text:
Television receiving and internet browsing apparatus
TV receiving apparatus comprises a receiver for receiving broadcast TV signals, a TV display, and a control system for controlling the display of received TV signals on the TV display. The control system includes an Internet browser connectable to an Internet server to supply URLs, selected by a user, to the server, to receive corresponding web pages, and to adapt and display the received web pages in a first region of the TV display. The control system is also adapted to cause information different from the selected web page and received from the server to be displayed in a second region of the TV display independently of the web page(s) displayed in the first region.
Walton, Anthony S. (Middlesex, GB)
WALTON ANTHONY S.
348/E5.105, 725/109, 348/552
H04N5/445; H04N7/16; (IPC1-7): G06F3/00; H04N5/445
20080222675 Pointing capability and associated user interface elements for television user interfaces September, 2008 Moshiri et al.
20080178230 VIDEO SHARING PLATFORM PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SHARING AND DISTRIBUTED DOWNLOADS OF VIDEOS July, 2008 Eyal et al.
20030226140 Method for managing the payment of goods and services, particularly for on-demand transmissions, and corresponding electronic wallet December, 2003 Contarino
20080104628 Television Broadcasting Receiving Apparatus May, 2008 Mori et al.
20080263594 Schedule of a Broadcast Management System October, 2008 Rutherford
20080313696 Thermal Pad Controlled Equalizer December, 2008 Blumenkranz
20090328095 MANAGING UNDESIRABLE CONTENT IN IP VIDEO BROADCAST TRAFFIC December, 2009 Vinokurov et al.
20080189733 Content rating systems and methods August, 2008 Apostolopoulos
20090007201 Jitter Introduction In A Data Transmission System January, 2009 Eerenberg et al.
20060174273 Method of displaying service in DMB, and method and apparatus for managing preferred service August, 2006 Park et al.
20070250878 Interactive system for conducting contest October, 2007 Ryckman et al.
LAMBRECHT, CHRISTOPHER M
SNELL & WILMER LLP (OC) (600 ANTON BOULEVARD SUITE 1400, COSTA MESA, CA, 92626, US)
I claim:
1. A TV receiving apparatus comprising: a) a receiver for receiving broadcast TV signals; b) a TV display; and, c) a control system for controlling the display of received TV signals on the TV display, the control system including an Internet browser connectable to an Internet server to supply URLs, selected by a user, to the server, to receive corresponding web pages and to adapt and display the received web pages in a first region of the TV display, the control system being adapted to cause information different from the selected web page and received from the server to be displayed in a second region of the TV display independently of the web page(s) displayed in the first region and wherein the user is unable to cause the display in the second region of information selected by the user.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control system is provided in a set-top box.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control system is adapted to generate a URL to cause the information to be received from the server.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the generated URL is not supplied to the control system by the user.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the second region is defined by a second HTML frame appended to a first HTML frame defining a web page selected by the user.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information displayed in the second region corresponds to a second web page.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second region forms at least part of a banner on the display.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the banner is rectangular.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein at least one edge of the banner abuts an edge of the display.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the banner is elongate in a first direction and has a corresponding elongate edge arranged to abut the edge of the display.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the banner extends fully across the display and abuts two opposing edges of the display.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the banner includes one or more browser control icons.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1, arranged such that the user may interact with the second region so as to cause the display of related information within the first region.
14. An Internet access system comprising apparatus according to claim 4; and an Internet server which can be selectively coupled with the said apparatus.
15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet server and the apparatus cooperate such that the browser generates a special URL to obtain the information to be displayed in the second region.
16. A system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet server is adapted to update the content of the web page addressed by the special URL.
17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the Internet served is adapted to redirect the special URL to a different URL.
18. A system according to claim 15, wherein the control system further comprises a non-volatile store in which the special URL is retained.
19. A system according to claim 14, wherein the server supplies the browser with the URL which is used to cause the information to be received.
20. A system according to claim 14, wherein the Internet server appends a second frame to data defined by the web page selected by the user, for displaying in the second region.
21. A system according to claim 14, wherein the information displayed in the second region is regularly updated by the Internet server.
22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the Internet server is adapted to update the said information each time the information is to be refreshed to the apparatus.
23. A system according to claim 21, wherein the Internet server is adapted to monitor the URLs requested by a user and to update the information to be displayed in the second region with related data.
24. A system according to claim 14, further comprising a database in which data is stored relating to the information provided to the browser by the Internet server.
25. A system according to claim 14, wherein the information displayed in the second region is an advertisement.
26. Internet browsing apparatus comprising a display; and a control system including an Internet browser connectable to an Internet server to supply URLs, selected by a user, to the server, to receive corresponding web pages and to display the received web pages in a first region of the display, the control system being adapted to cause information different from the selected web page and received from the server to be displayed in a second region of the display independently of the web page(s) displayed in the first region and wherein the user is unable to cause the display in the second region of information selected by the user.
27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the control system is adapted to generate a URL to cause the information to be received from the server.
28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the generated URL is not supplied to the control system by the user.
29. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the information displayed in the second region is defined by a second HTML frame appended to a first HTML frame defining a web page selected by the user.
30. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the information displayed in the second region corresponds to a second web page.
31. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the second region forms at least part of a banner on the display.
32. Apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the banner is rectangular.
33. Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein at least one edge of the banner abuts an edge of the display.
34. Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the banner is elongate in a first direction and has a corresponding elongate edge arranged to abut the edge of the display.
37. Apparatus according to claim 26, arranged such that the user may interact with the second region so as to cause the display of related information within the first region.
38. An Internet access system comprising apparatus according to claim 26; and an Internet server which can be selectively coupled with the said apparatus.
[0001] The invention relates to television receiving and Internet browsing apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Conventional TV receiving apparatus simply receives broadcast TV and teletext services. Recently, interactive TV, which can be implemented in both analogue and digital form, has been developed to allow remote users to play games, possibly linked with a displayed TV channel, and to carry out other tasks such as on-line shopping. To that end, a control system is provided, usually in a set-top box (STB), to extract from broadcast signals the required text or graphics overlay information which is then displayed under the control of the user and to transmit information back to a central location.
[0003] Attempts have been made to enable such television receiving apparatus to provide access to the Internet but this has not happened to any significant extent due to the different display requirements of TV displays as compared with computer monitors, and due to the highly developed PC Internet browser technology.
[0004] An important aspect of the Internet is the provision of advertisements to users. Conventionally, with PC-based browsers, an advertisement may be presented to a user as part of a displayed web page. However, as soon as a user selects a different web page, the advertisement will disappear. This significantly reduces the impact of any one advertisement. NetZero Inc. based in the USA is one company which has recently introduced a ZeroPort feature for use with PC browsers which enables advertisements to be targeted to users. An example of such a system is described in WO00/54201.
[0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a TV receiving apparatus comprises:
[0006] a) a receiver for receiving broadcast TV signals;
[0007] b) a TV display; and,
[0008] c) a control system for controlling the display of received TV signals on the TV display,
[0009] the control system including an Internet browser connectable to an Internet server to supply URLs, selected by a user, to the server, to receive corresponding web pages and to adapt and display the received web pages in a first region of the TV display, the control system being adapted to cause information different from the selected web page and received from the server to be displayed in a second region of the TV display independently of the web page(s) displayed in the first region and wherein the user is unable to cause the display in the second region of information selected by the user.
[0010] We have realized that a key to developing the use of TV receivers with the Internet is the ability to provide advertisers with guarantees that their advertisements will be viewed for known periods while enabling them to target the very wide TV audience as compared with the PC audience. We also realized that this could be achieved by making use of the control system already being used and developed for interactive TV, although dedicated browser control systems could also be used. The control system will also convert the Internet format signals to TV display format. The control system can be conveniently contained within a set-top box.
[0011] Thus, the invention provides a new type of TV control system which includes an Internet browser and which divides the display into two (or more) display regions. The first region is used to display user selected web pages in the usual way while the second region displays information which is not under the control of the user. This enables the second region to be used to display advertisements or other information for much longer than the time for which any particular web page is being viewed. Advertisers can then target particular advertisements for any length of time while the apparatus is being operated and achieve a much better exposure.
[0012] The information disclosed in the second region can be selected independently of the receiving apparatus or alternatively could be selected in accordance with previous usage of the Internet either within a current session or on previous occasions. Thus, if the server detects that the user of the apparatus accesses particular types of web page then the information it causes to be displayed in the second region can be related to that type.
[0013] There are a number of different ways in which the invention can be implemented as it is not limited to the use of television based systems.
[0014] Thus, in accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, we provide Internet browsing apparatus comprising a display; and
[0015] a control system including an Internet browser connectable to an Internet server to supply URLs, selected by a user, to the server, to receive corresponding web pages and to display the received web pages in a first region of the display, the control system being adapted to cause information different from the selected web page and received from the server to be displayed in a second region of the display independently of the web page(s) displayed in the first region and wherein the user is unable to cause the display in the second region of information selected by the user.
[0016] In one approach, the information displayed in the second region corresponds to a second web page which may be accessed with an appropriate URL. The browser thus needs to be adapted to control the display of two web pages simultaneously. A URL relating to the information to be displayed in the second region may be generated by the browser itself and this may be retained in non-volatile memory associated with the control system. Alternatively, the server may be adapted to supply the browser with the URL for the second region. In either case, the content of the information in the second web page can be varied either by the server loading different information into the second web page at a common URL, by redirecting the common URL to a further URL, or by changing the URL to point to an alternative "second web page". The user of the browser will therefore be unable to control the URLs relating to the second region.
[0017] Preferably, the second region will form part of a banner located in an upper or lower region of the display with the banner taking the form of a rectangle. Typically at least one edge of the banner will abut the edge of the display, the banner being generally elongate in a first direction and having a corresponding elongate edge arranged to abut the edge of the display. Preferably the banner will be arranged to extend fully across the display so as to abut two opposing edges. Furthermore, the banner may include browser control icons, allowing interaction by the user so as to control the browser. The user may also interact with the second region so as to cause the display of related information within the first region.
[0018] This approach takes advantage of the existing division between the browser control region of the display and the region dedicated to the display of web pages and provides an extra function for the browser banner.
[0019] In another approach, the information displayed in the second region may be defined by a second HTML frame appended to a first HTML frame defining a web page selected by the user. Typically this will be performed by the Internet server. In this case, a separate URL relating to the second region is not required.
[0020] The invention also relates to an Internet access system comprising TV receiving apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention or Internet browsing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention; and an Internet server which can be selectively coupled with the said apparatus.
[0021] Preferably the information displayed in the second region will be regularly updated by the Internet server, for example this may be achieved each time the information is to be refreshed to the apparatus. The Internet server may also monitor the URLs requested by the user and update the information to be displayed in the second region with related data. In the context of advertising, this monitoring may be particularly useful as advertising material can be targeted to specific browsers or users depending upon the types of web pages previously viewed. A database may also be provided to record data concerning the information provided to particular browsers.
[0022] Some examples of apparatus and systems according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Internet access system;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of part of the set-top box shown in FIG. 1; and,
[0025] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a typical display on the monitor of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates part of an Internet access system. The system comprises an Internet service provider (ISP) A who provides apparatus including a server 1 for connection to the Internet 2, a store 3 connected to the server 1, and a modem 4 connected to the server 1 for transmitting signals generated by the server over a public switched telephone network (PSTN). The system also comprises a large number of remote TV receiving apparatus, one of which B is shown. Each set of apparatus B comprises a television screen 5 coupled via a STB 6 to a TV signal receiver 7. The STB 6 is controlled from a handset 8 which generates infrared signals 9 in a conventional manner.
[0027] Each of the apparatus B has a generally conventional form and so will not be described in detail. However, as can be seen in FIG. 2, the STB 6 at least includes a CPU 10, ROM 11, RAM 12 and an infrared input device 13 for receiving the signals 9, all connected to an address/data bus 14. A frame store 16 may also be provided. The STB 6 also includes a modem 15 for transmitting signals across the PSTN (not shown) to the modem 4 connected to the server 1.
[0028] The software stored in the ROM 11 will enable the CPU 10 to control the TV channel to be displayed on the TV 5 in response to user input and also to provide other information such as an electronic program guide, text and graphics relating to games and the like as supplied from a central computer system (not shown). An example is described in more detail in EP-A-0873772.
[0029] When a user wishes to access the Internet, he issues suitable control signals from the handset 8 to the STB 6. These signals are received by the input device 13 where they are decoded and fed to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 then causes the modem 15 to dial up the ISP A so that a connection can be made with the server 1.
[0030] The ROM 11 includes Internet browser software to which the CPU 10 responds to display a home page on the TV 5. In general the TV 5 will therefore switch between displaying a full screen television signal, to an Internet browser display under the control of the user. However, as an alternative, the display may be divided in a split screen manner to display the television and Internet simultaneously.
[0031] The browser makes use of hard code in the ROM 11 to divide the browser display into separate dedicated regions within the frame store 16 which may be provided using video RAM.
[0032] The dedicated regions of the frame store 16 reflect those of the display, with the particular video memory addresses corresponding to specific display regions. These regions are fixed within the frame store 16, with each region having corresponding predetermined dimensions on the display. In general the regions will abut rather than overlap such that information intended for the display within one region is not "hidden" behind that displayed in another. Appropriate scrolling mechanisms may therefore be used.
[0033] As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the regions include a main or first region 20 within which web pages corresponding to user selected URLs will appear and one, or in this case two, second regions 21,22 above and below the region 20 respectively in the form of banners.
[0034] Although the second region(s) may take any shape, banners provide a convenient means of efficiently partitioning the display in a user friendly manner. The banners of the present example are regions which are elongate in one direction (usually the horizontal axis) and extend across the full width of the display. They may be arranged at the top or bottom of the display so as to abut the top or bottom edge respectively, in order to maximise the use of display space. Conversely banners with a vertical orientation can be provided but these reduce the width of the screen, which is less desirable for reading text arranged in horizontal lines. In this case the second regions 21,22 may not be resized or moved by the user.
[0035] In FIG. 3, the upper region 21 includes certain conventional icons such as "previous page", "next page"and "home"icons 23-25 while the region 22 is dedicated to displaying advertisements as will be described below.
[0036] The region 22 includes certain fixed graphics 26,27 and a small window 28 within which advertisements will appear. The window 28 may be alternatively arranged to fill the entire region 22. Initially, when the browser has been activated but before it has logged on to the Internet, the region 28 will be caused to display text or graphics information stored in the ROM 11.
[0037] Once the browser has successfully logged on to the Internet, the display within the window 28 will be refreshed. There are two main ways in which this can be achieved.
[0038] In the first approach, the browser includes a special URL in the ROM 11 which it transmits to the server 1 independently of any URL selected by the user. The server 1 accesses the page indicated by the special URL and this is transmitted back to the CPU 10 and used to constitute the information within the window 28. Separately and independently, the user can selected URLs in the usual way and the appropriate web pages are accessed by the server 1, returned to the remote user B via the modem 4 and modem 15 and displayed within the region 20.
[0039] Periodically, the browser will resend the special URL so as to update the content of the window 28. This can be done whenever the main output is idle.
[0040] In an alternative approach, the server 1 can append the special advertisement data as a second frame to a first HTML frame corresponding to the web page selected by the user. In this case, any web page requested by a user is displayed towards the top of the TV display 5 while the advertisement is displayed in the bottom part.
[0041] If the user wishes to respond to the advertisement in the window 28, he can click either on the window 28 (known as "clickthrough"), or click on the "go shopping" icon 27 which will cause the server 1 to access a corresponding URL and retrieve that web page in a conventional manner. That web page will then be displayed in the main region 20. The retrieved web page could be the advertiser's home page or a commercial ordering page. However, the display of the advertisement in the window 28 will continue in the normal manner.
[0042] The advertisements will generally comprise mixtures of text and graphics. Their effectiveness may be increased by providing animation, for example as rapidly displayed consecutive frames or by providing a slide show of related or unrelated advertisements. Preferably the advertisements will therefore be designed for the particular size of window 28 used by the browser.
[0043] The content of the advertisements is most easily determined by the server 1 which can simply change the file stored at a particular URL in order to change the advertisement. The browser then always uses the same URL for the display 28. The server 1 can alternatively redirect the URL from the browser to further URLs. Another way is to control the advertisements using CGI scripting, asking the server 1 for the next advertisement URL every time the advertisement needs a refresh.
[0044] The advertisement "page" can be refreshed in one of two ways:
[0045] One is to use JavaScript to talk to the server. The server will use CGI or Java to pass down the version of advert required, which is compared to the current advert within the box. If a new advert is needed, the "advert" frame is redirected using the location object in JavaScript.
[0046] Another way is to use HTTP redirect to relocate the "advert" frame to a new advert URL.
[0047] The server 1 is tied into a database 3 containing a diary of each advert, version, when they become live and for how long. The database might contain a large number of URLs if the server 1 is not provided with the advertisment files directly. Also, information can be stored for individual users, such as which adverts are best for them depending on the type of content they look for when browsing the web. This information can be calculated and maintained either by a "Cookie Collection" or using applets. Adverts can therefore be targeted to users, thus increasing the chance of a "clickthrough" response by the user. A suitable data mining process can be used for this purpose.
[0048] When the browser requests a refresh, passing the version of advert back to the server, this information is compared and the browser is redirected to a new advert URL, if need be.
[0049] JavaScript keeps a timer which will regularly update the server on the advert it is displaying and for how long. Once it is time to update to a new advert, the server replies with a redirection, telling the browsing the URL of the new advert and version information.
[0050] The total time of an advert is written back into the database for each individual set-top box and the grand total of time for that version of advert. This information may then be relayed to the corresponding advertisers.
[0051] The signals received by the modem 15 will typically be formatted for use with a conventional PC monitor display based on an area of 800×600 square pixels. A conventional TV display, however, is defined by 600×400 rectangular pixels and so the CPU 10 will carry out a conventional modification algorithm to convert the incoming signals to a compatible TV format, i.e. with changes in pixel size, pixel screen and colour.
Previous Patent: Methods, systems and devices for selectively presenting and sorting data content
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text:
Q: Finding network addresses Consider a router that interconnects three subnets: Subnet1, Subnet2, and Subnet3.
Suppose all of the interfaces in each of these three subnets are required to have the prefix
223.1.17/24. Also suppose that Subnet #1 is to support at least 60 interfaces
Subnet #2 is to support at least 90 interfaces
Subnet #3 is to support at least 12 interfaces.  Provide
three network addresses (of the form a.b.c.d/x) that satisfy these constraints.
What I thought is
Subnet 1: 223.1.17.0/26
Subnet 2: 223.1.17.64/25
Subnet 3 : 223.1.17.192/28
Is this correct?

