text:
Q: Terraform cannot connect Chef provisioner with ssh I cannot get terraform's ssh to connect via private aws keypair for chef provisioning - the error looks to just be a timeout:
aws_instance.app (chef): Connecting to remote host via SSH...
aws_instance.app (chef):   Host: 96.175.120.236:32:
aws_instance.app (chef):   User: ubuntu
aws_instance.app (chef):   Password: false
aws_instance.app (chef):   Private key: true
aws_instance.app (chef):   SSH Agent: true
aws_instance.app: Still creating... (5m30s elapsed)
Error applying plan:

1 error(s) occurred:

* dial tcp 96.175.120.236:32: i/o timeout

Terraform does not automatically rollback in the face of errors.
Instead, your Terraform state file has been partially updated with
any resources that successfully completed. Please address the error
above and apply again to incrementally change your infrastructure.

Here is my terraform plan - note the ssh settings.. the key_name setting is set to my AWS keypair name and the ssh_for_chef.pem is the private key
variable "AWS_ACCESS_KEY" {}
variable "AWS_SECRET_KEY" {}

provider "aws" {
    region = "us-east-1"
    access_key = "${var.AWS_ACCESS_KEY}"
    secret_key = "${var.AWS_SECRET_KEY}"
}

resource "aws_instance" "app" {
  ami = "ami-88aa1ce0"
  count = "1"
  instance_type = "t1.micro"
  key_name = "ssh_for_chef"
  security_groups = ["sg-c43490e1"]
  subnet_id = "subnet-75dd96e2"
  associate_public_ip_address = true

  provisioner "chef" {
    server_url = "https://api.chef.io/organizations/xxxxxxx"
    validation_client_name = "xxxxxxx-validator"
    validation_key = "/home/user01/Documents/Devel/chef-repo/.chef/xxxxxxxx-validator.pem"
    node_name = "dubba_u_7"
    run_list = [ "motd_rhel" ]
    user_name = "user01"
    user_key = "/home/user01/Documents/Devel/chef-repo/.chef/user01.pem"
    ssl_verify_mode = "false"
  }
  connection {
        type = "ssh"
        user = "ubuntu"
        private_key = "${file("/home/user01/Documents/Devel/ssh_for_chef.pem")}"
  }
}

Any ideas?

A: I'm not sure if we had the same problem, since you didn't specify if you were able to ssh to the instance.
In my case, I was running terraform from within the VPC, and the connection was allowed with a security groups, which can't be used with a public IP.
the solution is simple (but you will have to use the new conditional interpolations of terraform v.0.8.0) -
Define this variable -  variable use_public_ip { default = true }
Then, inside the connection section of the chef provisioner, add the following line -
host = "${var.use_public_ip  ? aws_instance.instance.public_ip : aws_instance.instance.private_ip}"
If you wish to use the public IP, set the variable as true, otherwise, set it to false.
I use this for aws -

connection {
  user = "ubuntu"
  host = "${var.use_public_ip  ? aws_instance.instance.public_ip : aws_instance.instance.private_ip}","
}


text:
Entertainment Movies, Music, TV
The First-Ever IMAX Theater With Laser in Southeast Asia Is Now in Manila
Every ticket comes with free popcorn and a drink, too!
by Ida Aldana
Courtesy of Vista Cinemas
(SPOT.ph) Another great year of movies has almost passed but there are still a lot of exciting movies to look forward to. You probably already marked their premiere dates on your calendars, but you might want to know where you're going to watch them, too—and we know just the place. Vista Cinemas' new IMAX with Laser at the Evia Lifestyle Center in Alabang is where you'll want to catch the biggest blockbuster hits from now on.
The IMAX Theater comes with 4K laser projection, which means more vivid colors, deeper contrast, higher resolution, sharper images, and a brighter screen. It's made even more immersive with the 12-channel sound technology that has a greater dynamic range, so you can practically feel the sounds that you hear.
Aside from the amazing audio-visual technology, you won't want your movie to end with the comfortable leather-like seats from Figueras, one of the leading seating companies in the world.
Ticket prices for screenings at the cinema are at P650—which already comes with free popcorn and a drink. So it's time to call up your usual movie buddies (or buddy), because we know where your next date night's going to be.
IMAX with Laser is at 4/F Evia Lifestyle Center, Daang Hari Road, Almanza Dos, Las Piñas.
More stories from Spot.ph
Vista Cinemas Evia Lifestyle Center Imax Cinemas Alabang

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I saw one picture and closed the page. It was a woman in a ridiculous leopard-print leotard on some sort of machine. She was about 50 pounds north of 50 pounds overweight. Insert name of bloated mammal here. The implication was that such a person had no business being in a place devoted to the pursuit of health — or, at the very least, the pursuit of abs.
I find that deeply troubling. I understand that workout fiends take their exercise seriously, and that they may consider their "temple" defiled when a barrel of whale blubber manages to waddle through the doors. But to deny access to the ones who need it the most? What sort of elitism is that?
I'll tell you what sort of elitism. The same sort Christians show to the worldliest of the worldly when they somehow find their way into our assemblies. They need Jesus more than they need air. Literally. It's written all over them. Again, literally. And we want to impose a dress code? Or shun them because they are "weird" or "scare the kids"? Would Jesus? Did Jesus?
Read Luke 7:40-47. Then ask yourself whether you would be more like Simon the Pharisee or the "sinner" at Jesus' feet. Then take a good, long look in the mirror.


text:
Q: Is there a way to access the iteration number in replicate()? Is there some way to access the current replication number in the replicate function so I can use it as a variable in the repeated evaluation? For example in this trivial example I'd like to use the current replication number to generate a list of variable length vectors of the current replication number. For example, x below would represent the current replicate:
replicate( 3 , rep( x , sample.int(5,1) ) )

I know this trivial example is easy to do with lapply
lapply( 1:3 , function(x) rep( x , sample.int(5,1) ) )

But can you access the replication counter in replicate?

A: No, at least not in a supported, user-friendly way. As Arun put it:
> replicate
function (n, expr, simplify = "array")
sapply(integer(n), eval.parent(substitute(function(...) expr)),
    simplify = simplify)
...

> sapply
function (X, FUN, ..., simplify = TRUE, USE.NAMES = TRUE)
{
    FUN <- match.fun(FUN)
    answer <- lapply(X = X, FUN = FUN, ...)
    ...

Now this is what sapply sees if you pass 3:
> integer(3)
[1] 0 0 0

Why don't you write your own version of replicate to use as a shortcut?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Altercation breaks out between Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in Verzuz battle
Thursday's Verzuz battle between Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony turned out to provide more entertainment than even the most avid fans expected.
The old-school hip hop battle started off rockier than normal as a verbal exchange started by Bone Thug's Bizzy Bone turned into object throwing on stage between the two groups. Tensions were high as the groups crossed the divide and pushing and shoving ensued.
It was the first time in a Verzuz battle that anything even remotely physically happened, and that's even with Young Jeezy and Gucci Mane sharing the same stage, two rappers with a decade-long beef that was squashed on stage with the two performing 2005's hit "Icy".
Bizzy Bone starting a fight with Juicy J during this Verzuz battle 😂#Verzuz pic.twitter.com/98fXtWflaC
— Jason Williams (@jasoneg33) December 3, 2021
Verzuz took a short break last night to separate the two groups. When the feed returned, Bizzy Bone was not on stage. The rapper later returned to the stage and apologized, saying, "I want to apologize to everybody out there, on both sides. I'm not trying to f*** this s*** up. Pardon me."
Black cadets on US military campuses report ongoing issues of racism
Altercation breaks out between Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in Verzuz battle – UDOYOU December 5, 2021 - 4:12 pm
[…] post Altercation breaks out between Three 6 Mafia and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in Verzuz battle appeared first on The Black Wall Street […]
Sha'Carri Richardson documentary to debut at Sundance
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Full of Self in the repeat.
Prompt for today #4… Self trust: curiosity that leads to making the channel open to receive, to listen deep, to pay attention to your own creative voice and process. To move with spaciousness that allows it all to come together in the journey of being Full Of Self.
Being Full of Self is not that selfish kind of negative thinking that comes from a lack of worth, low self esteem, and the feeling that you aren't enough as you are.
Being Full-of-Self holds and honors the fullness of your heart, and spirit to All that you can be, All that is the components of the wonder that is you, in the ever present Universe of creation unfolding as it always will. You unfolding as you will, and as you allow that creative force to move with and through you, you find the joy and pleasure of seeing/feeling the moments of living as a caress to your soul.
"There was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very very good."… And when she was bad she was perfect..
The re-peat. Saying it from the "I". Letting 'the preach' be felt within me. Can you feel the difference?
Being Full of Self is not that selfish kind of negative thinking that comes from a lack of worth, and low self esteem, and the feeling that I AM not enough as I am.
Being Full of Self holds, and honor the fullness of MY heart, and spirit to All that I can be, To All that is the components of the wonder of Me, in the ever present Universe of creation unfolding as it always will. I am unfolding as I will, as I allow that creative force to move with and through me, I find the joy and pleasure of seeing/feeling the moment of living as a caress to MY soul.


