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Unfriendship Identification
I should really thank Facebook.
Every time I think I might be out of blog post ideas, they go and change their format just in time to give me something new to talk about (see: friendship history feature).
And thanks, too, to Huffington Post, who alerted me to what, in my opinion, is the most scandalous Facebook change in recent history.
Apparently, on the new Facebook, the timeline feature allows you to see who has unfriended you.
Back in the day (as in, a week ago) if you couldn't stand someone's status updates, or you broke up with your boyfriend, or you and a friend had a falling out and you didn't want to see the vacation pics with the boyfriend who came between you two, you could unfriend her without much fanfare. She got no notification. Sure, she could click on your profile and notice she had less access than before, but that required a fair amount of work. There was no easy way to conclusively verify that she'd been dropped, so you could extricate her from your virtual life smoothly, even if the real-life break up was a bit more rocky.
Well that day is gone my friends.
With the new Facebook timeline, you can peruse your friendship history by year. If you click on, say, 2008, you'll see all the friends that were added during that 12-month span. If one of those people is no longer your Facebook friend, there will be an "Add Friend" button. It won't say who dumped who, but if you didn't dump her… well then, I think you have your answer.
This sleuthing method still takes a bit of click-work. You need to first find the year the "friendship" was established. Then you need to scroll through the who-kn0ws-how-many friends you made that year, in search of a button. And then you need to rack your brain to remember if you unfriended them. It's not nothing.
But it's easier than before, and easy enough that it might make me think twice before I did it.
Unfriending has always felt like an option (though I admit I've never done it) because it was so quiet. It didn't involve the confrontation of a friend breakup. It seemed like no biggie, likely completely unnoticed by the other party. If there ever came a day when unfriend notifications were sent? Well that would completely nullify the option. The guilt of unfriending would start to equal the guilt of breakups, and honestly, just the thought makes my head hurt.
What do you think of this Facebook "enhancement" (for more details about how to ID an unfriender, check out this Huffington Post recap)? Would it make you less likely to unfriend someone? More likely to not friend someone in the first place? Or does it make no difference? And how would you feel about a straight "unfriend" notification?
Would You Be Your Best Friend?
If you met yourself, would you want to be your BFF?
I think about this a lot. I heard somewhere that the usual answer is no–that we often don't like people who are too much like us. Which I can imagine might be true. If we want to be the expert on something, maybe it's annoying when someone else comes along with her know-it-all knowledge. Or maybe all the things we find frustrating about ourselves are uber-turn offs when it comes to someone else.
The other night I was at the library with my little brother reading a book from the kids series Judy Moody. In the book, Judy meets a girl who's a bizarro version of her. Amy Namey's name rhymes, so does Judy Moody's. Amy idolizes Nelly Bly, "woman reporter," while Judy's hero is Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor. They both have funny speech ticks.
You get the point.
At first Judy can't stand Amy. She finds her little quirks obnoxious, until her friends point out that Amy and Judy might as well be twins. Judy's horrified by the fact that there's another her walking around, when she thought she was special. Soon, though, she talks to Amy–who invites her into the My-Name-Is-A-Poem club–and Judy decides they should be BFFs.
Then Chapter 2 ends.
At this point, my little bro got bored so I don't know what happened next. But the set up got me thinking.
That same night I was watching the season premiere of Glee, and a similar theme popped up. Rachel and Kurt show up to a mixer for a New York dramatic arts school, and meet a room full of people who might as well be them. They're not thrilled.
I'd like to think that if I met the bizarro me I'd want to be friends with her. After all, I like myself, right? I think I'm a pretty decent friend. And when I meet women with whom I share similarities, I go ahead and claim them as my BFF like it's nothing. (Well, claim is a strong word. They're not baggage.) But I can totally see how it might not go that way. We like being individuals, right? We want friends who complement us, not who are us.
I'm not entirely sure why I think about this as often as I do. But I think it matters when it comes to looking for pals. Do you look for a BFF who seems to share your brain? Or for someone totally different than you? Or both?
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The Hard Facts: When Friendship Ruins Your Sex Life
"New research shows that a woman's friendship with her partner's friends ruins their sex life. … 'Partner betweenness,' the name the authors gave the phenomenon, means that when a man's wife or girlfriend has stronger relationships with his friends than he does, she comes between the man and his friends. This may occur if the wife is a 'domineering' personality who acts as the gatekeeper for the household or with couples where the man socializes primarily with her friends." ("Another Reason to Avoid His Friends"; New York Times 9/18/2011)
Just another reason why couples should make maintain independent friendships. Apparently, if your partner is only friends with your friends, or if, for some reason, you're in better contact with his friends than he is, you'll sense it in the bedroom.
My first question, when I read this study: In what world would a wife be better friends with her husband's friends than the husband himself? But I guess it's simply a matter of being in more contact–which can happen if you're the kind of "domineering" woman who makes all the plans, I guess, or if the men only see each other during couples outings.
Some facts to note before I deliver the big news: This study, which is published in the American Journal of Sociology, looked at sexual dysfunction in men 57-85 and the relationships between these men and partners. The authors say they chose this age group because that is when "social lives contract, male identity is challenged and erectile dysfunction often sets in." The contention, however, seems to be that the effect translates to all ages.
So when they say this 'partner betweeness' ruins your sex life, what kind of ruin are we talking about, exactly? "A man whose wife or girlfriend has greater contact with some of his good friends than he does is about 92 percent more likely to have erectile dysfunction than a man who is closer to all his friends than his partner is. The younger men (57 to 64) were two and a half times more likely to have erectile dysfunction. The good news? As men enter their 70s, the negative impact wanes and disappears."
I mean, I guess that last part is good news. Though I have a hunch the post-70 impact wanes because the sex wanes, not the sexual dysfunction. But what do I know? It's entirely likely that the post-70 retirement crowd is one horny bunch. Like I said the other day: Assisted living! Sign me up!
So why the problems in bed? Researchers say it's not jealousy, but issues of autonomy and privacy. Basically, he wants his friends all to himself and it turns him off when his woman is all up in his social life and emasculating him. Without even knowing it–I thought guys wanted us to be friends with their friends!–you could be challenging his male identity.
As men get older, they're less likely to hang with their male friends one on one, according to research. We've talked about this. So take those fading relationships, couple them with a woman's over-involvement with her husband's friends, and you'll feel it in the sack next time. Or, I guess, you won't feel it.
The lesson here: It's important to know and like your husband's friends, but remember they are his friends. Both of you should keep independent relationships. Your sex life will appreciate it.
Has anyone out there noticed this effect? Does it seem logical to you? I think it makes sense–men need to feel like their life isn't totally controlled by their wives. They need something for themselves. I know this is a tidbit I'll be keeping in mind for the long haul. It's sort of fascinating, no?
The Friendship Lesson Plan
It's funny that yesterday's post was all about age, because I ended up at lunch with three women who I believe were all in their 40s and 50s. Our discussion about MWF Seeking BFF and friendships in general was kind of amazing. As much as I love talking besties–and all the underlying issues that accompany social relationships–so many people steer away from the topic. They think it's cheesy, or too sentimental. Which sometimes it is, sure. But there are ways to discuss friendship without getting into "I love my best friend she is so nice and pretty and I will always love her" territory. Believe me, those kind of sentimental rants, mostly witnessed at weddings, make my ears bleed.
One woman, who I believe was in her 50s, maybe late 40s, said she didn't realize how much she needed her friends until she hit 40. In her 30s, she said, she wanted to prove she could do it all–the marriage, the family, the career. She didn't want to ask for help. It wasn't until she had a terrible health scare that she realized she wanted–no, needed–friends in her life to support her.
After hearing our lunch companion admit she didn't want to ask for help, another woman volunteered a story that really struck me. She said her mother once had a lot of trouble with friendships. When she was younger, this woman's mother didn't realize that friends are the very people you should be real with. "Friends are the ones you can and should be vulnerable with. They are the people with whom you can just be yourself and let it all go," my lunchmate said. "My mother spent the early years of her life trying to appear perfect, like she had it all together. She didn't realize for a while that perfect isn't interesting. No one wants to be friends with you because you're perfect, they want to be friends with you because you're you."
In fact, I mentioned, some people don't want to be friends with you when you're perfect.
"I remember my mother sharing that with me when I was young. Warning me to not waste time trying to be perfect with my friends," she says. "It really made an impression on me."
It's a good lesson to pass from mother to daughter. If there's anywhere to be real, it's with your pals. Try to be perfect at work if you want. Present yourself as having the world figured out when you go out for errands or to a dinner party. But when you're hanging with your friends, a facade won't get you anywhere. So let pals do what they are supposed to do–accept you for being the real thing.
I was touched by this idea of mother-daughter friendship lessons. Or friendship lessons at all. What are the tidbits we pick up from other people, without even realizing it? I've learned so many over the past two years, but the first I can remember is from when I was in high school. I'd complain to my mom about a friend who did something selfish or manipulative. And then I'd say, "but whatever, that's just how Friend is." As if, because Friend was a generally selfish or manipulative person, that made it ok. Or acceptable. And then one day my mother told me that that's not an excuse. You can't get away with hooking up with your best friend's crush, for example, because it's "just the way you are." Selfish or manipulative people shouldn't be let off the hook, or not held to the same standard as the rest of us, just because they have established themselves as historically selfish and manipulative. That doesn't make it ok.
This was a lightbulb moment. I suddenly realized that some people got away with being rude by always being rude. And I learned that those weren't people I necessarily wanted to be friends with.
I find myself repeating that lesson in situations all the time: "'That's just how she is' doesn't make it ok. You can't just say 'Friend is a bitch, so whatever' as if being a bitch is is no biggie."
So, yeah. That's my lesson, courtesy of Mom. Do you have any friendship lessons you explicitly remember being taught? I'd love to hear them below!
Getting Better With Age
Over the weekend, I gave a number of women my 30-second book pitch, part of which goes: "It's about how hard it is to make friends as an adult."
Each person smiled knowingly. One girl a bit younger than me told me she totally got it. "I've been there. When I was 23 it was so easy to make friends, because everyone wants to be friends at 23. Now it's so much harder." She's probably 27, so things changed pretty quickly.
I've heard similar stories from older women. Empty nesters with newfound free time tell me they long for new companionship, or retired women say they're looking for pals to help take advantage of their new schedule.
And I've been wondering: Does age make a difference?
When I started my quest, I was sure my situation made it especially difficult to make friends. New city, work from home, no kids. At the time, it didn't occur to me that women in all different life situations would be in the same boat. Most women have it easy, I thought. I'm just unlucky.
I was sure it would get easier when…
1) I had kids. Pregnancy classes! Mommy & Me! Preschool! All these organized activities would certainly mean new-mom BFFs, pronto.
2) I started working in an office. Coworkers = BFFs. Right??
3) I retired. Yes it's a long way off but I figured the older I got, the easier it would be to meet new people. Something about being more confident in my old(er) age. And more friendly. It just seemed like older women were better at finding confidantes.
Don't even get me started on when I'm 80 and in assisted living. I saw In Her Shoes. Retirement homes are like college dorms! Sign me up.