A: No. You have the size calculations done correctly but subnet 1 and 2 will overlap. A /25 network must start at either 0 or 128.
The requirements for each network is:
60 rounded up to the nearest power of two is 64 => we need 6 bits
Subnet #2 needs 90 addresses so again, rounding up to 128 => we need 7 bits
Subnet #3 only has 12 adresses, rounded gives us 16 => 4 bits.
You can fit this in one of two ways (you can permutate subnet 1 and three in more).
subnet 1 223.1.17.128/26
subnet 2 223.1.17.0/25
subnet 3 223.1.17.192/28

or
subnet 1 223.1.17.0/26
subnet 2 223.1.17.128/25
subnet 3 223.1.17.64/28

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Caballero, the Spanish word for "knight" and a common surname, can refer to:

 Anna Caballero, member of the California State Assembly
 Bernardino Caballero, President of Paraguay from 1880 until 1886 and founder of the Colorado Party
 Celestino Caballero, Panamanian boxer
 Elizabeth Caballero, Cuban-American soprano
 Enrique Caballero Peraza, Mexican medical doctor, psychologist and politician
 Félix Caballero, Dominican priest
 Fernán Caballero, pseudonym adopted from the name of a village in the province of Ciudad Real by the Spanish novelist Cecilia Francisca Josefa Arrom de Ayala
 Flavio Caballero, Colombian actor
 Francisco Largo Caballero, Spanish politician and trade unionist
 Gabriel Caballero, Mexican footballer
 Guy Caballero, a character in the Canadian sketch comedy series SCTV portrayed by Joe Flaherty
 Javiera Caballero, American politician
 Juan Caballero y Ocio, priest
 Jorge Luis Caballero Torres, Mexican footballer
 Jorge López Caballero, Colombian footballer
 Luis Caballero (footballer), Paraguayan footballer
 Manuel Caballero, Venezuelan historian
 María Cristina Caballero, Colombian journalist
 María Emilia Caballero, Mexican mathematician
 Mauro Caballero, Paraguayan footballer
 Miguel Caballero Ortega, Spanish ski mountaineer and long-distance runner
 Pino Caballero Gil (born 1968), Spanish computer scientist
 Raymond Caballero, the mayor of El Paso, Texas from 2001 until 2003
 Raimundo Diosdado Caballero, Catholic miscellaneous writer
 Roxann Caballero (born 1958), American actress and director, known as Roxann Dawson, R. Biggs, R. Biggs-Dawson
 Samuel Caballero, Honduran football defender
 Steve Caballero, professional skateboarder
 Willy Caballero, Argentinian soccer player