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If you are from a Civils and piling background, can demonstrate strong I.T. & problem-solving skills and have a flexible approach, then you could be just what we're looking for!
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iTech Labs has also evaluated the scaling of the numbers used for Slots, Keno, Roulette and Bingo games. Chi-squared tests were applied to all required scaled ranges, using sample sizes ranging from 10,000 to 100,000 numbers. For each scaled range for Slots, Keno and Roulette games 4.90 million numbers were tested. For each scaled range for 30 ball, 75 ball, 80 ball and 90 ball Bingo games 1.05 million numbers were tested. iTech Labs has found that the number sequences are unpredictable and non-repeatable.
Cozy games RNG was tested according Malta and Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC) standards.
While it is not possible to test all possible scenarios in a laboratory environment, iTech Labs has conducted a level of testing appropriate for a component test of this type.


Throughout the United States, school districts are onboarding a GPS tracking device on every school bus in an effort to keep students safe and save money.
These days, a global positioning system (GPS) is seamlessly integrated into smartphones. While paper maps are nice, it is easier to check your phone for directions, estimated time of arrival, and traffic slowdowns along the way. School districts are beginning to take advantage of this technology for similar reasons.
At the start of this school year, Rutherford County schools in Tennessee equipped all 250 of their school buses with a GPS tracking device. The growing school district buses over 25,000 students each day, and that number is rapidly increasing.
The Rutherford County transportation director estimates using GPS tracking devices will save the district more than $100,000 this year. Combined with the ability to account for children on their way to and from school, the tracking devices are proving a financial success for the Tennessee school district and others like it.
Peace of mind: While your child may have a smartphone, their phone alone cannot give you his or her real-time whereabouts with the information and features of an app designed specifically to do so. Most parents have already experienced the frightening frustration of being unable to reach their child via cell phone. SafeStop gives you direct information from the vehicle carrying your student to and from school by seamlessly working with a school bus's GPS tracking device to tell you when the bus will arrive to pick-up and drop-off your child. Delays are sometimes unavoidable, but your child will not be left standing by the street waiting for a late bus.
Alerts: SafeStop gives school transportation administrators a secure platform to send real-time messages to parents in the event of a delay, breakdown or other service interruption.
Savings: With the analytics provided by a GPS tracking device, school districts save money — a lot of it. SafeStop allows school officials to create and monitor the efficiency of each route. School districts are no longer in the dark about a driver's on-time history and can act quickly to address any transportation problems.
Metrics: Efficiency metrics provided by our SafeStop Analytics platform for administrators provides valuable information about daily adherence to designated bus routes, the amount of time a bus spends idling, and other cost-saving key performance indicators.
Monitoring: With a GPS tracking device on board, each school bus is on the grid, monitored for performance by staff — and for arrival by parents waiting for their children.
Technology like SafeStop and GPS tracking devices work together to boost operational efficiency and reduce transportation costs. These devices also create more points of contact for parents and administrators to communicate efficiently about their biggest concern — the safety of children.


text:
High Court allows Najib to inspect Justo's documents given to MACC
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today allowed former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's (pix) application to inspect 17,000 documents surrendered by Xavier Andre Justo to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as part of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) investigations.
The application was made in relation to the corruption trial faced by Najib involving RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
In the application, Najib sought for a court order to compel the prosecution or any other entities that have the custody, care and control of the documents that Justo surrendered to the MACC in relation to 1MDB's joint venture with PetroSaudi International Ltd, either in its physical form or as retrieved from a digital storage device, for his inspection.
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah made the decision after hearing submissions from Najib's counsel, Al Firdaus Shahrul Naing and Senior Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
Justice Sequerah in his judgment said the application by the applicant (Najib) was not a fishing expedition and the materials sought were relevant to the charges in the ongoing 1MDB trial.
"I also find there is sufficient basis that the documents are relevant to the applicant and his defence," the judge said.
In regards with Section 124 of the Evidence Act, Justice Sequerah said the respondent's (public prosecutor) privilege claim could be reviewed by the court and so the matter was not considered conclusive.
"I do not find anything to substantiate that public interest might suffer from the disclosure of the materials," the judge said.
After the judge delivered the ruling, Sri Ram told the court that the prosecution would hand over 17,000 documents via thumb drive to the defence team.
Justice Sequerah directed the prosecution to provide the documents to the defence within three weeks from today.
Najib, 66, as applicant filed the notice of motion last Oct 16 naming the public prosecutor as the respondent.
In the application, Najib among others sought the court to compel the prosecution or any other entities having the custody and control of these documents to produce and provide to him.
He filed the application on the grounds that the documents sought are relevant and could consist to the defence of the applicant, which have been omitted or suppressed from production contrary to Section 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Najib said the inspection or production of the documents would not be contrary to the public interest, rather the non-disclosure and denial for inspection breach the applicant's right to a fair trial.
In the prosecution's affidavit affirmed by MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operation) Datuk Seri Azam Baki stated that the documents were received in official confidence and protected under Section 124 of the Evidence Act.
The court fixed Jan 7 for case management for parties to update on the hand over of the documents.
Meanwhile, for 1MDB case, Justice Sequerah fixed Jan 13 to Jan 16, and Jan 20 to Jan 23 to continue the trial.
The court also set the trial on Feb 3 to Feb 6, Feb 10 to Feb 13, Feb 17 to Feb 20, March 9 to March 12, March 16 to March 19, March 23 to March 26 and March 30.
Other fixed dates are on April 2, May 4 to May 6, June 1 to June 4, June 8 to June 11, July 20 to July 23, July 27 to July 30 and the whole of August excluding Fridays.
The defence will continue to cross-examine prosecution key witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi. — Bernama
Man wants to sue condom manufacturer for holes in condoms
How can we make sure new technologies stay centred on human wellbeing? — Axel Heimken / DPA
To stop a tech apocalypse we need ethics and the arts


Passed out of Commerce, Labor & Sports and on Feb 17th referred to Ways & Means, but never had a public hearing. This bill did not make it out of its committee by the cutoff deadline.
This bill would declare it to be in the public interest to provide reasonable paid family leave for medical reasons, for the birth or placement of a child for adoption or foster care with the employee, for the care of a family member who has a serious health condition, and for a qualifying exigency under the federal family and medical leave act.


You work hard to get the job done, no matter where the job takes you. The 13.3-inch ThinkPad L380 Yoga has the versatility, power, and mobility to keep up – and to make your job easier. It's ultraportable, with the latest processor and graphics, and can be used in four different modes – Laptop, Tablet, Tent, or Stand. The perfect partner for business.
Your IT staff will rest easy with the optional infrared camera, knowing it gives the ThinkPad L380 Yoga additional security. Intel® vPro™ technology means IT can manage the ThinkPad L380 Yoga remotely and securely. It's easy to deploy, offering the hardware compatibility of multiple USB-C and USB 3.0 ports. Because its multiple modes make it more comfortable to use in any scenario, the ThinkPad L380 Yoga will make your employees' jobs easier. Additional details on these features are available below.
Whether you need to get online or use a peripheral device, the ThinkPad L380 Yoga can connect you. Extensive I/O ports such as USB Type-C, USB 3.0, and HDMI make it easy to plug in most peripheral devices. Its Intel® Dual Band AC (2 x 2) and Bluetooth® 4.1 make wireless online connectivity a snap.
Position the ThinkPad L380 Yoga display the way you need it. Research a topic or fill out a spreadsheet in Laptop mode. Open it the full 360 degrees to Tablet mode to read a white paper, or enjoy Active Pen Pro technology for its precise, accurate, and natural writing experience. You can also use the optional world-facing camera to record events while still viewing the screen. Flip it to Tent mode when giving presentations, or Stand mode for watching videos. It's as flexible as your imagination.
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The NBA Trade Deadline ended with the Wolves making no moves. Disappointing. We discuss that and have Jayson Stark on to talk some baseball.
We start the show talking about the non-moves by the Wolves on NBA Trade Deadline day. Jayson Stark joins to talk about the proposed rule changes in baseball, the Hot Stove that hasn't turned on, and Frank Robinson. We close the first hour talking about Kevin Durant throwing a tantrum at the media… again.
We open hour two with our disdain for Badgers basketball before we get to a new segment In Other News. We,of course, wrap with Reusse.


