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Business, Culture, Society, Technology
The Reality Of Investing | Maz Pawar
By Rick Jordan
Maz Pawar explains today how it's OK to say no to a business, the importance of knowing your burn rate, and the true reality of investing. Maz brings over a decade of experience in the investing industry, and a load of knowledge that is ready to be unpacked.
About Maz Pawar:
Mr. Maz Pawar is the Chief Executive officer & President of SA Capital Partners, LLC. He oversees all capital raising & M&A activity, he is responsible for the strategic vision and overall direction of the firm, along with the Senior Managing Directors. In the last decade, Mr. Pawar has been directly involved in more than fifty financing and M&A assignments totaling over $1 Billion, across a range of industry sectors including technology, healthcare and industrials. He has also been a part of over 100 engagements over his career. Mr. Pawar is also the Managing Partner for Pawar Capital Investments, a family-backed private investment firm seeking to acquire, recapitalize and assist in the operation of US-based lower middle-market businesses. Prior to starting SA Capital Partners, Mr. Pawar served as Managing Partner & President at Auctus Group, Inc. He has over sixteen years of experience in the financial services sector. Prior to establishing Auctus Group, Mr. Pawar served as Managing Director & Partner at an international investment banking boutique MSC Advisors. He began his career in various corporate finance and investment banking roles at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Houlihan Smith & Company, and Wells Fargo Capital. With a highly diverse background in debt capital markets, capital financing, and business advisory, Mr. Pawar delivers unique insights regarding capital markets and corporate financing transactions across all industry verticals.
In addition, Mr. Pawar leverages his unique skillset in operations management, client service, and corporate advisory to create and maintain a client-focused culture, staffed with highly motivated and highly skilled individuals. Mr. Pawar graduated with honors from Rutgers University, where he earned his bachelor's in Economics and Political Science. Mr. Pawar grew up in New Jersey and moved to Chicago in 2007. He has moved back to New York and is active member of several non-profits supporting underprivileged and inner-city youth. He is a passionate basketball fan. In his free time, he also enjoys spending time with his two sons.
If you're reading to any of the show, you know that I own a cybersecurity company, and I'm in the process of going public, specifically doing 50 to 70 acquisitions over the next two years. We've brought in experts on M&A, but before we dive into this, share this out with three people, especially if you're a startup or thinking about starting something that's amazing. You got this incredible idea. We're going to talk about such amazing things with M&A, how to raise capital, how to have the right things together to even make your pitch. It's going to be amazing.
Share this with three people, your partners, friends, girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever. That's the only way we grow. We don't take sponsorships. We don't promote this on Google Ads, anything. The only way we help more people is when you share. My guest has been directly involved in more than 50 financing and M&A assignments totaling over $1 billion, many years of experience in the industry and is CEO and President of SA Capital Partners. Maz Pawar, how are you doing?
It's good to be on your show. Thank you for bringing me on. I appreciate it. I've read a number of your episodes in the past. I liked the content. It's fresh. Feels like there's a nice educational component to it throughout your show.
Thank you. I appreciate that a lot. If you've been a fan for a while, we bring on a lot of different people from a lot of different industries. I feel like that's a good sampling because no matter if you're in any industry because I'm sure you're into funding and helping startups. They're probably in multiple different industries, but there are commonalities that take place in a lot of those unless you have a niche in some area, but still learning from other people outside your space was one of the best things that I could have ever done. That's why I love doing this, but that's also why you're on here, too. We're going to talk about the best thing in the world for business, money. That's what we're doing.
The fundamentals of business don't change regardless of what industry you're in. It doesn't matter what industry you're in, what your niche is. It's essentially the same block and tackle that these basic fundamentals that everybody should know.
Your funding strategy, you're into mostly startups these days. You had an investment banking firm at some point. Was that what you were looking at, like lower middle market businesses was with the investment banking firm?
With the investment banking firm, it was lower middle market as a boutique shop out of Chicago. It was a little bit more established businesses, companies generating revenues. Even if $1 billion, $1 million EBITDA on higher companies that we've primarily targeted with investment banking groups. With SA Capital Partners, the focus has been more on early-stage, growth-stage companies. In my opinion, it's the largest sector out there, but it's also the most under-serviced. Primarily being, you're a little bit too early for going down the investment banking route. A lot of this stuff is bootstrapped. They can't incur those types of costs. A lot of the services that are offered aren't needed for a lot of early-stage, growth-stage companies.
There's obviously a big value add in terms of having somebody on your team to walk you through the whole process. Essentially, we started this firm with the goal of identifying a void in the market. It's a space that a lot of companies don't delve into. We primarily focus in terms of working with early-stage, growth-stage companies, trying to give them all the strategies, all the tools that are necessary to make them the most attractive to attract potential investors.
Let's talk about this gap that you're explaining in the marketplace, too. Is that what you identified when you were in investment banking that drove you this direction?
Many years ago, most investors, investment groups, startups, early-stage companies were not going towards investing into a startup or an early-stage company. A lot of things within the landscape have changed over the years. There have been so many success stories of investors coming on board, pre-IPO, early-stage, growing stage were obviously from a valuation standpoint. You get more bang for your buck where there's a high-risk, high reward. From that perspective, with a lot of these success stories, a lot of people are more open to investing in early-stage, growth stage businesses.
I feel you and I see a lot of pitches in this area, too. I was on stage with a shark and some other investors in taking some pitches for some things. It was interesting to see some of the questions that were being asked. I'm considered an investor because I'm active in M&A. I didn't even label myself as that, to begin with, but then my branding agency is like, "Yes, you are because you're acquiring companies, which means you're essentially an investor." I'm like, "That's true." If that's black and white, then that's black and white. Hearing some of these early stages or growth phase companies, at least the couple of pictures that I've heard, they don't seem to have all their information together to even make the pitch, to begin with. Is this what you experienced, too?
The biggest misconception with a lot of early-stage, growth stage companies is this. They may have a great idea, but the execution of the plan is where there's usually a lot of holes that most investors have a big issue with. If you're going to come in and say, "I'm going to enter X market and it's a $2 billion market. My goal is to acquire 25% of the market share." Good luck with making that your closing argument to attract.
Without any sales yet.
The plan is where, I'm sure you probably see this as well through the multiple acquisitions that you've gone down, is where you want to understand is, what's your plan? I liked the idea and the concept. Maybe it's protected. You have the right IP behind you, PI and so on and so forth, but what is your plan to take this out into the marketplace? How are you going to attract people to utilize your product or your service? That's where, early on, a lot of entrepreneurs fail to present that right type of plan.
There's another conversation I've had, too, with some other investors. You'd be amazed at how many CEOs are broke and have rocks in their pockets but then they'll come up in the pitch and be like, "I'm the idea guy. I'm the idea girl." First, how do you differentiate between something that you want to get involved in? Also, if it's something you don't, how do you let them down easy, too?
From where we get involved with a lot of these companies, we're not too concerned with your marketing strategy or sales strategy. We could help you with that. First and foremost, we got to be in love with the product, the service. There's got to be a need for it. If you're coming out there and saying, "I'm looking to replace Facebook." Good luck. What do you have? Obviously, we have to look at what the product is, what the service is. Is there a need for it? Do we feel that it's something that can come into the marketplace and come with a splash?
Those are the types of opportunities that we're targeting. From a strategy standpoint, we're not looking at it back because we know that once we get involved, there's an advisory aspect to it. We can help work with any potential clients in terms of fine-tuning that plan and making sure their I's are dotted, T's are crossed prior to getting in front of an investor. Even if the product is great, the IP is very important. Is this product idea of the patents? Us this trademark?
It's interesting to me, too, because there's a couple of acquisitions that I've looked at to where there's been some very legitimate IP. It's interesting because they haven't been able to market it. They were the idea people. They weren't able to bring that like a SAS app or something. They weren't able to bring that to markets because they didn't have that skillset in-house. They didn't seek out help externally either. They sat there stagnant for five years and I see them like, "This is amazing." The stuff that's there, it's like, "I have the team to market it. I have the team to bring it to the market," but the IP, they never even thought to patent protect it over the course of the years. It's crazy. It was cool because it was the one.
Specifically, it was developed internally to solve a problem within their own company. They saw that there could be a need for other light companies too, which was cool, so they brought in a couple of customers, but then that's as far as it went. Doing something like $50,000 a year in revenue, that's it from this thing. I'm sitting along, "This thing's amazing." It's like, first, with the acquisition one, I'm patent protecting this thing. Clear out of the gate, so it's safe, but then something like that. Do you have those that are, I'm not trying to be mean, but that clueless that come to you? You're like, "Do you know what you're sitting on here?"
There are a lot of clients that don't understand what they have. We're trying to walk them through it. A lot of those clients are more geared towards more of that inventor or developer where they're more, maybe the brains behind.
That was totally the case in this scenario, too.
They may be lacking the business acumen to propel this. That's where we look for a synergistic fit in terms of possibly bringing a potential investor that could fill in those voids that they're lacking. To answer your question in terms of certain clients that may approach us where we're like, "It's going to be a tall order." From our perspective, we're advisors any way that you look at it. The only thing that we can do is do right by our clients and obviously, we can give our input. A lot of times, it's trying to make them understand that this is why this is going to be a challenging opportunity and why it's probably not a good step for us at this stage of the game, but if you can get these questions answered or make these adjustments, then yes, it's something that we could take a look at down the road.
Do you help them with identifying those things like in the initial conversation, too, like, "Here's what I see that you need to work on and what we can reconvene in six months or something?"
First and foremost, anybody that approaches us, we obviously want to take a look at what their business plan is. They have a deck repaired grade. If they don't have those things, then right off the bat I'll tell them, "Put some thought into it. You have to put a business plan together." That's the only way we can work through something and have a firm understanding in terms of what they're planning, goals, and objectives are. Whatever product or service they have.
I appreciate your approach to that, too. That's similar to me in my industry. Mine's a roll-up play. When I look at a potential acquisition, because there's a lot that comes across and this one might not be right or the EBITDA might be too low for this one. I've even compared from the stage in one of my talks an acquisition because I'm targeting between $500,000 to $5 million in top-line revenue for what I'm doing as an acquisition target, like the very first qualifier to make sense for me.
There was one doing $500,000. There was another one that was doing $2 million and their SDE, Seller Discretionary Earnings, was identical, $100,000 a year and they were in the same industry too. You saw whatever the multiples were, but essentially, one business that was doing $500,000 that was more of like a startup compared to one that was doing $2 million was worth the same exact thing. Their valuation was identical. I saw it. It's like, "I'm going to inherit another $1.5 million of crap if I go for that one."
Comparing and contrasting those two, I went for that one thing and they were on my desk at the same time. I went for the $500,000 because of the potential and it was a little bit cleaner versus trying to undo a lot of other things. Both of them were in the same boat. They were both looking for investment and money to be acquired. The one that was also smaller had its finances in order versus the other one, we had to dig around for some things. Do you have some things that you can tell people that like, "Bring this with you to our first meeting, please, before we even talk?" Do you have things that you tell them? "I need to see these right out of the gate?"
Your projections are important. Five-year projections are necessary. You have to know your numbers, so if somebody is asking you specific numbers in terms of how much capital has been invested, what's your burn rate? These are basic things that you're sitting there and you have no idea. For any potential investor, that's a huge red flag. I'm sure if you're looking to invest into a company and you ask somebody, "What's your burn rate? How much are you burning to run on a monthly basis?" They're like, "I have no idea." You're not going to be comfortable writing them a check for $1 million or $5 million or whatever the case may be. You're going to be like, "You don't know how much you're spending now. I feel uncomfortable giving you my money because tomorrow I won't know how my money is being spent."
Six weeks is going to be gone. Potential is there.
Knowing their numbers inside out is important. That's a huge red flag. If you present anything to an investor, you should know where you're coming from because they're going to want to know how you got to a certain number. If you come up with some pie in the sky, number of, "In three years, we're going to be doing $1 billion," you better have a very strong plan to back up how you're going to get to $1 billion in revenues now or whatever the case may be. Those are things that we take a lot of time and try to understand. It can be one of those generic, "We're going to capture 20% market share." That takes a lot of capital to acquire a 20% market share of any industry that you're in. Where are these marketing dollars going to be spent? What separates you from potential competitors out there? All of those things are important.
What is it about what you do that excites you? You're very intelligible obviously with this, but what do you see that's like, "I'm glad I got up today?"
I'll be completely candid with you. It's seeing the growth that some of our clients have. When we have that first conversation and six months a year into, seeing how they handle potential investor management calls, being on calls, and seeing the growth within them, there's an aspect of that where it's pretty cool. There's no other way to describe it. You get involved pretty early on. Any potential client that comes to you, they're bringing their baby and when you see their baby grow, it's a cool feeling. That excitement makes it all worthwhile. It's pretty cool to get involved with a lot of companies that early on in the process.
Their success becomes your success too. It's awesome because, yes, you're making money, but for starters, you're not going to invest in something that has a high potential of failure. There's obviously a risk that's inherent in any investment, for sure. The people are the exciting part when you see them start to skyrocket and see their lives fulfilled and at the same time, I'm like, "I'm making money, but this is awesome to be a part of this journey too."
You developed throughout the process. You're spending a lot of time with a lot of these clients. You developed relationships. I've had clients that we became great friends with after working with them on multiple deals.
Coming out of the pandemic here and I don't used to say that, but then you see these waves that come and go. The market has been so volatile. In the phase we're at now and probably for the next year or so, what advice do you have to startups that are raising capital in this business to multifarious of a marketplace we're in now?
I try to tell every client is, know what you're getting into. We are in an extremely competitive landscape. There are deals getting done now. With 2020, things came to a standstill in the M&A world, aside from the deals that were already in the works, new deals that developed during that time, not funded or far on view. You had a flow over deals from 2020 and obviously, you have deals that are coming out now.
It's a competitive landscape but that's where it's that much more important that you should have everything buttoned up on your end, so when you do have that opportunity to get in front of an investor, it's that much more important for you to be on you're A-game. Not sit back and don't know where you're going and not understanding or not explaining your business or your plan the right way to potential investors.
It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the course of 2022. I remember seeing that. Even with my public offering, we didn't make much movement on it in 2020 because things were so crazy with stuff but now, coming out of it, at least in my industry in cybersecurity and IT services, it seems like a buyer's market. It's like everything's on sale.
Things have picked up, but obviously, going through something like this, something that nobody's ever experienced, these are the times where you got to look at things and put things in perspective. Even certain holes within your business. Let's say you were generating revenues and you came to a standstill. How are you going to handle this? Let's say hypothetically, something happens down the line and hopefully, God forbid it doesn't happen but if it does, how are you going to handle that if there's a lockdown or whatever the case may be?
What's next for you over? You got any things that you're excited about?
Now we're working with a number of promising clients. We're always looking for new client's interest, interesting things. Continually, we're trying to get our brand out there, get the message out there and what we're trying to accomplish. You don't just build up that word of mouth following any other businesses are trying to do now.
Are there any segments or industries that are more attractive to you than others?
With early-stage growth stage companies, we're industry agnostic, so we'll take a look at everything now. There's not a focus or a niche. Keep in mind that a lot of the investors that we work with, when you're investing in startups or early-stage companies, your investment criteria are forever changing. Every few months, they're looking at different types of industries. Now when you get a little bit more upstream and yes, you're going to obviously get more industry-specific investors but those aren't the investors that we're approaching that are not going to go up and get in front of some of this larger private equity or VC groups majority of the top.
You've been amazing. Thank you. Where can everyone find you?
We're SACapitalPartnersLLC.com. There's obviously a client inquiry tab. Fill up your information, reach out to the team. They'll reach out too quickly. Start gathering some information to make sense. They'll schedule an initial consultation.
Thanks for providing some amazing info to people that need it because there are a lot of individuals coming out of 2020. I've been calling them like COVID-preneurs. Laid off, don't have a job, whatever it is but that's some of that. Now, they've got time to try to figure out where they want to go in life, and it's like a kick in the pants to make a good shift.
The amount of various different masks that I've seen in terms of different startups where they came up with different creative ideas, there's been a lot out there, let's say that.
You're amazing. Thank you so much for bringing the energy. That's a great time to say we're done. Thanks.
Take care. Thank you again for having me on the show.
SA Capital Partners
https://En.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Rollup
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Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are typical tumors for the pediatric pathologist to be familiar with as they represent around 7–10% of pediatric malignancies, the fourth most common one in children, being more frequent between 15 and 19 years of age (Minard-Colin et al. J Clin Oncol 33(27):2963–2974, 2015; Bollard et al. Pediatr Blood Cancer 60(6):979–984, 2013; Sandlund and Martin Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2016:589–597, 2016). These lymphomas could arise in any tissue, nodal or extranodal, and the pathologist should be prepared to diagnose its histological type according to the updated revised 2016 WHO Classification of Tumors of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (Swerdlow et al. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, revised 4th edition. IARC, Lyon, 2017).
Acknowledgments to Julie Bruneau, Danielle Canioni, Josette Brière, Sophie Kaltenbach, Isabelle Radford Weiss, Serge Romana, Elizabeth MacIntyre, Vahid Asnafi, Ludovic Lhermitte, and Chantal Brouzes for the fruitful and constant laboratory interaction in the multidisciplinary approach of pediatric lymphoid disorders diagnosis as well as Véronique Minard, Laurence Brugières, Bénédicte Neven, Despinha Moshous, and Comité Lymphome of SFCE for their crucial interaction considering the clinical part of the classification.


