text:
The chances of anything coming from Mars twice
Next week sees the release of an updated version of Jeff Wayne's musical version of The War of the Worlds. I'm really quite excited about this. The original is tremendous fun; silly, but gloriously so. A new version is therefore to be welcomed, and I look forward to hearing it.
However, it seems that not everyone shares this view (how dull that would be). The Arts Desk featured it as their disc of the day this morning. I was rather surprised to discover that 'disc of the day' was not, apparently, meant as a compliment since they appear to have awarded it a solitary star. Clearly not to the reviewer's taste, then. For me, unless there are major deficiencies in the new cast as compared with the original, one star would be a travesty. But this isn't a post about the album or the show. If you want that, read what our friend and past contributor Andrew Pugsley had to say when it toured in 2010. Nor is this a dig at The Arts Desk. Rather, it is a riff on their subheadline:
The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one, they said. But twice?
Clearly I've been listening to too much More or Less lately, but this got me thinking. What are the chances of anything coming from Mars twice? What follows is a slightly eclectic, more mathematical and frankly very silly departure from our normal fare.
Before we can consider the probability of two Martian invasions, we must first consider the probability of one. And we know what that is: it's quoted above. Or do we? Is this a reasonable figure? Almost certainly not. It definitely isn't Nate Silver like in its precision. Rather, it's just what happened to fit poetically. And, in fairness, the point surely was that a Martian invasion was an absurdly unlikely event. The lyric nicely encapsulates this, even if in our world an estimate of the probability would probably be an awful lot lower than that. After all, a million to one is rather more likely than a lottery win. The trouble is, a million to one wasn't the actual probability of the event. It was merely an estimate. On the face of things, this was reasonable. From what we know of Mars, the chances of it supporting the kind of life required to mount such a venture are so staggeringly remote as to be close to zero. Of course, in Wells' time they knew less about Mars, and science generally, but it still seemed extremely unlikely. However, the story does not exist in our world and that world has a rather key difference to ours:
No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that human affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of space. No one could have dreamed we were being scrutinized, as someone with a microscope studies creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. Few men even considered the possibility of life on other planets and yet, across the gulf of space, minds immeasurably superior to ours regarded this Earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely, they drew their plans against us.
Knowledge of this crucial information would surely have rather dramatically changed any sensible person's estimate of the probability of the event. It would have illustrated that far from being close to zero, the probability of an invasion was actually rather close to one. Since the person bandying about the million to one figure wasn't in full possession of the facts, his estimate, while on the face of it quite reasonable, turned out to be about as wrong as it could be. (Having good information is very important if you want to estimate the probability of something accurately.)
So, we have a rough idea of the probability of the first invasion. What about the second? A key question in determining the answer is whether these two Martian invasions are independent events. What that means is does the fact that the first invasion has happened change the probability of a second? Rolling a die or flipping a coin are classic independent events. Just because I roll a four, that doesn't mean I'm more or less likely to roll another four on my next throw (assuming, of course, that the die isn't loaded). For both the first and the second roll, the probability of a four should be one in six. If the invasions were independent, the probability of each event is the same, so the probability of one following another is both multiplied together, in the case of our Martian invasions a number fairly close one, times itself, so still a number fairly close to one, i.e. quite likely. (Or, if we stuck with our initial bad estimate, one in a million million, or a British billion / American trillion, i.e. even more unlikely). Job done, question answered. Sadly, they're probably not independent.
With a dependent event, on the other hand, the outcome of the first event affects the probability of the second. An example is drawing playing cards from a deck at random, crucially without replacing them (otherwise things would be the same as with the coins and dice above). What is the probability I'll get an ace? On the first draw it is four in fifty-two (or one in thirteen). Let's say I get the six of clubs. Now on my second draw the probabilities change and the chance of an ace is four in fifty-one as there is one fewer card in the pack but the same number of aces. The first event has changed the probability of the second.
The Martian invasions are surely dependent. This can be seen if we examine the key factors in determining whether the Martians will invade and showing that these are likely to change following the first invasion. Those factors are: whether they can invade and whether they want to.
