We submitted our entry materials for the NESEA Zero Net Energy Building Award yesterday. We didn't quite have a full year's worth of data for last year's competition. So we were excited to apply this year. You can find out more about the requirements for the competition on the NESEA site.
In putting together the data for the competition, I realized I needed to update a few items on our About page.
First, square footage. We had listed the house as 1408 sf. This is the outside dimension of the house (32*22) times two floors. Technically we should include the basement, which would bring the total to 2,112 sf. Total conditioned space remains the same at 1,200 sf.
That $142/sf does not include significant site work. We didn't pick a nice easy flat site next to the road to build our house. But if you built this house to similar specs on a nice flat lot near the road and didn't have to drill your own well or install your own leach field, then this about what what you would pay if you did a lot of the design and labor yourself.
One last thing. The submission requirements included calculating the Energy Use Intensity (EUI). This is measured in kBTU per square foot per year. The fun part is converting kWh to kBTU. This is problematic for an Air Source Heat Pump, because the kWh required to create BTUs increase as the temperatures decrease. But as a general measure I suppose this is helpful. It might also be a trick question to check if the person submitting the entry knows what they are doing. Hmmm, hope I answered correctly.
Here's how I determined our EUI. Our total energy use for the last 12 months was 6,898 kWh. To convert to BTUs we multiply kWh by 3412.14163312794 BTUs which gives us 23,536,952.9853165 BTUs. Divided by 1,000 to get kBTUs is 23,537 kBTUs. Now divide by square footage. It doesn't specify whether this is conditioned space or total enclosed space, so I chose conditioned space. That gives us an EUI value of 19.6. If we use the larger enclosed space value then we get 11.1. The lower the value the better. Maybe I should have used the 11.1 value.
The winners are announced at the BuildingEnergy Conference in March. Wish us luck!
P.S. If you have built a net zero house in the larger New England area and have a year's worth of energy data to prove you're net zero, then apply soon. The deadline is December 15. Good luck!


The team made it back safely! They will share about their trip in both services on Sunday, Jan. 29. Come to hear their testimony about the exciting things they witnessed while in Guinea.
While we are in Guinea, please pray for us. Below is a list of specific prayer requests.


If we had seen how the Apostle Peter prayed and raised Tabitha from the dead, would we not be inspired, when feeling the need of spiritual help, to say to him "Pray also for us"? Why can we not also say this to him now, when he is at a higher level of closeness to God?
According to the Creed we believe in "one Church". Is it only the earthly Church in which we believe? According to the Apostle's teaching, faith relates to things not seen. Is it not therefore more characteristic of faith that it should relate to the One Church of Christians, both those struggling on earth and the perfected righteous ones in the heavens? In that case, what can hinder the communion of those on earth with those in heaven? We are commanded to love one another and pray for one another; where is it said to the saints in heaven "Do not love your brothers on earth and do not wish them good things from God" or, what is the same thing, "Do not pray for them"?
In the book of the Prophet Zechariah (1:12-13) it is written, "Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem…?" Here you see the angel is praying for Jerusalem. "And the Lord answered the angel who talked with me, with good and comforting." You see, the angel's prayer is accepted.
In the book of the Prophet Jeremiah (15:1) it is written, "Then the Lord said to me, 'Even if Moses and Samuel stood before Me, My mind would not be favorable toward this people.'" This was said in a specific instance, when the Jews had, through their inquiries, made themselves incapable of accepting mercy. Consequently, in different circumstances, the Lord would permit Moses and Samuel to stand before Him in prayer, and their prayer would be accepted unto mercy, just as he accepted and fulfilled their prayers during their earthly life.
Do not reprove the Orthodox Church for the fact that her prayerful love is widespread, and is not limited to the earth, but extends form the earth to heaven, and from heaven embraces the earth.


#Hololens – What to do when your app is not a 3D App!
Today is a quick posts on Unity3D and Hololens, I've been dealing with com nice and heavy C# bot code during the past days so it's time to go back to Hololens. So, a couple of days ago I found that my Apps were not deployed as Unity VR Apps to the Hololens, instead they were 2D UWP Apps. I usually leave all the configuration of the project to HoloToolkit.
I've already wrote about this. However this is a good reminder on how to do this. Go to the menu "HoloToolkit // Configure // Apply Hololens Settings", and that's it this will change the project settings to be a Unity3D Hololens enabled project. It changes the project target to UWP, the use of Direct3D, it will set "Fastest" as the default Quality and some other internal actions.
Once we apply this change, we need to restart Unity3D and then we can see all of this changes in the "Build Settings" window.
One of the important steps performed by this menus was to add "Windows Holographic SDK" into our project virtual reality SDKs to be used. In my current version this was not part of the project settings process. And that's why I found a UWP 2D version of my app in the device.
It maybe related to my version of Unity3D or the HoloToolkit. However the fix is easy: add "Windows Holographic" and that's it !!!
Previous Previous post: #Hololens – Qué hacer cuando mi app no es 3D!


text:
Costa suffers broken nose in training
A broken nose means striker Diego Costa is facing a race against time to prove he is able to play when Newcastle United visit Chelsea.
Diego Costa has sustained a broken nose in training, but has a chance of being in contention to feature in Chelsea's Premier League clash with Newcastle United on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
The combative striker suffered the setback on Thursday, although manager Guus Hiddink has moved to play down the significance of the injury, with Costa set to wear a protective face mask as a result.
"He put his nose on the back of a head in a duel and he was very unlucky," said the Dutchman when he faced the media on Friday.
"His nose was a little bit broken. He must experience dealing with the form of the mask then he will come back to the [team] hotel later.
"It was a very small incident, nothing much of a duel but it is very fragile when you have your nose on the back of the head.
"I think he will be available, we should see how he reacts to today's session. I think he might be available."
Costa endured mixed form early in the campaign as Chelsea's title defence gradually faded prior to Jose Mourinho's sacking in December.
However, the Spain international has seven goals to his name since Hiddink took over in December and the Chelsea boss highlighted the striker's improved fortunes.
"He is important, he is showing in the past weeks that he is of big importance for the team," he added.
"Also where we were, when everyone was critical, he controlled himself well.
"His focus is on his job and we are very happy with his performance on and off the field."
Diego Costa Silva

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Salih Muhammad Sulajman, Saleh Mohamed Soliman (arab. صالح محمد سليمان, ur. 24 czerwca 1916 w Tancie) – egipski sztangista. Srebrny medalista olimpijski z Berlina.

Zawody w 1936 były jego jedynymi igrzyskami olimpijskimi. Zajął drugie miejsce w wadze piórkowej, wyprzedził go Amerykanin Tony Terlazzo.

Przypisy

Egipscy sztangiści
Egipscy medaliści olimpijscy
Medaliści Letnich Igrzysk Olimpijskich 1936
Urodzeni w 1916

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The brightest star of Scorpius, Antares is the red supergiant star shown on the left. Its diameter is about 800 times that of the Sun, what means if it were placed in the center of our solar system, its outer surface would lie between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Life of Antares will be ended soon, it will explode as a supernova in the next few million years. Antares lies embedded in an unusual circumstellar yellow cloud formed by the ionization of the fierce stellar winds blown by the dying star. On the right side of the image the bright star, sigma Scorpii (also known as Alniyat) lights the material of the surrounding nebula and induces to radiate the hydrogen at the same time, creating wonderfully colored reflection and emission Nebulae.
M4 is the bright globular cluster in the middle of the image. Although it is located about 7 200 light years, about 10 times farther than Antares, it is one of the closest globular to us. It was the first globular cluster in which invidual stars were resolved. M4 is a rather loosely concentrated cluster and measures 75 light years across, looks as large as Full Moon from us. It is as bright as it can be seen by naked eye from a dark observing place.
Hakos astrofarm, Namibia (1835m); 2010.05.09.


MBARARA- The Mbarara District Chief Administrative Officer Felix Cuthbert Esoku is in hot soup after the district Councilors grilled him for vandalizing the District Vehicles with intent to claim a new one.
This was raised in a district council hall on Thursday at district headquarters in Kamukuzi, councilors allege that district officials misuse government vehicles and after breaking them down they start claiming much money for repair and maintenance which the councilors say that its very costly to the district.
According to Alfred Byamukama the Clerk to Council while presenting the Previous Minutes to the august house, said that the Council had agreed to issue out sh.15M for repairing the CAO's vehicle which other Councilors led by Balam Ndyaguma the District Speaker rejected saying it is impossible for the district Vehicle to reach a condition of being repaired at sh.15M which is worth a new one.
Ndyaguma said "We all have Vehicles and we've always gone to garages for repair in case of any bad mechanical condition but it can't take sh.15M that can buy another vehicle" Ndyaguma added that that is the first sign to evidence that District vehicles are being misused where some are used for taxi and even fetching water on funeral ceremonies in the village.
Venance Munanukye the Kagongi Sub-county Representative who doubles as the Deputy Speaker said that CAO has been on several occasions seen with District vehicles in happening places in the wee hours which is contrary to the Local Government Act that governs the Government Properties.
CAO Felix Cuthbert Esoku in his Defense said that the vehicle knocked the Engine which he said it was unavoidable because every vehicle has its problems.
Capt. J.B Tumusime Bamuturaki the District Chairman said that it's so sad to find that Cuthbert who should be looking after the district properties, he is the one vandalizing them to that extent. Tumusiime added that they are looking forward to solving that Problem either by purchasing a new vehicle instead of wasting sh.15M repairing the old one. In the same Meeting, Godfrey Baryomunsi the Vice Chairman Mbarara District tabled a motion saying that they should introduce turf rules that will help them to punish whoever vandalizes the District Property especially vehicles.