Almost two years after the conception of this search, though, I'm thinking I was wrong. Each life situation presents its own friend-making difficulties. Kids make it hard to go out and socialize. Office work can introduce you to people, but not necessarily the people with whom you'd choose to spend your free time. And retirement/empty nest can bring time for new friends, but not necessarily help you find the right people.
So now I'm wondering, does it get easier? Ever?? Is there a post-college age when making friends is simple and effortless? Do the passing decades–and the accompanying wisdom that age provides–help you find your "person," as Meredith and Christina would say? What does age have to do with it?
Bottom line: Is there one age–your 50's? your 30s? 80s?–that is especially easy for friend making? Or is it tough across the board once the college days are behind you?
The Death of the Bromance
Thanks, Jezebel, but your latest post about the death of male friendships has me totally depressed.
Since I don't like to wallow by my lonesome, here's a quote. Maybe you all can get equally alarmed and bummed on a sunny Friday morning: "According to [author] Niobe Way, male friendships are in a state of crisis. … Way says that while boys are often viewed as unemotional loners, they actually need close friendships as badly as girls do. After conducting interviews with boys from the U.S. and China for two decades, she found that in early adolescence, they would often express that they valued having a best friend they could talk about their feelings with, not just a guy they occasionally exchange grunts with while playing Wii. Yet, when the boys got older they reported fewer intense friendships and seemed worried about being seen as girly or gay for having feelings for another guy."
It's nice to hear that, at least when boys are young, they are happy to admit–brag, even–that they have a best friend they can tell everything to. The unfortunate part comes later, when they are too old and macho to pursue friendships, and so, in some cases, they simply accept loneliness.
The simple fact that guys will let important friendships fade for fear of appearing gay, if true, is really quite sad. Perhaps not shocking, but sad. And I'm feeling extra bummed about it today, because for the past few days, I've gotten bonked over the head with the influence a true friendship can be in a guy's life. You see, today I'm off to Matt's best friend's wedding. The value Matt puts on this relationship is incomparable to any thing else in his life (yes, including his wife. Not more important but different, and probably equally important). His BFFship, though he'd never call it that, means the world to him, and the fact that some guys choose to let that kind of relationship fade for reasons of appearance is just the worst.
The last couple of nights, I've come home after Matt's usual 10 pm bedtime, shocked to see him still awake. Let me be clear, there's pretty much nothing, aside from a Red Sox World Series run, that can keep him up. Except, apparently, his best friend. He's been preparing his speech, trying to get it just right, to make sure his pal is happy and entertained on the big day. There are so few things a groom gets, really, but Matt at least wants to give him a laugh.
Watching–and listening to–the preparations, I keep thinking how glad I am that Matt has such close friendships. Even if they are long-distance. And even if the last time I tried to force him to make man-date instead of go to the casino he told me to "stop friendshiping me." (Apparently I've become a pusher.) The friends he has mean everything to him.
If I were to have a son one day, I'd hope he'd feel the same. Not, as Way, whose new book is called Deep Secrets: Boys' Friendships and the Crisis of Connection, purports, that he has to choose between having a girlfriend and a best friend or that people would think he's gay, as if that's the worst thing in the world. With amazing timing, Jezebel author Margaret Hartmann writes, "Way makes boys' teenage years sound pretty lonely, and without close friendships, those kids grow up to be be emotionally stunted men who will never know the joy of showing up late to a dude's wedding and declaring that you love him."
Do you think guys are afraid to admit how important their friends are? Has it always been like this? Is there a fix?
Boy Friends
I watched that show The New Girl last night. Usually I have a rule about brand new TV shows. Which is: I don't watch them. There are so many, and you never know which are going to last anyway. So I wait until other people have watched, judged, and told me I'm missing out. Then I jump on the bandwagon.
But last night it was late and I needed a 30 minute comedy. And I gotta tell you, I liked it. First of all, Zooey Deschanel's character could totally be my BFF. She's all dorky and silly and sings a lot and says nerdy things. She seemed like a made-for-television (translation: more cute, less dorky) version of me.
This post is not about Zooey, though. It's about those three roomates. Male roomates. Who are quickly turning out to be her new BFFs.
I loved another show, once, that was also about a girl and her male best friends. My Boys. May it rest in peace.
In both shows, the guy-girl friendship looks both easy and totally desirable. According to TV, which is of course where I learn most of life's most valuable lessons, guy friends will:
– Call you out when you are being crazy
– Always help you land the guy
– Be sweet when they need to be, but not overly so
– Play poker with you
– Eschew drama. No fights and cat clawing. This is not Real Housewives.
Both shows make a strong case for the female-male friendship. Like I said, they're televised versions of reality, which means those relationships are glossier, funnier and all around more perfect. But they do remind me of my college days, when I would spend hours at Matt's apartment, long after he'd gone to sleep, watching Elimidate with his roommates. That was the life.
These days, now that I think about it, I don't really have many guy friends. In Chicago, I know plenty of men, but they are largely husbands or boyfriends of my friends, or buddies of Matt's. I'm not sure how I would land that male PBFF even if I wanted to. Which, now that I think about it, kind of makes me sad.
I've written a lot about whether men and women can be friends. But today I'm deciding that sure, let's say they can. Do those relationships really come with all the comfort of these TV BFFships? And, seriously, how do a man and woman even develop that sort of close relationship without there being any weirdness? Between themselves, their significant others, potential dates, and on and on? Thoughts?
The Hard Facts: Peer Pressure Is Still In Effect
"A new USC study explains why people take stupid chances when all of their friends are watching that they would never take by themselves. According to the study, the human brain places more value on winning in a social setting than it does on winning when you're alone." ("Peer pressure? It's Hardwired Into Our Brains, Study Finds"; ScienceDaily.com 9/11/2011)
Bottom line: If you thought peer pressure faded with adolescence, think again.
How does this translate to Friendship Challenge week? Easy. As the younger me might have said (cue whiney voice): Everybody's doing it!
Of course we all like to think that we're too mature to let our pals pressure us into doing something stupid, but this research shows that friends don't necessarily need to purposefully egg you on. Their mere presence might be enough to give you that extra nudge.
And, according to researchers, activities feel less risky when we are surrounded by friends. "In private environments, losing can more easily be life-threatening. With no social support network in place, a bad gamble can spell doom."
Now, you may have noticed in the quote up top that this study talks largely about "stupid chances." Let me be clear about one thing: Asking out a new friend is not a stupid chance. It's a great chance! The worst that can happen, if we want to go there, is that she says no. And maybe looks at you funny. Well, sure, that could be embarrassing for, like, a minute. But that passes. Quickly.
The best that can happen though is that she says yes, you totally hit it off, and you come back to this blog a year from now and you are someone who found your new BFF. That could happen.
I'd like to say I'm above peer pressure to encourage my readers to do something. But you can't argue with science, folks.
So won't you ask out that awesome potential BFF in your book club? At work? In the kid pick-up line after school?
Everybody's doing it.
Have you found yourself doing things because you're surrounded by friends that you wouldn't do otherwise? Do you think peer pressure still exists? And did mine work??
Friendship Challenge: Unexpected Success
Since this is Friendship Challenge week, and I'm really hoping people will take take on this mission and share their "ask her out" experiences, I thought I'd try to inspire you with a tale of one of my most embarrassing–but most rewarding–pick ups.
I was at dinner at a nearby restaurant with Matt (happy 30th birthday Matt!!), and two friends from out of town. We had the greatest waitress. She was spunky. She made us laugh, but without trying too hard. She seemed like absolute BFF material.
"She's cute. She should be my BFF," I said.
"Ask her out," Matt said. "Leave a note."
I knew it was a great suggestion–I'd been trying to test drive new ways of meeting people–but just the thought made me nervous. What if she thought I was crazy? Or trying to really pick her up? What if she thought I was a desperate pathetic social leper and I got too humiliated to ever return to that restaurant? It was our favorite!
After a meal full of pep talks, I decided to go for it. But, just in case it was a total disaster, I made my friend write the note for me. She had better handwriting anyway, and if our waitress saw the whole thing go down and decided the writer of the note was a nutcase, at least I could still eat dinner there. Jenny, my dinner companion, was from out of town so she didn't stand to lose those delicious scallops.
And so Jenny wrote a note, dictated by me:
"Hi! I'm new(ish) in town and I live around the corner with my husband. You seem cool and like we could be friends. Would you like to get lunch sometime? Let me know!"
For a four sentence email, let me tell you it took a lot of thought. Jenny wrote the note on the back of our receipt, and I was pretty confident I'd never hear from the waitress. She might not even turn the receipt over!
Except she did. And she wrote me back that night. And we went to lunch. And then to drinks. And then she gave me free food the next couples times I stopped into the restaurant.
The point of this story, of course, is that you never know. I thought leaving a note on a restaurant bill was a no-chance method. But I was wrong.
If you're holding back, you could be surprised too.
What's the craziest route you ever took to meet a potential friend? Anything totally unexpected? And did this story make you say, "Yes! Today I will totally ask that PBFF out to lunch"? Anybody? Bueller?
A Friendship Challenge
I love a challenge. Or maybe I love a project.
Clear cut parameters–rules! regulations! tangible results!–propel me to tackle missions I would otherwise laugh off.
Take last week. I went off gluten. A friend told me that tennis superstar Novak Djokovic went from number 15 to number 1 in the world in only one year, and credits going gluten-free with his unstoppable rise. My friend said, "If you were off gluten, you'd have written five books already!"
Challenge accepted.
When it comes to food, I happen to enjoy changing it up. I'm a carb-lover all the way, and if I could eat anything in the world and health were no issue, I'd have chicken fingers and fries and mashed potatoes for every meal. Throw in some pad thai for good measure. But I'll try any eating plan once. I like rules (all or nothing is always easier for me than moderation) and I like seeing how different diets (hate that word, but we should call a spade a spade) make me feel. Oh, and gluten free? After a week of it and a weekend back on gluten, I can tell you it made me feel good. Less bloated, more energetic. I'm going back for a little. Screw the glute.
And, of course, a project is what finally forced me to get off my tuchus and start making friends. When I used to sit around lamenting my lack of local pals, I couldn't quite get myself to do anything about it. I'd think about it, or complain to Mom or my long-distance BFFs, but actually asking anyone out was too daunting. Until I made a challenge: 52 first friend-dates in a year. Suddenly it felt like I had no choice. I'd set for the challenge, so I had to deliver.
I talked to my BFF Callie over the weekend who said that reading an advance copy of MWF Seeking BFF inspired her to write an email to a "friendish person" to ask her to dinner. And, when she was doing some work for a local board she sits on, she suggested that a group of them go out for drinks. She undertook the friending mission.
So for this week, lovely readers, I'm extending a challenge to you: Ask one, just one, potential BFF on a friend date. Shoot the new-in-town girl an email to see if she wants coffee. Or suggest to another local mom that your kids get together so you can hang out, too. Or invite the girl in the next cube over for a drink after work. Or maybe a friend of a friend could come over to watch one of the 48,000 season premieres this week.
It's not a crazy mission. I'm not suggesting you take on 52 dates. Or even 2 dates. Just one. Because for most of us, the asking is the hardest part. It's awkward, it makes us feel desperate. But it's easier than you think! I promise. Just go for it. If it makes you feel any better, I'm going to do it too. I've taken a new-date break, and it's time to get back on the wagon.
So go forth and friend! And then share with us in the comments: success stories, questions, fears. As Sharpay would say, we're all in this together.
So…. Challenge extended. Do you accept?


