text:
Culture Conference New York 2023
Webinars / Podcasts
Daily Newswire
Top 50 U.S./Americas
Executive Search Review
About Hunt Scanlon Media
View our Events
Newswire Archive
Leadership Reports
2023 Complete Guide to Americas Leading Executive Recruiters
2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report
2022 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Study Part II
2022 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Study Part I
2022 Private Equity Recruiting Report
2022 Healthcare and Life Sciences Report
2022 Higher Education Talent Leadership Report
Private Equity Recruiting 'Power 100'
Financial Sixty
Life Sciences Healthcare Top 50
Non-Profit Top 60
Top 50 Higher Education Recruiters
HR/Diversity Power 65
Cleantech/Sustainability Top 25
The Cyber 40
Canada Top 60
The Government 20
Top 40 Sports, Media & Entertainment
Hanold Associates Recruits Eight Women Directors to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Board
The search firm's picks bring greater inclusivity and engagement to the board of an organization focused on social justice. The eight new directors, all women, range from investment leaders to human rights advocates to professional sports executives.
February 6, 2020 – At a time when women continue to make slow progress in winning seats in the boardroom, Chicago-based Hanold Associates has made a powerful statement by recruiting eight women to serve in directorships at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a non-profit advocacy organization.
Among the women: Nelda Connors, Kim Davis, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Cara Kennedy-Cuomo, Betty Liu, Sushma Raman, Maryann Turcke and Randi Weingarten. Jason Hanold and Sandra Peña led the assignment.
"Prior to this search, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights board was composed of 80 percent men, so they were focused with purpose and discipline on enhancing the diversity of the board," said Mr. Hanold. The organization noted that the new board members bring to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights a diversity of strengths and a common commitment to human rights, social justice and the belief that every person can make a difference.
"Diverse perspectives that are informed by dimensionally diverse backgrounds fuels smarter, more productive and more successful boards, teams and organizations," said Mr. Hanold. "For those who share a growth-mindset, richly diverse boards and teams are simply more interesting." And that, he said, "drives greater board member engagement and retention. The more diverse tends to directly correlate to the spirit of inclusivity that follows, and the organization and its respective stakeholder benefit. This is true for all organizations whether not-for-profit or for-profit."
The search for these new directors moved at an accelerated rate. "We backed into formal board vote/elections on the morning of Dec. 13," Mr. Hanold said. "I believe we started in late September/early October, so from start to finish this took us about two and a half months to complete." Kerry Kennedy, president of the organization, was instrumental in driving the process with John Rogers (who serves as CEO of Ariel Investments and is a Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights trustee) and Robert Smith (who serves as CEO of Vista Equity Partners and is chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights board).
"Expanding our board is an important step forward for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, allowing us to deepen our commitment to the vital work my father started more than 50 years ago," said Ms. Kennedy. "The insight and leadership of these outstanding women will be invaluable in our fight for a more just and peaceful world."
"We're delighted to announce our latest board members, accomplished leaders who recognize the need for social justice and are bold enough to partner with us on the front lines," said Mr. Smith.
New Women Directors
The board of directors' composition encompasses leaders from varied sectors, including those in corporate, human rights, entertainment and the public sector. Members are identified and selected based on their demonstrated interest and commitment to social justice and advancing the legacy and vision of Robert F. Kennedy.
Independent Directors, Women and Minorities See Board Gains
Heeding the calls of stakeholders, S&P 500 boards are accelerating the addition of diverse directors, according to the latest Spencer Stuart U.S. Board Index. A record-breaking 59 percent of new independent directors hired were women or minority men. Let's take a closer look at the findings.
Ms. Connors is founder and CEO of Pine Grove Holdings, an investment firm that has overseen transactions representing over $300 million. She has more than 25 years of technical and operating experience, primarily in the automotive and diversified industrials markets, having held high-level positions at Atkore International, Eaton Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Chrysler Corp. Her recognized expertise and sought-after strategic counsel have led to her inclusion on the public boards of directors of Boston Scientific, Delphi Technologies, Echo Global Logistics and EnerSys.
Ms. Davis is an executive vice president for the NHL, responsible for social impact, growth initiatives and legislative affairs. Reporting to commissioner Gary Bettman, she exerts a positive influence over 32 NHL clubs' owners and executives regarding decisions relating to culture, youth participation and social impact in an effort to improve access to and availability of the sport as well as grow the league's business for the long term. Ms. Davis is considered a trailblazer and change agent who has positively disrupted the financial industry and the world of sports during her 30-plus-year career.
Ms. Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase Consumer Banking at JPMorgan Chase, is widely recognized as a leading executive in the financial industry. Building on her passion for financial inclusion and empowerment, she drives the bank's development of new tools, products, and thought leadership to build financial health and wealth for consumers. She is executive sponsor of JPMorgan Chase's Advancing Black Pathways program and Fellowship Initiative, as well as a founding member of Women on the Move, which all offer women and people of color opportunities for mentorship and advancement in their personal lives and professional careers.
Ms. Kennedy-Cuomo is an associate at 17 Asset Management, a global firm that designs and manages investments. She is also a partner at Sahar Global Summits, where she leads the group's diversity and inclusion division. Ms. Kennedy-Cuomo has also worked for Jeffrey Sachs on international development efforts, for which she lived in Rwanda, Malaysia and Colombia. With Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, she has joined delegations fighting for LGBTQ rights in Uganda, environmental rights in Ecuador, and protesting the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Ms. Liu is the chief experience officer at Intercontinental Exchange and executive vice chairman for NYSE Group. In both roles, she enhances and innovates the customer experience across the entire organization and helps elevate relationships with the C-suite of the exchange's thousands of business partners. Prior to joining the NYSE in 2018, Ms. Liu was an award-winning business journalist, anchoring "Daybreak Asia" and "In the Loop" for Bloomberg Television.
Related: Recruiters Up Their Game in Diversity
Ms. Raman is executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, brings a rich and diverse background in philanthropy, human rights and social justice through her work in the U.S. and globally with the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations, as well as her experience leading human rights programs, philanthropic collaboratives and social justice foundations. Ms. Raman has served as a judge for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights international human rights award and has taught graduate public policy courses on global civil society, the state and the NGO sector; intersectoral leadership; and non-profit policy and management at the University of Southern California and the University of California at Los Angeles.
Ms. Turcke is COO of the NFL, overseeing all facets of the operation including marketing, technology, social and digital media assets, brand, global events and corporate functions including human resources, and public and government affairs. Prior to the NFL, she was president of Bell Media, Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media, where she leveraged Bell Media properties and brands across all platforms to support its strong position in the competitive advertising marketplace. Ms. Turcke also serves on the boards of the Royal Bank of Canada and is an active community member of Queen's University, serving as chair of its Smith School of Business Advisory Board and in contributing to the leadership of the capital campaign for its Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.
Tackling Gender Imbalance between Boards and Executive Teams
Much has been written about gender diversity in the boardrooms of the world's largest companies. But all of the focus on boards tends to detract from a much bigger issue – the troubling state of gender balance in top leadership teams. Board diversity is celebrated in annual reports and, for many companies, achieving a 40 percent female ratio on a main board is now viewed as a "healthy balance."
Recent analysis of this year's Fortune 100 by Armstrong Craven shows that only 25 percent of the overall leadership population is female and only nine percent of commercial and business roles are held by women.
Ms. Weingarten is president of the 1.7 million-member American Federation of Teachers, an organization that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for students, families and communities. Ms. Weingarten has launched major efforts to place real education reform and community engagement high on the nation's and her union's agendas, creating the AFT Innovation Fund to support sustainable, innovative and collaborative education reform projects.
Continuing to Drive Results
"Kerry Kennedy and the leaders involved with Robert F Kennedy Human Rights are so focused and involved in the field in the fight against social injustice and elevating human rights, both domestically and globally, that it distracts from the mission in thinking about board recruiting beyond their existing networks," said Mr. Hanold. "Most organizations face the same issue. In examining the board composition that consists of some of the best leaders, philanthropists and contributors in our country, Kerry, along with board members recognized that the experience, industry and gender composition has grown unbalanced."
Related: Record Number of Women Win Directorships but Gender Parity Lags
"We offered to help, not just for one election cycle, but for the next few cycles, the restore the ideal diversity of the board composition by ethnicity, gender, industry and geography," he said. "It simply makes for a more inclusive, better performing board.
"We will continue our work in helping to enhance their board over the coming year, and we are finding a significant level of interest in the mission, by incredibly talented and 'in-demand' executives," Mr. Hanold said.
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy's dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, it advocates for key human rights issues, pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world.
Hanold Associates is a retained boutique executive search firm focused on HR and diversity and inclusion officers. Its client list is diverse across industries, geographies and business scenarios, and culture is at the core of everything the firm does. Their clients include the National Football League, Domino's Pizza, Under Armour, Patagonia, Gucci, Kohler, REI, Live Nation Entertainment, Major League Baseball, Kellogg, Apollo, Blackstone, TPG, L Catterton, Northwestern University, Electronic Arts, Fiat-Chrysler, Kohler, SC Johnson, eBay, Great Place To Work, Fossil, Vail Resorts, Edward Jones, AbbVie, Carnival Corp., Google, Biogen, Allstate, Bridgestone, Wikimedia, CNA Insurance, Cummins, Tyson, ClubCorp, CDW and Nike, among others.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
Check Out These Related Articles on Women's Progress on Boards:
Progress Slowing for Women on Corporate Boards Global Boards Step Up Efforts to Broaden Roles for Women Boards Seek Diversity With Help of Executive Recruiters
Boyden Seeking Chief Technology Officer for the City of Vancouver
Ellig Group Appoints Global Advisory Services Practice Leader
A Look at the 2023 Job Market
Lochlin Partners Fills Senior Post for Business Roundtable
Klein Hersh Recruits CFO for Apogee Therapeutics
Website URL (Optional)
Life Sci./Healthcare Top 50
Financial Fifty
Cyber Technology Top 40
Private Equity Recruiting 'Power 75'
Executive Compensation Benchmarks & Search Outlook for 2022
© Hunt Scanlon Media - Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.
About Hunt Scanlon


Items where Author is "Amelio, Andrea"
Amelio, Andrea and Jullien, Bruno (2012) Tying and Freebies in Two-Sided Markets. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 30 (n°5). pp. 436-446.
This list was generated on Wed Apr 24 05:11:18 2019 CEST.


