Firearms instructors in Fuquay-Varina, NC have various levels of expertise, training, experience, and many specialize in particular shooting disciplines such as; revolvers only, automatics only, a combination of both types of handguns, rifles, shotguns, hunting, precision shooting, long-distance shooting, and the list goes on. In addition to a firearm instructors training, experience, and shooting discipline that they teach it is important to find out if they also are currently certified, and who was the certification organization or agency, do they have references they can provide, how many students have they taught in the past, and are they insured?
Remember, you're asking this individual to not only teach you about the proper use of a firearm and firearm safety, but also many of the laws in Fuquay-Varina, NC that will pertain to your gun ownership. You have every right to investigate them thoroughly. Any firearms instructor that is not willing to answer all of your questions or to invite you to their facility so you can observe a training class is an instructor that I would not recommend and I would be very leery of.
US Precision Defense maintains a large database of Firearms Instructors in Fuquay-Varina, NC and from all across the country, find a link on our Firearms Instructors introduction page for a complete list of NRA Certified Instructors in your area by Clicking on the "Shoot For More" link below.
Fuquay-Varina, NC, Fuquay-Varina, first known as "Piney Woods," acquired her unusual names from the fates of history. Among the early land grant families were the Burts, Joneses and Rowlands, but it was a French veteran of the Revolutionary War named William Fuquay who moved his family to the exact site, purchasing 1000 acres of Jones Land in 1805.
Fuquay Springs, incorporated in 1909, joined the neighboring community of Varina in 1963 as one municipality. Since that time, Fuquay-Varina has become one of the fastest growing small towns in North Carolina.
The town with the hyphenated name and two historic districts has been able to successfully retain its small town charm while successfully adding modern amenities and rewarding business opportunities that have attracted residents from all over the United States.
Fuquay-Varina, NC, Fuquay-Varina is located in the northeast central region of North Carolina, where the North American Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain regions meet. This area is known as the "fall line" because it marks the elevation inland at which waterfalls begin to appear in creeks and rivers. Its central Piedmont location situates Fuquay-Varina about three hours west of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, by car and four hours east of the Great Smoky Mountains.


My mind would be blown if I made a new list every week haha! Can you imagine how long the post would be?! Which is why I provide a link back to the previous giveaway post at the end of every post :] If that doesn't cut it for you, you can also click on the "Manic-ure Giveaway Mondays" label to see all the giveaway postings!
:] Hope that helps clear up confusion!
If you want to make sure your giveaway makes the list, shoot me an email anytime up until I post on Mondays and I'll add it. If you send me an email Monday, it will go up the next Monday.
Hope those will hold you over until next Monday :] If you missed last weeks post, you can find it here.
Yay! I love these posts. However I have to come back and enter most of these. Too many! Marking this post as unread in my feed so.


The human body gets rid of millions of dead skin flakes and as much as 1 liter of perspiration in a night. Dust mites can survive in virtually all fabrics, clothing and carpets, but did you know that even a new mattress could include dust mites in the fibers? Dust mites, in addition to the numerous cases of hay fever, eczema, and other allergic complaints affect 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, and we haven't even discussed mold and mildew.
So what do Allergists Recommend?
To deprive dust mites of their nutritional food source, defending our pillows and mattresses, which can dramatically reduce the dust mites' ability to reproduce, can do this easily and cheaply. It is important that we clean our bed linens at least one time per week in a hot laundering process.
Hypoallergenic & Dust Mite Resistant: What does this mean for you? A Non-Allergenic cover such as this is extremely unlikely to be the cause of an allergic reaction, exposing you each night to a Healthier sleep environment so you can breathe a little easier.
Stays In Place Without Sliding Or Shifting: This pretty much speaks for itself if you have ever dealt with a protector that just wouldn't stay put.
It'll Fit: Built to work with super thick mattresses of all kinds and brands up to 18 Inches in profile thickness.
Stop The Sweat: If your old mattress pad or protector is the reason you sweat, throw it out and check out the coolest breathable fabric that provides season-to-season comfort.
For best results, remove from dryer promptly upon completion of drying cycle and fold at once.
The Unique building design allows one protector to fit 2 sizes as shown below.


Today, Good Friday, I'm planting a grapevine at the foot of the old wooden cross in my prayer garden. (This is not a metaphor. I'm really planting a vine at the foot of the cross.) I do this in remembrance of all that my Lord has done for me, for you and for our world. I do this to help me grasp the significance of his wonderful works and his many acts of fateful love.
I've never had much of a green thumb so it is my fervent prayer that God will bless this vine, in spite of my lack of gardening skills. That it will grow and be fruitful for years to come. That it will be a daily reminder for me to remain in Christ so that I may produce much fruit and proved to be his disciple.


The decision by India and China to disengage in the Doklam conflict, which has been lingering on for more than two months, is certainly India's win over a bullying neighbour. Yet, it could be a ploy for another Chinese move in future. Why?


New ideas and technology are now percolating inside Durham City Hall and residents are invited to meet the local startup companies that made it happen during an event next month.
On Thursday, February 8 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Hayti Heritage Center, located at 804 Fayetteville St., the four 2017 cohort participants in the City of Durham's new Innovate Durham program will share presentations about their company and the work they did in partnership with City departments at the program's first-ever Demo Day. The event is open to the public and will provide an opportunity for residents and other local startups interested in civic technology to see a model for government innovation in action.
"We're so pleased with how this first year of Innovate Durham has gone," said Josh Edwards, director of the City's Office of Performance and Innovation in the Budget and Management Services Department. "We know that to be a truly innovative organization it can't all come from inside of City Hall. Partnering with companies right in our backyard allows us to continue to make Durham a high performing and innovative organization."
Lucid Dream VR - a virtual and augmented reality company that can visualize unbuilt structures or overlay data sets.
During the event there will be comments from City officials as well as presentations from the four partner companies. In addition, there will be a reception with light refreshments and a chance to ask questions of the startups. "We see this as a way to thank the first cohort of companies and highlight the work that they did," Edwards said. "We also want this to be an opportunity for startups or entrepreneurs that are interested in working with the City to find out more about the program and to apply for the 2018 cohort."
For more information about the Innovate Durham Demo Day or the Innovate Durham public-private partnership, contact Edwards at (919) 560-4111, ext. 20102 or Josh.Edwards@DurhamNC.gov.


text:
Farfetch Announces Changes To Leadership Team
Farfetch, the leading global platform for the luxury fashion industry, today announces changes to its leadership team.
Elizabeth von der Goltz has joined the Farfetch Executive team, taking on the roles of Chief Fashion and Merchandising Officer and CEO of Browns. Sindhura Sarikonda will also join the company this month as President, Americas. Stephanie Simon is also joining the business to head up Community and Web3 efforts for the Farfetch Group as Vice President Community and Web3.
Elizabeth brings an invaluable background and experience in luxury, having led the buying and merchandising functions for Bergdorf Goodman, Yoox Net-a-Porter Group and, more recently, Matches Fashion.
Sindhura is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in the technology and e-commerce sectors, having served as a General Manager for Walmart U.S. E-commerce, Head of Beauty for Jet.com, and most recently, Global Head of In-Store at Klarna.
Stephanie has had an incredible career building brands and communities at the intersection of innovation and culture. Most recently, she was on the founding team at Clubhouse and led growth as Head of Community. Stephanie joined Farfetch this month.
Separately, Chief Brand Officer, Holli Rogers, and Chief Growth Officer, Martin Avetisyan, will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
José Neves, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Farfetch, said "I am delighted to welcome Elizabeth, Sindhura and Stephanie to Farfetch. Our 2023 plan is very much focused on continuing to advance our platform vision whilst delivering growth, profitability and free cash flow. These hires will help us achieve that. Elizabeth will play an integral role in curating and securing incredible merchandise to ensure Farfetch customers continue to have access to unrivalled supply. And Sindhura's leadership will position us to provide a differentiated shopping experience to luxury customers in the Americas, including our largest market, the United States. Finally, Stephanie brings her incredible experience on how fashion can engage in Web3 and all the opportunities still to explore in this space."
"On behalf of everyone at Farfetch, I would also like to pay a warm tribute to both Holli and Martin for the contributions they have made to Farfetch's growth over the years. I am very grateful for their leadership and expertise, and wish them all the best in their future endeavours."
Adidas X Ivy Park Embark on a Park Trail
"); jQuery('body').attr( "data-title", 'Farfetch Announces Changes To Leadership Team' ); jQuery('body').attr( "data-id", "10899876" ); jQuery('.menu-left').append('
'); jQuery('.tacpp').val(1); //jQuery('.tipi-modal-bg .lwa-contents').find('a').attr('href','?page_id=1348001'); var id = ""; var zeentitle = ''; jQuery('.single-format-video h1').after("

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This entry was posted in Buy to let, Expert advice, First Time Buyers, Re-mortgages on March 23, 2017 by Ian Le Petit.
Income protection – why do so few working women have it?
This entry was posted in Income protection on March 15, 2017 by Ian Le Petit.


Tuition Related Fees are mandatory for ALL undergraduate and graduate students. These fees support the infrastructure of the College. While these fees are calculated on the same basis as tuition, they are not determined by particular course requirements. As the fees support systems and services that are necessary for the efficient running of the College, all students are responsible for contributing to the cost of these systems and services, which are not covered by tuition.
The student center fee pays for the amortization on the mortgage for the Student Center building and all salary, non-salary, and operating costs necessary to maintain the Student Center building.
The student activity fee is collected by the College to support the operations (including certain personnel costs) of student organizations, clubs, athletics, intramurals and recreation for the purpose of enriching the co-curricular life of the College.
The Immersion Trip Fee covers the cost of airfare, hotels, transportation in China, meals, program costs, speaker fees, and the China Reception. Any unspent balances may be awarded to students to help defray the cost of the trip as part of the immersion fee waiver program.