Spanish-language surnames
Occupational surnames

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Hoodie/Sweatshirt
> Shop>Music>Vinyl>Screaming Senile 12" (black vinyl)
Screaming Senile 12" (black vinyl)
Reference: UKS12CAMBK
New EP on 12" black vinyl
The brand new UK Subs EP on a 12" black vinyl record. Features 4 brand new tracks plus a very special revamped and upgraded version of 'Keep on Running'.
Bonus track information:
As part of our musical submissions for the forthcoming UK Subs' EP we have decided to re-record a song that was a single for us back in 1981: 'Keep on Running.' The thinking behind this revisit is twofold. A number of people have asked us what album this track resides on, the answer being of course that 'Keep on Running' does not appear on any Subs' LP and is only available in the original 45 rpm vinyl format from '81. This is not always easy to obtain, so by making it available on the EP it will be accessible to all those who like the song while simultaneously saving them the effort of having to source it from record dealers online. Secondly, when Alvin Gibbs originally wrote the music it sounded quite different from what ended up on the record. Alvin's original version was more Johnny Thunders than the Police – it was Nicky Garratt who wanted a more polished sound and so inserted the 'Message in a Bottle' style picking guitar that you can hear throughout the primary cut. We therefore intend to record a version that is closer to Alvin's original vision of how the songs should have sounded – rawer and more '77 Punk rock than 1980's New Wave. We hope you'll agree this will make a very interesting addition to our EP release.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Further Festival fallout...
Further Festival fallout noted recently... two articles by Ruby Walsh written for the Irish Examiner; in the first Ruby explains that Kauto Star's chance in the Gold Cup went with that mistake at the eighth while in the second the jockey questions the wisdom of marketing the Cheltenham showpiece as a two horse race.
Not to be outdone, Ruby's sister Katie gave an interview to the Irish Independent following her two wins at the Festival on Poker De Sivola in the National Hunt Chase and Thousand Stars in the County Hurdle.
Meanwhile on Friday The Guardian ran a piece that nominated the five unluckiest losers at the Festival - how many of your wagers qualified?
The celeb gossip website popbitch.com published an introductory guide to the Festival for those new to the racing experience. At one particular juncture the article states Denman's jockey is 'Rob Bryden, sorry, champion jockey AP (Tony) McCoy'. Mrs Tips comments: 'Rob needs to do a lot more wasting to get the real AP look.'
Earlier in the week there was fallout of a different type for Sky Sports presenter Chloe Everton who was ordered to take down her Twitter page after a number of her tweets were considered 'too racy' by TV station managers. Poor old Chloe - what's a girl to do these days? Just what she would have made of the five-year-old mare Big Knickers finishing third in the 5.30 at Plumpton on Monday evening is anybody's guess; the comments-in-running included 'held up towards rear'. I'm sure several racecourse commentators can't wait to include any of the following in future commentaries - Big Knickers pulled up / brought down; Big Knickers out the back struggling with a big weight; Big Knickers just held on; Big Knickers stayed on (up the hill); Big Knickers looking comfortable; Big Knickers squeezed for room; Big Knickers out with the washing etc, etc. Feel free to make up your own.
After all that I think I need a drink. Luckily, I know the just the place, pictured below...
Labels: cheltenham, denman, festival, kauto star, mccoy, mrs tips, walsh
Bangor and Newbury
It barely seems a week since Paddy Brennan rode Imperial Commander to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Tomorrow the first big race of the Flat season, the William Hill Lincoln, takes place at Doncaster racecourse while the Dubai World Cup takes place at Meydan racecourse - given the choice, where would you rather be? Presumably Paddy Brennan (7 winnners from 40 rides in the past fortnight) had the choice where to ride tomorrow and he's chosen to go to Bangor-On-Dee rather than Newbury, even though he rode a winner at the Berkshire track earlier today (Carlitos in the 2.20); does that suggest the yard fancy Made In Japan in the competitive-looking Tommy Shone Handicap Hurdle at 4.20? Made In Japan, once with Philip Hobbs, has never been easy to catch right but he has some decent form to his name - the second to Time For Rupert at Cheltenham last December reads well given the winner that day found only Big Buck's too good in the World Hurdle at the Festival last week. The tissue has the horse priced up at 10/1 - I'll have another look in the morning before deciding whether to take an each-way interest.
There are two listed mares finals at Newbury; several owners will be hoping to collect so their charge can then be sent to the paddocks in possession of the coveted black type. The hurdle race (2.15) is difficult with eighteen going to post but the chase looks fractionally easier with just nine set to face the starter. Likely favourite Carole's Legacy has won three over the larger obstacles this term - two of those victories have included the scalps of three of tomorrow's opponents - Cool Friend, Wychwoods Legend and Daraz Rose. Nicky Henderson's charge then went on to run a stormer in the mares' hurdle at the Festival ten days ago, finishing second behind Willie Mullins' Quevega; there must be a fair chance she will not have fully recovered from her exertions and therefore is passed over. Alan King's Over Sixty is respected but the yard has been in patchy form all season - King admitted on Monday he had lost owners and couldn't wait to start the new season with a clean slate. Calusa Crystal could be anything - she won easily at Warwick the last time and, according to her trainer, will be suited by a bit of cut; this will be the furthest she has tried. Cool Friend has a lot of seconds to her name but was beaten only a nose by Carole's Legacy at Exeter in December (weighted to turn that form around) and then ruined her chance against the same horse with a poor jump at the final fence at Ffos Las in January; since then she has run second to the well-regarded Awesome George. The bottom four race from out of the handicap - it's a close call but as Philip Hobbs' operation is in decent form, I'll take a chance with Calusa Crystal.
Back at Bangor the trade union Unison sponsors the opening and closing events - I considered ringing up the local branch for the inside word. On official ratings Santera looks the one in the claimer while in the concluding bumper the J P McManus owned Off Gallivanting has certainly been off a while - 332 days to be precise. Market rival Carribs Leap has to concede ten pounds (inclusive of the jockey's claim) so Off Gallivanting, who has missed a few potential engagements of late, gets the vote.
Labels: bangor on dee, newbury
Those Festival fancies - future plans
In no particular order, reported plans for some of the fancies and flops of last week... Details on other runners added to this post as they become available over the next few days.
Denman: totesport Bowl, Aintree or Guiness Gold Cup, Punchestown; Grand National 2011
Kauto Star: returns next term 'provided he shows the willingness and fitness to reappear'
Master Minded: to be checked out by vet today
Time For Rupert & Big Buck's: John Smith's Liverpool Hurdle, Aintree
Forpadydeplasterer: Melling Chase, Aintree or Kerrygold Champion Chase, Punchestown
A New Story: Irish Grand National, Fairyhouse
Carlito Brigante: Ballymore Champion 4-y-o Hurdle, Punchestown
Knockara Beau: Cheltenham Gold Cup 2011
Punjabi: Rabobank Champion Hurdle, Punchestown; possibly novice chasing next term
Starluck: Rabobank Champion Hurdle, Punchestown
Deep Purple: Melling Chase or totesport Bowl, Aintree
Barizan: Matalan Hurdle, Aintree or Ballymore Champion 4-y-o Hurdle, Punchestown
Big Zeb: Punchestown
Ballabriggs: Topham Chase, Aintree
Peddlers Cross: Aintree possible
Cue Card: Punchestown possible
Captain Cee Bee: No decision
Added Tuesday 23rd March
Copper Bleu: Betfair Novice Handicap Chase, Punchestown
Menorah: connections prefer Punchestown to Aintree
Solwhit: Punchestown
Long Run: King George 2010, Kempton
Weapons Amnesty: roughed off for the summer
Dunguib: Rabobank Champion Hurdle or Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, Punchestown
Sizing Europe: Ryanair Novice Chase, Punchestown
Diamond Harry: Aintree possible
Reve De Sivola: John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle, Aintree
Poker De Sivola: Scottish Grand National, Ayr preferred to Irish Grand National, Fairyhouse
Chief Dan George: Grand National, Aintree
Albertas Run: Melling Chase or totesport Bowl, Aintree
Binocular: Aintree Hurdle, Champion Hurdle 2011
Twist Magic: Celebration Chase, Sandown
Mon Mome & Tricky Trickster: Grand National, Aintree
Medermit & Karabak: Punchestown possibles
Imperial Commander: totesport Bowl, Aintree
Powerstation: Punchestown
Khyber Kim: Aintree Hurdle
Baby Run: Foxhunters' Chase, Aintree
Manyriverstocross: Ebor, York
Tell Massini: roughed off; chasing next term
The Package: Grand National, Aintree
Restless Harry: 2 mile 5 furlong novice hurdle, Cheltenham April meeting
Any Currency: bet365 Gold Cup, Sandown
Added Wednesday 24th March
Get Me Out Of Here: Aintree possible
Calgary Bay: totesport Bowl or handicap, Aintree
Somersby: totepool Manifesto Novices' Chase, Aintree
Added Thursday 25th March
Oh Crick: Red Rum Handicap Chase, Aintree
Chamirey: Aintree or Ayr
Kalahari King: Melling Chase, Aintree
Zaynar: Aintree Hurdle
Buena Vista: John Smith's Handicap Hurdle, Aintree
Barbers Shop: Guinness Gold Cup, Punchestown
Cooldine: Guinness Gold Cup, Punchestown
Ogee: Mildmay Novices' Chase, Aintree
Becauseicouldntsee: Grand National 2011, Aintree
Added Friday 26th March
Cappa Bleu: Leaves Evan Williams' yard to return to Sheila Crow for autum pointing campaign
Labels: cheltenham, festival
Festival review 2010
Firstly, the profit/loss details on the blog's highlighted selections at this year's Festival to a £1 level stake...
Punjabi WIN 15/2 - unplaced
Garde Champetre WIN 7/4f - fifth
Poker De Sivola E/W 14/1 WON - returned 8.75
Peddlers Cross WIN 7/1 WON - returned 8.00
Punchestowns WIN 2/1f - fifth
Kalahari King WIN 9/2 - third
Shot From The Hip WIN 3/1f - unplaced
Poquelin WIN 11/4f - second
Karabak E/W 15/2 - fourth
Tell Massini WIN 100/30f - pulled up
Kauto Star WIN 8/11f - fell
Total wagered £11.00
Total returned £16.75
Profit/loss +£5.75
Win strike rate 18.18%
Profit as % of turnover 52.27%
Surprisingly, the figures read well enough. Wednesday was the lucky day - you may have noticed a more conservative approach thereafter... Some others mentioned in dispatches also performed with credit, most notably Cue Card who won the bumper at 40/1 (paid 60/1 on the Tote) and 14/1 Ryanair winner Albertas Run. Having gone to the trouble to dig out Colin Tizzard's quote about Cue Card the night before, you would have thought I'd have taken the trouble to place a bet but I didn't; at around 5.25 Wednesday evening I received a text from a colleague at the track who had bet the horse on the Nanny - that's racing!
This time last week media talk was of the four 'bankers'. Of the four - Dunguib, Master Minded, Big Buck's and Kauto Star - only Big Buck's obliged, making this a Festival for the layers. Commentators estimate the bookmaking industry is £60 million up over the four days.
Congratulations to connections of Imperial Commander who won the Gold Cup with authority. The decison to bill the showpiece as a two horse race (Kauto v. Denman) looks flawed now. I was amazed to hear Ms Fiona Bruce tell the nation on Friday's ten o'clock news that 'an outsider' had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup. If Imperial Commander was an outsider at 7/1, what was 250/1 shot Mr Pointment? A rank outsider possibly - I suppose we'll have to put it down to cutbacks in the BBC's racing coverage.
There were some notable performances over the four days but one that will live with me for a long time was Barizan's effort to make all in the Triumph. I've replayed that race a couple of times - had he not run down the last obstacle and landed in something of a heap, he would have gone extremely close; to me it looks as though he starts to make some ground on winner Soldatino as they climb the hill to the line - the form book reads 'rallied towards finish'.
Friday was Nigel Twiston-Davies' day. After taking the Gold Cup, elder son Sam Twiston-Davies rode the stable's Baby Run to victory in the Chrisitie's Foxhunter Chase. By this time the rain had started to get into the ground; fans of the slow-motion finish were in their element - for a moment I thought I was watching the final stages of a three mile handicap chase at Towcester. Not to be outdone by his elder brother, the younger Twiston-Davies was caught on camera running around in a highly-excited manner and then doing a quick 'live' interview. Some words of advice for this young man... I have no problems with your wagging off school, especially if you want go to the races, but don't do live TV interviews from the track as the chances are somebody will snitch on you. I fear a visit to the head teacher's office for a severe 'dressing down' will be on the cards tomorrow morning...