Okay, see this red cross-hair? You should shoot now, damaging the enemy is guaranteed!
I like the load screens!
Another seduction part of the story. This girl looks really cute. Rotate and zoom the camera to get a good view!


Attend TechTown's First Friday networking event to hear stories from successful Detroit entrepreneurs who've plugged into the green movement, and also get tips from the pros on opportunities for entrepreneurs like you.
Carla Walker-Miller, President and CEO, Walker-Miller Energy Services, LLC. Walker-Miller Energy Services provides traditional as well as renewable and sustainable energy solutions for utilities, corporations, organizations and institutions. Under her leadership, the company experienced double-digit growth, earning both local and national recognition as an innovative company to watch. Walker-Miller is founder and executive director of the Water Assistance Volunteer Effort, which helps low-income Detroit families maintain access to water and sewerage services.
Todd Scott, Detroit Greenways Coordinator, Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. Scott chairs the Detroit Greenways Coalition, which works to improve and promote biking, walking and other active transportation options in Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park. He co-chairs the Built Environment committee of the Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative, which promotes active lifestyles by building greenways and trails. Previously, Scott was executive director of the Michigan Mountain Biking Association.
Cost: $5. For more information, click here.


text:
At least seven people have sustained injuries when Saudi regime forces carried out an operation in the kingdom's oil-rich Eastern Province as the Riyadh regime presses ahead with its brutal clampdown against pro-democracy campaigners and political dissidents.
The Arabic-language Ahrar television network, in a post published on its official Twitter page on Wednesday, reported that Saudi troopers raided a house behind Fatah Mosque in the Kawkab neighborhood of Qatif region, located more than 420 kilometers (260 miles) east of the capital Riyadh, leaving a number of people injured.
There were reportedly elderly people among those injured.
Saudi Arabia has recently stepped up politically-motivated arrests, prosecution, and conviction of peaceful dissident writers and human rights campaigners.
Saudi officials have also intensified security measures in the kingdom's Shia-populated Eastern Province.
Eastern Province has been the scene of peaceful demonstrations since February 2011. Protesters have been demanding reforms, freedom of expression, the release of political prisoners, and an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region.
The protests have been met with a heavy-handed crackdown by the regime. Regime forces have increased security measures across the province.
Over the past years, Riyadh has also redefined its anti-terrorism laws to also target activism.
In January 2016, Saudi authorities executed Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, who was an outspoken critic of the policies of the Riyadh regime. Nimr had been arrested in Qatif in 2012.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Duncan Dunbar (II) (* 9. September 1803 in Limehouse, Middlesex; † 6. März 1862 in Paddington, London) war ein britischer Reeder und Händler.

Leben
Dunbar wurde 1803 in Limehouse als ältester Sohn des Brauers und Spirituosenhändlers Duncan Dunbar (I) geboren. Mit sieben oder acht Jahren wurde er zur Forres grammar School in Forres geschickt. Drei Jahre später wurde Dunbar an der Privatakademie von Reverend Patrick Forbes in Boharm unterrichtet. Nach zwei Jahren im Alter von 13 besuchte Dunbar die Universität von Aberdeen, wohin auch sein Lehrer Forbes gezogen war und nach zwei weiteren Jahren verließ er Aberdeen und begann eine kaufmännische Ausbildung im elterlichen Betrieb in London.

Mit 21 Jahren wurde Duncan als Partner seines Vaters und im Jahr darauf starb Dunbar Senior und sein Sohn führte das Geschäft weiter. 1827 erwarb Dunbar die Hälfte eines kleinen Handelsseglers, der Belzoni und betrieb diese über mehrere Jahre. Von 1835 bis 1842 wuchs die Flotte auf elf Einheiten und in den folgenden Jahren baute Dunbar die Reederei mit der weltweit größten Handelsflotte auf. Zwischen 1849 und 1859 wurden neun Schiffe auf Dunbar's eigener Werft in Moulmein in Burma gebaut. Zum Höhepunkt zählte die Reederei 43 Schiffe und in den späten 1850er Jahren wurden immer noch mehr als 40 Segler betrieben. Im Jahr 1852 gründete Dunbar die London Chartered Bank of Australia, deren Vorsitz er bis zu seinem Tod innehatte.

Im November 1862 starb Duncan Dunbar in seinem Haus in Porchester Terrace, Paddington. Da sich kein Nachfolger für den kompletten Betrieb fand, wurde Dunbars 39 Einheiten umfassende Flotte in den beiden Jahren nach seinem Tod veräußert und die Reederei aufgelöst. Dunbars Geschäftsführer Edward Gellatly übernahm 13 Schiffe seines ehemaligen Arbeitgebers und gründete die Reederei Gellatly, Hankey & Sewell, die später im Unternehmen Esperenza International Service aufging.

Kontorflagge

Die Hausflagge der Reederei zeigte auf blauem Untergrund einen schottischen Löwen vor einem Wappenschild unter gekreuzten Schlüssel und Schwert. Darüber war der lateinische Wahlspruch Sub Spe auf einer Banderole abgebildet.

Literatur
 Frederic Boase: Modern English Biography, Band 5, Frank Cass, London, 1965, S. 165.

Weblinks
 David Dunbar-Nasmith: On Duncan Dunbar I and II - Duncan Dunbar and his Ships (englisch)

Einzelnachweise

Reeder (Vereinigtes Königreich)
Brite
Geboren 1803
Gestorben 1862
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Tracy Chapman's This Day In Country Music History 6/21/18
Welcome To Thursday June 21st' Lets All Celebrate
NATIONAL SELFIE DAY | NATIONAL DUMP THE PUMP DAY | NATIONAL ARIZONA DAY | SUMMER BEGINS | NATIONAL SEASHELL DAY | NATIONAL DAY OF THE GONG | NATIONAL DAYLIGHT APPRECIATION DAY | GO SKATEBOARDING DAY | NATIONAL PEACHES 'N' CREAM DAY. (more info at https://nationaldaycalendar.com)
The Top Slang Word in Each State
Play N J has released the top slang words in each state. (link here to see all 50 states) In Utah it is Biffed. Used to describe falling down, tripping or doing anything completely embarrassing.
It Happened This Day In Country Music History
1959 Happy Birthday Kathy Mattea born on this day in South Charleston, West Virginia. Kathy Mattea has recorded seventeen albums and has charted more than thirty singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts including "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses",
1970 Conway Twitty held the #1 position on the country charts with "Hello Darlin'". Twitty's fourth #1 song was named the #1 song of 1970 and aside from being Twitty's standard concert opener, the song became a country standard as well as his signature song.
1976 Reba McEntire married Charlie Battles at the First Baptist Church in Stringtown, Oklahoma. They had their honeymoon in Texas, where they promoted her latest single to local radio stations.
2004 Gretchen Wilson's debut album, Here For The Party, was certified gold and platinum simultaneously. The album featured Wilson's breakthrough debut single, "Redneck Woman."
Country Music Fun Fact
Darius Rucker likes the film Stir Crazy, which he has seen more than 100 times!
(more information on these and other stories available at This day In Country Music)
Related Items:101.5 the eagle. Tracy Chapman, conway twitty, country music news, darius rucker, gretchen wilson, kathy mattea, musicnews, nashville birthdays, reba mcentire
Big O Tires Presents The Eagle Christmas Mini Concerts Event Weekend
Get ready for another Mini Concert over Labor Day
Win Tickets to see Lonestar LIVE!
Attractive Server = Attractive Meal?
Best And Worst Jobs For 2018


Cookstown is a town in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It is the third largest town in the county and has a population of over 11,000 people. It was founded in 1609 by Alan Cooke during the Plantation of Ulster. It was one of the main centres of the linen industry.
The Glenavon House Hotel is a family run, 3 star Hotel located in the geographical centre of Northern Ireland. It has conference facilities and a leisure suite including swimming pool.


Located off NYS Route 17 (future I-86) the Village of Monticello is mid-way between New York City and Binghamton. Monticello is the largest community of the Sullivan County Catskills and home to the Mighty M Gaming Facility at Monticello Raceway. Monticello serves as the county seat with the Sullivan County Government Center also in the Village.
The Village of Monticello General Code is now available online HERE!
Our economy is experiencing rapid growth! We are looking for more investment in our community and want to aid those interested in bringing more business here.
Click here for more information on economic development.
Want to help grow our community?
Click here for some helpful information regarding building in our area.
Click here to view the rest of the board.


text:
module Spree
  module Api
    class OrdersController < Spree::Api::BaseController
      wrap_parameters false

      skip_before_filter :check_for_user_or_api_key, only: :apply_coupon_code
      skip_before_filter :authenticate_user, only: :apply_coupon_code

      before_filter :find_order, except: [:create, :mine, :index, :update]

      # Dynamically defines our stores checkout steps to ensure we check authorization on each step.
      Order.checkout_steps.keys.each do |step|
        define_method step do
          find_order
          authorize! :update, @order, params[:token]
        end
      end

      def cancel
        authorize! :update, @order, params[:token]
        @order.cancel!
        respond_with(@order, :default_template => :show)
      end

      def create
        authorize! :create, Order
        order_user = if @current_user_roles.include?('admin') && order_params[:user_id]
          Spree.user_class.find(order_params[:user_id])
        else
          current_api_user
        end

        import_params = if @current_user_roles.include?("admin")
          params[:order].present? ? params[:order].permit! : {}
        else
          order_params
        end