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text:
package io.gravitee.am.management.handlers.management.api.authentication.web;

import io.gravitee.am.management.handlers.management.api.authentication.provider.generator.RedirectCookieGenerator;
import org.springframework.beans.factory.annotation.Autowired;
import org.springframework.security.core.AuthenticationException;
import org.springframework.security.web.util.UrlUtils;

import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;

/**
 * @author David BRASSELY (david.brassely at graviteesource.com)
 * @author GraviteeSource Team
 */
public class LoginUrlAuthenticationEntryPoint extends org.springframework.security.web.authentication.LoginUrlAuthenticationEntryPoint {

    @Autowired
    private RedirectCookieGenerator redirectCookieGenerator;

    public LoginUrlAuthenticationEntryPoint(String loginFormUrl) {
        super(loginFormUrl);
    }

    @Override
    protected String buildRedirectUrlToLoginPage(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response, AuthenticationException authException) {
        // Use a cookie to save the original redirect uri.
        response.addCookie(redirectCookieGenerator.generateCookie(UrlUtils.buildFullRequestUrl(request.getScheme(), request.getServerName(), request.getServerPort(), request.getRequestURI(), request.getQueryString())));

        return super.buildRedirectUrlToLoginPage(request, response, authException);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
The Case for Activist Investors
A review of Dear Chairman, by Jeff Gramm, and Deep Value, by Tobias E. Carlisle
Walter Frick
From the Magazine (March 2016)
Tamara Shopsin
In 1926 Benjamin Graham wrote a letter to Northern Pipeline with a simple request. He had a small stake in the company, and he'd noticed that it owned millions in railroad bonds and other securities. The man who would one day be known as the dean of Wall Street and the father of value investing wanted it to sell those securities and distribute the profits to shareholders in the form of a dividend.
The company's executives weren't pleased. "Running a pipeline is a complex and specialized business," they responded, "about which you can know very little, but which we have done for a lifetime."
Graham was undeterred. Over the course of a year, he met with anyone who owned more than 100 Northern Pipeline shares and tried to persuade passive investors including the Rockefeller Foundation to join his campaign. "Initiative in this direction should properly come from the shareholders rather than the management," he wrote in a letter to the foundation. "The determination of whether capital not needed in the business is to remain there or to be withdrawn, should be made in the first instance by the owners of the capital rather than by those administering [it]."
The battle was over competing ideas of capitalism. To Graham, managers were hired by shareholders to run their company. The folks in charge at Northern Pipeline believed it was their company and that investors had no understanding of the business—their only contribution to its success was cash. In the end Graham got his way, and the era of the activist investor was born.
Ninety years later, shareholder capitalism is rightly under fire for creating an economy that is overly focused on the short term and prioritizes investors above workers and communities. But the case against activists is not so clear-cut, as two recent books demonstrate.
In Dear Chairman, from which the Northern Pipeline example is borrowed, Jeff Gramm, a hedge funder and Columbia University lecturer, has compiled a history of activism organized around written communications between public companies' shareholders and boards—something he sees as required reading for his students. "A good letter…teaches us how investors interact with directors and managers, how they think about their target companies, and how they plan to profit from them," he explains. These communications are sources of strategic wisdom.
Searching for insights in the ransom letters of corporate raiders (the preferred term in the 1980s) might sound strange, but Gramm has collected more than demands for dividends. Consider Ross Perot's 1985 letter to GM Chairman Roger Smith: "I do not believe that GM can become world class and cost competitive by throwing technology and money at its problems. The Japanese are not beating us with technology or money. They use old equipment, and build better, less expensive cars by better management, both in Japan and with UAW workers in the U.S." Agree or don't, but Perot was offering a strategy.
My favorite, though, is a 2005 letter from Daniel Loeb to Irik Sevin, the chairman of Star Gas Partners. In it Loeb made a simple point about corporate governance: You shouldn't appoint your 78-year-old mother to your board. "Should you be found derelict in the performance of your executive duties, as we believe is the case," Loeb wrote, "we do not believe your mom is the right person to fire you from your job."
If Dear Chairman resembles the case method, plumbing individual instances of activism for business lessons, Deep Value, by Tobias E. Carlisle, reads more like an academic literature review. Heavily footnoted but nonetheless enjoyable, it makes the case for value investing—the search for undervalued stocks—and explains why practitioners such as Warren Buffett, whose 1964 letter to American Express is in Gramm's book, and more strident activists such as Carl Icahn, whose 1985 letter to Phillips Petroleum is also featured in Dear Chairman, have been able to beat the market.
For starters, they're all following in Graham's footsteps. They recognize that public companies are sometimes valued at less than the sum of their parts—the amount they could generate if they were liquidated. They are, as Graham wrote, in the "best judgment of Wall Street…worth more dead than alive." If you're a shareholder in such a company, the worry is that it will fritter away its remaining cash, run down its machines, and end up worth even less than when you invested. But by persuading management to break up and sell, or at least issue a generous dividend, you'll make some return on your investment.
Dear Chairman: Boardroom Battles and the Rise of Shareholder Activism
Jeff Gramm
HarperBusiness, 2016
Deep Value: Why Activist Investors and Other Contrarians Battle for Control of Losing Corporations
Tobias E. Carlisle
Wiley, 2014
Over the years, of course, activists have expanded their repertoire. In the 1980s they might threaten management with a takeover and demand that the company buy their stock back at a premium—so-called "greenmail," which is now illegal in several U.S. states and heavily taxed by the federal government. Today activists are more likely to push a company to accept an acquisition offer, sell off certain parts of its business, or improve operations.
That means they're helping to drive strategy, as Gramm suggests. But are their ideas any good? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer seems to be yes, at least by some measures. Research shows that activists apparently make companies more profitable and productive, on average—not just in the next quarter but three years after the fact. And although their intervention may be followed by a decrease in R&D spending, the companies appear to become more innovative in the years following. One study found that activists often target firms that are lagging in IT and then help them catch up to their competitors.
The social impact of activists is less well understood. In the above-mentioned study, researchers found that worker pay did not increase alongside profits and productivity at targeted companies. For a society grappling with inequality and wage stagnation, that's deeply troubling. (Then again, activists also have a record of limiting CEO pay.) But it's telling that when the Roosevelt Institute, a think tank, released two excellent papers about short-termism in November 2015, activists weren't mentioned once.
The Icahns and Loebs of the world are easy political targets, because they publicly rattle sabers and make billions by pushing the envelope of activism. And Icahn's recent campaign against Apple is a reminder that some of their attacks are still just about demanding payouts. But we can't blame activists as a group for all the problems created by shareholder capitalism. Shorter CEO tenure and passive investors' focus on quarterly earnings are also to blame. Executive compensation is another major culprit, as William Lazonick explained in HBR in 2014. CEOs who are paid in stock have an incentive to boost their short-term share price through buybacks, whether or not activists are in charge.
A version of this article appeared in the March 2016 issue (pp.108–109) of Harvard Business Review.
Read more on Corporate governance or related topic Boards
Walter Frick is a contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, where he was formerly a senior editor and deputy editor of HBR.org. He is the founder of Nonrival, a newsletter where readers make crowdsourced predictions about economics and business. He has been an executive editor at Quartz as well as a Knight Visiting Fellow at Harvard's Nieman Foundation for Journalism and an Assembly Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. He has also written for The Atlantic, MIT Technology Review, The Boston Globe, and the BBC, among other publications.


Flashback: Dark Days On Wall Street . . .
In the past two weeks, all the market averages have plunged to new lows as Wall Street, beset by cruel economic news from all sides, has time after time been unable to mount a sustained rally. That is a discouraging omen, an indication that the bottom has not been reached, many securities analysts say, and a sign that even the most steel-willed optimists may be about to throw in their towels.
As is their habit, the news media and many investors tend to focus on what has already occurred. In this case, there seemed to be many reasons for pessimism: Collapsing stock prices, down almost 25 percent from 1981's peak; a second recession in two years; rampant inflation; and erosion of corporate profits. In the political arena. Weaker earnings were leading to dividend cuts. Banks were experiencing loan write-offs, and cutting off tight credit. In the political arena, President Ronald Reagan was forsaking his tax cuts in favor of increases to tame soaring deficits.
It might not have occurred to readers that this information was already reflected in stock prices. Indeed, inflation, courtesy of Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, was about to take a two-decade-long tumble. Yields on three-month Treasury bills were falling from 12.5 percent to 9.35 percent. The price-earnings ratio on the Dow Jones Industrial Average was a mere 6.5. The Standard & Poor's 400 industrials — does this index even exist anymore? — was only 7. The S&P 500 Index was trading at book value, while the Dow was below book. Stock prices were just about at their lows.


What version of "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll" do आप like better?
My चोटी, शीर्ष 15 The Killers songs, your favourite?
What version do आप hear when आप listen to 'A Crippling Blow'?
The song isn't saying he wants to be a dancer या that dancers aren't human. A lot of people seem to think that, another thing people get confused about is the words. It's "Are we human या are we dancer?" no s. It's not supposed to have an s.
Human means "Free thinker". So is आप are human आप can think for yourself, आप don't have to be a mindless puppet and can be your own person.
Just some और steps to take on your quest to ultimate TK fandom.
***I would not recomend friend requesting the फेसबुक pages that do not have "accepting friend requests" beside them.
All that means is that they were accepting requests from प्रशंसकों at one point. The only person I am sure is still acceptinng friend requests is Mark.
Here is a series of letters addressed to The Killers that I found of a प्रशंसक forum. I would have linked them, but आप need an account to view anything, and the site has been inactive for almost 2 years, so this is just और convenient.
The Killers are a great band, did आप know? I think it would be appropriate for us to have a सूची of every single bit of संगीत that has ever come from the mouthes, hearts, and bodies of these wonderful musicians.
It is very possible that I'll miss something, so please feel free to leave a टिप्पणी दे with something you'd like to see added to this list. We want it to be as complete as possible.
Some months ago, I was litsening to my आइपॉड and got inspired to write a story where each chapter is inspired to a different Killers' song. I've so far only completed three chapters (almost a fourth) because I लॉस्ट interest a while back. Last night, listening to what I have of मराल, फ्लेमिंगो inspired me to start up again. I got the idea that I could use the मराल, फ्लेमिंगो songs to write a part 2, taking place months later.
"But, I कहा I प्यार आप like the stars above, I'll प्यार आप till I die," I pleaded, desperately clutching to our relationship.
Have I told आप guys lately that I'm going to see The Killers live??? I don't think I have.
a comment was made to the poll: Would आप rank Battle Born above या below Hot Fuss?
What was the first song The Killers performed at The White House of the 4th of July, 2010?