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text:
info@lawguys.com
Property Damages
Motor Vehicle Collisions
Michael W. Clinton
Robert McKain
Robert Michael McKain
Trial Attorney
T(215) 947-8800F(215) 947-8808Emckainrm@lawguys.com
Robert Michael McKain is a senior partner in Clinton & McKain, P.C., founded in January 1998. He concentrates on helping people injured in automobile collisions, medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, and other complex personal injury litigation. He received his undergraduate degree from LaSalle College in 1980 and his law degree from Temple University School of Law in 1983.
Bob has an AV® Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating based on legal ability and ethical standards. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which includes many of the top trial lawyers in the country, and he is a Fellow of the Academy of Advocacy of Temple University School of Law. Bob has had the distinction of being named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer ®* as published in Philadelphia Magazine. Super Lawyers are among the top five percent (5%) of attorneys in the state as chosen by their peers.*****
Bob is a member of both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Third Circuit Court Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Bob is also a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ), Pennsylvania Bar Association, Lehigh County Bar Association, and the Montgomery County Bar Association.
Bob grew up in the Olney section of Philadelphia. His father was a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the Teamsters Union. Bob's mother worked for Albert Einstein Hospital, Chilton Publishing Company, and the American Broadcasting Company ("ABC"). While growing up, Bob's parents felt it was important that he, his sister, and brother attend schools that reflected their values. All three children attended Cedar Grove Christian Academy, Cedar Grove High School, and LaSalle College. Today, Bob's brother, Mark, is a civil engineer and attorney for the Bechtel Corporation, and his sister, Kim, is an administrator for a South Jersey medical practice.
Bob married his high school sweetheart, Judy, in 1979, and they have adopted five (5) children, four boys, and one girl, over the years. Bob and Judy celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August 2019. They have lived for the past 25 years in Washington Crossing, Bucks County, PA. Judy and most of their extended family call Bob by his middle name, Mike, in that Bob's father didn't want him to be called "Little Bob" or "Junior." However, whenever she wants to get his immediate attention, you may hear Judy address him as "Robert Michael."
In addition to being a father of 5 children and 4 grandchildren, Bob has also been committed through the years to giving back to his community. He has served as general counsel to Cedar Grove Academy ("CGA"), member of the CGA Board of Directors, and head of the CGA PTA.
Bob also coached the Olney Kixx boys soccer teams for over 15 years. In so doing, Bob was able to forge lasting relationships with many of the hundreds of players that he encountered, and he is now proud to know as fine young men in our community.
Bob and his partner, Mike Clinton, were classmates in law school, and they strive to remember that the practice of law is a profession and not just a business. In so doing, they will often be heard to say, "it costs you nothing to be nice!" This is particularly important in dealing with injured clients who are struggling to maintain their own lives while dealing with, among other things, financial hardships, anguish over the loss of a loved one, and loneliness. They also strive to practice the same philosophy with their adversaries, who often remember it and recommend Clinton & McKain to someone in need of an attorney.
Bob McKain and Mike Clinton have each been practicing law now for over 37 years. With his youngest child, Madison, being 18 years old and the only girl amongst his children, Bob expects to be practicing law for quite some time.
***** Selection criteria for Pennsylvania Super Lawyers can be found here: https://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html
Clinton & McKain
2661 Huntington Pike
Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania 19006
Practical Injuries
Civil Ligitation
The trial attorneys at Clinton & McKain help people harmed as a result of the fault of someone else. We seek to hold the wrongdoers responsible for the harms they cause. With over 74 years of combined experience, we have helped thousands of clients who were injured in all areas of personal injury. Proudly serving clients in all areas of personal injury throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
© Copyright 2020 Clinton And McKain.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Exploring the Artificial Divide with Robert Kingett: A Spoonie Authors Podcast
Posted on September 18, 2020 by Dianna Gunn Leave a comment
Don't like the podcast format? Scroll down to see this interview as a YouTube video (closed captions available)!
This week's interview is with author, journalist, and anthology editor Robert Kingett.
Robert Kingett is a totally blind author that writes essays and fiction where disabled characters live normal lives. When he's not writing, he loves to listen to fiction podcasts. Visit him online at www.blindjournalist.wordpress.com
Thanks for listening to this week's episode of the Spoonie Authors Podcast! The Spoonie Authors Podcast is part of the Spoonie Authors Network, a community initiative devoted to sharing the stories of disabled authors and educating abled people about what life is like for disabled creatives. Transcripts of this podcast are also available on the Spoonie Authors Network. To learn more or become a contributor, visit spoonieauthorsnetwork.blog. And of course, if you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to leave us a 5 star review on your favourite podcast streaming platform.
Dianna Gunn: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome to the Spoonie Authors podcast, a podcast where we explore the stories of a different disabled author every other Friday. I'm your host, Dianna Gunn. And today we are joined by Robert Kingett. Robert Kingett is a totally blind author who writes essays and fiction where disabled characters live normal lives. When he's not writing, he loves to listen to fiction podcasts. Visit him at blind journalist dot WordPress dot com. Hello, Robert.
Robert Kingett: [00:00:30] Hello.
Dianna Gunn: [00:00:32] I'm so excited to have you with us and to talk about your upcoming project, Artificial Divide. So can you tell us a little bit about this anthology?
Robert Kingett: [00:00:43] Yes. Yeah. So it's in our own voices anthology, comprised entirely of a blind and visually impaired authors and short stories will consist of a disabled protagonist dealing with a very complex, emotional complex with our Artificial Intelligence and Renaissance Press is the publisher of the Anthology.
Dianna Gunn: [00:01:47] Awesome Renaissance Press is really great to work with by all accounts. We've had several of their authors on here and of course, one of their founders. And it's just lovely to see the work that they're doing. And I'm really excited for this project in particular. May I ask what inspired you to work on this?
Robert Kingett: [00:02:08] Sure. So I saw a trend of just disable people not being taken very seriously in literature, so for my first anthology, because I have many, many more planned, so for my first anthology, I'm making a second anthology too actually. For my first anthology, I thought, let's try to go narrow and let me see how much hair that I lose making the anthology. So the basis for the topic came about after watching a movie about a about artificial intelligence called Her and so I thought, OK, well, this is interesting. Let me try to see how a disabled population will handle up would handle technology as it grows. You know, what kind of relationships would disabled people have with artificial intelligence? So that concept intrigues me very, very, very deeply because I love character driven narratives. So I thought, OK, let's try to put the concept to a test and see what so many disabled writers create. So, yeah.
Dianna Gunn: [00:04:44] Oh, awesome. And what were some of the challenges of pulling this project together? This sounds like a lot. I know you mentioned losing some hair.
[00:04:54] So like. So the project was was. Was making sure how to authentically judge. Judge, the authenticity of, you know, for their own voices because there was some slight worry in the beginning that was basically like, how do we judge, how do we judge these stories? And know that the writer is not just trying to take advantage of a good thing. So that was a really unique challenge to overcome. But I'm very happy to say that that we managed it without compromising privacy or or things of that nature. So. And for me personally, I like to write a lot so so naturally, I tend to gravitate towards the of writing dialogue because I really like, however, creating this anthology has really helped me and has helped me to appreciate different kinds of writing styles and and what goes on in a characters, in a writer's head, so that was super rewarding also.
Dianna Gunn: [00:07:48] That sounds awesome. And what was the most exciting part of working on this project, was it getting to see all of those different styles, getting to work with disabled authors?
Robert Kingett: [00:08:00] Without a shadow of a doubt it was lifting up a blind and visually impaired offered authors.Because I see so many marginalized writers on Twitter who have great ideas, and who have amazing ideas and who are just not taken seriously at all. So the sheer thrill of allowing a fellow disabled writer to have the. spotlight and to give them a chance and say, well, look at the amazing work they put out, you could have had that. That's extremely rewarding to me.
Dianna Gunn: [00:09:32] Awesome, that actually is really nice into the next question, which is why are anthologies like these such important opportunities specifically for disabled authors.
[00:09:49] Because it gives each and everybody is stage to show off their talents, and I feel that anthologies tend to last longer than magazine issues, magazine issues or Blogs and everything, because you basically anthology is extremely portable and timeless in way that magazine issues are not. You know, so having anthologies is a really great way to to look for new writers and to try out different kinds of stories and creators that you may have never tried. But for me, without having to go through like tons of magazine issues or tons of ads and everything like that.
Dianna Gunn: [00:11:47] Makes sense, yeah. Do you think that the anthology also sort of creates its own community? Do you feel connected to those writers?
Robert Kingett: [00:12:00] Yes, yes. Yes, Definitely. Absolutely. Working with all of the writers has really helped a lot of us to to work together. We're not just writers trying to get a literary agent. We're working as a team and they get to know me and know my tastes and how I give a certain kind of feedback and at the same time I get to know them and they get to know each other and each and every writer in the anthology will now have a book they can actually go to and they can say, oh, let me look at my peer rather than coming to Twitter and things like that, so.