On March 22, over 30 people, including all city council members and several planning commissioners gathered in downtown South San Francisco for a walking tour of sites that show the important decisions that will need to be made for the upcoming South San Francisco Downtown Station Area Plan. This event was organized by a coalition that Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is a part of that has been working on, including better bike access in the Downtown Station Area Plan, among other benefits to the community.
At the South San Francisco Caltrain parking lot, Lawrence Henriquez, an Associate Civil Engineer with the City of South San Francisco talked about the City's plans to improve connections between the Caltrain station to the downtown and industrial area, uniting the two parts of the city. The photo below shows the challenge of station access today – behind the shuttle, you can see the multi-story metal staircase needed to climb to reach the sidewalk, which is adjacent to a freeway offramp. The project will add an undercrossing for pedestrians and bicyclists, move the station southwards, and separate the northbound and southbound platforms for safety. The City has recently won a grant to update the design for improved station and pedestrian undercrossing, and is applying with Caltrain for federal funding to implement the project. Council member Karyl Matsumoto spoke about the importance of the improved station to the future of the downtown area.
In the business park area to the East of the train station, (the area where Genentech is headquartered) Dan Sherman, a Genentech employee who serves on the South San Francisco bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee, talked about how the area's current design is focused on people arriving by automobile (see the big parking lot in the background of picture #2.) People coming from the train, walking or bicycling have to trek through the parking lots to get to their destination, an experience that feels neither safe nor welcoming. The plan intends to improve walking paths through the area, including through large parcels as they redevelop.
Gene Mullin, former mayor and state assembly member (speaking in the photo below) gave historical context about the city. Years ago, the area by the Bay was heavy manufacturing, and the town was home to many of the workers. As the economy evolved, the manufacturing was replaced by office, largely biotech. The plan proposes to add homes on the West side of the area plan that will appeal to workers in today's industries. The Community Benefits Coalition, which hosted the tour, is advocating for local workforce, local business sourcing, and apprenticeship and job training programs to help residents benefit from the economic growth and development.
At the next stop, Gita Dev of Sierra Club talked about locations in the plan area that could be used for housing, and particularly affordable housing. The downtown area is home today to numerous lower-income families. New housing in the downtown could help workers at Genentech and other companies have shorter commutes, but rising prices could create a risk of displacement unless some new housing includes units that and developments that are also affordable for workers in the hospitality and airport industries, and retail jobs downtown. In addition, renter protection policies, such as just cause eviction and rent stabilization are critical in ensuring that all downtown residents can benefit from the growth and development.
Also at that stop, Cathleen Baker of the San Mateo County Health Department discussed the health inequities among South San Francisco residents. She recommended that new buildings near freeways should be built with air filtration that protects residents from particulate emissions, and about the importance of better walking, bicycling, and transit service to help reduce rates of obesity and diabetes.
On Grand Avenue, the retail heart of Downtown, the plan proposes to help the area be more appealing with widened sidewalks, improved crosswalks, more street furniture, pedestrian-scaled lighting, more street trees, and public art.
The public alley where Doren Martin from The Latino Commission spoke is an example of public space that the Plan would like to enhance. While the Plan proposes to spiff up the place, Martin spoke about the need to retain nonprofit community service organizations in downtown which are needed to continue to help people improve their lives.
Sign up for the South San Francisco project email list under the "Project Email Announcements" section on the right side of the page.
Check out the Coalition's Community Benefits Platform so we can help the City reach the full potential of what South San Francisco downtown could be.


text:
Q: iOS 16.2 Upgrade -> "A valid provisioning profile for this executable was not found." After upgrading my iPhone 13 Pro Max to iOS 16.2, I started getting the below error when trying to run my app via Xcode. Not 100% certain that was the cause but there's strong correlation. I'd love any guidance on additional troubleshooting; thank you!
Things I've tried that haven't fixed the problem:

*

*Upgrading Xcode and MacOS

*Disabling/enabling my device in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles

*Disabling device in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles and allowing Xcode to re-enabling it by attempting to Run on device

*Creating a new development profile in Certificates, Identifiers & Profiles

*Manually installing a development profile on the device via Xcode -> Devices and Simulators -> Connected -> Device -> Show Provisioning Profiles

*Unpairing and pairing device

*Switching off/on developer mode on device

*Restarting the device and computer

*Cleaning build folder

*Signing in/out of the account in xcode

*Switching on/off "Automatically manage signing"

*Xcode "Download Manual Profiles"

*Delete DerivedData folder

What does work:

*

*Ad Hoc installing app (ad hoc profile does also appear on device)

Error:

Details
Unable to install "[appname]"
Domain: com.apple.dt.MobileDeviceErrorDomain
Code: -402620395
User Info: {
DVTErrorCreationDateKey = "2023-01-06 00:27:00 0000";
IDERunOperationFailingWorker = IDEInstalliPhoneLauncher;
}
--
A valid provisioning profile for this executable was not found.
Domain: com.apple.dt.MobileDeviceErrorDomain
Code: -402620395
User Info: {
DVTRadarComponentKey = 487925;
MobileDeviceErrorCode = "(0xE8008015)";
"com.apple.dtdevicekit.stacktrace" = (
0   DTDeviceKitBase                     0x000000010c696c90
DTDKCreateNSErrorFromAMDErrorCode  235
1   DTDeviceKitBase                     0x000000010c6d32ee
__90-[DTDKMobileDeviceToken installApplicationBundleAtPath:withOptions:andError:withCallback:]_block_invoke
155
2   DVTFoundation                       0x00000001020c1e01
DVTInvokeWithStrongOwnership  71
3   DTDeviceKitBase                     0x000000010c6d3016
-[DTDKMobileDeviceToken installApplicationBundleAtPath:withOptions:andError:withCallback:]
1409
4   IDEiOSSupportCore                   0x000000010c5aa7a0
__118-[DVTiOSDevice(DVTiPhoneApplicationInstallation) processAppInstallSet:appUninstallSet:installOptions:completionBlock:]_block_invoke.301
3520
5   DVTFoundation                       0x00000001021f7a09
DVT_CALLING_CLIENT_BLOCK  7
6   DVTFoundation                       0x00000001021f851d
__DVTDispatchAsync_block_invoke  196
7   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007ff80a3dc7fb
_dispatch_call_block_and_release  12
8   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007ff80a3dda44
_dispatch_client_callout  8
9   libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007ff80a3e3ac4
_dispatch_lane_serial_drain  694
10  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007ff80a3e45b4
_dispatch_lane_invoke  366
11  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007ff80a3eead7
_dispatch_workloop_worker_thread  762
12  libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007ff80a559ce3
_pthread_wqthread  326
13  libsystem_pthread.dylib             0x00007ff80a558c67
start_wqthread  15
);
}
--
Analytics Event: com.apple.dt.IDERunOperationWorkerFinished : {
"device_model" = "iPhone14,3";
"device_osBuild" = "16.2 (20C65)";
"device_platform" = "com.apple.platform.iphoneos";
"launchSession_schemeCommand" = Run;
"launchSession_state" = 1;
"launchSession_targetArch" = arm64;
"operation_duration_ms" = 5576;
"operation_errorCode" = "-402620395";
"operation_errorDomain" = "com.apple.dt.MobileDeviceErrorDomain";
"operation_errorWorker" = IDEInstalliPhoneLauncher;
"operation_name" = IDEiPhoneRunOperationWorkerGroup;
"param_consoleMode" = 0;
"param_debugger_attachToExtensions" = 0;
"param_debugger_attachToXPC" = 1;
"param_debugger_type" = 5;
"param_destination_isProxy" = 0;
"param_destination_platform" = "com.apple.platform.iphoneos";
"param_diag_MainThreadChecker_stopOnIssue" = 0;
"param_diag_MallocStackLogging_enableDuringAttach" = 0;
"param_diag_MallocStackLogging_enableForXPC" = 1;
"param_diag_allowLocationSimulation" = 1;
"param_diag_checker_tpc_enable" = 1;
"param_diag_gpu_frameCapture_enable" = 0;
"param_diag_gpu_shaderValidation_enable" = 0;
"param_diag_gpu_validation_enable" = 0;
"param_diag_memoryGraphOnResourceException" = 0;
"param_diag_queueDebugging_enable" = 1;
"param_diag_runtimeProfile_generate" = 0;
"param_diag_sanitizer_asan_enable" = 0;
"param_diag_sanitizer_tsan_enable" = 0;
"param_diag_sanitizer_tsan_stopOnIssue" = 0;
"param_diag_sanitizer_ubsan_stopOnIssue" = 0;
"param_diag_showNonLocalizedStrings" = 0;
"param_diag_viewDebugging_enabled" = 1;
"param_diag_viewDebugging_insertDylibOnLaunch" = 1;
"param_install_style" = 0;
"param_launcher_UID" = 2;
"param_launcher_allowDeviceSensorReplayData" = 0;
"param_launcher_kind" = 0;
"param_launcher_style" = 0;
"param_launcher_substyle" = 0;
"param_runnable_appExtensionHostRunMode" = 0;
"param_runnable_productType" = "com.apple.product-type.application";
"param_runnable_type" = 2;
"param_testing_launchedForTesting" = 0;
"param_testing_suppressSimulatorApp" = 0;
"param_testing_usingCLI" = 0;
"sdk_canonicalName" = "iphoneos16.2";
"sdk_osVersion" = "16.2";
"sdk_variant" = iphoneos;
}
--
System Information
macOS Version 13.1 (Build 22C65)
Xcode 14.2 (21534) (Build 14C18)
Timestamp: 2023-01-05T16:27:00-08:00

