1. Humor is an easy way to snap someone out of their mundane routine. Try including a fun, random photo and an unusual subject line in emails. Laura Chappell, Assistant Director of Sales at Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Birmingham, AL, is brilliant at this. She once was trying to get appointments with planners in St. Louis where she was headed on a sales mission. She was trying typical tactics, and was largely ignored. In a fit of desperation, she left her comfort zone and sent a funny email with the subject line: "Hotel Salesperson Resorts to Writing Haikus to get Appointments in St. Louis." She included an actual, funny haiku in the email. Her appointments filled immediately.
Planners get frustrated when they send out program details to registrants who seemingly ignore the important information. Prior to SPINCon 2017, we had the same frustration, so we tried a new approach. The email subject line was: "Bet You Won't Read This." In the attachment, the headline read: "All the Details You Probably Won't Read (Please prove us wrong!)." Each category had a fun headline as well. Instead of the ignorable—yet highly important—information on airport transfers, most people actually read our information. It stated: "Get your tuchus to the hotel on your own. On December 5 there will be airport shuttles departing every half hour to DFW." The result? Higher readership, fun comments on site, and better adherence to program details.
2. Transparency gets people's attention, because it's so rare in business communications. Have you ever asked for help from someone you're trying to sell to? I remember SPIN's very first chapter meeting in Atlanta, where I knew nobody. I was sending email after email, with horribly boring subject lines. My rationale was that these are busy senior-level planners, and I have to fit as much information as possible into the subject line. I included the event's name, date, location, and time. How boring and ignorable! They didn't even know what the event was! In a moment of sheer frustration at the low response rates, I sent out an email with the subject line "Can you attend?" In the body of the email, I vented a little frustration about being ignored, and included a simple plea for a response. Wow! The response rate went through the roof, and they were all strangers to me! If you think transparency won't work, think again.
3. Weirdness definitely breaks the monotony of the usual business email. You'll get noticed, and your recipient will be more likely to read your email and respond. I used this approach at a major industry conference where I was seeking appointments with hosted planners to promote myself as a sales & marketing speaker. Prior to this particular conference, the poor hosted buyers receive potentially thousands of solicitations for appointments. To make it worse, all these solicitations go through the conference system and must conform to a template…so all these emails look the same with three photos across the top, some text, and a plea for an appointment. Knowing this, I sent my email with three crazy cat photos across the top. In the body of the email, I said, "I know you're getting bombarded with emails, so I'm sending along some random cat pictures to brighten your day." My appointment book filled immediately. Weirdness works.
4. Emotion is another approach you can try. Emotion in any form creates retention in adult learners. It's a powerful tool if you use it correctly. What is it about your event, your property, or your destination that can create an emotional appeal to the recipient of your communications? This is the perfect opportunity to stand out by sharing the unexpected.
5. Peer-to-peer communications have a better appeal than salesperson-to-customer or planner-to-attendee. This is a great opportunity to try a video email. Video email goes into the recipient's inbox like other emails, but it looks different, which immediately makes it more noticeable. Video email is still so rare that recipients will open and view it out of sheer curiosity. If you try video email, just have a simple conversation into your webcam or phone as if the recipient were already a friend. This has been a great tool for me when someone is considering hiring me as a speaker. If I'm the only one who sends a video email, while everyone else is being salesy and traditional in their communications, I'm the one who forms the best relationship.
Consider trying one or more of these approaches. You may be hesitant because it's not typical "professional" communication. "Professional" communication gets ignored today, because our inbox is full of it! Of course, you must know your demographic and how far you can push the envelope. But in most cases, people appreciate any attempt to break the monotony.
Shawna Suckow, CMP, is the founder of SPIN: Senior Professionals Industry Network – the world's largest association for hospitality planners and suppliers with 10+ years' experience (www.spinplanners.com). Today, she speaks all over the world, helping planners orchestrate more engaging meetings, and helping hospitality suppliers understand how to market and sell more effectively to tough buyers.


La Bastide de la Riviere click to see more images of this stunning Provencal Estate with river running through it and surrounded by vineyards. It is on the market for 2.5 million Euros.
Under 1hr from Nice, 45mins St Tropez, 45mins Cannes. Only ten minutes from the motorway and five minutes from local shops, two supermarkets, a butcher, boulangerie and hairdresser etc. A very convenient location for everything you need be it recreation, the beach, supermarkets, airports, or the train station.
Please contact The Vintage Magazine info@thevintagemagazine.com for full details of how to view this superb property.
12 years ago, rainy dark days and the need for adventure persuaded us to leave the UK for sunnier climes. After hunting around for 18 months we bought two ancient stone farmhouses set amongst the vines in the Var some 60 miles west of Nice. Its river frontage and setting on its own peninsula was more than we ever dreamt of.


text:
Q: ORA-00942: table or view does not exist in Package based Procedure I have gone through similar threads but unable to understand the root cause of the error.
I have an Oracle Schema as "PRP".
PRP has one table Named : "MY_TABLE".
PRP has one package Named : "My_PKG" with authid current_user
Package contains following procedure
PROCEDURE CUSTOMER_ORDER_QUERY (
        P_REPORT             OUT SYS_REFCURSOR
    ) AS
    BEGIN
            OPEN P_REPORT FOR SELECT
                              * from MY_TABLE

END;

When I execute the procedure from the package it gives the error Table or view does not exists.
But when I prefix the schema name to the table in the procedures the cursor executes perfectly.
I have explicitly given privileges on that table to same schema.
from sys users : grant all on prp.MY_TABLE to PRP;
But none helps.
The Package and the table is in same schema.
Please help.

A: I did what you described; no problems.
Create user prp and grant required privileges:
SQL> connect sys as sysdba
Enter password:
Connected.
SQL> create user prp identified by prp
  2  default tablespace users
  3  temporary tablespace temp
  4  quota unlimited on users;

User created.

SQL> grant create session, create table, create procedure to prp;

Grant succeeded.

Connect as prp, create table and package:
SQL> connect prp/prp
Connected.
SQL> create table my_table as
  2  select 1 id, 'Little' name from dual union all
  3  select 2   , 'Foot'        from dual;

Table created.

SQL> create or replace package my_pkg as
  2    procedure customer_order_query (p_report out sys_refcursor);
  3  end;
  4  /

Package created.

SQL> create or replace package body my_pkg as
  2    procedure customer_order_query (p_report out sys_refcursor)
  3    as
  4    begin
  5      open p_report for select * from my_table;
  6    end;
  7  end;
  8  /

Package body created.

Testing:
SQL> var l_rc refcursor
SQL> exec my_pkg.customer_order_query (:l_rc);

PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.

SQL> print l_rc;

        ID NAME
---------- ------
         1 Little
         2 Foot

SQL>

So, yes - it works. If both table and package belong to the same user (reside in the same schema), you don't need any additional privileges as you own both of them.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Landslide in Darjeeling blocks roads, restoration work underway
Darjeeling (West Bengal) [India], July 10 (ANI): As monsoon intensified in the state, a landslide occurred at Tindharia area here on Wednesday.
Subsequently, National Highway (NH) 55 was blocked and Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) Toy train services were also halted.
According to officials, no causalities were reported so far. However, restoration work is being carried out in the area by the officials with the help of locals.
"It's been raining here for more than three days. In the landslide, a house, a truck and a motorbike were damaged," a resident told ANI. (ANI)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: DateTime - Determine mensiversary (monthly anniversary) So I only have a CreatedDate to work with.
I have a scheduled task that runs everyday at 12 midnight and that needs to get all records that fall on the same day of the month (but not if the CreatedDate == DateTime.Now).
I would prefer this to be in LINQ since this is a database call but any iteration logic would suffice, I think.
I have this right now but this has problems with days higher than 28:
var results = Context.Subscriptions.Where(
                x => !(x.StartDate.Day == DateTime.Now.Day &&
                      x.StartDate.Month == DateTime.Now.Month &&
                      x.StartDate.Year == DateTime.Now.Year) &&
                     x.StartDate.Day == DateTime.Now.Day);

Updating the question for clarity:
For example, a record's created date is January 31 2013. This record should get pulled every month. But since not all months have 31 days, my code above won't work on those months. I still need to pull the record every month even if that month has no 31st.

A: Just a thought maybe you could utilize windows service in running a scheduled task but there's another way task scheduler in .net. If you are going to use windows service use can use the timer class to do repeated runs.
And if you have a table of tasks you can have columns for intervaldatetime, datelastrundatetime, and nextjobdatetime. in here you can check for the interval of time it would be run and check for the datetime the job/task to be run or it should not run.
check this for more information:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc163821.aspx
I hope it help you.