The first event in no way changes their underlying ability to get as far as earth (unless they've somehow used up all the resources that can get them there), however the events of the story clearly show they were incapable of actually making good on their beachhead, laid low by the common cold. This is not an insurmountable obstacle, though. A Martian race capable of creating mighty war machines and interplanetary spacecraft can surely solve this problem, perhaps through the use of robots, hazmat suits or medicine. However, this might take time. Further time would be needed to train fresh troops (and possibly there might be fewer volunteers for a second attempt), plan the logistics, build new vessels (since the ones that arrived on earth are all stuck there with their dead pilots). As such, the probability of another invasion within, say, a year, may be massively reduced given the first one has taken place, whereas had it not taken place, the probability of a first would still remain high (as the Martians would likely not know about the potential medical hazards).
Whether they want to invade may also change. They might decide that the resources of the earth are less attractive given the biological pitfalls: there is suddenly a great danger in importing anything back to Mars or moving to earth en masse. Perhaps an invasion of the moons of Jupiter or some asteroid mining operations might come to seem more attractive strategies. Also, the catastrophic losses may cause a seismic shift in Martian political opinion, a rise of the anti-war Martian left, who win power and then sue for peace. On the other hand, they may redouble their efforts in the face of adversity.
So, what is the probability of a second invasion? Given the paucity of data, in particular knowledge of the Martian situation and the underlying causes of the invasion, a subject insufficiently explored by both Wells and Wayne, it is very hard to come to a reasonable estimate. Still, it seems likely that it's closer to one than a million to one. Unless, of course, like the author of that fateful estimate, there is some key fact of which we're unaware. The Martians, after all, made their desperate bid, many years in the planning, to seize our world because theirs was dying. Perhaps there was no redundancy in the scheme, perhaps this was their last bolt and with it they are out of time and there is no chance of anything more coming from Mars.
Either way, we certainly hope that the chances of more gloriously silly fun in the form of Jeff Wayne's opus are high.
Riveting as ever.
Great Comics Part II - Rising Stars
Steel Pier at the Union, or, The Musical as Parable
Howard Brenton's 55 Days, or, We are Bound to the ...
ENO's Pilgrim's Progress, or Vaughan Williams Fail...


Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), the UK-based leading global higher education company, recently released its 2019 QS Asia University Rankings, which listed the top 500 universities in Asia. FNU was placed between 301 and 350, the third time to be included in the Rankings after its debut in 2016. Among the 112 universities in the Chinese mainland that have made it to this year's Asia ranking, FNU ranked 74th, together with 11 other universities, and 8th in the sequence of normal universities.
QS also published the QS BRICS University Rankings 2019, containing the top 400 universities from BRICS countries. FNU was once again listed in the BRICS University Rankings, placed between 301 and 350. Among the 112 universities in the Chinese mainland that have made it to this year's BRICS University Rankings, FNU ranked 94th, together with 15 other universities, and 9th in the sequence of normal universities.


Demand for Islamic financial products has increased over the last decade—not just in the Gulf and Southeast Asia, but also in America. There are 5.7 million Muslims in the U.S. with $98 billion in disposable income, according to a report by DinarStandard, and many are looking for Sharia-compliant investments. But for many advisors in the U.S., it's a peculiar market because not a lot of financial experts have expertise in Sharia law. Deals often involve multiple layers to enable them to be Sharia-compliant, and that can lead to added costs, such as double taxation. But one of the biggest issues is the diverging opinions about what makes investments Sharia compliant.
With the registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) deadline on March 2nd, many Canadians are wondering and worrying about where to invest their money. An RRSP is registered with the Canadian government. In effect, it's a special bank account used to save up for retirement. This account is made up of investment products, such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds that allow savings to grow over time. It's up to individuals to choose what investment products to have in their RRSPs. Unlike regular investment accounts, money inside an RRSP is tax-sheltered, meaning that it doesn't get taxed like regular income or investments. The challenge for Canadian Muslims is to know the nature of their investments to ensure their investments are halal.
Representatives from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and Azzad Asset Management have announced that Azzad will join ICCR as its newest member—the first Islamic firm to be affiliated with the group. As a member organization focused on corporate social responsibility and environmental advocacy, ICCR leverages the influence of its shareowner members to enact change. The two organizations expressed optimism about the opportunities this collaboration affords. Azzad representatives reportedly hope to bring a fresh, Islamically inspired perspective to the many corporate and social issues confronted by ICCR.