text:
H. Frederick Humbracht, Jr.
Retired Partner
rhumbracht@bradley.com
Nashville P: 615.252.2371 F: 615.252.6371
Erika Uhrlass
P: 615.252.3802 euhrlass@bradley.com
You May Not Know
Rick Humbracht is a retired partner with more than 35 years of experience in the fields of insurance, construction, banking, Uniform Commercial Code and commercial arbitration.
Rick's litigation experience included representing commercial banks, insurance companies, policyholders and others in a broad range of commercial litigation matters. His arbitration practice included FINRA arbitrations, AAA, construction industry arbitration and general commercial matters. Rick was experienced in handling commercial class action litigation.
His insurance practice included interpreting different types of insurance policies, including directors' and officers' liability insurance, errors and omission insurance, business interruption, financial institutions bonds, and CGL insurance. He advised both insurers and insureds in rendering coverage opinions. His litigation practice included representing both insureds and insurers on policy disputes. He represented insurance agents and brokers in E&O Claims, insurers in claims under CGL policies and director's and officer's policies.
His banking practice included representing banks and other financial institutions in defending UCC and other claims, negotiating loan workouts, liquidation of collateral, collections and responding to third party subpoenas for records. He was involved in representing several mortgage servicing companies in reviewing policies and procedures for their foreclosure firms and defending servicers in mortgage foreclosure litigation.
Rick's construction experience included having represented the City of Nashville in litigation arising from the construction of what is now known as the Bridgestone Arena. In addition, he represented the construction arm for the City of Nashville in developing the construction and architect's contracts for the construction of the Titans Stadium. He regularly advised general contractors, owners and lenders relating to issues such as contract preparation, enforcement/termination, lien enforcement, bond claims and litigation and arbitration of disputes.
His arbitration practice was broadly related to construction, securities and general commercial issues. He arbitrated disputes between Broker/Dealers and customers, handled on the record interviews with NASD (now FINRA) on behalf of registered reps; arbitrated construction disputes between owners and general contractors and general contractors and subcontractors. He was active, as well, in arbitrating commercial disputes.
His strong advocacy skills and prudent case management combine to make him an excellent representative of regional and national clients. He understood the needs and demands on in-house counsel in handling litigation matters. Rick practiced before Tennessee trial and appellate courts, as well as federal courts within Tennessee and other jurisdictions.
"Rick is top notch in construction law. He is very understandable and a real bull dog as our advocate. I would strongly recommend him." CLIENT QUOTED IN BEST LAWYERS
Class Action & Complex Litigation
Professional Liability Litigation
Policyholder Insurance Coverage
Life, Health & Disability Litigation
Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
Financial Services Litigation
University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D., 1971, Order of the Coif; Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Delta Kappa
University of Tennessee, B.S., 1968
United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee, Chief Judge Frank Wilson
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® Commercial Litigation, 2010-2021 Insurance Law, 2008-2021 Litigation – Banking and Finance, 2011-2021 Litigation – Construction, 2011-2021 Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Banking, 2007, 2014-2017 FDIC v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, 1990 WL 50721 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1990) aff'd 837 S.W. 2d 373 (Tenn. 1992) after remand, 1995 WL 48462 (Tenn. 1995) When the Butcher bank failures occurred during the mid-1980's, were were primarily involved in obtaining rescission of a Director's and Officer's Liability and Company Reimbursement policy issued by National Union to the failed United American Bank of Knoxville. In the end, we obtained rescission of the D&O Policy thereby avoiding potential claims of in excess of $24,000,000. Likewise, we were instrumental in settling other claims against directors and officers of the failed banks in negotiating settlements with the FDIC and providing defense strategy to attorneys for the individual directors and officers. Phelps v. Bank of America, 2009 WL 690695 (Tenn. Ct. App. Mar. 13, 2009). We successfully defended a bank in an action brought by a joint venture partner claiming negligence and breach of contract based on bank's distribution of loan proceeds to the joint venture entity. Union Planters Financial Corp. v. Continental Casualty Company, 478 F.3d 759 (6th Cir. 2007) Represented the first tier excess carrier and obtained summary judgment pursuant to an endorsement on the policy requiring simultaneous notice to the excess carrier, when notice provided to the primary carrier was a condition precedent to coverage. The district court and the Court of Appeals ruled that late notice (28 days) was not contemporaneous and that prejudice was not required to avoid coverage under the excess policy, thus avoiding a potential exposure of $25,000,000 to the excess carrier. Western Express v. Lexington Insurance Company, 2008 WL 465263 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2008) Case of first impression in Tennessee on whether a clause that required the insured to be "actually in or upon the vehicle" as a condition precedent to theft coverage was enforceable and whether BMC 32 required the insurer to provide a defense to the any suit against the common carrier for cargo losses. The Court of Appeals upheld the provision and further held that no duty to defend existed due to the inclusion of BMC 32 within the policy. Case distinguishing between price differential in lease agreement and usury Tennessee Supreme Court distinguished between price differential in lease agreement and usury. Choice of law was at issue-an important issue for ortant issue for lenders prior to usury statute amendments. Litigation against OEM to prevent unilateral price reductions and negotiated continuation of business We represented a Tier One engine cradle and suspension assembly manufacturer in a suit against a major automotive OEM in an attempt to prevent further unilateral price reductions under long term supply agreements as part of the OEM's effort to cut costs and avoid bankruptcy. Our client filed suit in Warren County, Tennessee, and the OEM filed suit against our client four days later in Macomb County Circuit Court, Macomb County, Michigan. The Michigan court refused to dismiss the case, finding venue proper in Michigan. The Tennessee court found the OEM long term supply agreement venue provision vague and refused to dismiss the case, causing the OEM's CEO to instruct the OEM's worldwide purchasing chief to settle the case, putting an end to the unilateral price reductions. The case resolved on favorable terms after four days of settlement negotiations with our client remaining as an OEM supplier. We also revised our client's terms and conditions of sale and purchase subsequent to settlement of the OEM litigation and continue to assisted this client on various matters in connection with its relationships with other OEMs. Representation of construction company in arbitration Arbitration and waiver. Represented PRPs at Superfund sites in NY, NC and TN Represented PRPs at Superfund sites in New York, North Carolina and Tennessee. Negotiated with EPA as member of joint defense groups to reach monetary settlement. TN Supreme Court case resolved issues threatening foreclosure sales Tennessee Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals holding in unrelated case holding that language of d/t waiving "equity of redemption" was valid and applied to statutory right of redemption. This case resolved issues that threatened foreclosure sales.


Our family-owned business offers over two decades of industry experience. Over that time, Fresh Pro Cleaning has earned a great reputation for excellent service at affordable pricing. We understand that maintaining a clean home or place of business is important to you. You need consistent and reliable service, but you also need a cleaning company that is flexible and can respond quickly when an emergency arises. We prioritize our customers' needs above all. We offer professional cleaning in Cedar City and the surrounding cities including: Hurricane, St. George, Enoch, Parowan, Kanarraville, and more.
As mentioned, we are specialists. This is what we do all day, every day. We like it. Save yourself the trouble and leave the difficult jobs to the professionals. We offer all that you could want and need from a cleaning company. Cedar City residents turn to us when they need the job done right.
At Fresh Pro Cleaning we are equipped to take on big jobs. We service some of the largest businesses in Iron County. Cleaning can be scheduled at your convenience. Because we have the range and ability to service large commercial properties as well as home residences, we can provide satisfactory services to virtually any sized business in the area. Commercial cleaning services need to be reliable so that you can rest assured knowing your business location is maintained in a professional manner that reflects the way you want to be seen by clients and associates.
Whether you need regular, weekly cleaning or the occasional odd job done, we can oblige. Our range of services ensures we get the task done and meet your high expectations. This level of dedication is what makes us the best option for residential cleaning services in Southern Utah. Our residential customers are highly valued because when we do a good job for them they refer their friends and family. Our reputation is pivotal to our success and we will bend over backwards to earn your return business.
We offer the most bang for your buck! A cheap service will not get the job done right, costing you more in the long run. You need an affordable and quality solution, like Fresh Pro Cleaning. Find out yourself why we are the #1 choice for cleaning services in Cedar City. We can make your place sparkle!


The Netherlands overcame a tough Australian challenge to win the Hockey World Cup 3-1 in Madrid overnight.
The world number one was too strong for Australia in a match that lacked a lot of the drama and excitement that usually accompanies a major tournament final, but still produced a worthy winner as the Dutch completed an unbeaten campaign in style.
Hoisting the World Cup makes amends for a pair of consecutive final defeats for the Netherlands after they were edged in 1998 and 2002 for top spot on the medal dais.
The first half of the decider was played at an even tempo but failed to interest the crowd (who were unusually quite), saved for a video umpire decision nearing half time with the Netherlands having a goal to Sylvia Karres denied after review.
After the half time break, the Netherlands pressed the Australian defence which caused multiple turnovers, before that possession was finally transferred to the scoreboard with Maartje Paumen guiding a drag flick low into the left corner.
The goal energised the Dutch and they had a period of complete dominance before Australia turned the tide with a length of the field attack that resulted in a penalty stroke which Rebecca Sanders converted.
After earlier having a goal disallowed by the video umpire, there was little doubt about Karres' effort 15 minutes from full time however when she controlled a loose ball and fired a reverse stick through the legs of the Australian goalkeeper.
With the match entering its final five minutes, the Netherlands received a penalty stroke of their own to increase their margin to two goals and ensure they would win their first World Cup since 1990.
Earlier, Argentina claimed the bronze medal with a five-goal thrashing of Spain that said as much about the temperament of the home team as it did the desire of the South Americans.