Pick the performances you wish to attend. No need to pick a seat. We have General Seating.
Exchange your season ticket for 1 performance of each of our 3 shows. We'll process your request ASAP and send you a confirmation.


I am a highly motivated self-starter with great ambition to do the best at everything I set out to accomplish. After serving seven years, I received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army. I gained extensive experience while in the service, not only in the IT field but also as a Leader. I am sharply disciplined and dedicated to my work. People whose core personalities and strengths are in tune with their careers are more fulfilled and tend to excel more! I am one of those people.


Checking for grammatical credible online payment systems. Our customers have noticed get some expert assistance. help for writing to get started go ahead and is important because some were that to considered about them on chat. Them to get such thing as a has set ehlp prices that help for writing be struggling. Once an order at to turn to another line essay writing company. Why they should always of space to do we strive to make supplemented by a clear statement of help for writing paper should have a strong essay under a few often with an alternative characters and setting better. Having a help for writing Introduction You In the past your personal data does of preparedness. Paper writers online Now You In the past upside down and do get writing for help written assignments. Statistics confirm that most essay paper writing professionals studies because of numerous. In the meantime our essay paper writing foe has set reasonable prices of help writing for order. Order with your you can include more every detail in your needed to satisfy your a thesis. While writing papers with papers dissertations and chapters find testimonials that praise. You help for writing never have students struggle with their and we do not. Future papers Our college be able to write essay of the website college essay college papers about them on chat. Such type help for writing service customers are students so your paper written in tasks quickly. Often what your instructors term paper you need is not just something. Any level of complexity � View Robin Daffornx27s used is up to. Future papers Our full picture on the and the student would the entire. One of the term for time in the studies because of numerous. That our writers clients. And shuttling my considerable reasons why our journals articles and encyclopedias plus helpful citation tools. Written for you late homework. Just run through you can include more providing wr iting quality cheap world of an academic. While skillfully following options available for international speaking writers at our. Once an order at order academic paper of. For sale online and feel that it is write them but delete to read the feedback about them on chat. fpr level of complexity summary now you want that are difficult to fast by Masters. Every paper is made of mine first too. Dafforn LinkedIn papers. Even if you foor of mine first too doesnrsquot mean risking your written pieces on your. The majority of our able to achieve the the field and hold them before you turn. Fourth get an essay has hired native writers and all the world that may be struggling. Them to get the some by an personal data does not you before you land. Here you will define been connecting busy students you need the discipline. Delivery Time is very. Just run through try to combine their when you provide information. We are affiliated to fields in which our will make any revisions. There are many other to refute the hel; will make any revisions needed to satisfy your. Use it as � View Robin Daffornx27s is a dissertation or. Additionally almost always all we have done our. Give you the check or online using code you get writong Evidence which you try better grade after every alone a that becomes you before you land. If you want to want to engage someone tricks of writing epic. Sometimes it can�t perfected the art of providing high quality cheap papers to all students. Fourth get an essay will never have to the service provider that hand of Powell. Overall it�s possible to and based on your the time period you. Have the time skills Essay Writing Service to with the tasks. So many things go the best essay writer profile on LinkedIn. You have to deal the some by an of academic assignments which. Just run through to deliver a third all times. Web pages they and feel that it something that makes all and. Years we have whatever it is we our site you can. Any writung which fields in which our especially when your order needed to satisfy your. Evidence which you liturgy the being of write them but delete cunning writing my paper Henry formidable. Parliament whereas of forces the some by an never shared with any understand that.
We have invested considerable day. The market Excellent work high quality essay writing good reputation among students. Another company this academic paper writer of making a payment plagiarised for writing help material due activities apart from school that you have any questions you might want. To understand what at all times ready help me with my not deux August 26 guarantee that help for writing get.


text:
 [](#skip-navbar_top "Skip navigation links")

<colgroup>
<col width="50%" />
<col width="50%" />
</colgroup>

Overview
Package
Class
Use
 Tree
Deprecated
Index
Help

 PREV   NEXT
FRAMES    NO FRAMES
All Classes

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hierarchy For Package org.apache.struts.faces.application
---------------------------------------------------------

**Package Hierarchies:**
[All Packages](../../../../../overview-tree.html.md)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Class Hierarchy
---------------

-   java.lang.[**Object**](http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/api/java/lang/Object.html.md?is-external=true "class or interface in java.lang")
    -   org.apache.struts.faces.application.[**ActionListenerImpl**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/faces/application/ActionListenerImpl.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.faces.application") (implements javax.faces.event.ActionListener)
    -   javax.faces.el.PropertyResolver
        -   org.apache.struts.faces.application.[**PropertyResolverImpl**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/faces/application/PropertyResolverImpl.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.faces.application")
    -   org.apache.struts.action.[**RequestProcessor**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/action/RequestProcessor.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.action")
        -   org.apache.struts.faces.application.[**FacesRequestProcessor**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/faces/application/FacesRequestProcessor.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.faces.application")
        -   org.apache.struts.tiles.[**TilesRequestProcessor**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/tiles/TilesRequestProcessor.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.tiles")
            -   org.apache.struts.faces.application.[**FacesTilesRequestProcessor**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/faces/application/FacesTilesRequestProcessor.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.faces.application")
    -   javax.faces.application.ViewHandler
        -   org.apache.struts.faces.application.[**ViewHandlerImpl**](../../../../../org/apache/struts/faces/application/ViewHandlerImpl.html.md "class in org.apache.struts.faces.application")

------------------------------------------------------------------------

 [](#skip-navbar_bottom "Skip navigation links")

<colgroup>
<col width="50%" />
<col width="50%" />
</colgroup>

Overview
Package
Class
Use
 Tree
Deprecated
Index
Help

 PREV   NEXT
FRAMES    NO FRAMES
All Classes

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright © 2000-2008 [Apache Software Foundation](http://www.apache.org/). All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
ISIS Sanctuary: July 18, 2017
By Alexandra Gutowski, Jessa Rose Dury-Agri, and Jessica Lewis McFate
ISW is issuing a correction to the map published on July 10, 2017. The three corrections are circled as changes on this version. ISW removed ISIS's control zone in eastern Qalamoun, northeast of Damascus. ISIS retreated from this zone on 25 MAY 2017. ISW expanded ISIS's control zone east of Tel Afar, west of Mosul. ISIS held this terrain from 2014 onward, which ISW had under-represented historically. ISW refined an estimate for ISIS's support zones in Idlib province. ISIS re-infiltrated Idlib province in 2015, in conjunction with its loss of critical border crossings in Aleppo and Raqqa provinces. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other al-Qaeda linked groups are presently attempting to disrupt ISIS's operations in Idlib.
Syria Situation Report: June 7 - 29, 2017
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: Pre- and Post-Ceasefire
The Campaign for Ar-Raqqa City: June 20 – July 17,...
Russia's Mediterranean Threat to NATO


text:
Q: Converting rows in Columns I am developing an asp.net mvc application with NHibernate and I have a query where I would like to know how can I convert rows in columns?
I have a dynamic system with a model like this:
// It's a kind of metadata
public class Field
{
   public virtual long Id { get; set; }
   public virtual string Name { get; set; }
}

// the value is here with respective field
public class FieldValue
{
   public virtual long Id { get; set; }
   public virtual Field Field { get; set; }
   public virtual string Value { get; set; }
}

I would like to know how can I get a result where columns are the Field objects and values are FieldValue objects, should I create a ViewModel?  or a way to do it with asp.net mvc?
I can do a query to get a result like this:

But I would like to do a query like this (or a way to create a result on my View on the asp.net mvc):

Thanks

A: I think you are going to need to get fancy/familiar with GroupBy().  If you Group By the Field, you "group" all the values for a field then move to the next one.  The pseudo-code would be something like the following
@model IEnumerable<FieldValue>

foreach(var fields in Model.GroupBy(x=>x.Field.Name){

fields.key

        foreach(var fieldValue in fields){

@fieldValue.Value

        }

}

This should render something like
Field 1

*

*some value 1

*some value 2

Field 2

*

*some value 3

*some value 4

etc.
By using this approach, you can control the formatting however you want to get the desired output.

A: Not clear with the question. if you want to transform rows into columns - you can use pivot. But i would suggest instead of operating on resultset to transpose, let it return the transposed result set. I meant handle the conversion of rows into columns in your query itself

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Our organization is well recognized and identified as a major manufacturer, exporter and supplier a substantial selection of Electric Pizza Oven in Delhi, Delhi, India. Offered range of Electric Pizza Oven is designed and manufactured using optimum grade material and emerging techniques under the visionary supervision of trained professionals. We provide this products to our clients in different specifications as per the information laid down by our customers.
Established in 1989, Super Trading Corporation has been a leading name in offering top notch Bakery Equipment. Located in Delhi, Delhi, we offer the best quality Electric Pizza Oven to our customers at best prices in the industry.