Finally, with the return of the Flat just around the corner, a quote from Kieren Fallon who was unfortunately punched by an owner while unsaddling Elna Bright at Lingfield yesterday: '...but I'm all right - he hits like a girl!'
Labels: cheltenham, fallon, festival, gold cup
Midlands Grand National anyone?
After a bookies' week at Cheltenham (review to follow in a separate post), there's the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter tomorrow for those with any cash left. Somebody who should have plenty of fifties in his back pocket is Nigel Twiston-Davies after the yard finished the last day of this year's Festival with a 748/1 treble courtesy of Imperial Commander in the Gold Cup (7/1), Baby Run, ridden by son Sam Twiston-Davies, in the Foxhunter Chase (9/2jf) and Pigeon Island in the finale (16/1). With the stable in such fine form, I had this idea to back one of theirs in the Uttoxeter feature but guess what - they don't have one entered.
Eighteen have been declared; the going is currently described as good, good-to-soft in places, but the way the rain is falling in Coventry at the moment I'm guessing it'll ride soft on the day. In the last ten years the race has been run eight times with the winner never carrying more than ten stones nine and on each occasion being aged between seven and nine. Of the eighteen, the four I've concentrated on are the Philip Hobbs pair Ballydub and Mark The Book, Sherwoods Folly and Irish raider Inoma James. Hobbs, in fine form at the Festival, fields three, the other one being Kornati Kid who is highly regarded but didn't appear to take the preliminaries at all well in the Welsh National the last time - his chance had gone before the start. The trainer picks out Ballydub in first time blinkers as his pick of the three. Sherwoods Folly has had a decent break coming to this and makes some appeal off a light weight while the chance of Inoma James is more obvious - he won the Grand National Trial at Punchestown at the end of January on heavy ground. Irish-trained runners have a good record in this race, having won three times since 2002 - I'll take an each-way interest in Inoma James at around 9/1.
Of those near the head of the handicap Le Beau Bai looks on the small side for a big weight while Synchronised was declared for the four mile National Hunt Chase at the Festival on Wednesday but was then withdrawn, presumably on account of the ground; underfoot conditions will be more to his liking here.
Labels: cheltenham, festival, midlands national, uttoxeter
Cheltenham Festival - Friday
The Gold Cup, the feature race of the whole meeting, is due off at 3.20. He'll be no price but I cannot desert Kauto Star. The media has played its part in building this into a Kauto v. Denman battle but McCoy's mount fluffed his lines the last time at Newbury - significant rainfall would improve Denman's chance but that seems unlikely. Trainer Paul Nicholls is on record saying that Imperial Commander represents the biggest threat to the main protagonists; 8/1 with most layers, the each-way appeal has disappeared and at the back of my mind I can still see his howler at the second in the King George, a jump that effectively put him out of the race. Cooldine is similarly priced so if you're looking for an each-way alternative to the favourite Tricky Trickster is the suggestion - he runs in this on the way to next month's Grand National for which he's currently 10/1 joint favourite.
The opener, the Triumph Hurdle, is invariably a rough race and not one I particularly like. Early season Barizan was quite highly-rated and Evan Williams looks to have freshened him up for a stab at this. Carlito Brigante is my idea of the winner but at odds of around 9/2 I won't get involved.
The Albert Bartlett looks fascinating with many of the leading contenders having shown their best form with cut underfoot - how they handle tomorrow's conditions is anybody's guess. Silver Kate is a tough likeable mare who tends to race from the front which is likely to leave her vulnerable here. Favourite Tell Massini won in impressive fashion the last time while Restless Harry did this blog a favour over a shorter trip at this course seven weeks ago. Kennel Hill is one to be wary of while both Possol and Cappa Bleu have been trying their luck over fences. I'm going to take a chance with Tell Massini.
The Pipe yard will be keen to take the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle and my guess is that's why Ashkazar is priced up 9/2 favourite. There's been a hint of a plot brewing with his last couple of runs but I won't be tempted.
Similarly Nicky Henderson fields three in an attempt to take the finale, named after his father. French Opera, with David Bass claiming seven, has a clear chance while stable jockey Barry Geraghty rides You're The Top and A P McCoy Pepsyrock. I'll watch with interest from the sidelines.
And that will be that... We'll come back next year and do it all over again!
Labels: cheltenham, festival, gold cup
I'm a little pressed for time, so just a couple of selections for Thursday's card...
The feature is the World Hurdle at 3.20 in which 14 go to post. Paul Nicholls' Big Buck's won this last year and will start long odds-on. Whilst acknowledging he's supremely talented, I should point out that he's not entirely straightforward and is often described as something of a character; for that reason alone I couldn't entertain taking such a short price. Last year he was tried initially over fences but it was the return to hurdling that made him; this year Tidal Bay could be placed in the same category after his impressive win in the Cleeve six and a half weeks ago. TB has the look of an each-way bet to nothing as does Karabak, although it's interesting to note that the latter's trainer Alan King has sounded far more bullish about Katchit's prospects, that one apparently having really come to himself in the last fortnight. This evening Coral bet 22/1 Katchit while William Hill go 12s. Katchit each-way is very tempting but on official ratings he has twelve pounds to find with his stablemate so I'll back Karabak each-way against the favourite at around 8/1. I note that Coral go 80/1 Cape Tribulation which looks big for a horse that has some smart form to his name including fifth in last year's Albert Bartlett behind Weapon's Amnesty (won the RSA earlier today) and second behind Zaynar in the Relkeel. He has won over this trip but has been running over two miles recently - at the price I might have a small place bet.
It looks a classy renewal of the Ryanair at 2.40. Alan King's Voy Por Ustedes was odds-on for this last year - he finished second to Imperial Commander after a bad mistake four out - yet this year he's 16/1! Admittedly he has been a little hit and miss of late but that still looks decent each-way value. Albertas Run is another who could run well at a price - I always feel the key to this horse is good ground and he'll get that tomorrow. Deep Purple is bang there on ratings and has been given plenty of time to recover after breaking a blood vessel in the King George over Christmas. Since its inception in 2005 the winner has come from the first three in the market and on that basis it looks between Poquelin, Tranquil Sea and Barbers Shop. On official ratings Poquelin has at least four pounds in hand over his market rivals so he gets the vote.
For the first time in well over ten years I'll be missing the Wednesday card at the Festival. Enough of that, let's get on with the job in hand...
The feature is the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.20 in which nine go to post. The current two mile champ, Master Minded, attempts to become only the second horse to win this on three consecutive occasions - Badsworth Boy achieved the feat 1983-85. This horse has had an operation for a cracked rib over the winter; his demolition of a small field in the Game Spirit the last time appeared to indicate the horse was back to his best. He put in several spring-heeled leaps although he nearly came a cropper with a bad blunder at the last. Visually the performance was impressive but Voy Por Ustedes didn't run his race and the third that day, Fix The Rib, finished third in a Class 4 novice hurdle at Taunton on Monday. If the real MM turns up, quotes of 5/6 will look generous afterwards but on grounds of value alone I'm going to look elsewhere. Twist Magic, despite continuing to display signs of temperament, has shown marked improvement this season; having said that he hasn't run well here in previous years so I'm going with Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King. This one won the Arkle last year, will appreciate drying ground and put in an excellent performance on his seasonal debut to take Doncaster's Blue Square Handicap Chase - that was five and a half weeks ago.
Long Run, already spoken of as a future Gold Cup winner, is favourite for the RSA but I can't have him. Only two five-year-olds have taken this since 1950, on occasions his jumping has been sketchy and, in addition, his jockey is an amateur. If it's close on the run up the hill, Mr Sam Waley-Cohen is unlikely to prevail at the finish. Diamond Harry is another whose jumping hasn't convinced - my original selection in this was Weird Al but he picked up an injury just a few days ago. Punchestowns comes here with less experience over the larger obstacles than is ideal, he's had an injury scare over the last fortnight and he made a big blunder at Sandown before going on to score. I'll back Punchestowns in a race that has thrown up its fair share of shocks in the past - four of the last ten winners were priced in double figures, Hussard Collonges going in at 33/1 in 2002.
In the Neptune I'm going to take a chance on Peddlers Cross showing further improvement for the step up in trip; connections had considered a run in the Supreme. I think Rite Of Passage looks vulnerable; Finian's Rainbow is respected but no seven-year-old has won the last ten renewals. I have to mention The Giant Bolster, a big horse who got bogged down in the mud at Fontwell the last time. He's out of his depth here but is one to keep an eye on.
In the opening four mile National Hunt Chase Coral's 18/1 about Poker De Sivola offers some each-way value. Favourite Massasoit can be a tricky ride for a pro so makes even less appeal with an amateur up. Two others worthy of consideration are Synchronised - the Jonjo O'Neill operation has won this race four times since 2002 - and Abbeybraney.
Over the years I've burnt my fingers often enough in the Coral Cup (and more recently in the Fred Winter as well) to make me want to watch from the sidelines. In the Coral On Raglan Road should be noted - before today he was the only horse to have beaten Dunguib; he's been off the track nearly a year but comes to this backed by positive comments from the stable. Five-year-olds have a poor record in the Coral - invariably a rough race - which is a negative for likely favourite Quantitativeeasing. Jockey Tom Scudamore has put up Hunterview in the Fred Winter as his best chance of a winner this week while top weight Stars Du Granits was a market mover the last time in Haydock's Victor Ludorum (ran on soft ground) but he got no further than the second flight - Me Voici went on to collect the spoils.
In the bumper, I'm going to refer to an article Nick Mordin worte in the Weekender about six weeks ago. Nick pointed out that in this race, over the past five years, the Racing Post top-rated animal has won four times. When that article was published Araucaria was the top bumper horse seen out - since then the mare has been beaten easily by Shot From The Hip; in theory, that one should be thereabouts. It's worth noting that Ruby Walsh has chosen to ride Al Ferof (in preference to anything from the Mullins stable) and I have to give a quick mention to Colin Tizzard's Cue Card. Quoting Colin from a recent Straight From the Stable article in the Weekender: 'I said before he won [his last race] he was the best bumper horse I've had and nothing has dissuaded me since from that view.' A couple of layers go 40/1 this evening - I may be tempted into a small each-way interest.
The waiting is nearly over... The first race of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, kicks off this year's extravaganza at 1.30 - listen for the roar as the starter lets them go. Over the years I've adopted a cautious approach on the first day and, on balance, it has proved the correct approach.
