
Decreasing the temperature causes the equilibrium position to move to the right resulting in a higher yield of ammonia since the reaction is exothermic (releases heat).
Reducing the temperature means the system will adjust to minimise the effect of the change, that is, it will produce more heat since energy is a product of the reaction, and will therefore produce more ammonia gas as well.
However, the rate of the reaction at lower temperatures is extremely slow, so a higher temperature must be used to speed up the reaction which results in a lower yield of ammonia.
The equilibrium expression for this reaction is:
Kc = [NH3(g)]2
[N2(g)][H2(g)]3
As the temperature increases, the value of the equilibrium constant decreases as the yield of ammonia decreases.
(oC)
25 6.4 x 102
higher Kc
200 4.4 x 10-1
lower Kc
In summary, higher pressure favours formation of ammonia gas, lower temperature favours formation of ammonia gas BUT the reaction rate is slow at lower temperatures.
Reaction Rate (Kinetic) Considerations
A catalyst such as an iron catalyst is used to speed up the reaction by lowering the activation energy so that the N2 bonds and H2 bonds can be more readily broken.
Increased temperature means more reactant molecules have sufficient energy to overcome the energy barrier to reacting (activation energy) so the reaction is faster at higher temperatures (but the yield of ammonia is lower as discussed above).
A temperature range of 400-500oC is a compromise designed to achieve an acceptable yield of ammonia (10-20%) within an acceptable time period.
Refer to the graph on the right which records the yield of ammonia as a percentage at different pressures:
At 200oC and pressures above 750 atm there is an almost 100% conversion of reactants to the ammonia product.
Since there are difficulties associated with containing larger amounts of materials at this high pressure, lower pressures of around 200 atm are used industrially.
By using a pressure of around 200 atm and a temperature of about 500oC, the yield of ammonia is 10-20%, while costs and safety concerns in the building and during operation of the plant are minimised
During industrial production of ammonia, the reaction never reaches equilibrium as the gas mixture leaving the reactor is cooled to liquefy and remove the ammonia.
The remaining mixture of reactant gases are recycled through the reactor.
The heat released by the reaction is removed and used to heat the incoming gas mixture.
Uses of Ammonia
Fertilser production of:
ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4
ammonium phosphate, (NH4)3PO4
ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3
urea, (NH2)2CO, used in the production of barbiturates (sedatives), is made by the reaction of ammonia with carbon dioxide as shown below:
carbon dioxide + 2NH3
ammonia H2NCOONH4
ammonium carbonate heat,
(NH2)2CO
Chemicals synthesis of:
nitric acid, HNO3, which is used in making explosives such as TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene), nitroglycerine which is also used as a vasodilator (a substance that dilates blood vessels) and PETN (pentaerythritol nitrate).
sodium hydrogen carbonate (sodium bicarbonate), NaHCO3
sodium carbonate, Na2CO3
(Solvay Process)
hydrogen cyanide (hydrocyanic acid), HCN
hydrazine, N2H4 (used in rocket propulsion systems)
Explosives ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3
Fibres and Plastics nylon, -[(CH2)4-CO-NH-(CH2)6-NH-CO]-,and other polyamides
Refrigeration used for making ice, large scale refrigeration plants, air-conditioning units in buildings and plants
Pharmaceuticals used in the manufacture of drugs such as sulfonamide which inhibit the growth and multiplication of bacteria that require p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for the biosynthesis of folic acids, anti-malarials and vitamins such as the B vitamins nicotinamide (niacinamide) and thiamine.
Pulp and Paper ammonium hydrogen sulfite, NH4HSO3, enables some hardwoods to be used
Mining and Metallurgy used in nitriding (bright annealing) steel,
used in zinc and nickel extraction
Cleaning ammonia in solution is used as a cleaning agent such as in 'cloudy ammonia'
A Brief History of Ammonia Production
At the beginning of the 20th century there was a shortage of naturally occurring, nitrogen-rich fertilisers, such as Chile saltpetre, which prompted the German Chemist Fritz Haber, and others, to look for ways of combining the nitrogen in the air with hydrogen to form ammonia, which is a convenient starting point in the manufacture of fertilisers.
This process was also of interest to the German chemical industry as Germany was preparing for World War I and nitrogen compounds were needed for explosives.
The hydrogen for the ammonia synthesis was made by the water-gas process (a Carl Bosch invention) which involves blowing steam through a bed of red hot coke resulting in the separation of hydrogen from oxygen.
The nitrogen was obtained by distillation of liquid air, then by cooling and compressing air.
These days, the hydrogen is produced by reforming light petroleum fractions or natural gas (methane, CH4) by adding steam:
CH4(g) + H2O(g) Ni catalyst
700oC CO(g) + 3H2(g)
Enough steam is used to react with about 45% of the methane (CH4), the rest of the methane is reacted with air:
2CH4(g) + O2(g) + 4N2(g)
(air) Ni catalyst
2CO(g) + 4H2(g) + 4N2(g)
All the carbon monoxide (CO) in the mixture is oxidised to CO2 using steam and an iron oxide catalyst:
CO(g) + H2O(g) iron oxide catalyst
H2(g) + CO2(g)
The carbon dioxide (CO2) is removed using a suitable base so that only the nitrogen gas (N2) and hydrogen gas (H2) remain and are used in the production of ammonia (NH3).
In ammonia production the hydrogen and nitrogen are mixed together in a ratio of 3:1 by volume and compressed to around 200 times atmospheric pressure.