Saturna Capital Corporation (Saturna) has announced the launch of the Saturna Sustainable Equity Fund (SEEFX) and the Saturna Sustainable Bond Fund (SEBFX), two mutual funds that will invest globally in securities of issuers rated by Saturna as low risk in the areas of the environment, social responsibility, and governance (ESG). Saturna expects the funds will appeal to the growing number of investors who seek to incorporate sustainability and social responsibility into their investments, particularly retirement portfolios. The Saturna Sustainable Equity and Bond Funds will be available on major platforms such as National Financial Services (Fidelity), Charles Schwab, Pershing LLC, and TD Ameritrade.
Islamic finance is surging across the globe, gobbling up an ever-increasing share of the more than $220 trillion in international assets outstanding. That is, everywhere except in the US and Canada. A combination of regulatory hurdles, a lack of proper rules and standards, and general Islamophobia can be blamed. Another hurdle is the requirement that US banks keep their risk ratios fairly low. In order to be compliant while also maximizing profit, banks usually invest in the huge supply of fixed-income securities such as treasuries and conventional corporate bonds, which are prohibited by Islamic laws. Despite the challenges, both the US and Canada are a natural fit as homes to the bustling and dynamic Islamic finance industry.
The Islamic Center of Nashville is listed as being a church meaning it qualifies for a property tax exemption. Only ICN did have a problem with its property tax exemption. When ICN decided to finance a school it deeded property to Devon Bank, which paid for the construction. ICN leased the property and bought it back over time from the bank. So even though the religious use of the property had not changed, it was no longer owned by a religious organization and hence for a period of time did not qualify for property tax exemption. ICN was asking for the exemption to be retroactive three years. However, the Tennessee State Board of Equalization ruled against ICN.
RAQABA signed an agreement for an independent external Shari'ah audit with American Finance House (Lariba) in the second half of 2014. RAQABA issued the first Shari'ah audit report in the United States after a professional work continued for several months in an examination of the structures and procedures for LARIBA's home financing model "Declining Participation in the Usufruct (DPU)". American Finance House (LARIBA) was founded in 1987 in Pasadena, California in the US. The main objective of this company is interest-free financing for all segments of society, by leasing or participation through specialized products in home financing, commercial property financing, auto financing, and equipment financing.
U.S. advisers who are not alert to the special investing needs of Muslims are missing an attractive segment of the investing populace. The U.S. Muslim population is expected to reach 6.2 million by 2030, almost three times the nation's 2.6 million Muslims in 2010. Muslim-Americans are younger and better educated than the average U.S. citizen. Moreover, they want to see a greater number of appropriate financial products. Meeting their investing needs is similar to working with clients who want socially responsible investments, but it requires additional expertise. But the main point is that advisers can help Muslims get in the market.
The Weekly Number's analysis of a new Pew Research Center report - a study based on methodology developed by Brian J. Grim - finds that the 12 countries identified in the study as having very high religious diversity each outpaced the world's economic growth between 2008 and 2012.
In recent years, international financial centers (IFCs) such as the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Cayman Islands (Cayman) have faced unprecedented political and regulatory pressure from governments and international organizations to open up and become more transparent in their business practices. The impression is that these jurisdictions are secret tax havens. However, IFCs are more compliant with international regulatory requirements than they are portrayed to be. The benefits of using an entity incorporated in an IFC are such that they will remain vital components of international structures, even in the face of mounting pressure from onshore governments.
An unnamed US investment manager has committed $100m (€80.4m) to a Sharia-compliant mezzanine real estate fund managed by Gatehouse Bank. The closed-end fund, which will invest in western European financings, is the first mezzanine product to comply with Sharia principles. Gatehouse will source, arrange and structure loans up to 85% loan-to-value over the next 18 months. The main principle of Sharia investment involves avoiding assets where more than 10% of the property involves the sale of alcohol, pork or tobacco. With three to five-year terms, the loans are expected to generate net IRRs of between 6% and 10%.
HDG Mansur is on the ropes, with numerous affiliated companies in bankruptcy, and its principal Harold Garrison himself sought personal bankruptcy last month. Worse Garrison and HDG Mansur are the subjects of a federal criminal investigation into whether they took $5.8 million from a client. Those plaintiffs, two Cayman Islands-based funds, aren't alone in howling fraud. A year ago, KFH Capital Investment Co. and Kuwait Finance House Real Estate Co. filed a lawsuit in the United Kingdom accusing Garrison and HDG Mansur of misappropriating more than $11 million in connection with a failed development called Finzels Reach in Bristol, England. The court did not go along with a push by creditors to convert the bankruptcy of the HDG Mansur companies from Chapter 11 reorganizations to Chapter 7 liquidations.
