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The Greatest Showman (2017)
PG for a criminal rewrite of history. Okay, I guess my kids could have seen this one. I didn't actually realize it was PG while I watched it, but I suppose that there's nothing all that bad. Oh wait, P.T. Barnum exploited people for their physical malformation and the movie presented him as if he was doing something extremely noble. That's right. I don't want my kids watching this movie. But I guess it is PG. And my parental guidance says that they shouldn't believe this movie.
DIRECTOR: Michael Gracey
My in-laws might get mad at me for writing this. I think everyone in my wife's family absolutely loved this movie. But then everyone at school hated this movie. I was just happy to get a chance to finally see it. It was one of the handful of Academy Award nominees that I didn't really get an opportunity to see when it was in theaters. Honestly, I kind of kept putting it on the back burner because people told me it wasn't that great. My feelings about this movie are kind of in the middle, which might be the worst thing. If I loved it, I could be the guy who loved the movie that a lot of people I know hated and I would be in good graces with my in-laws. If I hated it, I would at least have a really strong opinion and I could argue until I'm blue in the face about why the film musical as a genre is dying. But I didn't like it nor did I hate it. So that's going to taint this review of the movie pretty clearly.
As a musical, I suppose it did its job. It has so many things in the right place. While my in-laws didn't care for the Les Miserables adaptation (I know!), I loved it. Hugh Jackman is a really smart casting decision for the role of P.T. Barnum in this movie. If you are going to rewrite history to make Barnum out to be this forward progressive, there probably isn't a bigger pick than Hugh Jackman. He's handsome, charismatic, and has a set of pipes to really spearhead this movie. Then there is pretty boy Zac Efron, who both uses his Disney chops but pushes them beyond cutesy in this one to give him a little cred. Zendaya has been on my list of solid actresses since Spider-Man: Homecoming, and she really rocks the part out pretty well. Also, the movie is extremely pretty to look at. The aesthetics of the movie are awesome and the dance numbers are darned impressive. So from what I just said right there, why didn't I love it? Okay, I'm going to harp the history of this one. Barnum, from everything I've studied, was probably a horrible human being. I had the same problem with A Beautiful Mind (ANOTHER AUSSIE PLAYING A YANK!) The guy was one of the most famous hucksters in the world. He exploited people for money and that was his gimmick. The movie almost makes the hard call and discusses that, but then shies away from and it and goes the total opposite way from this idea. It shouts loud from the rooftops --in song, no less -that P.T. Barnum was a champion of the oppressed and that's not true. It's kind of icky to make a movie about it, frankly. But then let's go deeper into the movie as a whole. I talked about how Jackman's got a set of pipes on him. I don't think a lot of this movie is Jackman's fault. He does a fine job and I love him for it. But the music in this one is pretty polarizing. I don't want to be the old man who preaches about how the music should be like the musicals of yesteryear. I am ashamed to say it, but I once loved Moulin Rouge!. Don't stick with that too long. I think I've changed my mind on that one. But the genre of music in this one did absolutely nothing for me. I know. It was by the lyricist of my beloved La La Land. I should be all about this movie, but the music was annoying. I know that there have been a lot of people playing this and it's just not for me. While that doesn't make the movie objectively bad, it does definitely turn me off to the whole thing.
I also don't really get Zac Efron. I'm sorry. I get him in some things, but I'm now realizing I haven't seen a lot of the movies that people like him in. Note to self: Watch Neighbors. Efron and Jackman both are doing their jobs. But there's a big number that involves the both of them. As a number, it is one of the better songs in the movie. The dancing is spectacular, but I also never believe the scene emotionally. I can't unsee Old Man Logan dancing with Troy from High School Musical. That's a real problem for me. Then there is the secondary story with Efron and Zendaya. There is some real meat here that could be explored. The problem is that it is one of the most obvious B-storylines that I've seen in a movie. The Greatest Showman never really tackles any racial issue that hasn't been discussed before with greater detail. Rather, it unfortunately just serves as padding for Jackman's kind of boring A-story. I will give the A-story some credit. In terms of what it does for Barnum's fictional character development, it is pretty solid. I like the idea that there is this guy who is so good at what he does, but is never really taken seriously because he's not classy enough. That's actually pretty good and I rode that story until the movie ended. But then there's this weird relationship that was nothing like the real thing. Then there were the psychopathic rabble rousers. The movie doesn't really offer a ton of nuance when it comes to the people who wanted Barnum drawn and quartered. They were the Frankenstein mob. Again, my complaint is that this movie paints with broad strokes. It hits every beat, but treats these beats like checkmarks. The movie needed X, Y, and Z so it was going to give the movie X, Y, and Z. But I would rather simply have one or two of these moments explored in detail. I have to officially classify The Greatest Showman as a biopic, begrudgingly. But I wish that Showman looked at Steve Jobs as a template for how to make a movie compelling. I would rather just focus on one story from Barnum's life than trying to cover his family, his career, his business dealings, and his "humanitarian efforts." But I suppose by saying that, I have to be missing the point.
The movie stresses that Barnum threw everything that he could at the audience and left them wanting more. By me saying, I want less and in more detail, I guess that's not the Barnum way. The movie really doesn't hold anything back, and that's sometimes at the expense of the film. There are all of these cool dance numbers that mirror circus acts. Unfortunately, there's something truly uncanny valley about these numbers. We'll never get a Broadway show on the level as the film (thank God, for multiple reasons) because so much of the movie was digital. I guess that might be the hucksteriest thing about the movie. It presents all these things as real that were really just over-the-top illusions. I'm sure that there was a memo or a banner when making this movie. I'm sure that they wanted to present the Greatest Show on Earth the entire time. Money was going to be no object because they wanted to recreate Barnum's sense of spectacle. But spectacle gets criminally tiring. There's a reason that circus died. (Okay, it was because of a history of cruelty to animals, but also...spectacle.) The movie really tries to make us forget the reason we stopped going to the circus and wants to leave us simply with the awe. But CG doesn't awe us anymore. There is a way to make spectacle work and we just don't do it anymore. Busby Berkeley did it with real people. The second that it doesn't become real, we stop being afraid. Perhaps The Greatest Showman is actually a cautionary tale about making things fake. The real is scary. Why do I need to pad the fat man's suit?


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Mastercard, Coinbase partner to make NFTs more accessible
Saudi Wafrah appoints Khaled Saleh Al Amoudi as CEO
Tadawul approves $755m government debt listing
Profits of Saudi-based SADAFCO drop 28.6% as pandemic hits sales
South Korea's Kakao Pay loses its three most senior executives
Turkey to lift state of emergency next week
Turkey to lift state of emergency next week /node/1338406/middle-east
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, center, accompanied by members of his cabinet, salutes supporters during a visit in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, July 13, 2018. (AP)
Updated 13 July 2018
Turkey will next week lift the state of emergency introduced after a failed 2016 coup which granted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government greater powers to detain suspects.
The announcement comes after Erdogan chaired the first cabinet meeting since he won elections last month endowing him with sweeping new powers.
ANKARA: Turkey will next week lift the state of emergency introduced after a failed 2016 coup and which granted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government greater powers to detain suspects, his spokesman said on Friday.
The announcement comes after Erdogan chaired the first cabinet meeting since he won elections last month endowing him with sweeping new powers, and pressing economic challenges topping the agenda.
"The current state of emergency is coming to an end on the night of July 18. Mr President has the will... not to extend it," presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters after the meeting in Ankara.
Under emergency rule, renewed seven times since the abortive coup against Erdogan's elected government, over 110,000 public sector employees have been removed from their jobs while tens of thousands more have been suspended in a crackdown criticised by Ankara's Western allies.
Amnesty International in April said freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial had been "decimated" under the state of emergency introduced five days after the attempted putsch on July 15, 2016.
More than 1,300 associations and foundations have been shut down under the measures.
However the government says the purges are needed to rid the state of the "virus" of Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed by the authorities for masterminding the coup bid.
Gulen, who is based in the US, has denied any role and insists his movement promotes peace.
Kalin added that the lifting of emergency rule would not slow down Turkey's fight against terror, and that the fight would continue "in a determined fashion" under counter-terrorism laws.
But he said that if Turkey faces another "extraordinary threat, the state of emergency might be reintroduced".
In his election campaign, Erdogan promised not to prolong the emergency rule.
The strongman was sworn in for a second presidential term on Monday under the new system that grants the head of state executive powers while abolishing the post of prime minister.
Erdogan vowed to "work tirelessly to build a Turkey that can look to the future with confidence", at a ceremony in the former parliament shortly before the cabinet meeting at his vast presidential palace.
Topics: Turkey State of emergency President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Turkey to sell 30 attack helicopters to Pakistan
Turkey frees three French held over alleged PKK links: source
TikTok advises advertisers to 'lean in' this Ramadan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


New construction is always a big deal. Everyone is vying for the contracts. The one who gets the contract is the one with a lot of responsibility. While we welcome the responsibility of being the primary contractor for new construction projects, we also understand the seriousness of the job. We work with many home builders and commercial construction builders. They trust that we are able to effectively and professionally handle the job. We have been in business for a long time and we didn't get here by offering sub-par work. We only provide you with the best quality of workmanship possible. We don't work with any electrician who hasn't received the appropriate licensing; this could prove fatal for us. It can also be fatal for anyone who entrusts the job to Rose Electric. We work with the best technicians in Texas.
If we are working on your new home construction we will provide you with a thorough plan of the design and layout, handle any custom wiring; install your home automation system, install appliances, interior and exterior lighting, security lighting, generator, dimmer switches, surge protectors, and more. Have we left anything out? Well if you need our services and you don't see the services listed above, rest assured that we offer all the services needs for new construction projects. We handle the project from beginning to end and are always on schedule. We work hard to make sure the builders we work with look good and can secure further business.
Some people choose to go with a new electric company to cut their expenses or to pay their workers more money. The problem with this is that it often shows in the craftsmanship. If you want to make sure you'll receive a professional looking job, you'll have to rely on a professional service. Our electricians don't leave any loose ends. They realize that this is not very professional and can also be dangerous. We are thorough in all that we do at Rose Electric. No matter what the situation may be, whether it is a quick job or a job that we can take our job to do, you can always expect a professional looking finish at the end of it all. The way we handle our job is a reflection of the type of care and attention we offer to everyone we serve.
We don't mind being the sub-contractor on a job. No matter what we are, you can be sure we'll always offer you the most affordable prices of any other electrical company in Longview. We always undercut the competition. Our work is worth showcasing and we are willing to cut the cost on our end so that you can see how we work. We don't have anything to lose by offering affordable pricing. It's just the opposite; we stand to gain a lot more by offering affordable pricing. Why not contact us today and let us give you a fair estimate today.