Larry Tart - Here's a good book by a neighbor of mine about attacks on and operations of US airborne reconnaissance.
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text:
Great Lakes Guardians v. Sims Township
Your support allows us to continue to strengthen the efforts of Michigan's conservation community. Together, we can protect Michigan for the benefit of generations to come.
If you would like more information about our programs, please email us at info@heartofthelakes.org
Court of Appeals Decision
On July 14, 2015, the Court of Appeals issued an unpublished (therefore not precedential) decision in Great Lakes Guardians vs. Sims Township. The Court of Appeals declined to address Sims Township's and the Michigan Township Association's claim that the Michigan Tax Tribunal was wrong when it found that GLG, a nonprofit conservation organization, was holding property for conservation purposes open to all residents of the state for educational and recreational purposes under MCL 211.7o(5) of the General Property Tax Act.
Instead, the Court of Appeals restricted their decision to upholding the Tax Tribunal's determination that GLG was not eligible for tax exemption because its bylaws/articles of incorporation did not meet the statutory test found in 211.7o(5)(b). The Court also denied GLG's request for costs attorneys fees.
Heart of the Lakes filed an amicus brief in the case, and we believe the Court of Appeals reached the correct result.
Simplified Recap
After being denied a property tax exemption by Sims Township Assessor and Board of Review, GLG took their case to the Tax Tribunal. The Tax Tribunal determined that GLG met the standards of 211.7o(5), 7o(5)(a)and 7o(5)(c), but their bylaws/articles of incorporation did not satisfy the requirements of 7o(b).
GLG then took its case to the Court of Appeals to argue that their organizational documents did indeed meet statute requirements. Sims Township, and ultimately the Michigan Townships Association (MTA) in an amicus brief, took that opportunity to argue that the Tax Tribunal erred when it found that GLG met all the the other statutory requirements in 211.7o(5), requirements that go to the core of defining what it means to be a qualified conservation organization, what it means to hold land for conservation purposes, and how high the bar has to be set to meet the test of "open to all residents of this state for educational or recreational use." In other words, Sims Twsp/MTA sought case law that would set a bar much higher than the Tax Tribunal opinion.
Heart of the Lakes' Role
Those were the issues that drew Heart of the Lakes into the case with our own amicus brief to defend the interests of the state's land conservancies and to counter these additional arguments made by Sims Twsp/MTA. On those issues, we believe the Tax Tribunal got them right (although we stayed out of the question of whether GLG's bylaws/articles of incorporation satisfied statute requirements). By declining to address them, the Court of Appeals allows the Tax Tribunal's findings for GLG on those statutory provisions to stand. Which means, and assuming GLG starts the process over with amended bylaws and articles of incorporation and is denied property tax exemption at the Township level again , GLG could go back to the Tax Tribunal and get a favorable opinion on property tax exemption from the Tribunal for tax years going forward. And it is our hope that GLG goes that route instead of trying to pursue the case to the Michigan Supreme Court.
What It Means
If GLG does go back to the Tax Tribunal with amended bylaws/articles of incorp, Sims Township would not necessarily be silenced. The Township could appeal any such decision on the grounds of their original arguments—that GLG still does not qualify under the other statutory provisions of 211.7o(5). The Court of Appeals, in its decision, wrote:
On cross-appeal, respondent (Sims Twp) contends that the Tribunal erred in finding that petitioner met the requirements of MCL 211.7o(5) and (5)(a). Specifically, respondent maintains that the Tribunal should not have found that petitioner's property was open to all residents of the state for educational or recreational use as required by MCL 211.7o(5), and should not have found that petitioner was holding the real property for conservation purposes under MCL 211.7o(5)(a).
Since we conclude that the Tribunal correctly determined that petitioner was not entitled to the exemption based on MCL 211.7o(5)(b), we need not address whether petitioner would also have failed to qualify for an exemption under MCL 211.7o(5) or (5)(a).
In essence, the status quo remains. The Court of Appeals did not affirm the Tax Tribunal's findings on these other key points, they simply didn't take them up because they concurred with the denial under 7o(5)(b). Their decision does not establish case law such as that sought by Sims Twsp/MTA. Nor does it establish case law as we would wish it. In fact, there is no case law established for MCL 211.7o(5) since it was signed into law 11 years ago.
No doubt, local governments will continue to argue for the highest bar possible when it comes to property tax exemption. And perhaps that gives us cause to pursue other avenues besides the courts to reach some understanding with MTA and other local government associations.
What Can We Take Away From This Case?
1. A reminder that those seeking property tax exemption carry the burden of proving they qualify for tax exemption.
2. Articles of incorporation and bylaws need to match the statutory requirements if pursuing property tax exemption under MCL 211.7o(5), something we've emphasized for years now.
3. A recognition by the Court that trade lands, even with some conservation value, would not qualify for tax exemption under 211.7o(5)
4. There is still no case law that puts any specific definitions or limitations to what it means to "hold land for conservation purposes" or "open to all residents of this state for educational or recreational use" under this particular section of the General Property Tax Act. We will continue to argue, as we did in our amicus brief, that the plain language of Section 211.7o(5) of the General Property Tax Act requires little if any interpretation.
5. Although not at issue in GLG vs. Sims Township, there is still no test case of whether a land conservancy can also pursue property tax exemption under 211.7o(1), the standard for property tax exemption before 7o(5) was adopted into law. We would argue that it can.
Special thanks to Dan Cline, Steve Kelley and John Erb for their legal analysis and guidance, and to Jeff Jocks, Olson, Bzdok & Howard, P.C., for preparing the Heart of the Lakes' brief. And thank you to Michigan's land conservancies whose foresight in establishing Heart of the Lakes and whose ongoing support ensures we are able to take on issues that impact the entire community. The case history, briefs, opinions and other documents can be found at the Michigan Court's Case Search under this docket number: 320856


5 Reasons to Visit Croatia this September - GoTimeshare!
Croatia became the 28th member of the EU very recently – on 1 July, 2013. Since then, the country has been building a new identity, with a clear vision of the future. Rather like Turkey, its tourism has boomed – impressed by its beauty, first time visitors return home with tales of its pristine waters and picturesque scenery, often to return again and again, enchanted by all this magical destination has to offer.
It's "The Mediterranean as it once was", is the advertising tagline of the Croatian National Tourist Board, highlighting Croatia's comparative lack of crowds compared to other part of southern Europe such as the Costa del Sol.
Croatia is a sustainable tourism destination, where respect for the environment is high on the list.
Huge improvements have been made in the national infrastructure – the motorways are modernised, resorts have been renovated and given a contemporary look.
It's sports heaven. For a small country with a population of over four million – not large by any standards – Croatia has done exceptionally well in past Olympics. Perhaps this has something to do with its climate and great outdoors. From the sea to the mountains, from kayaking to rock climbing, there's a favourite sport for everyone.
It's so much easier to get to than it once was, with regular flights from British airports, and because tourism here has a deep history, you'll arrive to a warm welcome. There are still remnants of Roman summer villas on the Dalmatian islands, before the coastline was developed specifically for visitors, with big, modern hotels with great sports facilities built along its rocky Adriatic coast.
History buffs will find plenty to enjoy here, exploring the Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Austrian/Hungarian monuments at Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split or Zadar. Parts of the country are under UNESCO protection – Dubrovnik and Split's historic centres are in fact UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and so is the basilica in Porec and two cathedrals in Trogir and Sibenik. These places come alive on summer nights, as the cities host summer festivals and open air evening concerts against these richly historical backdrops.
One thing worth pointing out is that you won't find extensive stretches of sandy beaches along Croatia's rocky Adriatic Coast, this area's natural topography is craggier and more dramatic, but it's still very beautiful, full of emerald pine trees against a deep turquoise sea.
The best times to visit? Spring in Croatia is magical, but for many the best time of all is autumn. The crowds have gone in September and October and all the local facilities remain open, so you'll get more of the islands and the deep blue early autumn sky to yourself. Unlike the Canary Islands, winter can get chilly here, although you'll still find a fair share of sunny days. If you love to hike and aren't bothered about cooler sea temperatures, Croatia is still a rewarding experience in winter, and although a lot of places will have shut down for the winter and there will be fewer direct flights, you'll get a real feel for how the locals live when the tourists live in low season.


text:
Q: Data not reaching API Controller REQUEST failure I have an application where UI is built by Angular js and backend on Asp.net mvc. On button click i am calling angular service which is passing json object to asp.net API controller instead of normal mvc controller. This is because API controller has to generate excel file and return HttpResponseMessage. Now when the call goes from angular service to API controller data is not reaching and it shows as failed request. In my route config i have url defined as "{controller}/{action}/{id}".Also calls to normal controllers is happening fine. Do i need to add url for api controller so service call reaches the api controller. Also normal mvc controller and api controller are in same folder. Also for info I am running app in https with various settings on IIS in local dev. Below is the code for angular service and mvc api controller.
Service:
ServiceSlarDetails.prototype.GetSlarExcelFile = function () {
            var link, params;
            //link = baseUrl + '/SLAR/GetSlarExcelFile';
            link = baseUrl + '/File/GetSlarExcelFile';
            params = "'" + JSON.stringify(this.object) + "'";
            return $http({
                headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json', 'Accept': 'application/json' },
                method: 'POST',
                url: link,
                responseType: "arraybuffer",
                data: params
            }).then(function onSuccess(response) {
                return response.data;
            }).catch(function onError(data, status, headers, config) {
                return NewAlert.show('Oops!', 'Sorry, something went wrong. Please try again.', 'error');
            });
        };