You are here: Home / Frugal Living / Articles / Save Money, Get Organized = Use YNAB!
Save Money, Get Organized = Use YNAB!
This post is a little off topic for Renaissance Mama, but I want to share because it's made a HUGE difference for us!
Finances can be such a difficult thing to get control over. I am not naturally gifted with finances, and I spent a lot of my adult life worrying about whether there was enough money in the bank to pay our next bill. Can you relate?
I experimented with a few different programs to help track our money, and nothing seemed to be worth the time I put into organizing everything.
Then, I met YNAB, otherwise known as You Need A Budget. YNAB offered both a transactions register to track all my purchases, AND an actual budget program. I log my purchases (or import them from my bank), and the program deducts it from my budget. I can customize all the categories, and know exactly WHERE my money was going.
Now, instead of looking at my checking account balance and *hoping* I had enough to pay that bill (but what if the electric company payment posted before the check to the doctor went through?), I KNEW there was enough to pay it. And, if I went over in one category, I could just move a little money over from another category, no sweat.
If you'd like to give YNAB a whirl, you can download a free trial program for 34 days. They offer lots of tutorial videos including live webinars, and their customer service is fantastic. I've emailed with questions, and gotten very prompt, friendly responses. They also offer mobile versions of the program, so you can input transactions on the go.
Have you used YNAB? I'd love to hear about your experience!
We've used YNAB for about a year now, and it's been really good for us.