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Along with the holiday season we can expect an increase in criminal activity based upon historical data. Orchard Valley Farms has increased security as we strive to keep our homeowners safe. Keep your expensive heat pump more secure by locking your power breaker. A simple lock on your breaker is a great theft deterrent.
Older PostWhere do the fees go?


text:
Pastor Tim Armstrong
Between The Rock and a hard place
May 8, 2019 by Linda Maynard
sin, the garden, shame, new life
I had no inkling where the group had gone. All I knew was that I had to stay put. I had to capture the thoughts ricocheting around my head. My God had just opened my eyes to an important truth, and I could not lose hold of it.
I learned I had been living my life between The Rock and a hard place.
The lesson came toward the end of a life-altering trip to Israel. I was among nearly 40 females studying in the Holy Land, and the entire trip thus far had been jaw-dropping. Journeying across the Sea of Galilee just as Jesus did. Walking on the cobbled steps of Jerusalem where Jesus most certainly trod. Standing on the Mount of Olives. Sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. I had never felt such awe of my Savior. Until that day.
As I leaned against the wall of St. Anne's Church, overlooking the Pool of Bethesda, I listened intently to my teacher. She shared the story from John 5 of an invalid man who had suffered for 38 years. The Scripture tells us, "Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he already had been there a long time" (verse 6). The man was lying between The Rock—Jesus Christ—and a hard place. And Jesus said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"
But the man's hard place weighed upon him. Not only was he invalid, but he also had no one to carry him into the "healing waters" of the Pool of Bethesda, a commonly held belief. But Jesus told the man, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk" (verse 8). And at once the man was healed. Our invalid friend had lain in the House of Grace (the meaning of Bethesda) for some time, seeking imposter forms of healing. But in a brief encounter with the ultimate Healer, his life was made new.
Our teacher quickly described another encounter, this one between Jesus, The Rock, and an adulterous woman (John 8:1-11). While teaching in the temple, Jesus was presented with the woman by a group of Pharisees. The Law said the woman should be stoned, and they were testing Jesus to see if he would uphold the Law. Immediately Jesus stooped to write in the sand. Why? Because He knew the shame this woman was feeling, and our Savior's desire is that we would never walk in shame. As long as all eyes were on her, the shame would remain. But by Jesus stooping, the Pharisees' stares moved from shame to the Savior and ultimately to their own sin.
Having their own sinfulness exposed, the woman's accusers dispersed. The shame-filled woman was now left between The Rock and her hard place. And what did the Judge of the universe do to this adulterous woman?
"Jesus stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more'" (verses 10-11).
And that's when it hit me. I had been a Christ-follower for more than 20 years, knowing in my head that my Savior had washed me clean. But in the depths of my heart I was still treading between my Rock and a hard place—the place of my former sin. Like the invalid man and the adulterous woman, I had allowed dishonorable acts from my past to paralyze me with shame. As I came to that realization, the words of 2 Corinthians 5:17 flashed before me: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (s)he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Since Adam and Eve's first sin in the Garden of Eden, God's desire has been to cover over our shame. He sacrificed animals in the garden to provide coverings to the first couple when they felt the shame of their nakedness. He sacrificed lambs in Egypt to provide a covering against the shameful death that Pharaoh brought on his country. He received sacrifices of animals in the desert to remove the shame of sin from His people. And He gave the ultimate sacrifice—the life of His very own Son Jesus, our Rock and our Redeemer—to bestow honor and grace on every person who believes in Him.
Yet how many of us, even as we follow Christ, still allow the shame to stick?
In Hebrews 12:1-2, the writer reminds us that this should not be so. He encourages us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run our race with eyes fixed on Jesus. In Christ, we no longer stand between our Rock and our hard place. We stand firmly on the new life He has given us. The painful paralysis of our past has no hold on our present or our future.
At the Pool of Bethesda, a man's illness made him feel invalid. But Jesus turned the pool into the House of Grace and invited him to get up, walk on, and roll away his mat.
At the temple court, a woman thought her infidelity had rendered her death inevitable. But Jesus dismissed her accusers and told her to look up, move forward, and sin no more.
And in the courtyard of St. Anne's Church, this writer realized I was allowing former disobedience to disqualify me from Christ's promised future. But on that sunny day in Israel, The Rock encouraged me to detach from that hard place and that broken woman and to behold the new life He had given.
And He invites you to do the same. Because of Christ, we no longer have to languish between our Rock and a hard place. His death and resurrection already have bridged that great divide. No longer are we subject to shame, for His banner over us is love.
More in Stories
Living Open-Handed
Conduit or Complication?
More by Linda Maynard
From Conformity to Calling
The Wellspring of Life
The Power of Small
The Worthy Walk PO Box 1262, Akron, OH 44309
© 2019 The Worthy Walk All Rights Reserved
radio@theworthywalk.com