Cliff's Hauling is a full service hauling company, with simple solutions to everyone who needs trash of all kinds disposed of.
Whether you need a single television hauled away or a whole garage filled with stuff that has been collecting over the years, we can help.
We also offer entire estate services, working with the family to separate those items that need to be kept and those that are to be discarded. We have the know how to make a very stressful time easier. You will love our pricing, too.


Academia Moderna is having a Saturday School Session on April 6, 2019.
The session will start at 9:00 AM to Noon.
Please remind students to bring materials to work on and a snack.
If your student has any absence, attending Saturday School will make up the absence.


This is Kat's Photography blog. Kat Hannon has over 12 years experience in the capturing the best photos in Chester, Manchester, Warrington and even the UK. She gives you an insight into the life, while also helping you expand your knowledge of Lighting, Posing, Locations and modelling. She has taken some fantastic images over the years and wants to help you do the same.


I am tired. How about you? If so, I am reminded there is hope, because Jesus loves the weary laborer. The worn down. The burned out. The left out. The broken. The one carrying a heavy load. The one that can't see the end. You and me. People who live all in, and therefore they're all out. Out of options. Out of choices. Out of answers. Except one—giving in. Giving in to the only One who always gives rest for the soul.
DO THIS: Give in and give up to Jesus.
PRAYER: God, I am a worn out traveler. Give me the rest I so desperately need. Take my burden and load. Carry what I cannot carry any longer.


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Thursday, November 06, 2008 Home, Law of Attraction, Politics No bubbles
Incredible! It's historical! America's first black President!
Senator Barack Obama.
It's a sign of change in the making and this change will definitely have an impact on the rest of the world.
See how the dream, the courage and the determination of this one man has gotten him. Above all, he made a decision to begin with. Crossing the barriers of race, religion and culture since he began his campaign in February 2007. Today, he is the Commander-in-Chief for the United States of America.
"Desire is the key to motivation,
but it's the determination and commitment
to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal
- a commitment to excellence
- that will enable you to attain the success you seek."
~ Mario Andretti
Formula One Racing Legend


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Q: Executable Crashes When Function is Run I am creating an AVL for an assignment, but when ever I call the rotate right and rotate left functions the executable crashes with no error message. I think it might be due to a NULL pointer exception but I'm not sure.
Here is my code for the rotations:
TNODE *rotate_right(TNODE *y){

TNODE *x=y->left;
TNODE *t2=x->right;

x->right=y;
y->left=t2;

y->height =max(height(y->left),height(y->right))+1;
x->height=max(height(x->left),height(x->right))+1;
}

TNODE *rotate_left(TNODE *x){
TNODE *y=x->right;
TNODE *t2=y->left;

y->left=x;
x->right=t2;

y->height =max(height(y->left),height(y->right))+1;
x->height=max(height(x->left),height(x->right))+1;
}

And here is the insert function I call them in:
void insert(TNODE **rootp, char *name, float score){
    TNODE *np = (TNODE *) malloc(sizeof(TNODE));
    if (np == NULL) return;
    strcpy(np->data.name, name);
    np->data.score = score;
    np->height = 1;
    np->left = NULL;
    np->right = NULL;

    // 1. Perform the normal BST insertion
    if (*rootp == NULL) {
        *rootp = np;
         return;
    }

    TNODE *root = *rootp;
    if (strcmp(name, root->data.name) < 0 ){
       insert(&root->left, name, score);
    }
    else if (strcmp(name, root->data.name) > 0 ){
       insert(&root->right, name, score);
    }
    else return ;

    // 2. update height of this root node

    // add your code here
    root->height=height(root);

    // STEP 3: get the balance factor of this root node

    // add your code here
    int balance=balance_factor(root);

    // STEP 4: re-balance if not balanced

    // add your code here

   if(balance>1&&balance_factor(root->left)>=0){
       rotate_right(root);
   }
   else if(balance>1&&balance_factor(root->left)<0){
       rotate_left(root->left);
       rotate_right(root);
   }
   else if(balance<-1&&balance_factor(root->right)>=0){
       rotate_left(root);
   }
   else if(balance<-1&&balance_factor(root->right)<0){
       rotate_right(root->right);
       rotate_left(root);
   }

 }

The code runs fine if I comment out the last part where I have to rotate it so I'm quite sure the problem is there. Thanks in advance for any help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Get the maxed out look with this mustard striped maxi skirt. It's made of a super soft brushed knit fabric and features a self-tie sash around the waist and vented side seams for a perfectly comfortable style. Shop rue21!
"Home","Mustard Striped Super Soft Vented Maxi Skirt"


Now, lets have a quick look at the 10 most important factors of Reliance Jio making it the hottest trend today across the country.
After these 4 months free offers, Jio Tariff plans starts from as low as Rs. 19 to Rs 4,999. Still with Free Voice Calls to local and STD.


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For The People 1×09 Sneak Peek "Extraordinary Circumstances"
For The People 1×09 "Extraordinary Circumstances" Season 1 Episode 9 Sneak Peek – Sandra goes the extra mile for a client when she goes up against the FBI and ends up in one of the most unexpected and compromising situations of her young career. Meanwhile, Roger assigns Kate, Seth and Leonard to work on a highly sensitive case after receiving a tip alleging that the governor of New York is trying to illegally sell a seat in the Senate, on "For The People," Tuesday, May 15th on ABC, streaming and on demand.
For The People 1×09 Promo "Extraordinary Circumstances" (HD)
For The People 1×05 Sneak Peek "World's Greatest Judge" (HD)
For The People 1×04 Sneak Peek "The Library Fountain" (HD)
For The People 1×02 Sneak Peek "Rahowa" (HD)
Home » For The People 1×09 Sneak Peek "Extraordinary Circumstances" (HD)


Although it's more audio than video, it's fascinating to hear the tension as a pair F-14 Tomcats intercept and engage a pair of Libyan MiG-23 Floggers over the Gulf of Sidra. Small segments have been released before of the historical 1989 shoot-down, but this release includes the entire intercept leading up to the dogfight.
As you watch, here is a glossary of terms used in the video so that you have a better idea of what is actually going on with all the radio calls.
Angeles- Blocks of thousands of feet. Example, "angels 21" is 21,000 feet.
Bogey- Unidentified aircraft, usualy a radar contact. Once the aircraft is indentified and deemed a threat it becomes a Bandit.
Offset- Approaching a target not head on but offset to one side by a number of degrees.
Warning yellow, weapons hold- There is a threat to the battlegroup, still peacetime rules of engagement apply.
Master Arm- Basically a combat aircraft's safety. Once activated, the aircraft's weapons become ready to be fire or released if toggled.
Fox 1- Fox is firing air-to-air missile. Fox 1 for a semi-active radar-homing missile, namely the AIM-7 Sparrow. Fox 2 is for an infrared guided missile, namely the AIM-9 Sidewinder. Fox 3 is for an active radar guided missile, namely the AIM-54 Phoenix or now the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Tone- When the sidewinder's seeker locks onto a target an audible signal in the pilots headset goes from a low growl to a higher pitched steady tone, at which time the pilot can fire the missile knowing it is locked onto a target.
Tally- Call to convey visual identification of an object, often followed by a number of how many can be seen.
Today the two VF-32 Tomcats involved in the 1989 shoot-down have been spared the scrappers torch, with one, which was upgraded to a D model, being displayed at the Smithsonian Air And Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center and the other awaiting a museum placement at the Defense Department's massive boneyard (AMARG) adjacent to Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona.


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FAA Plan to Take Lockheed Bid Arouses Protests From Raytheon
Stephen PowerStaff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
Updated March 7, 2001 12:01 am ET
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed giving Lockheed Martin Corp. the central role in upgrading the nation's distressed air-traffic control system, sidestepping federal policies of seeking competitive bids for major contracts.
FAA officials said choosing Lockheed was the quickest and most effective way to modernize aging air-traffic control hardware and software. Agency officials hope to avoid lengthy delays that could stem from analyzing and comparing competing designs.


Pink doesn't have time for those who critically analyse her parenting skills.
Taking to Instagram, the pop star shared a photo of her son Jameson Moon Hart indulging in chocolate, and the mother-of-two paired it with a witty caption.
The sarcastic comment comes after Pink's husband Carey hart posted a photo of himself and Jameson taking a ride on a dirt bike.
Still, his followers took to the comment section to criticise Hart, saying that the 23-month-old wasn't adequately protected, and the activity wasn't age appropriate.
"Your face and body protected but his isn't," wrote one person, with others agreeing to the sentiment, saying that Jameson should have been provided with more than a helmet.
"Nice eye protection for the kid," said another.
Hart responded to the backlash by telling them to "move along".
But despite the onslaught of negative comments, there were many positive ones as they praised the parents for making sure their children Jameson and 7-year-old daughter Willow Sage Hart grow up with fond memories.
Do you think Pink and Carey are in the wrong with their parenting style? Let us know in the comments below.


Open year-round, HGCC is a premier, private, member owned golf club founded in 1894. Our members enjoy a classic, 27-hole layout designed by Harry Shapland Colt, plus a nine-hole Short Course. The iconic clubhouse, that dates back to 1922, plays hosts to a large number of golf and social gatherings, as well as weddings and corporate events.
Candidates should be available to work days, evenings, weekends and holidays. We offer competitive wages, flexible schedules and a great work environment.
Please click on the desired job offering to read description.
Candidates/employees with special accessibility needs may write to Human Resources to discuss further.