Dianna Gunn: [00:13:55] Yeah, sounds awesome and sounds like a wonderful experience, and you mentioned that you do have another anthology in the works. Can you talk about that yet, or is that on the down low?
Robert Kingett: [00:14:11] That's like so the second anthology is going to be more broad. So in the second athonology I'm working on is an anthology involving disabled superheroes.
Dianna Gunn: [00:14:43] So that sounds awesome. I can't wait to find out more about that. Yeah.
Robert Kingett: [00:14:51] Yes. I know lots of people are going to love it because it plays on the, you know, disabled people are insprition trope, so so, yeah, I think lots of people are going to love it.
Dianna Gunn: [00:15:23] You can't see me right now, but I am grinning at the idea. So, yeah, I think that one is going to be a real hit, certainly with plenty of the authors that have appeared on this podcast. So we've talked about why these anthologies are important as rating opportunities, but why are they important in terms of representation? And how do you think these anthologies can push toward better representation in publishing?
Robert Kingett: [00:16:02] Because it's actually kind of a middle finger to mainstream publishing with that kind of says, oh, nobody really wants to read your stories yet, well, here's proof that that's not exactly true. So so like it gives publishers less and less of an excuse to say no, you know.
Dianna Gunn: [00:16:46] Absolutely,
Robert Kingett: [00:16:48] Yeah, definitely, definitely.
Dianna Gunn: [00:16:52] It's a business decision. Well, if we've proven we can sell these stories on our own, then how is this a sound business decision?
Robert Kingett: [00:16:59] Yeah, exactly. I mean, like, it's still an uphill battle to get mainstream publishing to take you seriously as a copywriter, but these anthologies can really help shape the the the diversity narrative in the sense of moving it forward, moving the conversation forward. Plus, it actually dictates how the conversation is going to go. Because when you pick up an anthology, you're basically at the whims of the people who created it, and that includes disabled people. So, yeah.
Dianna Gunn: [00:18:21] Yeah. Alright, so that is the end of our questions, where can people go to find out more about you and about artificial divide? When can we look forward to that?
Robert Kingett: [00:18:39] Ok, so Artificial Divide will be coming out in 2021. And you can go to my website to get the latest and greatest news, which is blindjournalist.wordpress.com
Dianna Gunn: [00:19:20] Awesome. Well, I look forward to that very much. I can't wait to read it and it's been lovely chatting with you. Have a safe and happy end to 2020 or, you know, as close to that as you can manage.
Robert Kingett: [00:19:40] You, too.
Dianna Gunn: [00:19:42] Alright. Bye. Thanks for listening to this week's episode of the Spoonie Author's podcast. The Spoonie Authors' podcast is part of the Spoonie Authors Network, a community initiative devoted to sharing the stories of disabled authors and educating abled people about what life is like for disabled creatives. Transcripts of this podcast are also available on the Spoonie Authors Network. To learn more or become a contributor, visit Spoonie Authors Network Dot blog. And of course, if you enjoyed this podcast, make sure to leave a five star review on your favorite podcast streaming platform.
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The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE
Natalie Koch
This article analyzes the role of mosques dedicated to the "father of the nation" under two personalistic authoritarian systems: Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan and Sheikh Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (uae). Critiquing "cult of personality" narratives as Orientalist and analytically weak, I emphasize the constructed nature of charisma, asking how such personalistic regimes produce the image of a coherent figurehead-and to what end. As a discursive device, the personalistic leader-as-icon appears in a range of authoritarian regimes, and it is materially inscribed in the symbolic landscapes to create the impression of unity among elites and the masses. To illustrate how this works, I draw on research in Turkmenistan and the uae from 2012 through 2014, including landscape analysis of two mosques memorializing the countries' founding fathers: the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in the outskirts of Ashgabat, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
Central Asian Affairs
https://doi.org/10.1163/22142290-00304002
Personalism
Symbolic landscapes
10.1163/22142290-00304002
Dive into the research topics of 'The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Turkmenistan Social Sciences 100%
mosque Social Sciences 97%
United Arab Emirates Social Sciences 84%
ritual Social Sciences 82%
father Social Sciences 58%
personality Social Sciences 54%
outskirts Social Sciences 49%
cult of personality Social Sciences 34%
Koch, N. (2016). The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE. Central Asian Affairs, 3(4), 330-359. https://doi.org/10.1163/22142290-00304002
The "personality cult" problematic : Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE. / Koch, Natalie.
In: Central Asian Affairs, Vol. 3, No. 4, 2016, p. 330-359.
Koch, N 2016, 'The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE', Central Asian Affairs, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 330-359. https://doi.org/10.1163/22142290-00304002
Koch N. The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE. Central Asian Affairs. 2016;3(4):330-359. https://doi.org/10.1163/22142290-00304002
Koch, Natalie. / The "personality cult" problematic : Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE. In: Central Asian Affairs. 2016 ; Vol. 3, No. 4. pp. 330-359.
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title = "The "personality cult" problematic: Personalism and mosques memorializing the "father of the nation" in Turkmenistan and the UAE",
abstract = "This article analyzes the role of mosques dedicated to the "father of the nation" under two personalistic authoritarian systems: Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan and Sheikh Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (uae). Critiquing "cult of personality" narratives as Orientalist and analytically weak, I emphasize the constructed nature of charisma, asking how such personalistic regimes produce the image of a coherent figurehead-and to what end. As a discursive device, the personalistic leader-as-icon appears in a range of authoritarian regimes, and it is materially inscribed in the symbolic landscapes to create the impression of unity among elites and the masses. To illustrate how this works, I draw on research in Turkmenistan and the uae from 2012 through 2014, including landscape analysis of two mosques memorializing the countries' founding fathers: the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in the outskirts of Ashgabat, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.",
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N1 - Publisher Copyright: © KONINKLIJKE BRILL NV, LEIDEN, 2016
N2 - This article analyzes the role of mosques dedicated to the "father of the nation" under two personalistic authoritarian systems: Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan and Sheikh Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (uae). Critiquing "cult of personality" narratives as Orientalist and analytically weak, I emphasize the constructed nature of charisma, asking how such personalistic regimes produce the image of a coherent figurehead-and to what end. As a discursive device, the personalistic leader-as-icon appears in a range of authoritarian regimes, and it is materially inscribed in the symbolic landscapes to create the impression of unity among elites and the masses. To illustrate how this works, I draw on research in Turkmenistan and the uae from 2012 through 2014, including landscape analysis of two mosques memorializing the countries' founding fathers: the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in the outskirts of Ashgabat, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
AB - This article analyzes the role of mosques dedicated to the "father of the nation" under two personalistic authoritarian systems: Saparmurat Niyazov in Turkmenistan and Sheikh Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (uae). Critiquing "cult of personality" narratives as Orientalist and analytically weak, I emphasize the constructed nature of charisma, asking how such personalistic regimes produce the image of a coherent figurehead-and to what end. As a discursive device, the personalistic leader-as-icon appears in a range of authoritarian regimes, and it is materially inscribed in the symbolic landscapes to create the impression of unity among elites and the masses. To illustrate how this works, I draw on research in Turkmenistan and the uae from 2012 through 2014, including landscape analysis of two mosques memorializing the countries' founding fathers: the Turkmenbashi Ruhy Mosque in the outskirts of Ashgabat, and the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
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Ongoing research lines are studying systems that employ microwaves for remote sensing and dielectrometry, for monitoring of the environment and of the cultural heritage. Physical methods are also developed for the control of the electromagnetic pollution, for electromagnetic compatibility and for the evaluation of the human exposure to EM fields.
The execution of measurement experimental campaigns with airborne or ground-based microwaves radiometers and scatterometers on various dirface types (agricultural and forest vegetation, snow, ocean).
An interesting field of research with regard to the behavior of the electromagnetic propagation involves the propagation of the localized X-waves. This topic is analyzed not only from the point of view of basic research, but also in relation to the use of the said waves for a new generation of GPR equipment.
As for the cultural heritage, innovative techniques have been developed in order to evaluate the state of conservation of wall paintings and their monitoring. One example, which is the subject of a US patent, is a diagnostic system based on dielectric spectroscopy coupled by evanescent field. The device measures the presence of humidity and salts in the plaster layer of wall paintings. The activities in this sector are carried out in close cooperation with very prestigious conservation institutions. The objective of technology transfer to industry has been completed with ELAB Scientific, a spin-off company of IFAC.
occupation-related exposure to e.m. fields.
Microwave radiometer for experimental observation of natural surfaces (crops, vegetation, forests, snow). Modelling and visualization of current density induced in the head of a goldsmith using a RF oven.