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text:
Q: Mac Illustrator CC > Save for Web > Convert to sRGB… checked & greyed out i've been following some advice from several blogs to normalize the color settings across my adobe apps - basically setting them to none or generic or monitor etc (since i only design for web, really).
one thing they say to do is to make sure the "Convert to sRGB" option is UNchecked in the Save for Web dialog box in both Photoshop & Illustrator.
well, that's doable in Photoshop, but it's checked & greyed out in Illustrator (see attached screenshot). for the life of me i can't figure out how to change that.
more info...
the reason i want to UNcheck this option that's greyed out is to try & get colors to not just look correct, but to match between Illustrator, Photoshop, & any web browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc).
currently, i can open up both Photoshop & Illustrator on the screen, side-by-side > create a new 'web' document in both > draw a square > and fill it with a color in one, then do the same in the other with the exact same HEX & RGB color numbers, and they LOOK different!
Furthermore, when i use a color-picker on that same square... it fills in different numbers than what i had originally typed in!
so i've been doing research > google'ing & searching the Adobe forums,
several Stack_______ sites, & the Apple forums. all i've been able to
find of substance is to make these settings in both Photoshop &
Illustrator - to not manage color profiles nor view profiles for any
psd's & ai's for web-based screen-only designs.
even more info...
i'm on a 6 month old (mid-2014) MacBook Pro (15"
Retina w/a 1 TB SSD & 16 GB of RAM); 'had' Adobe CS6 on it. then in
February i UNinstalled that & started a new Adobe CC
subscription (downloaded & installed fresh copies of its various
apps, including Photoshop & Illustrator).
THANKS for your time & efforts!

PS: yes, i also posted this @ https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1812587

also...

PS2: i posted this in the GraphicDesign Stack but it was put on hold'n'closed by the moderators with the excuse that it is "Off Topic" for that stack @ https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/51104/mac-illustrator-cc-save-for-web-convert-to-srgb-checked-greyed-out

also...

PS3: i don't have enough "reputation" in this particular stack to embed images (as i've done in the GraphicDesign stack post linked above) so here's a link to the screenshot (in case it'd be helpful for anyone to "see") @
  https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/95838/illustrator-SFW-issue.png
@Karan, if you see this & don't mind doing what you did on another post of mine recently, i'd appreciate it - you went ahead & embedded my screenshot (see PS3 above) for the one @ superuser.com/questions/901716/mac-microsoft-word-2011-changes-shape-color-against-my-will


In some cases, you can ask the court to seal your criminal record from public view. This used to be called expungement. It is now called Petition and Order to Seal. Your records won't be physically destroyed, but they will be sealed and treated as confidential. Below you will find several different resources for sealing your criminal record.
Click on the button below and then type "expungement" in the field. We are using NEXT-Generation Legal Technology developed by AUX to help you with your expungement process.
AUX created Docubot™—a technology that uses the collective knowledge of hundreds of attorneys and artificial intelligence to automatically create your personalized expungement forms to ask that a misdemeanor be sealed in Arkansas.
If any of the above is true, you will need to complete an application for pardon on the Arkansas Governor's website.
Before completing the Petition and Order to Seal forms, it helps to have your Judgment and Commitment Order. If you do not have this legal document, you can go to the clerk's office where you were sentenced and ask for a copy. The clerk may charge a small fee (generally $5) for the copies.
This section contains links that offer information about expungement laws in Arkansas. There are pdf fact sheets, pdf forms, and interactive forms to help you understand sealing your criminal records in Arkansas.
"Petition to Seal for Felonies Flow Chart"
"Petition to Seal for Misdemeanors Flow Chart"