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When you want to increase your company's leads online there are several lead generation methods that you can attempt. There are several different ways to create a buzz for your company and generate leads, but it isn't easy to predict what is going to work and what isn't, especially since what works well for one company might not produce the same type of results for the next. Many companies become content when they discover one method that creates leads and they don't venture off to find other avenues for generating leads. It is a good idea to spread your lead sources, as you never want to put all of your eggs in one basket.
While it can be difficult to predict what methods are going to produce quality leads and what ones are going to tank, we have put together a list of five lead generation tips that have a high probability of producing results for your company.
Email marketing is still a very effective way to generate leads and also trigger older contacts to again turn into a hot new lead. You should be building multiple email lists for your business. It is important to attract new leads by offering something of value for free as well as building a list of actual customers and continuing to stay on their radar via email.
There are several email marketing tools that can help you build and segment your lists, as well as track the performance. Remember to make sure that your emails are formatted for mobil devices because the majority of your recipients are going to be opening and viewing your emails on their mobile devices.
Publishing content on industry related websites is a great way to get in front of an entirely new audience. Not every lead that your website is going to originate from the individual discovering your website first. Referral traffic will generally convert at a high rate because you have sparked the individuals interest enough to cause them to visit your website.
If they like what they read in your guest blog and click over to your website there is a good chance they will opt in to your offer, creating a new lead for your business. Make sure to only approach websites that publish only high quality content and attract the type of audience that you are targeting.
While social media marketing is great for building brand awareness, it is also a great tool for lead generation. If you have an active social following get them to engage with your brand by asking them questions and directing them to specific landing pages on your website. You can create lead generation forms for any subject — keep them unique and ask for as little information as possible.
If you only need a name and email address then ask for that, instead of a bunch of fields that are likely to push the individual away. You can also create exclusive offers for your social following such as giving away a free eBook or free trials. Announce the exclusive offers across your social channels and direct them to landing pages in an effort to turn them into a fresh new lead.
Your company's blog can be an extremely effective lead generation tool when you utilize it the correct way. Your blog is a platform for you to share information, educate your readers, and position your brand as an expert. Address common questions and problems that your target audience is likely to have.
Give them information that will help them for free and watch them subscribe to your offers because they want more insight and information from you. You aren't going to generate quality leads by simply throwing up a lead generation form on your website. You need to provide quality information for free, and your blog is a great platform to deliver it.
Every business has a landing page, or even multiple landing pages. Everyone wants to generate leads for their business, but not everyone does it the correct way. It is important that you create optimized landing pages if you want to achieve a high conversion rate. When your traffic lands on a lead generation page you want them to do one thing and one thing only — complete your form! Remove your navigation menu so they aren't temped to get distracted and visit other pages of your website.
Keep your offer crystal clear so they know exactly what you are offering and have an "in your face" call-to-action so your visitors know what they need to do to get the offer. Also, keep your form short — you can always ask for additional information after you make the first initial contact.
While these tips can all help your increase your company's leads, a lot of the success is related to what you are offering. It takes a great product/service/offer combined with the correct audience to create interest, giving someone reason to act (and convert into a lead). If you have an excellent offer and you are targeting the correct audience then using the tips above can help you increase your leads, which will translate into more sales and revenue for your company.


text:
Q: Cloud Functions - update Firestore field set by const, not a static named field I have an online presence function that looks at realtime database to see if a unit has gone offline, and if so, updates a firestore field.
the realtime database goes like: "Client Name"/"Unit Number"
the firestore database goes like "Online Presence"/"Client Name"/"Unit Number"
The problem is that I can't seem to find out how to set the dynamically referenced "Unit Number" firestore field's value to "offline".  I can only set a static field like "Online" = "false"
Here is the Node.js function...
const functions = require('firebase-functions');
const admin = require('firebase-admin');
admin.initializeApp();

const firestore = admin.firestore();

exports.onUserStatusChanged = functions.database.ref('/{client}/{uid}').onUpdate(
async (change, context) => {

  const eventStatus = change.after.val();
  const client = context.params.client;
  const uid = context.params.uid;

  const userStatusFirestoreRef = firestore.doc(`Online Presence/${client}`);

  const statusSnapshot = await change.after.ref.once('value');
  const status = statusSnapshot.val();

  if (status === 'offline'){

   return userStatusFirestoreRef.set({
          uid: "false"
                }, {merge: true});

            }
});

the above will set a firestore field of 'Online Presence/"Client Name"/uid' = false.
instead, I'd like it to set a firestore field of 'Online Presence'/"Client Name"/"Unit Number"' = false.
the unit number is set as a const at the top, const uid = context.params.uid;

A: So I found out that it was missing [] brackets.
by changing:
  return userStatusFirestoreRef.set({
      uid: "false"
            }, {merge: true});

        }

to:
  return userStatusFirestoreRef.set({
      [uid]: "false"
            }, {merge: true});

        }

now it properly writes the firestore field as the const that was declared at the top, instead of writing a literal string value field of 'uid'.


THE pound US dollar exchange rate is steady today and is trading around $1.3061 at the time of writing.
The pairing stabilised despite reports of cross-party Brexit talks reaching an impasse, with Jeremy Corbyn saying the Conservatives wanting to "do a deal with Trump". Meanwhile US industrial production figures for March fell below expectation, dampening enthusiasm for the US dollar. Stephen Stanley, Chief Economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities, blamed the poor industrial figures on a number of factors. He said: "The factory sector has taken the brunt of the dislocations associated with tariffs and uncertainties around trade policy as well as dealing with the headwind of a stronger dollar.
The US dollar has been further undermined by robust Chinese economic data today, with traders moving into riskier currencies as Chinese credit floods markets.
Michael Hirson, a former US Treasury Department official, noted that China's growth is improving and this could weigh on President Donald Trumps' recent announcement that the nation's economic slowdown would make them "desperate for a deal".
Greenback traders are looking ahead to the publication of the US trade balance figures for February, and with any signs of improvement, this could buoy the US dollar to pound exchange rate.
The pound, meanwhile, failed to benefit from the latest UK CPI figures for March, which fell below forecasts to 1.9 percent.
The Office for National Statistics saw the inflation data driven by rising motor fuel prices along with clothing, which increased the cost of living further in March.
These were followed by the UK PPI figures for March, which dropped by -0.2 percent.
Most Sterling traders will be awaiting a speech later on by Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, with any bullish comments about the state of the UK economy by the central banker liable to give the pound a boost.
The pound US dollar exchange rate will likely be affected by Brexit developments this week, despite most MPs enjoying the parliamentary Easter recess.
Tensions are running high following comments from the Belgium MEP Guy Verhofstadt, who condemned the British MP's attitude to ongoing Brexit discussions, with Mr Verhofstadt criticising the perceived lack of urgency among British MPs to work on Brexit.
Any further sentiment such as this coming from the EU is liable to limit the pound's value against the US dollar in the days ahead.


text:
Непенин, Пётр:
 Непенин, Пётр Владимирович (1849—?) — генерал-майор;
 Непенин, Пётр Павлович (1872—1932) — генерал-майор;


text:
Sponsored Deals
Android News / Tech Deals / The Moto G7 Is Just $199 Today – Amazon Prime Day 2019
The Moto G7 Is Just $199 Today – Amazon Prime Day 2019
By Alexander Maxham
For Prime Day, Amazon is discounting the Moto G7, dropping it down to just $199. That marks its all-time lowest price, since it launched back in May. That is good for $100 off of its regular price, and makes it a really great deal for those looking for a new smartphone.
The Moto G7 is a pretty decent mid-range device, with a large 6.2-inch Full HD+ display. It does have a small teardrop notch at the top, but after a few days you won't even notice that notch, which is nice. It does also come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, so you'll have plenty of storage for all of your favorite apps.
There's a micro SD card slot available as well, and it does support Adoptable Storage, so that micro SD card can act as internal storage for apps and games too.
Moto G7 is a really good option for those that are in need of a new smartphone, but can't afford to spend a ton of cash on a new phone these days. It'll do all the basics and even provide a decent camera.
You can pick up the Moto G7 from Amazon using the link down below.
Moto G7 - Amazon - $199
The Stunning TCL 50-inch 5-Series 4K Roku TV Is Now Just $255
The Excellent Moto G7 Smartphone Can Be Yours For Just $239
Alexander Maxham
Head Editor
Alex has written for Androidheadlines since 2012 as Editor of the site and traveled the World to many of the biggest Smartphone and Technology events. Alex has a background in Technology and IT and Deep Passion for Everything Android and Google. His specialties lay in Smartphones of all budgets, Accessories, Home Automation and more. Contact him at [email protected]


So, what exactly is a Body20 AR?
A Body20 Area Developer desires to act as a representative of the company to work as an Independent contractor to develop and service the company's Body20 Studios in a predefined territory, from recruiting to support new franchisees into the Body20 Franchise Network. in essence the AR operates in a similar manner to body20 Global head office within their region.
What revenues are available in the AR Model?
What are the roles of an AR?
What qualities does Body20 look for in an AR partner?
What regional territories are available for an AR?
We have earmarked several cities, counties and states for the growth of an AR. every opportunity and area will be assessed individually depending on AR's capacity and appetite together with the defined territory, roll out strategies and targets.
For more information please email hello@bodytwenty.com or call 561 465 5550. all the necessary application forms are also available for download on the website.
Body20 AR Territory fee is equal to the $7,500.00 deposit towards an agreed upon number of studios to be developed in the area.
Upon the sale of each studio license in your area you receive an upfront 25% of the initial license fee.
Upon the opening of each studio in your defined area, you will receive an additional 25% of the initial license fee.
How do I build Recurring Revenue?
You earn 33% of the membership commission split for every active membership in the Body20 studio network throughout your defined territory.


Beautiful period furnishings help transport visitors back to the Victorian-era at the Mann House in Concord.
Every-day items, such as this telephone, are on display alongside items that sisters Mary Ida and Jessie Ellen Mann collected during their world travels.
Vintage clothing from the 1880s through the 1940s is on display throughout the house, all carefully preserved by the sisters.
Several well-preserved games, toys and children's books from various eras are on display at the Mann House, showing what children enjoyed in the late 19th and early 20th century.


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HomeNationalLHC summons Asad Umar for controversial remarks against judiciary
LHC summons Asad Umar for controversial remarks against judiciary
By Mirror Web
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday summoned the secretary-general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Asad Umar in reaction to his statement criticizing the legal system and judiciary on November 26, the day the party ended its long march.
The appeal against the PTI leader's remarks disparaging the judiciary was filed by a second registrar of the court's Rawalpindi registry. It was heard by Justice Jawad Hassan of the LHC's Rawalpindi bench.
Advocate Faisal Chaudhry appeared before the court along with the deputy commissioner of Rawalpindi and the CPO to represent the defendant in the case.
Justice Hassan said during the hearing that in his address on November 26, Umar "targeted" the courts and judges.
The court stated that "Asad Umar scandalized the courts in his statement during the demonstration on November 26 and used contemptuous words against the judiciary."
Justice Hassan remarked, "No institution or personality can be made controversial, under Article 14 of the Constitution. The court has the authority to punish under Article 204(B) of the Constitution."
He summoned the PTI leader and requested the speech of Umar's video at the following hearing.
The hearing was later postponed until December 7 by the court.
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How do you remember 温度 ?
The main bone of contention is the temperature level of the air-conditioners.
It must be cooled to its liquefaction temperature.
Heat and moisture will germinate the seeds.
The temperature in the south will soar into the hundreds.
Pressure varies directly with temperature and inversely with volume.
The material requires higher temperatures and pressures to set hard.