text:
La Malagueta är en amfiteater i Spanien.   Den ligger i provinsen Provincia de Málaga och regionen Andalusien, i den södra delen av landet,  km söder om huvudstaden Madrid. La Malagueta ligger  meter över havet.

Terrängen runt La Malagueta är kuperad norrut, men åt sydväst är den platt. Havet är nära La Malagueta åt sydost. Den högsta punkten i närheten är  meter över havet,  km norr om La Malagueta.  Närmaste större samhälle är Málaga,  km väster om La Malagueta.

Kommentarer

Källor

Byggnadsverk i Andalusien

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
When is a trade war not a trade war?
Michael Grady
Head of Investment Strategy and Chief Economist
James McAlevey
Head of Rates and Portfolio Manager, AIMS Fixed Income and Target Return Funds
James Vokins
Head of UK Investment Grade Credit
The latest feud between the US and China has sparked fears of an all out trade war, with much at stake for both countries and the wider world.
Drop of Light / Shutterstock.com
Concern the US is heading for a trade war with China has escalated in recent weeks, prompting stock markets around the world to take fright and a flurry of alarming headlines. With huge implications for financial markets, investors are watching closely to see whether both sides continue to up the ante or a negotiated solution can be reached.
Washington and Beijing have exchanged a series of tit-for-tat measures against one another after Donald Trump, on March 8, signed orders to impose a 25 per cent tariff on imports of steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminium.1 A fortnight later, Trump's administration announced punitive tariffs on about $60 billion of Chinese goods in retaliation for what it says has been the massive theft of intellectual property from US companies.2
The following day Beijing, which says it is "not afraid" of a trade war,3 retaliated. It drew up a list of 128 products that will face duties of up to 25 per cent if the two sides are unable to resolve their differences.4On April 4 it said imports worth roughly $50 billion would be targeted.5
Trump's riposte didn't take long to arrive, with the US President a day later instructing the US trade representative's office "to consider whether $100 billion of additional tariffs would be appropriate …and if so, to identify the products" upon which to impose them.6
Good trade war, bad trade war
According to Aviva Investors' senior economist and strategist Michael Grady, these developments were in many senses quite predictable. Given that Trump campaigned on a protectionist platform, the real surprise is that it look so long for events to unfold.
Xinxin Li, a partner at New York-based economic and political advisory firm Observatory Group, identifies two plausible scenarios for how things play out from here. In both cases, the outcome depends on the path Trump chooses to follow.
Under the first, which he labels a 'good trade war', Trump will use the threat of tariffs to push China to liberalise its economy by, for example, reducing the role of state-owned enterprises, pushing financial reform, and giving more access to foreign goods and companies. He argues this would likely give a strong helping hand to Chinese reformers such as Liu He, economic adviser to President Xi Jinping.
But if Trump wants to cut the trade deficit with China quickly, a 'bad trade war' is likely to ensue since from China's perspective there is not much more to buy from the US, as US goods don't enjoy a comparative advantage except in limited areas.
"A deficit reduction of $100 billion per year is almost a mission impossible. The Trump administration will have to go back to high tariffs on Chinese goods, if it sticks to this target. It will likely trigger a tit-for-tat retaliation from China," Li says.
A deal is likely
According to Grady, gauging where the process is heading, and what the end result will be, is not straightforward with such an unpredictable US president.
On the one hand, Trump suggested on April 4 he was spoiling for a fight when he tweeted in reference to the trade deficit with China: "When you're already $500bn DOWN, you can't lose." On the other, six days later he tweeted: "Very thankful for President Xi of China's kind words on tariffs and automobile barriers...also, his enlightenment on intellectual property and technology transfers. We will make great progress together!"7
Ultimately, Grady believes while Trump's public rhetoric may remain robust, a deal is likely to be struck, with both the US and Chinese administrations having suggested they are prepared to negotiate.
He says there are huge advantages to the US of having an open trading system despite Trump's protestations to the contrary. US consumers have "massively benefitted" from the decline in traded goods prices and these benefits are being threatened because of Trump's fixation on restoring manufacturing production in the US.
"Undoubtedly there have been some losers as a result of bringing China into the global trading system, but the focus should be on compensating those losers rather than trying to reverse the broader benefits of free trade," he argues.
Importantly, Grady believes that although Trump will want to be seen to have extracted concessions from China, he will not want to hurt his popularity at home by triggering punitive tariffs, for example on US agricultural exports. China has threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on US exports of soya beans. Worth $14 billion, the crop is the highest valued US export to China.8
"Politically the best outcome will be to look like he's been tough with China, without actually imposing economically-material tariffs," says Grady.
Concern a trade war with China could hurt American farmers has already prompted Trump to scramble for ways to protect them. He is considering dusting off the Commodity Credit Corporation, a programme created during the Great Depression to aid farmers. And he has also signalled he may look to re-join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the free-trade agreement he pulled out of during his first week in office.9
Trump needs to tread carefully
Much could depend on November's US midterm elections. With polls suggesting the Republicans will struggle to keep control of the House of Representatives,10 Grady says Trump is likely to try to find the most politically-expedient route. That means treading a careful line between appealing to his blue-collar voters who are generally supportive of increased protectionism, and not alienating the Republican-voting farming communities likely to be impacted by retaliation from China.
Trump's need to appease American voters is in stark contrast to Xi. While China may have more to lose economically from a trade war, Trump has more to lose politically and, with its threats to target one of Trump's key constituencies, China has shown it is well aware of that.
Nevertheless, Grady argues that the threat of an all-out trade war cannot be dismissed entirely. In the event one were to erupt, it could have a material impact on economies and financial markets. For instance, there are concerns in some quarters that if Trump decides to pursue an aggressive trade war against China, Beijing might opt to reduce its vast $1.2 trillion dollar holdings of US government bonds.11
James McAlevey, senior fixed income portfolio manager at Aviva Investors, believes such fears are overdone since there is nowhere China could re-invest such a large amount of money. "The US Treasury market is unique in terms of the liquidity it offers. No other market comes close, so we see virtually no prospect of large-scale Chinese selling," he says.
Nevertheless, he believes the trend of recent years, which has seen China and other Asian nations scaling back their purchases of Treasuries, is likely to persist and could even accelerate.
"It's another reason to be wary of Treasuries. That's especially true of the long-end of the curve, since if the trade dispute intensifies we would also expect to see China starting to reduce the duration of its holdings," McAlevey says.
Beware German automakers' debt
James Vokins, senior credit portfolio manager at Aviva Investors, says basic economic theory suggests the industries that stand to lose most under protectionist policies are those that export much of their output, have globally-integrated supply chains (i.e. import a lot, too), and have little pricing power.
The threat of a trade war adds to his conviction it is sensible to be underweight bonds issued by European industrial companies in general, and German automakers in particular.
"If you look at what Trump's been saying, he has clearly got the car industry in his sights. As the US is a big export market for German carmakers, it makes sense to be cautious of this sector," he says.
He is also on alert for any damage Trump's actions could inflict on those US companies which have become increasingly reliant on global supply networks in recent years.
"There may be increasing pressure on companies which have benefitted from production overseas to bring it back onshore. That's either going to be inflationary or companies will have to absorb higher costs themselves, which will hurt their bottom line," Vokins says.
By contrast, Richard Saldanha, global equity portfolio manager at Aviva Investors, has increased the size of his portfolio's stake in several companies where he believes the shares have sold off excessively in response to the threat of a trade war.
"Some of these share price falls have been pretty large. Since we think ultimately the US and China will come to some kind of deal, this is a decent opportunity to add to positions in companies that are fundamentally sound and delivering strong earnings," he says.
Looking further ahead, Grady says the neo-liberal, globalist argument is, at least for now, in retreat. The forces that created Trump and demands for protectionism are not going to go away in a hurry and could well intensify as and when the next recession arrives.
"Does that mean we're going all the way back to where we were in the 1970s or 1980s? I doubt it. But the risk is that globally we are moving to reverse the free trade gains that have been made since the establishment of the World Trade Organisation in 1995. That would clearly be detrimental to global growth," he concludes.
1 Trump tariffs: US President imposes levy on steel and aluminium, BBC, 08 March 2018
2 Trump reveals $60bn of fresh tariffs on China as EU wins reprieve, The Guardian, 23 March 2018
3 China 'not afraid' of trade war with Trump, Financial Times, 06 April 2018
4 China outlines tariffs on $3bn of US imports in response to Trump move, Financial Times, 22 March 2018
5 Beijing strikes back in trade war with US as Trump accuses China of 'theft', Sky News, 04 April 2018
6Trump proposes $100 billion in additional tariffs on Chinese products, CNBC, 05 April 2018
7 https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump
8 Donald Trump faces farmers' wrath as China's tariffs put US soybean exports at risk, South China Morning Post, 05 April 2018
9Trump is desperately looking for ways to save farmers from his trade war with China, Vox, 12 April 2018
10US midterm elections 2018: polls
11 Brewing US-China trade war spooks asset managers, Financial Times, 07 April 2018
Richard Saldanha
Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (Aviva Investors) as at April 16 2018. Unless stated otherwise any view sand opinions are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any nature. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified by Aviva Investors and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested. Nothing in this document, including any references to specific securities, assets classes and financial markets is intended to or should be construed as advice or recommendations of any nature. This document is not a recommendation to sell or purchase any investment.
In the UK & Europe this document has been prepared and issued by Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, registered in England No.1151805. Registered Office: St. Helen's, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ. Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Contact us at Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, St. Helen's, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ. Telephone calls to Aviva Investors may be recorded for training or monitoring purposes. In Singapore, this document is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited for distribution to institutional investors only. Please note that Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this document. Recipients of this document are to contact Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this document. Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore with registration number200813519W, holds a valid Capital Markets Services Licence to carry out fund management activities issued under the Securities and Futures Act (Singapore Statute Cap. 289) and Asian Exempt Financial Adviser for the purposes of the Financial Advisers Act (Singapore Statute Cap.110). Registered Office: 1Raffles Quay, #27-13 South Tower, Singapore 048583.In Australia, this document is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd for distribution to wholesale investors only. Please note that Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this document. Recipients of this document are to contact Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this document. Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia with Australian Business No. 87 153 200 278 and Australian Company No. 153 200 278, holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL 411458) issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Business Address: Level 30, Collins Place, 35 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000.
Race, ethnicity and investing: Practice what you preach
In the second article in our series on racism, we explain why asset managers need to get their own house in order to be a credible agent for change at the companies they invest in.
Race, ethnicity and investing: A time for action
In the first of a two-part series on anti-black racism, we look at five areas asset managers need to focus on if their engagement efforts are to make a positive difference.
Prime time: How streaming is reshaping film and TV
The last ten years have seen the film and television industry transform beyond recognition. In the latest instalment of our editorial series, Link, experts from our credit and equity teams discuss whether streaming will continue its inexorable reshaping of the media landscape.
Suga rush: Can Japan's new PM deliver on reform promises?
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has replaced Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest serving prime minister. As he faces the twin challenges of leading the country out of a pandemic and pushing through much-needed structural reforms, what can investors expect from the new administration?