You can contact us by calling 410-944-5566, or toll free at 800-964-8484. Our fax number is 410-944-8866. You can email us at admin@atlanticpressurewashers.com.
To meet the staff and see the store, you can visit us on Facebook . "Like" our Facebook page to keep up with important news, specials and events at the store. We also post "how-to" videos on the Atlantic Pressure Washer Facebook page.
We are open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm USA Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturdays from March to October.
Our superstore is located at 823 Hammonds Ferry Road, Suites B-C, Linthicum Heights, MD 20190; Click Here for Directions.
If you have a question regarding the purchase of an Atlantic pressure washer, accessory or soaps, please call. Our professional staff will be pleased to help you find a pressure washer that will fit your needs.
The company accepts VISA, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express. You can also prepay by sending a check, money order or wire transfer.
Orders are routinely shipped by UPS ground unless you request us to ship the product Next Day Air. Those items deemed too large for parcel shipment will be shipped by truck freight. Call for a freight quote. Orders received by noon, Eastern Time, and in stock, are shipped that day. Otherwise, the order is shipped the next business day.
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text:
Singapore markets close in 1 hour 4 minutes
Amid Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's marriage rumours, Six Senses Fort Barwara completely booked
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal (Image source: Instagram)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 1 (ANI): Six Senses Fort Barwara, which is known for its gracious and regal ambience, situated in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, is completely sold out around the dates of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's rumoured wedding.
As per several reports, Katrina and Vicky, fondly called ViKat by their fans, are set to tie the knot, probably at the royal property. The lavish wedding festivities are speculated to take place from December 7 to 9.
On enquiring about the availability of rooms in the particular period, the hotel informed ANI that it is completely sold out.
"We are completely booked from December 5 to December 11. Rooms can be booked post December 12," a staff member from the hotel said.
The luxury property is also sold out from December 7 to December 10 on popular websites like Make My Trip and Go Ibibo, which provide hotel and travel booking services. This is particularly interesting given the dates are coinciding with Katrina and Vicky's rumoured marriage.
While Katrina and Vicky's wedding rumours have been making headlines, the two have never confirmed their relationship publically.
Their romance rumours began after Katrina, in an episode of 'Koffee with Karan', said that she would like to work with Vicky and they would look good together. On hearing this, Vicky was completely flattered and made a gesture of fainting.
The duo has been spotted together at several events and occasions. Recently, she made an appearance at a special screening of Vicky's film 'Sardar Udham'. Several reports earlier suggested that Vicky and Katrina got engaged in a hush-hush Roka ceremony at filmmaker Kabir Khan's house on Diwali. (ANI)


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text:
Compliance April 24, 2012
J.P. Morgan Cleared of Charges for Lehman Investments
April 24, 2012 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – J.P. Morgan Chase (JPMC) did not breach its fiduciary duties to a pension plan by investing the plan's assets in Lehman Brothers notes through JPMC's securities lending program.
Rebecca Moore
In dismissing the charges against JPMC, U.S. District Judge Barbara S. Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York pointed out that the fiduciary duty to act prudently under the circumstances at the time of the decision precludes any judgment of a fiduciary's actions "from the vantage point of hindsight." Even if references to news articles and basic financial modeling were sufficient to make it "theoretically conceivable" that JPMC should have known about Lehman's weakening financial condition, such speculation is not enough to defeat a motion to dismiss, Jones said.
Jones did agree that JPMC's actions in 2008 — demanding additional collateral and taking advantage of Lehman's weak negotiating position — suggest that JPMC harbored some concerns about Lehman's creditworthiness, but she found that does not indicate JPMC knew that maintaining the plan's investments in Lehman was unduly risky.
The court also found the board of trustees of the Operating Engineers Pension Trust failed to provide facts to support its assertion that JPMC violated its duty to monitor the investments. "Plaintiff alleges only in the vaguest terms that JPMC failed to conduct a proper investigation into the Lehman investments and that JPMC did not exercise independent judgment in deciding to keep the plan invested in the Lehman notes," Jones wrote in her opinion.
Finally, the court rejected the pension plan's assertion that a conflict of interest arising out of the fee arrangement between the plan and JPMC motivated JPMC's breach of fiduciary duty. Jones concluded the plan entered into the securities lending arrangement freely and after arms-length negotiations; it cannot now claim the fee arrangement to which it agreed creates a conflict of interest to JPMC's unfair advantage.
The court opinion is here.
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Home / Reports / Israeli High Court Approves Theft of Bil'in Land
Israeli High Court Approves Theft of Bil'in Land
in Reports November 11, 2006
by the ISM media team
In a laconic verdict, the High Court of Justice yesterday rejected a petition filed by the residents of Bil'in and Peace Now, against declarations made in the early 90s where 900 dunams of the village lands were declared government property. Most of these lands were subsequently allocated for the construction of the Matityahu East neighborhood in the settlement Modi'in Illit.
The basis for the petition were documents recently exposed from which it was evident that the declarations were made in an attempt to conceal alleged purchases made by the Fund for the Redemption of Lands, a settlers company that claimed to have bought lands in Bil'in. The State declared the lands government property and immediately thereafter allocated the lands to the Fund, while bypassing the orders of the local law pertaining to land registration.
Despite the fact that documents submitted to the Court proved clearly that this happened, Judge Rivlin wrote in the verdict that the plaintiffs didn't prove that "the declarations were done in an attempt to bypass the" law dealing with such purchases. Judge Rivlin adds that the State admitted that one of the declarations was made following the request of Israelis who claimed to have bought lands in Bil'in. However, the Court upheld the State's claim that the decision to declare the land as government property was taken not due to the request of the settlers, but due to the fact the land was indeed government property, i.e., agricultural land that has not been cultivated for some time. And yet, Judge Rivlin added that "the material in front of us is not
unequivocal on this. There is evidence in both directions". Despite this, the Court refrained from issuing an order nisi which would have involved further investigation of the issues to resolve them completely.
Two other petitions regarding Bil'in are still pending in Court: petition 8414/05 against the route of the barrier and petition 143/06 against the illegal construction in Matityahu East. In the latter, a temporary injunction issued about 10 months ago prohibits any further building and moving in of settlers.
Bil'in	2006-11-11
Tagged with: Bil'in
Than you for the donations to free Ashraf Abu Rahmah!
12th anniversary of the popular resistance in Bil'in