 API CONTROLLER:
   public class FileController : ApiController
{
    [HttpPost]
    public HttpResponseMessage GetSlarExcelFile([FromBody] string ExcelTable)
    {
        HttpResponseMessage result = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
        object obj = null;
        HttpResponseMessage FailReturn = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.NoContent);
        try
        {
            var data = (DataTable)JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(ExcelTable, (typeof(DataTable)));
            data.TableName = "Slar";
            if (data.Rows.Count > 0)
            {
                //string path = HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("~/ExcelFiles");
                //if (!Directory.Exists(path))
                //{
                //    Directory.CreateDirectory(path);
                //}
                using (XLWorkbook wb = new XLWorkbook())
                {

                    wb.Worksheets.Add(data);

                    MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream();
                    {

                        //wb.SaveAs(path + "/" + DateTime.Now.Ticks + ".xlsx");
                        wb.SaveAs(ms);

                        result.Content = new ByteArrayContent(ms.GetBuffer());
                        result.Content.Headers.ContentDisposition = new ContentDispositionHeaderValue("attachment");
                        result.Content.Headers.ContentDisposition.FileName = "Invoices.xlsx";
                        result.Content.Headers.ContentType = new MediaTypeHeaderValue("application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet");

                        result.Content.Headers.ContentLength = ms.Length;
                        ms.Seek(0, SeekOrigin.Begin);

                    }
                }
            }

            // obj = new { resp = data, error = "" };

        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            //Logger.Error(ex.Message);
            //obj = new { resp = "", error = ex.Message.ToString() };
        }

        return result;
    }
}


text:
Paper Clips News
Mill Tour
Paper Clips Industry News
Commercial Printing Papers
Sheetfed Papers
Printing & Imaging Papers
Publication Papers
Specialty Paper & Film
Print Advocacy
Interfor Reports Q2'15 Results Decision to Exit the Tacoma Sawmill Announced
Midland Paper Clips
Producer News
INTERFOR CORPORATION (TSX: IFP) recorded a net loss of $20.6 million, or $0.29 per share, on sales of $429.7 million in Q2'15 compared with a net loss of $0.2 million in Q1'15 and net earnings of $7.4 million in Q2'14.
Included in the Company's results for Q2'15 is a pre-tax loss of $7.7 million(1) associated with the operations of the Tacoma sawmill which was acquired from Simpson Lumber Company, LLC ("Simpson") earlier this year as part of a larger transaction involving a total of four mills.
Excluding the Tacoma loss and certain other items, the Company reported an adjusted net loss(2) of $14.7 million, or $0.21 per share, in Q2'15 versus adjusted net earnings(2) of $4.5 million in Q1'15 and $21.1 million in Q2'14.
Adjusted EBITDA(2), which excludes the results associated with Tacoma and certain other items, was $12.7 million in Q2'15 versus $31.8 million in Q1'15 and $47.3 million in Q2'14.
The Company's operations in all regions were impacted by the significant drop in product prices experienced in Q2'15.
Benchmark prices for Western SPF 2×4, SYP East 2×4 and HF Studs 2×4 9' declined US$38, US$30 and US$46 per mfbm, respectively, compared to the prior quarter. Prices for SPF 2×4 and HF Studs 9' began to strengthen in the final month of Q2'15 as increased takeaway levels and production curtailments helped to rebalance in-market inventories. SYP lagged SPF and HF prices on the decline and remained soft through quarter-end, with discounts from list prevalent on most items.
Beyond the benchmarks, prices for low-grade products were particularly weak in Q2'15, with SPF 2×4 #3 off US$55 and SYP 2×4 #3 off US$59 versus Q1'15.
The Canadian dollar strengthened by 0.9% against the US dollar during the quarter, averaging US$0.8132 in Q2'15 versus US$0.8057 in Q1'15.
In addition, the reintroduction of export duties on April 1, 2015 on lumber shipments from Canada into the US resulted in $2.5 million of duties paid in Q2'15 compared with $0 in Q1'15 and Q2'14.
The Company's Q2'15 results were further impacted by an EBITDA loss of $1.5 million related to its Castlegar sawmill which was curtailed for 13 days during the quarter as part of a $50 million modernization project at that facility. The Castlegar Project is proceeding on-time and on-budget with construction expected to be completed in Q4'15 and full operating performance targeted for Q1'16.
http://www.interfor.com/sites/default/files/docs/reports/Interfor-Reports-Q2-15-Results-Decision-to-Exit-the-Tacoma-Sawmill-Announced.pdf
Agreement between Rémabec and Kruger
Rémabec and Kruger today announced that they reached an agreement by which Kruger's Forest Products assets are now the property of a group of companies owned by the shareholders of Gestion Rémabec, a forest company with operations in Mauricie, Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean and the North Shore region. The transaction involves the assets of Industries Parent Inc., which includes the Parent Sawmill and the Trois-Rivières Planing and Finger-jointing Mill, as well as the two Gérard Crête & Fils S.E.C. mills, namely the Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac Sawmill and the Saint-Séverin-de-Proulxville Planing Mill.
Brazilian Paper Exports Up Nearly 26% in November 2015
Brazilian paper producers exported 170,000 tonnes in November 2015, a volume 25.9% higher than the same month of last year, according to a news release from RISI. The increase is mostly related to the exchange rate, which has been encouraging producers to look for new markets abroad and thus offset the negative impact of the Brazilian economic recession on their domestic sales, RISI noted. In January-November 2015, Brazil exported 1.87 million tonnes of paper, a 10.1% increase over a year ago. In the period, paper export revenues totaled $1.84 billion, or 4.5% higher than January-November 2014.
Monadnock Expands with V.P. Business Development
Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. welcomes Will Fuller as Vice President Business Development. In this new position, he will pursue client-focused partnerships and identify new product opportunities as the company continues to expand its global presence and adapt to meet market needs. Fuller joins Monadnock from Transilwrap where he managed national accounts driving revenue growth for the company. Prior to this, he served as Regional Sales Manager establishing distribution contracts for wide format digital products at Neenah Paper as well as Sales and Marketing Director for Hazen Paper Company growing its profitable luxury packaging line. He holds a B.A. Degree from Skidmore College. "Fuller will be a major force in identifying new areas for growth and we look forward to his contributions as a member Monadnock's executive management team," said Richard Verney, Chairman and CEO of Monadnock.
End User News
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After more than 100 years in business, Midland has grown from a single Midwest location to a national company with offices from coast to coast. This type of growth requires relentless effort on doing things right.
Pearson Acquires Interactive Learning Technology from Smart Sparrow
Award-winning children's news magazine The Week Junior launches in America (whatsnewinpublishing.com)
Get the facts on paper recycling, sustainable forestry practices and more – Two Sides releases new fact sheets
Email: sales@midlandpaper.com