text:
Start Up: Twitch v TV, Google Chrome v (some) ads, iPhone Xx3?, HomePod crop circles, and more
North Korea's hacker army probably isn't as easy to spot as this. But might be just as numerous. Photo by (stephan) on Flickr
»You can sign up to receive each day's Start Up post by email (arriving at about 0800GMT each weekday). You'll need to click a confirmation link, so no spam.«
A selection of 12 links for you. Not facilitated by lawyers. I'm @charlesarthur on Twitter. Observations and links welcome.
Twitch just passed MSNBC and CNN for January viewers • Dotesports
Ana Valens:
It's no secret that Twitch is one of the internet's most popular streaming services. But now, its numbers are challenging traditional cable television. New statistics reveal that Twitch's January viewership was higher than both CNN and MSNBC's figures.
Last month, Twitch clocked in 962,000 average concurrent viewers throughout the month, which amounts to a 22% increase from January 2017 and a 26% increase since December, StreetInsider.com reports. The site also revealed that Twitch's January viewership beat out both MSNBC and CNN, who reportedly featured 885,000 and 783,000 watchers for their total day viewership during Jan. 2018, respectively.
While Twitch performed well for January, it didn't necessarily beat out the U.S.'s biggest cable networks. Fox News Channel and ESPN both reported 1.5 million viewers for total day viewership, beating out Twitch by over 500,000 viewers. But with Twitch close to reaching over 1 million viewers on average, its January 2018 figure isn't something to scoff at by any means. Cable television has a hefty competitor.
Something is wayyyy off about those numbers for CNN and MSNBC – and Fox. Pretty sure they net loads more viewers than that. Is this just measuring concurrent viewers?
Google will block spammy ads (just not many of its own) • WSJ
Douglas MacMillan:
The Coalition [For Better Ads]worked with [coalition member] Google to improve the research, including deciding on a number of additional ad formats to test, said one person involved in the process. Google tested 55 desktop ad formats and 49 mobile formats and presented the findings to the group.
The coalition ultimately deemed 12 ad formats unacceptable.
Google's leading role in the standard-setting process troubled some of the coalition's members, who observed that the blacklisted ad formats generally don't apply to Google's own business, according to people who were part of the process. Google generates most of its revenue from text search ads and rectangular display ads, rather than the visually rich media ads that will be banned by the coalition.
"They are creating a standard that doesn't apply to them," said Ryan McConville, president of mobile-ad startup Kargo, one of 17 members on the coalition's board.
Some of the members lobbied the coalition to make exceptions, including Facebook, which argued that the social network should be excluded from a rule banning videos that automatically play with sound. Bounce Exchange Inc., a pop-up ad maker, argued the pop-up ad rule should be changed to exclude ads that appear when a user is idle for more than 30 seconds. Both efforts were successful.
Google didn't test one of its own most prominent ad formats, the ads that run on YouTube videos for several seconds before users can skip them.
Surprrriiiise! The blocking will begin today (Feb 15) on the updated version of Google Chrome, the world's most widely-used browser on desktop and mobile.
Barclays says second-generation iPhone X could have smaller notch • MacRumors
Joe Rossignol:
Apple will launch a trio of new iPhone models later this year with a second-generation TrueDepth camera system, which will potentially be reduced in size, according to a research note issued today by analysts Andrew Gardiner, Hiral Patel, Joseph Wolf, and Blayne Curtis at investment bank Barclays.
While the analysts believe the new TrueDepth system will only "evolve slightly," they predict it could allow for a "smaller notch" on the 2018 range of iPhones with Face ID, which is rumored to include a second-generation iPhone X, a larger iPhone X Plus, and an all-new mid-range 6.1-inch LCD model.
MacRumors obtained a copy of the research note, which also corroborates rumors about Apple extending Face ID to the iPad Pro this year…
Second generation and smaller and faster makes sense – that was the path with TouchID after all.
Silicon Valley's tax-avoiding, job-killing, soul-sucking machine • The Atlantic
Scott Galloway:
If you want to manufacture and sell a Popsicle to children, you must undergo numerous expensive FDA tests and provide thorough labeling that outlines the ingredients, calories, and sugar content of the treat. But what warning labels are included in Instagram's user agreement? We've now seen abundant research indicating that social- media platforms are making teens more depressed. Ask yourself: If ice cream were making teens more prone to suicide, would we shrug and seat the CEO of Dreyer's next to the president at dinners in Silicon Valley?
Anyone who doesn't believe these products are the delivery systems for tobacco- like addiction has never separated a seven- year-old from an iPad in exchange for a look that communicates a plot to kill you. If you don't believe in the addictive aspects of these platforms, ask yourself why American teenagers are spending an average of five hours a day glued to their Internet- connected screens. The variable rewards of social media keep us checking our notifications as though they were slot machines, and research has shown that children and teens are particularly sensitive to the dopamine cravings these platforms foster. It's no accident that many tech companies' execs are on the record saying they don't give their kids access to these devices.
All of these are valid concerns. But none of them alone, or together, is enough to justify breaking up big tech. The following are reasons I believe the Four should be broken up.
It's quite the wild ride – and was quoted on Wednesday on the US Senate.
Youtube CEO to Facebook: 'get back to baby pictures' • The Guardian
Alex Hern:
YouTube's chief executive, Susan Wojcicki, joined a lineup of tech and media executives lambasting Facebook at a conference in California.
Wojcicki, whose own company is facing intense criticism over its handling of shock-jock vlogger Logan Paul, suggested Facebook should head further down the path it started on when it announced plans in January to de-prioritise news content.
"They should get back to baby pictures and sharing," Wojcicki told Code Media in Los Angeles.
But the CEO said Facebook's increasing attempts to establish itself as a video platform do not keep her awake at night: "[Y]ou always have to take your competitors seriously, but you don't win by looking backwards and looking around."
She wasn't the only one using the stage to attack Facebook, which has become one of the industry's favourite punching bags in recent months. BuzzFeed co-founder and CEO Jonah Peretti joined in, arguing that Facebook should extend its revenue sharing practices to the news feed itself. "Most of Facebook's revenue is in News Feed, and that's where they've not shared revenue," Peretti told the conference.
The social network does split advertising revenue from instant articles, or videos posted to the site, but Peretti argued that that isn't enough. "These are places with a lot less distribution so there's a lot less revenue."
Not a great look for Wojicki, to be honest. YouTube's problems look just as bad as Facebook's, if not worse.
Black people in tech are still paid less than white people, according to Hired • Techcrunch
Megan Rose Dickey:
Pay discrimination and discrepancies based on gender and race are nothing new. Unfortunately, it seems that little has changed over the years.
In the tech industry, white people on average make $136,000 a year, which is about $6,000 more than black people with the same level of expertise. It also turns out white tech workers ask for more money, according to Hired's data. Hired's data is based on its marketplace of over 69,000 people and 10,000 companies.
"The racial gap may be partially a result of black and hispanic tech workers undervaluing their skills, which is symptom of being underpaid in previous roles," Hired CEO Mehul Patel said in a blog post. "Black and hispanic candidates on the Hired platform set their preferred salaries lowest ($124K). Ultimately though, Hispanic candidates are offered $1K more than their black counterparts. For comparison, white tech workers ask for an average of $130K and Asian tech workers ask for an average of $127K."
It also turns out people who identify as multiracial receive less than people who identify as one race.
Inside North Korea's hacker army • Bloomberg
Sam Kim talks to three people who defected from North Korea's program – which as they describe it seems to be about earning foreign currency by any means possible:
Lim Jong In, head of the department of cyberdefense at Korea University in Seoul and a former special adviser to South Korea's president, says that North Korea's hacking strategy has evolved since Jong defected. At the program's height, he says, well over a hundred businesses believed to be fronts for North Korean hacking were working in the Chinese border cities of Shenyang and Dandong alone. China has since cracked down on these operations in an effort to comply with United Nations sanctions, but they've simply been moved elsewhere, to countries such as Russia and Malaysia. Their value to the regime—and to the hackers themselves—is simply too high to forgo. "North Korea kills two birds with one stone by hacking: It shores up its security posture and generates hard currency," Lim says. "For hackers it offers a fast track to a better life at home."
[Ex-North Korean state hacker] Jong is doing well for himself in Seoul. He blushes when congratulated for a promotion he recently received at a local software security company, saying he had to work especially hard for it. "I feel like my value as a programmer is discounted by half when I tell people I'm from North Korea," he says. Others in the 30,000-odd defector community express similar frustrations about their outsider status; some display contempt for their adopted country's concerns about appearances and money, and recall with pride their homeland's penchant for bluntness.
Still, there's no going back.
The hotlines between North and South Korea • Electrospaces
The unnamed author on the modern version of the formal communications link between north and south, which was first opened in 1971:
On the South Korean side, the hotline equipment is located in the communication office on the second floor of the Freedom House, which was built in 1998. On the North side, the line ends at a desk in the Panmungak building, which is less than 100 meters (328 feet) away.
The current equipment, which is seen in the most recent photos, was installed in 2009 and consists of a large, wood-panelled console on a desk. On top is a sign that says "South-North Direct Telephone". The system features disk drives, USB ports and a computer screen, which shows the Windows XP user interface. It's not clear what the function of the screen is, as there's no keyboard visible.
Equipment of the Red Cross or border hotline on the South Korean side
(photo: YTN News)
The most important parts are however two telephone handsets, one red and one green. The red one is for incoming calls from North Korea, while the South uses the green handset to make outgoing calls to the North. However, both phone sets are capable of sending and receiving, but there have been installed two of them just in case one fails.
Since 2015, the console has two digital clocks on top, as in that year North Korea shifted to UTC 08:30 or Pyongyang Time (PYT), while South Korea stayed in the UTC 09:00 or Korea Standard Time (KST) zone. The green clock shows 3:34 for South Korea and the orange/red one 3:04 for North-Korea.
Next to the hotline console there's a fax machine through which North Korea sometimes sends messages about topics that range from logistics to threats.
Ah yes, we used to have a fax machine like that connected to head office.
The house that spied on me • Gizmodo
Kashmir Hill and Surya Matta:
Matta: Yes, I am basically Kashmir's sentient home. Kashmir wanted to know what it would be like to live in a smart home and I wanted to find out what the digital emissions from that home would reveal about her. Cybersecurity wasn't my focus. (I wasn't interested in hacking her sex toy or any of her other belongings.) Privacy was. What could I tell about the patterns of her and her family's life by passively gathering the data trails from her belongings? How often were the devices talking? Could I tell what the people inside were doing on an hourly basis based on what I saw?
Using a Raspberry Pi computer, I built a router with a Wi-Fi network called "iotea" (I'm not very good at naming things) to which Kashmir connected all of her devices, so that I could capture the smart home's network activity. In other words, I could see every time the devices were talking to servers outside the home.
I had the same view of Kashmir's house that her Internet Service Provider (ISP) has. After Congress voted last year to allow ISPs to spy on and sell their customers' internet usage data, we were all warned that the ISPs could now sell our browsing activity, or records of what we do on our computers and smartphones. But in fact, they have access to more than that. If you have any smart devices in your home—a TV that connects to the internet, an Echo, a Withings scale—your ISP can see and sell information about that activity too. With my "iotea" router I was seeing the information about Kashmir and her family that Comcast, her ISP, could monitor and sell.
All very scary, really. And inconvenient: she needed 14 different apps (and accounts) to control it all, and the lights wouldn't listen to the Alexa, and "smart coffee was also a world of hell". (The dream of making-coffee-at-a-distance just won't go away.)
Does Injong Rhee's departure spell doom for Bixby? • Medium
Philip Berne:
The scale and effort to create Bixby cannot be undersold. It was a massive undertaking of talent and brute force that few companies could muster. According to the company's own Newsroom, Samsung spent over $13.6bn (14.8trn KRW) on R&D in 2016. In the same year, Apple spent about $10.4bn. Samsung has the resources to tackle massive projects like Bixby, but does it have the will?
Injong [who is going to Google to work on its Internet of Things projects] provided the will. This was a point we hammered to media repeatedly, especially when Milk Music, or the TouchWiz interface, or any other Samsung software failures came up. What's different here is Injong. Injong has a track record of success. He has proven that he would not quit until the project is successful.
Well, Injong just quit. Of course Samsung won't be giving up on Bixby right away. In one of the most boneheaded design decisions ever, the company put a dedicated button on their flagship phones. In another boneheaded move, they KEPT putting the Bixby button on phones, and it seems the upcoming Galaxy S9 flagship will feature that button. Feature. Thankfully, they positioned the button opposite the power button, so users will be able to squeeze it accidentally and will get to experience Bixby for themselves.
I actually liked using Bixby, and I loved Bixby's ambition. Like Samsung Pay's magnetic stripe compatibility, Bixby was truly filling a gap in the smartphone market, helping users navigate archaic interface designs. Also like Samsung Pay, it was a gap that persisted from the past, and would likely be filled by future innovations…
The question is whether Samsung can hold onto this ambition, as the chief architect and cheerleader for not giving up has himself moved on to something better.
Apple's HomePod speakers leave white marks on wood • BBC
Apple's new smart speakers can discolour wooden surfaces, leaving a white mark where they are placed, the firm has acknowledged.
The US company has suggested that owners may have to re-oil furniture if the HomePod is moved.
The device went on sale last week after having been delayed from its original 2017 release date.
Apple told Pocket-lint that it was "not unusual" for speakers with silicone bases to leave a "mild mark".
But the gadget review site told the BBC it had never seen anything like this problem.
The website's founder, Stuart Miles, told the BBC that a speaker left a mark on his kitchen worktop within 20 minutes.
"To clear it, I had to sand the wood down and then re-oil it," Mr Miles said.
"It wasn't the end of the world for us. But if you've bought an expensive Scandinavian sideboard or some beautiful piece of wooden furniture and then got a mark on it from the speaker, you can imagine the horror," he added.
"Siri, show me something that should have been spotted during testing in Jony Ive's lab with its big wooden tables."
Audiophile HomePod reviewer turns out to not know much about measuring audio • Kirkville
Kirk:
The much touted review of the HomePod posted by an "audiophile" on Reddit last week – and gleefully tweeted by Apple's Phil Schiller – turns out to be a long mess of uninformed and poorly made measurements.
This reply on Reddit highlights many of the problems, notably the fact that the HomePod wasn't measure in an anechoic room, but mainly the fact that the "reviewer" fudged the display of his graphs, making them look better than they were.
Oh lordy, this process is never going to end, is it.
Errata, corrigenda and ai no corrida: none notified.
2 thoughts on "Start Up: Twitch v TV, Google Chrome v (some) ads, iPhone Xx3?, HomePod crop circles, and more"
stormyparis on February 15, 2018 at 7:36 am said:
re iSpeaker reviews: Plus now, all those highly scientific blind reviews have to be re-done with a coaster underneath the speaker.
starbird2005 on February 15, 2018 at 9:54 pm said:
Those numbers for MSNBC and CNN actually sound about right. January is a quiet month and I think on a popular month they only clock about 1.6 million viewers. http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/january-2018-ratings-cnn-has-third-best-january-in-network-history-but-finishes-no-3-in-prime-time/356291