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Home / World / Asia-Pacific
Livelihoods hinge on green recovery
By Prime Sarmiento | China Daily | Updated: 2021-11-24 07:05
[Photo/IC]
Climate change may be an abstract issue for many, but environmental anthropologist Serina Abdul Rahman points out that this is far from the case with a fishing community in the southern Malaysian state of Johor.
Serina said the fisherfolk of the area are typical of the communities across the world now affected by erratic weather patterns that threaten their livelihoods.
Serina, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, works with fishermen in Johor and has seen firsthand how stronger typhoons and rising sea levels have brought home the crisis for people dependent on the ocean for their survival. Declining fish catches are now their immediate concern.
"In the past, some of these changes could be assumed to be the result of coastal development," she said. "But in 2021, this does not apply as everything had ground to a halt due to COVID-19. Yet we see a drastic reduction in fish catch."
Serina said this is why it is "incredibly important" to promote a green recovery from the pandemic for economies to ensure sustainability and protect livelihoods.
As Asian nations slowly recover from the pandemic, conducting mass vaccinations and reopening their economies, it is important for policymakers to include climate adaptation and mitigation measures in their policy planning, analysts said.
Decarbonization of the economy was a key theme at recent high-level talks in the region. At the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting hosted by New Zealand, the leaders' summit ended on Nov 12 with a declaration acknowledging the need for "urgent and concrete action to transition to a climate-resilient future global economy".
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Nov 11 at the APEC CEO Summit that China will "advance green transition" and contribute to ecological conservation in the Asia-Pacific region. The country plans to hit peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
The COVID-19 pandemic has "highlighted the need to urgently reorganize society toward one that is both ecologically sustainable and socially just," said Cesar Carlito Baclagon, regional finance campaigner at 350.org, an international environmental group.
Billions affected
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific said in its Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2021 that over the past 50 years, natural hazards in the region have affected 6.9 billion people and killed more than 2 million.
Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development, a think tank in Bangladesh, said a climate-resilient economic rebound is important because Asia is one of the regions that are most vulnerable to climate change, and it is also among the world's biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.
He said Bangladesh is "taking adaptation and building resilience as a major pathway". Saleemul cited a decision by Bangladesh's energy ministry to cancel plans to build 10 coal-fired power plants and the nation's plans to develop wind power plants.
Other Asian countries are likewise shifting to renewables and gradually reducing their use of fossil fuel to reduce emissions and fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his nation will achieve net-zero emissions by 2070 and that renewable energy sources will account for about half the country's power generation by 2030.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the country will end coal-fired power generation by 2050. South Korea also joined the Global Methane Pledge at the COP 26 climate summit, a global pact to cut methane emissions by more than 30 percent by 2030 from 2020 levels.
Indonesia will stop building coal-fired power plants after 2023 and is set to impose a carbon tax in 2022. President Joko Widodo said Indonesia is rehabilitating 600,000 hectares of mangrove forests until 2024.
Baclagon said the response to the climate crisis "demands swift and unprecedented action" not only from national governments but also from the international community.
"The recently concluded COP 26 has resulted in agreements that show only incremental steps forward rather than the monumental leaps needed to ensure a livable planet for all," he said. "This is where intergovernmental forums like the APEC could help bridge the gaps for insubstantial outcomes that were achieved during COP 26."
Yang Han and Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong contributed to this story.
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Despite the numerous high profile restaurant closures in Bristol this year, there's also plenty of new arrivals to look forward to - including a very exciting one this evening.
Corner 77 will add another string to the city's culinary bow when it opens in the building formerly occupied by MEATliquor, which closed in October last year.
The vibrant street food and events venue, headed up by the teams behind Bravas on Cotham Hill, Bakers & Co on Gloucester Road and Cargo Cantina in Wapping Wharf, will be home to a range of pop-ups from popular Bristol restaurants which will change on a regular basis.
In the pipeline for Corner 77 are exclusive pop-ups, kitchen takeovers by Bristol eateries and fun events such as a bottomless brunch, tapas takeover by the Bravas team and a crab shack.
The main goal, say the team behind it, is to bring together a collective of the best food vendors, producers and food professionals in Bristol in a casual, fun and inviting space for customers.
There will also be a fully licensed bar serving natural wines, craft beer and cocktails as well as tap takeovers and collaborations with local brewers.
Co-owner Imogen Waite said: "We've got a cracking line up of street food for our opening weekend and with some special tastings at the bar too we hope it'll be a buzzing atmosphere for people to come down and enjoy our unique new home for independent food & drink.
Keep an eye on the 'What's on at Corner 77' board at the front of the venue next week to see what's lined up there, as well as announcements on bar offers/specials and event updates on Corner 77's website.