        @order = Spree::Core::Importer::Order.import(order_user, import_params)
        respond_with(@order, default_template: :show, status: 201)
      end

      def empty
        authorize! :update, @order, order_token
        @order.empty!
        render text: nil, status: 200
      end

      def index
        authorize! :index, Order
        @orders = Order.ransack(params[:q]).result.page(params[:page]).per(params[:per_page])
        respond_with(@orders)
      end

      def show
        authorize! :show, @order, order_token
        respond_with(@order)
      end

      def update
        find_order(true)
        authorize! :update, @order, order_token

        if @order.contents.update_cart(order_params)
          user_id = params[:order][:user_id]
          if current_api_user.has_spree_role?('admin') && user_id
            @order.associate_user!(Spree.user_class.find(user_id))
          end
          respond_with(@order, default_template: :show)
        else
          invalid_resource!(@order)
        end
      end

      def mine
        if current_api_user.persisted?
          @orders = current_api_user.orders.reverse_chronological.ransack(params[:q]).result.page(params[:page]).per(params[:per_page])
        else
          render "spree/api/errors/unauthorized", status: :unauthorized
        end
      end

      def apply_coupon_code
        find_order
        authorize! :update, @order, order_token
        @order.coupon_code = params[:coupon_code]
        @handler = PromotionHandler::Coupon.new(@order).apply
        status = @handler.successful? ? 200 : 422
        render "spree/api/promotions/handler", :status => status
      end

      private
        def order_params
          if params[:order]
            normalize_params
            params.require(:order).permit(permitted_order_attributes)
          else
            {}
          end
        end

        def normalize_params
          params[:order][:payments_attributes] = params[:order].delete(:payments) if params[:order][:payments]
          params[:order][:shipments_attributes] = params[:order].delete(:shipments) if params[:order][:shipments]
          params[:order][:line_items_attributes] = params[:order].delete(:line_items) if params[:order][:line_items]
          params[:order][:ship_address_attributes] = params[:order].delete(:ship_address) if params[:order][:ship_address]
          params[:order][:bill_address_attributes] = params[:order].delete(:bill_address) if params[:order][:bill_address]
        end

        def find_order(lock = false)
          @order = Spree::Order.lock(lock).find_by!(number: params[:id])
        end

        def order_id
          super || params[:id]
        end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Our photographer was shooting it by Nikon D810 camera with shooting mode 34.0mm · ƒ/18.0 · 1/125s · ISO 200. Our contributor was tagging for this image: Fouga Magister, Aircraft, Patrol Of France, Sky, Blue. dimension of picture 7243×4781 pixels, you can download it with JPG format.


Who reads The Brewer and The Baker (formerly Confections of a Foodie Bride)?
A steadily-growing group of home cooking enthusiasts, with over 23 million pageviews since inception. Food-oriented, our site is most frequented by college-educated American women, 18-34, with a combined household income of $100,000+.
We have opportunities for recipe development, reviews, quarterly static advertising space, and sponsored giveaways as schedule allows. We are currently not available for travel, but thanks for your interest. Contact us to chat more!


Qualcomm officially announced the Snapdragon 821 processor this morning, and with it there has been growing speculation about just which phones will be among the first to feature the new alleged king of the chipset hill. Based on information from multiple and reliable sources, we believe it is extremely likely both of Google's upcoming Nexus phones, Sailfish and Marlin, will be using the Snapdragon 821.
The chipset, internally known by its model designation MSM8996 Pro, is claimed to be up to 10% faster than the outgoing 820. Such a modest speed increase points to a less significant chip release for Qualcomm, one likely focusing on honing and optimizing overall performance and efficiency than in seeking to introduce new technologies.


text:
'Trade war is the most stupid thing in the world – Jack Ma
The widening trade conflict between the worlds two largest economies, China and the US, is senseless, according to Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma.
The purpose of trade should be to promote peace and communication rather than conflict, he said at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
"Trade war is the most stupid thing in this world," Ma said, adding: "Nobody can stop the free trade."
The founder of Chinas largest corporation is strongly against the tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of US-Chinese goods. He claims it is pointless to target goods because the Asian nation was on its way to becoming a major buyer of foreign products.
The businessman had earlier warned that the conflict between the two economic superpowers could last decades and would be "a mess" for all parties involved. He said the US will "suffer more" if it continues its efforts to launch a Cold War against China in an attempt to neutralize the growth of the countrys economy.
READ MORE: Trump hits Chinese chipmaker with export ban, still expects great deal with Beijing
Ma has also acknowledged that trade frictions were hurting Alibaba's business, which benefits from the flow of goods across borders.
Washington and Beijing are currently locked in a standoff over trade, market access and the transfer of technology secrets. So far, the White House has imposed tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated with tariffs on $60 billion of US goods and stopped buying American oil.
For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section
Housing market reminiscent of 2006 bubble, ready to burst – Nobel Prize-winning economist Shiller
Brexit deal done within DAYS as PM ready to push button – BBC sources
Russia's Real Q1 Growth Was 5.8%, So Why Did the Government Report Only 1.3%?
Hiscox posts solid first quarter results following catastrophe-hit 2017
Hapless Alberta takes action as oil prices crash


text:
Q: Проблема с переменной, видимой всем потокам Здравствуйте!
Не получается сделать для потоков общую переменную.
Нужно при закрытии приложения завершать все потоки... Что я делал:
public class Worker{

    // Закрыть потоки при клике на ...
    private static boolean breackOnCloseUnloader=false, breackOnCloseLoader=false;

    // Потоки
    Thread loader, unloader, waiter;

    // Стартуем потоки!!!
    public Worker() {
        // запускаем потоки погрузки и разгрузки
        loader = new Loader();
        loader.start();
        unloader = new Unloader();
        unloader.start();

        new Thread(){
            public void run(){
                try{
                    loader.join(); // ждем
                }
                catch(InterruptedException e){}
            }
        }.start();
    }

    public class Unloader extends Thread {
        public void run(){
            try{
                while (!isInterrupted()) {
                    if(breackOnCloseUnloader)
                        break;// Завершение потока

                    ...
                }
            }
            catch (InterruptedException e){
            }
            breackOnCloseLoader=true;
        }

    }
    public class Loader extends Thread {
        public void run(){
            try {
                while(true) {
                    if(breackOnCloseLoader)
                        break;// Завершение потока
                    ...
                }
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {

            }
        }
    }
}

Чего хочу добится: есть окно, при нажатии на крестик нужно breackOnCloseUnloader выставлять в 1 и он вырубит один из потоков, который в свою очередь должен выставить флаг breackOnCloseLoader, который вырубит другой поток...
В потоке фрейма я создаю др. поток, который ожидает завершения потоков Loader и Unloader... Пока всё работет непонятно как... Почему переменная с идентификатором статик в классе Worker не является уникальной для всех потоков?
A: @Alerr, я тут мимокрокодил, но интернет говорит, что переменную нужно объявлять как volatile (например, вопрос на хэшкоде)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Movement For The MMORPG Market
You are here: Home / Movement For The MMORPG Market
Categories: More
The world of gaming has seen a huge shift in recent years as mobile gaming has become the most popular platform, and with this a changing genre in popularity as more casual games have taken the mantle. Most recently the popularity has largely fallen on online gambling services during lockdown as a growing number of online casinos find a surge in players, despite recent changes to initiatives such as Gamstop aimed at reducing participation options for players, but as a growing number of operators choose to register outside of the regulation, a growing number aren't part of the Gamstop initiative and CNOG have a great list of these available to players.
But there has been recent movement in one of the biggest genres of all time in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games – initially gaining mass popularity in 2004 with the release of the biggest MMO of all time in World of Warcraft which to this day continues to pull in big numbers, and with the release of the next expansion in Shadowlands just a few months away, there is some more hype building around the game, but this isn't where the movement within the market is being seen as two new players have entered with one of them gaining a lot of traction over the past few days.
The first has been within the offering coming by way of Amazon Game Studios which has unfortunately found another delay in its release – the game titled New World had originally been set to launch a little earlier this year which had then been moved to August following delays brought around by the spread of the pandemic, but was moved yet again until Spring of 2021. There is still a lot of excitement for this game despite the delays largely in part because Amazon will be behind it, with MMO's being so expensive to develop and maintain there's a big hope that there will be plentiful updates and good changes made.
The other and the one that has gained a lot of traction over the past week or so has been with the game Ashes of Creation, initially securing private funding with more funding being pumped in through a kickstarter campaign, the game entered development in 2016 and boasted a huge list of features with sieges, custom nodes, and a huge number of variables that impact the world as a whole. Although there's no expected release date, a developer interview that took place with a couple of popular streamers has started to build hype for the game and a purchase option to ensure alpha access has definitely helped build the hype.
Recent years have been a bit of a struggle for the genre as it is shrinking in the west – the lack of interest and huge costs involved have turned many developers to different prospects, but with the resurgence in interest with these two titles and upcoming releases mentioned for the likes of World of Warcraft, it's an exciting time to be an MMO fan.