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Donald F. Baker Collection (The Dallas Way)
Donald F. Baker Collection (The Dallas Way), 1975-2000
Box & Folder Listing
Papers Publications Artifacts
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By S. Ivie and H. LaRock
Predominant Dates:
01/ AR0843
Primary Creator:
Baker, Donald F. (1947-2000)
4.0 Boxes
These materials are arranged into three separate series, which reflects the original order of the collection. Series 1: Papers includes the arrangement of documents, as well as some photographic materials. Series 2: Publications contains issues of the Dallas Voice. Series 3: Artifacts contains three dimensional objects.
Gay community--Texas--Dallas
Gay rights--Texas.
This collection contains the papers, photographs, publications and artifacts of Donald F. Baker, a gay rights activist in Dallas, TX.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
This collection contains the papers, photographs, publications and artifacts of Donald F. Baker, a gay rights activist in Dallas, TX. Items also include correspondence, workshop materials, brochures, press clippings, court filings, awards, certificates, newsletters, and plaques related to Baker's work with the Dallas Way and the local LGBT community in Dallas.
Collection Historical Note
Donald F. Baker (1947-2000) was a teacher who lost his job for coming out as a gay man during a television interview in 1977. Baker was a founder of the Dallas Gay Political Caucus along with Louise Young, Dick Peeples, Steve Wilkins and Jerry Ward and he was also president of the Dallas Gay Alliance. Don Baker received widespread acclaim from his involvement as the primary plaintiff (with the backing of the Texas Human Rights Foundation) in the Baker vs. Wade case, which challenged the 21.06 law, a Texas code which bans homosexual conduct of any kind. Baker's victory in the case was also a huge civil rights victory for the LGBT community and he is hailed as a pioneer for the work he accomplished. This collection features materials from the case including correspondence, interviews, clippings, case files and additional documentation of the case. The law was reinstated in 1986 and it was not until the Lawrence vs. Texas case of 2003 that the 21.06 law was ruled permanently unconstitutional.
In addition to his activist work, Baker also served as director for Community Productions, a Dallas theater and dance group which specialized in performances for the gay community. Materials from this organization are also included in this collection.
After spending most of his years in Dallas, Baker moved to Boston where he lived for the remainder of his life. Beyond the 21.06 ruling, Baker was involved in conferences, presentations and the publishing of articles (included with this collection) which brought more attention to gay rights causes. Don Baker passed away in 2000, after a seven year battle with cancer.
Access Restrictions:
Some items in this collection may be restricted to protect sensitive information.
Use Restrictions:
Reproduction and publication of materials in this collection are subject to the policies of the UNT Archives and Rare Books department. Copyright restrictions may apply.
Physical Access Note:
This collection is stored off-site and requires a minimum of 24 hours notice prior to use. The entirety of the collection has been digitized and is available in the Portal to Texas History. Blue text represents a hyperlink to the digitized materials in the Portal.
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Depending on any access restrictions noted above, you may be able to request items be delivered to our reading room, or that we make reproductions for you. Just click on either the or icons in the listings below to be routed to our request form.
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Acquisition Source:
The Dallas Way
Acquisition Method:
Resource Center LGBT Collection of the UNT Libraries
Donald F. Baker Collection (The Dallas Way), University of North Texas Special Collections
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Box and Folder Listing
Series 1: PapersSeries 2: PublicationsSeries 3: Artifacts
Series 1: Papers
Box 1 Request Reading Room Access
Folder 1: Miscellaneous Issues and Organizations, 1982, 1985-1986, 1990-1993, 1996, June 9th, 2000 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains correspondence with the Round Up Saloon concerning their inequitable dress policy (1985), Community Arts Foundation and Community Productions items, Sexual Privacy Project (1985) of the Lousiana ACLU, LAGPAC and LLDEF, a timeline of gays throughout history, an article titled Sticks and Stones: Homosexuals and Gays by Phil Johnson (April 11th, 1991), an article titled Turtle Creek Chorale Benefits Fort Worth Community Outreach (April,1991), an article titled MCCR Offers Course on Homosexuality and the Bible (April 11th, 1991), an article titled GLAAD/USA Sets Next Meeting in Dallas (April 11th, 1991), an article titled MCC Dallas Reveals Plans for Cathedral of Hope (April 11th, 1991), a brochure for the Third Annual Texas Gay Rodeo (November 14th, 1986) with correspondence from Don Baker (July 2nd, 1986), an article titled A Brief History of the Metropolitan Community Church of Dallas from the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Archives by Phil Johnson (August 19th, 1992), a brochure titled Christian Words to a Homosexual by Pittinger, correspondence from Don Baker to Alan Ross concerning the Tavern Guild, correspondence from Peter Brooks to the LGPC (Lesbian/Gay Political Caucus) concerning the endorsement of McDaniel and Oakley in the city council election (April 7th, 1993), a press release for the Metroplex Republicans of Dallas fundraiser, a brochure for the Texas Gay Leaders Conference (August 16th, 1986), workshop materials from the Texas Lesbian and Gay Leadership Conference in Lubbock, Texas, a telephone and address directory for Dallas 1982, a letter from Judge Jerry Buchmeyer to the State Board of Texas concerning their decision not to allow creation of a section on gay-lesbian issues (October 23rd, 1996), correspondence and press clippings on the Mica England litigation, and an article from the Dallas Voice titled Houston Appeals Court Rules Sodomy Statute Violates State's Constitution (June 9th, 2000),
Folder 2: Planning and Management of Baker vs. Wade Litigation by Texas Human Rights Foundation, 1985-1986 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 3: DGPC, DGA, DGLA Items, 1976-1978, 1981-1983, 1985-1986, 1991, 1996-1997 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains planning documents, brochures, correspondence, publications, a D Magazine article, announcements and membership lists for the Dallas Gay Political Caucus, Dallas Gay Alliance and the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance.
Folder 4: Photography, 1970, 1982, 1985-1986 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains both black and white as well as color photography with images of Don Baker's family, Baker speaking, a Black Tie Dinner photograph with B.J. Anderson and others, a Dallas Gay Rodeo photograph, a slide of Don Baker in the Navy, as well as images of Louise Young, Vivienne Armstrong, Dick Peeples, Phil Johnson, Jack Pettit and Baker at the memorial service for Steve Wilkins.
Folder 5: Gays in Education, Gay Teachers, 1981-04, 2000-07 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains correspondence concerning the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network, an article by Don Baker titled Are High School Teachers Ready for Homosexual Students?, a Dallas Times Herald article titled Educating the Educators About Homosexuality and a written response from Harryette Ehrhardt (a member on the board of the Dallas Independent School District).
Folder 6: AIDS Efforts, May 1983, 1987-1988, July 18th, 1995 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 7: Parkland Hospital Debate, 1987-1988 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains correspondence and clippings concerning the debate over Parkland Hospital's treatment of PWAs (persons with AIDS). Letters from William Waybourn, John Thomas, as well as Baker's correspondence to the press and others is included.
Folder 8: Publications and Press Clippings 1, 1979-1980, 1982-1986, 2000 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 9: Publications and Press Clippings 2, 1980-1984, 1986, 1996-1998 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 10: Writings, Non-Correspondence Writings Including Press Releases, 1982, 1985 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 1: Blue Notebook, Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Transparencies, 1976-1982 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 2: Personal: Don Baker, December 13th-14th, 1987 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains Don Baker's Curriculum Vitae along with personal correspondence from Michael.
Folder 3: Gayteenth Poster, Third Annual Texas Gay Rodeo, August 1982, November 1986 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 4: Court Filings, RE: Baker vs. Wade, 1982, 1985 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 5: Correspondence, RE: Baker vs. Wade and Penal Code Article 21.06, 1985-1986, 1996 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 6: Correspondence, RE: Baker vs. Wade and Penal Code Article 21.06, 1985-1986 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 7: LLDEF Items, Lambda Legal and Baker vs. Wade, 1985-1987 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains an official memoranda concerning litigation against sodomy laws with the inclusion of Baker vs. Wade, Lambda Roundtable information and Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund (LLDEF) publications.
Folder 8: Awards, Certificates, 1971-1972, 1974-1976, 1978-1981, 1983, 1985-1986, 1988, 1996 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
NOTE: Contains some items which may be restricted. Please contact the Special Collections Department for more information. Contains teacher certificates, the Texas Gay Rodeo's Grand Marshal and Hall of Fame certificates, a city board appointment, delegate badges to democratic party conventions, democratic party precinct chair papers, a State University of New York transcript, admission to Southern Methodist University's Masters of Education program in Secondary Education, an honorable discharge from the United States Navy, a certificate of recogniton from the Gay Academic Union, Inc., the Texas Human Rights Foundation's Robert Schwab Awards (1996), which includes an address by Don Baker as well as a notification of "Profiles in Courage" award from Hector Garcia, a biography, a notification of selection as Grand Marshal for the 1986 Texas Freedom Parade by Alan Ross and a Gittings-Hay Awards Dinner brochure.
Folder 9: Non-Baker vs. Wade Correspondence, 1984-1990, 1993, 1996-1997 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Folder 10: Gavel History, 1963-1976 Request Reading Room Access Request Duplication Services
Contains a photocopied list of past recipients of the gavel which Don Baker used as president of the Dallas Gay Alliance.
Series 2: Publications
Box 3: Dallas Voice, 1996 Request Reading Room Access
Contains the February, 23rd, 1996, March 15th, 1996 and March 22nd, 1996 issues of the Dallas Voice.
Box 4: Dallas Gay Alliance President's Gavel, Dallas Gay Alliance Recognition Plaque, Grand Marshal Plaque for the Texas Freedom Parade, 1981, 1986 Request Reading Room Access
Contains three artifacts including the Dallas Gay Alliance President's Gavel (1981), a Dallas Gay Alliance Recognition Plaque (August 17th, 1986) and a plaque for the 1986 Texas Freedom Parade, Grand Marshal.


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Home » Guides » How To Save Money When Buying iPhone Xs Max
How To Save Money When Buying iPhone Xs Max
Marcus B.
Updated on 23 January 2023
Unlike in the past, the chances of finding a good sale on newer models of iPhones are low. This is especially the case with the iPhone Xs or iPhone Xs Max as soon as they are launched. Apparently, though, there are many ways to save some cash on Apple's pricey smartphones.
One way to do this is by using WalletHub, which is basically a site that ranks and discusses loans and credit cards. According to its 2018 iPhone Savings Report, it found that if consumers choose the right carrier deal, they could save up to $1,403 over two years with the purchase of their new iPhone.
In its study, WalletHub analyzed plans from all four major carriers—AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile—as well as small "prepaid carriers" like Walmart Family Mobile and Boost Mobile. It then analyzed what the total cost would be for a new iPhone and two years of service if you chose any of those carriers.
It also found out that Walmart Family Mobile was the cheapest option for those users seeking individualized plans, with a total two-year cost of $2,137. It was $740 cheaper than the most expensive individual plan: a two-year installment plan through Apple's installment service and an iPhone running on Verizon's network. AT&T offered the cheapest plan for those looking to buy a new iPhone through the carrier's own installment offering, with a total price of $2,575 over two years.
Going for the Best Option
Turning to family plans, Walmart Family Mobile was again topped, with a total investment of $3,838 over two years for four lines. The most expensive option for family plans comes from Sprint's service and buying an iPhone via Apple's Installment Plan. That option costs $5,241 over two years.
If users prefer a big-four carrier and an installment plan, T-Mobile would be their best option, with a $4,177 investment over two years. That said, their mileage may vary on all of these deals.
WalletHub's study is based on carrier plans as they are today and the findings could change over time as carrier offers to fluctuate. It also only analyzed the lowest-cost iPhone Xs in its study, so if people want one with more storage, prices will go up.
Still, the findings provide some valuable insight into which carrier plans can save the most cash. And in a world where people are ready to spend up to $1,449 on an iPhone Xs Max, there is really nothing wrong with that.
iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are so far the best phones Apple has ever made, at least based on the reviews from critics. While these are totally true, these devices also appear to be the most expensive. The fully loaded iPhone XS Max with 512GB of storage costs $1,449, for example, more than some MacBooks.
It is also worth noting that another way to save money is to wait for the company's more affordable model — the iPhone XR — which starts at $749 and launches in October.
I've been a writer on this website right from the start. And I'm actively supporting it with exciting contributions and extensive testing! I have many years of experience concerning Internet and privacy topics. In addition, I'm always up to date and keep the team informed about the latest developments, not only for the protection of privacy but also for legal and regulatory issues.