Get Practical Instructions on Getting Export Certificates from FDA, and Learn To Deal with Common Issues Related to Export of FDA-Regulated Products.
FDA issues about 7 different kinds of export certificates for products intended to be exported from the US to other countries. These certificates are needed by the importing country; without such certificates these products will not be allowed entry into the importing country.
Many companies export not only products marketed in the US, but also products that may not be legally marketed in the US but are allowed in other countries. For exporters of drugs, biologics, medical devices, diagnostics, food, and all other kinds of products or components, it is important to have an understanding of the documentation requirements, application process, and expectations of the FDA and the importing country to avoid delays due to custom clearance. Before FDA can issue an export certificate to a company, it requires detailed compliance documents and other paperwork from the applicant. Incomplete and inaccurate documents are the most common reason for delays and denials of export certificates.
In this webinar, expert speaker Dr. Mukesh Kumar will provide practical instructions in the process of getting export certificates from FDA including description of key terms, concepts, and common issues that exporters of FDA-regulated products are likely to encounter.
This seminar is intended for exporters of FDA regulated products or those that sell regulated products to U.S. exporters and wish to have a better understanding of how FDA regulated products are exported from the U.S. You will be introduced to the types of export certificates, conditions under which FDA issues or denies export certificates, legal requirements, fees, and regulatory requirements for export of FDA-regulated products from the US. Attending this training will help you to better manage your export compliance activities and help support your logistics supply chain.


Crushing stones 603 unlicensed units operating in province The. Mar 15, 2015 The Express Tribune > Pakistan ISLAMABAD Some 603 stone crushing units are operating without a licence in 11 districts of Punjab, Regarding 251 unlicensed stone crushing Stone crusher,Cone crusher,Mobile crusher plant,Diesel engine.
BDI Wear Parts is a dynamically growing company with many years of experiences in production and supply of Crusher wear parts, Crusher spare parts, and Ball mill liners and MAXTRAK 1000 UPPER FRAME PN 603 9083 Learn More Aftermarket part for maxtrack 1300 MC Bowl Liner PN 6031416.
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1000 Automax Upper Frame Part 603/9089.
Manganese and High Chrome Crusher Wear Parts. Silver Top stocks a large inventory of wear parts for all popular stationary and mobile crusher makes and models including: Jaw crushers Cone crushers Blow bars 10×36 Moveable603SS14% 5961.152.526.5364.75. 10×36 Stationary602LH14% 5061.152.524.06337.
Jaw Die, Fixed, ST, 900x600, 18M, KIT. 600/8048EKIT. ®. 900x600™. IMG_1308b. Register to View Concave, MC, Automax 1000, 18M, KIT. 603/9052EKIT. ®. 1000™. IMG_1295. Register to View Price · View Details Jaw Die, Fixed, TT, Extec C10, M18, KIT. J6250000/MKIT. Extec®. C10™.
maxtrack 1000 Coarse Bowl Liner PN 6039107.
crushing needs, and to recommend the cone crusher solution guaranteed to SBS cone crushers are designed to be compatible with . 297387. 333432. 396518. 428540. 455512. 68 SBS stph. 450585. 485625. 520670. 585760. 650840. 685860 mtph. 410527. 437563. 468603. 527684. 585756.
Jaw crushers. ®. C Series™. Uncompromised reliability and productivity. The reliability of C Series jaw crushers is based on a revolution ary pinned CVB603™. 3 070 x 7 320 mm. 10' x 24'. 22.5 m2. 240 ft2. 2. 3. 4 x MV3. 4 x MV4. 21 000 kg (46 300 lbs). 23 000 kg (50 700 lbs). ® ES Series™ screens.


text:
The 2004 FIA GT Magny-Cours 500 km was the third round the 2004 FIA GT Championship season.  It took place at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, France, on 2 May 2004.

Official results
Class winners in bold.  Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).

Statistics
 Pole position – #4 Konrad Motorsport – 1:36.174
 Fastest lap – #5 Vitaphone Racing Team – 1:39.093
 Race winner average speed – 154.130 km/h

References

M
Magny-Cours 500
FIA GT Magny-Cours 500km


text:
Q: PDO Like Condition, Make UPPERCASE Match I am trying to use PDO LIKE condition to get the corresponding values from the database. Now the problem is some values in the database start with UPPERCASE. I am trying to query the database with the column values UPPERCASED.
If I use this code:
$connection->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
    $stmt = $connection->prepare('SELECT * FROM ingredient WHERE name LIKE ?');
    $query = '%'.$queryEntered.'%';
    $stmt -> execute(array($query));

I do get results and I would prefer to have something along the lines of
$query = $queryEntered.'%';
    $stmt -> execute(array($query));

I just cant seem to get the data in the column to bed UPPERCASED so there is never a match.
Been searching for a while. Any help would be nice.

A: It depends on what character set and collation you are using. Most MySQL installations default to latin1_swedish_ci which has case insensitive string comparisons. You could try to force a case sensitive comparison.
'SELECT * FROM ingredient WHERE name COLLATE latin1_general_cs LIKE ?'

Also see here: http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/case-sensitivity.html

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


First contact resolution (FCR) is one of the most important criteria to measure your customer support team success. Have you ever paid attention how fast your customers' support queries via live chat are resolved and how many times your customers need to contact back regarding the same issue? Here is some data which will help you to understand this criteria and will show how this influences your customer satisfaction rate and your customer loyalty.
This entry was posted in Infographics and tagged FCR on live chat, live chat FCR. Bookmark the permalink.


"Good Service improve more collection more choose can buy ! :)"
"tq very much. hope can get something again for collection."
"Just keep buying so many wonderful action figures from Toypanic till lose count. Simply the best !"


Today is my due-date, so it is time for me to take a break for a few weeks…but before, I wanted to share with you the pictures I did with the future dad to commemorate these last 9 months of pregnancy.
We wanted something simple, pure, and overall not too cheesy (forget sunsets or kisses on the belly!).
No background, no accessories, no sophisticated outfit, no make-up or hair done, just us and my belly, in black and white.
I love the result, and would like to thank my friend Tina, founder of the Web Design agency "The Next Movement", who took the pictures for us and understood our expectations like a pro!
And now..tic, tac, tic, tac, wish me luck!
vous êtes canon, de la complicité sans aucune mièvrerie! Bonne chance et beaucoup de bonheur!!


[Friend]: What? How'd you manage that one?
MZ: People just submitted it.
MZ: I don't know why.
Although most of us have Facebook friends for whom this is a fairly accurate discription, there would have been red faces all round at Facebook head office considering the recent fuss regarding Facebook privacy. The irony of one of Mark Zuckerberg's private conversations being released into the public domain like this will also not have gone unoticed.
Under intense pressure from the media to respond to the latest Facebook privacy contoversy Mark Zuckerberg has released a statement in which he appears to admit mistakes and has promised to make some privacy changes. It seems that Facebook seriously underestimated the media hysteria that would follow the latest privacy changes, despite similar reactions to previous privacy changes.
High profile bloggers and media figures have made a big show of closing down their Facebook accounts and there have been various articles about how you need to be a rocket scientist to negotiate Facebook's new privacy settings. There is even a group organising a 'Quit Facebook Day' for May 31st which they are promoting via a new website and, erm, Facebook.
Despite all the fuss the simple fact is that fury is almost entirely driven by the media. Whether you think they should care or not, the average Facebook user couldn't give a monkey's about the privacy issue. You see one of the main reasons that Facebook works is that people are prepared to give up a little privacy, in fact a fair proportion of them really rather enjoy it. If everybody suddenly jacked up their privacy settings to the maximum it would be a very boring place to visit indeed.
'Quit Facebook Day' may well get a few thousand people to deactivate their Facebook account but considering the fact that there are 400 million users, with hundreds of thousands more joining up every month this is a veritable whimper. I suspect that many of the quitters will eventually come back with their tail between their legs when they tire of having to e-mail and text.
It is also inevitable that Facebook will attempt to make more of these privacy changes in the future, that there will be more media outrage and that the average Facebook user will shrug their shoulders and embark on another session of Farmville. This cycle will continue until something better comes along, rather like obseity will continue until they invent a salad that tastes like a double whopper with cheese. In other words, it's not happening anytime soon.