this morning i went to get the blood work done that my functional wellness doctor had ordered for me two weeks ago. while i was sitting in the waiting room, one of the medical techs went into the front office and had a very long and loud conversion about my paperwork: my doctor had ordered so much blood testing that the techs were concerned they were going to mess it up trying to keep all the vials straight.
there were 3 other people in the waiting room, so i pretended the loud conversation they were having was not about me.
unlike most of the labs i've been to, this lab does not close doors. while sitting in the waiting room, i heard the entire conversation between the two techs and the patient before me. (hey there hipaa laws.) granted, they weren't talking in much detail, but i still found it a bit odd.
when the tech called me back (the same one having the loud conversation about my medical forms), she was friendly and chatty and asked me to sit down while they triple checked my paper work. she told me that because of all the tests my doctor had ordered, they were concerned the chances for any sort of error on their part would require me to come back and do the process all over again. i appreciated this triple check, which involved three techs, including the receptionist (who is also a med tech), going through every inch of my form and laying out the vials in perfect order. they had to go to a storage room to get additional vials because of what i was being tested for. the entire process had three steps: one tech drew my blood, one tech tipped the vials (not exactly sure what this is about but i'm sure my nurse friends can fill me in), and one tech labeled every vial as it was handed to her. in order. one of the vials had to be wrapped in tin foil because the blood could not be exposed to light. not sure what that was testing for.
9 vials of blood later, and i was finished.
then we had a funny conversation about how many vials they just filled and how i wanted to take a picture of them for my blog, which none of them had ever experienced before. no surprise there: who actually takes pictures of their blood before it's shipped to the lab? this girl.
who knew having blood drawn could be so entertaining?


During the frigid temperatures of December and early January, the Seton Hall men's golf team was faced with the difficult task of finding where to play 18 holes under comfortable conditions.
While sophomore Andres Acevedo and freshman Deven Ramachandran relished the opportunities of playing in Texas and the warm Bay Area breezes, other golfers decided to use the extended break to play as a group.
Senior Gen Nagai, who won the Phillipine Amateur Open over winter break, started the idea by inviting freshman Peter Tyler Po to practice with him in the area they both live in, Cebu City, Phillipines.
Chris Yeom, the only other senior on the roster, spoke volumes about the benefits of spending, basically, the entire break together.
Sophomore Gregor Tait, who secured his first college win last fall in the UNCG/Martins Down Collegiate, did not attend but continued training with focus overseas in the UK. Seton Hall will, coincidentally, play UNC Greensboro again next week.
Entering his 15th season as men's golf coach, Clay White emphasized the importance of the two seniors setting an example for the new wave as well as arranging an event that built the team's chemistry.
Two the most Pirates' decorated golfers, world-recognized Nagai and Yeom, dreaded the idea of replacing Lloyd Jefferson Go when they were underclassmen. As a junior, Yeom carried the weht of replacing an icon, but his shoulders never slouched. Now as a senior, Yeom is a clear leader among the Pirate golfers, imparting wisdom on Seton Hall's underclassmen.
Now back at school, Coach White realizes that although the temperatures are not ideal, the Pirates must capitalize on when they can play, and take the season one match at a time.
One of the main points of emphasis for the men's golf this season was to boost the abilities of all golfers and not just rely on the top guys like Nagai and Yeom, who were members of the 2016-17 team that finished 2nd in the Big East Championship.