This year Dunguib will be sent off odds-on in the opener; his victory in last year's bumper was generally regarded as exceptional. Having said that, the last time he ran he didn't jump the hurdles particularly well. Those looking to oppose will have to consider Get Me Out Of Here who won the totesport Trophy in the manner of a very good horse - Oldrik, fifth in that race, franked the form with a battling second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown on Saturday. However GMOOH returned from that race with a nasty gash in the leg and will have missed some work. I've seen the odd word for David Pipe's Dan Breen at a price but this is a race I'll watch from the sidelines. Fiulin, a son of Galileo, is an interesting runner having been bought out of Marco Botti's yard for £280,000. He won a listed race on the Flat and also beat The Betchworth Kid so quotes of 150/1 about his chances are perhaps a little unkind.
The Arkle is a tough race and one I always avoid. For those braver than me, Somersby is the selection. If you fancy Captain Cee Bee, note that only two nine-year-olds have won this since the war and only one favourite in the last decade.
There are plenty with chances in the ultra-competitive William Hill Trophy. Alan King's Bensalem has a nice racing weight while Ferdy Murphy's New Alco is very talented but has been off the track a long time - his target is next month's Grand National. The tentative suggestion for those who can't resist is Character Building each-way.
This year's Champion Hurdle looks wide open - a case can be made for the majority of the twelve runners. Go Native sets the standard and will land the WBX Triple Crown (with the accompaying £1 million bonus likely to be of some interest to connections) if he wins here, having already taken the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. I'm avoiding Binocular and Solwhit as they've had an interrupted preparation and the three five-year-olds (Starluck, Zaynar and Jumbo Rio) as horses from that age bracket generally have a poor record in the race. Punjabi did this blog a favour last year at odds of 22/1 - he'll be a lot shorter tomorrow but I'm going to stick by him, with Khyber Kim a live threat. Should KK collect the spoils, I'd imagine Nicky Henderson will have mixed feelings as he used to handle that one...
In the Cross Country Chase I take Garde Champetre, ridden by Nina Carberry, to continue Enda Bolger's fine record in the race while the market tells us the finale is between Voler La Vedette and Quevega. Preference is for the former but I shall watch from the sidelines.
Before the first day, it's worth recalling - half the fun of horse racing is in the anticipation.
On the eve of the Festival...
... here's an eclectic mix of facts and figures in an attempt to whet your appetite.
Media talk is of the 'big four' - Kauto Star (Gold Cup), Big Buck's (World Hurdle), Master Minded (Champion Chase), Dunguib (Supreme Novices' Hurdle) - and they're all likely to start at evens or shorter. Several layers appear keen to win their money early, targetting Dunguib in the opening race on the first day. I'm a fan, having seen his exceptional win in last year's bumper, but I won't get involved here. Last time out Dunguib's jumping was far from fluent and here's another negative - over the past decade 23 seven-year-olds have contested the race but only one has won - Captain Cee Bee in 2008.
Tony McCoy put up Captain Cee Bee in the Arkle as his best chance this year but only two nine-year-olds have won the race since the war, the most recent being Danish Flight in 1988. The Arkle also happens to be a poor race for favourites with just one obliging in the last ten years.
Ruby Walsh has the pick from the powerful yards of Willie Mullins and Paul Nicholls; he has committed early to Blackstairmountain (Supreme) and Quel Esprit (Neptune). I remember Mick Fitzgerald once describing Ruby as someone 'who plays his cards close to his chest'. He certainly made the right choices last year as he came away leading rider with seven winners.
Nine of the last ten Champion hurdlers have previously won at Cheltenham which may be something of a concern to fans of Solwhit. Five-year-olds don't have a good record in the Champion; the three entries from that age bracket this year are Starluck, Zaynar and Jumbo Rio. Of course Katchit was the exception when he claimed the spoils in 2008.
Trainer Enda Bolger and owner JP McManus have won four of the five runnings of the Cross Country Chase.
Dermot Weld trains Rite Of Passage, the current favourite for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, but the handler has just one winner at this meeting to his name and that occured twenty years ago.
Those who fancy Long Run should note that only two five-year-olds have taken the RSA Chase since 1950; having said that, the favourite has won the last three renewals.
Master Minded attempts to become only the second horse to win three consecutive Queen Mother Champion Chases - Badsworth Boy was the first to achieve the feat (1983-1985).
I was considering Pettifour for Wednesday's four mile National Hunt Chase. @jpfestival visited the Twiston-Davies yard last week and asked assistant trainer Carl Llewellyn about that one's chances. The word is he'll stay every yard of the trip but they have reservations about his jumping. This race has thrown up some big-priced winners in the last ten years - one at 40/1, two at 33/1 and one at 25/1.
It's no surprise Wednesday's Coral Cup is sponsored by a bookmaker as it usually has the look of a bookmakers' benefit. Five-year-olds have a poor record - the stats point to a six or seven-year-old carrying under eleven stones. Five of the last eight winners have run in Newbury's totesport Trophy.
Many think Big Buck's bombproof in Thursday's World Hurdle; favourites have won only three of the last ten runnings. Trainer Paul Nicholls is on record as saying he considers Tidal Bay the biggest threat to his horse.
The market has proved a reliable guide to the Ryanair Chase with all five winners coming from the top three in the betting.
It's Paul Nicholls' Kauto Star for me (and plenty of others) in the Gold Cup. According to the handler Imperial Commander is the horse that could take the trophy away from his yard.
That's it for now; I'll try to post selections on a daily basis throughout the Festival. In the meantime, good luck to one and all at the greatest jump meeting in the world.
The Saturday before the Festival...
I always try to treat the Saturday before the Festival as a time for quiet reflection - the calm before the storm; essentially it's a time to keep your powder dry. Sandown's feature tomorrow is the fiercely competitive Imperial Cup in which 24 are set to face the starter. This year, noticeably, there's not one runner from the Pipe yard. Over the past decade, suprisingly for such a competitive race, the favourite has won on five occasions. During the same time period the winner has carried less than eleven stones on eight occasions while novices have a very good record - four and five years olds have won six renewals. One I have a liking for is Tocca Ferro; I've used this Emma Lavelle quote about her charge in the past... 'We like him... There are certain horses you get that give you that extra special feeling and he would be one of those... I'm dreaming about collecting a big trophy with him.' I wonder if the Imperial Cup is the big trophy Ms Lavelle has been dreaming about... I'll probably take a small each-way interest, watch the race and then turn my attention to next week's jamboree.
Labels: sandown
Weekend observations
Big Fella Thanks shot to the top of the Grand National ante-post market following his impressive win at Newbury yesterday; this evening most firms go 10/1 for next month's showpiece but both Stan James and Paddy Power quote 8/1.
Staying with yesterday's meet at Newbury, Tony McCoy and Paddy Brennan fought out the finish to the Veterans' Chase, McCoy taking the spoils on 9/1 shot Eric's Charm; last week the same two jocks were involved in a tight finish to the Racing Post Chase, Brennan coming out on top in that duel aboard Razor Royale. I really thought Brennan had this one in the bag as his mount Knowhere jumped the last marginally better than his rival and looked to take it up on the run to the line. However, after a couple of slaps with the stick, the horse veered out left and then had to be brought back right to avoid the running rail as the line approached; this manoeuvre resulted in the horse losing both momentum and vital ground while McCoy steered the straight course to victory. I was left with the feeling Brennan had been mugged on this occasion...
These days trying to purchase a copy of Raceform Update's Cheltenham Festival Guide from a local newsagent is as difficult as backing a 10/1 winner. I went to pay for mine yesterday and the guy behind the counter commented, 'They've all been after that this morning!' I'm not surprised - his was the only shop in Coventry city centre I could find selling the publication. As I started reading, the first stat to strike me may concern those who think Dunguib is banker material for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle - in the last decade 23 seven-year-olds have tried to win the race but only one has been successful - Captain Cee Bee in 2008. Following on from that, Captain Cee Bee, now a nine-year-old, is 7/2 favourite for the Arkle with most firms - only two horses from that age bracket have won that race since the war.
Two racing programmes to note in the coming week...
Thursday BBC4 21:00 Storyville - Race Horses.
This film follows three horses from Paul Nolan's Wexford stable over a racing year. David Charter (The Times) describes the programme as 'horse heaven'.
Friday Radio4 11:00 Racing Ahead.
Chris Ledgard looks at the problems facing the racing industry as the TV market shrinks and bookmakers look to exploit other avenues.
Betfred have been quick to pick up on last week's story of the unfortunate punter who ate his winning lottery ticket when he realised Ryanair staff couldn't pay him 10,000 euros mid-flight. Spotted in a Fred Done shop window - Goat eats winning football ticket but Fred pays up without a bleat!
The backdrop to this Saturday's Morning Line looked like something you'd come across in a residential care home for the elderly. In that vein, Lesley Graham had something of a 'senior moment' when she referred to that well known jockey Ruby McCoy. Apparently his friend and weighing room colleague Tony Walsh was none too pleased when he heard of Graham's gaffe.
Finally, this is what happens when sports stars stop playing sport and start singing instead... The Cheltenham Charity song is released tomorrow, money raised going to four racing charities. If Petula Clark isn't really your kind of thing and you prefer something a little more raunchy, then take a peek at Rafael Nadal's performance with Shakira in Gypsy. No sign of any trouble with the knees there, Mr Nadal...
Labels: bbc, brennan, cheltenham, festival, grand national, mccoy, newbury, tennis, walsh
Doncaster's Grimthorpe Chase
The penultimate Saturday before Cheltenham and everyone seems to have half an eye on the Festival races... This afternoon trainer Nicky Henderson confirmed that former RSA favourite Punchestowns has a problem with his near-fore - stable companion Long Run now heads that market, priced up at just 2/1 by both totepsort and Ladbrokes. In a separate development Binocular, having been ruled out of the Champion Hurdle a couple of weeks ago with a muscle problem, may now take his chance - his participation depends on a workout next week.
The going at Doncaster tomorrow is described as good, good to soft in places - the first piece of decent ground we've seen for a while.
The feature is the highly-competitive three and a quarter mile Grimthorpe Chase for which fifteen have been declared; many of the field, including former National winner Comply Or Die and Aintree regular Cloudy Lane, will see the race as a trial for this year's four and a half mile marathon in April. Henry Daly's Possol could well start favourite as he's likely to appreciate the better ground but he has his fair share of weight; in addition, favourites have a miserable record in this - no wins in the past seven renewals. Rather than turn out here connections of the progressive Sa Suffit have opted to go to Kelso for the Premier Chase (which could be considered a tip in itself, although I note the gelding hasn't won beyond two and a half miles). Two that would be a danger if returning to form are Charlie Mann's Air Force One and Howard Johnson's Killyglen while Gidam Gidam's victory here last time over four miles would suggest that one needs a real test of stamina - the drying ground may not suit. For me Coe has disappointed once too often in recent weeks but at the bottom end of the handicap former Eider winner Merigo is worth a second look - he finished second in a hurdle race at Warwick three weeks ago but was disqualified as jockey Dougie Costello failed to draw the correct weight. Wogan doesn't have many miles on the clock but former Scottish National winner Iris De Balme will need to build on a reasonable return over hurdles after a long spell on the sidelines. The market has proved a decent guide in the past with the winner starting second, third or fourth favourite on six occasions in the last seven runnings - of the top four Iris De Balme makes most appeal at around 10/1 and looks worth an each-way interest but my money will be on Merigo at odds of 12/1 or bigger.
Labels: doncaster