We have had a string of car break ins on our streets at nite or early morning hours. The break in happens to cars that are not locked only. It has happened to me and few neighbours that didn't lock their cars past few weeks. Nothing was taken. Just things were rummaged around and glove box opened. Our neighbours had cash and things stolen at some point. This morning, my roommates wallet was taken as he came home late and left it in there. didn't lock the car.
I did have confirmation from neighbours seeing someone at 4am on other occasions and one caught the person on camera in his driveway. But hard to see.
I put in a request into crime stoppers.
Is there a motion detector light+recording perhaps?
The break in happens to cars that are not locked only.?
Lock the car then. The thief is clearly counting on people's stupidity.
Are you that blind to see your solution in your own thread?
By the way why would you leave your car unlocked regardless?
Get one of those TPS brochures, Lock It or Lose It...go to your local police station and ask for a bunch, then you put it on your neighbours car windshield.
"We never lock our doors, it's a great area."


text:
Philip Lymbery
Remember this New Year, protecting animals will protect us all — Philip Lymbery
New-Year's-eve and the Roaring Twenties theme was about to begin.
The Chinese community in Glasgow, seen celebrating Chinese New Year in 2017, will soon mark the Year of the Tiger (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Accommodation on that cold, drizzly night was an old lighthouse with no WIFI or TV. Furnishings inside fitted the remote historic look, resembling something out of a 1900s period play. Come the evening, pin-striped gangsters, long-legged bunny girls and white-faced silent movie stars were packed into a nearby bar much vaunted for being the best for miles since 1868. In truth, it was the only pub on the tiny island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel. And it provided one of my most memorable evenings seeing in the year ahead.
What struck me most about that evening was the feeling of togetherness; the warmth of being with friends, family and convivial strangers, all enjoying the moment as one. Of not being alone, instead facing the future with optimism and joy. Little did we know that the 'Roaring Twenties' 21st Century-style would soon be hit by a pandemic. And one that looks set to drag on into a third year, keeping us apart, or at least socially distanced, and leading to the cancellation of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebration.
New Year is one of the most celebrated holidays in the world, creating one of those moments when people are united by their intent to party. For the majority of us, New Year is about looking forward, embracing positivity. It's about hope for the future, something that has renewed importance given the current pandemic, and the climate emergency highlighted recently by a meeting of world leaders in Glasgow.
What I find rather wonderful is that whilst we all unite to say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new, we do so in different ways, and even at different times of year.
Parts of Shetland, such as Foula and Unst, celebrate 'old' New Year using a 2,000-year-old calendar. So New Year there won't ring in until January 12th (or 13th). The calendar in use there was invented by Roman emperor Julius Caesar around 45 BC and was the standard for centuries worldwide. I am rather impressed that some on the islands stuck doggedly to Caesar's version whilst the rest of the world replaced it with the Gregorian Calendar in 1582.
Likewise, the colourful Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, begins with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. In running an international charity, I look forward to joining Chinese colleagues and communities, to celebrate the Year of the Tiger in 2022.
Whilst some aspects of New Year are commonplace, like our hopes for a better future, rituals like the midnight countdown, the kissing of a significant other when the clock strikes, glasses of fizz and fireworks, there are also many wonderful variations in the way we celebrate.
In Spain for example, a popular tradition is eating 12 grapes at midnight — one for each time the clock chimes. Otherwise, the new year's superstition suggests they'll miss out on extra good luck for the coming year.
In Denmark, a sign of friendship involves saving old dishes in order to break them on each other's front doors. Residents allow broken dishes to pile up in order to show who has the most friends — to me, it beats 'likes' on social media!
Puerto Rico has a practice of throwing buckets of water out the window to do away with evil spirits.
And in Ireland, placing holly, ivy or mistletoe under your pillow before sleep on New Year's-eve is said to bring luck in love.
Yet for revelry and passion for celebration, few can beat the Scots. It is believed that many of the traditional Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading Vikings in the early 8th and 9th centuries. These Norsemen paid particular attention to the arrival of the Winter Solstice or the shortest day, and fully intended to celebrate its passing with some serious partying.
Making resolutions, perhaps the most popular of New Year's traditions, provides a moment for pause and reflection. My own New Year resolution is to continue to speak up for the sentient animals who deserve our compassion and respect. To stand up for the welfare of all animals and our natural environment. After all, Covid is widely seen as having originated in animals and been transferred to people through contact at cruel live markets. A decade before, Swine flu swept the planet, its origins thought to be from the pig farms of America and Mexico. And with three-quarters of human diseases originating in animals, it all underlines the need for a 'One Health' approach to the future — recognising that the health of people relies on the wellbeing of animals and a thriving environment. In other words, protecting people means protecting animals too.
So, as we say farewell to the old, and welcome in the new, let's come together to make this a new year to remember. To protect one another and other species and thereby bring about a happier, healthier, safer world.
Here's to a very happy new year to you all; I raise a glass to the memories we will make together, wherever we are in the world, and however we like to celebrate.
In whatever form they take, our celebrations this year come against the backdrop of ongoing covid restrictions and a tough year. Another year to be thankful for the selfless people that make up our NHS and all the volunteers of the vaccination programme, which has required the most monumental of efforts to keep us as safe as possible. Celebration binds us together, whatever the culture or tradition, expressing hope for a better future: in love, life, and togetherness.
Philip Lymbery, Global CEO of Compassion in World Farming International and UN Food Systems Champion. Follow Philip on Twitter at @philip_ciwf
Note: This article was first published in The Scotsman on Monday 27th December, 2021
More from Philip Lymbery
Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming https://philiplymbery.com/
Steve Rouge
Beautiful Pictures Of Our Earth — 136
Paul Tranter
CCA's Spring Live Online Auction a huge success with a sales rate of 90% and £1.7million
Jane Morris
The hills are alive….
London Walking
Aurora Wood Moore
What if I just bear witness?
April Orcutt
BATW Travel Stories
Polar Bears, Puffins, Icebergs, Vikings — and a Hank-Williams Dance:
Anthony Li
Anthony's Language Files
Hong Kong English/Cantonese (IX)
Meet the Expat — Rebecca Hilton in Germany


text:
The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire
Matthew L. McDowell*, Fiona Skillen
This article examines Scottish reactions to African, Asian, Caribbean and other nations' boycotts of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. These boycotts occurred over the UK Government's support of trade with apartheid South Africa, and over the inclusion in the England team of South African-born Zola Budd and Annette Cowley. This piece focuses in part on the political reaction, both by Scotland's Westminster MPs, and also by Edinburgh District Council – the latter led by the Labour Party, and keen to show their opposition to apartheid. However, it also focuses on the press reaction to these boycotts, which was rarely supportive of boycotting nations, with some of the more left-liberal outlets largely defensive over Scotland's participation in anti-apartheid politics. The highly mediated public reaction is additionally gauged through letters to newspaper editors. Whilst some displayed anger over the position of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, and others consternation over the impotent political position of Scotland within the wider UK, most letters were overwhelmingly hostile to the boycotters, and linked their disgust to a nostalgia for the British Empire (some of it racially tinged), and accordingly an inability of athletes and sporting authorities to keep politics out of sport.
Sport in Society
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Boycott Arts & Humanities
Scotland Arts & Humanities
Commonwealth Arts & Humanities
British Empire Arts & Humanities
South Africa Arts & Humanities
Edinburgh Arts & Humanities
Apartheid Arts & Humanities
Nostalgia Arts & Humanities
Fiona Skillen
fsk1@gcu.ac.uk
History - Senior Lecturer
McDowell, M. L., & Skillen, F. (2017). The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire. Sport in Society, 20(3), 384-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2015.1088725
McDowell, Matthew L. ; Skillen, Fiona. / The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire. In: Sport in Society. 2017 ; Vol. 20, No. 3. pp. 384-397.
@article{767b1c5e872d4d24a2f72e3670a1dfaf,
title = "The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire",
abstract = "This article examines Scottish reactions to African, Asian, Caribbean and other nations{\textquoteright} boycotts of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. These boycotts occurred over the UK Government{\textquoteright}s support of trade with apartheid South Africa, and over the inclusion in the England team of South African-born Zola Budd and Annette Cowley. This piece focuses in part on the political reaction, both by Scotland{\textquoteright}s Westminster MPs, and also by Edinburgh District Council – the latter led by the Labour Party, and keen to show their opposition to apartheid. However, it also focuses on the press reaction to these boycotts, which was rarely supportive of boycotting nations, with some of the more left-liberal outlets largely defensive over Scotland{\textquoteright}s participation in anti-apartheid politics. The highly mediated public reaction is additionally gauged through letters to newspaper editors. Whilst some displayed anger over the position of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, and others consternation over the impotent political position of Scotland within the wider UK, most letters were overwhelmingly hostile to the boycotters, and linked their disgust to a nostalgia for the British Empire (some of it racially tinged), and accordingly an inability of athletes and sporting authorities to keep politics out of sport.",
keywords = "Commonwealth Games, Scotland, South Africa, boycott",
author = "McDowell, {Matthew L.} and Fiona Skillen",
note = "Acceptance date: not available and added date to match earliest publication date (pub date confirms pre-REF scope). ET 23/1/20 YYYY only for final pub date, used DD/MM/YYYY from Crossref. ET 11/12/20 ",
journal = "Sport in Society",
publisher = "Taylor and Francis ",
McDowell, ML & Skillen, F 2017, 'The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire', Sport in Society, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 384-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2015.1088725
The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire. / McDowell, Matthew L.; Skillen, Fiona.
In: Sport in Society, Vol. 20, No. 3, 04.03.2017, p. 384-397.
T1 - The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire
AU - McDowell, Matthew L.
AU - Skillen, Fiona
N1 - Acceptance date: not available and added date to match earliest publication date (pub date confirms pre-REF scope). ET 23/1/20 YYYY only for final pub date, used DD/MM/YYYY from Crossref. ET 11/12/20
N2 - This article examines Scottish reactions to African, Asian, Caribbean and other nations' boycotts of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. These boycotts occurred over the UK Government's support of trade with apartheid South Africa, and over the inclusion in the England team of South African-born Zola Budd and Annette Cowley. This piece focuses in part on the political reaction, both by Scotland's Westminster MPs, and also by Edinburgh District Council – the latter led by the Labour Party, and keen to show their opposition to apartheid. However, it also focuses on the press reaction to these boycotts, which was rarely supportive of boycotting nations, with some of the more left-liberal outlets largely defensive over Scotland's participation in anti-apartheid politics. The highly mediated public reaction is additionally gauged through letters to newspaper editors. Whilst some displayed anger over the position of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, and others consternation over the impotent political position of Scotland within the wider UK, most letters were overwhelmingly hostile to the boycotters, and linked their disgust to a nostalgia for the British Empire (some of it racially tinged), and accordingly an inability of athletes and sporting authorities to keep politics out of sport.
AB - This article examines Scottish reactions to African, Asian, Caribbean and other nations' boycotts of the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. These boycotts occurred over the UK Government's support of trade with apartheid South Africa, and over the inclusion in the England team of South African-born Zola Budd and Annette Cowley. This piece focuses in part on the political reaction, both by Scotland's Westminster MPs, and also by Edinburgh District Council – the latter led by the Labour Party, and keen to show their opposition to apartheid. However, it also focuses on the press reaction to these boycotts, which was rarely supportive of boycotting nations, with some of the more left-liberal outlets largely defensive over Scotland's participation in anti-apartheid politics. The highly mediated public reaction is additionally gauged through letters to newspaper editors. Whilst some displayed anger over the position of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, and others consternation over the impotent political position of Scotland within the wider UK, most letters were overwhelmingly hostile to the boycotters, and linked their disgust to a nostalgia for the British Empire (some of it racially tinged), and accordingly an inability of athletes and sporting authorities to keep politics out of sport.
KW - Commonwealth Games
KW - Scotland
KW - boycott
JO - Sport in Society
JF - Sport in Society
McDowell ML, Skillen F. The 1986 Commonwealth Games: Scotland, South Africa, sporting boycotts, and the former British Empire. Sport in Society. 2017 Mar 4;20(3):384-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2015.1088725