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< backHome / Features / Yurts So Good
Yurts So Good
Kent Orms
Comfy digs and steep lines at the Bell Lake Yurt.
It's not hard to understand why most people don't take ski-camping trips in the winter. It can be uncomfortable: alternately sweating and freezing, then more freezing. It takes some skill, and nature discriminates against the unprepared. Camping out in the winter can also be really gear-intensive; you generally need good clothing and boots, a good sleeping bag, a tent, a stove, and cookware. And the lighter and tougher you want it, the more expensive it is. So, when I got an invitation late last winter to go a long, backcountry ski trip in the Tobacco Roots, I was excited but a little daunted. But the clincher was that we had a yurt lined up.
A yurt? That sounds a whole lot better. No tent, no cooking gear, and after a day of snow frolic, a warm, expansive place to hang out, eat, and sleep. Luxurious.
The Bell Lake Yurt sits at about 8,500 feet near Bell Lake, which is at the base of the 9,700-foot Branham Peak cirque about five miles west of Harrison. The yurt, operated by Montana Alpine Adventures, is about 20 feet in diameter, which they say holds eight people fairly comfortably. For us four skiers and two dogs, it was palatial. It was a gentle four- to six-mile skin, gaining a couple thousand feet, to the yurt from where I left my truck. This was about a half-mile from where my friends had gotten their vehicle stuck in the deep, soft snow.
When we set out, the snow was pretty sloppy, but firmed up as we gained altitude. After a three-hour skin up to the yurt, Cosmo-dog and I arrived well after dark. We were pretty beat, so the glow of the yurt with woodsmoke curling through the trees was quite a lovely site to behold. The boys already had a nice dinner ready with deer sausage, red pepper penne, parmesan, and wine. It beats the Powerbar, beef jerky, and melted-snow dinner of my past ski-camping trips. The old dogs got their food, which they always seem unimpressed with, and went straight to bed as we plotted the next day's turns.
The plan we came up with gave me immediate heartburn. The young, hardcore skier, Simon, really wanted to ski some steep, narrow chutes in the range across from the yurt. There was a lot of moderate terrain in the cirque, and it looked spectacular, but the whippersnapper insisted on the steep lines on the other ridge. A few of us exchanged looks but no one balked.
I should ski more before these trips, work out more, do lunges, and not be such a slug, I thought. Next year, for sure. The dinner sat hard in my belly as I tried to sleep. In the morning, everyone was quiet as we ate a light breakfast of yogurt, fruit, and granola and watched the sun come up over the peaks. It illuminated the dramatic chutes we'd soon be coming down—hopefully upright and not tumbling. We put skins on and left the warm yurt behind.
The snow was still hard as we skinned up a mellow ridge, stopping to rest every half hour or so. Within a couple of hours we were on a large saddle a thousand feet above the yurt. We rested for a bit, then did an easy ski off the backside bowl, skinned back up and relaxed, waiting for the snow to soften a bit. The view was extraordinary. We ticked off the mountain ranges in the white panorama before us: Centennials, Taylor-Hilgards, Lone Peak, Spanish Peaks, Bridgers, Absarokas, Elkhorns. Each stunning and each with its own adventures. And now we were off to ours: the long climb and crawl along the knife-edged ridge to the top of the chutes.
We strapped skis on our backs and bootpacked up to the rocky ridge. With a steady wind from the south and a thousand feet of freefall on either side of the arms-length-wide path, we moved slowly. Halfway across, a six-foot gap in the rocks blocked us. We planned to toss the packs, then jump and land on the canted, loose snow pile on the other side. I balked and climbed down the rock below, making my way. It was equally dubious, but I'll trust rock over spring snow any day.
We finally arrived at the chutes, and they were as steep from the top as they looked from the ground. Which, to me, was really steep. Steepness is a hard thing to relate, hard with description, hard with photography, and often overstated. Fifty degrees is really quite steep. It's not rope-up, Teton-Gravity-Research-films steep, but it's very steep for most skiers. Certainly it was for me, in skinny telemark skis older than the young guy with us, who was now clicked and locked in his burly AT setup. He nodded, then jumped in, losing four feet of vertical with every jump, swiveling and gracefully making his way along the only line there was: straight down. He slipped at a constriction not much wider than his skis and we held our breath. He recovered, took some deep breaths, then continued jump-turning down the bobsled chute.
We went on to the neighboring, slightly wider chute and quickly geared up. Mike jumped in first. His first few turns were a little shaky, but he soon found his rhythm and was a hundred feet down in just a few minutes. He climbed up the steep side walls of the chute, out of the avalanche slide path, then motioned to me for my turn. Past my skis, I could see the yurt—so warm, so comfortable, and so very far below.
Yurts and backcountry huts are available year-round throughout much of the state. To learn more, visit wintermt.com and click on "Things to Do"; yurt info is under the "Scenic Adventures" section. For more about the Bell Lake Yurt, visit skimba.com.
Tobacco Roots
Additional Articles: Why Camp in Winter?
Departments: Shedding Those Winter Pounds
Departments: Snowmobile Ski Rack
Magazine: Skiing the Skyline
Features: The Season of Ferment
Magazine: Avy Savvy
Magazine: Riding & Sliding
Magazine: The Tree in the Trail


KanbanFlow is a web based tool for project management. The methodology of KanbanFlow is drawn from the Japanese "kanban" system. It uses customizable columns and "cards" to visually represent both the tasks and the workflow of a project and to provide an overview of the situation at hand, and each card can have checklists and other details. KanbanFlow is freely available and works on any internet browser.


When summer nears in South Florida it signals the end of season for our "Snowbirds" . Once again preparations must be made to ensure the safety and security of your winter home here in the Florida Treasure Coast.
We have put together a handy Snowbird's Summer Checklist, so you can properly prepare your home for a hot, humid south Florida summer.
This checklist may save you time and money when you return next season!
If you would like to download and print this checklist - Click Here.


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[Clip] Doing good for the do-gooders
Most everyone has a favorite part of the holiday season. For some, it's the tradition of sharing a holiday meal with friends and family. For others, it's the look on their children's faces as they unwrap gifts from Santa Claus.
Toys and turkeys can get expensive, though. Especially in the current economy, some High Country residents will struggle to provide the basics, as well as holiday gifts and food, to their families. That's where the other spirit of the season comes in: the spirit of giving of oneself. Listed below are a few organizations that are working to make the holidays easier for families and individuals in need—and what you can do to help.
Santa's Toy Box
In 1986, Deerfield United Methodist Church started collecting used toys for underprivileged families. The toy drive immediately took off, but many of the toys had broken or missing pieces and couldn't be used.
By the late 1990s, church members started sending letters to the chamber of commerce, accepting donations from local merchants and purchasing new toys throughout the year.
Today, "a core group of six or seven people" makes up Santa's Toy Box, volunteer Helen Hurst said—and they haven't had a meeting yet.
"We just all know what we need to do, and we do it and it works," Hurst said.
Various businesses donate toys, shelving, space and more to Santa's Toy Box. K-Mart, Big Lots and Wal-Mart give discounts to the organization and notify them before a sale takes place.
Hurst and her husband, Al, contact the health department, local schools, Hospitality House and OASIS to see which High Country residents need help purchasing gifts for their children. They also send letters to previous participants and field phone calls from parents requesting help. Once the list is compiled, Al and Helen send appointment cards to each Toy Box recipient.
During their appointment, parents can choose gifts from three color-coded categories. "Blue" gifts are worth $20 or more, "red" gifts are worth $10 to $20 and "white" gifts are worth $10 or less. Each parent can choose one blue gift, one red gift and two white gifts, as well as a book and a stuffed animal, for each child.
Santa's Toy Box recipients must live in Watauga County and provide two forms of residency.
Hurst said people turn to Santa's Toy Box for a variety of reasons, from a lost job to a medical emergency, but the reason doesn't matter.
"If they can't provide Christmas for their kids, we're there for them," she said. "The kids need to have Santa Claus."
Send monetary donations to:
Boone, N.C. 28608
Or drop off a new, unopened toy at one of the following locations:
Southern States Subaru (Boone)
Charter Communications (Boone)
Holiday Inn Express (Blowing Rock)
Boone Pediatrics
Ross Chrysler Jeep Dodge (Boone)
Watauga Opportunities (Boone)
Boone Police Department
First Citizens Bank (Boone)
High Country Press (Boone)
The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign
The Red Kettle campaign is simple: Salvation Army staff and volunteers stand in front of local businesses and ring bells, asking for small donations that can be placed in the telltale red kettles.
This year's campaign started last Friday at K-Mart and Belk in Boone, and expanded Monday to Wal-Mart, Lowe's Foods, and Big Lots in Boone, as well as Lowe's Foods in Banner Elk.
All Red Kettle donations benefit the Salvation Army's services, which include a food pantry, clothing vouchers, furniture vouchers and financial assistance for families in need.
The campaign raises a major portion of the funds needed each year to provide those services in Watauga and Avery counties, Lieutenant Michael Chapman said, and this year, the need is great.
"People who have never [needed] assistance before are in a position where they're having to ask," she said.
How to Get Involved:
Simply drop off a donation at one of the locations listed above, or sign up to ring a bell. Individuals, church groups and civic organizations interested in volunteering can contact Chapman at 828-963-4184.
Community Food Drive
The Hunger & Health Coalition's annual Community Food Drive is underway. Collection boxes are spread throughout Watauga County to receive contributions of non-perishable food. All the food collected goes to the Hunger & Health Coalition's Food Pantry program, which provides food to low-income families.
"This time of year families need help," said Compton Fortuna, agency director, in a press release. "Many are out of work or can't find enough work to get by. The food from this food drive goes straight to these families that desperately need it."
Look for boxes around town to drop off non-perishable food items, or make a monetary donation online via PayPal at www.hungerandhealthcoalition.com. For more information, call 828-262-1628.