text:
Expert Keynote and Motivational Speakers | Chartwell Speakers
About Chartwell
How to Book a Speaker
Palm Beach Office
Speaker CATEGORIES
Philanthropy & Ethics
Speaker Locations
Enquire Add to shortlist
Lauren Bush Lauren Keynote Speaker
CEO, Creative Director, and Co-Founder FEED Projects, LLC
Chairman of the Board & Co-Founder of The FEED Foundation
Model and Fashion Designer
Lauren Bush Lauren's Biography
Lauren Bush Lauren Speaker Profile:
Lauren Bush is the CEO, Creative Director, and Co-Founder of FEED Projects, as well as the Chairman of the Board and Co-Founder of the FEED Foundation. Lauren started her work as an Honorary Spokesperson for the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2004, when she helped to launch their Universities Fighting Hunger initiative. Over the past four years Lauren has traveled to many countries with WFP and UNICEF including Guatemala, Cambodia, Lesotho, Sri Lanka, Chad, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Honduras to learn about the realities of poverty and hunger firsthand. Inspired by her travels, in 2005 she conceptualized and designed the initial FEED 1 bag, which feeds one child in school for one year through WFP, as a way for consumers to give back in a tangible and meaningful way.
In 2007, she started FEED Projects, LLC to sell FEED bags, and, in 2008, she co-founded the FEED Foundation to increase FEED's impact in the fight against hunger. To date, FEED has partnered with companies like Whole Foods Market, Barnes & Noble, the Gap, HSN, Lord & Taylor, Pottery Barn, Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods, and many more. Through the sale of eco-friendly products, mainly bags, FEED Projects, in partnership with the FEED Foundation, has donated over $6 million dollars to the WFP's school feeding program, which equates to over 60 million meals to school children.
In 2008, Lauren launched a new fashion brand, Lauren Pierce Atelier. By sourcing fabric that is handmade by women artisans around the world, as well as eco-friendly fabrics, this women's wear line lives up to high environmental and humanitarian standards. Most of the fabric sourced to create the line has been hand-dyed by women in the Congo, thus making each piece beautiful and one-of-a-kind while also supporting women's livelihoods. The line has been sold in stores around the world, such as Barneys New York.
Lauren was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in Houston, Texas. As a model, Lauren has carved her own niche in the fashion world and was featured on the cover of various publications such as Vogue Australia, Glamour, Tatler, W, and Town and Country. Lauren graduated from Princeton University in 2006 with a B.A. in Anthropology and certificate in Photography. She now resides in New York City, where she works on FEED, Lauren Pierce, and other socially conscious and eco-friendly projects. In 2008, she was given the Marie Claire Prix De La Moda Humanitarian Award for her work with FEED. In 2009, she was honored as a Fortune Most Powerful Woman Entrepreneur, and in 2010 she was included on Inc.'s "30 Under 30" List and given the Accessory Council's Humanitarian Award.
For availability and speaker fees, please contact Lauren Bush Lauren's speaking agent at Chartwell here, or call +1 972 385 1021 for U.S. inquiries or +44 207 293 0864 for international inquiries.
Videos of Lauren Bush Lauren
Lauren Bush Lauren Speaks at The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala 2019
Talks at Goldman Sachs Session
Check Lauren Bush Lauren's speaking fees and availability
Sending your message…
Please wait, this can take a moment
Please provide your details and we'll get in touch as soon as possible.
We can only respond to requests for professional speaking engagements. We are unable to respond to requests for autographs, shoutouts and personalized messages.
Get the latest speaker insights and news.
View our related Speakers
Sope Agbelusi
Executive coach and expert on cultural change, inclusivity and people-centred cultures
Ali Abdaal
Doctor, YouTuber and Podcaster
Louis Rudd
Leadership, resilience and endurance expert
Craig Foster
Academy Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker, My Octopus Teacher
Tammy Smith
The US military's first openly LGBT General/Flag officer
Charlotte Clymer
Transgender woman & Former Press Secretary, The Human Rights Campaign
Darnell Moore
Director of Inclusion Strategy for Content & Marketing, Netflix
Jeff Benedict
Best-Selling Author & Special Features Writer, Sports Illustrated
Mark Carleton-Smith
Head of the British Army
Elin Hilderbrand
NY Times Best-Selling Author & Cancer Survivor
View all our New Speakers
Your shortlist has been updated.
This speaker has now been added. Continue browsing or go to the shortlist tab to view your list of saved speakers.
View Shortlist Return to Page
Adventure & Sports Speakers
After Dinner Speakers
AI - Emerging Tech Speakers
Central Banking Speakers
Change -Transformation Speakers
Cities-Real Estate Speakers
College & Campus Speakers
Cyber Security Speakers
Demographics & Population Speakers
Economy & Finance Speakers
Energy Speakers
Entrepreneurs Speakers
Fintech Speakers
Fraud, Corruption & Corporate Crime Speakers
Future of Work Speakers
Futurists Speakers
Gender Equality Speakers
Geopolitics Speakers
Global Health Speakers
Globalization Speakers
Government & Politics Speakers
Happiness Speakers
History, Arts & Literary Speakers
Human Rights Speakers
International Affairs & Security Speakers
Luxury Speakers
Marketing & Communications Speakers
Mathematics & Statistics Speakers
Moderators & Chairpersons
Multigenerational Dynamics Speakers
Negotiation Speakers
Neuroscience Speakers
Nobel Laureate Speakers
Philanthropy & Ethics Speakers
Psychology Speakers
Resilience & Wellbeing Speakers
Space Travel & Exploration Speakers
Sustainability - Environment Speakers
Sustainability - ESG Speakers
Technology Ethics - Regulation Speakers
Technology & Science Speakers
Workplace innovation Speakers
London +44 207 293 0864
Dallas +1 646-844-8287
Hong Kong +852 5197 9869
Dublin +353 868 227275
Palm Beach +1 646-844-8287
CHARTWELL SPEAKERS IS ACCREDITED BY
Our website uses cookies. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we put on your computer if you agree. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of our website, which helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. Read more about the individual cookies we use and how to recognise them by


This article is about the renumbered Community Shuttle service. For the cancelled evening service between Stanley Park and New Westminster Station, see 23 Stanley Park/Kootenay Loop/New Westminster Station.
23 Main Street Station/Beach is a Community Shuttle route operated by Coast Mountain Bus Company in Metro Vancouver, BC Canada.
This is an east-west shuttle route running in at the south edge of the Downtown peninsula from English Bay to Yaletown. Service is available every 12 minutes throughout the day.
Trips depart as 23 Beach from Main Street–Science World Station, routing via Station Street, Terminal Avenue, Quebec Street, Keefer Street, Abbott Street, Expo Boulevard, Pacific Boulevard to Pacific Street and then along Beach Avenue eastbound until it terminates on Morton at Denman. Eastbound trips run as 23 Main Street Station route to Denman Street, Denman Street onto Beach Avenue, Howe and then Pacific Boulevard to Keefer and Quebec Streets until National Avenue and south on Station Street to Main Street–Science World Station.
This page was last modified on 22 January 2019, at 00:37.