Brisbane City Council Citywide Creek and Overland Flow Path Mapping Flood Study Enoggera Sub-Model. This dataset contains reports, data and metadata used in the flood study, and results data for the existing floodplain condition scenarios.
Council is committed to ensuring we have the latest flood modelling data to help manage flood risk in Brisbane. Flood studies provide Council with technical data to inform policy and for managing flooding within the Brisbane River and local creek and overland flow catchments.
The Citywide Creek and Overland Flow Path Mapping Flood Study comprises a series of 27 individual sub-models which cover the entire Brisbane City Council area. Results data for flood height, depth and hazard (depth x velocity) are available for each individual sub-model for the 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 2000 year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) storm events.
For specific details on how the study was conducted, the areas it covers, and before using the data please read the flood study report. The flood study report, metadata used in the flood study and a detailed map that shows the 27 individual sub-models has also been made available in open data and is called Flood Study — Citywide Overland Flow — reference.
More information on flood studies and how this information is used can be found on the Brisbane City Council Website.


text:
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var mongoose = require('mongoose'),
    LocalStrategy = require('passport-local').Strategy,
    TwitterStrategy = require('passport-twitter').Strategy,
    FacebookStrategy = require('passport-facebook').Strategy,
    GitHubStrategy = require('passport-github').Strategy,
    GoogleStrategy = require('passport-google-oauth').OAuth2Strategy,
    LinkedinStrategy = require('passport-linkedin').Strategy,
    VKontakteStrategy = require('passport-vkontakte').Strategy,
    User = mongoose.model('User'),
    config = require('./config')();

module.exports = function(passport) {

    // Serialize the user id to push into the session
    passport.serializeUser(function(user, done) {
        done(null, user.id);
    });

    // Deserialize the user object based on a pre-serialized token
    // which is the user id
    passport.deserializeUser(function(id, done) {
        User.findOne({
            _id: id
        }, '-salt -hashed_password', function(err, user) {
            done(err, user);
        });
    });

    // Use local strategy
    passport.use(new LocalStrategy({
            usernameField: 'email',
            passwordField: 'password'
        },
        function(email, password, done) {
            User.findOne({
                email: email,
                provider: 'local'
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (err) {
                    return done(err);
                }
                if (!user) {
                    return done(null, false, {
                        message: 'Unknown user'
                    });
                }
                if (!user.authenticate(password)) {
                    return done(null, false, {
                        message: 'Invalid password'
                    });
                }
                return done(null, user);
            });
        }
    ));

    // Use twitter strategy
    passport.use(new TwitterStrategy({
            consumerKey: config.twitter.clientID,
            consumerSecret: config.twitter.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.twitter.callbackURL
        },
        function(token, tokenSecret, profile, done) {
            User.findOne({
                'twitter.id_str': profile.id
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (err) {
                    return done(err);
                }
                if (!user) {
                    user = new User({
                        name: profile.displayName,
                        provider: 'twitter',
                        twitter: profile._json
                    });
                    if (profile.emails && profile.emails[0]) {
                        user.email = profile.emails[0].value;
                    }
                    user.save(function(err) {
                        if (err) {
                            console.log(err);
                            return done(err, user);
                        } else {
                            return done(err, user, {profile: profile});
                        }
                    });
                } else {
                    return done(err, user);
                }
            });
        }
    ));

    // Use facebook strategy
    passport.use(new FacebookStrategy({
            clientID: config.facebook.clientID,
            clientSecret: config.facebook.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.facebook.callbackURL
        },
        function(accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) {
            User.findOne({
                'facebook.id': profile.id
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (err) {
                    return done(err);
                }
                if (!user) {
                    user = new User({
                        name: profile.displayName,
                        provider: 'facebook',
                        facebook: profile._json
                    });
                    if (profile.emails && profile.emails[0]) {
                        user.email = profile.emails[0].value;
                    }
                    user.save(function(err) {
                        if (err) {
                            console.log(err);
                            return done(err, user);
                        } else {
                            return done(err, user, {profile: profile});
                        }
                    });
                } else {
                    return done(err, user);
                }
            });
        }
    ));

    // Use github strategy
    passport.use(new GitHubStrategy({
            clientID: config.github.clientID,
            clientSecret: config.github.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.github.callbackURL
        },
        function(accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) {
            User.findOne({
                'github.id': profile.id
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (!user) {
                    user = new User({
                        name: profile.displayName,
                        provider: 'github',
                        github: profile._json
                    });
                    if (profile.emails && profile.emails[0]) {
                        user.email = profile.emails[0].value;
                    }
                    user.save(function(err) {
                        if (err) console.log(err);
                        return done(err, user, {profile: profile});
                    });
                } else {
                    return done(err, user);
                }
            });
        }
    ));

    // Use google strategy
    passport.use(new GoogleStrategy({
            clientID: config.google.clientID,
            clientSecret: config.google.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.google.callbackURL
        },
        function(accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) {
            User.findOne({
                'google.id': profile.id
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (!user) {
                    user = new User({
                        name: profile.displayName,
                        provider: 'google',
                        google: profile._json
                    });
                    if (profile.emails && profile.emails[0]) {
                        user.email = profile.emails[0].value;
                    }
                    user.save(function(err) {
                        if (err) console.log(err);
                        return done(err, user, {profile: profile});
                    });
                } else {
                    return done(err, user);
                }
            });
        }
    ));

    // use linkedin strategy
    passport.use(new LinkedinStrategy({
            consumerKey: config.linkedin.clientID,
            consumerSecret: config.linkedin.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.linkedin.callbackURL,
            profileFields: ['id', 'first-name', 'last-name', 'email-address']
        },
        function(accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) {
            User.findOne({
                'linkedin.id': profile.id
            }, function(err, user) {
                if (!user) {
                    user = new User({
                        name: profile.displayName,
                        provider: 'linkedin'
                    });
                    if (profile.emails && profile.emails[0]) {
                        user.email = profile.emails[0].value;
                    }
                    user.save(function(err) {
                        if (err) console.log(err);
                        return done(err, user, {profile: profile});
                    });
                } else {
                    return done(err, user);
                }
            });
        }
    ));

    //use vk strategy
    passport.use(new VKontakteStrategy({
            clientID: config.vkontakte.clientID,
            clientSecret: config.vkontakte.clientSecret,
            callbackURL: config.vkontakte.callbackURL
        },
        function(accessToken, refreshToken, profile, done) {
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//                return done(err, user);
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};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
PROCLAMATION 3691-DEC. 2, 1965
Proclamation 3691 BILL OF RIGHTS DAY HUMAN RIGHTS DAY By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation
WHEREAS December 10, 1965, is the l7th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which voices the aspirations of all mankind, and December 15, 1965, is the I74th anniversary of the first ten Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which we honor as our Bill of Rights; and WHEREAS the Universal Declaration is a further recognition of the great principles of freedom of speech, press, and assembly, of freedom of religion and conscience, of assurance of fair trial, and of the right to participate in government—all rights which are guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States; and WHEREAS people everywhere in the world find common cause in the demand for more effective recognition—in law and in practice— of the inalienable right of every person to equal dignity and equal opportunity; and WHEREAS our American heritage has found further expression in our own country through the adoption of new legislation for the protection of civil rights, for the guarantee of voting rights, and for the extension of economic opportunity to those who have not shared equally in the prosperity and promise of our time: NOW, THEREFORE, I, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 10, 1965, as Human Rights Day and December 15, 1965, as Bill of Rights Day, and call upon the people of the United States to observe the week of December 10-17 as Human Rights Week. Let us never forget the words cast on the big bell at Independence Hall, "Proclaim Liberty throughout the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof." The Congress of the United States, our Executive Departments, the Courts, and men and women of good will throughout the land are daily demonstrating their determination that no one shall be denied enjoyment of his rights or equal opportunity to rise as far as his abilities will take him. During this Human Rights Week, let us pause to reaffirm the ideals and principles which have been at the foundation of our country's growth and greatness—ideals which have stirred the minds and hearts of men from time immemorial, and which take on new power and promise for all peoples in this splendid age of scientific and cultural achievement. Let each of us, in daily life, do what he can to make this a truly just and compassionate nation, remembering that as we work for freedom here—freedom from discrimination, freedom from ignorance, from poverty, from all that makes for fear and prejudice—we work not only for ourselves but for all mankind. I N W I T N E S S WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed. 65-300 0-67—10

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The solution contains all tools and features for full-fledged server protection. Features include the resident shield and on-demand scanner. Scanning tasks are served by a single engine, significantly reducing system load.
Content passing through HTTP, FTP and SMTP protocols is thoroughly scanned for threats. Malicious code is filtered before it can cause any damage to end users on your network.
If both Kerio Connect (formerly Kerio Mail Server) and Kerio Control are installed, only one instance of ESET Security for Kerio is required.
Allows you to set up rules on file name, file size and real file type. Optimizes scan performance by only checking files that are not blocked.
Allows you to run scripts to set up configuration or perform an action, automating the security management of ESET security products.
Allows you to customize settings via Kerio administration console Automatically cleans or deletes any infected objects (attachments). Downloads updates from the Internet or from the local mirror server. Uses the same update packages as other ESET security solutions.
Features antivirus and antispyware plug-ins for Kerio Connect (SMTP and POP3 protocols) and Kerio Control (HTTP and FTP protocols). Powered by the advanced ThreatSense® technology combining speed, accuracy and minimal system impact.
Provides full support for ESET Security Management Center. Remote installation and automated integration with Kerio Connect / Control.