FAAIF CEO Camille Paldi says the potential for Islamic finance, sukuk, and takaful is huge in the United States. Paldi conducts two Islamic Finance, Banking, and Sukuk workshops in New Orleans and New York, USA in association with Al Huda Center of Islamic Banking and Economics and University of New Orleans. Paldi says that the USA participants were enthusiastic about learning Islamic finance concepts despite negative imagery in the media. Paldi explains that in general, educated Americans are excited to learn about new alternative financial structures and investment opportunities.
Islamic finance is the best suited system for poverty alleviation that can be utilized both by Muslims and non-Muslims as a system to cut down poverty dilemma from all over the world, it can also be utilized as an effective tool of financial inclusion as Millions of Muslims are financially excluded due to religious reasons, according to Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics.
Sukuk issuance and investing is expanding outside of the Islamic world. The asset holders range from sovereign wealth funds and high-net-worth-individuals in the Arab Gulf, to retail investors in other Muslim majority countries such as Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia. According to Moody's Investors Service, Malaysia at present dominates the sukuk market when it comes to both sovereign and corporate issuance. Other major issuers include the governments of Indonesia and Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The overall outstanding amount of sukuk will probably reach around $115 billion this year.
Sukuk, Islamic equivalent bonds, are beyond the boundaries of many portfolio managers of advanced economies. But in the Islamic finance world, it's the non-Islamic sukuk issuers that are non-conventional, and this is where Azzad Asset Management sees value. Ihab Salib, the lead portfolio manager for the firm's sukuk fund, the Azzad Wise Capital Fund (WISEX) said, "Currently we see value in some of the non-conventional issuers". "As maiden issuers in the market, they need to price the sukuk generously so as to tempt investors," he commented. South Africa's September issuance was a case in point.


Alleged 3DMARK Fire Strike benchmarks scores for AMD's RX 480 GPU have appeared online, showcasing performance that is between the GTX 980 and R9 390X.
These benchmark scores come from Videocardz, who states that these scores may be from an aftermarket RX 480 GPU that features a factory overclock.
While at this time these benchmark scores cannot be 100% confirmed to be an AMD RX 480, the GPU in question does match the previously leaked clock speeds of the GPU and has 8GB of VRAM, which is one of the available memory sizes of the RX 480.
The AMD RX 480 GPU will come with a minimum of 4GB of VRAM, with 8GB in the high end, giving this GPU not just enough memory for today's games but enough for the next few years, offering FreeSync support and full DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 compatibility.
In terms of raw GPU power, this GPU will have around 5.5 TFLOPS of GPU performance, making this GPU perfect for budget VR gaming.
If the RX 480 does deliver this level of performance for just $199 this GPU will totally transform the mid-range GPU market, offering insane value for money as well as offering surprisingly low power draw when compared to previous generation hardware.
You can join the discussion on these alleged AMD RX 480 benchmarks on the OC3D Forums.
Just sold the Fury X. Probably getting two of these beasts. That value is insane!
What was that about synthetic benchmarks you said?


Today's WINNING recipe to meet Coach JC's 10 WINNING Habits is Baby Kale and Strawberry Salad. Where are my veggies?
Place kale in a large mixing bowl, top with all remaining ingredients and mix well.
Portion into salad bowls for serving, top with oil and vinegar or your favorite balsamic vinaigrette dressing and serve.


We've published a blog post on our Medium channel where we talk about tokenizing a political party. Politics is a polarising topic, so it requires extra care if you do not want to be drawn into political debates.
Enjoy the piece here: Case for tokenizing a political party.


text:
Fedot Alekseyevich Popov
Bank of Russia 2001 coin
Fedot Alekseyevich Popov (Russian: Федот Алексеевич Попов, also Fedot Alekseyev, Russian: Федот Алексеев; nickname Kholmogorian, Russian: Холмогорец, for his place of birth (Kholmogory), date of birth unknown, died between 1648 and 1654) was a Russian explorer who organized the first European expedition through the Bering Strait.
He was normally known as Fedot Alekseyev. Only a few sources call him the son of Popov. He was from Kholmogory and the agent of Alexey Usov who was a member of the Gostinaya Sotnya, the highest merchant guild in Moscow. (Some time between 1647 and 1653 Usov petitioned to have Fedot apprehended on the grounds that Usov had sent him to Siberia with 3,500 rubles worth of goods and he had not reported back for eight years.[1]) He went to Siberia in 1639. Moving east, he was at Tyumen, Tobolsk, Tomsk, Yeniseisk (1641) and Yakutsk(1642). In 1642 he joined a group of about 100 men under Ivan Rebrov who went down the Lena to the sea and up the Olenyok River to the west. Fedot had 29 men under him. Two years later they were defeated by the local Tungus and fled down the river. Fedot and some of his companions sailed east to the Kolyma River.