This is one of a range of coasters which compliment the "apathy" t shirt, cushion, mug and card range. The Apathy coaster collection comprises the three letter words "meh", "omg" and "cba" in white type within a black background. This series of "apathetic noises will amuse your customers as they place their mug down on this coaster each day.


Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein could be rewarded with a reduction in his 50-year prison term, the result of his extensive cooperation against co-conspirators in his $1.4 billion fraud.
Federal prosecutors on Wednesday informed Rothstein's sentencing judge that they will ask for a reduction at a future date, without outlining how much time off his sentence they think Rothstein deserves.
After Rothstein's scheme collapsed in the fall of 2009, the former Fort Lauderdale attorney helped prosecutors make a case against a reputed Mafioso, who agreed to destroy documents Rothstein had described as incriminating.
Typically, federal prosecutors have one year to seek a sentence reduction. They beat that by one day; Rothstein's prison term was handed down June 9, 2010. Rothstein's attorney, Marc Nurik, declined to say how much time off the sentence he would seek.
Prosecutors noted that they could withdraw their motion if Rothstein is not truthful, does not fulfill his plea agreement or falsely implicates someone.


text:
Artist: The Matadors, Album: The Devil's Music, Song: Creeping Demon
"I always finish what I start yeah. I swear your mom thinks I'm retarded." A song about Zombie love by rockabilly heavyweights, The Matadors. The band is from London, Ontario and this song is from their 2006 release, The Devil's Music. The band's founder and leader, Hooch Parkins, would prefer that their music be classified as Horrorbilly. The band has some wild claims about selling their soul to the devil and having membership in the Luciferian Brotherhood of Baphomet. Check out http://www.thematadors.net/ for an entertaining read and to follow the band's latest tour dates. Getting back to the song at hand. The band just rocks and they remind me a lot of Danzig (the song, Mother, in particular). You could also describe the sound as Elvis on crack. Unfortunately, rockabilly isn't a heavily marketed genre of music but this band and the song is definitely worth checking out. The band continues to release and record new music. This album is available on Itunes and Amazon. You can watch the video for the song, Creeping Demon, on You Tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvG_t_egMrw). Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Artist: The Matadors, Album: The Devil's Music, So...


When I came to Canada, I claimed refugee status at the airport. I was given a Basis of Claim Form to fill out. What are the rules about when and how to file it with the Immigration and Refugee Board?
If you made your refugee claim at a port-of-entry, you have 15 days from the date of your eligibility interview to file your completed Basis of Claim (BOC) Form with the Refugee Protection Division (RPD). You must give the original and one copy of your BOC Form to the RPD. Make sure you keep a copy of your completed BOC Form.
faxing it to the RPD if you have no more than 20 pages in total.
You cannot file your documents by email.
You should ask for proof that you filed the BOC Form with the RPD in case you need to prove that you filed it and the date.
If you file it or had a courier deliver it, you should include an extra copy. The RPD can date-stamp the extra copy. If you fax the Form, get a fax confirmation sheet. Bring proof of filing and the original BOC Form to your hearing.
Write to the RPD at least 3 working days before the deadline and ask for an extension of time. Say why you need more time. If it is for medical reasons, you must include medical evidence. The Refugee Protection Division has detailed rules on the evidence you need to submit.
It is difficult to get an extension of time to file the BOC Form, especially if the request is not for medical reasons. If you do not hear back before the deadline, file your BOC Form even if it is incomplete. Say in your BOC Form that you will provide additional information as soon as you can.
You can make changes and additions to your Basis of Claim Form after you have filed it with the RPD. You might need to do this, for example, if you did not have enough time to complete the Form properly. The rules say you must do this no later than 10 days before your hearing date.


The Macdonald-Harrington Building, on McGill University's campus, was completed in 1895 according to the plans of Sir Andrew Taylor (1850-1937), a prominent Montreal architect. Originally intended for the departments of chemistry and mining, the neo-Romanesque building was primarily a utility building equipped with modern laboratories. The author describes the various uses and transformations of the building, which today houses the university's School of Architecture.
Livesey, Graham D. "Université McGill : L'édifice MacDonald-Harrington." Continuité, Hiver 1988. https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/continuite/1988-n38-continuite1051734/18705ac.pdf.


text:
namespace blink {

namespace {

#if defined(OS_WIN)
const char kRequiredExtension[] = "GL_NV_EGL_stream_consumer_external";
#elif defined(OS_MAC)
const char kRequiredExtension[] = "GL_ANGLE_texture_rectangle";
#elif defined(OS_ANDROID) || defined(OS_CHROMEOS)
const char kRequiredExtension[] = "GL_OES_EGL_image_external";
#else
const char kRequiredExtension[] = "";
#endif

void GetMediaTaskRunnerAndGpuFactoriesOnMainThread(
    scoped_refptr<base::SingleThreadTaskRunner>* media_task_runner_out,
    media::GpuVideoAcceleratorFactories** gpu_factories_out,
    base::WaitableEvent* waitable_event) {
  DCHECK(IsMainThread());
  *media_task_runner_out = Platform::Current()->MediaThreadTaskRunner();
  *gpu_factories_out = Platform::Current()->GetGpuFactories();
  waitable_event->Signal();
}

}  // namespace

WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame(
    WebGLRenderingContextBase* context)
    : WebGLExtension(context) {
  context->ContextGL()->RequestExtensionCHROMIUM(kRequiredExtension);

#if defined(OS_MAC)
  // texture_rectangle needs to be turned on for MAC.
  context->ContextGL()->Enable(GC3D_TEXTURE_RECTANGLE_ARB);
#endif

#if defined(OS_WIN)
  formats_supported[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12] = true;
  auto& components_nv12 = format_to_components_map_[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12];
  components_nv12[media::VideoFrame::kYPlane] = "r";
  components_nv12[media::VideoFrame::kUPlane] = "rg";
#elif defined(OS_MAC)
  formats_supported[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_XRGB] = true;
  auto& components_xrgb = format_to_components_map_[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_XRGB];
  components_xrgb[media::VideoFrame::kYPlane] = "rgba";
#elif defined(OS_ANDROID)
  formats_supported[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_ABGR] = true;
  auto& components_abgr = format_to_components_map_[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_ABGR];
  components_abgr[media::VideoFrame::kYPlane] = "rgb";

  // GpuMemoryBufferVideoFramePool
  formats_supported[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12] = true;
  auto& components_nv12 = format_to_components_map_[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12];
  components_nv12[media::VideoFrame::kYPlane] = "r";
  components_nv12[media::VideoFrame::kUPlane] = "rg";
#elif defined(OS_CHROMEOS)
  formats_supported[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_ABGR] = true;
  auto& components_abgr = format_to_components_map_[media::PIXEL_FORMAT_ABGR];
  components_abgr[media::VideoFrame::kYPlane] = "rgb";
#endif
}

WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::~WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame() {
  if (gpu_memory_buffer_pool_) {
    media_task_runner_->DeleteSoon(FROM_HERE,
                                   std::move(gpu_memory_buffer_pool_));
  }
}

WebGLExtensionName WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::GetName() const {
  return kWebGLWebCodecsVideoFrameName;
}

bool WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::Supported(WebGLRenderingContextBase* context) {
// TODO(crbug.com/1052397): Revisit once build flag switch of lacros-chrome is
// complete.
#if defined(OS_LINUX) || BUILDFLAG(IS_CHROMEOS_LACROS) || defined(OS_FUCHSIA)
  // TODO(jie.a.chen@intel.com): Add Linux support.
  return false;
#elif defined(OS_MAC)
  // This extension is only supported on the passthrough command
  // decoder on macOS.
  DrawingBuffer* drawing_buffer = context->GetDrawingBuffer();
  if (!drawing_buffer)
    return false;
  return drawing_buffer->GetGraphicsInfo().using_passthrough_command_decoder;
#else
  return true;
#endif
}

const char* WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::ExtensionName() {
  return "WEBGL_webcodecs_video_frame";
}

void WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::Trace(Visitor* visitor) const {
  WebGLExtension::Trace(visitor);
}

WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrameHandle* WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::importVideoFrame(
    ExecutionContext* execution_context,
    VideoFrame* video_frame,
    ExceptionState& exception_state) {
  WebGLExtensionScopedContext scoped(this);
  if (!video_frame || scoped.IsLost())
    return nullptr;

  const char* sampler_type = "sampler2D";
  const char* sampler_func = "texture2D";
  gfx::ColorSpace src_color_space = gfx::ColorSpace::CreateREC709();
  media::VideoPixelFormat pixel_format = media::PIXEL_FORMAT_UNKNOWN;
#if defined(OS_WIN)
  sampler_type = "samplerExternalOES";
  pixel_format = media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12;
#elif defined(OS_MAC)
  sampler_type = "sampler2DRect";
  sampler_func = "texture2DRect";
  pixel_format = media::PIXEL_FORMAT_XRGB;
#elif defined(OS_ANDROID) || defined(OS_CHROMEOS)
  sampler_type = "samplerExternalOES";
  pixel_format = media::PIXEL_FORMAT_ABGR;
  src_color_space = gfx::ColorSpace::CreateSRGB();
#endif

  scoped_refptr<media::VideoFrame> frame = video_frame->frame();
  if (!frame->HasTextures()) {
    InitializeGpuMemoryBufferPool();
    base::WaitableEvent waitable_event;
    media_task_runner_->PostTask(
        FROM_HERE,
        base::BindOnce(
            &media::GpuMemoryBufferVideoFramePool::MaybeCreateHardwareFrame,
            base::Unretained(gpu_memory_buffer_pool_.get()),
            base::RetainedRef(frame),
            base::BindOnce(
                &WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::OnHardwareVideoFrameCreated,
                base::Unretained(this), base::Unretained(&waitable_event))));
    waitable_event.Wait();