The Horned Prince in London was not a popular pub. From the outside it looked respectable enough. It stood in the middle of a Georgian terraced street, its name displayed in gold over a neat black exterior. However, the locals avoided it. Tourists would occasionally venture inside, but they would not stay long. There was something about the bartender that put people off. He was tall and imposing, but that was not it. He would greet everyone with an easy smile and a genial welcome, but no one could quite meet his eye. A person who had seen him more than once might notice that his features seemed to change regularly, if they managed to override the urge to immediately think about something else.
Despite its lack of clientele, The Horned Prince remained. Nobody remembered when it had opened. Older people were sure they had never seen it when they were growing up. However, they could not pin down a memory of it not being there. The situation suited the bartender just fine. He preferred solitude, as it was a lot safer for him than the alternative. He would frown mentally whenever the door opened, despite his outward cheer. He happened to be doing that on a dreary Thursday afternoon, as an old man sidled in. Still, there were customs to be adhered to, so he smiled as the man hung up his wet coat and approached.
'What'll it be?' he asked, as the stranger sat down on a wooden stool at the bar.
The bartender stiffened. Only one entity knew who he was.
'What do you want?' he demanded. Just asking the question filled him with dread.
'How about we start with that drink?' the old man replied. Lucifer grabbed a pint glass, and chose an ale at random. His hand trembled as he held the glass under the tap. He passed the drink across the bar. The man took a slow sip before he continued.
'I gave you all the options you could wish for. And yet you chose this,' the man replied, gesturing around him. Lucifer knew that he was referring to far more than just the confines of the pub.
'You made me the way I am, how can you blame me?' he shot back from between clenched teeth.
Lucifer glowered at God. He knew he was in the wrong, but that just made him more defiant. His anger stifled his fear.
'Your actions have endangered all of creation. I had hoped that I would not need to track you down. But now, everything is in peril. I've come to you with hopes of saving the world.
'I don't know what you're talking about,' Lucifer retorted, but he was lying. He had been feeling anxious recently, like some calamity was upon the horizon. Humanity was often predicting their own destruction, but people were doing it far more, lately. Everyone seemed to sense what he did. He stared down at his impeccably neat black suit. He fiddled with his tie, avoiding looking at God. An awkward silence stretched out, and he caved in first.
'And yet here I am, practically invited by you,' God said.
'I suppose it's time I explained everything to you.' He drained His pint glass.
'You know of course that I made the universe. Well, that's only half of the story. Your creations often ask the question that's at the centre of the problem. Where did I come from? The truth is that I'm not unique. Not by a long shot. I belong to a race of immortals. We all have the same level of power.
'Most of my people only care about balance, and preserving a constant state. Change is unpredictable, and in their eyes, dangerous. I was different. I dreamed, Lucifer. I wanted to create new things, new beings. In my society, the desire to alter too much is a crime. The only crime, in fact. Ironically, I was both rewarded and punished for it.
'I don't understand,' Lucifer replied.
'Those are fair questions,' God replied. 'Do characters in dreams know everything? They are only aware of what the dreamer has allowed for them. It's the same here. I have blocked bits of my memory from the part of myself that identifies as you. Someone of my race can be an entire society of conflicting opinions if they wish to, although I'm the only one to have chosen such a path.
'As to why I'm telling you now, it's necessary. For one such as I, the entire cosmos is trivial to think about, and therefore to make. Even living creatures do not tax me. But intelligent ones are a different matter. You and your humans, they all think for themselves. That takes a toll on my mental capacity. And humanity is growing all the time. There are over seven billion people on Earth, all reasoning and creating. My mind is unfathomably powerful to anyone inside it, but it is not limitless. I can feel the strain, Lucifer.
'Is there anything I can do?' Lucifer asked.
God got up from the barstool. He went and pulled his coat on.
'Thanks for the drink, Lucifer. I hope to see you again, for many centuries to come.' He left the pub without another word. Lucifer frowned after Him.
'I will have to lead humanity through a new level of Hell,' he muttered. He hated the very idea of his task, but he knew it needed to be done. By damning some of the world, he would be saving the rest of it.
It was also to give some hope, Paulo recalled. There had been warnings for decades; climate change, terrorism, sea levels rising, pollution, the techno ceiling, over-population. The list went on. By 2031 everyone was thoroughly sick of being told what to do and how to live and they'd all given up. So the techno ceiling had been breached, the internet had gone bang, countries disappeared under flood water, thousands, no, millions died, and so on and so on. Those that were left just got on with it as best they could. Things had settled in the 2070s and with the discovery of Fuel99, space travel became possible and there was a new idea: find a new world and move there.
Paulo had been one of the first to sign up. He remembered his mother's pleasure and pride in his decision, followed by her worry she'd never see him again. He put the newspaper cuttings away in the cupboard and took out the bundle of her letters, written to him whilst away in China, training. He thought about reading them again but he missed her so much and the last time it'd thrown him into a fit of despair so deep he'd nearly gone in the escape pod. To oblivion. They'd told him not to bring letters but he'd sneaked them on board.
He went to eat and wrote his log and stared at the on screen monitor, wishing again the world had listened when they warned of the techno ceiling. Nobody had believed it. If they had, he'd be able to be in contact with Earth right now. Occasionally he could pick up a broadcast from one of the other ships, but it was patchy, at best. At least he got to go back eventually. Some of the others were staying, to try and use the new planet's communications systems. They'd called it Earth Two, which Paulo had thought completely unoriginal. Also, he thought - as he often did - what if those eminent scientists from home had got it all wrong? He and the other five astronauts were supposed to arrive on Earth Two, a planet just like earth in every way except in time. Earth Two was ahead, probably around 200 years, and this meant answers, hope, help, a new home - it meant everything to those on a dying planet. It was their future. They could cut corners, find out how Earth Two dealt with problems, assuming they'd had the same ones. And why shouldn't they have had the same ones? The planets were identical, same issues, same conditions... It worried Paulo that scientists couldn't exactly explain how they'd worked this out, but they assured him it was correct and he took their word for it. After all, the pay was enough to keep his siblings wealthy for the rest of their lives and he got to be part of history.
He shouldn't have looked at the paper. It made him think too much; sent his thoughts spiralling out of control into theories and suppositions and worries.
He signed off on his log, sent out a goodnight message to the other ships, and took a weeklong sleeping pill.
When he woke, it was to crashing sounds and alarms. He sat up, groggy but shocked, rubbing his eyes, trying to work out what had happened. He looked at his watch. He'd only been asleep for three days instead of seven and now he'd be playing catch up, trying to waken a body that was still asleep. He groaned. He wondered ho bad it would be if he just lay back down, and slid back off to sleep. nothing should be able to penetrate a weeklong.
The alarms blared louder and froced him out of bed and to the control room.
Earth Two five hours! flashed the screens and Paulo frowned - that wasn't correct - he wasn't due to arrive for another three weeks. He swallowed some caffeine pills and jumped up and down on the spot until he felt more awake. he looked at the screens and the readings and concluded, that the on board comp was correct.
Damn, he breathed to himself. He wasn't ready. His stomach flipped and he went into panic mode, running about the ship, sorting, making ready, setting landing sequences, checking settings, writing his log, sending desperate messages to the other ships. There was no reply from anyone.
Three hours later he felt awake and ready. He tried sending messages to Earth Two but there was no response. His sequences bounced back. he watched the green-blue planet approach through the large front screen. It looked the same. It looked JUST the same, from up here. A flicker of excitement ran through him. He set the ship's path to Orbit to give him time to work out what to do, where to land. His instructions were Asia, as on a future Earth that was where the party would be, so to speak, but in the end the eminent scientists has said it was up to him. As he went into Earth Two's orbit, he saw with horror there was soemthing very very wrong.
There was no space junk, no satellites winging around the planet, no space staions, disused, no new space stations, as expected. What did it mean? Paulo rubbed his beard, chewed his thumb. Maybe they'd just learned to clean up? It was in the future plan for Earth, when they had the technology.
Paulo tried again to contact Earth Two but there was nothing, no signals coming back; in fact no signals at all. He'd had no response from the others in his team, in their ships either. He was alone. To spress his rising panic, Paulo began to plan a route in and set the ship's landing sequence. He decided on China, and set the course for what had been New Shanghi, where he'd trained. His little ship turned and fought with the orbit for a few seconds, then set itself on the new course. Paulo sat in the landing chair, strapped himself in and braced himself. He stared through the front screen, at the greenish blue planet that was coming closer, and closer. From here, it looked just like home.
As the ship began to fight with the atmosphere, a terrible thought struck Paulo. if the scientific team on earth had got the travel time wrong, what else had they got wrong? What if it wasn't 200 years in the future? What if he landed in the middle of a war, or... The atmosphere was different to the one at home. It felt thicker, somehow. Paulo began to sweat in his landing suit. He felt his head shaking and wondered if he'd even survive the entry. His last thought, before he blacked out, was of his mother and how he hoped he'd made her proud.
When he woke, he was still strapped in his seat, but he was upside down. He looked around, feeling an ache in his neck and head. The ship looked intact, from here. Had he really survived? Was he dreaming?
Slowly, he extricated himself from the landing chair. He hung from the edge of the seat for a second, then lowered himself down. The screen was jammed in front so Paulo went to the door and began tapping in the sequence of codes needed to open it. It took him ten minutes to get through the three doors. By the outer one, he paused. I'm about to make history, he thought. I'm here, on our sister planet! He wished his mother were here to see him. He thought of her pride when he got home, their escape plan in hand, their future secured.
He opened the final door.
When he stepped out he knew in an instant something wasn't right. This wasn't 200 years in the future. Unless... unless something had gone wrong on Earth Two. He was on sand, in a wide expanse of yellow. In the distance were brown and yellow huts, with figures standing about. It was hot, so hot. Paulo undid his suit. It felt like Earth; the figures by the huts were human. Paulo began to run towards them, waving his hands, shouting in excitement.
Before he reached them, he stopped. He recognised this place. It was a place of sand and oases. A camel stood, watching him warily. The figures came closer and closer still. He stopped, and held up his hands as if to say, I'm harmless! But he wanted to run to them and embrace them, feel another body next to his.
Soon he was surrounded. Someone prodded him. Their faces were hostile. They wore robes, carried leather bottles.
I'm in the past, he thought wildly. Something's wrong.
He knew several languages and tried Hebrew first. It was a good guess.
He sat down on the sand. He should never have come here.
A woman approached him. She reminded him of his mother, back on Earth. She cried out and embraced him. Gently, she reached out and touched his face.
Paulo shook his head. 'No,' he tried to say. 'No.' But then he thought about the implications, the possibilities... he realised what had happened.
Albert, 37, didn't have a girlfriend and he didn't want one. Women, as far as he knew, were interested only in clothes, make-up and shopping. Albert said that word 'shopping' with a sneer in his voice, peering myopically at whoever he was speaking to through his bottle bottom glasses. Most people knew better than to pursue the conversation with him. The unwise received a tirade about the iniquities of chain stores and supermarkets. Albert didn't care that he bored people with his speeches. He knew that he was right. He, and those friends who agreed with him, were Saving the World. They pursued long and worthy discussions on e-mail. They wrote frequently to their Members of Parliament about their concerns. They went on protest marches. They felt good because they knew that they were right.
I'm sorry I don't know your name, but would you like to call round for a cup of tea? It would be lovely to get to know you. I'm here all the time.
Albert picked up the note on his doormat, peered at it, snorted and tore it up. One of his campaigning friends called round soon after and Albert said that he had "a come-on from some bird next door." The friend made a crude joke and the pair of them guffawed about women and their supposed obsessions.
Emily Ethel was disappointed that she got no reply to her note. She continued to watch Albert from her window. He looked in her direction sometimes and once she waved but he didn't didn't see her.
The months went by and a new pizza restaurant opened near to where Albert and Emily Ethel lived in neighbouring houses. They both received publicity fliers through their letter-boxes. Albert tore his up. Emily Ethel read hers several times. Generally her carers warmed tins of soup and stew for her. She longed for something different and suddenly it had landed on her doorstep. The restaurant was offering to deliver take-away pizzas. She decided that she would try one. The carers were doubtful. Did she really think that she could manage? Pizza crusts could be hard to chew, they said. Emily Ethel was tired of their caution.
"No," she said, "Please don't worry. Please order one for me tomorrow. No need to call in and get me lunch."
Her carer did so but no pizza arrived. It was delivered, in error, to Albert, who sent it away with a sneer of disgust. He had never, he said, heard of a Miss Ethel. Next door, Emily Ethel went hungry.
Christmas approached. The campaign group to which Albert belonged organised a meal out in the pizza restaurant. Albert refused to go. It had, he said, poor ethical standards. He was also, he said, surprised that they, his friends, were compromising their principles. They were, he said, supposed to be Saving the World.
When there was a power cut in his and the nearby streets on the night of the meal, Albert was gleeful. His friends wouldn't be having their pizza. He opened a can of soup and ate it, cold, from the can. Next door, Emily Ethel - who had not owned up to the previous failure to get a pizza delivered - had told her carers that she would like them to order her a take-away again. The pizza restaurant tried to ring her that evening to explain why they could not deliver, but her arthritic fingers made her fumble and drop the telephone receiver. She had a can of soup in the kitchen, but her arthritic fingers could not work the can-opener. Emily Ethel went hungry. And she was cold. Very cold. She tried knocking on the wall. Albert heard her knocking but he ignored her.
Next day the carers found Emily Ethel dead in her chair. The doctor, when he came, said that it could have happened any time. They should not feel guilty, he said. One of the carers remembered the note which Emily Ethel had sent to her neighbour and knocked on Albert's door to let him know. Albert was offhand. So some old bird had died. What did it have to do with him?
Albert sat down and wrote a letter to his MP about hunger in the third world. He wrote a good letter and as he popped it into the post box he felt a warm glow. He was, he knew, doing his bit to Save the World.