Why does it seem to come so easily for some people?
World-class adventure achievements will generally earn their own recognition, even if only in specialist media and among a small audience of aficionados. They should earn you athlete sponsorship from the brands active in your niche. As mainstreams brands increasingly embrace 'adventure' as a marketing strategy, that may catapult you into mainstream advertising - and then the money flows in.
However, if the activity is very niche, there may still not be enough money available for you to live from. Unlike conventional sports which may be supported by government grants based purely on athletic ability, adventure sports rely on brand sponsorships. They are not a prize for ability, they are a business partnership. The brands align themselves with you to help them sell more product.
The good news is that means not-world-class adventurers have a shot at sponsorship too. The bad news is that you can be the best in your category and still not do as well as some of your compatriots.
Shameless self-promotion, particularly when combined with natural charisma, gets you a long way in most aspects of human endeavour. We've likely all seen the meaningless and contrived 'world first', and sometimes the simply not-true 'world first', and noticed that it still wins big money corporate sponsorship, and mass media coverage. You wonder how the hell they managed it? The charming man waiting to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge exists in adventure too.
Not that every expert self-promotor is selling a dud adventure. You can be a great adventure athlete with an inspiring idea, and also be an outstanding salesman. But the sales ability is a separate skill set.
Many of us cringe at the idea of this kind of braggadocio when it comes to our adventure dream. Our understanding of 'adventure', and informal outdoor sports in general, is imbued with a hefty dose of late eighteenth century romanticism. One response to expanding industrial capitalism, with its accompanying urbanisation, pollution and poverty, was to turn 'back to nature' as a pure and spiritual source of renewal. That idea still echoes, making many people feel that any attempt to monetise adventure is betraying its soul.
Possibly because most adventurers are always half-embarrassed about promoting their activities, the few that can do it with no shame, complete commitment and (for the win) charisma, get impressive results. It's worth thinking about where you fit on the self-promotion spectrum and being realistic about the disadvantages it creates if you can't bring yourself to do it.
There are people who do adventures of minor consequence, who make little effort to promote themselves - and yet attract followers and media, and coming along behind that - book deals, speeches, sponsors.
Almost all of them are superb story-tellers, whether in words or images. If you can write well enough, you can turn your drunken bet to hitch-hike the circumference of Ireland in a month - with a fridge - into a best-selling book, a film and then several more books. If your photos and updates are quirky enough, you can turn your random wander across some continent into a burgeoning social media following.
This isn't about just being good. Good writers and photographers still need to hustle and push and market themselves. This is for those with some indefinable mixture of raw talent and great work ethic, who naturally have a unique outlook on life that leaves rest of us captivated.
You are trying to answer the conundrum that was summed up perfectly in an email I received recently.


text:
Home » My Dad - Ed Farrar » WWII » WWII Timeline – Summer 1940
WWII Timeline – Summer 1940
I'm continuing my WWII Timeline series with a look at July – September 1940 in this post.
A Timeline of WWII, Summer 1940
German U-boats attacked merchant ships in the Atlantic. The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign of WWII, lasting from 1939 to 1945.
The French government of Prime Minister Marshal Philippe Pétain moved to Vichy, France.
Great Britain and the French Vichy government broke off diplomatic relations.
The Battle of Britain began. After the fall of France, the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) conducted unremitting and highly destructive air raids over Britain from July through September 1940. The British Royal Air Force (RAF) successfully defended Great Britain in what has been described as the first major military campaign fought entirely by air forces.
The Soviet Union engineered a Communist coup d'états in the Baltic States after their June occupation.
The first French anti-Jewish laws were decreed by Vichy government Prime Minister Marshal Philippe Pétain. The laws were not mandated by Germany. They affected metropolitan France and its overseas territories. The measures designated Jews as a lower class and deprived them of citizenship and a right to hold public office. Many Jews were first confined to the Drancy Internment Camp before being deported for extermination in Nazi concentration camps.
Per the Soviet-German non-aggression agreement (also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) of August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union officially absorbed Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
The Soviet Union annexed the Baltic States as Soviet Republics after their June occupation.
The Italians occupied British Somaliland in East Africa.
Romania introduced anti-Jewish measures restricting education and employment, then later began "Romanianization" of Jewish businesses.
The German bombing of British airfields began. Eagle Day (Adlertag) was the first day of Operation Eagle Attack (Unternehmen Adlerangriff), the codename for the Nazi Luftwaffe operation to destroy the British Royal Air Force. It was an attempt to gain air superiority in preparation for the invasion of Britain by sea, code named Operation Sea Lion. The main target was RAF Fighter Command. The attack caused significant damage and casualties on the ground, but did not cause enough damage to the British Fighter Command's ability to defend British air space.
Air battles and daylight raids over Britain continued.
Franz Rademacher, head of the Jewish Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ordered Adolf Eichmann to start the resettlement of a million Jews per year for four years to Madagascar as a police state under the SS. The "Madagascar Plan" project was later abandoned.
Hitler declared a blockade of the British Isles.
August 23/24, 1940
The first German air raids began on Central London.
In retaliation of the air raids on London, the first British RAF air raid on Berlin was carried out.
The Second Vienna Award was the second territorial dispute arbitrated by Germany and Italy. It assigned the territory of North Transylvania from Romania to Hungary. Losing North Transylvania forced Romanian King Carol to abdicate the throne to his son, Michael, and brought the dictatorship of Fascist General Ion Antonescu and his Iron Guards to power.
The America First Committee was established with the goal of keeping the United States out of WWII. Aviator Charles Lindberg was one of the most famous of it's 800,000 members. The committee was disbanded four days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The German Blitz against Great Britain began when the Luftwaffe began targeting civilian rather than British military targets.
Italian forces invaded British-controlled Egypt from Italian-controlled Libya.
The Blitz continued with German air raids on London, Southampton, Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester.
The United States military conscription bill passed and the first U.S. peacetime draft was enacted.
Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Tripartite (Axis) Pact, an economic and military alliance. The "Axis powers" formally took the name after the Tripartite Pact was signed.
This series of posts is based on a compilation of timelines from:
The Holocaust Encyclopedia
The History Place:
World War II in Europe
World War II in the Pacific
Holocaust Timeline
The National WWII Museum Interactive Timeline
World War II Chronicle by the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
Madagascar Plan
Vichy anti-Jewish legislation
Adlertag
Most recent post from the series:
Tags: WWII Timeline, WWII Timeline 1940, WWII Timeline Summer 1940
By thearrowheadclub in WWII on August 7, 2019 .
← Follow Up: How Many Airmen Made Up a B-17 Crew in WWII	The Grafton Underwood Airfield – Runways and Hardstands →


Washington, D.C. – Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced legislation to remove regulatory obstacles and encourage research and development for the next generation of hydropower – renewable energy from waves, currents, ocean tides and free-flowing water in lakes and rivers.
The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2013 (S. 1419) encourages private investment in marine hydrokinetic (MHK) power technologies by streamlining the regulatory process for pilot projects that generate energy from oceans, lakes and rivers.
The bill reauthorizes the Energy Department's marine hydrokinetic research, development and demonstration programs, including the National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers. It also designates the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the lead agency to coordinate environmental reviews and sets a goal of licensing pilot programs in one year or less.
The Department of Energy estimates that marine hydrokinetic energy has the potential to power millions of homes each year.
The bill text and a one-page summary are attached below.


All photography for this site was provided by Mariella Smith for InSight Graphic Design.
Large slideshow on the home page shows off a waterfront property in the Westshore district of Tampa Bay. WordPress content management system allows easy updating from the backend dashboard.