text:
Gossip Girl, at mid-season
This week's Gossip Girl brought a rocky half season to a close as the primetime soap gears up for its hundredth episode this spring.
It's been a rough couple months on the upper east side.
The boring story about unlikable actress Ivy defrauding the family into thinking she's long-lost cousin Charlie has done nothing but make the Rhodes clan look gullible and silly. Meanwhile, Nate's awkward fight against nepotism and corresponding (read: ironic) meteoric rise to the position of editor-in-chief at new tabloid The Spectator hasn't been much more interesting, though I do love Nate and it's nice to see the writers at least try to give him a story that's not just him sleeping with cougars (he did that too, with boring-as-brick shady villainess Elizabeth Hurley, but at least that wasn't ALL he was doing).
I've been semi-interested in Serena's work in the film business, mostly in how it affected Dan's story this season, bizarrely the most interesting of the lot. Dan's usually the character I find the least engaging (that's between him and the other leads, sans Jenny, Vanessa, Georgina, etc…, all of whom are horrid), but his "accidentally published" satire of his life and friends has had something interesting to say about the role of the outsider and how we frame ourselves within our life story. Some of the details of the arc were a little dumb (who complains that the book they wrote when they were 20 was on the New York Times Bestseller List for ONLY a week?!) and the dramatic hurt his friends and family felt seemed to go away pretty quickly, but the story in general proved fun and moved the characters well. The self-analysis it's sparked in Dan and Serena also seems to be helpful, and I'm loving the idea that Serena's jealousy of Blair stemmed from her feeling replaced as "the star of Dan's book"- it's so very narcissistically her.
As for the series' star characters, Blair and Chuck have been going around in circles avoiding the conclusion we've all known for years they would reach. At the moment, Blair's engaged to the prince of Monaco, Louis- a drip of a character with little aside from a title to make him interesting enough for the dynamic and intelligent Ms. Waldorf- and she's pregnant with his kid (who, until this week, I was quite convinced would turn out to be Chuck's after all, apparently not). There were some weeks of mildly entertaining filler regarding royal custom and Louis' family's completely founded concerns about Blair turning her back on their traditions, insisting on having everything her way, keeping Louis from the country he's supposed to rule and eventually leaving him heartbroken (again, COMPLETELY FOUNDED, how dare the show frame them as oppressive lunatics, princess Beatrice was maybe a little overboard but Blair was obviously going to do ALL THOSE THINGS). Once all that was sorted out, however, there were a couple weeks in which Louis was a snotball then Blair realized (Again!) that she really loves Chuck (forgetting that the last time she broke up with him it was something about forging her own career path and being her own person before being with Chuck- oh well, new season, new priorities). So this week Dan did the right thing in putting the girl he (apparently) loves ahead of his own feelings and set up a meeting between the two. Then they were chased by the paparazzi in a Diana homage that walked the line of hitting a little too close to home and got in a dramatic car crash.
So now the characters are all gathered at the hospital. Charlie (Ivy), who sent out the Gossip Girl blast telling reporters where Blair and Chuck were, is finally leaving and Blair is awake. We don't know what happened to Chuck yet but there's no way in hell the show kills off a hit character (or wastes the sardonic treasure that is Ed Westwick), so he's probably in a coma for maximum 2 weeks when we return in January. Oh, and that baby is definitely gone. TV likes to live in a world where the number of miscarriages is 400x higher than in life, it makes for convenient storytelling that allows the drama (and convenient "I have to stay with Louis" instinct) of pregnancy without having to deal with controversy (abortion), a whole 9 months of fat and sober characters (adoption), or, god forbid, an actual kid to write around (motherhood). It's not fair, it's sadder than the show will surely address, but there's simply no way that baby made it through the car crash. Chuck, on the other hand, absolutely made it through- so stop fretting.
The episode ended with a highly ambiguous phone call between Chuck's recurring villain uncle Jack and the horrible why-is-she-still-here Diana (Hurley) in which we learn very little except that they know each other and are up to something. It also seems as if Nate were targeted (the car Chuck and Blair got into, which was possibly meant for Nate, was leaking, though it never caught on fire) and he might be in danger too.
Oh the Drama!
You know you love it. Til January, XOXO.
PS: Penn, your acting's better than ever, but please, dude, Cut Your Hair! Love, My TV.


one piece in a ploybag ,then 50pcs in a brown carton.
TPE peanut massage ball can be used under your feet, between your hands or anywhere on your body .
It can release tension, stimulate nerves and relax muscles, and help you to soothe and heal plantar facilitis.
Therapy nodes help work muscles more deeply and excelerate trigger point release.
Durable and effective. Portable to bring to the gym, work or when traveling. Massage anytime and anywhere!
Mini Massage Ball helps to improve your body's core strength and natural balance while getting trim and toned.
1.The mobility ball is made of 100% natural rubber, it is durable for long lasting use.
2.The tool is comfortable and easy to use according to the instructions. You could complete your entire lower abdominal routine atop this ball and get some amazing release while strengthening your core to stabilize.
3. MILY Lacrosse Massage Balls are designed to provide a comfortable application of pressure to sore muscles and connective tissue. Alleviate kinks and cramps anywhere you feel minor pain and tightness.
1.Use this massage ball to relax muscles, relieve tension and stimulate blood flow over your entire body. External pressure on muscles from a massage ball, enhances hydration and flexibility of fascia. Increased relaxation and blood circulation through the muscle structure leads to improvement of general wellbeing.
2.USE IT ANYWHERE-The Peanut Ball is ideal for on the spot use around the spine, also for massaging the back and neck, and can be used on the wall or on the floor. Compact in size, easily carried around for travel, office and everywhere.


text:
Home » What We Do » Events » Keiro no Hi Festival
Co-presented by Keiro and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PDT
Online Video Premiere
Watch the virtual 2021 Keiro no Hi Festival here!
Keiro and Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC) are proud to present their fourth annual Keiro no Hi Festival, virtually, on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Keiro no Hi, or Respect for the Aged Day, is a Japanese holiday that honors and celebrates older adults.
This FREE event will not be in-person but will be delivered as an interactive virtual event you can enjoy from the comfort of your home. Keiro no Hi honors the older adults in Our Community and will consist of:
Online video premiere with performances, workshops, and special guest speakers
Keiro no Hi Fine Arts Showcase
Complimentary gift packages with registration (to be mailed) OR complimentary bento and gift bag pick up with registration (pick up locations to be announced)
Download the Keiro no Hi Festival Postcard
Download the Keiro no Hi Festival Program Booklet
Download the Keiro no Hi Program Booklet (Japanese)
Fine Arts Showcase
Presenter and Entertainer Bios
Event Donors
Past Keiro no Hi Festivals
Registration for the 2021 Keiro no Hi Festival bento and mailed gift packages have now closed.
For questions, please contact [email protected]
Fine Arts Showcase – Celebration
At this year's Keiro no Hi Festival, we will once again host a Keiro no Hi Fine Arts Showcase! We invited everyone in Our Community, age 60 and above, to create and express their talent through different forms of art. Submitted artwork will be displayed during the festival virtually.
The theme for this year's Arts Showcase is:
Oiwai – Celebration
Whether it is describing what you like to celebrate, who you celebrate with, or an art piece showing the spirit of celebration, express your creativity and imagination!
View the Arts Gallery
Arts showcase flyer
For any questions, email [email protected].
Akira Muto, Consul General
Akira Muto graduated from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985. Having served at the Embassies of Japan in Washington DC and Moscow, he held directorships for Free Trade Agreement & Economic Partnership, Intelligence & Analysis, Russian Affairs, and Foreign Policy Coordination between 2004 and 2012; and in 2012, he became Consul General of Japan in Boston. He served as Deputy Director General, European Affairs Bureau (Ambassador, 2014-15); and served in the National Security Secretariat (2015-16). He was Minister, Embassy of Japan in the U.S. (Global Affiliate Visiting Scholar, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University) (2018-19). He became Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles in 2019.
Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do
Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do of Little Tokyo trains in traditional Okinawan Karate under a system founded by Nagamine Shoshin. They have resided in Little Tokyo for nearly 30 years and are now proud to call the new Terasaki Budokan their home. They are a community based dojo and provide assistance at community functions and perform Karate demonstrations at cultural events throughout the year.
Photo by Marc Amba
Rona Tison
A tea industry connoisseur with a refined approach to the U.S. Japanese culture and innovative marketing, Rona Tison is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Relations at ITO EN (North America) INC. Tison is responsible for maintaining and developing the company's corporate image through branding, public relations, and promotional events.
In addition to her role at ITO EN, Tison serves on the Board of the Tea Association of the USA and the Tea & Health Committee, the U.S.-Japan Council, Advisory Board of the Global Tea Initiative at University of California, Davis, and member of the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada. She has been a speaker at the World Tea Expo, San Francisco, Los Angeles & Northwest Tea Festivals, the United Nations, Shizuoka World Tea Festival, James Beard House and Smithsonian Lecture Series. She received the "2017 John Harney Lifetime Achievement Award" for her educational contributions to the tea industry, the first woman to ever receive this prestigious award.
VJCC Senior Wellness Program
The Venice Japanese Community Center (VJCC) Senior Wellness Program began in January 2018 to address social isolation of Japanese American and Japanese seniors. The program provides various weekly exercise class, crafts and arts activities, entertainment, demonstration, and Keiro speakers.
Also the program carries out outreach to the homebound older adults, providing information about resources and services, via home "porch" visits.
The Senior Wellness Program's goal is to create engaging and meaningful virtual and non – virtual activities with new and current participants and to provide community programs and events that involve culturally-sensitive activities and services that will be accessible to all older adults and their caregivers of the VJCC.
Asian Persuasion
Asian Persuasion is an Asian American vocal harmony group. They sing favorite songs from doo-wop, Motown, and pop songs of the 50's, 60's, and 70's. Kenny Itagaki and Gary Asamura started the group over 40 years ago with Sharleen Inouye, Jeff Louie, and our newest member, Marlene Chau, completing the group. (Gary Asamura not pictured)
Mrs. Misako Muto
After graduating from Gakushuin University, Mrs. Misako Muto worked for IBM Japan. She is married to Consul General Akira Muto and together they have raised two daughters.
Shodo for Little Tokyo
Shodo (Calligraphy) is one of the three traditional art forms of Japan. Pre-pandemic, JACCC's Shodo for Little Tokyo program gathers Little Tokyo older adults into a classroom to learn the art of Shodo by master calligrapher, Kuniharu Yoshida. During the pandemic, the class went virtual with students safely picking up supplies from JACCC and practicing at home. The class offers free calligraphy workshops for Little Tokyo residents, where no experience is needed and all materials are provided for participants.
Yoko Maeda Lamn
Yoko Maeda Lamn is a certified fermentation expert and founder of Hakko. Born and raised in Nara, Japan, she hopes to bring the joy of traditional Japanese fermentation to the homes of Los Angeles through workshops on Japanese preserved foods such as koji, miso, soy sauce, and pickles.
Ikenobo School
With each new Ikebana arrangement, Ikenobo School continues a tradition of creativity that began over 550 years ago. Ikenobo is based in Kyoto, Japan, at Choho-ji (Rokkaku-do) Temple, a temple said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku. The Japanese word IKE means "pond," while the word BO means "a priest's hut." Suggesting a priest's hut next to a pond, the two words combine in the name of the family that has headed this school of Ikebana, IKE-NO-BO. Succeeding generations of priests were famous for their skill in arranging flowers, and Ikenobo thus became "the origin of Ikebana."
Arrangement by Mr. Jose Salcedo
Photo by Ken Honjo
Nishi Hongwanji Child Development Center
Established in 1983, the Nishi Center provides day care services for preschool to kindergarten aged children from two to six years old. The school was established for the Nikkei/Buddhist community in order to:
Provide an early childhood education that would prepare the child academically and emotionally for the entry in the elementary school system
Cultivate a sense of appreciation of and familiarity with Buddhist teachings
Sogetsu School
The Sogetsu School of Ikebana was started in 1927 by the founder Sofu Teshigahara who preferred to respect the freedom of individual expressions. "Anytime, anywhere, by anyone," — and with any materials — is the creed of the Sogetsu School. Today, under the 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara, the Sogetsu Ikebana is popular around the world as a school of Ikebana that draws out the freedom of expression in each individual, always new, always beautiful, and never constrained by preconceptions.
Arrangement by Ms. Takeichi Haruko
Makiko Hirata
An international pianist and a recording artist with ten released albums, Makiko Hirata is "Dr. Pianist," on a mission to promote the power of music to heal and unite us. In addition to her concerts, she collaborates with neuroscientists to quantify the benefit of music and promote music as an overlooked social resource through speaking engagements, workshops, and writing.
Ohara School
Unshin Ohara founded Ohara School in the late nineteenth century, when Japan opened itself to the influence of Western culture. His departure from previous ikebana lay in the creation of a new form which he called the moribana style. This style later evolved into the school's "landscape arrangement." He also designed and produced the wide, shallow containers most suitable for works in the moribana style.
Arrangement by Ms. Onami Mayumi
Ukuleles for Little Tokyo
Ukuleles for Little Tokyo is geared towards engaging Japanese and Japanese American older adults while providing free ukulele instruction in Japanese and English. By providing in-language services, they also help break down cultural barriers and provide a space where participants can feel welcome and at home at JACCC and Little Tokyo.
Read the full list of presenter and entertainer bios here.
Aratani Foundation
The Doizaki Family
Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation
Gene & Vickie Kanamori
Jack Kurihara & Carol Inge
Lynn Miyamoto & Kevin Kroeker
Home Care Assistance/Millennia
Kimiko Fujita & Kihei Otani
Nikkei Senior Gardens
Sponsors are listed as of August 20, 2021
Donors are listed as of August 26, 2021.
2020 Keiro no Hi Festival
View the 2020 "Quality of Life" Arts Showcase Gallery
2019 Feature Article
View event photos from 2019
The Keiro no Hi Festival is FREE to the community and is made possible by Keiro and JACCC, along with support from The Aratani Foundation, our community partners, donors, and volunteers.
For more information, please contact Keiro at (213) 873-5792 or email [email protected].