waivers and/or forbearance agreements as we seek to cure such defaults; however, no assurances can be given that such waivers and/or forbearance agreements will be obtained.
See "Item 1. Business—Acquisitions" above for additional information relating to the Company's acquisitions, including transfers by SunEdison or third parties to the Company of additional equity interests in various renewable energy projects. The Company expects to continue to acquire additional renewable energy assets. However, other than the BioTherm transaction discussed elsewhere in this annual report, the Company has no commitments to make any such acquisitions.
Immediately prior to the completion of the IPO on August 5, 2015, Global LLC and Global Operating LLC entered into an interest payment agreement (the "Interest Payment Agreement") with SunEdison and Holdings, pursuant to which SunEdison agreed to pay an aggregate amount equal to all of the scheduled interest of up to $81.2 million on Global Operating LLC's Senior Notes through December 31, 2016 and up to an aggregate amount of $40.0 million in 2017, $30.0 million in 2018, $20.0 million in 2019 and $10.0 million in 2020, plus any interest due on any payment not remitted when due. SunEdison's interest support payments due to the Company have been reduced by $2.9 million as a result of the $49.6 million of the Senior Notes that were extinguished under the open market repurchase program that began in December 2015 and continued through January 2016. SunEdison will not be obligated to pay any amounts due under the Senior Notes in connection with an acceleration of the payment of the principal amount of such indebtedness.
Upon expiration of the Distribution Forbearance Period (as defined in Item 15. Note 18 - Related Parties), Global LLC will be entitled to set off any amounts owing by SunEdison pursuant to the Interest Payment Agreement against any and all amounts owed by Global LLC to SunEdison under the distribution provisions of the Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Global LLC (the "Global LLC Operating Agreement"), and Global LLC may pay such amounts to Global Operating LLC. For the year ended December 31, 2015, SunEdison was not required to contribute capital to fund interest on the Senior Notes or credit facility payments.
The Interest Payment Agreement terminates upon payment by SunEdison of all amounts owing thereunder. It may, however, be terminated prior to that by mutual written agreement of SunEdison and Global Operating LLC and will automatically terminate upon the repayment in full of the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes or a change of control of the Company, Global LLC or Global Operating LLC. The agreement may also be terminated at the election of SunEdison, Global LLC or Global Operating LLC if any of them experiences certain events relating to bankruptcy or insolvency. Any decision by Global LLC or Global Operating LLC to terminate the Interest Payment Agreement must have the prior approval of the Company's Conflicts Committee.
On July 29, 2016, the Company received a notice from SunEdison purporting to terminate the Interest Payment Agreement. The notice alleges that SunEdison's bankruptcy permits termination as of right without following the bankruptcy procedures for rejection of executory contracts. Although we do not expect SunEdison to perform under the Interest Payment Agreement going forward, the Company is contesting the purported termination of the Interest Payment Agreement, believes that the termination notice is invalid, and is asserting a claim in the SunEdison Bankruptcy for the full amount of damages resulting from SunEdison's breach of the Interest Payment Agreement.
Our quarterly dividend was initially set at $0.275 per share of our Class A common stock, or $1.100 per share on an annualized basis, and the amount may be changed in the future without advance notice. With respect to our first declared dividend payable on December 15, 2015 to stockholders of record on December 1, 2015, we paid a pro-rated initial dividend of $0.1704 per share.