Have you ever dreamt about a lavish, romantic, unique wedding in Italy? And most specifically, a magical summer wedding in Umbria? Then, it's easy to think about an outstanding midsummer night dream wedding in one of our enchanting locations: it will seem like living inside Shakespeare's poetry.
Summer is the perfect season for an outdoor wedding in Umbria, with a signature floral styling and laid back, rustic, outdoorsy vibe.
A fitting theme is, for sure, "midsummer night dream", so that all the atmosphere will be like a magical evening for the bride and groom and all the guests.
The Theme is one of the most romantic you could think about. Based on a well known play by Shakespeare, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", this theme can be developed in a very original way, with many personal touches but without loosing the overall magical view.
Nature, flowers, magic: all of this can find its place in the ceremony.
A rustic, country chic wedding, but yet magical and dreamy, inspired by Shakespeare poetry must be very accurate on details. Starting from colors, you can range from pastel nuances to bronze, gold, and rose gold. Ribbons on chairs, flowers, bridesmaids dresses. Everything shall be coordinated. Bridesmaids could wear satin dresses, very light, with differente nuances, from lighter to darker, different from one another like an enchanted rainbow. Flower girls could wear fairy wings with ligt pink tutu dressesand flower crowns, similar to the one the bride's wearing.
Since it will be an open-air wedding, remember to let your guests feel comfortable: provide bottles of water and fans, and you can have fun decorating them with glitters and pink ribbons!
The perfect way to plan your midsummer night dream wedding in Umbria is to entrust yourself to a destination wedding planner.
Even if the poem was written in Great Britain, it can be easily transferred in an enchanting wedding location in Umbria. Marrying in an Umbrian secret garden means entering magical and enchanting spaces, where it's easy to imagine that dairies and elves could be hiding somewhere.
Let us suggest you the best way to organize your enchanted wedding ceremony in Umbria. Live the magic, enjoy the dreamy experience to give your guests the sensation of living inside a fairytale.
You can have a civil or symbolic ceremony in the farden, with a flower arch surrounding the beautiful couple, and then the wedding reception and a wedding party in the evening, under an elegant tensile structure.
An Umbrian lavish wedding inspired by the magic of a "Midsummer night's dream" can be organized with any budget. Just tell us your idea and we will work on it together. We have the the right experienced staff to give you the advices you will need the most.
Umbria has got plenty of perfect wedding venues for your ceremony, and an enchanted secret garden could be the perfect location for your fairy wedding ceremony.
Umbria is the perfect venue for your Italian wedding: green hills to frame your pictures, magical spots to say "I Do", a wedding destination that will surprise your guests with its underrated, still timeless, elegance.
If you wish to get a real Italian wedding, then the rightest choice you can do is to hire a local wedding planner. Your renowned Umbrian Wedding planner will think about all the small details that will make your wedding in Umbria unique, magical and amazing! You will have the chance to live a real enchanted experience for one day, in the most romantic hidden garden in Umbria. You can ask for the complete all inclusive wedding package, so you won't have to worry about the details, and you will have plenty of time to imagine your great day until the moment you will finally live it.
Your elope in Umbria is nearer than you think!


text:
Introducing the Winners of Vanmag's 32nd* Annual Restaurant Awards
Here it is: our most unorthodox Restaurant Awards in three decades.
By Vancouver Magazine / September 20, 2021
Best New Restaurant
Best Pizza (Takeout)
Best Sushi (Takeout)
Best Casual (Takeout)
Best Chinese (Takeout)
Best Burger (Takeout)
Best Formal (Takeout)
Best Pivot
It was February 2020 and the judging for our 31st Annual Restaurant Awards had just concluded. Our amazing panel of judges had spent the previous 12 months scouring the city for restaurants that excited and enthralled them, revisiting the classics and re-revisiting the new rooms that were creating a buzz. And then… whomp.
Many of the restaurants we had hoped to fete were forced to close, our Restaurant Awards issue was put on indefinite hold, and B.C. and the world started the long process of first understanding and then fighting COVID-19. It was, on all accounts, a slog, and few industries suffered more ups and downs and downs—and more downs—than the restaurant sector. At the magazine, we did ultimately regroup and, through much heavy lifting, we put the 31st edition of the awards out last September, and held a virtual event. But even then, it seemed almost an exercise in nostalgia: a throwback to a time that may have been quite recent but also felt a million miles away.
Which brings us to the more optimistic outlook we're enjoying right now. For the first time in 16 months, the industry seems genuinely hopeful that a corner has been turned and that normalcy (or, better, a new and improved normalcy like we kick around on page 42) is imminent. But for us—who are the stewards of this great tradition of celebrating the city's restaurants—the question remained: What to do about our Restaurant Awards? It hardly seemed fair to judge the industry even in the most positive light when many of the candidates had spent the year barely keeping their head above water. But, on the other hand, to let another full year go by with no celebration also seemed unfair when so many deserved recognition for the sacrifices they undertook at every turn.
So, we hit on what follows here. We're calling it the "32nd* Annual Restaurant Awards." There's only one category that has been carried over from previous years: Best New (because we thought it unfair for spots that had the courage to open during the past 16 months to have to wait another year to be lauded). For the rest of the categories, we tried to follow the trends that arose during the pandemic: they're all takeout related, and they echo the way we were eating this past year.
A big thanks to our many Restaurant Awards judges, who volunteered their time to help us make this year's awards a reality.
GOLD: Oca Pastificio,1260 Commercial Dr.
SILVER: Published on Main, 3593 Main St.
BRONZE: Say Mercy!, 4298 Fraser St.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS:
Potluck Hawker Eatery, 3424 Cambie St.
Bar Gobo, 237 Union St.
Perhaps nothing speaks more to the resilience of the industry than the number of new rooms that opened during the pandemic. It takes a certain type of dreamer/lunatic to look straight into the eye of a hurricane and say, "Let's go sailing." (Although, to be fair, when your banker demands you go sailing, it may be more about financial obligation than straight-up courage.) And even limiting the candidates to spots that opened in late 2019 and 2020—the scope of this year's awards (the 2021 rooms will be on next year's slate)—still left us with the most competitive race we've had in years.
And after all of the votes were tallied, it was the spectacularly low-key Oca Pastificio that emerged with the Gold. The place screams focus, but it never feels studied: there's chef/owner Greg Dilabio, dialled in at the front of the open kitchen and steadfastly hand-making the sublime pastas that form the bulk of the small chalkboard menu. There's FOH maestro, Antoine Dumont, making every-one in the small room forget about the wait (this is no-reservation territory) and transporting you to what feels like that perfect trattoria you happened upon during your trip to Italy years ago. The entire effect is that of comforting brilliance at a shockingly low price point.
Our Silver winner is also defined by brilliance, in this case that on frequent display by head chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson and his uber-capable kitchen. Published on Main was one of the most ambitious openings we'd seen in years when it opened its doors on a stretch of Main Street more used to craft beers than a Michelin-star-worthy tasting menu. The room was gathering some serious word of mouth for its high-wire cooking and unflinching devotion to the best ingredients when the pandemic hit. But while others retreated, Stieffenhofer-Brandson stayed the course for month after gruelling month. Everything coming from the kitchen continued to be exacting, with the team never accepting less than perfection with every dish as the world strived to return to normal.
Taking the Bronze is Sean Reeve and company's crazy mash-up of Italy and Southern U.S. that is Fraser Street's Say Mercy! The novel concept required a constant balancing of richness and acidity, seriousness with fun, and Reeve's kitchen executed night in, night out. All the while, the team simultaneously spearheaded the Staff Meal initiative that saw a small cadre of restaurants helping front-line workers with food, and crafted affordable takeout for the rest of us.
GOLD: Via Tevere, 1190 Victoria Dr.
SILVER: AJ's Brooklyn Pizza Joint, 325 E Broadway
BRONZE: Pizzeria Farina, 915 Main St.
Di Beppe, 8 W Cordova St.
Sprezzatura, 265 Kingsway
Well, evidently the best pizzeria in town is also able to best translate their perfectly crusted pies to takeout. Via Tevere has won Gold in this category for the last two years, and here they are again, on top. It helps that its style of warm minimalism—never too many toppings, never too wacky—means there's less to go wrong in the box, and it also helps that the entire operation offers a comforting embrace of hominess, a boon this past year. In second place is the no-longer-under-the-radar AJ's, a place that's always been an industry favourite for its effortlessly convivial vibe and as-authentic-as-you-can-get Brooklyn-style pizza (which has the attitude to travel well). Taking the Bronze is another continued presence on this list: Main Street's Farina, whose small room meant it spent years perfecting a pie built for takeout.
GOLD: Masayoshi, 4376 Fraser St.
SILVER: Temaki, 2156 W Broadway
BRONZE: Sashimiya, 1348 Hornby St.
Stem Japanese Eatery, 5205 Rumble St., Burnaby
Tetsu Sushi Bar, 775 Denman St.
One of the lasting images of the pandemic is Masa-san, the uber-perfectionist behind the elaborately controlled environment of Masayoshi, cheerfully smiling behind his bar while making to-go chirashi and other delicacies for his takeout customers. No doubt many a restaurateur thought, "Well, if Masa-san can do, so can I," and the orders that came out of the Fraser Street institution, with Masa-san working solo for the most part, will be long remembered as one of the few silver (er, Gold) linings in a supremely tough year.
Silver goes to Temaki, the overnight sensation that's only been around for 18 years. Perhaps it was the numerous chefs who posted themselves picking up takeout (Boulevard's Alex Chen, we're looking at you), but word has definitely gotten out that this Broadway spot mixes an accessible menu (in both selection and price point) paired with a commitment to ultra-fresh ingredients that's seen it become the go-to spot on the west side. Bronze goes to Sashimiya, a jewel box on an overlooked and tough-to-find section of Hornby specializing in no-frills, perfectly presented sushi and sashimi paired with a well curated selection of Japanese grocery staples.
GOLD: Superbaba, 2419 Main St. and Potluck Hawker Eatery, 3424 Cambie St.
BRONZE: Downlow Chicken, 905 Commercial Dr.
Unchai, 2351 Burrard St.
Livia,1399 Commercial Dr.
Our co-winners in this category are both new spots, they're situated only two kilometres from each other, and, like all great restaurants, they have both filled voids we didn't even know we had. First up is Superbaba, fresh from its multi-year beta-testing in Victoria and backed by a well-regarded team of industry pros (Medina's Robbie Kane, Jason Sussman of Tacofino, Ryan Spong of the recently sold food.ee), and led on the ground by Abdallah El Chami. This brain trust has come up with a take on Middle Eastern fare that has people losing their minds over the fresh, generous portions and inventive takes on a compact menu. More singular is Justin Cheung's Potluck Hawker Eatery, an ode to the casual greatness of Malaysian cooking that sees the Angus An protégé crafting a menu that's equal parts innovative and nostalgic, opening up the tastebuds of Vancouverites to the joy of laksa, roti and salted egg yolk chicken. Taking Bronze is Doug Stephen and Lindsey Mann's now-iconic Downlow Chicken Shack, the perennial Gold winner that reinvented how this city saw fried chicken (spoiler—we love it). And while the pandemic had its challenges, one of the calming influences was seeing how some things stayed the same—like the never-ending lineup out its Commercial Drive door.
GOLD: Chef's Choice, 955 W Broadway
SILVER: Dynasty, 108-777 W Broadway
BRONZE: iDen & Quan Ju De, 2808 Cambie St.
Golden Paramount, 8111 Anderson Rd., Richmond
HK BBQ Master, 4651 No. 3 Rd., Richmond
While takeout at entry-level Chinese restaurants has long been a staple in most Vancouver households, the elite restaurants at the top of their game often eschewed the idea. But as it became clear that wouldn't be an ongoing option, many of the top rooms began to show that they could be masters at to-go as well. Chief among them was Gold winner Chef's Choice, which opened on West Broadway mere months before the first shutdown but nonetheless captured the attention of the city's die-hard foodies with its interpretation of classic Cantonese dishes like gold coin roasted chicken. A stone's throw away is Silver-winner Dynasty, no stranger to these awards, which was able to translate its magic with seafood into takeout—no small feat. And taking Bronze was another newcomer, the opened-in-February iDen & Quan Ju De, whose somewhat gimmicky promise of 5D dining belied the fact that it did the near impossible: create a Peking duck that could travel.
GOLD: Between 2 Buns,105 E Pender St.
SILVER: Au Comptoir, 2278 W 4th Ave
BRONZE: Trans Am/Turbo X Trans Am (closed), 1879 Powell St.
Per Se Social Corner, 891 Homer St.
Downlow Burgers, 926 Main St.
Burgers have never been a standalone category in the Restaurant Awards, but it's tough to think of a food item that's been more on people's minds lately than a classic, well-made burger. And this year, no place captured the public's attention more than the awesomely lo-fi Between 2 Buns. What started as a passion-project food truck that drew lines at every stop morphed into a bricks-and-mortar spot occupying the former digs of the much-missed Bestie. Smash burgers are the order of the day here, and don't even think of asking for tomatoes (or any substitutions, for that matter). Your subservience will be rewarded by warm-hearted staff and even more warm-hearted prices ($10 for a burger)—and because it's already smashed, it travels like a pro.
A jump up the elegance scale is the very unsmashed marvel from Kits stalwart Au Comptoir, all Gallic pride in its juicy thickness and topped with caramelized onions and raclette. As a takeout option, it's an exercise in messiness, but worth it. And last on the podium is the most bittersweet of the bunch—the legendary beefy star of Gianmarco Colannino's Trans Am, then its offspring Turbo X Trans Am, both victims of the pandemic: a burger so great and pure that it started a movement.
GOLD: Boulevard, 845 Burrard St.
SILVER: St. Lawrence, 269 Powell St.
BRONZE: Toptable2U, Various locations
Hawksworth, 801 W Georgia St.
Pidgin, 350 Carrall St.
It's easy to look at Gold-winning Boulevard's deep-pocketed owner and think, well, the pandemic was a cakewalk for them. But anyone who ordered takeout from this spot in the early days was greeted by GM JP Potters—and seen out by him too, as he walked your bags to your car himself—while acclaimed chefs Alex Chen and Roger Ma toiled away making meatballs for patrons and selling prime meat at cost. Three people, that was it. As the months clicked by, the offering from BLVD Provisions expanded (exceptional chowder, make-your-own sea bream in salt crust) and the fact that Boulevard—with its level of greatness that has dominated these awards in the past few years—was able to translate its excellence into takeout was a source of near normalcy for many. Across town, JC Poirier's St. Lawrence, our Silver winner, took a little longer to figure out how to recreate their intricately devised meals into a takeout format, but when they did, wow. That telltale blue bag holding the multi-course extravaganza mirrored the restaurant's renewed commitment to table d'hôte dining at the highest level. And rounding out the podium was the tour de force of Top-Table2U, an Avengers-esque grouping of CinCin, Blue Water, Elisa and Thierry that quickly became an essential service, be it for a bag of flour or a Holstein striploin, and continued delivering a wide array of perfectly executed dishes at an even wider array of price points.
GOLD: Pidgin, 350 Carrall St.
SILVER: Pepino's/Caffè la Tana, 631-35 Commercial Dr.
Mak N Ming (closed), 1629 Yew St.
Burdock & Co, 2702 Main St.
This category is the five-letter word that no one will ever want to hear once the pandemic is fully behind us, but it was also one of the dominant skills required for survival during the dark days: take your modus operandi and radically rethink it as quickly as possible, or you're finished. Perhaps the greatest achievement of Gold winner Pidgin is that owner Brandon Grossutti's first response in the face of upheaval was: "How can I help my community?" His answer was to create FromTo, a grassroots delivery system that sought to shield participating restaurants from the high costs of delivery services through a transparent cost-based model that benefitted both consumer and producer. Pidgin and their acclaimed takeout may have been the test case, but soon dozens of thoughtful owners signed up as well, willing to explore the idea of another way to do delivery. Taking Silver is the one-two punch of Caffé la Tana and Pepino's who, like Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid, joined forces to offer everything under one metaphorical tent: groceries, pizza, fresh pasta and wine with a side of the welcoming hospitality that both are known for. Bronze goes to Say Mercy!,whose Staff Meal initiative gathered a disparate group of good souls (from Masayoshi to the Arbor to Belgard Kitchen) to cook affordable takeout, earmark funds for food banks and lend a hand to front-line workers—all while trying to stay afloat in a terrible business environment.
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we looking for a Voice Over Talent for do some short recordings the skills that we seek are: -English and Spanish fluent -A ...that can generate impact -Sound engineer is a plus we need a fast and good job. Please let us to know your resume and an example of your voice for can consider your proposal. if you dont sent it we just ignore your proposal.
About us: Mom Blogger who is looking to find and connect and advert...sheets - Email site bloggers and getting the fees to advertise with them. Requirements for the project: - Experience with Google Sheets, Google Drive, and Gmail - Excellent grammar and high attention to detail In your proposal, please share a brief summary of your experience.