The sixth volume of Water-in-Plants Bibl iography includes papers in all fields of plant wa-rer relations research which appeared during the year 1980 - from theore- tical considerations about the state of water in cells and its membl"ane transport to drought resistance of plants or physiological significance of irrigation. In addition to papers devoted entirely to plant water I"elations, papers on other topics are included if they contain data on plant hydration level, water vapour efflux, ra- te of water uptake or 'later transport, etc., or if they contain valuable methodolo- gical informati-on (measurement of selected microcl imatic factors, soi I nx:>isture, etc. ). We have tried to cover fully the relevant papers whi ch have been publ ished in the rTDst important scienti fie periodicals and books. Articles appeared in local journals, mirreographed booklets, abstracts of thesis and of symposia contributions, etc., were chosen rTDstly from reprints received directly from authors. The courtesy of those authors who have already supplied us with reprints and lists of their - bl ications is highly appreciated. The manuscript is usually prepared in ~1ay and June of the year 10110l,ing the year which it covers. Unfortunataly some reprints come later and thus the respective references appear in the following vol ume, with one year delay. To maximize the value of the bibliography the references are alTanged alphabeti- cally according to the authors' names, and each volume is provided "ith three indexes.
References no. 6606-8128 / AAS-ZOB.


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Joe Sheftel, Appointed to Post at Hammer Museum, Will Close Lower East Side Gallery
The gallery will shutter on October 25.
Cait Munro, October 19, 2015
Joe Sheftel. Photo: Zimbio.
Art dealer Joe Sheftel has announced that he will shutter his eponymous Lower East Side gallery on October 25. The decision to close the space is concurrent with his appointment to director of donor relations at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles. Sheftel will begin the position in late November.
"It has been exhilarating to run a gallery on the Lower East Side," Sheftel writes in a statement he sent out over email. "I have so much gratitude for the support we have received from friends, artists, curators, critics, gallerists, collectors, members of the press, art fairs, museums and the art viewing public. The ability to play a role in the careers of artists has been challenging and rewarding, but the time has come to move on to new adventures."
Prior to opening the space in 2012, Sheftel worked in various galleries, as an art adviser, and even, briefly, as a lawyer. He has shown Alex Da Corte, Adam Henry, and Gary Keuhn, among several others.
The gallery's current show, "Matthew Watson: Softening Boxes" features paintings that riff on the various sensory experiences of being inside a home. It will run until the 25th.
In his new role, Sheftel will work under director Ann Philbin to spearhead fundraising efforts. The museum is known for its high-profile patrons, and recently hosted a star-studded annual gala attended by Diane Keaton, Julia Roberts, Steve Martin, and Will Ferrell.
In a separate email to artnet News, Sheftel expressed excitement about moving to L.A. "I love the history of art in Los Angeles and I have been inspired to see how it has grown from the time of the light and space artists to the artists producing in L.A. today," he said. "It seems that there is an increased appreciation for the more democratic artist-centric approach of L.A.'s galleries and museums."
Sheftel isn't the first New Yorker itching for a taste of the California sunshine. Gallerists Michele Maccarone and Adam Lindemann have both set up high-profile Los Angeles outposts. However, Sheftel has no plans to open up any kind of gallery space in the future, noting that the museum context "feels like the ideal place to work as part of a team helping realize artistic and curatorial goals."
Congrats to Joe Sheftel!
Cait Munro
What Are Top Dealers Bringing to FIAC in Paris?
By Henri Neuendorf , Oct 19, 2015
Photographer Astronaut Captures Stunning Painterly Views of the Earth
By Sarah Cascone , Oct 19, 2015


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Robert H. Newman
Co-Chair, Privacy, Security & Data Innovations
rnewman@loeb.com
电话 +1.312.464.3356
品牌、广告和推广
Advertising Disputes
Advertising Technology
Sponsorships & Brand Integrations
Rob Newman counsels clients in connection with privacy, data security, marketing, e-commerce and intellectual property matters. He advises consumer brands, agencies, content creators, and publishers on privacy and marketing regulatory compliance, the protection and commercialization of their creative properties, and litigation risk avoidance in connection with data privacy, intellectual property and emerging technologies.
Recognized as a "Client Service All-Star" (BTI Consulting Group), Rob is a trusted business advisor working closely with clients to protect their data and creative advantages in the following areas:
Data Privacy and Security: Regulatory and compliance counseling, including with respect to transparency, targeted and programmatic advertising, "big data," consumer rights, privacy-by-design, mobile marketing, digital media, and cross-border matters. Rob advises clients on the privacy implications associated with new technologies, negotiates deals involving significant data assets, and assists clients in the assessment and development of internal data privacy and security practices in view of the evolving regulatory landscape.
Advertising, Marketing, and Promotions: Advertising clearance for traditional and interactive advertising campaigns, and counseling on consumer protection issues, design and implementation of promotions, and new media matters, including text message marketing, user-generated content, and social media.
Trademarks and Brand Protection: Trademark selection and clearance, assistance with the development of branding strategies, trademark prosecution, and global trademark portfolios management. Rob also advises on domain name strategies and new gTLD matters.
IP Transactions, Licensing, and E-Commerce: IP and privacy matters associated with mergers, acquisitions, outsourcing, transition services, and other significant corporate transactions. In addition, Rob counsels clients on software and mobile application development, end-user licenses, application service provider agreements, and software licensing.
IP Disputes and Litigation: False advertising, copyright, trademark, domain name, defamation, right of publicity, and unfair competition disputes and litigation, as well as UDRP proceedings and matters before the National Advertising Division and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Talent, Music, and Copyright: Music and content licenses, and high-level talent agreements for use in advertising and branded entertainment. Rob also counsels content creators and content providers on the protection and commercialization of their music, literary, and other creative properties.
Rob is an adjunct faculty member of Chicago-Kent College of Law and has also taught at The John Marshall Law School's Center for Intellectual Property, Information and Privacy Law.
Rob is actively involved in pro bono service on behalf of several prominent music and arts organizations. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers for the Creative Arts and Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO).
Nevada Amends Online Privacy Law to Add New Consumer Opt-Out Rights
Client Alerts/Reports
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What Big Law, Tech Leaders Say About California's New Data-Privacy Law
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A Perilous Patchwork: Data Privacy and Civil Liability in the Era of Data Breach
查看所有新闻 查看所有见解
2019 ANA/BAA Marketing Law Conference
Adweek NexTech
Chicago-Kent College of Law, 法学博士
University of Illinois, 文学学士
所属法院
美国伊利诺伊州北部地区地方法院
荣誉及所属机构
Named a "Best Lawyer" in Privacy and Data Security Law, by The Best Lawyers in America (2020)
Named in The Legal 500 US in Cyber Law, published by Legalease Limited and John Pritchard (2019)
Named a "Client Service All-Star" by BTI Consulting Group (2018)
Named among "Top Emerging Lawyers in Illinois" in Intellectual Property Law by the Leading Lawyers Network (2015-2019)
Board of Directors, Illinois Legal Aid Online
Board of Directors, Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Adjunct Professor, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Legal Affairs Council and Privacy Subcommittee, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB)
Privacy Committee, American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's)
Former Co-Chair of the Internet and Privacy Subcommittee of the IP Litigation Committee, American Bar Association
Former Chair of the Trademark Transactions Committee, former Vice Chair of the Trademark Litigation and Trademark Legislation Committees, and former Annual Review Vice Chair (Copyright Division), American Bar Association
Former member, Internet Committee and GAC Subcommittee, International Trademark Association (INTA)
Member, The Recording Academy
Client Alerts/Reports Fake Reviews Lead to Real FTC Enforcement Actions
Client Alerts/Reports Supreme Court Leaves in Place Ruling Requiring Websites and Apps to Comply with ADA
Client Alerts/Reports EU Court Determines Responsibility for Social Plug-ins on Website
Sponsored Newport Beach Jazz Party