Autonomous air taxis, exoskeletons to put disabled people back on their feet again or 3D printed car parts: we're no longer amazed when we hear reports of such new developments. But which technologies are really set to change the rules of the game in the boardroom in the next 10 years?
"Information is the oil of the 21st century, and analytics is the combustion engine," said Peter Sondergaard of IT research firm Gartner. Data specialists are in high demand, with jobs such as data scientist and data engineer topping the list of most sought-after jobs in the US due to the huge demand from businesses. Almost every business needs data specialists now or in the near future, whether for social media marketing or for device sensors.
The dominance of volume-based thinking in the manufacturing industry may possibly come to an end. With 3D printing enabling a switch back from mass production to customisation. But is it too soon to talk of a breakthrough? Angela Daly, author of Socio-Legal Aspects of the 3D Printing Revolution, believes that it is. She argues that for this to happen 3D printers will need to become more powerful, more user-friendly and cheaper, and the range of applications will need to grow. But she certainly believes that once this has happened, things could move fast. She notes that industries have already embraced 3D printing to a much greater extent than they once did the internet. The exponential growth of Ultimaker, the 3D printer manufacturer with offices in the Netherlands and the US, shows just how quickly things can develop: in the six years since its establishment the company has seen revenue rise to nearly € 40 million. Its customers include Siemens, Airbus, Tesla and Apple. 3D printers are perfect for making bespoke products, such as prosthetics. Furthermore they make it easier and cheaper to test newly designed products and to share them with others. The printers can also be used to manufacture parts that are missing (or which have to be tailor-made) quickly and efficiently on-site. For example carmaker VW uses Ultimakers to apply new logos to old cars.
"Disrupt or be disrupted" – a wise saying that every manager must have heard by now. Despite this, only few actually succeed in reinventing themselves. That is no surprise. Organisations often rely on commercial success stories that they exploit with a short-term focus and a heavy infrastructure.
Abandoning that success all at once is risky and unnecessary, says business author Menno Lanting. "Disruption is quite a lengthy process. It is a misconception that old technology disappears all at once. Netflix is still selling millions of DVDs. Placing all your bets on one new technology is risky." He cites the example of the apps hype, whereas it now turns out we are increasingly moving away from using apps. Lanting: "It is combinations of technologies that create disruption. Usually we don't know beforehand what the winning combination will be. There is not much point in trying to work out exactly what that innovation is." Lanting says that it is much better to set up your organisation so that you are able to respond rapidly to changes. "The trend is towards faster and smarter business, at lower transaction costs." A good example is the UK mobile virtual network operator Giffgaff, which provides services to over a million customers with fewer than 75 employees.
Lanting's message: don't invest all your energy in that one disruptive innovation, but rather in the 'agility' of the organisation. It is not just your organisational structure that needs to be agile but also your staff, the way you collaborate and your business models." After all, Darwin taught us that it is the species that is best able to adapt that has the best chance of survival.