text:
Arrow Electronics: The Biggest IoT Innovator You've Never Heard Of
Gabe Weisert - Zuora
Arrow Electronics is the world's largest distributor of components and enterprise computing systems. It's tempting to portray it as the world's biggest IoT warehouse. But it's much more than that.
Arrow started in 1935 selling radio sets, a relatively new retail technology at the time. Today it's a $23 billion business operating in 56 countries. Arrow has roughly 17,000 employees that include thousands of field application engineers and systems engineers who help companies bring exciting new technologies to scale.
For many decades, Arrow was happy to conduct its business as straightforward and extremely profitable parts warehouse. It distributed electronic components to thousands of technology companies.
"Before you would come in and say I want a processor or I want an electro mechanical component, it could be a crystal oscillator or some kind of passive device. You would have a conversation with us about that, and we would go and buy that from someone and sell it to you for a slight markup," says Chief Digital Transformation Officer Matt Anderson.
But Anderson said the company recognized a decade ago that they needed to shift their business model from a commodity provider towards value-added services. They needed to stop acting less as a Home Depot for the tech industry, and more like a Bell Labs.
These days they're having very different conversations with their customers.
Integrated Outcomes
"You might say we want to automate pest control in agriculture, and we've never really done that before but, but we know what kind of solutions we're looking for because we're chemists. How are we going to create a device that that monitors whether or not the pests are out there, what the weather trends are, whether or not we have already sprayed? Are we seeing any evidence of pheromone levels going up? Those kinds of things."
In other words, Arrow's customers used to come to them asking for isolated components. Now they're looking for integrated outcomes.
As a result, Arrow is offering design engineering services and system administration to help innovators bring their ideas to fruition and close gaps in knowledge and skill sets. They're helping innovators surface the intrinsic value of their products. They started thinking in terms of desired outcomes, not stand-alone devices.
iot innovation
Arrow now offers a subscription service to manufacturers that allows them to search over 300 million electronic parts for cross references, lifecycle, parametric, obsoleteness forecasts, regulation compliance, and inventory data. They can then apply that data to the manufacturer's bill of materials (BOM) and active updates can be sent to manufacturers as updates to these components are made.
This division, Silicon Expert Technologies (SET) has about 800 customers and is growing at a rate of 20-30 per month. Arrow is further leveraging subscription management, connectivity, design engineering, and enterprise computing to build an ecosystem of solution providers. This ecosystem allows innovators to build new technologies that gather unfathomable types and amounts of data. Recent examples include:
Working with a major fast-food dining chain (it's one you're definitely familiar with) to automate, monitor, and put sensors on every single piece of kitchen equipment. The data collected can then be connected with intelligent customer menu boards and headsets. This allows the management chain to collect and use an enormous amount of data – whether equipment is in good working order, do certain menu items need to be removed, can the menu be tailored for surge demand, etc.
A biotechnology firm is building a new network of insect pheromone detectors that, when it picks up specific signals, automatically sprays a dispersant rather than using pesticides, leading to healthier food. Everything is automated, from the data the crop manager sees about insect patterns to the machine that sprays dispersant.
They're even working to build a better mousetrap: an automated trap that monitors activity and effectiveness, certifies that it's meeting regulations that restaurant chains and grain elevators must abide by, and notifies the manager of any problems.
IoT: Turning Products into Services
Learn how IoT is enabling businesses undergo a fundamental business model change from products to services!
Solutions-based subscribers
The thing about IoT, says Anderson, is that it's growing in previously unimagined ways. With all this new data comes new possibilities. Companies like Arrow have made IoT innovation more accessible to not only large corporations, but also small-scale innovators of the type found on Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
So how does Anderson describe the difference between a transactional customer and a solutions-based subscriber?
"I think at Arrow a customer is someone who buys a component or who buys a piece of technology that could make a data center," says Anderson. "I think a subscriber is someone who is really interested in relationship with Arrow that is solving a specific problem and that could look like a subscription to monitoring. It could look like a subscription to one of our 'data as a service' capabilities or it could like somebody who has asked us to come along actually do design work for them."
Anderson goes on to note that subscription-based businesses enable a lot more players in the innovation market, simply because they are able to build products that don't cost a lot up-front. As long as they can continue to make their subscriber base happy, they can invest more money more in innovation and continue the virtual cycle.
Arrow's founders probably wouldn't have envisaged a future where entire segments of their product catalog would be treated as a loss leaders! Many of their customers give their new integrated products away for free, in order to kick-start smart, mutually-beneficial subscription-based relationships.
As Anderson notes, when you put sensors on everything you create data about everything. And that lets you charge in completely different ways: "For instance if you had a pacemaker that had sensors in it you could charge for a subscription for heartbeats! If you had shoes that had sensors in them you could charge for how many kilometers do you want to walk per month! Those kinds of business models never existed before."
Today the IoT is making every single industry and every single company a potential subscription business model participant. "If you are a fan of innovation, you are fundamentally a fan of the subscription economy," says Anderson.
Learn from your peers. Network your heart out.
Join a Subscribed event near you.
Breaking & Entering: IoT and Security
Where is the value potential of IoT?
Monetizing The Internet of Things: 7 Questions


Lydia N. (Hrynyk) Adams, age 76, of Lincoln Borough, passed away on Friday, April 12, 2019 at Jefferson Hospital. She retired after more than 45 years as an insurance agent/tax preparer for Allegheny Insurance in McKeesport. She was a former member of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in McKeesport. Born November 10, 1942 in McKeesport, she was a daughter of the late Walter and Zofia (Boczar) Hrynyk. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Michael D. Adams; son, Michael D. (Laura) Adams Jr. of Glassport; daughter, Alisha (Todd) Martin of Elizabeth Twp.; grandchildren, Lacey Martin, and Nicole and Mike Zepp; brother, Adrian Hrynyk of North Versailles; also, nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by sister, Nadia Davis. Friends will be received in the Paul E. Bekavac Funeral Home, Elizabeth on Monday, April 15, 2019 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM. A blessing will take place on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 12 Noon in the funeral home with Fr. Gregory Madeya officiating. Burial will follow in St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, North Versailles.


Jack has been eating baby foods and it's SO much fun…and colorful…and messy…and hilarious! His favorite so far…PEAS! In my opinion…GROSS…but the boy loves them. Bananas…not so favored! Here are some fun shots of him!
Which one is better? Peaches or Peas?
Happy feet while enjoying peaches and peas!
Notice the cute blankie? …haha…John's mom was here visiting and she taught me to sew!! I've already made three blankets for Jack! I also shortened all our CalKing pillow cases…what a fun new creative outlet…sewing! YAY!
Oh it's SUCH a joy to see our Chinese friends posting comments on here – hello to each of you! We miss you so much and it's wonderful to read little notes from you! We hope you had the happiest Spring Festival and a safe journey back to your campuses! Bao Bao…you went to Shenzen…amazing…how was it? Write me soon! I miss and love you! And BiYing…oh wow, seeing your name made me miss you so much…please continue to stay in contact! John and I just talked about visiting China…we miss you all!!
Here are some recent pictures of our life here in California. We have enjoyed seeing friends and family, going to Disneyland, making our house a home and of course…raising Jack! It's a beautiful sunny day outside so I'm going to go enjoy it! Love to you all!
A recent picture I took of Jack laying on the blanket from when I was a baby…it has panda's on it…who'd have known I would live in China…and be pregnant there for 7 months?!
Jack and I at Disneyland with John's parents when they were in town…Jack loved it!!!
Jack and dad chillin on the sofa!
Jack loves hearing Grandma Susie's voice…it makes him smile SO big!!
And then there's Dutch…camped out in the case of water from Costco licking the plastic…he has the wierdest fetish with platic. I submitted this picture to the Bad Cat contest…maybe he'll make himself famous for being the moron that he is!
And then there's sweet little drool baby…I LOVE this little face!
Well…gotta go…we're going to go to the Farm Show today! Should be fun!


text:
var exec = require('cordova/exec'),
    FileError = require('cordova/plugin/FileError'),
    ProgressEvent = require('cordova/plugin/ProgressEvent');

/**
 * This class writes to the mobile device file system.
 *
 * For Android:
 *      The root directory is the root of the file system.
 *      To write to the SD card, the file name is "sdcard/my_file.txt"
 *
 * @constructor
 * @param file {File} File object containing file properties
 * @param append if true write to the end of the file, otherwise overwrite the file
 */
var FileWriter = function(file) {
    this.fileName = "";
    this.length = 0;
    if (file) {
        this.fileName = file.fullPath || file;
        this.length = file.size || 0;
    }
    // default is to write at the beginning of the file
    this.position = 0;

    this.readyState = 0; // EMPTY

    this.result = null;

    // Error
    this.error = null;

    // Event handlers
    this.onwritestart = null;   // When writing starts
    this.onprogress = null;     // While writing the file, and reporting partial file data
    this.onwrite = null;        // When the write has successfully completed.
    this.onwriteend = null;     // When the request has completed (either in success or failure).
    this.onabort = null;        // When the write has been aborted. For instance, by invoking the abort() method.
    this.onerror = null;        // When the write has failed (see errors).
};

// States
FileWriter.INIT = 0;
FileWriter.WRITING = 1;
FileWriter.DONE = 2;

/**
 * Abort writing file.
 */
FileWriter.prototype.abort = function() {
    // check for invalid state
    if (this.readyState === FileWriter.DONE || this.readyState === FileWriter.INIT) {
        throw new FileError(FileError.INVALID_STATE_ERR);
    }

    // set error
    this.error = new FileError(FileError.ABORT_ERR);

    this.readyState = FileWriter.DONE;

    // If abort callback
    if (typeof this.onabort === "function") {
        this.onabort(new ProgressEvent("abort", {"target":this}));
    }

    // If write end callback
    if (typeof this.onwriteend === "function") {
        this.onwriteend(new ProgressEvent("writeend", {"target":this}));
    }
};

/**
 * Writes data to the file
 *
 * @param text to be written
 */
FileWriter.prototype.write = function(text) {
    // Throw an exception if we are already writing a file
    if (this.readyState === FileWriter.WRITING) {
        throw new FileError(FileError.INVALID_STATE_ERR);
    }

    // WRITING state
    this.readyState = FileWriter.WRITING;

    var me = this;

    // If onwritestart callback
    if (typeof me.onwritestart === "function") {
        me.onwritestart(new ProgressEvent("writestart", {"target":me}));
    }

    // Write file
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            // If DONE (cancelled), then don't do anything
            if (me.readyState === FileWriter.DONE) {
                return;
            }

            // position always increases by bytes written because file would be extended
            me.position += r;
            // The length of the file is now where we are done writing.

            me.length = me.position;

            // DONE state
            me.readyState = FileWriter.DONE;

            // If onwrite callback
            if (typeof me.onwrite === "function") {
                me.onwrite(new ProgressEvent("write", {"target":me}));
            }

            // If onwriteend callback
            if (typeof me.onwriteend === "function") {
                me.onwriteend(new ProgressEvent("writeend", {"target":me}));
            }
        },
        // Error callback
        function(e) {
            // If DONE (cancelled), then don't do anything
            if (me.readyState === FileWriter.DONE) {
                return;
            }

            // DONE state
            me.readyState = FileWriter.DONE;

            // Save error
            me.error = new FileError(e);