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Green Focus On: Lexus
8th July 2021 AnalysisElectric (BEV)Green Company CarLatest News
AnalysisElectric (BEV)Green Company CarLatest News
FOCUS ON: Lexus
Hybrid brand Lexus is now moving towards full electrification
Lexus has been the premium brand most renowned for so-called 'self-charging' hybrids, as has also been the case with its parent brand, Toyota, in the mainstream arena.
According to the brand, more than two million Lexus hybrids have been sold since 2005, when the RX400h became the world's first luxury hybrid, and the manufacturer now has a total of nine hybrid or battery electric vehicles in its portfolio, sold in more than 90 countries.
But the Japanese prestige brand is shifting in line with the industry's moves to electrification, and has recently launched its first full electric car (see Lexus UX300e Star Car, right), as part of a desire to introduce at least 10 new full electric, plug-in hybrid or regular hybrid models by 2025. By that point, the company says it will have electric versions of each of its models, with plug-in cars at that time outnumbering petrol-engined vehicles.
✪ STAR CAR ✪
Lexus UX300e
The UX is the first fully electric car from Lexus or its parent company, automotive giant Toyota, and is the smallest of the brand's SUV range. It joined the line-up in March.
CO2 EMISSIONS?
HOW QUICK IS IT?
The 150kW electric motor puts out the equivalent of 201hp. It's certainly powerful enough to be something of a handful delivering the levels of power through the front wheels on damp roads.
WHATS THE RANGE?
Lexus is almost too honest in not scraping another mile or few out of the range to make the crucial 200-mile figure. The official number is 196 miles on a full charge from the 54kWh battery.
IS IT TAX EFFICIENT?
Very. The 1% company car Benefit-in-Kind tax band doubles to 2% for the next two years from next April, but that will still only mean a bill of less that £29 per month for a 40% taxpayer.
ANYTHING ELSE I NEED TO KNOW?
In a bit of a change for an EV, the boot space is actually 47 litres larger than the 'self-charging' hybrid UX can offer, thanks to the better packaging of the car's electric-only powertrain.
Lexus has been at the forefront of hybrid premium vehicles over the best part of two decades now, and the only car in its seven-strong line-up not exclusively sold with a petrol-hybrid powertrain is the 464hp LC coupe and convertible. Its UX, NX and RX SUVs, and ES and LS saloons plus the RC coupe all come with a petrol engine mated to a small battery and electric motor that's capable of powering the car alone for short periods. It's worth noting that all six get slightly different engines and power levels – no two models share the exact same powertrain.
NEW POWERTRAINS
Although, unlike some manufacturers, Lexus isn't putting a date on phasing out non-plug-in powertrains, it has said new EV, PHEV and hybrid models will be introduced "in line with the needs of each country and region around the world and based on the concept of offering the right products in the right place at the right time".
It has also declared that it's aiming for carbon neutrality of the entire lifecycle, from manufacturing of materials, parts and vehicles to logistics, disposal and recycling of older vehicles, by 2050.
"While fulfilling our social mission of realising a carbon-neutral society, we will continue to provide the fun and joy that cars bring, and we will contribute to the happiness and smiles of our customers and everyone involved with Lexus," says company president Koji Sato.
Lexus has revealed a concept car called LF-Z, a model that it says "incorporates driving performance, styling and technologies for realisation by 2025".
Built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, the LF-Z features a four-wheel driving force control system that uses the instant EV responsiveness to offer what the brand called "superior and highly flexible driving performance".
It has AI systems that learn the driver's behavioural traits to propose the likes of routes or restaurant reservations.
Lexus claims a range of more than 370 miles from the 90kWh battery, and says the 536hp electric motor will take the LF-Z from 0-62mph in 3.0 seconds.
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First Drive: LEXUS NX450h+
Green Focus On: Hyundai
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Rory Alexander McArdle (ur. 1 maja 1987 w Sheffield) – północnoirlandzki piłkarz występujący na pozycji obrońcy. Zawodnik klubu Bradford City.

Kariera klubowa
McArdle zawodową karierę rozpoczynał w 2005 roku w angielskim zespole Sheffield Wednesday z Championship. Przed debiutem w jego barwach, w sierpniu 2005 roku został wypożyczony do Rochdale z League Two. W tych rozgrywkach zadebiutował 17 września 2005 roku w wygranym 2:0 pojedynku z Mansfield Town. W marcu 2006 roku wrócił do Sheffield. 19 sierpnia 2006 roku w wygranym 2:1 spotkaniu z Plymouth Argyle zadebiutował w Championship. Było to jednocześnie jedyne spotkanie rozegrane przez niego dla Sheffield.
W listopadzie 2006 roku McArdle ponownie został wypożyczony do Rochdale, a w styczniu 2007 roku podpisał z nim kontrakt. Jego barwy reprezentował przez 3,5 roku.

W połowie 2010 roku odszedł do szkockiego Aberdeen. W Scottish Premier League zadebiutował 14 sierpnia 2010 roku w wygranym 4:0 spotkaniu z Hamilton Academical. 30 października 2010 roku w przegranym 1:2 pojedynku z St. Mirren strzelił pierwszego gola w Scottish Premier League.

Kariera reprezentacyjna
W reprezentacji Irlandii Północnej McArdle zadebiutował 26 maja 2010 roku w przegranym 0:2 towarzyskim meczu z Turcją.

Bibliografia

Reprezentanci Irlandii Północnej w piłce nożnej
Angielscy piłkarze
Piłkarze Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Piłkarze Rochdale A.F.C.
Piłkarze Aberdeen F.C.
Piłkarze Bradford City A.F.C.
Urodzeni w 1987
Ludzie urodzeni w Sheffield