text:
We'll probably never know exactly how many people died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria
By the time President Trump boarded Air Force One for the return flight from Puerto Rico to the mainland last week, the death toll from Hurricane Maria was at 34. (Evan Vucci/AP)
By Philip Bump
National correspondent
When President Trump visited Puerto Rico earlier this month, he emphasized one metric in an effort to demonstrate that the recovery effort was going well.
"Every death is a horror," he said. "But if you look at a real catastrophe like Katrina, and you look at the tremendous hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people that died, and you look at what happened here with, really, a storm that was just totally overpowering — nobody has ever seen anything like this."
2021 Election: Complete coverage and analysisArrowRight
"What is your death count, as of this moment," he asked the island's governor. "Seventeen?"
"Sixteen," Gov. Ricardo Rossello replied.
"Sixteen people certified. Sixteen people versus in the thousands," Trump said. "You can be very proud of all of your people, all of our people working together. Sixteen versus literally thousands of people. You can be very proud."
Trump's reinforcement of that figure had a very specific aim. His administration had been heavily criticized for its response to the disaster and, by comparing the death toll from Maria to 2005's Hurricane Katrina — for which his predecessor, George W. Bush, was similarly critiqued — Trump was trying to show that those concerns were overblown. That all had gone well.
By the time Trump had boarded Air Force One for the return flight to the mainland last week, that number had already more than doubled to 34. As of writing the toll is 45 — but it's clear that the number will go up.
Earlier this week, BuzzFeed reported that funeral homes on the island had a number of corpses that weren't included in the official death count. Some of those deaths weren't related to the hurricane; people die every day. Some, it seems, were.
The question that arises, then, is: How are those fatality counts determined? What counts as a death from the storm and what doesn't? And to what extent could an administration eager to keep that figure low put its finger on the scale?
To answer that question, The Washington Post spoke by phone with two professors at the University of Delaware, Joe Trainor and Benigno Aguirre, who work with the school's Disaster Recovery Center.
To the core question — how do we determine exactly how many people died because of Maria — Trainor offered a sobering response.
"I think the answer is less satisfying than most people would expect," he said. "The reality is, we probably will never know."
The Centers for Disease Control's National Center for Health Statistics collects data related to deaths due to natural disasters, Trainor said. There's even a form that gets filled out.
But that's further down the line. A representative for the CDC told The Post over email that "NCHS is not involved in producing the initial casualty estimates. They rely on death certificates, which tend to take longer to process."
Those certificates are themselves open to interpretation.
"The official designation of any single individual's death is really managed by the coroner at that specific place, or the medical official," Trainor said. "And typically it doesn't say 'hurricane' — it's going to list whatever the medical condition that led to their death was."
"The long and short of it is, no matter what system exists, there's a lot of gray involved in how you will attribute any specific death during this time period," he added, "whether you decide it's directly or indirectly related to the event itself."
Aguirre spoke to that.
"If the hurricane happened on day one and the death happens two or three days after or during it, it's more likely those deaths will be counted as a result of the hurricane," he said. "On the other hand, if it happened two or three weeks afterwards, then you have the problem that perhaps it's not the case there's a relationship."
The type of death matters. A building weakened by the storm collapses on someone a week later or a person who can't access critical medicine dies, those seem like strong candidates for having been indirectly related to the storm. What about someone who dies of a heart attack after struggling to find shelter after his house was destroyed? Is that not related at all?
There are also deaths that won't be counted for other reasons. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Aguirre learned that a number of undocumented immigrants worked in the Twin Towers and went missing after the buildings fell. Their families, though, were reticent to report those deaths to the government, so, from an official standpoint, those fatalities aren't included in the overall number — or in public memorials.
All of this means that there's leeway in how death totals are interpreted, some "cases that are gray," in Trainor's words. That's exacerbated by the situation on the ground in Puerto Rico, which is a "mixed bag" in terms of the existing governmental infrastructure to tally deaths, in Aguirre's estimation.
At the same time, there's always a tension between the politics surrounding a natural disaster and official estimates of its effects.
"It's always the possibility of turning it into a political issue," Aguirre said. "That's not only in the case of the Trump administration but in many other governments that either minimize or maximize the effects."
In developing countries, he said, the number of deaths from disasters is often maximized to make the case for donations and support from the international community. In America, the political calculus is often different, Trainor said, with elected leaders often citing higher estimates for eventual death tolls that can then be revised downward.
"You don't want to be the mayor who says there could be 100,000 people dead and it turns out there are 200,000 people dead," he said. "But if you're the mayor who says there are 100,000 dead and it turns out to be 90, people don't get mad about that."
Trump erred on the low side for a political reason. Because of the nature of tallying fatalities, it's hard to say the extent to which the actual count will err on the low side as well.
Aguirre did offer one indirect defense of the administration.
"FEMA during [2005's Hurricane] Katrina was accused of being a very bad actor because people died as a result of this," he said. "By and large, a lot of those claims were unjustified" given the number of other factors at play.
Deeper questions about causes of death and ways in which disasters were made worse are "important to ask," he noted.
"Most people don't ask that. Most people like to apportion blame one way or the other, because politicians like clear answers and most people are accustomed to think that things are black-and-white."
Politicians do like clear answers but are often also happy to take advantage of uncertainty.
"Every system's got some gray space in terms of how it's implemented. There's typically some interpretive latitude given to administrations or interpretive latitude given to the individual specifically filling a role," Trainor said. "In any system there's going to be some variability. There's also going to be judgments. At the end of the day, there's going to be some cases that are gray that someone's going to have to say, 'Yeah, this one counts or this one doesn't count.' "
In this case, that someone ultimately works for Trump.