    if (frame == hardware_video_frame_) {
      exception_state.ThrowTypeError(
          "Unable to import a software video frame.");
      return nullptr;
    }
    frame = std::move(hardware_video_frame_);
#if defined(OS_WIN)
    sampler_type = "sampler2D";
#elif defined(OS_ANDROID)
    sampler_type = "sampler2D";
    pixel_format = frame->format();
    src_color_space = frame->ColorSpace();
#endif
  }

  if (!formats_supported[pixel_format]) {
    exception_state.ThrowTypeError(
        String::Format("VideoPixelFormat:%s is not supported yet.",
                       media::VideoPixelFormatToString(pixel_format).c_str()));
    return nullptr;
  }

  const auto& components = format_to_components_map_[pixel_format];
  HeapVector<Member<WebGLWebCodecsTextureInfo>> info_array;
  for (size_t tex = 0; tex < frame->NumTextures(); ++tex) {
    WebGLWebCodecsTextureInfo* texture_info =
        MakeGarbageCollected<WebGLWebCodecsTextureInfo>();
    info_array.push_back(texture_info);
    texture_info->setSamplerType(sampler_type);
    texture_info->setSamplerFunc(sampler_func);
    texture_info->setComponents(components[tex].c_str());

    auto* gl = scoped.Context()->ContextGL();
    auto& mailbox_holder = frame->mailbox_holder(tex);
    gl->WaitSyncTokenCHROMIUM(mailbox_holder.sync_token.GetConstData());
    GLuint texture_id = 0;
    if (mailbox_holder.mailbox.IsSharedImage()) {
      texture_id = gl->CreateAndTexStorage2DSharedImageCHROMIUM(
          mailbox_holder.mailbox.name);
      gl->BeginSharedImageAccessDirectCHROMIUM(
          texture_id, GL_SHARED_IMAGE_ACCESS_MODE_READ_CHROMIUM);
    } else {
      texture_id =
          gl->CreateAndConsumeTextureCHROMIUM(mailbox_holder.mailbox.name);
    }
    DCHECK_NE(texture_id, 0u);
    auto texture_target = frame->mailbox_holder(tex).texture_target;
    WebGLUnownedTexture* texture = MakeGarbageCollected<WebGLUnownedTexture>(
        scoped.Context(), texture_id, texture_target);
    texture_info->setTexture(texture);
    texture_info->setTarget(texture_target);
  }

  WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrameHandle* video_frame_handle =
      MakeGarbageCollected<WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrameHandle>();
  video_frame_handle->setTextureInfoArray(info_array);
  if (std::string(kRequiredExtension) != "") {
    video_frame_handle->setRequiredExtension(kRequiredExtension);
  }
  // Remove "PIXEL_FORMAT_" prefix
  auto&& video_pixel_format =
      V8VideoPixelFormat::Create(&VideoPixelFormatToString(pixel_format)[13]);
  DCHECK(video_pixel_format);
  video_frame_handle->setPixelFormat(*video_pixel_format);

  // TODO(jie.a.chen@intel.com): Is the colorspace/flip-y/pre-alpha of video
  // frame specific to OS only? For the same OS, does it vary for different
  // video streams?
  video_frame_handle->setFlipY(true);
  video_frame_handle->setPremultipliedAlpha(false);
#if defined(OS_WIN)
  DCHECK(frame->format() == media::PIXEL_FORMAT_NV12);
  src_color_space = frame->ColorSpace();
#elif defined(OS_MAC)
  video_frame_handle->setRequiredExtension("GL_ARB_texture_rectangle");
  video_frame_handle->setPremultipliedAlpha(true);
  src_color_space = frame->ColorSpace();
  src_color_space = src_color_space.GetAsFullRangeRGB();
#endif
  VideoColorSpace* video_frame_color_space =
      MakeGarbageCollected<VideoColorSpace>(src_color_space);
  video_frame_handle->setColorSpace(video_frame_color_space);

  gfx::ColorSpace dst_color_space = gfx::ColorSpace::CreateSRGB();
  std::unique_ptr<gfx::ColorTransform> color_transform(
      gfx::ColorTransform::NewColorTransform(src_color_space, dst_color_space));
  video_frame_handle->setColorConversionShaderFunc(
      color_transform->GetShaderSource().c_str());

  // Bookkeeping of imported video frames.
  GLuint tex0 = info_array[0]->texture()->Object();
  tex0_to_video_frame_map_.insert(tex0, frame);

  return video_frame_handle;
}

bool WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::releaseVideoFrame(
    ExecutionContext* execution_context,
    WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrameHandle* handle,
    ExceptionState& exception_state) {
  DCHECK(handle);
  WebGLExtensionScopedContext scoped(this);
  auto* gl = scoped.Context()->ContextGL();
  auto& info_array = handle->textureInfoArray();
  GLuint tex0 = info_array[0]->texture()->Object();
  auto frame = tex0_to_video_frame_map_.Take(tex0);
  for (wtf_size_t i = 0; i < info_array.size(); ++i) {
    auto mailbox = frame->mailbox_holder(i).mailbox;
    GLuint texture = info_array[i]->texture()->Object();
    DCHECK_NE(texture, 0u);
    if (mailbox.IsSharedImage()) {
      gl->EndSharedImageAccessDirectCHROMIUM(texture);
    }
    gl->DeleteTextures(1, &texture);
  }
  media::WaitAndReplaceSyncTokenClient client(gl);
  frame->UpdateReleaseSyncToken(&client);
  return true;
}

void WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::OnHardwareVideoFrameCreated(
    base::WaitableEvent* waitable_event,
    scoped_refptr<media::VideoFrame> video_frame) {
  hardware_video_frame_ = std::move(video_frame);
  waitable_event->Signal();
}

void WebGLWebCodecsVideoFrame::InitializeGpuMemoryBufferPool() {
  if (!worker_task_runner_) {
    worker_task_runner_ = worker_pool::CreateSequencedTaskRunner({});
  }
  if (!gpu_memory_buffer_pool_) {
    media::GpuVideoAcceleratorFactories* gpu_factories = nullptr;
    if (IsMainThread()) {
      media_task_runner_ = Platform::Current()->MediaThreadTaskRunner();
      gpu_factories = Platform::Current()->GetGpuFactories();
    } else {
      base::WaitableEvent waitable_event;
      // TODO(crbug.com/1164152): Lift the main thread restriction.
      if (PostCrossThreadTask(
              *Thread::MainThread()->GetTaskRunner(), FROM_HERE,
              CrossThreadBindOnce(
                  &GetMediaTaskRunnerAndGpuFactoriesOnMainThread,
                  CrossThreadUnretained(&media_task_runner_),
                  CrossThreadUnretained(&gpu_factories),
                  CrossThreadUnretained(&waitable_event)))) {
        waitable_event.Wait();
      }
    }
    gpu_memory_buffer_pool_ =
        std::make_unique<media::GpuMemoryBufferVideoFramePool>(
            media_task_runner_, worker_task_runner_, gpu_factories);
  }
}

}  // namespace blink

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Conveyancing search provider, SearchFlow launches an all-encompassing and digital environmental report, which will offer significant time savings for conveyancers and enhanced communication with homebuyers.
The comprehensive environmental report, RiskView Residential, compiled by Landmark Information Group, will analyse four key environmental factors; Contaminated Land, Flood, Ground Hazards and Energy and Infrastructure. It will also include a summary interpretation to cut conveyancers' time spent reviewing the information and an innovative digital viewing platform for homebuyers.
RiskView Residential contains a comprehensive risk assessment analysis for all environmental areas. It provides a clear "at a glance" summary on the front page and only includes results that require further action or investigation. The Professional Opinion and Recommendations can easily be copied and pasted by conveyancers into their client's report on title. The condensed document is also supplemented with support and advice from expert environmental consultants, Argyll Environmental Ltd.
The online portal, accessible via links in the document, is an interactive map which provides easy navigation through the data to review the results. It is designed to be shared with homebuyers and with them in mind, uses simple terminology and presentation to describe the information so they can easily analyse and understand the results. In addition, there is clear signposting to where they can seek further information and guidance if required.
Costing £84.50 (excluding VAT), RiskView Residential is an "all in one" environmental report allowing conveyancers to offer a fixed fee service, safe in the knowledge that it provides all the required information for environmental searches and a thorough due diligence is carried out from the outset.
The report includes PI cover of £10 million and a £100k Contaminated Land excess free remediation contribution. In addition, it contains Landmark's unique risk assessed land register data, which contains details of land that has been assessed and deemed not to be contaminated or at risk of action under the Environmental Protection Act.
Maud Rousseau, Marketing and Communications Director of SearchFlow, comments: "Homebuyers are ever more demanding in the search for speed, enhanced service, and value for money. We are delighted to be launching RiskView Residential, bringing an innovative product to market and ensuring our clients benefit from the latest, most efficient and sophisticated products.


Incredible price for this Sedona AZ foreclosure home. This is a fixer upper. A mortgage may be possible with escrow repairs or a FHA 203K loan. More info on FHA 203K's is available from Melissa with Prime Lending at 928-606-8691 (cell).
It's on Manzanita in uptown. A very nice neighborhood of high end homes. This home does have good red rock views but it does have stairs.
IF NOTHING APPEARS BELOW, THE HOME MAY BE OFF THE MARKET. CALL TO CONFIRM.
Great Views with tons of outdoor living space. This 3 bedroom. 2.75 bath home offers 2742 square feet, beautiful large living room with fireplace, formal dining room, nice kitchen, and large room downstairs that can be used and extra living space, game room, or storage.
Directions: 89A to Jordan, left on Mesquite, Left on Manzanita.
Sedona foreclosure homes and Sedona homes for sale.