            // If onerror callback
            if (typeof me.onerror === "function") {
                me.onerror(new ProgressEvent("error", {"target":me}));
            }

            // If onwriteend callback
            if (typeof me.onwriteend === "function") {
                me.onwriteend(new ProgressEvent("writeend", {"target":me}));
            }
        }, "File", "write", [this.fileName, text, this.position]);
};

/**
 * Moves the file pointer to the location specified.
 *
 * If the offset is a negative number the position of the file
 * pointer is rewound.  If the offset is greater than the file
 * size the position is set to the end of the file.
 *
 * @param offset is the location to move the file pointer to.
 */
FileWriter.prototype.seek = function(offset) {
    // Throw an exception if we are already writing a file
    if (this.readyState === FileWriter.WRITING) {
        throw new FileError(FileError.INVALID_STATE_ERR);
    }

    if (!offset && offset !== 0) {
        return;
    }

    // See back from end of file.
    if (offset < 0) {
        this.position = Math.max(offset + this.length, 0);
    }
    // Offset is bigger then file size so set position
    // to the end of the file.
    else if (offset > this.length) {
        this.position = this.length;
    }
    // Offset is between 0 and file size so set the position
    // to start writing.
    else {
        this.position = offset;
    }
};

/**
 * Truncates the file to the size specified.
 *
 * @param size to chop the file at.
 */
FileWriter.prototype.truncate = function(size) {
    // Throw an exception if we are already writing a file
    if (this.readyState === FileWriter.WRITING) {
        throw new FileError(FileError.INVALID_STATE_ERR);
    }

    // WRITING state
    this.readyState = FileWriter.WRITING;

    var me = this;

    // If onwritestart callback
    if (typeof me.onwritestart === "function") {
        me.onwritestart(new ProgressEvent("writestart", {"target":this}));
    }

    // Write file
    exec(
        // Success callback
        function(r) {
            // If DONE (cancelled), then don't do anything
            if (me.readyState === FileWriter.DONE) {
                return;
            }

            // DONE state
            me.readyState = FileWriter.DONE;

            // Update the length of the file
            me.length = r;
            me.position = Math.min(me.position, r);

            // If onwrite callback
            if (typeof me.onwrite === "function") {
                me.onwrite(new ProgressEvent("write", {"target":me}));
            }

            // If onwriteend callback
            if (typeof me.onwriteend === "function") {
                me.onwriteend(new ProgressEvent("writeend", {"target":me}));
            }
        },
        // Error callback
        function(e) {
            // If DONE (cancelled), then don't do anything
            if (me.readyState === FileWriter.DONE) {
                return;
            }

            // DONE state
            me.readyState = FileWriter.DONE;

            // Save error
            me.error = new FileError(e);

            // If onerror callback
            if (typeof me.onerror === "function") {
                me.onerror(new ProgressEvent("error", {"target":me}));
            }

            // If onwriteend callback
            if (typeof me.onwriteend === "function") {
                me.onwriteend(new ProgressEvent("writeend", {"target":me}));
            }
        }, "File", "truncate", [this.fileName, size]);
};

module.exports = FileWriter;


text:
Urgent, A Call for U.S. Sanction Against the Rogue Regime in Ethiopia [Ethiopian Advocacy Network]
The Honorable John F. Kerry
2201 C Street, N.W.
Via Facsimile 202-647-1811
RE: The Brutal Crackdown of Peaceful Protesters in Ethiopia and A Call for U.S. Sanction Against the Rogue Regime in Ethiopia
Dear Secretary Kerry:
In the last nine months, spontaneous protests have erupted in many regions of Ethiopia – specifically in the Oromo region and most recently in Gondar and other Amhara regions that accounts for 75% of the Ethiopian population. It is widely reported that many peaceful protestors with legitimate grievances have been killed by government forces. According to the statement issued on August 13, 2016 by Human Rights Watch as many as 100 people have been killed.[1]
More than 500 demonstrators are now estimated to have been killed by security forces in largely peaceful protests since November 2015. [2]
Ethiopian Advocacy Network (EAN) is deeply troubled and outraged by the persistent killing of peaceful protesters by the repressive regime in Ethiopia. The regime's security forces have very well documented history of using excessive lethal force to stifle any type of dissent.
Choking off all peaceful and legitimate avenues for dissent coupled with unaccountable institutions fuels violent extremism and increases the likelihood of long-term instability in Ethiopia.
In 2006 Vicki Huddleston, the Charge d' Affairs at the U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa, announced the cancellation of future sales of Humvee military vehicles to Ethiopia because they were being misused to "disperse demonstrations." Almost ten years later, it has come to our attention that guns and bullets supplied by the U.S. are being used
to kill peaceful demonstrators. We understand that there is a strong high level relationship between the Pentagon and Ethiopian Defense Forces. It is imperative for the U.S. to stop supplying tools of repression to the Ethiopian regime. In fact, we strongly believe that the mass killings at the hands of the brutal security forces should trigger the Leahy Law.
At this point, we urge the Obama Administration to sanction the Ethiopian regime by immediately cutting U.S. military aid and other forms of assistance except humanitarian aid that the regime uses to bolster its arsenals of repressions in many ways, including the recent massacre of hundreds of peaceful protesters.
While we are astounded by the deafening silence of the Obama Administration, the minority regime in Ethiopia is interpreting U.S. acquiescence as endorsement of its criminal actions in Ethiopia. We, therefore, urge the U.S. to publicly condemn the carnage in the strongest possible terms and demand that the state sponsored terror against Ethiopian citizens and the egregious human rights violations come to an immediate halt.
On August 10, 2016 Zeid Raad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stating that "the use of live ammunition against protesters in Oromia and Amhara of course would be a very serious concern for us,"[3] has called for an international investigation into the killings which the regime has promptly rejected. Such is the lawless nature of a regime that has a seat in the Security Council. The UN, the U.S., UK and EU should pressure the regime to allow international observers access to Ethiopia to investigate the murders.
Amnesty International in a statement issued on August 8, 2016 has called for "the prompt, impartial and effective investigation of the crimes and all those suspected of criminal responsibility must be brought to justice."[4]
We firmly believe that there can be no sustainable economic growth, peace and stability in Ethiopia without political reforms. respect for human rights and the rule of law. The U.S. should pursue a constructive policy that would advance fundamental reform that would lead to a genuine constitutional democracy through an all-inclusive transitional process. The U.S. should also use its leverage to pressure the regime to stop the bloodshed and enter into a constructive dialogue with all stakeholders.
The violent response to the peaceful protests is intolerable and the campaign of
repression by the brutal regime must end immediately to avert wide spread chaos that is bound to engulf the country and the region. All peaceful protesters that are being held for simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly must be immediately and unconditionally released.
In March of 2013 you stated that "it's no coincidence that the places where we face some of the greatest national security challenges are the places where governments deny basic human rights to their nation's people."
Ethiopia, the most populous country and the regional power in the strategic Horn of Africa is the key player for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region. It is time for the U.S. to take a principled stand and reassess its "unholy alliance" with the repressive regime that is widely viewed as illegitimate in the eyes of the vast majority of the 100 million Ethiopian citizens.
The U.S., as the principal ally of the Ethiopian regime, should take the lead and issue a strongly worded public denouncement of the mass killings in Ethiopia and impose sanctions (visa restriction, asset freeze) against senior government officials – both civilian and military- who are implicated in the mass killings
In the absence of strong actions on the part of the U.S., Ethiopians are inclined to believe U.S. complicity in the massive human rights abuse and state sponsored terror being committed by the minority ethnic dictatorship in Ethiopia. U.S. policy makers should understand that, short of a serious commitment and intervention to avert an impending tragedy, the current volatile political situation in Ethiopia could potentially slide into civil war, ethnic cleansing and even genocide; thus, threatening peace and stability in Ethiopia and in the Horn of Africa.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this very urgent matter.
We look forward to hearing from you very soon
Araya Amsalu, Ph.D.
cc: Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
Sharon M. Umber, Ethiopia Desk Officer
Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Rep. Christopher Smith, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations
Rep. Karen Bass, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations
Senator Bob Corker, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs
Senator Jeff Flake, Chairman Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Senator Edward J. Markey, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
Ethiopian Advocacy Network is a grassroots organization that was formed in January 2015 by Ethiopian-Americans, Ethiopian activists and community organizers to promote democracy, human rights, and justice in Ethiopia through advocacy, civic education and grass roots mobilization. EAN has a global presence with members in the USA, Africa, Canada and Europe.
[1] https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/08/13/ethiopian-forces-kill-100-protesters
[3] http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/08/calls-probe-ethiopia-protesters-killings-160810163517810.html
[4] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/08/ethiopia-dozens-killed-as-police-use-excessive-force-against-peaceful-protesters/
12 Oromo activists' letter to Ezkeil Gebissa and Jawar Mohammed regarding Oromo Leadership Summit
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Ethiopia Protests Continue Despite Call for Calm


Sanjeev Gupta led Liberty House will be buying ArcelorMittal's steel plants in Europe that the world's largest steelmaker has put on the block to clear its way to buy Italian steel company Ilva, Liberty House.
The steelmaker has made a binding offer to buy ArcelorMittal's major integrated works at Galati in Romania and Ostrava in Czech Republic, along with rolling mills at Skopje in Macedonia and Piombino in Italy; a move that will more than double its global production capacity.
The four facilities will together add 8 MT rolling capacity to Liberty House and take it to 15 MT a year apart from adding 12,500 people to its total workforce. The plants serve domestic and wider European markets, including automotive, construction, industrial machinery and oil and gas sectors.