text:
O rio São Jerônimo é um curso de água que banha o estado do Paraná.

O rio pertence à bacia do rio Tibagi, sendo um afluente deste. No curso do rio está localizado o Salto do Caratuva a cerca de 11 quilômetros do centro da cidade de São Jerônimo da Serra. Na sua foz no rio Tibagi, faz divisa do município de São Jerônimo da Serra com o município de Assaí. O curso de água é responsável ainda por fazer divisa do município de São Jerônimo da Serra com os municípios de Santa Cecília do Pavão e Nova Santa Bárbara.

Sao Jeronimo
Sao Jeronimo
Geografia de Assaí
Geografia de São Jerônimo da Serra


The Manta G-031B/C is a fast GigE camera with the ICX618 sensor. This EXview HAD CCD sensor is very sensitive both in the visible spectrum and in the NIR (near-infrared) spectrum. At full resolution, this camera runs 125 fps. With a smaller ROI, higher frame rates are possible.
The camera incorporates three LUTs, sophisticated color correction algorithms, a robust metal housing, and many modular options like angled heads or board level versions. All Manta cameras are optionally available with PoE (Power over Ethernet).


Jace founded In Situ Travel to combine two of his favorite things: cycling and immersing in the local culture. When he's not on his bike, you'll probably find him at a cafe enjoying a coffee or sampling something new off of the menu.
Wow, what a great tip! Thanks for the thorough and thoughtful explanation!
You're welcome, John! Glad you found it helpful!


The content creator program gives you access to post articles, display your writeups, deck videos and decks on the Home feed of all users. In addition you the frontpage also shows the top five live Content Creators streaming on . In addition it also gives you extra visbility on the site.


Restore your family chain of hotels in this sequel to the famous TM game!
Join Nelly and her younger brother as they unravel family secrets!
Bring prosperity back to this struggling planet in Totem Tribe Gold!
Solve challenging puzzles and take your friend back home in this adventure.


Pay Per Click involves the targeted keywords and ad creation to reach the prospects who are interested in the service and product you provide.
This post explains the benefits that your business get from a PPC Advertising.
There are many ways in a PPC marketing to improve the business credibility and brand recognition.
Google Adwords is the biggest PPC Platform for a small-scale business. It operates on the basis of Pay-Per click model, where an advertiser pays for each click. The reason that many business use Google Adwords to advertise their product is they can monitor the budget constraints and expenses for setting each PPC Ads. Perhaps, Google Adwords is the digital marketing tool that every business would love to experiment, invest and make a business out of it. The reason is its fast reachability and flexibility.
Before setting Ad campaign, it is very important to identify the keywords that your target audience would search at higher percentage such that they land up with your product despite the plenty of competitors in the same niche. A good PPC list must allow you to expose yourself to the potential list of opportunities available with the advertising channel.
To identify the right keyword for effective PPC marketing, there is plenty of Keyword research tool available in the market. Out of the numerous keyword tool, Google Adwords Keyword Planner is the first and foremost used.
Why your business need PPC campaign?
Fast Results: PPC Advertising acquires the desired result of your targets. Brings the more revenue and return on investments. It is very applicable one when you are certain to promote a specified target keyword.
Brand Recognition: It upfront your brand to the targeted audience. Though PPC generates more clicks, it solely embraces the trademark and popularity to the brand.
Increased ROI: What you invest with this tools, the double the times your business will get, which is why PPC is the trending channel for every brand to experiment and get short time results.
Estimated Results: With PPC, you can measure everything having to do with your ads and keywords, including views, clicks, visits, leads, sales, costs and profit such that on basis of the user flow analytics with your product will help improving your Ad channel.


You are here: Home / Arthur Diehl: "Friends, I Greet You!"
Once known as "The Champion Speed Painter of America," Arthur Diehl was an artist, entertainer and philosopher whose studio was a bustling tourist spot in early 20th century America. His photographic memory and tremendous technical skill made him a favorite of everyday art lovers at a time when other artists were moving towards a more modern aesthetic. This exhibition explores the life and work of a man who found success by opening his doors, inviting in the public and spreading good will along with affordable paintings.
A visit to Arthur Diehl's studio was a full entertainment experience. Diehl kept a piano on hand and during painting breaks he would play and sing. He also sang while painting, and especially loved songs by the Scottish entertainer, Harry Lauder. More often, though, he "philosophized" while he worked. His favorite topics were chemistry, physics, English, and history as well as art, modernism, and Marxism versus capitalism. His studio was nicknamed "The Philosophy Shop" and every day he posted a saying with a bit of good advice, "One for Today," in the studio window.


text:
Crop-eating pests plague southern African farmers
(Agrillifetoday/Flickr)
HARARE/JOHANNESBURG
The rainy season, always welcome in often dry southern Africa, has brought with it favourable breeding conditions for army worms and red locusts. The crop-eating pests are contributing to the woes of subsistence farmers already struggling to recover from setbacks in the last farming cycle.
In Zimbabwe, where the World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 2.2 million people now require food assistance, more than 800 hectares of cereal grain crops and 300 hectares of pasture have been destroyed by outbreaks of army worms.
Godfrey Chikwenhere, Deputy Director of the Department of Research and Specialist Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, told IRIN that the damage caused by the army worms, which are in fact moth larvae, was significant and would impact the food security of households in the affected areas.
He said the army worm originated in East Africa and the Horn of Africa. Between October and November, moist winds carried the moths into Zimbabwe and deposited them in northern Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central Province, from where they spread across the country. A similar pattern of movement occurred in 2013.
"Some crops were completely destroyed, forcing some farmers to replant when we are way into the farming season, and this will result in reduced yields," Chikwenhere said. "The effect will also be felt among livestock producers because of the destruction of pastures, especially in the cattle-producing provinces of Matabeleland North and South."
Spraying pesticides to destroy the caterpillars could only be done on crops because the spraying of pastures and game parks could expose animals to toxic chemicals, he noted. As a result, the army worms had been able to reproduce unhindered in some areas.
Although his department initially had adequate supplies of carbaryl - the chemical used to contain the pest – Chikwenhere said stocks were running out fast and there was a shortage of vehicles to monitor outbreaks and distribute the pesticide.
"Because of the almost daily high rainfall being recorded in many parts of the country, some farmers are having to respray, as the rains dilute the effect of the chemical," he added.
Recent torrential rains and flooding in several of Zimbabwe's southern provinces have destroyed crops as well as homes and infrastructure, according to local news reports.
In its monthly report for January, Chikwenhere's department predicted that: "Fresh outbreaks emanating from secondary generation army worm are likely to hit most parts of the country up to May 2014, if current weather conditions persist."
He said there was a need to train farmers on prevention and early reporting. "A lot of our farmers are well versed on spraying pests… but they need to be trained on how to identify army worm at an early stage, so that intervention mechanisms are implemented before any damage is done."
Army worm outbreaks have also been reported in Mozambique, eastern Zambia and Malawi, where 2,600 hectares of crops were affected, over 500 hectares of which were totally destroyed according to reports from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Food shortages in Malawi are already afflicting 1.85 million people, according to the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee (MVAC). Now the country is also experiencing outbreaks of red locusts, mainly around Lake Chiuta and Lake Chilwa near the border with Mozambique in the southeast.
A January migratory pest report by the International Red Locust Control Organisation for Central and Southern Africa (IRLCO-CSA) notes that the locusts bred in January and their eggs have now produced hoppers.
"Hoppers will fledge and adults are expected to appear in March/April," reads the report. "These swarms, if not controlled, will migrate and threaten food security in most countries in the region."
dd/ks/he
2020 in review: Food security
Conflict, economic crisis, storms, and more made 2020 a hungry year – and next year looks no better.