When he arrived at Srednekolymsk in 1645 he had 12 men with him and, probably, his Yakut concubine. Hearing of a rich 'Pogycha River' somewhere to the east, he organized an expedition to find it. Since he was not a service-man, Semyon Dezhnev was called in as the official leader. In June 1647 he sailed down the river to the Arctic with 50 men in four koches but they were forced to turn back due to thick ice. Next year they tried again. For a fuller account see Semyon Dezhnev. Sometime in September he rounded the northeastern tip of Asia and entered the Pacific Ocean. On September 20, 1648 (old style, September 30 in our calendar) he was wounded in a fight with the Chukchis. About the first of October (o.s) a storm separated Fedot's and Dezhnev's boats and we lose track of him. In 1653/54 Dezhnev captured his Yakut woman from the Koryaks. She said that Fedot died of scurvy, some of his companions were killed by the Koryaks and the rest fled in small boats to an unknown fate. From the location of the woman's capture, it is likely that his boat was wrecked somewhere not far south of Anadyr Estuary.
Dezhnev is usually called the first European to reach the Bering Strait since he was the formal leader and left most of the documents, but Fedot Alexeyev organized the expedition and may have been more important than the few surviving documents indicate.
The Fedotov Legend: When, in 1697, Vladimir Atlasov reached Kamchatka, he heard that other Russians had been there first. The natives said that a certain 'Fedotov' and his men had lived on the Nikul River, a tributary to the Kamchatka River, and had married local women. The ruins of their huts could still be seen. The natives thought they were gods or demons and left them alone, but when they saw one Russian kill another, they changed their minds. The Russians were attacked and fled, some going west to the sea of Okhotsk. All were killed, some by the Kamchadals, some by the Koryaks.
So who was Fedotov? There have been four answers: 1)Gerhardt Friedrich Müller thought he was probably Fedot's son, but offered no evidence. 2)Stepan Krasheninnikov thought he was Fedot himself and tried to reconcile this with the Yakut woman's story. Other versions of Fedotov=Fedot have been tried. 3) He may have been one of the lost men from the Dezhnev or some other expedition. In Siberia at this time there was a Vas'ka Fedotov, a few people who used Fedotov as a patronymic and various Fedors and so on whose names could have been garbled. 4) He was some other Russian who does not appear in the surviving records. About all we can say is that some Russians reached Kamchatka in the second half of the 17th century and died there. Who they were is a matter of speculation.
^ Basil Dymytryshyn, 'Russia's Conquest of Siberia, 1985, volume one, document 82
Raymond H Fisher, The Voyage of Semen Dezhnev in 1648, The Hakluyt Society, 1981.
1761 translation of Mueller with the Fedotov story on page ix: [1] - Gerhard Friedrich Müller - translated by Thomas Jefferys.
Retrieved from "https:/w/index.php?title=Fedot_Alekseyevich_Popov&oldid=866387110"
Russian explorers
Explorers of Siberia
17th-century deaths
History of the Kamchatka Peninsula
Russian and Soviet polar explorers
17th-century explorers
17th-century Russian people
Bering Strait
Year of birth unknown
Related to Fedot Alekseyevich Popov
Vitus Bering
Vitus Jonassen Bering, also known as Ivan Ivanovich Bering, was a Danish cartographer and explorer in Russian service, and an officer in the Russian Navy. He is known as a leader of two Russian expeditions, namely the First Kamchatka Expedition and the Great Northern Expedition, exploring the north-eastern coast of the Asian continent and from there the western coast on the North American continent. The Bering Strait, the Bering Sea, Bering Island, the Bering Glacier and the Bering Land Bridge were all named in his honor.
Okhotsk is an urban locality and the administrative center of Okhotsky District of Khabarovsk Krai, Russia, located at the mouth of the Okhota River on the Sea of Okhotsk. Population: 4,215 (2010 Census); 5,738 (2002 Census); 9,298 (1989 Census).