text:
Q: When people say "some" and a number, like "some 50,000 people", is there any implication that the number is big or surprising? I'm a native English speaker, and my whole life I've felt like when people say 'some' plus a number, there is some implication that the number is big or surprising, but I can't find any mention of this in any definition anywhere. Still, I can't shake that feeling.
For example, on the bbc website today:
"Prof John Edmunds said cases were now "increasing exponentially". Some 2,948 UK cases were recorded on Monday, according to government data."
If 'some' just means approximately, why would someone say 'some 2,948' cases? Surely if you were going to give an approximation, you would say 'some 2,950' or 'some 3000'?
I feel like 'some' is used like this quite often. "They were expecting a handful of people to show up, but in the end there was a crowd of some 400 people".
Maybe it's just that there tends to be a correlation between the times when you would use an approximation and the times when there is an unexpectedly large number, but I feel like there's more than that, an actual implication in the word 'some'.
Can anyone help? Thanks!

A: If you look at the dictionary definition of 'some', it seems the word has a variety of meanings and almost behaves as a contronym.

*

*an unspecified amount or number of.
"I made some money running errands"

*used to refer to someone or something that is unknown or unspecified.
"I was talking to some journalist the other day"

*(used with a number) approximately.
"some thirty different languages are spoken"

*(pronounced stressing 'some') a considerable amount or number of.
"he went to some trouble"

*(pronounced stressing 'some') at least a small amount or number of.
"he liked some music but generally wasn't musical"

*(pronounced stressing 'some') expressing admiration of something notable.
"that was some goal"

*

*used ironically to express disapproval or disbelief.
"Mr Power gave his stock reply. Some help!"

This answer is a bit of a "because the dictionary says so" which is boring - the dictionary only says so because people say so.
You can search the British National Corpus for some _mc* which searches for 'some', followed by a cardinal number, and find that this usage is quite common in a variety of contexts.

A: Or hyphenated when the number comes first. In which cases it may imply the contrary! That the actual number is smaller than the one cited. However, this sounds colloquial to me and probably shouldn't be used in formal English. They gypped the poor guy. Only gave him '40-some acres' and a mule. Etc. https://grammarist.com/usage/some-odd/


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STEVEN SPIELBERG - RECORD ALBUM COVER SIGNED. STEVEN SPIELBERG Steven Spielberg signs the record album cover for Poltergeist. Record Album signed: " Steven Spielberg ". Soundtrack for the movie Poltergeist. The most commercially successful filmmaker in Hollywood history, Steven Spielberg (born in 1946) is lifelong cinema buff who began directing his first short movies while still a child. He won Academy Awards for Best Director for Schindler's List (1994) and Saving Private Ryan (1999), and Spielberg was nominated for the Best Director Oscar for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and E. His long list of feature films includes Jaws (1975), The Blues Brothers (1980), The Color Purple (1985), Back to the Future (1985), Cape Fear (1991), Hook (1991), Jurassic Park (1993), Twister (1996), Men in Black (1997), Amistad (1997), The Mask of Zorro (1998), A. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Minority Report (2002), The Terminal (2004), War of the Worlds (2005) and Munich (2005), and Spielberg has produced or executive produced a long list of other films and TV miniseries. He has also written for films and appeared on the big screen as both an extra and as himself. Worn at bottom edge and lightly scratched. Please note that this is an original, authentically signed item. We do not sell copies or reprints. Image(s) shown may contain our company watermark.
The actual document does not contain this watermark. This item has been authenticated and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by our parent company, Gallery of History, Inc.
We financially stand behind them. Ask us about our PSA/DNA and JSA authentication guarantee. Make an Offer Today and Get a Quick Response!
Our Third & Best Handbook - The One You Want On Historical Documents! For the experienced and novice collector and for those who just love learning history this beautiful 253-page hardcover volume is for you! Gallery of History is the world's largest dealer of authentic autographs and manuscripts. Our inventory contains documents in all areas of interest including presidents, royalty, military, aviation, religion, business, science, celebrities, sports, music, authors and more.
Whether looking to add to your collection, acquire a unique centerpiece for the home or office, or as a truly one-of-a-kind gift for someone special, you'll find it here at HistoryForSale. Founded in 1981, is a long-standing UACC Registered Dealer, #RD110, and is a long-standing member of the Manuscript Society. The Gallery of History is the largest dealer in the world with an available inventory that exceeds 200,000 rare autographs and manuscripts.
Preserving historical documents is important to us. Our unframed items are sent to you either in acid- free Mylar. Sleeves or have been encapsulated in acid-free Mylar.
Our framed items are encapsulated in Mylar to guard against organic acids, mounted in an acid-free enviroment and are framed behind UF3-AR Plexiglas which blocks out approximately 94% of the ultraviolet light. We warrant to the original purchaser for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the sale the authenticity of any autograph offered by HistoryForSale. Gallery of History is not liable for any other damages, including consequential damages. There are no other warranties of any nature either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The item "STEVEN SPIELBERG RECORD ALBUM COVER SIGNED" is in sale since Monday, March 27, 2017.
This item is in the category "Entertainment Memorabilia\Autographs-Original\Movies\Other Orig. The seller is "historydirect" and is located in Las Vegas, NV. This item can be shipped worldwide.