Bagels are a breakfast food traditional associated with America. Often seen as a staple in New York City delicatessens and a popular item in the Jewish community, the broad exposure to those from other cities and countries led the bagel has taken its rightful place on breakfast tables worldwide. But what exactly is a bagel, and can you find bagels in Dubai? To help you get answers to both of those questions, here is an introduction to bagels and where to go to get one for yourself.
The simplest description of a bagel is that it is a round yeast roll that is shaped into a ring. The dough doesn't traditionally include egg and often uses malt instead of sugar. The cooking process starts by placing it in water to help hold in the flavour, though this step may be skipped outside of American bagel shops, and then baking it to create the crust. The inside of the bagel is typically described as doughy or chewy, with the crust providing a different texture.
Why Should I Consider a Bagel for Breakfast?
Since bagels are a bread product, they aren't ideal for individuals interested in maintaining a low-carb diet. Additionally, they can have a notable amount of salt depending on how they are made. However, bagels do offer a range of benefits when compared to some other breakfast options.
First, bagels can be much healthier than certain breakfast pastries as they are traditionally lower in sugar. Second, they aren't especially high in calories, allowing them to fit into a lower calorie diet plan with relative ease.
Bagels also serve as an excellent foundation for other healthy items. For example, you can pair them with lean meats or eggs to create a breakfast sandwich full of healthy protein. You can also use cheese for additional flavour. For those who appreciate a sweeter flavour, consider pairing a bagel with fruit jams instead of more savoury options, or try peanut butter, Nutella, or traditional cream cheese for something a bit more decadent.
Is There More Than One Kind of Bagel?
While the original bagel was plain, made without any additional seasonings aside from those required to make the dough, numerous variations of the classic recipe have gained popularity throughout the world. Here is an overview of some of the more popular options available today.
Many people prefer whole grain options to traditional white bread due to their increased nutritional value, such as the additional fibre and higher amounts of vitamins and minerals. Additionally, it provides a different flavour profile that many people enjoy.
The whole wheat bagel is the most common whole grain form available. It also pairs well with many of the traditional toppings, making it an excellent choice for a breakfast sandwich when combined with other healthy eating options like eggs, lean proteins, and even certain vegetables or fruits.
Sesame bagels feature sesame seeds and oil, adding a higher dose of certain vitamins like copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, and manganese. They also contain protein, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to ensure they consume enough protein throughout their day.
Sesame bagels work well when paired with savoury breakfast items, like lean turkey, eggs, and cheese, though can also be an interesting twist when combined with fruit jams or other sweet flavours.
Onion bagels have chopped onion baked into the dough, making them a flavorful option when eaten plain or when combined with savoury foods. Since the onion is cooked, it provides a subtle sweetness along with the traditional strong flavour.
The added onion also provides various health benefits including the protection of nerves and the cardiovascular system. They can also improve immune function and may help in the prevention of certain forms of cancer. Additionally, onions have a positive impact on blood sugar, limiting fluctuations over the long-term.
For those who prefer their breakfast on the sweeter side, the addition of cinnamon can be a welcomed treat. It goes particularly well with certain fruits and can be an interesting option when combined with peanut butter or Nutella.
Along with the pleasant flavour and aroma, cinnamon can also play a role in healthy eating. First, it is high in antioxidants, which are critical for fighting free radicals in the body. Second, it has antimicrobial properties that can promote digestive health. It may also reduce triglycerides in the blood after eating an otherwise fatty meal, and can help keep blood sugar steady while slowing stomach emptying to help curb one's appetite.
An everything bagel is a unique creation that can vary slightly from one restaurant to the next. Often, they feature a combination of flavours and spices designed to work in harmony. For example, many everything bagels include onion, garlic, and various seeds. These often have a flavour profile more suited for savoury meals, though the distinct combinations also make this bagel an excellent choice when consumed plain or with simple toppings like cream cheese.
Since there is no requirement regarding what must or must not be in an everything bagel, each seller can choose a unique combination of additions and spices to create a truly flavorful experience.
If you have never had the opportunity to enjoy a bagel, many would recommend starting with a traditional, plain variety. This will let you experience what an original New York City bagel is like regardless of where you are.
If you are looking for a great bagel in Dubai, the Circle Café has a selection of some of the most popular flavours available. You can try them plain, with various toppings, or combined with other breakfast items like lean turkey, eggs, and cheese. Take your time to explore the different options, and you are sure to find a few that fit your idea of a truly satisfying and healthy breakfast.