Koryaks
Koryaks are an indigenous people of the Russian Far East, who live immediately north of the Kamchatka Peninsula in Kamchatka Krai and inhabit the coastlands of the Bering Sea. The cultural borders of the Koryaks include Tigilsk in the south and the Anadyr basin in the north.
Northeast Passage
The Northeast Passage is, from the European and northern Atlantic point of view, the shipping route to the Pacific Ocean, along the Arctic coasts of Norway and Russia. The western route through the islands of Canada is accordingly called the Northwest Passage (NWP).
Semyon Dezhnev
Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev was a Russian explorer of Siberia and the first European to sail through the Bering Strait, 80 years before Vitus Bering did. In 1648 he sailed from the Kolyma River on the Arctic Ocean to the Anadyr River on the Pacific. His exploit was forgotten for almost a hundred years and Bering is usually given credit for discovering the strait that bears his name.
Pomors or Pomory are Russian settlers, primarily from Novgorod, and their descendants living on the White Sea coasts and the territory whose southern border lies on a watershed which separates the White Sea river basin from the basins of rivers that flow south.
Itelmens
The Itelmens are an ethnic group native to the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia. The Itelmen language is distantly related to Chukchi and Koryak, forming the Chukotko-Kamchatkan language family, but it is now virtually extinct, the vast majority of ethnic Itelmens being native speakers of Russian. A. P. Volodin has published a grammar of the Itelmen language.
Indigenous peoples of Siberia
Including the Russian Far East, the population of Siberia numbers just above 40 million people. As a result of the 17th to 19th century Russian conquest of Siberia and the subsequent population movements during the Soviet era, the demographics of Siberia today is dominated by native speakers of Russian. There remain a considerable number of indigenous groups, between them accounting for below 10% of total Siberian population, which are also genetically related to indigenous peoples of the Americas.
The Great Northern Expedition or Second Kamchatka expedition was one of the largest exploration enterprises in history, mapping most of the Arctic coast of Siberia and some parts of the North America coastline, greatly reducing "white areas" on maps. It was conceived by Russian Emperor Peter I the Great, but implemented by Russian Empresses Anna and Elizabeth. The main organiser and leader of the expedition was Vitus Bering, who earlier had been commissioned by Peter I to lead the First Kamchatka expedition. The Second Kamchatka Expedition lasted roughly from 1733–1743 and later was called the Great Northern due to the immense scale of its achievements.
Mikhail Stadukhin
Mikhail Vasilyevich Stadukhin was a Russian explorer of far northeast Siberia, one of the first to reach the Kolyma, Anadyr, Penzhina and Gizhiga Rivers and the northern Sea of Okhotsk. He was a Pomor, probably born in the village of Pinega, and the nephew of a Moscow merchant. By 1633 he was on the Lena River.
Circumpolar peoples
Circumpolar peoples and Arctic peoples are umbrella terms for the various indigenous peoples of the Arctic.
Anadyrsk
Anadyrsk was an important Russian ostrog in far northeastern Siberia from 1649 to 1764. It was on the Anadyr River, near the head of small-boat navigation, about 300 miles upstream, near the present Markovo.
Kurbat Ivanov
Kurbat Afanasyevich Ivanov (Russian: Курбат Афанасьевич Иванов, was among the greatest Cossack explorers of Siberia. He was the first Russian to discover Lake Baikal, and to create the first map of the Russian Far East. He also is credited with creation of the early map of Chukotka and Bering Strait, which was the first to show the yet undiscovered Wrangel Island, both Diomede Islands and Alaska.
Mikhail Gvozdev
Mikhail Spiridonovich Gvozdev was a Russian military geodesist and a commander of the expedition to northern Alaska in 1732, when the Alaskan shore was for the first time sighted by Russians.
Arctic exploration
Arctic exploration is the physical exploration of the Arctic region of the Earth. It refers to the historical period during which mankind has explored the region north of the Arctic Circle. Historical records suggest that humankind have explored the northern extremes since 325 BC, when the ancient Greek sailor Pytheas reached a frozen sea while attempting to find a source of the metal tin. Dangerous oceans and poor weather conditions often fetter explorers attempting to reach polar regions and journeying through these perils by sight, boat, and foot has proven difficult.
Okhotsk Coast
The Okhotsk Coast is an informal name for the northwest coast of the Sea of Okhotsk. Although it was never an administrative unit there is some reason to treat it as a distinct region. Here in 1639 the Russians first reached the Pacific Ocean. From here, beginning in 1716, Russian ships sailed east to the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Aleutian Islands and Alaska.