Completed new construction! The highly coveted Baxter 2 plan by award-winning Byer Builders! This great plan is versatile and features loads of upgrades throughout plus a crawlspace. This 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home has a 2 story foyer, 9' ceilings on the 1st floor, front flex room/formal dining/study, fireplace w/gas logs and bookcases in the spacious great room that is open to the kitchen, upgraded trim package, tile in bathrooms and large laundry room, large kitchen with granite, stainless appliances, breakfast area, island, walk-in pantry, area for butler's pantry, spacious owner's suite with two walk-in closets, soaking tub and tiled shower. Great location near Hamburg, I-75, I-64, Downtown Lex and New Circle.
Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Bluegrass Realty. Selling Office: Bluegrass Sotheby's International Realty.


text:
Q: Precise angle calculation I am working on a project in which i have to rotate a tyre based on the value from the position sensor. Sensor provides values from 261(at -90 degree) to 395(at +90 degree). I am using TransformGroup so almost at 327 value from sensor the tyre should be straight and erect.
When value is 395 then tyre will totally lie along X axis similar is case for value 261. I am able to move the tyre but i am unable to calculate precise angle.
My way of calculation is like that i calculate the number of values btween the default value or zero value(327) for a specific angle(say 3). so i get number of values for that angle. Then i divide this number from the angle(3 degree). So i get angle for one value.
float tempangle = value from sensor-zero value which is 327;
                tempangle = Math.Abs(tempangle);
                tempangle /= float.Parse(angle for reference say 3 degree);
                tempangle = 1 / tempangle;

Here i put some body of known angle under sensor(which have an agle of degree). When i want to find some angle for some value i just multiply this angle with the number of values between that value and default value(327). So i get the angle to rotate the body.
suppose i have got angle after calculation
angle for one sensor value =1.14286286

Suppose i calculate angle by calculator like
1.14286286 *2=2.2857
1.14286286 *3=3.42858
1.14286286 *4=4.57145
1.14286286 *5=5.714314
1.14286286 *6=6.85717

As you can see that angle is skipping some decimal values. Is there any way to co op with it?
thanks

A: No idea if I understand your problem, but a method that calcaluates an angle between -90 and 90 degree from an input value in the range 261 to 395 would simply look like this:
private static double SensorValueToAngle(double value)
{
    const double sensorMin = 261;
    const double sensorMax = 395;
    const double angleMin = -90;
    const double angleMax = 90;

    return angleMin + (angleMax - angleMin)
        * (value - sensorMin) / (sensorMax - sensorMin);
}


Omkar is the brand name in the market for persistently providing innovative in the existing products, and we are even providing FRP Phenolic Grade Grating, are also one of the extremely popular product in several industries for its non flammability aspect enables it to uphold direct flame for a longer period of time. Notwithstanding the critical imperviousness to flame, it likewise gives impressive imperviousness to wear, substantial burdens and erosion.
We are considered to be the leading supplier of FRP Phenolic Grade Grating that is a smart blend of the most elevated quality material. The phenolic in the resin shields fiber reinforced plastic from ending up soft and flexing, while FRP gives considerable solidness, wear resistance and longer administration life. We are flourished with adroit team members who are fully involved to achieve highest quality of FRP phenolic grade gratings. Our manufactured gratings give FRP phenolic level grating in the wide scope of the sizes, shapes and thicknesses according to the application prerequisite at the financially savvy rates.


text:
## class Minecraft

`Minecraft` is the main class for interacting with the Minecraft world, includes functions for creating a connection, modifying player, create/edit/delete blocks, entities and capturing events.

Every program should start with the line:

    from mcpi.minecraft import Minecraft

**.create(address = "localhost", port = 4711)**
Create connection to Minecraft (address, port) => Minecraft object

    mc = Minecraft.create()
    #specify ip address and port
    mc = Minecraft.create("192.168.1.50", 4712)

**.player.getTilePos()**
Get the position of the tile the player is on.  (see .player for more player functions)
    pos = mc.player.getTilePos()

**.getBlock(x0, y0, z0)**
retrieves the block type for the block at x, y, z

**.getBlocks(x0, y0, z0, x1, y1, z1)**
Get a cuboid of blocks (x0,y0,z0,x1,y1,z1) => [id:int]

**.getBlockWithData(x,y,z)**
Get block with data (x,y,z) => Block

**.setBlock(x,y,z)**
Set block (x, y, z, block_type, [data])

see [block_types.md](block_types.md) for a list of block types.

**.setBlocks(x0,y0,z0,x1,y1,z1,blockType, blockData)**
Set a cuboid of blocks (x0,y0,z0,x1,y1,z1,block_type,[data])

**.getHeight(x,z)**
Get the height of the world (x,z) => int

find the y (vertical) of an x, z co-ordinate which represents the 'highest' (non-air) block

**.getPlayerEntityIds()**
Get the entity ids of the connected players => [id:int]

**.getPlayerEntityId(playerName)**
Get the entity id for a named player => [id:int]

## Minecraft.player

**.getPos()**
get players position as floatsplayerPos = mc.player.getPos()

**.setPos(x,y,z)**
Moves the player to a position in the world by passing co-ordinates ([x,y,z])

**.setTilePos(x,y,z)**
Move the player to a tile position in the world by passing co-ordinates ([x,y,z])

**.getRotation()**
Get the rotational angle (0 to 360) for the player => [angle:float]

**.getPitch()**
Get the pitch angle (-90 to 90) for the player => [pitch:float]

**.getDirection()**
Get unit vector of x,y,z for the player's direction => [Vec3]

## Minecraft.entity

The entity functions are used in conjunction with the .spawnEntity() and .getNearbyEntities() functions to interact with the entity in a game.

**.getPos(entityId)**
get entity position as float

**.setPos(entityId, x, y, z)**
set entity position

**.getRotation(entityId)**
Get the rotational angle (0 to 360) for an entity => [angle:float]"

**.getPitch(entityId)**
Get the pitch angle (-90 to 90) for an entity => [pitch:float]

**.getDirection(entityId)**
get entity direction => Vec3

**.pollBlockHits()**
Block Hits (Only triggered by sword) => [BlockEvent]

**.pollChatPosts()**
Chat posts => [ChatEvent]

**.clearAll()**
Clear all old events

### BlockEvent

"The definition of a BlockEvent in Minecraft, used to describe an event in Minecraft affecting blocks; returned by the Minecraft.events.pollBlockHits() method."
blockEvent = mc.events.pollBlockHits()

blockEventType = blockEvent.type

**.pos**"The position of the block where the event occured, i.e. the block which was hit.  .pos returns a Vec3 object of x,y,z co-ordinates"

blockEventPos = BlockEvent.pos
**.face**"The face of the block where the event occured"

blockEventFace = BlockEvent.face
**.entityId**"entityId of the player who caused the block event, i.e. the player who hit the block"

blockEventPlayer - BlockEvent.entityId
"The definition of a ChatEvent in Minecraft, used to describe an event when a message is posted to the chat bar in Minecraft, returned by Minecraft.events.pollBlockHits() method."

**.type**"Type of block event; there is only 1 event currently implemented ChatEvent.POST"

chatEventType = chatEvent.type
*ChatEvent types:*0: ChatEvent.POST

chatEventMessage = ChatEvent.message

blockEventPlayer - BlockEvent.entityId

## Vec3

A 3-part vector in Minecraft, i.e. a set of x, y, z co-ordinates; x and z are the horizontal positions, y the vertical"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We use the 2007-2008 financial crisis as a lens to study the link between banks' financial health and the strength of transmission of financial sector shocks to the real economy. We find that banks with ex-ante stronger balance sheets, in particular higher levels of common equity, were better able to maintain credit supply when faced with liquidity shocks during the crisis. Bank recapitalizations mitigated the lending gap between high and low capital banks, but only in countries with strong sovereigns. These findings support the view that strong financial intermediary balance sheets are key for the recovery of credit and economic performance after large financial sector shocks.