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Private Equity News
Stock Exchanges News
Impact Investing News
African Capital Markets News
News and developments on African capital markets: African securities, African stock exchanges, African equities, African bonds, African private equity/venture capital, and African social impact investment. Twitter @africancapital, LinkedIn African Securities Exchanges group.
Archive for the 'Hedge Funds' Category
Women hedge fund managers outperform men
January 23rd, 2014 by Tom Minney
For the second year running, women hedge-fund managers outperform men on average, according to a Reuters report of a study by professional services firm Rothstein Kass. It quotes Meredith Jones, a director at Rothstein Kass, who said it could feed speculation that women are better investors: "There have been studies that show that testosterone can make men less sensitive to risk-reward signals, and that comes through in this study."
The firm has its own Women in Alternative Investments Index which includes 80 of roughly 125 hedge funds worldwide run by women. It said that, over the period 1 Jan – 30 Nov 2013, the hedge funds run by women and tracked by the index returned 9.8%, compared to only 6.13% gain in the HFRX Global Hedge Fund index. Over 6 years from Jan 2007 to June 2013, hedge funds run by women returned 6%, compared with a 1.1% loss at the HFRX Global Fund Index.
The Standard & Poor's 500 stock index gained 4.2 percent during the same time.
Although the hedge fund industry manages $2.5 trillion, hedge funds run by women manage only a tiny fraction. Although some institutional investors such as Connecticut's pension fund have programs designed to make allocations to firms run by women and minorities, the small size and number of women-run funds has been its own barrier to large investments.
Jones said that an Oct 2013 survey of 440 senior women, including fund managers, investors, and service providers, showed growing optimism about the role of women in an industry historically dominated by men.
Tags: fund managers, hedge funds, Meredith Jones, Rothstein Kass, women. Fund manager,Hedge Funds,Women Closed
Are capital markets taking a wrong turn? Soul-searching on short-termism after UK's Kay Review
July 26th, 2012 by Tom Minney
Lots of useful commentary is published this week about what's going wrong with the world's leading capital markets and finance. This new bout of soul-searching follows the publication of Prof John Kay's "The Kay Review of UK Equity Markets and Long-Term Decision Making" on 23 July and available here (and the Interim Report, published in February, with much of the evidence is available here.
The Prof says that equity markets are not working as effectively as they could. "We conclude that short-termism is a problem in UK equity markets, and that the principal causes are the decline of trust and the misalignment of incentives throughout the equity investment chain". He says that successful financial intermediation depends on: "Trust and confidence are the product of long-term commercial and personal relationships: trust and confidence are not generally created by trading between anonymous agents attempting to make short term gains at each other's expense."
He blames the prevailing culture and says that people don't only work for financial incentives, as widely promoted in current City culture – "Most people have more complex goals, but they generally behave in line with the values and aspirations of the environment in which they find themselves." Prof Kay puts forward a series of 17 recommendations on how to make things better and this could be useful reading for anyone involved in developing capital markets with an aiming to help grow savings and create better performing businesses. This includes fiduciary standards of care if you manage other peoples' money, diminishing the current role of trading and transactional cultures, high-level statements of good practice, improving the interactions of asset managers and other investors with investee companies, and tackling misaligned incentives in remuneration, and reducing pressures for short-term decision making. The Guardian newspaper's Nils Pratley has a useful summary of some of the best recommendations here, ironically coupled with a beautiful rosy photograph of the City!
One background comment is by Evening Standard columnist Anthony Hilton here. He says "The behaviours that led Deputy Governor of the Bank of England Paul Tucker to use the word "cesspool" when giving evidence to the Treasury Select Committee on Libor come in a straight line from the reforms imposed on the Stock Exchange by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1986 when she forced it to open up membership to all comers, and in particular to abolish single capacity — the arrangement under which firms had to confine themselves to a single activity in which they acted for themselves or for the client, but not both… From being a servant of the real economy, finance began its journey towards becoming an end in itself, with deals done not because they had economic rationale but because they made money for bankers and costs, both direct and indirect, that impose a colossal and unnecessary burden on that real economy." He adds that this kept the system honest "or rather it was dishonest in a less poisonous way. Until Big Bang, the problems came from dishonest people working in honest firms; today the problems are caused by honest people working in dishonest firms. The culture is rotten." This brought world-beating businesses low "by policies designed to pander to the stock market rather than secure the businesses' long-term future for its customers, employees and indeed the country." He says the rewards of finance should belong to customers, not their advisers.
Kay also notes that index investing, as growing popular in some African markets with the rise of ETF (exchange-traded funds) and other derivatives, may not represent a strategy for representative returns, see this Financial Times summary. He also urges less securities lending.
Most of the leading commentators though conclude that the view is rather rose-tinted, and not in touch with the real world. The Financial Times Lex Column says (unfortunately this link may be subscribers only, but you did not miss much if you don't find a way around): "Dig a little deeper though and this vision – which includes an attack on the efficient markets hypothesis – is flawed". It says although investors should engage more with companies a falling share price is better incentive for a manager to perform well than a phonecall and that quarterly reporting helps people see what's going on and reduces insider trading. It points to the UK's "shareholder spring" in which investors forced change at companies such as Aviva and AstraZeneca. Another Financial Times summary of reaction is that Kay is "no silver bullet" and while people may agree with his views "some.. may prove challenging to implement in practice". Some recommendations can be implemented by the industry, including investors' forums for collective long-term engagement and good stewardship, others such as calls for asset managers to disclose all costs, including transaction costs and performance fees charged to funds, may be carried out voluntarily. Only a few may be carried out through legislation, and many others (apart from Lex) support removal of obligations for quarterly reporting and argue that managers' time could be better spent elsewhere.
It's a week of interesting reading for people, including many in Africa, building capital markets that are meant to serve economies, the creation of business growth and jobs, and also to encourage more long-term savings.
Discussion is very welcome!
Tags: African stock exchange, Anthony Hilton, capital markets, ethics, Evening Standard, Financial Times, governance, Guardian, incentives, John Kay, Kay Review, Nils Pratley, regulators, short-termism. Asset management,Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF),Financial Services,Governance,Hedge Funds,Social and Governance,Stock Exchanges,Strategy 3 Comments
JSE stock exchange unveils new Africa strategy
April 2nd, 2012 by Tom Minney
This morning (2 April) South Africa's securities exchange, the JSE Ltd, announced a revised strategy to attract more listings from African countries, as they say international interest in investing into the continent's growth story continues to soar. The JSE is closing its Africa Board and moving the 2 listed companies onto the Main Board (listing requirements for the Africa Board are the same as for the Main Board) or to Alt-X if they are growth companies. The JSE is also stepping up trading in depository receipts (DRs) and offering a broader range of exchange-traded funds and debt instruments.
Siobhan Cleary, Director of Strategy and Public Policy at the JSE, said in a press release: "The JSE's existing African offering includes 12 African companies. In future, there will be no differentiation (for listing purposes). For equities, this will mean that we will list the companies on the Main Board or AltX as applicable. We will also actively market and profile the African companies that are already listed."
She says the move is driven by demand for capital and also by the increasing supply of capital from investors. African consumer markets are increasingly being targeted by local companies and companies from overseas, including a growing wave of foreign direct investment activity. Other very active channels for investments are private equity funds, hedge funds and other investors. "We think it is time that stock exchanges started to play an appropriate role in channelling the investments."
In October 2011 South Africa's National Treasury announced that companies previously viewed as foreign listings would in future be treated as domestic and this makes it easier for South Africans to invest in JSE-listed African stocks and makes it easier for foreign companies to raise capital. South African institutions will apparently be able to include JSE listed companies among their domestic asset holdings. Second, the JSE has developed good relations with several stock exchanges on the continent through the African Stock Exchanges Association and the Committee of SADC Stock Exchanges. Third, there are increasing investment flows into the continent's markets and more funds focused on the region, seen as high growth compared to many world markets.
Nathan Mintah, Chairman of the JSE's Africa Advisory Committee, commented: "This evolution in JSE's strategy is a step in the right direction in the quest to increase capital flows into the rest of Africa. Offering issuers and investors the 'whole JSE' market platform for access to instruments across the capital structure in equities, mezzanine, and fixed income combined with the JSE's liquidity will clearly benefit all stakeholders and serve as a catalyst for product innovation in areas such as exchange traded products for the rest of Africa."
The JSE is diversifying the instrument range it offers investors from the rest of the continent. Cleary says: "We already have four interest-rate instruments from the rest of the continent, as well as an African exchange-traded product. We will give increased focus to listing further debt and quasi-equity products in future. These will also include DRs, which are traded like shares and offer investors the same economic, corporate and voting rights as holding underlying shares directly. DRs enable issuers to reach investors located outside their home markets while reducing the risk of cross-border investment." The JSE altered its listing requirements last year to accommodate DRs, which will provide a way for African companies to raise capital on the JSE without requiring a secondary listing. DRs are applicable for African companies regardless of whether they have an existing listing on an African exchange or any other exchange. Freely traded in South African Rands, this will allow African companies to market themselves to both South African and international investors.
Cleary says there is a pipeline of companies interested and she expects more African listings this year. The JSE is competing with international exchanges such as London and New York for key listings, and also with Australia and Toronto for mining listings. Recently Nigeria's Aliko Dangote said (see article in Financial Times, for instance) he would take the $11bn Dangote Cement for a London listing in 2013, and last year Zambia's Zambeef also opted for London.
The two listings on the JSE Africa Board, launched in February 2009, were Trustco from Namibia and Wilderness Safaris from Botswana. The JSE says both prefer to be ranked with their sector peers and in industry sectors. Quinton van Rooyen, Trustco Group MD, commented: "This repositioning of Trustco allows the company, whilst keeping its African identity, to be benchmarked against its peers, on a world-class platform. This can only be beneficial to Trustco and the extensive African investment community." The JSE is also pledging roadshows and analyst events to highlight the African companies from outside South Africa.
The JSE believes that its approach provides a workable solution to the sometimes complex issue of investment on the continent. The JSE's approach also contributes to the development of markets within their own economies. Cleary added: "There is an opportunity for the JSE to work with these exchanges and various development institutions to build capacity on the continent. It also gives the JSE the opportunity to evolve its Africa strategy. This has meant looking critically at what issuers – companies, governments and others – from the rest of the continent are looking for, and aligning their needs with the JSE's objectives," says Cleary.
Tags: African capital markets, African equities, African listing, African stock exchange, Depository Receipts, fixed-interest, JSE, JSE Ltd, listing, Nathan Mintah, Quinton van Rooyen, Siobhan Cleary, Trustco, Wilderness. Debt,Depositary Receipts,Dual listing,Equities,Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF),Global Depository Receipts (GDRs),Hedge Funds,Listing,South Africa,Stock Exchanges Closed
Stock Exchange of Mauritius aims to be global centre for listing funds
July 6th, 2011 by Tom Minney
The dynamic Stock Exchange of Mauritius (www.stockexchangeofmauritius.com) is pushing ahead with a wide range of activities aimed at building its role as a secure base for international funding transactions and an African alternative to international listing venues. It is moving to becoming a multi-product exchange aimed at the international market, through rapid development from its origins as an exchange focused only on the domestic market.
According to the website: "In the years to come, the split of listings on SEM is expected to overwhelmingly consist of international funds, international issuers, specialized debt instruments, Africa-focused Exchange-traded funds and other structured products. As SEM also aspires to emerge as a capital-raising platform for Africa-focused investments routed through the Global Business Sector, the SEM platform will growingly (sic) be used to channel investment flows from SA/Europe/Asia into Africa and from USA/Europe into Asia." Mauritius combines good regulation with flexibility and has been a key base for funds including private equity funds investing into Africa and into India.
The bourse is aiming for a wide range and growing numbers of issuers, players and investors, increasing the breadth and depth of the Mauritius market and integrating the Mauritius financial services sector within the international financial system.
It made major changes to the Listing Rules (early 2010) to align them with the government's Collective Investment Schemes Regulations 2008, positioning SEM as an attractive venue for listing Global and Specialised Funds, in line with the strategic shifts. The Listing Rules are more flexible to reflect the specific attributes and characteristics of the specialised funds to be listed. SEM aims to be platform of choice for listing a wide variety of funds such as Specialised Collective Investment Schemes, Professional Collective Schemes Export Funds, Global Schemes as part of diversifying product offerings and emerging as an international exchange. The management also commits to aggressive timing in processing listing applications and a competitive listing fee structure. In May 2011, SEM introduced Chapter 18 in the SEM's Listing Rules, to cater for the listing of specialist companies and specialist debt instruments, targeted at qualified investors.
It is one of the African leaders in multi-currency trading and (since 2010) can trade and settle equity and debt products in Euro and GBP. From June 2011 it was the first exchange in Africa to list, trade and settle equity products in USD.