text:
Management & Labor
The Impact of New Overtime Rules on Government
The federal change won't just hit state and local personnel costs.
by Liz Farmer | July 28, 2016 AT 5:00 PM
(Shutterstock)
A new federal rule that more than doubles the number of employees eligible for overtime pay has state and local governments scrambling. Already, governments are facing tight budgets and slow revenue growth. But the new rule, which goes into effect Dec. 1, threatens not only to increase personnel costs, but operating costs as well.
The rule change, which was issued by the Department of Labor in May, affects the earnings of both public- and private-sector workers. Governments are looking now at how much it will impact payrolls. But nonprofits are warning that the rule could also result in substantially higher rates next year for governments that contract services out.
The change is an update to the Fair Labor Standards Act and doubles the minimum salary that full-time white-collar workers must earn to be exempt from getting overtime pay to $913 a week, or $47,476 per year. The salary level was set at the 40th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers in the lowest-wage Census region, which is currently the South.
Court Blocks Obama's Overtime Pay Rule From Taking Effect 21 States Sue Obama Administration Over New Overtime Rules Farmers Win Decades-Long Battle for Overtime Pay in California What a Giant Dysfunctional Federal Agency Is Doing to America A County's Self-Inflicted Compensation Crisis
David L. Thompson, vice president of public policy for the National Council of Nonprofits, said that the new rule will certainly "change the culture of nonprofits. The attitude has typically been, keep working until the mission is done," he says. "Now, in most scenarios, you're going to have nonprofits saying to governments, 'The next agreement is going to cost more money.'"
That's because unlike for-profit businesses, nonprofits can't submit change orders when unexpected costs arise. And since most contracts have already been signed for the year, many nonprofits will have to absorb the extra costs come December. As it stands, nonprofits already eat, on average, 20 percent of the costs incurred in their government contracts. So nonprofits, according to Thompson, will be particularly eager to make sure they build overtime costs into future agreements.
The new rule would nearly quadruple the number of nonprofit employees eligible for overtime pay to 1.3 million nationwide, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While it's difficult to say how precisely this will translate to those doing work for state and local governments, there will certainly be an impact as roughly one-third of revenue for nonprofits is from government grants and contracts.
Meanwhile, the policy institute estimates the number of state employees eligible for overtime pay will increase to 928,000 -- five times the current national number. For local governments, eligible employees will quadruple to 1.1 million.
The new rule, however, doesn't automatically apply to all workers in every state because of an old stipulation in the labor standards act limiting it to organizations or individuals who conduct business across state lines. But it's certain to impact the 10 states and the District of Columbia that automatically link to the federal labor standards act.
The Wisconsin Counties Association has been particularly outspoken about the rule change and has partnered with a diverse coalition of local governments, universities, small businesses and nonprofits to protest it. In a letter to Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, association executive director Mark O'Connell said the Labor Department did not do enough to take cost of living into consideration when setting the new salary threshold.
"An annual salary of $50,000 means something much different in Wisconsin," he wrote, "than it does in New York and California."
For their part, according to a recent survey by the National Council of Nonprofits of its members in all 50 states, nonprofits are torn: While it serves to lift up those most in need, the new rule also increases operating costs.
LATEST MANAGEMENT & LABOR HEADLINES
The Bureau of Land Management Headquarters Is Moving West
New Wage Theft Law in Minnesota Hailed as Nation's Strongest
After Fatal Shooting, South Bend Police Officer Resigns
From 42 Agencies to 15: How Arkansas Overhauled State Government Without Laying Anyone Off
Enough Marijuana for 6 Years: Oregon's Cautionary Tale for Other States
The City of Portsmouth, VA Tackles Website Accessibility Head-On
MORE FROM Management & Labor
WANTED: Public Employees Who Live Where They Work
Local governments are offering employees home loans and even housing if they reside among the people they serve.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson spearheaded the streamlining.
To Find More 'Good Cops,' a Few Big Cities Change Their Hiring Process
They're putting more emphasis on applicants' emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
Are Public Employees Safe at Work?
Whether it's violence like the Virginia Beach shooting at a municipal building, or danger due to the nature of the job, government workers lack health and safety protections in nearly half the states.
The Baltimore Cyberattack Highlights Hackers' New Tactics
Ransomware attacks are becoming more sophisticated and taking longer for governments to recover from. Some of Baltimore's services have been down for nearly a month.
Can Medical Marijuana Get You Fired? Depends on the State.
Less than half of the states where the drug treatment is legal protect patients from employment discrimination. Courts have generally sided with employers -- until recently.


Are you a Connecticut driver in the market for a used or possibly new car? If you've been undecided on whether to purchase a new car for the warranty, or you want to save money and buy a used car, truck, or SUV, consider the option of purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle from our dealership. Browse and compare the models in our CPO inventory to see which model and trim option best fits your driving needs and personality.
Whether you're interested in purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Honda, Jeep, and Ram, we provide you with variety as well as multiple models and trim variations. Buyers can expect affordable prices on low mileage mint condition vehicles with the benefits of a solid warranty. The selection of vehicles in our CPO inventory go through an extensive multi-point inspection/reconditioning, includes a 12 month/ 12,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty, a six-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance, a three-month trial to Onstar and SiriusXM Radio if available.
Drivers who are in the market for a vehicle from our certified pre-owned selection can rest assured that our vehicles have the full history report through Carfax, so you know the ins and outs of your future vehicle's prior service and repair history. You can shop our lot with confidence knowing our vehicles are routinely maintained and cared for throughout their stay on our lot. We take pride in our used vehicle selection and want nothing more than for our customers to receive the long lasting reliability our vehicles provide.
When you're ready for a test drive, feel free to contact us to schedule an appointment or just visit our dealership to speak with us in person. We look forward to working with you so too can enjoy the longevity and included benefits in out certified pre-owned selection.


Discover the versatile new finance solution for New Zealand businesses that's harnessing the power of the internet to deliver business loans.
The internet offers new ways for people to connect, giving rise to new ways of raising business finance, such as Peer-to-Peer lending (P2P). This new finance model matches those wanting to invest small amounts with businesses seeking finance.
Peer-to-Peer lending is, for some, an attractive alternative to obtaining finance from traditional sources. But it's only one example of how internet technology is changing the way businesses approach the challenge of raising funds.
Other innovative forms of online business finance are emerging, as the speed and flexibility of web-based communication continues to improve. Spotcap is among those leading the way to make business borrowing easier by taking full advantage of what digital technology has to offer.
How can a Spotcap loan be your alternative to P2P lending?
How does a Spotcap loan compare with P2P lending?
One attraction of Peer-to-Peer lending is that it bypasses engagement with the relatively slow loan application and approval processes associated with traditional lenders.
The Spotcap solution brings similar convenience as a Peer-to-Peer loan. It offers an online application process, a prompt response based on a unique assessment of the current financial condition of your business, and absence of a need for security.
Flexibility: there's no requirement to borrow and pay interest on all the funds you apply for.
These features make a Spotcap loan a versatile solution for your business finance needs.
How do I qualify for a Spotcap P2P alternative?


Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission (BPSSC) has released a notification that it is going to recruit total 1717 posts for Sub-Inspector. If you want to check about Bihar Police SI Exam Pattern 2019, then here is right platform to get this.
In this page, we are explaining Bihar Police Sub Inspector Exam Pattern. So, read this article completely till last word. Stay tuned with us to get latest useful updates. Read below a chart related to Bihar Police SI Exam Pattern. Check this useful article definitely.
Candidates can check details of Bihar SI Exam Pattern here. There are two stages of written exam that is Preliminary Exam and Main exam. If students will clear these stages, then only they will eligible for further rounds like PET and Medical Examination. Kindly pay attention in below paragraph as we are describing Bihar SI Exam Pattern 2019. Read this. Stay in touch with our page to get all latest daily updates. This page is so useful for us. So, keep reading.
Now, we are displaying Bihar Police Sub Inspector Paper Pattern in this section.
This exam is divided into two sections; General Knowledge and Current Events.
The time duration of exam will be of 2 hours.
There will be negative marking as 0.2 marks will attract a penalty of every wrong attempt question.
There will be of 80 questions. In this part, b) contain 10-10 marks each for Mathematics and Mental Ability respectively.
We have described complete Bihar SI Paper Pattern 2019 here. We are forever using lucid and comprehensible language so that you can easily understand this. Stay connected with us. Our team is constantly working for you. Keep checking our page to get more updates regarding this vacancy like syllabus, answer key etc. You must know about Bihar Police Sub Inspector Exam Pattern before giving exam at examination center. You are definitely familiar with this as it is one of the strategies to clear any competitive exam. If you ask any question regarding Bihar SI Exam Pattern, then post your comment. We will reply you shortly. Our team wishes you all the best for your future endeavors. Keep learning.


This is what we do, and rest assured, we do it well.
A picture speaks a thousand words and you can't misspeak when it comes to your business. Stock photography is impersonal and is often easy to spot. A skilled hand at natural light corporate and business photography.


Thank you for participating in a Tiny Bee Birthday Party! You are giving an impactful gift that will benefit hundreds of other children! Instead of picking up yet another toy at the toy store, a book will be donated in honor of the birthday. 100% of the net proceeds from donated books will go to a school library of the hosts choosing. The chosen school will receive this donation directly in honor of the birthday child.