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Prince Harry makes African visit to school for deaf
Mar 19, 2013 in Hearing Tests
A Lesotho school catering for deaf children was recently visited by Prince Harry while he was in Africa.
The prince had a sign language lesson when he took a visit to Kananelo Centre for the Deaf, a school where the majority of running costs are funded by Sentebale, a charity the he helped found, reports The Telegraph.
Sentebale was co-founded by Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in 2006, the latter also being part of the recent school visit.
Some 85 people aged from five to 22 attend the school where several Roman Catholic nuns teach, the news provider reported.
The signs for 'father', 'brother', 'mother' and 'sister' were all shown to Prince Harry in one of the school's classrooms. The princes also took a trip to Maseru's St Bernadette's Centre for the Blind.
Sentebale's website reports that the prince has expressed delight about the improvements that his charity has been responsible for at both St Bernadette's and Kananelo Centre for the Deaf in the time since he visited them last, during 2010.
Prince Harry also explains the story behind the charity's formation on the site, saying that he spent time in Lesotho during a gap year in 2004.
"This charity is a way in which Prince Seeiso and I can remember our mothers, who both worked with vulnerable children and people affected by AIDS," he writes.
Also as part of his visit to Kananelo Centre for the Deaf, which took place at the end of February, he took part in the making of the sweet bread mokoenya, according to the Telegraph. These were then given to journalists who were in attendance.
Recently, charity Mary Hare reported that its school was to be supported by Pippa Middleton, sister to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (who is of course Prince Harry's sister in law).
"It gives me great pleasure to be a supporter of Mary Hare and make a difference to the lives of deaf children," Ms Middleton said. Discover more about our hearing tests.
Hearing Care (61)
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Glasses & Sunglasses (89)
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Leightons News (158)
Hearing Aids (107)
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text:
4-methylbenzyl alcohol
biodegradation in water: ready biodegradability
OECD Guideline 301 A (Ready Biodegradability: DOC Die Away Test)
EU Method C.4-A (Determination of the "Ready" Biodegradability - Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) Die-Away Test)
EPA OPPTS 835.3110 (Ready Biodegradability)
Oxygen conditions:
Inoculum or test system:
activated sludge, domestic, non-adapted
Details on inoculum:
- Source of activated sludge: aerobic activated sewage sludge from the aeration stage of the local wastewater treatment plant, ARA Birs (Birsfelden / Switzerland), which treats predominantly domestic sewage
- Storage conditions: 1 day aerated at room temperature
- Preperation: The aerobic activated sewage sludge was washed three times by centrifugation, decantation of the supernatant liquid phase and resuspension of the solid material in tap water and finally in mineral medium. Aliquots of the homogenized final sludge suspension were weighed, thereafter dried and the dry weight of the suspended solids was determined.
- Pretreatment: no
- Concentration of sludge: 4 g dry material per liter
- Final concentration in mineral medium: 30 mg dry material per liter
Duration of test (contact time):
Initial conc.:
38 mg/L
Parameter followed for biodegradation estimation:
DOC removal
- Composition of medium: mineral medium according to testing guidelines
- Additional substrate: no
- Test temperature: 20 - 22 °C
- pH: 7.3 - 7.4
- pH adjusted: no
- Continuous darkness: no, diffuse light
- Culturing apparatus: 2000-mL Erlenmeyer glass vessels, cleaned with alcoholic hydrochloric acid, rinsed with ultrapure water and dried
- Number of culture flasks/concentration: 3
- Measuring equipment: DOC analyses were performed with the above filtrates in triplicate per sample using a TOC infrared gas analyzer equipped with an automatic sampler (Elementar Analysensysteme GmbH, Langenselbold, Germany).
- Test performed in open system: no, loosely covered with an aluminum cap to reduce losses by evaporation
- Sampling frequency: on exposure day 0, 2, 5, 7, 9 and 12
- Sampling method: one sample of 10-12 mL was taken
- Sample preparation: filtered through a 0.45-μm filter. The first 2-3 mL of the filtrate were discarded
CONTROL AND BLANK SYSTEM
- Inoculum blank: yes, 3 replicates
- Procedure control: yes, 3 replicates
- Toxicity control: yes, 1 replicate
benzoic acid, sodium salt
Preliminary study:
Prior to test start, the solubility of the test item in mineral medium was checked, and the test item was found to be soluble at a concentration of 100 mg/L. The measured dissolved organic carbon content (DOC) of this solution was 0.764 mg C/mg test item. The measured total organic carbon content (TOC) was 0.771 mg C/mg test item.
% degradation (DOC removal)
Sampling time:
Details on results:
In the test vessels containing the test item in inoculated mineral medium the mean concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) continuously decreased from initially 28.8 mg/L on Day 0 to 0.6 mg/L on Day 12, at the end of the test. Expressed as percentage DOC removal, this represents a mean biodegradation value of 98 %. The mean biodegradation of the test item was 79 % on Day 5. Therefore, the pass level for ready biodegradability, i.e. at least 70 % removal of DOC in a 10 day window within the 28 day period of the test, was reached.
In the procedure controls, average biodegradation of the reference item sodium benzoate was 99 % by Exposure Day 12, i.e. at the end of the test, thus confirming suitability of the activated sludge (≥ 60 % degradation by Exposure Day 14).
In the toxicity control, containing both Methyl Benzyl Alcohol (corresponding to 49.5 % of total DOC) and the reference item sodium benzoate (corresponding to 50.5 % of total DOC) in inoculated mineral medium, the initial DOC concentration of 59.4 mg/L measured on Day 0 decreased to 10.7 mg/L on Day 12. Biodegradation amounted to 82 % on Exposure Day 12, i.e. at the end of the test. Thus, according to the test guidelines, the test item Methyl Benzyl Alcohol was not inhibitory to activated sludge at the tested concentration of 38 mg/L because degradation was >35% within 14 days.
readily biodegradable
The test item was found to be readily biodegradable and degraded completely after 12 days of exposure to activated sludge under the conditions of the conducted DOC Die-Away Test (OECD 301 A).
The test item was investigated for its ready biodegradability in a 28-Day DOC Die-Away Test according to the OECD Guideline for Testing of Chemicals, No. 301 A (1992). In accordance with the test guidelines the test was ended after 12 days since the biodegradation curve of the test item had reached a plateau over at least three determinations and was biodegraded completely. Expressed as percentage DOC removal, this represents a mean biodegradation value of 98 %. The pass level for ready biodegradability, i.e. at least 70 % removal of DOC in a 10-day window within the 28-day period of the test, was reached. In conclusion, the test item was found to be readily biodegradable under the test conditions within 12 days. In the toxicity control, containing both test item and the reference item sodium benzoate, the initial DOC decreased by 82 % within 12 days of exposure. Thus, the test item had no inhibitory effect on the activity of activated sludge microorganisms at the tested concentration of 38 mg/L.


As if one food festival in May wasn't enough, the annual Chocolate Festival of Belize is celebrated every year over the Commonwealth weekend (late May.) The event is a perfect excuse to visit the diverse southern region of Belize, namely the town of Punta Gorda. Dubbed the 'chocolate capital of Belize,' Punta Gorda knows how to throw a sweet party when it comes to all things chocolate. Yes, a whole festival just for your favorite cheat snack. Need we say more?
Held over a three-day weekend, the festival pays homage to the one fruit that was used as currency once upon a time: cacao. In fact, the event was initially named the Toledo Cacao Festival before changing later on. Now, the event has evolved into local chocolatiers, from all over Belize, displaying their goods, from desserts and dishes to local artisan crafts being sold. The festival is said to promote sustainable tourism throughout the district. Competitions, family-friendly activities and musical shows encompass the event. The high-energy fest culminates at the sacred Maya site of Nim Li Punit. Here is the agenda for the 2018 Chocolate Festival.
May 19, Saturday | 7 p.m. : Wine and Chocolate social @ Garbutt's Marine.
It's hard to miss out on an experience that will not only delight your taste buds but let you see first-hand the beauty of the Maya culture. This is but a portion of the umpteen festivals in Belize and if you'd like to know more, feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us toll-free at 1-800-624-0686.


Magellan Midstream Partners has acquired a 15-mile, 16-inch Houston area pipeline from Shell. The pipeline is bi-directional, with capacity of 150,000 b/d.
The pipeline moves crude from Genoa Junction to/from a Magellan terminal in East Houston.
The company stated, "The West Columbia pipeline will provide an additional route for crude oil, particularly barrels from the Eagle Ford, to reach our East Houston terminal for storage or subsequent delivery into Shell's reversed Ho-Ho system."
Neither Magellan Midstream nor Shell released the financial details of the transaction.


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Top 5 Jean Claude Van Damme films
Posted on Published: April 28, 2009 - Last updated: April 29, 2009
For 20 years Hong Kong director John Woo was the driving force in film on the Pacific Rim. Following the success of The Killer, Woo's 1989 masterpiece of operatic violence, he made out to Hollywood with his chop-socky. Hard Target. Woo's American debut took the Belgium-born Jean-Claude Van Damme to new lows of clunky one-liners and preposterous action scenes forcing you to suspend you disbelief to a max. However Hard Target proved that John Woo was the hottest name in action at the time
Double Impact
Shot on location in Hong Kong, the film contains not one but two Van Dammes. JCVD plays twin brothers. The gimmick is to pit Van Damme up against Van Damme which successfully works when one brother in a drunken and jealous rage believes that the other is sleeping with his girlfriend. The film also includes Bolo Yeung as the villain and a muscle-bound lesbian bodyguard who both partake in some well choreographed martial arts fight sequences with our hero.
No street fighting in this film; we instead rely on high-tech military hardware. The gimmick is to place two of the greatest B-movie action stars head to head. Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren play two soldiers serving in Vietnam. Lundgren's character goes insane killing off his platoon leaving Van Damme to try and stop him only in doing so he takes both of their lives. They are preserved for 25 years until Jerry Orbach can reconstitute them into Universal Soldiers. As happens in all science fiction, they did not perfect the science and some memories remain and thus the two who fought each other in Vietnam are now fighting each other in the US. Director Rolland Emmerich takes a light and campy approach with the film and actress Ally Walker highlights the movie with some much needed comic relief while Van Damme sucks in his male ego and allows the script to poke fun of him.
See also Schwarzenegger can't save 'Terminator Genisys' from boring fate
Most Van Damme fans will agree that this is his best film. Although it enjoyed little box office success, it is considered a genre classic by martial arts film enthusiasts for showcasing a large variety of international fighting styles, ranging from Kung Fu to Jeet Kune Do and Muay Thai. Despite a poor box office draw, Bloodsport became one of Dame's first starring vehicles. The films is well known for the appearance of Bolo Yeung playing the villain and Donald Gibb as Ray Jackson. Give credit to Van Damme for fighting for the right to re edit the movie two years after it was shelved and convincing studio heads to finally release it. The film showcased his athletic abilities such as his trademark helicopter-style, jump spinning heel kicks, as his famous trademark splits. Without the release of Bloodsport, the world may never have known Jean Claude.
JCVD
The 2008 French crime film directed by French-Algerian director Mabrouk El Mechri is not your typical Van Damme movie. The film stars Jean Claude as himself a down-and-out action star whose family and career are crumbling around him. Van Damme finds himself caught in the middle of a post office heist in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. This gritty self parody / bio pic is hands down his best film. Guaranteed to be a cult classic upon it's DVD release, the film is smart, funny, adventurous, original and beautiful photographed with a washed out grainy look to accompany an incredible jazzy score. JCVD himself does a decent job in acting, realizing his limitations and never trying to accede them. Inspired by Dog Day Afternoon, it's aggressive directing style and great camera work move the story along and create a pacing that will never leave you bored. Fans of his typical action films may be somewhat disappointed but chances are Van Damme will find a new audience here.
See also The 2014 Action Hero Power Rankings
actionBloodsportDouble ImpactHard TargetJCVDJean Claude Van DammeJohn WooMartial ArtsUniversal Soldier
George A. Romero Sans Zombies


text:
Az NGC 81 egy spirálgalaxis az  (Androméda) csillagképben.