Take our free Spencerville quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!
The location of her family savings.
Her desire to kill him.
Her plans to run away with Keith Landry.
He has tickets to pay.
He has six days to get out of town.
He'll be killed if he sees Annie again.
Cops are investigating Cliff Baxter's departure.
Cliff Baxter and Annie have left.
There is blood on the porch where Cliff beat Annie.
Annie's things were all set on fire.
Be careful of Cliff Baxter's booby traps.


Super Monkey Ball from SEGA is one of the best iPhone games out there, but it's pretty hard for people who aren't familiar with the Super Monkey Ball series. The game has already sold over 300,000 copies and will now get an update that will make the game a little easier reports MTV Multiplayer. After running this update you should have more grip on the controls and you should be able to tweak the 'dead zone'. The dead zone is the orientation at which you could hold the iPhone to stop moving. SEGA hasn't confirmed this patch yet.


Luno customers can now be rewarded with Bitcoin by referring their friends and family to Luno.
Please note: The above is only an example as each invite code or invite link carries its own unique value.
If you've received a promotion code in connection with an event or campaign held by Luno, you can earn free Bitcoin.
1. If you have received a unique code while attending an event or partaking in a promotion, create a Luno account and verify your identity.
3. Go to the home screen and choose DEPOSIT MONEY.
4. After depositing, purchase the required minimum amount of Bitcoin. The minimum amount will be communicated to you with your promotion code.
6. You will now receive a confirmation screen that the code has been applied to your account. Success! Enjoy your free Bitcoin.


The People's Voice Ethics Star's primary focus is placed on evaluating a candidate's perceived objectivity to make decisions in the position sought without the appearance of any conflicts of interest. We place emphasis on issues that affect quality of life for all residents.
Jim Robey is a former Howard County Executive and majority leader of the Maryland Senate.
Represent Maryland volunteers have formed a "Small Money Commission" to certify candidates for public office who are only taking money from Represent Maryland approved small money sources.


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Seminary News
Text and Canon Institute hosts Origen as Philologist Colloquium
By Phoenix Seminary | November 22, 2021 | 0
On November 17–18, Phoenix Seminary's Text and Canon Institute (TCI) hosted the Origen as Philologist colloquium, an event that brought together a group of international scholars to explore Origen's textual scholarship on the Old Testament and its reception in Late Antiquity. "It's extremely important to me," said Peter J. Gentry, distinguished visiting professor of Old…
New Text and Canon Institute Website Makes the Bible's History More Accessible
By Phoenix Seminary | November 8, 2021 | 0
This morning, Phoenix Seminary's Text and Canon Institute (TCI) launched a brand-new website, textandcanon.org. The institute, which is led by Drs. John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry, seeks to illuminate the history of the world's most amazing book, the Bible. This unique mission is accomplished through 3 means: Resources: The institute helps Christians and…
Phoenix Seminary Announces New Partnership with Canyon Bible Church in Prescott, Arizona.
By Phoenix Seminary | August 24, 2021 | 0
Phoenix Seminary has begun a new Ministry Apprenticeship Alliance (MAA) partnership with Canyon Bible Church in Prescott, Arizona. Through this partnership, 18 credit hours will be offered on-site at the church. Students will be able to complete 2 courses in pastoral care, 1 course in leadership and ecclesiology, and 1 course on the ministry of…
Phoenix Seminary and Arizona Christian University Announce Partnership to Accelerate Ministry Training
In an effort to establish strong partnerships with Christian institutions in the Valley and enable college students who have been called to ministry to enter into their desired roles sooner, Phoenix Seminary has entered into a partnership with Arizona Christian University that allows ACU graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies…
David S. Hogg named as director of library services and professor of church history at Phoenix Seminary
By Phoenix Seminary | June 3, 2021 | 0
Noted historian David S. Hogg has been named as professor of church history and director of library services at Phoenix Seminary, president Brian Arnold announced Thursday, June 3rd, 2021. As our head librarian, Hogg's primary work will be to lead the library, building on the excellent foundation current Director of Library Services, Doug Olbert and…
Drs. Steven J. Duby and Kenneth T. Magnuson Join Phoenix Seminary as Research Fellows
By Phoenix Seminary | February 15, 2021 | 0
President Brian Arnold announced today (Monday, February 15, 2021) that Drs. Steven J. Duby and Kenneth T. Magnuson will join Phoenix Seminary as research fellows. "I'm excited to announce our new research fellows, Dr. Steve Duby and Dr. Ken Magnuson," said Dr. Arnold. "These two scholars will help us continue to build the academic profile…
Phoenix Seminary Launches the Faith Seeking Understanding Podcast
By Phoenix Seminary | December 18, 2020 | 0
Phoenix Seminary Launches the Faith Seeking Understanding Podcast On Friday, December 18, Phoenix Seminary launched its first podcast, Faith Seeking Understanding, hosted by Dr. Brian Arnold, president of the seminary and associate professor of Theology. In the podcast, Arnold interviews guests who discuss matters of theology, the Bible, and practical ministry. "'Faith seeking understanding' is…
Dr. Wayne Grudem releases a revised and expanded edition of his best-selling Systematic Theology
By Phoenix Seminary | December 8, 2020 | 0
The new edition will help future generations of evangelicals understand Scripture and grow as Christians. With more than 750,000 copies sold, Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine has been the most widely used resource in its area over the past 25 years. Now all 57 chapters have been thoroughly revised and…
Dr. Peter Gentry to join Phoenix Seminary as distinguished visiting professor
By Phoenix Seminary | October 29, 2020 | 0
President Brian Arnold announced Thursday (October 29) that Dr. Peter J. Gentry will join Phoenix Seminary as distinguished visiting professor of Old Testament. President Arnold expressed his excitement about Gentry joining the Phoenix Seminary faculty. "Dr. Peter Gentry is an incredible addition to the faculty at Phoenix Seminary," Arnold said. "Not only is Dr. Gentry…
Phoenix Seminary Welcomes the Evangelical Theological Society Offices to Campus
By Phoenix Seminary | August 4, 2020
In a statement earlier today, the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) announced their new location at Phoenix Seminary in Scottsdale, Arizona. "ETS offices have a new home at Phoenix Seminary," the ETS website announced. "We are grateful to Phoenix Seminary and President Brian Arnold for their hospitality in providing administrative offices for ETS. We are also…
Text and Canon Institute