It supplies real time data through top global vendors such as Thompson Reuters, Financial Times and Bloomberg (since early 2010). The data coverage by global vendors is a powerful marketing medium to enhance SEM's visibility internationally and put the exchange on the radar screen of a wider spectrum of international investors, thus attracting more foreign investor interest on our market. Mauritius is one of the few African exchanges to be connected to Bloomberg and Thompson Reuters real-time. Growing interest from international investors has prompted index and data providers including Standard & Poors, Morgan Stanley, Dow Jones and FTSE to include SEM in new indexes recently launched to track the evolution of key frontier emerging markets.
Over the last 10 years, the Mauritius Bourse has attracted strong foreign investor interest, generating positive investment inflows into many listed companies. 2010 was a record year for net foreign investment inflows. "For 2011, we are already stepping up our efforts via international conferences and roadshows, to place the SEM on the radar screen of institutional investors who are keen on frontier emerging markets that are well regulated and adhere to international best practice", says the website.
SEM also has ambitions to contribute more broadly to the development of the Mauritian economy and to help grow capital market activities nationally and throughout Africa.
Highlights of recent history
SEM became a full member of the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE – www.world-exchanges.org) in November 2005. This is a high standard and shows that SEM is in the top rank in terms of stringent standards and market principles required to be accepted to this status by the WFE, which sets the standards for registered securities markets worldwide. The standards are recognized by industry, regulators and supervisorss. The WFE membership helps ensure that foreign investors play a growing role – "in a typical year, foreign investments represent 25–35% of trading activities on our market" according to the website.
The Development & Enterprise Market (DEM) was set up in 2006 This is the market for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME's) and newly set-up companies with sound business plans and showing growth potential. Companies can use the advantages and facilities of an organised and regulated market to raise capital for growth, to improve liquidity in their shares, to obtain an objective market valuation and to enhance their corporate image.
Since March 2010, the SEM was designated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) as an "Approved Stock Exchange" by virtue of its membership of the WFE for the purposes of CIMA's Mutual Funds Law, Banks and Trust Companies Law, Insurance Law, Companies Management Law and Securities Investment Business Law. This raises SEM's profile as a well-structured and properly regulated exchange and enhances SEM's position as an attractive listing venue for global and specialised funds.
From 31 January 2011, SEM has been designated by the United Kingdom tax authorities, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as a "recognised Stock Exchange" under section 1005 (1) (b) Income Tax Act 2007. This means that securities admitted to trading and listed on the Official Market of the SEM will meet the HMRC interpretation of "listed" as set out in section 1005 (3) (a) and (3) (b) Income Tax Act 2007 and for Inheritance Tax purposes. This designation confers potential benefits such as permitting UK pension schemes to hold securities listed on the Official Market of SEM, giving companies and funds listed on SEM access to a larger market of sophisticated, well-capitalised investors. The designation reinforces SEM's attractiveness as a listing venue for global funds and specialized products. Securities listed on the Official Market of the SEM may be held in tax advantaged Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) and Personal Equity Plans (PEPs) by UK investors. Holders of debt securities satisfying the Eurobond exemption and listed on the Official Market of the SEM are exempted from withholding tax on distributions underlying these debt securities. Inheritance tax advantages may accrue to UK holders of securities listed on the Official Market of the SEM.
Tags: Bloomberg, collective investment schemes, debt instruments, Dow Jones, Financial Times, international funds, JP Morgan, listing requirements, multi-currency trading, regulation, specialized funds, Standard & Poors, Stock Exchange of Mauritius, Thompson Reuters. Bonds,Collective investment schemes,Debt,Dual listing,Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF),Hedge Funds,Innovation,Mauritius,Stock Exchanges 4 Comments
More career opportunities in Africa's capital markets
November 30th, 2010 by Tom Minney
Many financial institutions are gearing up their staffing as they start to roll out their African operations. These include banks, stockbrokers and others. African Capital Markets News interviewed Frank Behrendt, of recruiter Clement May (http://www.clementmay.com), on the trends and the opportunities.
ACMN: Do you think Africa is a growing opportunity?
FB: I had spent 3 years in Singapore recruiting bankers for Asia. Upon my return to the UK I realised that Africa is on the move, and decided to get involved. That was March 2010. At Clement May we have built a good network of bankers – on the continent and in the hubs of London, New York, Johannesburg and Hong Kong (and Moscow) – who are focussing on Africa.
There is a great need for real talent in the African banking sector, and although there are some recruitment firms that focus on Africa, it is a very underdeveloped market in terms of quality recruitment firms (as always, the recruitment sector follows the banking sector in that regard). It has therefore been relatively straightforward to establish ourselves as an African specialist.
ACMN: What are the changing trends in African investing?
FB: Up until last year, the active players in the secondary markets of Sub-Saharan Africa were mainly boutiques. That has changed. More and more international "bulge bracket" banks are eyeing up Africa and including it in their growth strategies. Already counting some of these banks as our clients in Europe and Asia, this puts us in a strong position to address their growth plans and further extend our reach into Africa.
ACMN: Is a lot of new market infrastructure being built? Are new fields of activity opening up?
FB: Stock exchanges on the African continent are improving their services through collaboration with the big international exchanges and improved technology. Local banks are commanding a bigger portion of the volume going through the system and it seems this development is on the rise. As international bulge bracket interest in Africa is on the rise, the share in market volume that these banks can win is dwindling due to the rise of local players.
Global banks are taking a very active interest across disciplines. While the primary markets have gained in strength over the last number of years, the real evidence of increased activity is in the secondary markets. Liquidity has improved immensely over the last year or so and trading in African equities has also increased significantly, both on the ground in Sub-Saharan Africa and around the world.
ACMN: What do you see of Hedge Funds/institutional investors?
FB: More and more Hedge Funds focus on SSA. More international Asset Managers increase the portion of funds invested in SSA. More local fund houses are opening up. The appetite for SSA equities is growing exponentially as a result.
ACMN: Is there a marked increase in the number of jobs available?
FB: Definitely, yes! As the international bulge bracket banks are expanding their businesses, jobs are available on the ground and in the hubs (i.e. Johannesburg, London, Hong Kong and New York). This in turn is spurring greater hiring activity by local firms as well, and so on. Jobs in secondary markets are growing more than primary markets headcounts.
ACMN: What sort of jobs are available?
FB: Private equity jobs are and have through the last 5 years been the most abundant. M&A and corporate finance jobs have been pretty constant over the last few years, but a new surge is ongoing. In secondary markets, research teams are being built both on the ground across SSA and also in the hubs (as above). Sales and execution teams are in the pipeline. I anticipate there being a surge in Sales, Sales Trading and Trading hires in mid-2011. Most of these jobs will be based in London, Johannesburg and New York servicing the international institutional client base. But there are also many headcount needed for positions on the ground in SSA. Of these, most are in Nigeria, then Kenya.
ACMN: Is it hard to find the right people for the jobs?
FB: Not too hard. There is a huge community of very well-educated Africans around the world. Whereas, only a couple of years ago, very few of them would consider a return to their home country, these days, more and more are actively seeking to return, in order to contribute to society with their education and experience. This is obviously connected to the increased activity in the banking sector, and the remuneration packages now available.
ACMN: Are the jobs mostly being filled by Africans?
FB: The banks are mostly looking for natives of the country in which the hiring is taking place. Only for very senior positions will foreign candidates be considered. This does not stem from immigration policy only (although that can also be a consideration as visas become harder to obtain), but also from a desire to have fully culturally assimilated staff in place. Needless to say, jobs in the hubs of London, New York and others focussing on SSA are being filled by candidates from across the spectrum and regardless of nationality. I have seen quite a few bankers on Asian desks in London shift their focus to Africa.
ACMN: What skills/experience do job applicants require?
FB: Some sort of degree, preferably from an international university. MBAs are even more desirable (and a lot of professionals are taking this to heart). At least 3 years' work experience with an international bank. As banking in Africa is still relatively vanilla and functions often overlap, specific skill sets are not as important as the desire to return home and contribute. I have seen examples of people hired for equity research, although their entire work history was in M&A etc.
Banks,Hedge Funds,Human resources,Private Equity,Stock Exchanges,Stockbrokers Closed
Liberia reaches deal with 2 "vulture funds"
Liberia has reached a deal with 2 "vulture funds" who had taken it to court to repay debts incurred more than 30 years ago. According to a report on the BBC, Liberia is to pay just over 3% of the $43 million (£27 million) that they claimed it owed.
The companies are Hamsah Investment and Wall Capital, reportedly registered in the Caribbean although Hamsah is linked by the BBC to the boss of a US hedge fund. They had taken Liberia to court in New York and London, rather than join other creditors in accepting a debt write-off, although the final deal agreed seems close to the 3 cents in the dollar agreed with other creditors.
The BBC story says it is thought Liberia borrowed $6.5m (£4.1m) from the US-based Chemical Bank in 1978 and that debt may have been resold a number of times, but it says details of the debts are not clear. Another investor interviewed in an very watchable BBC film clip said he had bought debts from a bank that was not even aware that it had them. It is also not clear how the amount had soared to $43 million.
The 2009 London ruling ordered Liberia to pay $20m (£12m) – then equivalent to about 5% of the national budget. Liberia is still very poor and trying to rebuild after a 14-year brutal civil war ended in 2003. It is estimated that 250,000 people – one in 12 of the population – died. According to a report in the UK Guardian newspaper last year, average life expectancy is just 45, according to the World Bank. The money the two firms are claiming amounts to half the country's health and education budget.
Liberia's Finance Minister, Augustine Ngafuan, was reported as saying Liberia now had the structures in place to ensure that it did not rack up debts it could not afford to repay. At first Liberia wanted to challenge the court orders to repay the debt, but now seems to believe a settlement would be cheaper.
"Vulture funds" buy up the defaulted debts of poor countries and then demand swift repayment. Nick Dearden, of Jubilee Debt Campaign (www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk), was reported as telling the BBC's Network Africa programme such funds worked by "harassing" poor, indebted countries: "They try to extract money from anyone trading with or investing in the country in question so, in the end, the country feels it doesn't have much option." He added that: "Liberia got a pretty big discount on the debt".
Mr Ngafuan said: "We had to take extraordinary measures to ensure that monies coming to Liberia were not seized. It was a tough year."
In September, the BBC reported that the 19-nation Paris Club of lenders pardoned $1.2bn (£764m) worth of debt owed by Liberia. At the end of June 2007, the country's external debt was about $4.4bn and debt servicing took up a lot of the budget.
Mr Ngafuan said: "Since 2006, our government has not borrowed a dime from any country… In fact, we ran what is called a cash-based balance budget, meaning that Liberia lives within its means."
On cancelling the debt, the Paris Club said it welcomed "Liberia's determination to continue to implement a comprehensive poverty reduction strategy and an ambitious economic programme providing the basis for sustainable economic growth".
The British Parliament passed a law in April that vulture funds should not be able to use UK courts again but there is a campaign underway at the Jubilee Debt Campaign that this should be extended beyond 1 year.
Debt,Hedge Funds,Liberia Closed
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I'm sure you've heard numerous health experts preach about going gluten free, but do you have the slightest idea what gluten is? Gluten is a protein found in wheat. You likely grew up with wheat products around your home, such as bread and pastries, flour and snacks, and grew up just fine, right? Well… let's just say things could have been even better.
The fact is, going gluten free is beneficial to our health, and more people should put thought into adopting this lifestyle.
This also means adapting your cooking style to the new ingredients; however, before we delve into some great gluten-free meal ideas, let's have a quick look at the dangers of gluten in our diet.
This is a serious disease resulting from the immune system responding to gluten as a foreign body. The result is a breakdown in the lining of the intestinal system, making for bloody stools, poor nutrient absorption and excruciating pain in the abdominal region.
This is also related to the immune system developing a response to gluten and causing inflammation of surrounding organs. This can predispose the individual to serious neurological conditions like epilepsy.
Again, related to sensitizing autoimmune system. The result is damage to the cells of the skin and inflammatory rashes.
The pattern developing is that most of the effects of gluten are related to having a sensitive immune reaction to its consumption. Though originally thought of as rare to encounter this sensitivity, it is now known that more than a third of all people are sensitive to gluten.
Removing gluten from the diet may be beneficial to anyone, as it is not considered an essential source protein.
These pancakes are the go to substitute for standard pancakes, as they are extremely filling and completely gluten free. They are also low in carbs, perfect for losing weight of if following a low carb lifestyle. Best of all? They take just 20 minutes to make!
1. Mix all ingredients except coconut oil in a medium-sized bowl, and whisk until fluffy and smooth.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, add the oil, then drop a large spoon of batter into the pan.
Quiches have been, and will always remain, a classic. This one is unique as it does not require any flour at all. It is a high protein, high fat breakfast choice that is extremely filling.
2. Mix dry ingredients and pour into a 9-inch pie dish.
3. Mix eggs and cream, then pour over the dry ingredients.
5. Enjoy for breakfast or a snack.
1. Rub one tablespoon of olive oil over the chicken breast and grill over medium heat until lightly browned.
2. Mix remaining ingredients, then chop chicken breast or strip and mix into salad.
Incorporating the unique flavor of goat cheese and the leanness of ground turkey, this makes a perfect complement to sweet potatoes or on a bed of veggies.
1. Preheat a griddle or skillet to medium-high heat. If using a skillet, add a tablespoon of olive oil.
2. Combine all ingredients and form into 4 patties.
3. Cook on griddle for 15 minutes until golden brown or in skillet until done in the middle.
Gluten-free meal ideas are everywhere. The few outlines here are merely the tip of the iceberg. You can modify recipes you always make, by educating yourself to what foods contain gluten and excluding them.