Felfedezése
Az NGC 81 galaxist Ralph Copeland fedezte fel 1873. november 15-én.

Tudományos adatok

A galaxis 6130 km/s sebességgel távolodik tőlünk.

Megfigyelési lehetőség

Források

További információk

NGC 0081
NGC 0081

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I rarely post a blog without a picture and even though this one is meant to be a recap of sorts of the events of last week, I had to include an image of a lightning strike I captured Sunday night. Actually, as I'm writing this in the wee hours of Monday morning, the strike happened less than an hour ago.
We're on vacation in Sedona, back on Tuesday early morning, late last night I saw a storm popping up on radar, I could see flashes from our condo, so I blasted west on 89A and had a field day.
Because of the events of last week, not only was my website slammed with traffic and unusable for me, I was also so busy that I had no time to even think about what was happening. I almost see the website being down as a blessing in disguise, because now I've had a lot of time to think about what it all meant to me.
But if you know me well enough, you'll remember that I love to write, I love to blog, so not being able to do so has been killing me. So let's get down to business.
For those that don't know, my video of the Phoenix Haboob/Dust Storm from last Tuesday night went viral in a matter of hours (along with my cohort Scott Wood's video). From that moment until the weekend, my life became some kind of weird surreal dream that almost feels like never happened to me.
I don't want to write lengthy dissertation here, but I do want to kind of recount what happened, answer some questions and generally share my feelings on all of it.
As with most things that go viral, it's all about being in the right place, at the right time and getting lucky. I was already shooting a sunset timelapse downtown when someone sent me a Twitpic of the duststorm hitting the East Valley. I've been wanting to capture a dust storm or lightning over downtown Phoenix from my favorite spot on 7th ST. and I-10, so I packed everything up and drove down there.
It was after I setup that I realized this dust storm was something different. I didn't have enough tools to capture it correctly. I wanted a wider lens. A second HD video camera. Another camera with a fisheye. I knew what I was seeing was absolutely amazing.
I'd like to clear up one thing though, for those that care. I've gotten a teeny bit of slack out there from people in the comments on blogs, etc., about not capturing the dust actually HITTING me, but instead bailing a few seconds early. In reality, the dust cloud was a lot closer to me off camera to the left than it was in front. After I took the last shot, it was literally five seconds before I was enveloped in complete darkness.
I went home afterwards and put together the timelapse. Scott had already posted his before mine and had already gone viral on his own. The @BreakingNews Twitter account that has 2.7 million followers and RT-ed his video. Wow. Then Gizmodo picked it up. Went nuts.
I got mine up a bit after he did. I posted on Vimeo and embedded it in a blog which turned out awesome (and bad). A SEO lesson to everyone out there…if a major event happens, the most obvious title in the world is going to work best. I called the post "Phoenix Haboob of July 5th, 2011." Guess what everyone was searching for that night? I had Google search results in a matter of minutes. In fact, before midnight I had around 1,000 unique visitors looking for ANYTHING about the dust storm.
Then Gizmodo picked it up. I had posted the video on Vimeo and suddenly it was getting thousands of hits. A friend of mine in Seattle sent me a DM on Twitter saying he saw my name and video on his local news. Wow.
A good guy named Keith over at the Phoenix National Weather Service told me to get my video in the hands of the networks because I should be making money off of it. He helped search for things for me on where to post it. So as I watched Scott's on TWC, gritting my teeth, I submitted the video to CNN, TWC and emailed some contacts at MSNBC. It was 3am when I finally laid down on the couch to catch some sleep.
I decided not to sleep in the bedroom because I thought if the phone rang, I didn't want to wake up the wife.
Sure enough, CNN called at 5:15am.
I honestly don't know if I will ever have a moment quite like that again. Just over two hours of sleep. My phone never rings that early. I did the thing we all do when woken up with a phone and tried to pretend I was wide awake. I failed miserably.
But it was CNN. CN freaking N. Calling me. I honestly couldn't believe it. All I did was submit it to their iReport website. I had been pretty doubtful they'd even notice it.
They did though. And that phone call was amazing. A guy interviewed me quickly about it and said it would be on in about an hour.
Then MSNBC.com called. An hour later my video was on their frontpage next to Casey Anthony.
From there things just got wild. A Skype interview with Today.com's Dara Brown. Then The Weather Channel called to also setup two Skype interviews. Then Channel 3 had me and Scott come down to do an interview. People were calling about getting permission to use it. NBC and the CBS nightly news. John King, sitting in for Anderson Cooper, said my name on CNN.
At the same time, because the video being embedded everywhere had my contact information at the end, my email was out of control. New Twitter followers, Facebook friends, comments on my blog, on my fan page.
The website crashed multiple times. The traffic was overwhelming to my little host's server. We created a single page and moved the website to another host as a temp fix.
I don't even know how to describe that day. Barely any sleep and I forgot to eat until around 2pm. I was in a perpetual state of nervous energy/excitement all day. I'm a guy with a hefty fear of public speaking, and suddenly I had to do live interviews on TWC.
Every single moment of that day was a blessing to me and something I'll never be able to forget. Although, in some ways, it was such a blur I'm surprised I remember anything at all.
As the week went on, the video spread everywhere, all over the world. People were telling me they saw it in Germany and all their friends over there were talking about. New Zealand. Australia. Japan. And as I said, it was on all these major networks, blogs and TV stations.
But to be completely honest, it was a lot of the little things that stood out to me as being the most impactful.
A teacher in the Philippines emailed me to let me know she had shown it to her class of children and they had watched it with mouths wide open. Wow. I got choked up reading that for some reason.
And my friend Josh said he out eating dinner at a sushi bar and some random girl sitting next to him was watching the video on her phone. That was the one story that made me understand just how many people were actually seeing this thing.
Of course, one little tidbit that wasn't exactly small, was former Vice President Al Gore's office emailing me with interest in the video for his presentations. He'd seen it and loved it. That's insane.
There were a lot of cool opportunities presented last week and so the story isn't over yet.
As I said in the beginning of this post, all of this feels like it happened to someone else. It already seems like it was just a weird blip that took place. News happens fast and within a few days, it's not a story anymore. I was eager to get back to normal blogging and posting of photos.
But I am eternally thankful to everyone who supported me, who encouraged me to get the video out there, who called, emailed or showed up at my door with a napkin to jokingly ask for an autograph. There were so many of you who had such amazingly kind words to say to me about the video or about my work in general. A lot of new fans discovering stuff we have in common when it comes to photography. New followers on Twitter. New friends on Facebook.
I appreciate and am grateful to all the local networks, websites, blogs and news stations that showed the video and spread the word. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you.
Thanks to Scott and also Blaine Coury (see his own timelapse here) for their support and friendship throughout this. And to Keith for giving me a kick-start.
But mainly to my wife Jina. I was essentially a non-participant in daily duties last week and into the weekend and she's been amazing throughout the whole thing. I know I gush about her a lot, but without her, this video would never have happened in the first place…and she knows it…and I know it.
And of all the places my video has appeared, nothing was better than Jina writing about me on the Hey Little Birdie blog she helps run.
If anyone has any questions about anything that happened, you can email me or ask in the comments below and I'll do my best to answer it!
So cool, Mike. Thanks for writing this up!
Glad to see you coming up for air, and fascinating to get a bit more of the back story.
Very cool, Mike! I got home to my girlfriend watching your clip over here in NYC, with the Wiki page open on "haboob" heh. Was nuts!
Awesome week indeed. Hopefully there is a night or two without storms this week so you can catch up on some sleep.
Great lightning shot man. And thanks for sharing that story, that is out of control crazy. I'm glad it happened for you – its about time you get some recognition for all that storm chasing stuff. Congrats man!
Congrats Mike! Pretty cool story if you ask me. oh, and killer lightning shot as well!
Thanks for sharing your experience with your viral hit! 🙂 I wonder if they people giving you flack about leaving the scene thought you were inside or something. I totally understand why you had to duck out, but maybe people who don't own cameras just don't get it.
As far as your lightning shot (which is amazing!) how did you keep the exposure open for 30 seconds? I had mine only exposed for 8 with a ISO 100, f 5.6, and some of the lightning in my shots were totally blown out.
Talking to and following you during this whole escapade was amazing. I was proud to tell everyone I could that the "dust storm guy" was a friend of mine. I'm so happy for you with all of this and really enjoyed reading this post. You're on to great things my man.
Congrats Mike, love your work and you been a inspiration to me and I'm sure many others. Well deserved recognition.
Kristihines – not saying this is the case on Mike's pic but I had pretty blown out lightning pics where LR recovery done wonders.
You my friend are an amazing person, luck plays it's part, agreed, but your work shines.
The hard work is paying off 🙂 congratulations !!
Mike man, wow, that is impressive. I was kind of hoping that you would give a write up like this, as I had seen it a couple of different places, and was wondering how it all went down! Congrats 1,000 times to you man, really well deserved, that is certainly an amazing capture. You called it too a couple days ago when I commented on your one time lapse, you said you had one that blew it away! Well, you were right! Congrats again Mike!!
Absolutely incredible story, I felt lucky to have been a little bit behind the scenes with you, but knew that you were off the grid for almost 2 days, I couldn't wait for this blog post that I knew was coming.
Very impressive photos and great story. Well done and deserved.
Fantastic, Mike! I'm so happy that you've written this piece to fill in the bits of information for us. What an incredible story.
I wish you the same good luck for all your future endeavors.
Awesome job Mike! I saw your time lapse up on weather.com! Great job at catching an amazing moment! Both with the habbo and the daily photo for today.
First of all, I am so proud to know you Mike! This is such an amazing story, and I can't even begin to thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us all. I find this story to be so utterly inspiring it's not even funny. What a great thing to happen to a great person! I can't wait to see what shakes out of the tree for you on all this; I have a feeling this is just the very very beginning….
Fantastic! Thanks for the back story! And again … congrats. I'm so thrilled for you!
WOW, what a story! Couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy. Very very happy for you Mike, I'm just sorry I missed it all when it was happening.
Awesome follow-up Mike! That was an insane adventure for sure! Although I only know you through blogging/Facebook, I was proud to tell my friends and familiy that "that video was made by my photog buddy Mike!" Congrats on all the success now and into the future! Killer lightning shot too!
@ Kristi – Well the lightning was off in the distance…I was using my 85mm 1.8. But in reality, I have been using Lightroom A LOT to fix that over-exposed issue. You can lower the exposure, up the clarity and do some things to get it right.
Once again huge congrats. I am just thrilled to bits for you. You caught an amazing event in such a stunning way, that allowed people like myself that live half way round the world ( New Zealand as you know) to witness something incredible so thanks for that. I'm just pleased as punch for you and hope this leads to new levels of success for your Photography.
Probably why you were too busy to return my congrats text. Fun stuff.
Mike, congratulations on this! You definitely deserve it. So cool to read the behind-the-scenes stuff.
That's just awesome Mike, well deserved! Congrats!
Absolutely fantastic!! I loved the video and shared it with everyone I know! I am sure you will get tons of offers and press about it well into the future. Great job my friend!
Incredibly awesome and so many congrats Mike!! I saw your video everywhere and speaking from experience doing interviews all day long the next day as well, I'm so happy to know you locally and SO happy for you for this opportunity. News does happen fast, but EVERYONE I've talked to across the country has seen "that video of the timelapse of the dust storm". And I smile and happily say, "I know that guy!".
So does this make up for the lackluster tornado chasing?
I don't think Reed Timmer has ever been on CNN.