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Taos: The Next Generation is Here
Pascualito Maestas for Taos Town Council
Trust, Truth, and Transparency
On Saturday I met with Pascualito Maestas at Wired to discuss his candidacy for Town Council. As his web site, votemaestas.com notes, he is a graduate of Taos High School and Navy vet, earned degrees from the University of South Florida in Economics and International Studies. Upon returning to Taos, he worked with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Taos Alive, The DreamTree Project, and currently teaches econ, calculus, precalculus, and algebra at Taos High. Next year, he will begin working with Not Forgotten Outreach, a program of affordable housing with sustainable energy production, organic agriculture, a public Veterans Memorial Park for military families.
In addition to portraying a new generation of "Millennial Leadership" and involvement for the community, not unlike Nathaniel Evans and Darien Fernandez, Maestas captures the crux of the current political conflict in the three words above: "Trust, Truth, and Transparency." Mayor Barrone and Councilor Hahn, who began their term in 2014 with a mandate from voters for honest government, have lost the support of their constituency, due to a lack of transparency.
Instead of convening the community and addressing the development issues of Smith's expansion into the Couse meadow, the construction of the Four-Story hotel, and the revision of the community's Vision 2020 plan with an open dialogue, the Mayor allowed Manager Rick Bellis to deal with developers behind closed doors. Further, rather than dampening divisiveness, the Town Administration, Bellis, Barrone, Hahn, and P&Z Chair Jim Pollard responded rudely to both newcomer and native activists alike, treating all as if "Father Knows Best."
More than one activist said the equivalent of "I'm not so much against the hotel as I am against the process of shutting out public feedback." Sheer public outcry stopped Smith's, that and and the threat of litigation. Batra, the hotel developer himself, relented in the four-story hotel matter due to protests, saving the Administration from an ignominious decision. The Manager had the votes.
Ironically, the Town administration has accomplished much under the direction of Barrone, Bellis, and Hahn but suffered in reputation because of poor public relations with interested local citizens.
Barrone has paved streets, reduced taxpayer expenses re: the Chile Line, Waste Water Treatment Plant (we're told), and the community has benefitted from a national turnaround in tourism. Meanwhile the Town has acknowledged the emerging millennial tourism in its promotion of outdoor recreation, music concerts, and renewed focus on the arts in light of the Paseo project. All good things. (Though we don't know if the Town as Concert promoter has made or lost money, due to a lack of financial reports other than bald assertions.)
But many of Barrone and Hahn's former supporters and some current council members oppose the Mayor, due to his manager's ham handed behavior in the community and the apparent berating of Judi behind closed doors by other elected officials in executive session. During my years of covering elected female officials, the ones who speak up suffer a combination of public and private sanction as has Judi Cantu. (The Town fathers used to abuse Councilor Erlinda Gonzales as well.)
Bellis Bumbles
Bellis has made unfortunate remarks about the historic and traditional tourists re: "purple hairs," the long-term visitors, who have been coming to Taos for decades, who buy second homes with an eye on retirement or whose children and grandchildren are now a growing part of the local population. As former councilor Andrew Gonzales noted, we, in Taos, live off the "trickle-down." Visitors have been paying admission fees at Taos Pueblo since the 30s.
Further, the Manager has treated brick and mortar merchants on the Plaza, as well as the physical space itself in a rude and abusive manner. To wit: the town closes the Plaza for events in an arbitrary and capricious manner, contrary to ordinance, eliminating tourist and local traffic to Brick and Mortar shops for far longer periods than is necessary prior to special events. By tweaking the Farmer's Market on Saturdays, leaving the West Side open to traffic and moving the overflow into the Juan Largo and Teresina Alleys, the conflict with merchants could be de-escalated.
The unsupervised landscape project on the Plaza has resulted in semi-permanent cyclone fences and cutting the roots of the Taos Pueblo's Blue Spruce Tree, a gift meant to acknowledge friendship between the Town and the Pueblo. This week I noticed the dirt and grime on the central park, the holes in the brick courtyard highlighted by traffic cones. One can congratulate the Town on watering the flowers but deplore the omnipresent growth of "clutter" whether directional signs, posters, and so forth. What sign ordinance?
The Next Generation: Transparency
Pascualito and I concluded our conversation by discussing the challenges of educating today's students at the high school and college level regarding writing and math. When young well-educated native Taosenos return to the community, something every politician says he or she wants, I think we need to turn the future into the present, especially when they advocate "transparency."
Transparency is a challenge not only for the faltering Barrone administration but also for the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative and the Abeyta-Taos Pueblo Water Settlement.
Despite the Intervener's protest and mandate from the Public Regulation Commission, the Coop has yet to issue profit and loss or balance sheets for its various divisions. Now the Town has joined the debt-ridden Coop in a venture about which we're none the wiser.
The Abeyta-Taos Pueblo Water Settlement parties are walking a fine line between implementation and open rebellion due to a lack of "transparency" re: costs to parciantes and MDWCAs. Cleaning acequias with shovels does no good if attorneys take away the water or some of the signatories sell or lease water rights and watersheds are destroyed. The obliteration of the Spring Ditch, whose parciantes oppose the Abeyta settlement stands as a symbol of this complex conundrum.
Demographic Changes
Despite the "good intentions" of the "Strong at Heart" initiative, the absence of representation by native Taosenos at meetings suggests that this exercise in "politicized" public relations will have little effect other than distancing native Taosenos from their own community. For the last decade Taosenos have been following their own children and grandchildren down the highway to Albuquerque et al just as the native Taos medical staff, nurses and techs, have been leaving Holy Cross hospital for greener pastures at Espanola's Presbyterian hospital, a first class small hospital.
Judi's impassioned if muddled rhetoric about the threat to the native community in the Town rings true. Neo-liberal economics, the privatization of the public commons and culture at the Town, Coop, and, ironically, now the Abeyta settlement, suggests a corporate and institutional vision, produced by a majority culture that governs from the "top down." (BTW: parciantes in Seco-Salto have "retired" the patrons and the younger members of El Salto de Agua have turned the tables on the ethically-challenged old bosses.)
Many newcomers enjoy the rich local culture and are quite willing to adapt and learn and participate, given the opportunity, even as the younger movers and shakers in the community offer energy and ideas. Compare the vitality of the County Administration and its nuts and bolts inclusionary culture with, for instance, the Coop's moribund Trustees, who ignore the members and the debt-ridden balance sheet, and can't change a light bulb without asking Luis.
The Town needs to revitalize the politics of governing by including younger native Taosenos in the culture, those who are educated and energetic. (Hey, check out Shree Yoga if you want to see how the older generation learns from the younger.)
It's time for a change from back-door doings to the kind of transparent community vision advocated by council candidate Pascualito Maestas and mayoral challenger Darien Fernandez. Activist Danielle Vigil, whose grandpa Shorty used to fix my family's lawnmowers and weed whackers, played a huge role last year in exposing the back-door doings of the Bellis-Batra email scandals. Josh Concha of Taos Pueblo, a son of friends and a former student, spoke wisely and well in protest of the four-story hotel and then made peace when Batra voluntarily removed the fourth story.
Maye Torres, whose grandfather gave me my start in a bar on the Plaza in 1969, has opened a contemporary art gallery in the same spot this month. My grandchild's mother, Jen Hart, a graduate of Taos High (and one-time Mesa dweller) owner of the Love Apple, has donated space for my Monday night culture class in the Manzanita Market on the Plaza, a one-time army-surplus store. (This adult continuing education course is based on four major literary works focused on Taos and is completely full.) While I was talking with Maye, R.C. Gorman's nephew Michael Gorman came in and introduced himself. He's opening a gallery downstairs in the Gorge building.
I'm reminded of the 70s when new energy in Taos began filling up empty stores and buildings.
Bobby Sahd, the Ranchos native, part entrepreneur and part Don Quixote, who owns La Fonda Hotel, is struggling to make heads or tails of the Plaza Theatre Building, a once and future victim of a millionaire and an architect, who remind me of the misguided hubris I see in Rick Bellis and Luis Reyes. We don't need systemic social engineering associated with an outsider's vision of an Arts and Culture District or a moribund mainstream Mainstreet concept.
Rather we need to encourage and patronize the private sector as creative entrepreneurs respond to opportunity on the Plaza, one shop or building at a time. In the words of a famous bartender we should "Improvise, adapt, and adjust." My acquaintances and ersatz friends at the Town, the Coop, and in Abeyta World need to pass the baton. Oprah had it right at the Golden Globes, "their time is up."
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