I've been the young leader that has it all figured out and doesn't need anybody's help. ESPECIALLY not anyone older than me. Now I'm fighting being the older leader that has been there, done that, and knows exactly how to do it, no matter what's working for others or what others say. I'm also in a position where I get to help a lot of younger leaders that are 5-10 years behind me in planting churches, but often meet the brick wall of no or low teachability. The prideful side of this can be ugly. The innocent side of this can be costly. I truly believe this strong statement that TEACHABILITY is the KEY TO EVERYTHING. Where is that in the Bible? I think its wrapped up in James 4:6 – "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Teachability is humility. Being humble enough to know that I'm not always right, that I need others, and that I need correction and instruction from God and others.
Matt Keller's book The Key to Everything: Unlocking the Secret to Why Some People Succeed and Others Don't is a great primer on Teachability. Highly recommend it to every leader. Would be a great addition to a residency reading list. Keller builds his case for teachability looking at King Saul on the wrong side and the Apostle Paul on the right side. Much needed reminder for me at this stage in my life. And another book added to the file "I wish I'd read this 15 years ago." Lol!
people's level of teachability is the greatest determinant of their long-term success. (p. xviii).
Desire to learn times willingness to change equals our level of teachability. (p. 7).
pride breeds presumption, and presumption kills teachability. (p. 16).
everything good in life, including teachability, lives and grows in the margins. And an unhealthy pace eliminates the margins in our lives. (p. 65).
Without margin, creativity stops. Without margin, fresh ideas don't emerge. Without margin, conversations that produce breakthroughs don't happen. Without margin, you don't have the ability to grasp anything new. Without margin, teachability dies. (p. 70).
Are you allowing your natural ability to give you a license to not pay attention and learn from others? (p. 102).
One of the leading characteristics of the most teachable people in the world is that they don't just tolerate feedback, they welcome it. Teachable people see feedback as their friend— their best friend. (pp. 107-108).
openness to feedback is the great multiplier (p. 110).
Your teach-ability determines your use-ability. — TODD MULLINS (p. 135).
Real teachability says, "I'll learn anything, anytime, anywhere from anyone." — BRAD LEACH (p. 139).
When you make the choice to invite teachability into your life on a daily basis, life becomes an adventure. Every day you are given another opportunity to gather valuable insight that will make you a better person in some way. (p. 187).
Check out the website for the book and hear from Matt Keller and check out some neat resources HERE.
Posted on November 2, 2016, in Books worth reading. Bookmark the permalink.	1 Comment.


text:
La Batalla del Puente Duarte tuvo lugar el 27 de abril de 1965, durante la guerra civil dominicana. Las tropas del CEFA fueron derrotadas por los constitucionalistas.

Batalla
En la mañana del 27 de abril, a las 9:30, las tropas del CEFA lanzaron su ofensiva. Después de más de dos horas de combate y de numerosas bajas entre ambas partes, las tropas del CEFA estaban exhaustas de avanzar y optaron por retirarse. Un grupo de Marinos que habían desembarcados en una embarcación de la Marina de Guerra en el Puerto de Santo Domingo, se habían sumado a los rebeldes y atacaron a los militares del CEFA en el costado izquierdo cerca de las plantas eléctricas de la zona del puerto. Para las 1 de la tarde ya era evidente que los rebeldes habían triunfado. Algunos militares del CEFA se esparcieron en las calles adyacentes al puente y permanecieron aisladas ahí hasta que los paracaidistas norteamericanos ocuparon el Puente Duarte el 3 de mayo. Los líderes de los rebeldes se agruparon a las 10 de la noche del 27 de abril en el patio de la Panadería Goyita (en la calle Arzobispo Noel y desde entonces el cuartel general de los rebeldes) a celebrar su triunfo proclamando "Dios, Patria y Libertad-Viva la República Dominicana".

Notas

Referencias

Conflictos en 1965
República Dominicana en 1965
Batallas de la República Dominicana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dark Goddess introduces us to Billi's new beau, the Russian prince (or tsarevich as they say over there) Ivan Romanov.
I hope I'm not putting in a spoiler here by saying Billi's early attempts at relationships in Devil's Kiss didn't turn out well, and as a result, has become emotionally cold.
She's worried about being close to another person, because it's dangerous for them and she's not sure she's strong enough to take the pain of losing someone, again.
Ivan's very different from Kay and Mike, he had to be. Kay wasn't a warrior, and Mike, well, Mike was just wrong on so many levels.
Ivan's from old, old nobility. He's extremely wealthy, not a little arrogance (that happens when everyone you meets bows to you) and was born to command. But he doubts himself. He carries a lot of responsibilty and everyone looks to him for the answer. That's what being a leader is all about. Below is Billi's first sight of Ivan. They're up on Sparrow Hills, where the rich and beautiful of Moscow gather.
The passenger door opened and a young man jumped out. He had short-cropped dark hair, wide cheekbones and a broken nose that only enhanced the icy look of his aristocratic face. He swept his hand across a non-existent crease on his black coat, a coat that probably cost more than most of the cars on the street. He spotted one of the posing girls and smile flickered over his lips, easy, charming and arrogant. The boyfriend moved instinctively in front of the girl, glowering back. Billi half-expected them to start beating their chests at one another, the rivalry was animal. Instead he touched the diamond stud in his left ear and turned away, dismissing them both. He had the confidence of a person who'd found life way, way too easy. Gorgeous and didn't he just know it. His driver leaned against the door, lighting up a smoke. Tough and nasty. Definitely a bodyguard. The young man gazed around the crowds like he owned them. Like he owned Moscow.
Their eyes met and he stopped. Billi was something new.
The guy's attention was uncomfortably intense. But Billi wasn't going to flinch either. She watched him spread his gloved hand out and he lowered his head to give the slightest of bows, but his eyes near left hers. There wasn't even a hint of a smile, like that would be too much. Billi's heartbeat went double time as she watched him straighten, hand still out.
The YA genre has enough bad boys. Rough, crude, sullen and with chips on their shoulders. That's great, but that's been done. Ivan's almost old-fashioned. Elegant, highly educated and extremely deadly. After all, he's been taught by the best. Like I said before in an earlier blog, he is old school royalty and knows that thrones, power, privilege are claimed through blood, sweat and tears.
There will be plenty of that in Dark Goddess.
I am SO excited!! Its torture waiting on Dark Goddess to come out.
He sounds like a really interesting character! I was so upset about Kay at the end of Devil's Kiss, but I thought it really made your book different. We get so used to happily ever after, and I loved that you were willing to take a different route. I can't wait to read about Billi and Ivan!!
I'm excited! Ivan sounds Hot!*sigh* Great snippet! I can't wait to read Dark Goddess! I love bad boys!
Ivan sounds awesome! I really hope things work out for him and Billi.
I can't wait to read all about him!
Really going to miss Kay though, I really, really liked him too.
But I do hope that it works out between Ivan and Billi.
the word verification is goree - is it perhaps a little hint???