text:
Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been tagged as "commentary"
Black Agenda Radio – 7.18.16
This is Black Agenda Radio, the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. Your hosts are Glen Ford and Nellie Bailey, here they are with a weekly hour of African American political thought and action.
– Something is different in Black America than it was two weeks ago. The police killings of Black men in Baton Rouge and Minneapolis, the massive protests that followed, and Micah Johnson's retaliation against Dallas police, left a distinct mark on the Black psyche. We asked Dr. Anthony Monteiro, the Duboisian scholar and member of the Black Radical Organizing Committee, if he thinks something has changed in the mood and the minds of Black folks?
– Thousands are expected to descend on Philadelphia next week, for protests at the Democratic National Convention. Scott Williams, of the International Action Center, is an organizer for a "Shut Down the DNC" march, on July 26. However, before the protesters can confront the National Democratic Party, they first have to fight with the local Democrats and the police.
– Angelo Brown, a Black father of 15 children who was shot to death by police in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis, was also known as Houdari Juelani, a general in the Revolutionary Black Panther Party. The police claim that Angelo Brown threatened them with a gun. His body showed signs of having been beaten. Dr. Ali Muhammad is Chief General in Command of the Revolutionary Black Panther Party. He's also a doctor of neurological medicine. Dr. Muhammad talks about his slain comrade.
– Mumia Abu Jamal, a veteran of the original Black Panther Party for Self Defense, is glad to report on a victory for a fellow political prisoner.
– The long arm of civil law reaches at least as deep and far as criminal law – and, if you don't have money, you will not find justice in civil law, either. Evictions, home foreclosures, domestic disputes – all of these arenas of conflict come under civil law. David Udell is executive director of the National Center for Access to Justice, located at Cardozo Law School, in New York City. His center has created a Justice Index, that measures access to civil court justice in all 50 states. Udell says the civil law caseload dwarfs the criminal justice system.
Visit the BlackAgendaReport.com, where you'll find a new and provocative issue, each Wednesday.
African AmericanAnalysisAngelo BrownBaton Rougeblack agenda radioblack americaBlack Left PerspectiveBlack Panther Party for Self DefenseBlack psycheBlack Radical Organizing CommitteeCardozo Law SchoolChief General in Commandcivil court justicecommentaryCriminal Justice SystemDavid UdellDemocratic National Conventiondomestic disputesDr. Ali MuhammadDr. Anthony MonteiroEvictionsglen fordhome foreclosuresHoudari JuelaniIllinoisInternational Action CenterMicah JohnsonMinneapolisMumia Abu-JamalNational Democratic Partynellie baileyneurological medicineNew York CitynewsPhiladelphiapolitical thoughtRadio MagazineRevolutionary Black Panther PartyScott WilliamsShut Down the DNC
– In two three weeks, Philadelphia will host the Democratic National Convention and thousands of protesters who would like to shut the whole thing down. We spoke with Erica Mimes, of the Philly Coalition for REAL Justice, part of the People of Color DNC Resistance Against Police Terrorism and State Repression. They've teamed up with "Shut Down DNC" for a march at the height of the convention, on Tuesday, July 26th. But Philadelphia officials have not yet granted them a parade permit. Mimes doesn't expect fairness of the city.
– MONEY makes the world of the Democrats and the Republicans go round, according to Dr. Thomas Ferguson, professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts, at Boston. Dr. Ferguson is author of the book, "The Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money Driven Politics." He says says this election season has been quite unusual, on both sides of the two-party system. Bernie Sanders mounted a challenge to the Democratic establishment with mostly small campaign contributions, and Donald Trump used his personal fortune to raise issues that Republicans hardly ever talk about. Does that mean Donald Trump marches to a different drummer?
– Mumia Abu Jamal, the nation's best known political prisoner, is among the speakers who will address a mass meeting on "The Politics of Incarceration in Palestine and the United States," on July 15th, at the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Educational Center, in New York City. Nyle Forte, a young minister and Phad candidate from Newark, New Jersey, is also a speaker, along with others who recently traveled to Palestine. We asked Nyle Forte what Israeli treatment of Palestinians has to do with mass Black incarceration in the United States.
– On the 4th of July in the year 1852, the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass said, "There is not a nation on earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States at this very hour." We spoke with Margaret Kimberley, Black Agenda Report editor and senior columnist, and asked her if Frederick Douglass's assessment sounds familiar, in the present day.
– Holidays like the 4th of July don't mean much to the 2.2 million people locked up in this country's prisons. Political prison Yan Lahman has for months been denied direct communication with the outside world. His commentary, for Prison Radio, is titled "Prisoners' Voices Blocked and Censorship of U.S. Prisons." It's read by Lynn Stewar, the people's lawyer who has also been a political prisoner, herself.
African American political thoughtAnalysisBernie Sandersblack agenda radioblack agenda reportBlack Left PerspectivecommentaryDemocratic National ConventionDonald TrumpDr. Thomas FergusonErica MimesFrederick Douglasglen fordIsraeliLynn StewarMalcolm X and Betty Shabazz Educational CenterMargaret Kimberleymass Black incarcerationMumia Abu-Jamalnellie baileyNew JerseynewarknewsNyle FortePalestinePalestiniansPeople of Color DNC Resistance Against Police Terrorism and State RepressionPhiladelphiaPhilly CoalitionPolitical prisonPolitical PrisonerPrison RadioPrisoners' Voices Blocked and Censorship of U.S. PrisonsRadio MagazineREAL Justicerepublicanssenior columnistThe Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of Money Driven PoliticsThe Politics of Incarceration in Palestine and the United StatesUnited StatesYan Lahman
– The Great Britain will begin the process of leaving the European Union, after an historic referendum, last week. Capitalists all over the planet are upset. We spoke with Dr. Anthony Monteiro, the Duboisian scholar with the Black Radical Organizing Committee, and asked: "Why are rich people on both sides of the Atlantic so worried about BREXIT.
– In what looked like well-organized political theater, 51 diplomats in the U.S. State Department acted more like employees of the Pentagon, this month. They sent an orchestrated message through the departments complaint channels, calling on the U.S. to launch a bombing campaign against the government of Syria. Meanwhile, U.S. war planes came to the defense of al Qaida terrorists who are under attack by Russian air forces. Sara Flounders, of UNAC, the United National Anti-War Coalition, says the State Department letter-signers are risking war with Russia to save U.S.-backed jihadists in Syria.
– The prosecution against the cops involved in the killing of Freddie Gray, in Baltimore, is batting zero. A judge last week acquitted a police officer of depraved heart murder charges in Grays death. Carl Dix, of the Stop Mass Incarceration Network, spoke to us outside the courtroom.
– Bernie Sanders has conceded that he won't be the Democratic presidential candidate – and, lots of his supporters are in mourning. But Mumia Abu Jamal, the nation's best-known political prisoner, says activists must look "Beyond Bernie."
– Some temporary employment agencies exclude Black job applicants. Instead, they send Latino workers to fill jobs for their clients. Alva Ayala is an attorney for the Workers Law Office, in Chicago. His firm has sued six temporary employment agencies and many of their clients for refusing to hire Blacks. Ayala says temp agencies do the employers' dirty work, providing companies with the most insecure and easily exploitable workers.
51 diplomatsAfrican Americanal Qaida terroristsAlva AyalaAnalysisBaltimoreBernie Sandersblack agenda radioBlack Left PerspectiveBlack Radical Organizing CommitteeBlackAgendaReport.comBut Mumia Abu JamalCapitalistscarl dixChicagocommentarycomplaint channelsDemocratic presidentialDr. Anthony MonteiroDuboisian scholaremployment agenciesEuropean Unionfreddie grayglen fordGreat BritainjihadistsLatino workersnellie baileynewspentagonRussiaSara FloundersStop Mass Incarceration NetworkSyriatemp agenciesUNACUnited National Anti-War CoalitionWorkers Law Office
– The People's Organization for Progress, POP, does not hesitate to demonstrate, whether it's marking the anniversary of the 1967 rebellion in Newark, New Jersey, or protesting President Obama's attempt to cut Social Security. Recently, POP hit the streets to protest New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's executive order that sets up a blacklist of companies that have agreed to Boycott, Divest and Sanction Israel. Larry Hamm is chairman of POP. He's also a Bernie Sanders delegate to the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
– The City of Philadelphia is welcoming the Democrats to town, but the welcome mat does not extend to protest marchers. Cheri Honkala is a longtime poor people's activist, based in Philadelphia.
– The Democratic Party's presumptive presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, ran the Caribbean country of Haiti with an iron fist when she was Secretary of State. Clinton helped to engineer the rise to the presidency of Michel "Sweet Mickey" Martelly, who was finally forced out of power by popular demand, this year. Nikolas Barry-Shaw, a Voting Rights Associate with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, says Clinton's record in Haiti is an embarrassment to her campaign, which would prefer that Haiti not be in the news.
– Gunmen riddled the home of Haitian presidential candidate Dr. Maryse Narcisse, who represents Fanmi Lavalas, the political party of former President Jean Bertrand Aristide, who was overthrown by a U.S.-backed coup in 2004. Aristides' party has been banned from most elections since then. We spoke with Pierre Labossier, of the Haiti Action Committee. He says the U.S. State Department fought tooth and nail to try to force the Haitian people to accept the results of last year's rigged elections.
– New federal rules would make it harder for people to get payday loans at usurious interest rates. Matt Stannard is Policy Director of Commonomics USA. He'd like to get rid of payday loans altogether, and providing alternative financing to poor people.
African Americanalternative financingAnalysisBernie Sandersblack agenda radioBlack Left PerspectiveBlackAgendaReport.comCheri HonkalacommentaryDemocratic National ConventionDr. Maryse NarcisseFanmi Lavalasglen fordhaitiHaiti Action CommitteeHillary ClintonInstitute for JusticeLarry Hammmatt stannardMichel "Sweet Mickey" Martellynellie baileyNew JerseynewarknewsNikolas Barry-ShawPeople's Organization for ProgressPhiladelphiaPolicy Director of Commonomics USAPolitical Partypolitical thoughtPresident Jean Bertrand AristideRadio MagazineSecretary of StateSocial SecurityVoting Rights Associate
Ask Beatty – 06.13.16