text:
Cale Hooker 30 years 277 days
3 MCG W 112-130
4 MCG W 112-65 81% $519,000 63 0.21 11 12 13 0 0 0 1 0 0 93
5 Etihad Stadium W 58-116 92% $537,000 57 0.48 15 7 11 0 0 3 0 0 0 95
8 SCG L 77-72 92% $517,000 88 0.64 12 7 8 0 2 1 2 0 1 78
9 Etihad Stadium W 60-53 88% $511,000 83 0.63 11 9 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 76
11 MCG W 74-33 93% $517,000 87 0.64 16 15 11 0 1 1 0 0 0 116
13 Etihad Stadium W 96-77 91% $542,000 56 0.71 16 6 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 100
14 Optus Stadium L 106-71 94% $578,000 49 0.85 17 11 15 0 0 1 1 0 0 116
15 Etihad Stadium W 77-71 88% $587,000 82 1.05 6 9 4 1 0 3 1 2 0 61
16 MCG W 76-66 85% $574,000 113 1.02 5 8 7 0 1 0 1 0 0 53
17 Etihad Stadium W 86-81 92% $543,000 121 0.98 6 6 5 0 2 0 0 0 0 53
2017 Def,Fwd $433,200 $433,200 0 0.00
2009 $150,900 $270,500 15 64.07
2008 $83,500 $83,500 2 34.00
2018 Fwd,Def $523,000 $442,000 22 70.30
2017 Def,Fwd $437,000 $450,000 20 74.25


text:
import copy
from hearthbreaker.constants import CHARACTER_CLASS, CARD_RARITY
from hearthbreaker.game_objects import WeaponCard, Weapon, Minion

class FieryWarAxe(WeaponCard):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__("Fiery War Axe", 2, CHARACTER_CLASS.WARRIOR, CARD_RARITY.FREE)

    def create_weapon(self, player):
        weapon = Weapon(3, 2)
        return weapon

class ArcaniteReaper(WeaponCard):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__("Arcanite Reaper", 5, CHARACTER_CLASS.WARRIOR, CARD_RARITY.COMMON)

    def create_weapon(self, player):
        weapon = Weapon(5, 2)
        return weapon

class Gorehowl(WeaponCard):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__("Gorehowl", 7, CHARACTER_CLASS.WARRIOR, CARD_RARITY.EPIC)

    def create_weapon(self, player):
        def maybe_increase_durability(target):
            if isinstance(target, Minion):
                weapon.durability += 1
        weapon = Weapon(7, 1)
        player.hero.bind("attack", maybe_increase_durability)
        return weapon

class DeathsBite(WeaponCard):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__("Death's Bite", 4, CHARACTER_CLASS.WARRIOR, CARD_RARITY.COMMON)

    def create_weapon(self, player):
        def deal_one_to_all(weapon):
            targets = copy.copy(weapon.player.minions)
            targets.extend(weapon.player.opponent.minions)
            for minion in targets:
                minion.damage(1, None)

        return Weapon(4, 2, deathrattle=deal_one_to_all)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Wells Fargo Bank says it's financing an Alaska company that will recover underwater hardwood in the Panama Canal. The $3 million line of credit goes to Gunderboom Inc., an Anchorage marine construction firm. Gunderboom obtained a Panamanian contract in 2006 to provide expertise, technology and equipment for underwater logging. The project aims to recover stumps and logs submerged since the Panama Canal was built in the early 1900s. The company says the recovery project will produce approximately 400 million board feet of lumber while protecting the aquatic ecosystem. The financing is the bank's first for an Alaska company through the federal Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Energias - a consortium of private firms led by Spain's Tecnicas Reunidas will present a 20 year plan worth US$40 bln to transform Panama into a refinery and petrochemical hub for Latin America. The consortium comprises of private investors from USA to Asia. The project anticipates to benefit from the projected shortfall in U.S. refining capacity and high oil prices to turn Panama into a major center for energy distribution. Plans include building of refineries, petrochemical plants and a 56 mile (90 km) long oil pipeline that would follow the route of Panama's inter-oceanic canal. The project, which would spread over a 3,700 acre site on Panama's Atlantic coast, would have an oil refining capacity of 2 million bpd, and a 3 mln tpa of petrochemicals, including polymers and fertilizers. The pipeline will be supported by a new set of docks that would handle 2,400 vessels annually, and help the products reach markets in Asia, West Coast of USA and the Caribbean. The plan is subject to government approval and will have to overcome fierce environmental resistance.
By Roberto E. Quelne for La Estrella - The company London & Regional signed a contract yesterday with the government of Panama to be the "master developer" of the former Howard Air Force Base for 40 years. London & Regional will turn the area into a new commercial urban district. The master plan will be ready in 90 days. The English company London & Regional will invest $705 million dollars to develop the facility, $405 million in the first eight years and another $300 million in the following 32 years. It is expected that the project will generate about 25,000 jobs in the following 20 years. Panama's President Martin Torrijos was present at the contract signing ceremony, as was the general manager of London & Regional Panama, Ian Livingston, The initial investment will be $20 million dollars, of which $18 million will be invested in the development of Arraiján. The Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area, in Howard, has 2,005 hectares. Of those, London & Regional hopes to develop 1,410 hectares.
By Yennifer Bolivar for La Estrella - Although Panama hopes to be selected as the site for the construction of the Mesoamerican refinery proposed by Mexico, the Mexican ambassador to Panama, Ricardo Alemán, warned in an interview with the El Universal newspaper that "a third refinery in the region would be to many." According to the interview which was picked up by the EFE news agency, Alemán said the project fell through after Mexico announced they would reduce their supply to the proposed refinery with respect to the level announced initially. Alemán considers the development of this refinery, proposed within the framework of Plan Puebla Panama (PPP) as unnecessary because Nicaragua and Panama already have their own plans to build petroleum refineries. Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica all hope to have the multi billion dollar refinery built in their countries, and are awaiting the decision of investors.
By Gustavo A. Aparicio O. for the Panama America - The Harken company from the United States has requested authorization from Panama's Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) to start drilling exploratory wells in Panama to determine if oil exists. According to the Vice Minister of Domestic Trade, Manuel José Paredes, the company has already conducted geotechnical studies of the zones where they will drill and they have asked for permission to continue to the next phase. He explained that the law allows for the execution of a three-phase contract. The first phase is exploration where only the company can analyze the site where it thinks petroleum might exist. The second phase is operational, where the company can drill wells to confirm if there is petroleum, and the last phase is when the wells are put into production. Harken will have to make a series of studies and to present/display its guarantees to be able to initiate with the operation.
Singapore, 16 May 2007 – Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace) today announced that its subsidiary, Panama Aerospace Engineering Inc (PAE), has inducted its first aircraft on 12 May 2007, after receiving their certification by Panama's Autoridad Aeronáutica Civil (AAC). This first aircraft is a Boeing 737-700, and it comes from Copa Airlines for a 4C check and additional modifications. This announcement is a follow up to its previous announcement in August 2006, when ST Aerospace secured a lease agreement with the Agencia del Área Económica Especial Panamá-Pacífico (AAEEPP) and a maintenance service agreement from Panama's national carrier, Copa Airlines, for its current fleet of 22 B737 aircraft. PAE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ST Aerospace, is part of ST Aerospace's global network of facilities and complements ST Aerospace's facilities, MAE in Mobile, Alabama, and SAA in San Antonio, Texas. ST Aerospace is the aerospace arm of ST Engineering. Operating a global MRO network with facilities in Asia Pacific, Europe and the US, it is the world's largest airframe MRO with a global customer base that includes many of the world's leading airlines, airfreight operators and military operators.
German Press Agency - Panama City- Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Shunmumugan Jayakumar on Tuesday said his country planned to use Panama as a platform for business opportunities in Latin America. Jayakumar met with Panamanian President Martin Torrijos and other government and business officials Tuesday. Panama's foreign minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro, said his country was exploring an initiative to create incentives for Singaporean companies that establish operations in the Central American country. Panama and Singapore signed a free trade agreement in February 2006. Jayakumar is travelling to Havana on Wednesday to meet with Cuban leaders as part of a week-long trip to South America.
Panama, March 22 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) Japan's Deputy Finance Minister Kazunori Tanaka has concluded an official visit to Panama where he confirmed his country's loan worth USD 160 million for an environmental programme. Under the agreement, the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation will deliver USD 160 million for cleaning up the Panama Bay. Tanaka was welcomed by Foreign Relations Deputy Minister Ricardo Duran, officials from the Economy and Finance Ministry and the Panama Canal authorities. Japan is the most important user of the Panamanian sea route after the United States and its authorities and businessmen are interested in taking part in the process.
Panama, Mar 20 (Prensa Latina) Mexican Oil (PEMEX) began operating in Panama to distribute and supply oil to the ships passing through the Panama canal, official sources reported on Tuesday. The Mexican enterprise was accredited as user of the Oil Free Zone after signing a contract with the Atlantic Pacific tank operator. For Wolfram Gonzalez, Hydrocarbon Director of the Trade and Industry Ministry, the arrival of such a big company like PEMEX is the result of the Panamanian authorities´ work to increase competition. Gonzalez said another 25 companies are qualified to import and distribute oil in the free zone. Nearly 20 percent of the ships traveling through the Panama Canal are supplied with oil in Panama, according to official data.
By Tony Best for nationnews.com - BARBADIAN FIRMS are being urged to become involved in the expansion of the Panama Canal by bidding on lucrative contracts for some of the construction. The plea has come from Michael King, Barbados' ambassador in Washington, who said that while workers from Barbados, Jamaica and their neighbours helped to build the Panama Canal a century ago, Bajan companies and others in the region were well placed to play far different roles by undertaking some of the expansion work. "Whereas at the beginning of the 20th century our workers went as labourers to work on the Panama Canal, I think that Barbados and other Caribbean societies have developed to the extent that our companies can come and bid on some of the contracts related to the expansion of the canal which has been approved by the Panamanian people," King told the MIDWEEK NATION in Washington.
PANAMA CITY, March 12 (Reuters) - Panama's government said on Monday it awarded a concession to build a container terminal in the canal zone to Singapore-based port operator PSA International Pte. Ltd. "In the next eight years, it will double the country's port capacity," the government said in a statement. Panama is planning its largest-ever overhaul to its famous waterway to let it handle mammoth modern cargo ships and boost government revenue. The project for the canal, which carries around 4 percent of world maritime trade, will double its capacity to let through more and bigger ships. The expansion, to run from 2008 to 2014, will build wider locks and deeper and bigger access channels to make room for ships with 12,000 containers, up from 4,000 containers at present.
MADRID (AFX) - Spanish builders have been granted exclusive bidding rights for a 1.5 bln eur port construction project in Panama, La Gaceta de los Negocios reported, citing unnamed sources close to the deal. According to the newspaper, the project is part of the mining complex that Canadian Petaquilla Minerals (otcbb: PTQMF.OB - news - people ) is promoting to the east of the country, some 100 km from the Panama Canal. Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA, Actividades de Construccion y Servicios' Dragados unit, Grupo Ferrovial SA, San Jose and Isolux Corsan SA have all shown interest in the project, and have met with Panama authorities, the newspaper said.
Panama, Mar 9 (Prensa Latina) Foreign Direct Investment in Panama reached 2.56 billion dollars last year, which is a record in Panama, said the Comptroller General's office Thursday. A press release said there was an increase of 149% compared to 2005, a record over the 1.299 billion dollars reached ten years ago. The Comptrollers Office said the growth is related with the purchase of group Banistmo by HSBC for 1.77 billion dollars. Important real estate projects and greater investments by foreign enterprises operating in Panama also influenced that result. However, the text said the investment of users of the duty free zone of Colon was reduced in this segment of time.
USAgNet - The American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors voted Wednesday to support Panama Trade Promotion Authority, saying, U.S. agriculture would experience gains from the agreement exceeding $190 million per year. "Once fully implemented, the agreement will provide balance by granting duty-free access to all U.S. commodities entering the Panama market," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. Panama already has duty-free access to the United States provided under the Caribbean Basin Initiative. While the United States already supplies 53 percent of Panamanian agricultural imports, the agreement will prevent other countries, specifically other Latin American suppliers, from taking some of the current U.S. share of the Panamanian market. Under the agreement, Panama also would agree to deal with sanitary and phytosanitary barriers and other non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports. "The Panama TPA levels the playing field by eliminating tariffs and other barriers to trade already enjoyed by Panamanian products exported to the United States," said Stallman. He says the agreement promotes economic growth and opportunity for all U.S. agriculture.
Water Power Magazine.com - Requests for concessions to develop a dozen hydro projects in Panama have been received by energy regulators Asep. According to a statement from the authority, the requests are for the Bajo Frío, Bajo de Mina, Baitún, Barro Blanco, Chiriquí, Palmira, Cotito, Barriles, Colorado, Pedregalito 2, Río Cobre and Los Negros projects. A number of alliances comprising CNO, GDI, EHP and Enetran were behind a number of bids with CNO, CNO and Enetran, EHP, Navitas and Enetran, EHP and GDI, Enetran and Boquete Energy, Hidro Solution and Energy Solution going for the Bajo de Mina, Baitún, Barro Blanco, Chiriquí, Palmira, Pedregalito 2, Río Cobre and Los Negros projects. Hidroeléctrica Barriles requested Cotito, Barriles and Colorado.
Cable & Wireless reports that it has spent $61 million dollars to expand its network in the Republic of Panama, to include improvements in services and an expansion of coverage. The company reported spending figures for fiscal year 2006 which ends on 31 March 2007. The largest part of their spending was directed towards an expansion of mobile cell phone coverage as well as an expansion of their broadband service, to the tune of $44 million dollars invested. The company reported that during the last year thefts of cable and vandalism caused more than $2 million dollars in losses. The company also reported a significant investment in fiber optic equipment and technology.