God is your Guide. When Jesus ascended into heaven He sent in His place the Holy Spirit, whom He called the "Helper." Now, wherever you are, the Holy Spirit is with you. You can lean on Him and find guidance, wisdom, and counsel at any time.
You don't have to try to navigate the treacherous waters of this fallen world, relying upon your own limited understanding and flawed wisdom, desperately hoping things turn out all right. God never meant for you to live like that. You are a sheep of His flock. He is the Good Shepherd. And, as the Good Shepherd, He leads and guides His flock.
The Holy Spirit is a friend and a divine Counselor. If you need wisdom, He is right by your side. He is the Spirit of Truth and will tell you things to come. Turn aside from every distraction today and tune into the voice of the Helper.
You were created to advance the Kingdom of God.You were born to bring about the purposes of God on the earth. God has foreordained good works for you to do. Your guide will lead you into all truth.
As you attune the ears of your heart to Him, you receive wisdom and truth for life. God is your Guide and His Word is a lamp unto your feet, providing direction. His precepts are your protection. Receive the Holy Spirit as your Advocate and Helper today. He is near and ready to guide you.
As long as your eye is on Jesus, especially on His love, and you rest on His love for you, you will always receive accurate guidance and leading.
Joshua had lived in the wilderness for 40 years. He had come out of slavery in Egypt and followed Moses, living with all the Israelites in the desert for an entire generation. Now the time had come for Israel to cross the Jordan and go into the Promised Land. First, they had to take the fortress city of Jericho. Joshua was appointed to lead the army of Israel and the charge to take the city.
The Lord spoke to him and encouraged him. Repeatedly, He exhorted Joshua to reject fear, and be strong and courageous. The Lord had decreed that the Promised Land belonged to them, but they still had to move forward in faith and take possession of it. Joshua was destined to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, and the Lord knew that to succeed, Joshua would need courage.
Joshua had to believe. He had to take God at His Word then go and act. It would not be enough to simply hear the word of the Lord. He had to put his faith into action to lead Israel to victory.
The same encouragement is given to you. Renew your mind to this truth: You can be strong and courageous because the Lord, Your God, is with you. Do not fear and do not be discouraged. Do not be dismayed by adversaries or adversity. The same God who led Israel into the Promised Land has a promised land for you. Remember, the Lord your God is with wherever you go.
Every day, look in the mirror and declare, "God's Word says I am strong. God is fighting my battles for me. I'm excited about my future."


text:
Titanium.UI.setBackgroundColor('#000');
var currwin = Titanium.UI.currentWindow;
currwin.backgroundImage = 'images/bgGradient.png';
var textColor ='#FFF';
var rowHeight = 40;
var rows = [];

var win = Titanium.UI.createScrollView({
	top:0,
	showVerticalScrollIndicator:true,
	showHorizontalScrollIndicator:false,
	scrollType: 'vertical',
	layout: 'vertical'
});

//****DESCRIPTION LABEL*****
var descRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var descLabel = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: "Needless to say, many geo parameters are either normally or log normally distributed. Sometimes we don´t know.",
	font:{fontSize:14,fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor,
	left: 5
});

descRow.add(descLabel);
win.add(descRow);

//****************** INPUT FIELDS *******************

var populationMeanEstimateRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});

var lbl1 = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Upper limit of uniform \ndistribution:',
	left: 5,
	font:{fontSize:14,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor
});
populationMeanEstimateRow.add(lbl1);

var var1 = Ti.UI.createTextArea({
        borderStyle: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BORDERSTYLE_ROUNDED,
        // keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_DECIMAL_PAD,
        keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_NUMBERS_PUNCTUATION,
        clearButtonMode: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BUTTONMODE_ONFOCUS,
        returnKeyType: Titanium.UI.RETURNKEY_DONE,
		right: 5,
		width: 130,
        softKeyboardOnFocus : Titanium.UI.Android.SOFT_KEYBOARD_SHOW_ON_FOCUS
    });
populationMeanEstimateRow.add(var1);
win.add(populationMeanEstimateRow);

var populationStandardDeviationRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var lbl2 = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Lower limit of uniform \ndistribution:',
	left: 5,
	font:{fontSize:14,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor
});
populationStandardDeviationRow.add(lbl2);

var var2 = Ti.UI.createTextArea({
        borderStyle: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BORDERSTYLE_ROUNDED,
        // keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_DECIMAL_PAD,
        keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_NUMBERS_PUNCTUATION,
        clearButtonMode: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BUTTONMODE_ONFOCUS,
        returnKeyType: Titanium.UI.RETURNKEY_DONE,
		right: 5,
		width: 130
    });
populationStandardDeviationRow.add(var2);
win.add(populationStandardDeviationRow);

var sampleMeanValueRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var lbl3 = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Upper limit of likely value:',
	left: 5,
	font:{fontSize:14,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor
});
sampleMeanValueRow.add(lbl3);

var var3 = Ti.UI.createTextArea({
        borderStyle: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BORDERSTYLE_ROUNDED,
        // keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_DECIMAL_PAD,
        keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_NUMBERS_PUNCTUATION,
        clearButtonMode: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BUTTONMODE_ONFOCUS,
        returnKeyType: Titanium.UI.RETURNKEY_DONE,
		right: 5,
		width: 130
    });

sampleMeanValueRow.add(var3);
win.add(sampleMeanValueRow);

var sampleStandarDeviationRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var lbl4 = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Lower limit of likely value:',
	left: 5,
	font:{fontSize:14,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor
});
sampleStandarDeviationRow.add(lbl4);

var var4 = Ti.UI.createTextArea({
        borderStyle: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BORDERSTYLE_ROUNDED,
        // keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_DECIMAL_PAD,
        keyboardType: Ti.UI.KEYBOARD_NUMBERS_PUNCTUATION,
        clearButtonMode: Titanium.UI.INPUT_BUTTONMODE_ONFOCUS,
        returnKeyType: Titanium.UI.RETURNKEY_DONE,
		right: 5,
		width: 130
    });
sampleStandarDeviationRow.add(var4);
win.add(sampleStandarDeviationRow);

//******************** CALCULATEBTN**************************
var calcRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var calculateBtn = Titanium.UI.createButton({
	title:'Calculate',
	width:200,
	backgroundColor: 'transparent',
	color: '#B5CCEF'
});

calcRow.add(calculateBtn);
win.add(calcRow);

calculateBtn.addEventListener('click', function()
{
	Calculate();
});

//***********************************************************
var resultHeaderRow = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
resultHeaderRow.backgroundColor = '#909FB9';
var resultHeaderLbl = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Result:',
	font:{fontSize:18,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: 'black',
	left: 5
});
resultHeaderRow.add(resultHeaderLbl);
win.add(resultHeaderRow);

var resultRow1 = Titanium.UI.createView({
	width: '100%',
	height: Ti.UI.SIZE
});
var resultLbl1 = Titanium.UI.createLabel({
	text: 'Probability of correct selected value range (%) :',
	font:{fontSize:14,fontWeight:'bold',fontFamily:'Helvetica Neue'},
	color: textColor,
	width: 300,
	left: 5
});
resultRow1.add(resultLbl1);
win.add(resultRow1);

//********** Calculate ****************************
function Calculate()
{
	var val1 = parseFloat(var1.value.replace(',', '.'));
	var val2 = parseFloat(var2.value.replace(',', '.'));
	var val3 = parseFloat(var3.value.replace(',', '.'));
	var val4 = parseFloat(var4.value.replace(',', '.'));

	var result1 = 100*(val3-val4)/(val1-val2);
	var resultRounded1 = Math.round(result1*10)/10;

if (isNaN(resultRounded1))
	{
		resultLbl1.text = 'Result is null, check input fields!';
	}
else
	{
		resultLbl1.text = 'Probability of correct selected value range (%) : '+resultRounded1+'';
	}
}

//***************** ABOUT WINDOW ***********************

currwin.activity.onCreateOptionsMenu = function(e) {
    var menu = e.menu;

    var aboutMenuItem = menu.add({
        title : "About",
        //backgroundImage: '/images/info_24w.png',
    	showAsAction : Ti.Android.SHOW_AS_ACTION_IF_ROOM
    });

	aboutMenuItem.addEventListener("click", function(e) {
        var aboutWindow = Titanium.UI.createWindow({
        	title: 'Uniform distribution',
        	url: 'DetailDescription.js',
        	lblText: 'Needless to say, many geo parameters are either normally or log normally distributed. Sometimes we don´t know. A conservative, sometimes too conservative approach, is to presume that the parameter is uniformly distributed. This means that each parameter value within the limits is of equal probability to occur. \nIf we can estimate the upper and lower boundary of that parameter, we can also estimate the probability for a certain value range to be correct. \nFor instance, if upper and lower boundaries are 5 and 10, the choice 6 to 7 means a probability of (7-6)/(10-5) =20 % to be correct and 80 % to be false. \nThis demonstrates that knowledge of parameter distributions matters, as well as parameter range.'
		});

    	aboutWindow.open();
	});
};

//****************************************************

currwin.add(win);


DES MOINES, IA - Beth Townsend, Director of Iowa Workforce Development, has been appointed chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee for the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA).
Townsend, a veteran of the United States Air Force, is a passionate and tireless advocate of programs and initiatives to provide veterans with improved access to employment and education opportunities.
NASWA, a national organization of state administrators of the state workforce system, is focused on driving the national workforce agenda. The Veterans Affairs Committee is one of NASWA's seven committees and will be hosting the fourth annual Veterans Conference, Aug. 16-18, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
Townsend was named vice chair of the committee in October of 2016. Her chair appointment is through September of 2018.
Townsend is a member of the Nebraska and Iowa state bar. She retired from the Air Force Reserve in 2010 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 21 years of active and reserve duty. Townsend was appointed director of Iowa Workforce Development in 2015.