50 innocent people murdered in a LGBT club in Orlando by an ISIS sympathizer.
College Sexual Assault… The Brock Turner Case.
Commentary about a New York Times article, Why You Will Marry the Wrong Partner.
Tune in and listen to Beatty's psychological analysis and commentary about these stories and more!
ask beattybeatty cohanCollege Sexual Assaultcommentaryisisnew york timesprnProgressive Radio Newtorkm LGBTpsychological analysissympathizerThe Brock Turner CaseWhy You Will Marry the Wrong Partner
Welcome, this is Black Agenda Radio, the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. Your hosts are Glen Ford and Nellie Bailey, here they are with a weekly hour of African American political thought and action
– The FBI has stepped up its sting operations against Muslim Americans to implicate them in plots against the United States. Civil liberties organizations say almost every so-called "terrorist plot" between 9/11 and the year 2010 was in some way assisted, or even cooked up, by the FBI. We spoke with Sue Udry, executive director of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee. She says most of the FBI's cases involve entrapment.
– The Black Is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations is preparing to hold a national conference in Philadelphia, August 13 and 14, to begin the process of crafting a National Black Political Agenda for Self-Determination. Black Is Back Coalition chairman Omali Yeshitela explains.
– A leading prison reform organization is calling for a much broader presidential clemency policy, one that would release whole categories of federal prisoners, rather than setting people free on a one-at-a-time, individual basis. Marc Mauer, of The Sentencing Project, says what's needed is big, bold actions like President Gerald Ford's clemency for draft resisters, back in 1974. However, the Obama administration went into court to prevent the wholesale release of people convicted under old crack cocaine laws. As a result, thousands of federal crack cocaine prisoners remain incarcerated. Marc Mauer wants a much more categorical approach to clemency.
– Blacks in the South American nation of Colombia joined with indigenous Colombians to block roads, in protest of encroachments on their land by multinational corporations, and threats by death squads employed by the rich. Ajamu Baraka is a Black Agenda Report editor and columnist, a founder of the U.S. Human Rights Network, and also a member of the Afro-Colombian Solidarity Network, a U.S. coalition that advocates for the rights of Black people in Colombia. Baraka says Afro-Colombians also have conflicts with FARC, the guerilla force that has been fighting the Colombian government for decades, and has its own plans for land reform. Baraka explains the complexities of the conflict.
African AmericanAnalysisblack agenda radioCivil libertiescommentaryglen fordMuslim Americansnellie baileynewspolitical thoughtRadio MagazineUnited States
Welcome, this is Black Agenda Radio, the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I'm Glen Ford with my co-host, Nellie Bailey., here is a weekly hour of African American political thought and action
– Former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney says Black people have no stake in the Republican or Democratic parties. McKinney was the Green Party's presidential candidate in 2008. She has since earned her PhD in Leadership and Change. We asked McKinney if she has ever seen anything like the current disarray in both major parties this election season?
– Political activists from around the nation are planning to be in Philadelphia, in late July, for the Democratic National convention. Dr. Anthony Monteiro is a native Philadelphian, a member of the Black Radical Organizing Committee, and one of the organizers of last January's national conference on the Black Radical Tradition. Dr. Monteiro says this is the most "consequential" election season in, perhaps, a century.
– Rev. Edward Pinkney is serving a sentence of 30 months to ten years in prison for allegedly tampering with a voter petition in his hometown of Benton Harbor, Michigan. The mostly Black city has long been under the thumb of the Whirlpool Corporation. Rev. Pinkney spoke to Prison Radio on how he became a political prisoner.
– Studies show that Black girls are suspended or expelled from school at six times the rate of white girls. Education Week magazine spoke with researchers on the causes of these wildly disproportionate punishments. Adrienne Dixson, a professor of Critical Race Theory at the University Illinois.
– The United States seems to be closer to its long time goal of overthrowing the left wing government in Venezuela. The Venezuelans say Washington is gearing up for a military intervention. Utrice Leid, host of Leid Stories, on the Progressive Radio Network, recently interviewed Dr. Gerald Horne, a professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Houston.
Be sure to visit us at BlackAgendaReport.com, where you'll find a new and provocative issue, each Wednesday. That's www.BlackAgendaReport.com. It's the place for news, commentary and analysis, from the Black Left.
Adrienne DixsonAfrican American political thoughtBenton Harborblack agenda radioBlack Left PerspectiveBlack Radical Organizing CommitteeBlack Radical TraditioncommentaryCritical Race TheoryCynthia McKinneyDemocraticDemocratic National ConventionDr. Anthony MonteiroDr. Gerald HorneEducation WeekGeorgia congresswomanglen fordGreen Partyleid storiesMichigannellie baileyPhiladelphiapolitical activistsPolitical PrisonerPresidential candidatePrison RadioprnProgressive Radio NetworkRadio MagazineRepublicanRev. Edward PinkneyUniversity IllinoisUniversity of Houstonutrice leidVenezuelaWashingtonWhirlpool Corporation
Black Agenda Radio – 05.30.16
Welcome to Black Agenda Radio, the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective. I'm Glen Ford, with my co-host, Nellie Bailey and this is a weekly hour of African American political thought and action.
– Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein took her cause to the annual Left Forum conference, in New York City. Stein and her party still have to contend with Democrats who claim third parties are spoilers that only help the Republicans.
– Black Agenda Report executive editor Glen Ford appeared on the same panel with Dr. Stein. The event was titled "Can Bernie Sanders Build Left and Black Power?" Ford said Sanders is a Franklin Roosevelt New Deal-type politician who thinks the bankers are necessary to society. So, Sanders doesn't really want to hurt the bankers too much. Most importantly, said Ford, Sanders is a Democrat.
– Charter school companies are now operating so-called "virtual schools" that have no classrooms or buildings, but only exist on the Internet. However, the charter operators are paid public money for each student, just like conventional public schools. David Cohen is executive director of the advocacy group, In The Public Interest. He says an outfit called California Virtual Academies graduates less than half of its students, and is accused of inflating its online attendance to collect thousands of dollars from the state. According to the San Jose Mercury newspaper, the Virtual Academies count students as "present" if they log on for as little as one minute during the school day. David Cohen says the online charter is run by a for-profit company called K-12 Inc.
– Most people think that the developing world is short of money, and that cash flows from the rich countries of Western Europe and the United States. But the opposite is true. According to James Henry, an expert on global banking, the rich countries are extracting fantastic amounts of cash from the developing world, including from Russia and China. Henry says the flow of money to the rich countries amounts to about $12 trillion a year.
Be sure to visit us at BlackAgendaReport.com, where you'll find a new and provocative issue, each Wednesday. It's the place for news, commentary and analysis, from the Black Left.
African American political thoughtAnalysisbankersBernie Sandersblack agenda radioblack agenda reportBlack Left PerspectiveBlack PowerCalifornia Virtual AcademiesCharter schoolChinacommentaryDavid CohendemocratsFranklin Rooseveltglen fordglobal bankingGreen Party presidential candidateIn The Public InterestInternetJames HenryJill SteinLeft Forum conferencenellie baileyNew York CitynewsPoliticianprnProgressive Radio Networkpublic schoolsRadio MagazinerepublicansRussiaSan Jose Mercury newspaperUnited Statesvirtual schoolsWestern Europe
Welcome, to the radio magazine that brings you news, commentary and analysis from a Black Left perspective with Glen Ford and his co-host, Nellie Bailey.
– The Belgians, who killed at least twelve million Congolese when they colonized that country, now play the role of global victim, in the wake of an attack by the Islamic State. We spoke with Arun Kundnani, author of the book, "The Muslims are Coming: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror." Kundnani is a British citizen of Indian extraction, who lecturers at New York University. He says Europe and the United States have earned their enemies.
– Black Agenda Report editor and columnist Ajamu Baraka, a co-founder of the U.S. Human Rights Network, recently returned from Europe where he attended the 15th anniversary of the United Nations World Conference Against Racial Discrimination, which was first held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001. Baraka was also on hand for the UN's Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Atlantic Slave Trade.
– The City Council of Newark, New Jersey, unanimously voted into law Mayor Ras Baraka's Civilian Police Review Board. The People's Organization for Progress, POP, is one of the community groups that will have a seat on the board. POP chairman Larry Hamm was pleasantly surprised at the city council's action.
– President Obama's team is busy polishing up his legacy, which means there will be lots of white-washing of the First Black President 8-year record in office. Black Agenda Report managing editor Bruce Dixon says, Obama should be remembered for the huge damage he has done to public education.
– Host Glen Ford with a commentary on President Obama going to Cuba and him having a White House reporter ask President Raul Castro about political prisoners.
Ajamu BarakaArun KundnaniAtlantic slave tradeBelgiansblack agenda radioBlack Agenda Report managing editor Bruce DixonBlack Left PerspectiveCivilian Police Review BoardcommentaryCongoleseCubaDurbanglen fordglobal victimIslamic stateMayor Ras Barakanellie baileyNew Jerseypolitical prisonersPOPPOP chairman Larry HammPresident ObamaPresident Raul CastroprnProgressive Radio Networkpublic educationRadio MagazineSouth AfricaThe City Council of NewarkThe Muslims are Coming! Islamophobia Extremism and the Domestic War on TerrorThe People's Organization for ProgressU.S. Human Rights NetworkUN's Day of RemembranceUnited Nations World Conference Against Racial DiscriminationUnited StatesVictims of SlaveryWhite House reporter
The Gary Null Show – 07.24.15
All the latest for you in health and healing – information on living a longer and happier life to start your weekend, including real talk on reversal of diabetes versus harmful medications. Then, there's a vitamin that destroys cancer cells? Plus fresh commentary and perspectives on world and political issues, including the plight of food waste in America, and the truthful motivations behind popular opinions on vaccination. And much more from your empowerment hour!
commentaryenvironmentgary nullhealinghealthjohn oliver