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Star Fire Studios
Shoppers Are Raving About This Bestselling Cowl Neck Cardigan
Clare Suggests She Wasn't Allowed at 'Men Tell All' as Dale Slams Yosef
Gwen Stefani Opens Up About Sons' Dyslexia 'Issues': 'It's Genetic'
'Teen Mom' Star Catelynn Lowell Reveals Tattoo to Honor Miscarriages
These Exclusive Holiday Sweater UGG Boots Are 50% Off and Selling Fast
Bianca Andreescu Did Not Let Serena Williams To Make Her Dream True
The 19-year-old Canadian tennis player Bianca Andreescu, beat the 37-year-old Serena Williams 6-3,7-5 in the U.S. Open final. Andreescu is the first Canadian elite athlete to win a Grand Slam title, and the first singles title win ever for a woman making her first appearance at the U.S. Open.
A year ago, the Canadian did not manage to qualify for the tournament. This year, she arrived at Flushing Meadows with bigger ambitions. Although she ended 2018 with a ranking of 178, she improved her performance significantly to reach 15th.
In the New York tournament, she dropped only two sets showing no signs of a slowdown.
Bianca Andreescu commented that her success is partly due to the self-help books she is reading in her free time. She admitted being a huge fan of Tony Robbins. The rising tennis star acknowledged that much of the improvement came from developing strong mental discipline.
Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau was among the first to congratulate the young champion on Twitter. Andreescu thanked him warmly, saying that she would not be here today without Tennis Canada's support.
For Serena Williams, it was the fourth consecutive defeat in Grand Slam finals which prevented her from the much-anticipated record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title.
In 2018, she lost the U.S. Open final to Naomi Osaka. It was a controversial match during which Serena got into several confrontations with chair umpire Carlos Ramos. He issued three penalties for her during the game, accusing her of allegedly receiving coaching.
Serena had a nervous breakdown and smashed her tennis racket while calling Ramos "a thief" for taking a point from her. In the summer she penned a personal essay for Harper's Bazaar to apologize to Naomi Osaka for taking "her moment."
In 2018 and 2019, Serena Williams lost Wimbledon finals to Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep respectively.
On Saturday, the former No. 1 in the world made only 44% of her first serves and won 30% of her second-serve points. She also sent down eight double faults. As Williams admitted in the post-match interview, "the real Serena did not show up tonight."
Marion Bartoli, a close friend of Serena Williams and a 2013 Wimbledon champion, commented in an interview that Serena puts too much pressure on herself to win her 24th title.
Despite the defeat, Serena Williams enjoyed exceptional royal support at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Her close friend, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle flew to New York to watch the match.
Do you think that Serena Williams will be able to win her much anticipated 24th Grand Slam title despite turning 38 this month?
Read More: Bianca Andreescu Did Not Let Serena Williams To Make Her Dream True
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Applications open for inaugural ASEAN CSR Fellowship
The ASEAN CSR Network is a private sector, not-for-profit organization, which was formed with support from the ASEAN Foundation in line with the achievement of an ASEAN Community in 2015. We advance responsible business principles and behavior in the region by aligning practices in our current priority areas of business integrity, business and human rights, and food security and sustainable agriculture (i.e. environment). We do so by bringing key stakeholders i.e. private sector, government and civil society together through thought leadership, capacity building and research in conferences, forums and workshops. At times, we provide representation for the business community to the ASEAN body and other inter-governmental agencies, think tanks on relevant policy issues under our priority areas. Since our establishment in 2011, much has been achieved through our efforts in developing and implementing the "ASEAN CSR Vision 2020". For the first time, the principle of sustainable development has been incorporated across the three pillars of the ASEAN new blueprint for 2025.
Applications open for inaugural ASEAN CSR Fellowship!
www.asean-csr-network.org/fellowship
20-30 full/partial scholarships available, funded by the Government of Sweden
APPLY BY: 30 Sept 2016 (for commencement on 9 Jan 2017) Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, fellowship
Selangor's efforts to stamp out begging hampered by generous Malaysians
September 26, 2016 September 27, 2016 Raevathi Supramaniam
Source: NST Online
KLANG: Generous Malaysians fish out from their pockets an average of RM5 per person when approached by beggars, and this has driven many, especially foreigners, to not stop soliciting for cash on the streets.
This has resulted in a higher number of foreign beggars compared to locals, said the Selangor Welfare Department.
From Jan to Aug this year, 130 foreigners, including 56 children, were picked up from the streets in the state.
The numbers are about four times higher than local beggars, which come to 29 adults and 12 children, in the same period.
Topping the list of foreign beggars are Myanmars, who are mostly United Nations High Commissioner for Refugess (UNHCR) card holders, at 87, followed by Cambodians at 31, and Thais at 30.
Department deputy director Wan Zarina Wan Salleh said Myanmars, for example, come out to beg because UNHCR card holders are not allowed to work in Malaysia. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	beggars, begging, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Sarawak to consider Selangor as model for non-Islamic affairs agency
September 26, 2016 February 11, 2017 admin
Source: The Malay Mail Online
KUCHING, Sept 26 — Sarawak will study how Selangor handles non-Muslim affairs for guidance on the east Malaysian state's proposed Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Unit, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said today.
Uggah also said the draft of the organisational structure for the agency was being finalised.
"The state government wants to see the unit on a firm footing before it starts operating before year end," he said when asked to comment on the status of the unit that was announced three months ago.
Uggah explained that Selangor was chosen as a possible model as the state has a unit to deal with non-Islamic religious matters. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	religion, Sarawak, Selangor
Najib, Mahathir and the timing of Malaysia's polls — Ooi Kee Beng
Source: The Straits Times
BY OOI KEE BENG
Mr Najib (centre) and his fellow BN members celebrating their election victory on May 6, 2013. The next general election is not due until August 2018, but rumours of early elections persist. ST FILE PHOTO
According to its Constitution, Malaysia has to hold its next general election by Aug 24, 2018. That is still almost two years away. And yet, rumours of early elections persist, both at the state and federal levels.
This needs some explaining, given how Prime Minister Najib Razak waited until almost the last minute to go to the polls back in 2013.
The exercise to delineate constituency boundaries now being concluded heightens speculation that early polls are coming. Having lost its two-third majority since 2008, the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) has not been able to increase the number of parliamentary constituencies; it is now able only to realign the existing ones – or rename them. And that, it is doing.
That in itself is a substantive exercise of power, especially with the independence of the Election Commission that is in charge of the delineation being in serious doubt.
The major argument for those predicting that elections will be held by mid-2017 is that the opposition is in a confused state, if not in disarray. And so, before they can get their act together, the chances of Datuk Seri Najib holding his ground and maintaining at least the same voter support that he had in 2013 are good. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs, Opinions & Statements	1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Election Commission (EC), general election, Najib Razak, redelineation
Let's talk about the 'P' word… with our families
Picture shows (from left) Siti Kasim, Aneez Yuliani Yuslizar, Pepper Lim, Fatimah Abu Bakar, Sharifah Aleysha, Eshaan Menon, Director of Art for Grabs Pang Khee Teik at Talking About the P[olitics]-word with family, The School, Jaya One, September 25, 2016. ― Pix by Saw Siow Feng
PETALING JAYA, Sept 25 — Do Malaysian families generally avoid mentioning the P word? "P" for "politics", of course.
Have we often been told to keep our discussions and debates apolitical? Do parents discourage their children from voicing out their views and opinions in public?
There are many reasons why there is a disconnect between the issue of politics and family, least of which seems to be the disconcerting notion that politics does not affect the daily life of the average Malaysian, according to panellists at a forum organised by Arts for Grabs today. Read more →
Human Rights & Wrongs	freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of thought


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Laying the decks
The hull at Whangarei Heads
Ship partially built
The traditional gaff-rigged schooner, R. Tucker Thompson was started by R. Tucker Thompson in the late 1970s as a project to embody the best features of a traditional design, married to the materials of today. After Tucker's death, the R. Tucker Thompson was completed by Tucker's son Tod Thompson and Russell Harris. The ship was built in Mangawhai, New Zealand and launched in 1985.
Her design is based on the Halibut schooners of the North West American coast which were considered fast and sea kindly and easily manned. She has a lofty rig of varnished oregon spars. Kwila decks and bulwarks with flashes of brasswork to make her look as she should, a working ship of the 19th Century, purposeful and square-shouldered, but with a touch of style and speed – sufficient to out-run the law! The hull is 6mm steel with 3 water-tight bulkheads, a steel deck overlaid with kwila hardwood and 75mm hatch coamings. This gives her immense integrity and strength and she is absolutely dry below. She was built using computer generated calculations for stability and carries a loadline certificate to this effect. She carries 18 tonnes of fixed steel ballast. The interior is a mixture of oregon and kwila with 2 double cabins and 11 single berths. The galley is designed to cater for 15 crew with a gas stove and boiling water on demand. There is a hot shower and 2 hand basins.
The engine is a 180 HP John Deere diesel which drives the generators for ship's power. The bilge pumping system is connected to each water-tight compartment and is big enough to deliver 20 tonnes per hour out of the ship. She carries sufficient fuel for 2000 mile range and water for 6 weeks at sea with careful use. Her navigation equipment includes GPS, radar, Furono depth sounder and we have a Koden HF 4000 radio for long range communication. She carries a 4.2 metre Zodiac Class rescue inflatable with a 20 HP outboard.
The ship's current survey is class seven foreign vessel which means that she can carry passengers around the coast of New Zealand as well as off shore. She has been built and maintained to the highest standards and is professionally manned and equipped to go anywhere in the world at any time. The R. Tucker Thompson has a very high reputation in the traditional sailing world and is considered a perfect example of a working Tall Ship with the advantage of being new and safe. We have carried hundreds of people around the world and around the Pacific with no accidents, as well as over 120,000 people on day pleasure trips.


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America's Stopper
Posted on March 22, 2008 by Kartik Krishnaiyer
Kasey Keller isn't the most talented or athletic goalkeeper the United States has ever produced. Nor has he been the best at any particular moment in time. But consistency and commitment are important and few if any American bred keepers can claim Keller's consistency over time and his battle scars. Unlike Brad Friedel and Tim Howard, Keller hasn't been sought by top international clubs, and unlike those two, his commitment to his national team and his country always came before club.
For Fulham a club totally bereft of the sort of talent needed to avoid the relegation drop in the English Premier League (I have picked Fulham for the drop each of the past two seasons; last year I missed by a point, this year it appears I will be correct as of this writing) I can think of no better keeper on the planet than Kasey Keller. Why? Keller has the tag of a journeyman keeper but he has been on clubs before like the current Fulham one, which need his leadership and his shot stopping ability to stay afloat. Keller has fought relegation or mid table mediocrity with Milwall, Leicester City, Rayo Vallecano, Southampton, Borusia Gladbach and now with Fulham. Only when Keller was with Spurs was he on a club that was expected to compete for top honors (although ironically Leicester City and Rayo Vallecano both had better runs than Spurs when he was on those squads), but he's become sort of a go to guy for any survival threatened club in Europe who wants a reliable keeper whose leadership is unquestioned and his influence in locker room is positive.
Despite having played in Europe now for sixteen years, far longer than Brad Friedel or Tim Howard, Keller remains the most "American" top keeper in our player pool. Keller easily mixes well with young American starlets whether they hail from MLS or European clubs and will never refuse a call up from his country. It is precisely this commitment to the US National Team that has gotten Keller in trouble at times at his clubs. But wih crucial qualifiers coming down the pike for the United States, do our fans really feel more comfortable with an untested Brad Guzan or an error prone Tim Howard over Kasey Keller, whose ability to organize his back line and wall during set pieces is unquestioned? This is a question Bob Bradley must be asked and ultimately answer. My thinking is Keller has to be called in this summer for the qualifiers. Kasey Keller has been part of every successful United States qualifying effort in its history. With Keller once again getting regular football at Fulham, and showing once again his shot stopping prowess, from my vantage point the choice is a no-brainer.
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About Kartik Krishnaiyer
A lifelong lover of soccer, the beautiful game, he served from January 2010 until May 2013 as the Director of Communications and Public Relations for the North American Soccer League (NASL). Raised on the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the old NASL, Krishnaiyer previously hosted the American Soccer Show on the Champions Soccer Radio Network, the Major League Soccer Talk podcast and the World Soccer Talk Podcast. His soccer writing has been featured by several media outlets including The Guardian and The Telegraph. He is the author of the books 'Blue With Envy' about Manchester City FC, and 'Soccerwarz' about the MLS, USL and NASL infighting.
View all posts by Kartik Krishnaiyer →
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