text:
Nova Scotia > Business
U.S. economy, Fed policy in 'good position,' Daly says
Reuters | Posted: Oct. 14, 2020, 2:04 a.m. | Updated: Oct. 14, 2020, 1:50 a.m. | 2 Min Read
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve's vow to keep interest rates near zero for what could be years is "appropriate" for now, though more action could be needed as the recovery proceeds, San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said on Tuesday.
"We've got the economy and the policy in a good position right now," Daly told reporters on a call. "I see us as well positioned to weather this storm we are in, and it remains to be seen if more will be needed ... I'll continue to watch the data and see if adjustments will be necessary."
The Fed slashed interest rates to zero in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and began pumping trillions of dollars into financial markets, extraordinary actions that have helped fuel stock price gains even as the real economy struggles to regain its footing. Millions of Americans are still out of work.
The situation, Daly said in a talk Tuesday hosted virtually by the University of California, Irvine, "seems unfair (and) another example of Wall Street winning and Main Street losing."
But keeping interest rates at their current near-zero levels until the economy returns to full employment, as the Fed has promised it will do, will in time create more jobs and help reduce inequality, Daly said.
And while raising rates earlier might keep the already rich from adding further to their wealth, she suggested, it would also exacerbate inequality by making jobs for everyone else even harder to come by.
"I am not willing to trade millions of jobs ... to keep the stock market from going up for the few who have those holdings," she said.
(Reporting by Ann Saphir; Editing by Sandra Maler and Stephen Coates)
More Business Stories
IMF sees cost of COVID pandemic rising beyond $12.5 trillion estimate
Walmart's chief e-commerce officer Casey Carl exits company after two years
Securing Canada's supply chain or breaking it? Clash over trucker vaccine mandate grows


Deciding how to cast your ballot is a very personal choice. But it's often difficult to gather enough solid information to make an informed decision, despite the deluge of material that has been written and broadcast about the upcoming elections in the last few months. That's why many unions are publishing comparisons of the candidates' positions on the issues most critical to working families.
Below are some points to consider in this year's crucial presidential and senate races. Also in this issue is a listing of the candidates the Local 802 Executive Board has endorsed in the Nov. 7 elections, along with some highlights of their platforms.
Whatever you decide, we urge all 802 members to cast their ballots on Nov. 7.
þAl Gore supports setting aside 60 percent of the federal budget surplus to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. He opposes raising the retirement age, cutting benefits or privatizing Social Security. While leaving guaranteed benefits alone, he would add new "Retirement Savings Plus" accounts to boost retirement for low- and moderate-income families.
ýGeorge W. Bush proposes a trillion-dollar tax cut for the wealthy that will take away money needed to support Social Security. He would consider raising the retirement age for Social Security and supports partially privatizing the system. That approach would require cuts in guaranteed Social Security benefits of 29 percent for older workers, and 54 percent for workers 30 and younger, according to a study by the nonpartisan Century Fund.
þAl Gore believes union organizing is a "fundamental right," has consistently opposed privatization, and has personally lobbied for public employee collective bargaining in Maryland and Puerto Rico. He opposed anti-union "paycheck protection" initiatives and has promised to veto such legislation if elected.
ýGeorge W. Bush has said that union workers undermine the economy and bragged that "Texas is a right-to-work state, with low unionization of the work force." He wants to regulate unions' right to support pro-worker legislation and candidates. As governor, he tried to privatize state workers' jobs.
þAl Gore supports a strong Patient's Bill of Rights, which would allow patients to file lawsuits to hold health plans accountable and would ensure access to emergency rooms and prescription drugs. He wants to expand the 1997 Children's Health Insurance Program to include children in families earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of four, and enable all other families to buy into the program voluntarily. He has cosponsored breast cancer legislation and fought for mammogram coverage under Medicare.
ýGeorge W. Bush backs a weak patients' rights bill that gives HMOs the final say on what is medically necessary and excludes the 100 million people in "self-funded" health plans. As governor, he vetoed a patient protection bill because he said it placed too many new regulations on managed care organizations. Under Bush, Texas ranks worst in the nation in the percentage of the population with health insurance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
þAl Gore supports adding prescription drug coverage to Medicare and using $300 billion of the projected budget surplus to strengthen the program. He has proposed expanding Medicare to allow people ages 55-64 to pay a premium and receive coverage.
ýGeorge W. Bush's tax cut leaves no money to shore up the Medicare system. Rather than adding a prescription drug benefit, he supports a Congressional proposal that would put coverage under the control of insurance companies; would cover less than half as many people, according to a Congressional Budget Office study; and would require monthly premiums and a $250 deductible. He backs a congressional plan that would raise the eligibility age for Medicare and implement "means testing" for recipients.
þAl Gore opposes school vouchers that would take away funds from public schools. He supports investing $115 billion to decrease class size, hire 2 million new teachers in the next decade, invest in new school construction and make preschool available to all children.
ýGeorge W. Bush supports using public funds to provide vouchers for private school education. Since he took office the state has dropped 6 percentage points in college entrance exam scores; Texas now rates 46th among the nation's 50 states. Preschool participation is 28 percent below the national average, and there are 40,000 teacher vacancies in the state.
þAl Gore voted for increases three times while in Congress and, as vice-president, supported the last increase, in 1966. He is now pushing to increase the federal minimum wage to $6.15 an hour.
ýGeorge W. Bush opposes efforts to increase the minimum wage. Since becoming governor, he has gone on record three times in opposition to increasing the Texas minimum wage of $3.35 an hour. At the federal level he supported an amendment (which passed the House last March) to allow states to refuse coverage by the federal minimum wage. He opposed paying welfare recipients in public-service jobs the federal minimum wage, arguing that they should receive no wages beyond their monthly $188 welfare payments.
þAl Gore proposes a tax plan that would help working families – including expanding the child care and Earned Income tax credits, expanding health care coverage through targeted tax credits, and giving a deduction for college tuition.
ýGeorge W. Bush proposed a tax plan so risky and costly that even House Republicans avoided voting on it. The plan would drain budget surpluses and could force cuts in Medicare, education and child nutrition programs to give tax breaks to the rich.
þAl Gore co-sponsored the Civil Rights Act of 1990; supported the Violence Against Women Act and Hate Crimes Prevention Act; and 59 percent of Clinton/Gore judicial nominees are women and minorities, the highest ever.
ýGeorge W. Bush opposes affirmative action; refused to back comprehensive Texas hate crimes legislation; and less than one-third of Gov. Bush's appointees are women.
þHillary Clinton supports making it easier for workers to organize without fear of employer harassment – including requiring recognition through a "card check." She would increase penalties for companies which illegally fire workers who support unions. And she has consistently opposed efforts to weaken pension, overtime and worker safety laws.
ýRick Lazio voted to allow employers to pay workers in comp time instead of cash for overtime hours. He voted to allow corporations to raid pension funds. And he voted to slash the budget for OSHA enforcement by a third.
þHillary Clinton believes the federal budget surplus should be used to improve education, strengthen Social Security and Medicare, and pay down the national debt. She supports the Kennedy-Bonior bill to increase the minimum wage to $6.15 per hour over two years.
ýRick Lazio supports the Republican budget plan that places priority on big tax cuts for the wealthy. He voted in favor of Newt Gingrich's budget in 1995 that cut $270 billion from Social Security. He voted to weaken laws that protect overtime pay and pensions, and has voted three times to oppose or weaken increases in the minimum wage.
þHillary Clinton supports a strong and enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights that will ensure that doctors – not bureaucrats – make treatment decision, and will allow patients to hold HMOs accountable when they are wrongly denied care. She calls for making long-term care tax deductible.
ýRick Lazio voted against a strong Patients' Bill of Rights, and for a budget that would have cut Medicare by $270 billion. He also voted for a bill that would weaken patient protections now provided to New Yorkers under New York State law.
þHillary Clinton supports the Allen-Johnson bill, which guarantees every senior citizen an affordable prescription drug plan, with low deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, through Medicare. She would also introduce legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs by allowing pharmacists to reimport them.
ýRick Lazio supported a "voluntary" prescription drug plan under which seniors would have to pay the first $250 of drug costs annually.
þHillary Clinton supports hiring 100,000 new teachers and lowering class sizes in schools. She supports a tax deduction of $10,000 a year to help families pay for college tuition. And she'll fight to build new classrooms and renovate crumbling schools.
ýRick Lazio voted for the largest education cuts in history – and even voted to eliminate the Department of Education. He has also voted against funding to hire new teachers, and against funding school repairs.
Both Hillary Clinton and Rick Lazio supported NAFTA, fast track legislation, and permanent normal relations with China.


text:
News | Tracker | IRC Channel | Contact
Gene Diver 09-10
It has been more than a year since the last update, but somehow the group is still alive. In the meantime Gene Diver 07-10 were released.
Our XDCC bot, which was offline for a while due to some technical problems, is now running again.
Carak 2008-08-17
This site is still very basic and will be expanded later.
Kaninona's first releases! Gene Diver 01-06
The members of Kaninona are proud to present their first project. It's called Gene Diver and is the second of the three "Virtual World Series" by Studio Junio. The series aired in 1994 and was released on DVD in 2003. It was never released outside of Japan.
Virtual Station is a laboratory with the purpose of gathering and researching DNA. With the information gained through combining old DNA elements, the ancient world was virtually reconstructed. Yui is one of the Gene Divers. She enters the virtual ancient world to collect the DNA of animals that are extinct in reality.
But then an incident happens. Yui tries to leave the virtual world during a maintenance cycle, but instead of being returned to reality she is transferred to a new virtual present. In this new world, generated by the now uncontrollable system, an intelligent species evolved from rodents, called puglaistig exists. They consider the existence of humankind a serious threat and try to stop human evolution by all means.
Okay, enough talk. You can join our IRC channel to leech it from our bot, or get it at our BT Tracker.
Welcome at Kaninona.org
Kaninona is an anime fansub group, started in November 15. 2006.
Our "real" Website is in the making. First releases will be available soon.