Madrid derby to start the continental season off. Lovely.
Stan's threads mirror his performance in bed.
Who told you that your missus ?
Should probably do a poll and close it before the world cup to see if anyone can guess it right just have the options as Real Madrid and Real Madrid.
Wow, very early for this when both teams are probably going to change dramatically in many senses. As things stand Atleti would win this one for me but in the future? Who knows!
is this a meaningless game or not?
Are you trying to troll me?
which is why i said we should start a poll and close it before the WC. Everyone is a soothsayer when they've got all the variables in front of them.
Shame on you. Terrible Job!
Well it creates debate and activity which is a good thing. Although the signs with both clubs seems to be that there's going to be many many changes which makes things very difficult to debate. We could start talking about particular players that may not be at either club, maybe even coaches.
I wonder if Rodri will start for Atletico. Can't remember the name, but a journalist from Spain, claimed he was the closest you could get to Sergio B.
He should start and he'll hopefully add more ability on the ball to that Atlético midfield who have been lacking in that area for a while now, especially considering how Augusto Fernández's path back from injury worked out, someone who I thought gave Atlético something different in this area. Shame how his return from injury ended but it's true he was getting on a bit. Whilst my club recently spent nearly 40M on Drinkwater you have this summer the likes of Rodrigo going for half the price. La Liga is full of little gems like him.
A lot has been spoken about with Rodri, but as for him being in the ilk of Busquets, I'm not so sure. But we're going to find out this season.
Diego Costa in the first minute Ramos and Varane half asleep.
Nice start to the game Diego with a super goal.


text:
REBLOG SURFBREAK PROTECTION SOCIETY: Lyall Bay surf breaks at "substantial risk" from runway extension plan
The Surfbreak Protection Society (SPS) is very concerned that Wellington International Airport Ltd is attempting to railroad through its runway extension by way of the Environment Court, seeing it has not yet yall Bay made convincing arguments through articulated scientific-based debate.
In March, SPS questioned the sincerity of WIAL's proposed mitigation of a swell focussing reef, while at the same time the airport company were seeking the deletion of policies that protect surf breaks, by way of WIAL's submission to the Greater Wellington Regional Council's Proposed Natural Resources Plan (PNRP).
WIAL have yet again demonstrated their statement of intent, in pursuing the deletion of protection for the region's surf breaks, and in particular, Lyall Bay's revered Corner surf break in the PNRP, by way of a further submission to the plan.
In plain words, WIAL are telling surfers that the company is obligated to protect Lyall Bay's surfing amenity "overall", yet on the other hand, are aggressively attacking the very legal obligations for them to do so, by seeking these policy changes.
SPS, along with the Wellington Boardriders Club and other concerned local surfers, have been consulting with WIAL since May last year. WIAL submitted to the PNRP on 25 September, but would have been working on their submission long before that.
The attack on surfbreak policies, combined with WIAL ignoring the recommendations of our proven adaptive management plan conditions sought through consultation, leaves the future of Lyall Bay's surf breaks at substantial risk.
To that end, SPS can have no confidence in the overtures made to Wellington's surfing community by WIAL's External Relations and Marketing Manager about WIAL's promises in perpetuity, to maintain and if possible enhance Lyall Bay's surfing amenity value.
"A robust Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE) is essential, especially for a project of this magnitude, yet the design concepts for the swell focus structure in the middle of Lyall Bay differ significantly from one preliminary report to the next," says SPS research and communications officer Mike Gunson.
WIAL are offering a "notion" of what may be possible without applying proper precautionary principles in the Coastal Marine Area, and expecting the Wellington surfing community to have faith in WIAL's "desired outcomes."
SPS are of the view that WIAL's "rush job" on forcing the issue without true and proper public debate, along with impact assessment studies that raise more red flags than they answer, leaves SPS with no alternative than to reject WIAL's proposed airport extension and focus reef structure.
SPS recognise that the Guardians of the Bays have continuously put up articulated debate on a number of points about the impacts and viability of the proposed extension, as have SPS and our scientific/legal counsel regarding the significant impacts on surfing.
SPS asks: if this is such an important infrastructure development for the region, why is WIAL aggressively shutting down articulated debate? SPS looks forward to a close working relationship between ourselves and Guardians of the Bays.
SPS encourages the NZ surfing community to contribute to the Guardians of the Bay Givealittle fundraiser as a first line of defence for Lyall Bay's surf breaks.
email: info@surfbreak.org.nz
Please leave comments here: http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=88474


text:
I finally saw Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice today. I'm a lifelong comic books fan. I was a collector, then an occasional reader, and now basically a nostalgic with internet access. I have volumes to say about DC and Marvel and their respective cinematic universes. It's ironically probably the thing I've written the most draft copies about lately, the reason this blog's getting new posts.
I wanted to love this movie. I really did. I questioned the selections of Zack Snyder and practically every cast member, until I resigned myself to judge the finished product instead of every berry and nut in the recipe. In one nighttime scene in a burned-out vintage stone building in Gotham, there was colored lens flare. There were dream sequences, some of past memories, but some future-telling in great detail with no explanation of how. There were several 300-style slow motion passes for no reason whatsoever. Even the soundtrack invoked tones from 300's battle scenes. Easily a dozen shots were setup specifically to up-sell the 3D glasses, which I did not buy, and their lack didn't affect the story.
More than one trailer reveals the Kryptonian monster, Doomsday, so I'll talk about him freely above the spoiler page break. His creation was completely made-up from scratch, but his depiction was great. Comic Doomsday was engineered to heal, evolving into his regeneration back from death with new resistances to what killed him. Every time movie Doomsday absorbed some devastating impact, he would soon revive like a crackling, smouldering coal, shedding skin and regrowing, larger and more durable than before. It was a subtle one-shot depiction of his centuries of evolution in the comics, one of the smartest long-story-short adaptations I've seen in awhile.
Ezra Miller's dark-haired, emo Barry Allen cameo just confuses and saddens me, but the choice of an Aquaman from Oceana's peoples is genius. Jason Momoa looks the part. If it's possible to wrest the Wayne family chemistry from Bale and Caine, Affleck and Irons did it. Affleck's Wayne was mature and convincing, and physically imposing. One comment I read online applies: "Batman doesn't just fight you, he happens to you". Gal Gadot was a highlight of the movie, in part because her character was understated and only pressed into service when the story finally, absolutely required it. She moved well and her voice was exotic and fierce. She's still smaller than any comic rendition of the character. And not just about comic book boobs; you would never see a Superman this much skinnier than the comic version. But I am still probably more excited for the upcoming WW movie than for the next chapter of this story.
That brings us to this story, and the content below is spoiler-rich.
Usually a comic movie will reflect upon a published comic book story arc. This one scatter-shots a dozen individual elements, and I'm not aware of any story arc where these characters and events ever coincided in a DC universe. I barely know where to begin.
In most iterations of the JL origin, heroes come out of isolation to respond to a common threat and are unified by Superman's realization that he cannot do it all by himself. This is common to the "JL: War" movie with Darkseid and to the JL animated series with a White Martian invasion. The BvS Batman had a dream featuring the Superman police of the "Injustice: Gods Among Us" comic title, with Darkseid's omega symbol burned into the landscape and his parademons attacking the city. These are things he had no conceivable exposure to, but he was dreaming them. And Lex Luthor was aware of Darkseid for some reason. Finally, in all iterations of the JL origin, Batman barely agrees to participate, and only part-time. But in this movie, Batman is the first to feel the need to assemble the known meta-humans after the events of the day.
The event of the day was the death of Superman in a battle with Doomsday, based barely-at-all on the famous "Death of Superman" story arc. Over the several DC Comics universe reboots, the origin stories of Doomsday have consistently begun on ancient Krypton. He is mildly susceptible to kryptonite, though it does not kill him, except in this movie. One animated version of him was an Earth-based cloning project, and that's as close as this movie came to making a reference at all. Having ancient Krypton's Genesis Chamber know that a Kryptonian-Earthling hybrid produces this destructive abomination that's forbidden by law, then agree to create it because Lex said so? That point was completely lost on me.
Movie Lex was crazy, literally mentally unhinged. Comic Lex was brilliant, articulate, and persuasive. A Man's Man, he was once elected President of the USA. Movie Lex was a mumbling adolescent by comparison. Movie Lex was routinely referred to as "Alexander Luthor". He avoided the nickname, saying his father "put the 'Lex' in LexCorp". Comic Lex's father was Lionel Luthor, not Lex, Sr. There was an Alexander Luthor, Jr on DC's Earth-3, who was a powered meta-human and fought for good in the Infinite Crisis story. So, movie Lex wasn't the powered Earth-3 Alexander, but he also wasn't the son of comic father, Lionel Luthor. Movie Lex was made from scratch to be a Silicon Valley whiz kid with power issues.
I need to wrap this up. The concept and iconography of Batman vs Superman were clearly derived from the Frank Miller graphic novel, "The Dark Knight Returns", not to be confused with the Christopher Nolan movie of the same name. In the modern comics, Lex Luthor's reason for being is that Superman represents an insult to humanism, this notion that humanity needs super-powered aliens to save us from ourselves. That resentment becomes Batman's burden in this movie, which makes for a good story but is nowhere based in literature. All this cherry-picking of plot points added up to 2.5 hours of film wrapped around a really good Batman short feature. That the lengthy movie title was abbreviated simply "BATMAN" on my ticket stub seems more than accidental now. I have no idea what the actual JL films will be like.
You've caught me at a very strange time in my life
Middle-school boys in Tacoma, WA have started their very own after-school program, a "Fight Club" in a school bathroom. One of the broke the first rule of Fight Club as shown here . Check that story first, I'll wait. I am not a parent, but I'm an uncle and former high school teacher. I'm bothered by the fighting in a tiny measure, but I'm shocked and disappointed by the school's response. This struck an immediate impression in me that may disappoint some people who've "known me all my life". All I can say is, "all your life" usually means "while you were a child", and that was a long time ago. "Fight Club" is one of my 2 or 3 favorite movies of all time. There, I said that. The original version is not family-friendly (to an extreme), but it's how a lot of people relate to their world and I acknowledge that on artistic merit. The cable edit is still good enough that I'll watch it a couple times
Life is like enduro
I can't believe I haven't posted anything new since July 04. Where did the summer go? I got into a conversation about worry yesterday. My friend was stressing about a trip later this month that could pose some personal challenges. There would be people there from an old life and a different moral background, a lot of things that were familiar but no longer appropriate. They were worrying about whether to go at all, whether to go alone or with someone, whether to take it as a character-building challenge and be a good example for everyone else. I watched them change their mind, in print, twice in a single weekend. I was reminded of a quote I've heard in church for years, that life is not a sprint but a marathon. Neither of us run, so... " life is not a track day but an enduro ". I've ridden two track days at Virginia International Raceway. By mid-afternoon, I knew the track so well that my last six lap times were all within 5 seconds of each other
John Beamon
life and faith