text:
Drama: Legend of Lu Zhen
Aired: May 8, 2013 - May 28, 2013
Aired On: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
Network: Hunan TV
Genres: Historical, Romance, Tragedy
Tags: Power Struggle, Strong Female Lead
Score: 8.3 (scored by 1,063 users)
Ranked: #627
Watchers: 2,830
abell 1367
Zardua_
CheriLyn
Geanina
300 Historical
33 The strongest and the most beautiful love stories
98 Dramas/Movies genre : Chinese Craving
Top Manga Adaptations
Hottest Upcoming Dramas
Interspecies Romance
Highest Rated Films 2018
Legend of Lu Zhen (2013)
Shirubia
59 of 59 episodes seen
Acting/Cast 9.0
I started this drama because i like seeing strong woman in historical dramas working hard for her position.
Half the drama is exactly this. So what differs dramatically from others drama of this kind is, that the main girl is not totally good. I hate this part in most historical dramas, that the main girl always saves the bad people and don´t get justice herself. In this drama she will take her revenge and doesn´t prevent that the evil will be punished.
The other half of the drama is the love between her and the prince. Don´t let you misguide from the synopsis. The drama is full of romatic scenes between them and they end up together.
The story was not really unique. Many things were like in all that other dramas i watched, but there were a few scenes that surprised me. I couldn´t stop myself and watched this drama in only a few days.
I would recommend this drama everyone who likes romance with a strong female lead that goes her own way.
If you think 59 episodes are too much, i need to say here that the runtime of each episode differs. It started with 40-45 min per episode, then it got to 30-35 min and the last few episodes were only 20 min long. It was really easy to watch this drama.
Dounie
This review may contain spoilers
This is my second review for a Chinese historical drama, I'm glad it's for ''Legend of Lu Zhen" and what's more a drama with my dear Zhao Zanilia, she's absolutely gorgeous and I think I could watch anything with her .
The story is pretty good , and it's easy to follow Lu Zhen and Gao Zhan's journey even if it's not all rosy for them as they constantly fight for their love and for being happy like any other couple.
My review will be a bit long , I only wanna say what I think about this drama : the good/ bad points and my opinion about the characters because there are so many good and evil ones here.
1| Good Points :
-The cinematography is absolutely stunning , and I think that everyone would agree with me on that aspect, I love taking Screeshots , and for this drama I had many opportunities to do that and then contemplating those awesome landscapes and gardens in the palace .
-I have nothing to say about the acting , all the actors did their part , the ones that are supposed to be evil are really evil and we hate them so much that we only want to see them dying in atrocious sufferings because that is the only thing they deserve , as for the good ones I wanted to see them rise and stand for themselves ( is not it, Lu Zhen ? ) .
-The show is really addictive between ep 25-54, I was completely glued to my screen and always wanted to watch the next ep , so for that I have no complains even if there are certain things that bothered me .
-The main couple : Oh this Gao Zhan , he is such an admirable man who did everything to show his love for his dear Lu Zhen he was not afraid to claim his love for her , only at the beginning he was hesitant because he was afraid that Lu Zhen's safety would be compromised .
-Lu Zhen , I really admire this girl who was able to climb the ladder very fast ( of course she had many supporters without whom it would not have been possible but she was a smart girl and because of that she succeeded in everything she did ) , my only problem with her is her naiveness , how is it possible to believe everyone and think that from one day to the next they became reliable , I just say No No No !
2| Bad points
-Too many schemes in this palace and always the same who suffer greatly .
-Too many deaths , of course in this kind of drama it is unavoidable but that was so rushed , and it always makes me laugh when a character dies for the sake of friendship , but of course that's only a fiction so we forget about it .
-Characters that are overly obsessed with something that is not their property.
-Music , it was always redundant , come on ! Nothing striking and that's a pity , because in Historical dramas the ost is supposed to have a significant place and makes the scenes more memorable or I would say more captivating but that was not the case here !
-Men are not enough represented in this drama and that was really missing , yes I'm a gurl and of course that bothered me ;D But in counterpart we have 3 adorable and faithful men , so I'm fine with it .
As for characters I'll go to the essential . And be careful it can contain spoilers , I'm not the type who can write a review without spoiling , so I'm warning you !
\\\\\\\\There are so many great characters who made the drama more appealing and interesting , of course I loved the main couple , how they trusted and cared for each other , that was simply great to watch . I was always smiling when they were together because it was full a passion and it felt so real ! But actually there are other characters that were shining and even more than Lu Zhen because they were complex and really well written and the one that comes to my mind right now is none other than the wonderful Huan Yun, she's such a great woman full of hartred at the beginning but she grew up to becoming a beautiful woman with a big heart , she started to understand the man who is next to her since forever and I think that's why she bacame the understanding Empress we got to see at the end . I would lie if I say that I did not hate her but it was only in the beginning when she was crazy and did not wanted to face the reality .
I particularly like the emperor , how he is nothing like his horrible mother , such a gentle man always willing to give a hand to the ones that are worth of his help , he is also the most caring husband I've ever seen in dramas , and for that he goes to my all time favorite supporting actors ! I also loved his friendship with Lu Zhen he was so protective of her , helping her as much as he could because he was aware of her true value.
Of course , Shen Jia Yan was among my favorite characters too , I was happy to see a man like him around Lu Zhen .
So I talked about the 3 main guys , they were all fantastic and I remember the first time I saw Shen Jia Yan I screamed with joy, I was so happy seeing another MAN in this drama full of women , oh my what a relief !
I aslo have to talk about Dan Niang because she's like me , always eating pastry , and talking about it , she only needed to have her daily pastry and there are days I feel like it too , if I have my candies nothing else matters to me ^^
I also have a thought for Wang Xian who was like Huan Yun and became an admirable woman , Du Si Yi the most reasonable woman of all , the Gugu the best confident ever and so on …
For the evil characters I won't say much because I truly hated them , Ah Bi comes first you know in whole dramaland the girl I hate the most is Zheng Er from Lan Ling Wang and Ah Bi is next to her when it comes to harm other without regret . And the other villains are hardly worth mentionning.////////
So This is a drama I will only recommend for those who don't care about watching a drama that shows cruelty in all its different states and who are not looking for some sweet romance , but it's enough to read the synopsis and you'll definitely know if it's for you or not .
Oh and I almost forget to thank my dear friend DragonA. who watched this drama with me ^^
As for rewatching value I would gladly rewatch ep 25 to ep 54 as they were really addicting , according to my opinion .
I just have few words to say about my rating , I hesitated between 8 and 8.5 because I found the drama to be very captivating but there are so many things that seemed very strange at least for my taste so I decided to be 100% objective and give a proper rating .
Legend of Lu Zhen, oh where do I begin?
At the end of the day no matter how flawed or serious the inconsistencies can be in a drama, the overall audience will only remember the entertainment factor and how engaging the series is. I think Lu Zhen is one of them.
Legend of Lu Zhen has a more than satisfying story development with the politics, her achievements within the Departments of the Palace,and perhaps some of the most serious OTP action I've seen in a historical drama, so die-hards of the romantic kind have lots to squeal their butts off. However there is a lot that is predictable and not much originality is to be found here, though their creative use or mesh of certain elements is something to be applauded for and it worked in producing some real goodies. Best way to describe this series is it makes up for all its weaknesses with all that is great, so the end result is an imperfect entertainment.
I love everything about the character of Lu Zhen - she is resilient, capable, and intelligent as she can be naive, stubborn and cunning, but at end of the day her heart is still in the right place no matter how she doesn't hesitate to punish or get back at those who have wronged her. Above all, she is fair and has a good sense of who deserves what. I especially like that she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty (within reason) because the other person truly deserved it (usually for something they did to her anyway) and she doesn't mope over it too much or at all. I tend to avoid dramas with Mary Sue types so I'm glad Lu Zhen isn't anywhere near.
Best part is she is pretty consistent about that from beginning to end; though her naivety also landed her some growing pains which only seasoned her political sense. Inexperience seems to be the only thing that has ever held her back from doing or being that much more. For those reasons, her character seems real and not one dimensional.
As for the actress herself Zhao Liying is cute as a button, and makes Lu Zhen that much more likable. I love how she did not overact for her first female lead role (although some of the many fight scenes between Gao Zhan & Lu Zhen were guilty of that.. probably not the actors' fault though). Speaking of Gao Zhan, I think this is considered one of Chen Xiao's best performances for a reason. He is good as the charismatic and forthright prince who can hardly contain his passion within those eyes of his. While there was never a doubt about his love for Lu Zhen, it's more so how he learned to respect her and allow her to breakthrough the traditions of that time- that I find refreshing. Respect is one of the most important things in relationships and romance that can be easily overlooked in a lot of dramas I've seen, so it's nice to see that.
rachso
This was definitely interesting a lot of back stubbing sabotage jealousy blah blah blah... And women had all the power. It's like the emperor and crown prince where pawns on chase board. The chemistry was just right. The romance was great and the acting was spot on. This drama was more about love,betrayal and conniving it has very little politics which was disappointing. Because no matter how much I hate real life politics, I love drama politics but this one was more like many women liking the crown prince. The problems weren't that strong and tragic except at the end. And the plot was full of lies the king dint make her prime minister to be with her or whatever. Overall it was okay
Iloveasianndrama
Rewatch Value 10
One day, I was browsing through Viki and I found this drama. I am so glad I did because it was one of the best one I have seen! The love story between the Prince and Lu Zhen was amazing. Don't let the number of episodes scared, you the episodes are only 45 minutes long, but it get shorter.
Story: I thought it was interesting. Out of all the mainland drama I have seen none of the plot intrigue me like this one. The first female prime minister; how cool is that right? This drama is about her journey to becoming a prime minister and her love story with the prince. How at a certain age she started to feel thing she never feel before. Of course there are people that don't like her, but she doesn't let them be. She takes revenge against them. She is one of the strong female lead that I like.
Acting: I didn't know the leads actor before I started watching this drama, but they both did a good job; Even the supporting cast. Gui Gui was so funny and cute. I really hate the antagonist.
Music: I only like the opening theme.
Rewatch Value: I would totally watch it again, but probably not for a while because 59 episodes is too long.
Overall: I really enjoyed it. Even though, they argue for the most random things. I really hope Chen Xiao and Zhao Yi Ling date because they are so cute.
This has to be one of the most interesting and engaging historical, romance dramas that I have seen. Zhao Li Ying and the supporting cast has done an amazing job. I really liked the chemistry between Zhao Li Ying
and Chen Xiao,who did a great job acting as well. The overall directing, story line and acting were done well. Zhao Li Ying is just gorgeous! Most of all, I liked how the drama emphasized on Zhao Li Ying's determination to rise up the ranks as the first female prime minister using mostly her own wits and ability.
Wow, what a long but awesome drama! I love Zanilia in here, her acting is very versatile and this drama shows true range in her abilities (she's not a zombie w/ no emotions).
This drama was addictive from beginning, but the last three episodes had me like MEH. Anyways, the store is about Lu Zhen who is her father's first daughter, but is mistreated by her step mother. Her skills in helping the family business, makes her step mother & uncle jealous so they plot against her to get rid of her. While on the run, she bumps into Prince Gao Zhan, who's stepmom is ALSO plotting against him he is the emperor's favorite son. Both of them lose their fathers, and is framed for killing their father. However, Gao Zhan is able to find evidence he is not responsible, but by then his brother had already been thrust onto the throne. Their journey, is Lu Zhen working her way up from a palace maid to become a 6th rank official, to re-address her father's murder and seek justice (and mishaps along the way).
This drama had so much romance and lovey-dovey between Lu Zhen and Gao Zhan. Both actors were fantastic, and had great chemistry. I haven't seen Zanilia in another drama because CDYY that is THIS lovey-dovey, and the two leads match and look cute together. The ending was a happy ending. My only gripe is how many times they have a falling out, relationships right? I do love how faithful Gao Zhan and Lu Zhen were to one another. Gao Zhan rejected so many ladies for her.
The bad guys in here are endless. The Empress Dowager (Gao Zhan's step mom) is such a evil bee-yotch. The whole time she's blaming Gao Zhan and Xiao Huanyun for her son Gao Yan's downfall/demise, but it was her own!!! Shen Ah Bi, is also another ruthless, mean girl but got bit by karma in the end. She was a hopeless romantic for Gao Zhan, but he already had someone else on his mind.
The side characters are so cute. I love Dan Niang, as she loves to EAT. She's a cute character, wish she had a better ending for herself.
Overall, great drama. It's not historically accurate. I looked up both Gao Zhan and Lu Zhen's character, and in real life they were bad guys!
MysteryMel-Bookish
Well done Cdrama! Another story of an amazing STRONG woman in the history books. The lead actor chemistry was heartfelt with each supporting cast member doing an FAB job in their roles. Hands down this MIL-Empress Dowager is an evil beast that devours power and no one is exempt from her feasting or killing spree. This is a long series yet it has so many twists, turns, and interesting storyline each episode moves quick. Bottom-line: Story of a smart, savvy, naive young girl tossed out into the wilds of world by a greedy family only to placed in to Palatial - Political hell, fall is love and ascends to high ranks based on her intelligence, resilience and tenacity. Music: was OK, appropriate for movie YET nothing memorable. While watching this JANG OK JUNG kept running around in my head, so if you liked JokJ, give this a try. Well done filming, and just enough wuxia to remind you you're watching good Cdrama.
purplenette
Chinese historical dramas have become a joy to me. The costumes and settings are elaborate and beautiful. Legend of Lu Zhen added to the visual enjoyment with a good story and interesting characters. The story line is monotonous at times, because of the same "bad" people scheming against the same "good" people. However, the romance and chemistry between the characters is excellent. The best part of this drama is that all the women are strong and smart. The main men are great because the love they have for their women never waivers.
Zhao Zanilia is really pretty and I like the way she expresses herself. I think I will watch Boss and Me soon. Chen Xiao is also a good actor and really cute. I think they had great chemistry together. All of the acting is good.
I enjoyed the music.
It is too long to rewatch.
If you like strong women characters and great cinematography then I recommend this drama.
DrAmAlOvEr
I went this experience by influence of a review where s/he mentioned that fl Strong and know how back thing's on people its totally opposite of their word's yes I agree she struggle for her identity in society but that doesn't mean she strong enough to idealize her she is average woman with only education knowledge which take her high in her professional life but not in personal life she can be easily manipulated by people and after knowing that she let go things
Same as I can say about ml that's why they suit each other
The things I liked about this drama
Two brothers love
All villain are in characters specially imperial consort
Ml fl love only for each other never changed theirs hearts for a sec (one woman man/one man woman)
BTSKORANY
I had watched this back in 2013. Now that Viki is now streaming it, I wanted to make a review for those who may be interested!!!
This has probably be the Chinese drama that had gotten me to be very into Chinese dramas!!!
It is one of my top favorites and I always recommend this one to a lot of family and friends.
It came out around the time where there weren't a lot of interesting Chinese dramas & I had came across this one.
I quickly was into the storyline even though it was quite a typical Chinese palace type of story.
A poor girl going in as a palace maid and that sort, I guess the details on the page tells you everything already.
This drama actually portrays a strong female protagonist.
I guess you can compare her Princess Agents character to this, but it is not as hardcore as Princess Agents, LMAO.
I also had fell in love with the actors and actresses, they are all so beautiful and handsome.
Which made me loved it even more; who can say no to Chen Xiao, Zhao Li Ying, Yang Rong :D
I really liked the acting and the chemistry and the romance on there.
I usually know when I am in love with the soundtracks of a Chinese drama but I don't have a memory of being in love with it, so it was ok.
Speeding up to today in 2018, I am still a fan of it, though I do not know when I will rewatch it again.
I do think about this drama here and there because it engraved a memory in me.
Maybe someday in the future if I am ever bored enough.
And there are so many good new dramas coming out now!!!
I would say if you're new to Chinese dramas, this would be a nice pick for the newbies!
And those who might be missing out should watch it too.
Just give it a try on the first couple of episodes!
I feel like this drama is very underrated!
Shoutout to Viki for finally having it now!
So if you like an adorable male protagonist, strong female protagonist who starts out as a maid, pretty costumes and continuous palace problems, this one is for you, LOL.
God of Lightning
I always fancy dramas with strong female leads. Legend of lu zhen is about how lu zhen survives in the palace.
The story inculde tricks and traps in the palace. There were always traps to hurt Lu Zhen. Overall, the story is not bad but one of its flaws is that The Evil characters are too evil. Apart from that, the ending is pretty satisfying, the story itself is addicting.
Zhao Li Ying's acting skills are always top notch. This is probably one of her best dramas.She portrays the character of Lu Zhen at its best.
Chen Xiao did a pretty good job as well. Zhao Li Ying and Chen Xiao has great chemistry. I also like the supporting characters such as The King, Empress and Shen Da Ge. Especially, Deng Niang was a superb supporting actress.
There are only two songs , Opening song and Ending song. Both of them are not very bad but not very good.
Rewatch value
I will watch it when I think I no longer remember the story


text:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FIRST MAJESTIC SILVER CORP. (AG: NYSE; FR: TSX) (the "Company" or "First Majestic") is pleased to announce the unaudited interim consolidated financial results of the Company for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018. The full version of the financial statements and the management discussion and analysis can be viewed on the Company's website at www.firstmajestic.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless stated otherwise.
THIRD QUARTER 2018 HIGHLIGHTS
Record silver equivalent production of 6.7 million ounces, a 31% increase compared to Q2 2018
Record silver production of 3.5 million ounces, a 27% increase compared to Q2 2018
Revenues of $88.5 million, an 11% increase compared to Q2 2018
Mine operating earnings of ($0.1) million
Cash flow per share was $0.11 per share (non-GAAP)
Cash costs were $6.85 per payable silver ounce (net of by-product credits), a 10% decrease compared to Q2 2018
All-in sustaining costs ("AISC") were $15.12 per payable silver ounce, an 8% decrease compared to Q2 2018
Realized average silver price reached a nine year low of $14.66 per ounce, a 12% decrease compared to Q2 2018
Adjusted net earnings of ($6.4) million or ($0.03) per share
Invested $34.7 million on capital expenditures
Ended the quarter with $72.4 million in cash and cash equivalents
"During the third quarter, we delivered record silver production resulting in higher revenues and cash flows compared to the previous quarter even when we experienced a nine year low in average quarterly silver prices," stated Keith Neumeyer, President and CEO of First Majestic. "Consolidated cash costs and AISC decreased nicely to $6.85 and $15.12, respectively, due to improved economies of scale and higher production from San Dimas. Cost cutting efforts remain a focus of the Company by reducing capital investments at our smaller mines, innovation projects, layoffs and overall curtailment of spending."
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Key Performance Metrics 2018-Q3 2018-Q2 Change
Q3 vs Q2 2017-Q3 Change
Q3 vs Q3 2018-YTD 2017-YTD Change
Ore Processed / Tonnes Milled 864,056 851,349 1 % 730,652 18 % 2,525,180 2,244,822 12 %
Silver Ounces Produced 3,505,344 2,756,263 27 % 2,415,962 45 % 8,428,636 7,412,128 14 %
Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced 6,740,315 5,137,318 31 % 3,986,274 69 % 15,757,310 12,142,568 30 %
Cash Costs per Ounce (1) $6.85 $7.59 (10 %) $8.15 (16 %) $7.34 $7.13 3 %
All-in Sustaining Cost per Ounce (1) $15.12 $16.43 (8 %) $15.36 (2 %) $15.78 $13.72 15 %
Total Production Cost per Tonne (1) $68.87 $61.04 13 % $54.15 27 % $59.17 $49.89 19 %
Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce (1) $14.66 $16.74 (12 %) $17.11 (14 %) $15.89 $17.29 (8 %)
Financial (in $millions)
Revenues $88.5 $79.7 11 % $61.9 43 % $226.8 $191.1 19 %
Mine Operating (Loss) Earnings ($0.1 ) ($2.3 ) 94 % $3.2 (105 %) ($2.9 ) $14.6 (120 %)
Net Earnings (Loss) $5.9 ($40.0 ) 115 % ($1.3 ) 547 % ($39.7 ) $2.8 (1,513 %)
Operating Cash Flows before Working
Capital and Taxes $20.7 $14.2 45 % $17.7 17 % $50.6 $62.3 (19 %)
Cash and Cash Equivalents $72.4 $109.2 (34 %) $120.8 (40 %) $72.4 $120.8 (40 %)
Working Capital (1) $127.8 $141.4 (10 %) $126.3 1 % $127.8 $126.3 1 %
Earnings (Loss) per Share ("EPS") - Basic $0.03 ($0.22 ) 114 % ($0.01 ) 482 % ($0.22 ) $0.02 (1,394 %)
Adjusted EPS (1) ($0.03 ) ($0.07 ) 53 % $0.00 (3,241 %) ($0.16 ) $0.00 31,904 %
Cash Flow per Share (1) $0.11 $0.08 36 % $0.11 — % $0.28 $0.38 (26 %)
The Company reports non-GAAP measures which include cash costs per ounce, all-in sustaining cost per ounce, total production cost per ounce, total production cost per tonne, average realized silver price per ounce, working capital, adjusted EPS and cash flow per share. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions.
During Q3 2018, the Company realized an average silver price of $14.66 per ounce, representing a 14% decrease compared with Q3 2017 and a 12% decrease compared to Q2 2018.
Revenues generated in the quarter totaled $88.5 million, an increase of 43% compared to $61.9 million in Q3 2017 primarily due to a 69% increase in silver equivalent ounces sold, partially offset by the 14% decrease in average realized silver price.
The Company generated net earnings of $5.9 million, or $0.03 per share, compared to net earnings of ($1.3) million, or ($0.01) per share, in Q3 2017. The increase in net earnings was primarily due to a $15.5 million increase in deferred income tax recovery driven by foreign exchange, partially offset by decrease in operating earnings which were affected by a 14% decrease in silver price, higher general and administrative expenses for integration of Primero Mining Corp. and higher financing costs associated with the convertible debentures issued in Q1 2018. Excluding all non-cash and non-recurring items, the Company generated adjusted earnings of ($6.4) million, or ($0.03) per share, during the quarter.
The Company reported mine operating earnings of ($0.1) million in Q3 2018 compared to mine operating earnings of $3.2 million in Q3 2017. Despite the addition of San Dimas, which contributed $13.0 million in mine operating earnings from a full quarter of production, mine operating earnings were lower compared to the same quarter of the previous year due to lower silver prices and a decline in production from La Parrilla, La Encantada, Del Toro and La Guitarra.
Cash flow from operations before movements in working capital and income taxes in the quarter was $20.7 million, or $0.11 per share, compared to $17.7 million, or $0.11 per share, in the Q3 2017.
The Company maintains a healthy treasury with $72.4 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter, a decrease of $36.8 million compared to $109.2 million at the end of Q2 2018. The decrease was primarily attributed to movements in working capital items in relation to the Primero acquisition, including a $5.9 million decrease in trade and other payables as First Majestic began paying down overdue liabilities assumed from the Primero acquisition and a $12.0 million increase in value added taxes receivable as a result of delays in recovery from the Mexican tax authority, the Servicio de Administracion Tributaria ("SAT"), as Primero was 18 months behind on its filings when First Majestic acquired the San Dimas mine. Since acquisition, the Company has accelerated its filings and all filings have since been filed as of the end of October. The Company has been supplying additional information requested by SAT as part of the review process and the Company expects the amounts to be refunded or offset against future income tax payments.
The table below represents the quarterly operating and cost parameters at each of the Company's mining operations.
Production Summary San
Dimas Santa
Elena La
Encantada La
Parrilla Del
Toro San
Martin La
Guitarra(1) Consolidated
Ore Processed / Tonnes Milled 176,884 225,873 196,030 117,130 65,323 67,926 14,891 864,056
Silver Ounces Produced 1,445,918 598,693 378,983 330,047 231,350 438,061 82,292 3,505,344
Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced 3,225,352 1,475,635 379,773 537,986 427,218 557,746 136,605 6,740,315
Cash Costs per Ounce ($0.40 ) $5.77 $21.15 $16.29 $13.07 $9.78 $6.99 $6.85
All-in Sustaining Cost per Ounce $6.74 $9.03 $27.25 $23.34 $24.48 $13.37 $12.30 $15.12
Total Production Cost per Tonne $105.91 $63.15 $40.20 $58.18 $73.50 $88.15 $68.47 $68.87
La Guitarra was placed on care and maintenance on August 3, 2018.
Total quarterly production increased 31%, compared to the prior quarter, to a new record of 6,740,315 silver equivalent ounces. Total production consisted of 3,505,344 ounces of silver, 35,260 ounces of gold, 4,443,290 pounds of lead and 1,234,385 pounds of zinc. The increase in production was primarily due to a full quarter of production from the San Dimas operation, as well as increases in consolidated silver and gold grades of 19% and 35%, respectively.
COSTS AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Cash cost per ounce for the quarter was $6.85 per payable ounce of silver, a decrease of 10% from $7.59 per ounce in Q2 2018. Cash cost per ounce was lower than the previous quarter primarily attributed to increased silver production and gold by-product credits from a full quarter of production by the San Dimas mine, partially offset by higher energy costs as electricity and diesel rates both increased during the quarter.
AISC in Q3 2018 was $15.12, a decrease of 8% or $1.31 per ounce compared to Q2 2018, primarily attributed to improved economies of scale attributed to an increase of payable silver ounces produced from the San Dimas mine.
Total capital expenditures in the third quarter were $34.7 million, primarily consisting of $9.1 million at San Dimas, $5.9 million at Santa Elena, $5.6 million at La Encantada, $4.4 million at La Parrilla, $4.1 million at Del Toro, $2.7 million at San Martin and $0.9 million at La Guitarra.
As a result of the continued weakness in metal prices, the Company has updated its 2018 capital budget program and has reduced investments by $33.9 million to $114.8 million consisting of $55.7 million for sustaining investments and $59.1 million for expansionary projects. This represents a 23% decrease compared to the previous capital budget of $148.7 million. The revised annual budget includes capital investments totaling $56.5 million to be spent on underground development, $27.5 million towards property, plant and equipment, $22.7 million in exploration and $8.1 million towards corporate automation and innovation projects. Total capital expenditures in the first three quarters of 2018 totalled $81.4 million, representing approximately 71% of the $114.8 million revised budget.
ABOUT FIRST MAJESTIC
First Majestic is a mining company focused on silver production in Mexico and is aggressively pursuing the development of its existing mineral property assets. The Company presently owns and operates the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine, the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine, the La Encantada Silver Mine, the La Parrilla Silver Mine, the San Martin Silver Mine and the Del Toro Silver Mine. Production from these mines are projected to be between 12.0 to 13.2 million silver ounces or 20.5 to 22.6 million silver equivalent ounces in 2018.
This press release contains "forward‐looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws (collectively, "forward‐looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; commercial mining operations; cash flow; budgets; the timing and amount of estimated future production; recovery rates; mine plans and mine life; the future price of silver and other metals; costs of production; costs and timing of the development of new deposits; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward‐looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable mineral reserves and mineral resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward‐looking statements to the extent that they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as and if the property is developed, and in the case of measured and indicated mineral resources or proven and probable mineral reserves, such statements reflect the conclusion based on certain assumptions that the mineral deposit can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward‐looking statements".