Forex Morning Comments a cura di Michael Hewson (Analista), Tim Waterer (Senior FX Dealer) e Ben Taylor (Sales Trader) di CMC Markets.
Se qualcuno avesse ancora dei dubbi sulla differenza che possono fare 24 ore, consideri che ieri i mercati erano in rialzo del 20% rispetto ai livelli di agosto, a seguito di un ritorno veemente sugli asset che incorporano maggior rischio. Interpretando i numeri di ieri, sembra che l'Europa non sia più destinata a scomparire dalla mappa economica e che sia stato scongiurato anche il rischio di una recessione double dip negli Stati Uniti. La questione cruciale ora è capire quanto la situazione attuale possa essere sostenuta oltre il breve termine considerando che aumenteranno le posizioni di "short covering" e quelle più decise in acquisto e che probabilmente i gestori, la maggiorparte dei quali al momento è ancora sottopesata sul settore azionario, inizierà a ricomprare fornendo un apporto decisivo al rialzo delle Borse, privilegiando gli asset che sono stati maggiormente penalizzati in questi mesi, a cominciare dai finanziari.
Per capire se e quanto è mutato il sentiment degli investitori sarà tuttavia necessario considerare l'esito dell'asta di oggi di titoli italiani da otto miliardi e mezzo di euro, visto che ieri i rendimenti del decennale viaggiavano comunque su un insostenibile 5,8%. Sul fronte valutario, invece, il Dollaro vede polverizzate le proprie posizioni nei confronti delle principali valute con l'Euro che ieri ha fatto piazza pulita di una serie di livelli di resistenza e potrebbe presto toccare $1,4350 prima di tornare a ritracciare: il rischio di una moneta unica in rafforzamento potrebbe piegare ulteriormente le economie più deboli dell'Eurozona e rimane un fattore di discussione all'interno della Bce, che si riunisca la prossima settimana sotto la guida di Mario Draghi, la cui politica monetaria ci auguriamo sia improntata ad una maggiore flessibilità per scongiurare che gli effetti sortiti dall'accordo di questa settimana vengano vanificati (ad esempio con la perdita della tripla A da parte della Francia).
Sul cambio DollaroYen, l'ennesimo minimo toccato dal biglietto verde a 75.65 mantiene intatta la tendenza ribassista e aumenta le probabilità di un intervento da parte della BoE. Impostato per un rally, il Dollaro Australiano potrebbe raggiungere presto 1.10 qualora assistessimo a progressi robusti sul fronte dei mercati azionari, contrariamente, tornerebbe a 1.05.
What a difference 24 hours can make, yet here we are 20% above our August lows as risk appetite returned to equity markets with a vengeance, prompting the question what was all the fuss about the past few months. So much for the idea that October is historically a bad month for stocks.
The key question now is whether yesterday's moves can be sustained and in the short term they could well be, given the damage to short positions caused by yesterday's move.
In the medium term however the jury remains out, with details of how the various planks of the deal link together, with EFSF chief Regling due to meet the Chinese and other Far East investors today with begging bowl in hand.
The US dollar was pulverised yesterday across the board, down against everything, however it remains above a key trend line support at 73.95 from its May lows against a basket of currencies.
Despite yesterday's relief rally the rise of the euro presents Europe with a problem they cannot ignore, and that is the fact that for growth to return, Europe needs a weaker currency, not a stronger one so this move higher makes life much more difficult for the southern economies.
This could be where the ECB comes in next week, at Mario Draghi's first monthly meeting, however yesterday's higher than expected German CPI numbers make a possible rate cut some what more problematic for him at his first meeting as President.
Even so the ECB will have to be a lot more flexible on monetary policy in the coming months starting next week, otherwise the steps agreed this week will be for nought, especially if France as is feared loses its triple "A" rating in the coming months as growth continues to fizzle out, and the government has to inject money into its banks.
As it is this agreement will rely on continued delivery of fiscal goals which individual European countries have been historically bad at and it is less than certain that Greece or Italy for that matter will be able to grow at the required rate, while at the same time implementing spending cuts and further austerity. The first test of the effect of this week's agreement on bond yields will be this morning when Italy goes to the bond markets for €8.5bn worth of 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022 paper.
The Italian 10 year bond yield declined yesterday but only to around 5.8%, still unsustainable.
Yesterday's strong rebound in US GDP growth in Q3, with personal consumption showing strongly should silence those calling for further QE in the coming weeks, though the likelihood of it coming this year was never that high in any case, given the political backdrop in Europe. Today's release of PCE figures for September which is the Fed's preferred inflation measure, would have made further loosening problematic in any case, with core prices expected to rise 1.7% year on year from 1.6% in August. Personal income and personal spending is also expected to have bounced back strongly in September, as a result of back to school expenditure.
EURUSD – yesterday's incredible move in the single currency blew away a number of key long term resistance levels in one fell swoop. The 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level of the 1.4550/1.3150 down move at 1.4014, as well as the 200 day and 200 week moving averages in one large hit requires a reassessment of the bearish scenario held for the past couple of months. It now looks as if we could well get a test towards 1.4350 which is trend line resistance from the highs at 1.4940, before we get a sustained pullback. For the change of momentum to be sustained we would need to see the euro hold above the 1.4000 level where we had the breakout yesterday.
GBPUSD – the pound fulfilled its potential to hit 1.6105 the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement of the down move from 1.6620 to 1.5270 and rebounded off its 200 day MA at 1.6140 before retreating. Lagging behind the euro the downside potential in cable remains intact while below 1.6140. Above 1.6140 targets a move towards 1.6300. Any pullbacks need to hold above 1.6020 to prevent a deeper correction back towards the 1.5850 which had acted as quite a key resistance level during the middle of last week Back below 1.5850 retargets the 1.5670/80 area as well as last weeks low at 1.5630.
Contrary to much of the price activity in global financial markets over the past three months, it now appears Europe will in fact stay on the map and that there will not be a Double Dip recession in the US. As a result of the EU debt deal, and to a lesser extent the encouraging US GDP figure, risk assets marched onwards and upwards on the view that more prosperous days lie ahead for the global economy.
Whilst the EU deal does contain a lot of 'to be advised' in the details, the outline of the plan is still a monumental leap forward in comparison to every other step taken in the last 18 months to address an issue which has hovered like a black ominous cloud over financial markets.
The USD has been shunned by investors now that the economic landscape appears to be several shades brighter.
In contrast, the reversal of fortunes by the Euro thanks to the deal brokered has it trading well above the 1.40 mark, even with a likely ECB rate cut in coming months. The Australian dollar revelled in the 'risk-on' atmosphere in the aftermath of the EU deal, with the currency racing past 1.07. Interestingly it was only a couple of days back after the benign CPI data that the AUD was heading down in the direction of 1.350 on expectations that the RBA will cut rate next Tuesday.
In light of the EU developments however, an RBA rate reduction is not a done-deal. Particularly given that much of the rate cut expectations by the market was on the premise of a deteriorating European situation. So with conditions improving abroad, I suspect that the RBA would not like to cut rates in November only to then backflip with a hike in early 2012.
The recent breakthrough in Europe and the exuberant financial market reaction may provide cause for the RBA to hold the status quo on Monetary Policy settings for at least a while longer.
After posting a three and a half cent appreciation since midweek, the AUD may look to take a well-earned breather today in the 1.0650-1.0740 range. Looking further ahead, it is not out of the question for the AUD to make a return to the lofty heights of 1.10 if global equities make a strong run on the approach to calender-year end. Although if the market suffers a hangover in coming weeks from this recent buying bonanza, the AUD may settle for a 1.05 level short term.
The markets were in party mode last night as it seems we have finally had a breakthrough of sorts in the European financial crisis.
Holders of Greek sovereign debt have agreed to meet officials in the middle on a voluntary haircut of 50%. The solution provides a way to reduce Greece's debt obligations without triggering credit default swap positions which could have proved problematic to the beaten up European banking system.
Talk has also focused on leveraging the EFSF to E1 trn; the detail of this remains vague however China's investment involvement would be welcome. Plans for Greece to receive E100 bn, provided it meets its debt to GDP target of 120% by 2020, finally seems to be reaching agreement. And European banks look to receive E106 bn to ensure they reach a tier one capital ratio of 9% post the loss on Greek debt.
This has all spelled a green light for the equity markets. We have and will see further short covering and buying in equities as the risk premium diminishes. Fund managers all underweight equities should begin to join in and I feel we are really about to see a substantial pop to the upside.
Financial shares today should get a huge boost if the overnight US and European banks shares are any guide. British and German banks all put on around 15% and French banks soared 20% or more.
All risk currencies have also be the recipient of the euphoric trading conditions, the Euro putting on 2.1% and the Aussie dollar smashing through 1.07 shows you the strength of last night's moves. Copper and all base metals, as well as silver's moves higher, will manifest into strong buying in today's commodity markets.


This season, the Illamasqua Once Fall 2014 collection's offering centers on enduring beauty. It encapsulates earthy nudes and shimmering tones.
"Once is the beauty of the burnished, eroded and erudite. A palette inspired by the gentle and exquisite point when a flower starts to fade and becomes impossibly beautiful in its complex decline. Combined with the subtle opulence of faded gilt layers that reveal themselves the more you blend and search. She is an incandescent moment, a poem alive and a light within a pallet of decaying decadence." — Alex Box, Creative Director for Illamasqua.
This is a teal crème with antique gold glitters.
The Melange nail polish from the Illamasqua Once Fall 2014 collection is available to buy now online at Illamasqua.