text:
Working to deliver value to signatories
Fiona Reynolds, Managing Director
The last financial year has been a busy time for the PRI, we have seen near record growth in our signatory base. Assets Under Management (AUM) of signatories signed up to the Principles has surpassed US$ 45 trillion. We have also begun our policy work, recently publishing a discussion paper on long-term mandates.
By far the PRI's biggest achievement however was the official launch of our new signatory Reporting Framework last October. For the first time this year, almost 800 signatories from over 30 countries have publicly disclosed their progress towards implementing responsible investment. Signatories will begin to receive their assessment reports in October. Whilst reporting has not been without its controversy, we are proud of the huge steps that have been taken towards transparency by investors on responsible investment.
In addition to the 14 collaborative engagements currently coordinated by the PRI, we recently launched a new engagement at the White House to align with the launch of the US Climate Data Initiative's food security project. This PRI-led engagement focuses on improving the disclosure and management of water risks in companies' agricultural supply chains and will focus on listed companies in the food, beverage, apparel, retail and agricultural product sectors globally.
Paving our path forward
The PRI is in the process of developing a new three-year strategy to guide our work between 2015 and 2018. The theme of our new strategy is moving from awareness to impact. With nearly 1,300 signatories, the PRI has played a significant role in raising awareness of responsible investment. However, signing on to a set of Principles is one thing, seeing impact from our work and assisting signatories to implement responsible investment across their portfolios is another.
There has been – and will continue to be – significant signatory involvement in this process. We have reviewed the feedback from this year's signatory survey carefully. Not all of our signatories are at the same level of understanding or implementation when it comes to responsible investment, and nor do we expect them to be. The PRI therefore needs to have a far more targeted approach to its work, tailored across regions, signatory types, size and level of sophistication. We also need to expand our presence geographically, in the United States and Asia-Pacific in particular. This will be a key focus over the next 3 years.
In parallel with our work on the new strategy, we must look at the signatory base resourcing and finances required to deliver on our growing programme of work.
I look forward to continuing to gain insights from PRI signatories, ensuring the programme of planned work meets their needs. Additionally, I will ensure that communication channels remain open between signatories and the PRI as we continue our journey toward mainstreaming responsible investment.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderfully dedicated staff at the PRI for another solid year's work. It has been a year of change and not without its challenges. I would also like to the thank the PRI Board and Advisory Council for dedicating so much time to the initiative and to taking on the task of reviewing and renewing our governance. Thank you to Wolfgang Engshuber, whose term as Chair of the Advisory Council ended in March this year, and a particular thank you to Glen Saunders, who will stand down as Board Chair in September, his assistance and guidance has been greatly appreciated. I also welcome Martin Skancke aboard and look forward to working with him.
Finally, thank you to all our signatories, particularly those of you who volunteer your time to participate in our collaborative engagements, working groups and steering committees. We have produced some great work this year, including a number of successful collaborative engagements, guidance documents and case studies across a range of topics with significant leadership in both the fixed income and private equity work streams that I encourage all signatories to review.
An ambitious agenda for reform and renewal
Martin Skancke, Advisory Council Chair
Joining in April this year as both Chair of the Advisory Council and member of the Board has given me an opportunity to review and reflect on the PRI's progress. While the initiative has enjoyed remarkable growth since its inception in 2006, there is still a long journey ahead of us to mainstream responsible investment across the globe.
Many of the challenges we face as investors relate to overcoming various principal-agent problems which exist between asset owners, their managers, and the managers of investee companies. Managers of companies can be incentivised to find a cost-effective, short-term solution to a problem that may not be in the long-term interests of the asset owner, who may care more about the sustainability of a broader set of assets, and the system itself, over a much longer time horizon.
Asset owners are often trying to address such problems through an investment manager and with the assistance of various service providers. This is why I think we will make greater progress towards responsible investing practise if asset owners, investment managers and service providers work together on these issues within the PRI. However, the PRI will not work at all unless its work remains relevant and attractive to asset owners.
Reform and renewal
At last year's Signatory General Meeting (SGM), the PRI announced plans to review its governance structure. I see this review as an imperative for the initiative – as do our signatories, which can be seen in the results of this year's satisfaction survey. I would like to thank all signatories who have been involved in the review to date. We will be presenting the recommendations from the Advisory Council, guided by the feedback we have received from signatories, at this years' SGM in September. I look forward to delivering a fit-for-purpose governance structure for the PRI that is built on the principles of transparency and accountability.
As outlined by Fiona, the PRI is in the process of setting out the strategy to guide our work in the 2015-2018 period. There will be significant signatory involvement in this process. We have also studied the feedback from the signatory survey carefully. In parallel with our work on the new strategy, we must look at the resourcing and finances required to meet the expectations you have. A revised model for funding the PRI will be presented to signatories at the SGM.
By the start of our next financial year on 1 April 2015, our aim is to have in place a new governance structure, a new threeyear strategy and a revised funding model. This is an ambitious agenda for reform and renewal. It will require significant effort from the PRI and its governing bodies as well as input from and interaction with our signatories. I invite you all to contribute to this work.
Forging closer ties with the United Nations
The past year has seen the Board, Advisory Council and Executive working hard to further strengthen ties with our UN partners. Through the collaborative projects, reports and initiatives outlined in this report, we have made considerable progress to building stronger relationships, including a joint Board and Council meeting in July of this year which was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. A continued close relationship with our UN partners has also been one of the guiding principles for the governance review.
Finally, I would like to thank Glen Saunders for serving as Chair of the Board and the value he has added during this time. Glen will be finishing his Board term in September this year, at which point I will step into this role, pending signatory agreement on a new governance model. Wolfgang Engshuber finished his term as Advisory Council Chair in April, and I thank him for his contribution to the PRI during his time. I would also like to thank Else Bos (PGGM), John Oliphant (GEPF), Luciane Ribeiro (Santander Asset Management), Marcel Barros (PREVI, Paul Abberley (Charles Stanley & Co. Limited) and Priya Sara Mathur, Advisory Council (CaIPERS), whose terms of appointment expire this year, for their valuable contribution to the PRI.
Let me also thank Fiona and her team for their hard work in a challenging year for the PRI. As outlined in this report, the PRI has continued to deliver value to its signatories through a high level of activity in parallel with the reform work we are undertaking. This would not be possible without the dedication of our staff members.
PRI Annual Report 2014
PDF, Size 8.12 mb
The PRI will continue to guide, support and represent signatories to the six Principles, but as ever the real work is done by our signatories themselves. This international community of forward-thinking investors continues to drive responsible investment forwards. We look forward to making more progress together in the years ahead. ...
As we look back over the past year, delivering on the ambitious agenda outlined in our Blueprint for responsible investment has been the focus of much of our work.
Delivering an ambitious agenda
More About the PRI
The PRI defines responsible investment as a strategy and practice to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions and active ownership.
The PRI is funded primarily via the annual membership fee payable by all signatories.
The six Principles for Responsible Investment are a voluntary and aspirational set of investment principles that offer a menu of possible actions for incorporating ESG issues into investment practice.