text:
from __future__ import print_function, division, absolute_import

class UnsupportedAllele(ValueError):
    pass


text:
Lödöse, også Gamle Lödöse, Gamlöse eller Gammelös, er en småbebyggelse og et tidligere industrisamfund i Lilla Edets kommune og kirkeby i St. Peders sogn. Byen ligger ca. 40 km nordøst for Göteborg ved Göta älven og gennemskæres af Lödöse-Lilla Edet jernbane. Norge/Vänern banen (tidligere Bergslagsbanan) og E45 passerer lige øst for byen.

Historie
Lödöse er en af Sveriges ældste byer og mest betydende havne gennem historien. Den tidlige by omtales ofte som Göteborgs forgænger.

Lödöse var i 500 år den vigtigste svenske havneby på vestkysten. Allerede i midten af 1000-tallet begyndte stedet at få bymæssig form. Lödöse nævnes første gang i 1100-tallet af den danske historiker Saxo, og i Knýtlingesagaen nævnes den som en by med tre kirker, kastel, kongsgård og et møntværksted. I løbet af 1200-tallet blev kastellet ombygget til et borganlæg, Lödösehus, som administrativt centrum for Västergötland, Dalsland og Värmland. Lödösehus mistede sin betydning da Magnus Eriksson byggede Lindholmen ved Göta älv i 1333 og Elfsborg i 1360.

Mange fund fra middelalderen gjort i området findes i dag udstillet på Lödöse museum.

Eksterne henvisninger

Lödöse museum

Byer i Lilla Edets kommun
Sverige i middelalderen


text:
La rivoluzione liberale portoghese (revolução liberal in portoghese) fu una rivoluzione politica che scoppiò nel 1820 nella città di Porto, nel nord del Portogallo e che si diffuse presto in tutto il paese. Questo moto rivoluzionario diede inizio al periodo costituzionale; nel 1822 vi fu l'approvazione infatti di una costituzione.

Premesse storiche

Tra il 1807 ed il 1811 le armate napoleoniche avevano invaso il territorio portoghese per tre volte. In seguito a questo la famiglia reale del Portogallo fu costretta a lasciare il paese e a trasferirsi in Brasile, colonia portoghese del Sudamerica. Dal Brasile il re Giovanni VI governò il suo impero per tredici anni. La cacciata delle truppe napoleoniche, la scomparsa dello stesso Napoleone dalla scena europea e i tumulti verificatesi in patria convinsero il re a lasciare il Brasile e a fare rientro in Portogallo. La città di Porto, dotata di una grande e consolidata tradizione borghese, fu il luogo di inizio della rivolta.

La rivoluzione
In seguito alla rivoluzione scoppiata in Spagna nel 1820, ed al successo ottenuto dai rivoluzionari spagnoli guidati da Rafael del Riego, anche in Portogallo venne data vita ad un'insurrezione armata. Da Porto, fulcro della vicenda, il clima rivoluzionario si diffuse ben presto in molte altre località e città del Portogallo, sino a Lisbona, scenario di una cruenta insurrezione. I rivoluzionari chiedevano l'immediato rientro della famiglia reale e della corte nel Portogallo continentale; fu anche per questo motivo che Giovanni VI affrettò il suo rientro a Lisbona. Tornato, il re concesse, come richiesto dagli insorti, una costituzione, diventando un monarca costituzionale.

L'erede al trono, il principe Pietro, rimase invece in Brasile. La corte portoghese chiese che il Brasile ritornasse al suo status di colonia e che l'erede ritornasse in Portogallo. Il principe, influenzato dal Senato Comunale di Rio de Janeiro, rifiutò di ritornare il 9 gennaio 1822 (il Dia do Fico). L'indipendenza politica venne raggiunta il 7 settembre 1822, mettendo fine al controllo portoghese durato 322 anni, e il principe venne incoronato imperatore con il nome di Pietro I.

Note

Bibliografia

Voci correlate
 Moti del 1820-21
 Grande Oriente Lusitano

Storia del Portogallo
Rivolte
Rivoluzioni del XIX secolo


text:
Q: Launch 2 browsers in kiosk mode on 2 display screens im trying all sorts of things but i still cant get it working,
i need to launch 2 browsers (chrome or IE for that matter) displaying 2 different URLs.
both should be running in kiosk mode and i need each to open on a designated screen (primary, secondary)
i've tried all kinds of combination using the commands in a BAT file or in a small JAR file yet i got none working.
what would be the best way to achieve that
any ideas?

A: Chrome takes command line flags to set the window position
--window-position

I'm not super proficient with BAT files but I believe if you have two lines that launch chrome with the appropriate flags and window position, it should achieve what you're looking for. Something like this (untested):
@echo off
start "Chrome" chrome --kiosk https://firsturl.com --window-position=x,y
start "Chrome" chrome --kiosk https://secondurl.com --window-position=x,y

Read more about --window-position here: http://peter.sh/experiments/chromium-command-line-switches/#window-position

A: You may want to use a windows manager like i3.


text:
New Delhi: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Telugu scholars to prepare a roadmap for development of Classical Telugu language and for the development of Centre of Excellence for …
Amaravati: Water Resources Minister Anil Kumar Yadav today slammed TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu for misusing funds and emptying the exchequer during the 2019 elections. He also said Chandrababu Naidu pushed …
Amaravati: Annoyed with the unruly behavior of the TDP MLAs, AP Speaker Tammineni Seetaram today walked out of the House in a huff after throwing his headphones on his table. …
Coronavirus: Screening of passengers from China at 7 airports
New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday extended the screening of passengers coming in from China to four more airports — Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin — in …
SC suggests judge-led tribunal on MP/MLA disqualification
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Parliament to "seriously consider" establishing a permanent tribunal headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge or a retired Chief Justice of …
New Delhi: Delhi Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday met a delegation of protesters from Shaheen Bagh, the venue of anti-CAA agitation, and assured them that the representation handed over …
22 children selected for National Bravery Awards
New Delhi: Twenty-two children – 10 girls and 12 boys – from 12 states have been selected for the ICCW National Bravery Awards 2019. One award has been given posthumously. …
Anti-CAA resolution in Bengal Assembly on Jan 27
Kolkata: West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday announced that a resolution against the new citizenship law will be brought in the state Assembly on January 27. "The resolution will …
Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya celebrate 48th Statehood Day
Agartala: Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya on Tuesday separately celebrated their 48th statehood day through numerous and colourful functions. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit …
DMK urges AIADMK government not to implement NPR, NRC
Chennai: Tamil Nadu's opposition DMK party executive on Tuesday urged the ruling AIADMK to announce that it would not allow the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) and National …