text:
NLRB Raises the Bar on Clarity of Employee Arbitration Agreements
Today, more than half of private employers without union-represented employees use binding arbitration agreements to resolve labor disputes, according to the Economic Policy Institute.
Over the years, federal courts have generally rejected legal challenges to arbitration agreements in employment, though they have established some safeguards. Last year, a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, was a major victory for employers that use arbitration agreements. The Court ruled that arbitration agreements could preempt class action litigation.
Now there's a new twist in arbitration agreement legal requirements: A new ruling applies to employers that are accused of interfering with employees' rights to form a labor union and declare that the matter must be settled by arbitration. Enforceability of those arbitration agreements depends not only on what's covered in the fine print, but also what's left out or implied.
Role of the NLRB
Challenges to arbitration agreements sometimes are based on employee protections under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This landmark New Deal legislation, adopted by Congress in 1935, was designed to bolster labor unions. In turn, the NRLA created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to help enforce provisions of the law.
The NLRB addresses allegations of NLRA violations coming from employees. It receives more than 20,000 complaints each year "covering a range of unfair labor practices described in Section 8 of the Act," according to the board's website.
Under the NLRA, it's unlawful for an employer to "interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the rights guaranteed." Furthermore, the law says that employees "shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, or engage in other concerted activities" to achieve those outcomes.
"Concerted activities" can include discussions of grievances that could lead to a movement to start a union. Thus, being fired for unionizing could give rise to an NLRB claim.
If the NLRB rules in favor of one or more employees, it can't assess penalties against employers. But it can require employers to make employees "whole" again, for example, by reinstating back pay for employees who were wrongly terminated in conjunction with union organizing activities, as well as requiring employers to post signs around the workplace, promising not to violate the law again. The NLRB can also ask a federal court to impose a temporary injunction on an employer to halt a practice until the issue has received a full hearing.
Arbitration Connection
The connection between the NLRB and the legality of arbitration agreements is that, while arbitration agreements can preempt employees from taking most complaints to a federal court, they can't block employees from appealing to the NLRB with an unfair labor practice claim under NRLA Sec. 8.
Such a claim was at the heart of a recent NLRB case filed by employees of Prime Healthcare Paradise Valley, a company that operates hospitals across the United States. The company's mediation and arbitration agreement (M&AA) required its employees to "consent to the resolution by binding arbitration of all claims or controversies for which a federal court or a state court would be authorized to grant relief…"
The M&AA also listed examples of potential claims that employees might make, but were blocked under the agreement. And it stated that the agreement didn't cover disputes involving state benefit issues — such as unemployment insurance and workers compensation — which aren't covered by federal law.
Ultimately, the NRLB rejected the M&AA, because it found several problems with the agreement's language. Specifically, when any M&AA that doesn't directly state that employees don't have access to the NLRB (or other appropriate non-court entity), and is thus "neutral" on the matter, requires a determination must be made as to whether the agreement, "when reasonably interpreted, would potentially interfere with the exercise of NLRA rights."
Error of Omission
That could be the case if employees might wrongly conclude that they have no rights to pursue NLRA Sec. 8 claims unless there's an agreement that explicitly refers to those rights. Weighing the evidence, the NLRB concluded that many of Prime Healthcare's employees would draw that conclusion, and that the company lacked a "legitimate business justification" for failing to be explicit about employees' NLRB rights in its M&AA.
The NLRB concluded that employees might be misled by the M&AA's language, because it mentioned some dispute categories (workers comp and unemployment insurance claims) that weren't covered. However, the agreement failed to mention NLRA Sec. 8 claims, which also must be excluded under the law. The ruling concludes that, "Reasonably interpreted, taken as a whole," the M&AA could easily be seen as blocking employees' rights to take relevant complaints to the NLRB.
The board also pointed out the inaccuracy of the M&AA's implication that it could exclude employees from taking any claims to federal courts under any circumstance, since federal courts can play a limited role in NLRA violation allegation cases.
Got Arbitration Agreements?
Does your company require employees to accept an arbitration agreement? If so or if you're thinking about doing so in the future, it's important to fine-tune the language based on the NLRB's ruling in the Prime Healthcare case. It's better to be clear and explicit than to be vague and lacking in detail.
Also, be aware that the laws in some states limit the scope of arbitration agreements. Those limitations can affect the outcome of disagreements over arbitration agreements in some situations. Be sure you understand the laws in your state before asking employees to sign on the dotted line.
Categories: Business and Consulting
This entry was posted on Monday, July 8th, 2019 at 12:21 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.