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Kostiantynivka electric tram opened in 1931; it was extended in 1932-1934, 1948, 1951, 1962, 1965-1970, 1975, 1979 (starting from that date all tram lines are double track) and 1990. Some tram lines/ruotes were closed in 1995, 2004-2005, 2009 and 2013.
Since 2014 only one tram line is still operating (Line 4); a second line (Line 3) should be restored.


text:
from ctcp import Ctcp
from protocol import Protocol
from factory import Factory
from client import Client


text:
August Picks for Schools
New from Young Reading Series 2 is the latest in the Billy and the Mini Monsters series - Billy and the Mini Monsters - Monsters at the Museum. Billy is feeling nervous about his first ever school trip, so the Mini Monsters decide to join him. "We promise we won't be any trouble..." they say. So who's causing a commotion in the creepy-crawly room? And why does the T-Rex skeleton keep roaring?
True Stories of Everest Adventures is the latest title in Series 4. The peak of Mount Everest, the highest place in the world, holds a special fascination for climbers. Over a thousand people have reached it. But the frozen bodies that litter its slopes tell another tale of tragedy, misfortune and reckless ambition.
Flamingo Plays Bingo is the newest phonics title. In typical phonics style, it combines humorous illustrations with fun rhyming text, ideal for engaging young readers. This is the story of Flamingo, who is playing her very first game of bingo. Flamingo needs one more number to win, until Elephant sneezes and sends the bingo ball zooming up over the trees...
Ermine the Determined is off to explore SYDNEY! She can't wait to have fun in the sun, climb Sydney Habour Bridge, and STAR in Australia's Most Awesome Animal Show... But things hot up when someone gets a sniff of Ermine's act... Will it be curtains before Ermine gets to the stage? Join Ermine on her latest adventure in Stoat on Stage.
When Eddy Stone accidentally releases a wizard from a magical lamp, everyone's wishes start coming true... but going wrong. Tumbling into a land of genies, madcap emperors and dancing camels, can Eddy find a way to reverse this curse? Eddy Stone and the Mean Genie's Curse is the third title in the hilarious Eddy Stone series, perfect for fans of funny books.
Taran dreams of fighting heroic battles instead of being an Assistant Pig-Keeper... until Hen Wen, the magical pig, disappears. With the land of Prydain under threat by the evil Horned King, and Taran searching for Hen Wen, he is drawn into a dangerous quest. Coming face-to-face with warriors and witches, a princess and a poet, creatures fierce and friendly, Taran is about to learn what it truly takes to be a hero. The Book of Three is a fantasy adventure that will have readers gripped from start to finish.
Welcome to Camp Reset, a summer camp with a difference. A place offering a shot at "normality" for Olive, a girl on the edge, and for her new friends, who are all dealing with their own battles. But as Olive settles in, she starts to wonder - maybe it's this messed up world that needs fixing, and not them. And so she comes up with a plan. Because together, snowflakes can form avalanches... Are We All Lemmings and Snowflakes? is the latest Holly Bourne title and is a trailblazing and painfully honest novel about mental health, friendship and our crazy world.
This month's titles are: Charts and Graphs 6-7 and Measuring 5-6


text:
It mildly annoys me, as a capable sheep,
that people like you exist.
~ nicknaem
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari
Thursday, 28 June, Year 10 d.Tr. | Author: Mircea Popescu
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligarii is interesting for two main reasons.
The first would be the shapes. God almighty what notions of how a window's outline looks these Germans managed to come up with! It's worth re-watching this thing through an edge-finding filter just for the god damned shape-play. I really have nothing else to say, it can't be said, I don't know how to say it, go ye and see for yourself.
The second would be... well... let's talk about it.
So, there's a "town clerk", to which the bum has to apply for a fair show permit. I can see the argument for doing it this way, however insufferable this immixtion of authority upon their biologically-given noblesse may be found by various adolescents. What's the bum say ? That he's a bla bla bla, whatever bums called themselves back then, and he wants to show a bla bla bla. What can the clerk say, besides "I guess ?" So he does.
Then the bum sells his show to the folk. Now, the rakes in the audience, the actual city folk with city experience aren't interested. And yet, some people are, fat farmers with their wives, young girls out on the prowl, noobs and marginals. It's exciting! It's interesting! What's the deal offered them ? "Trade this much money, ie, amount of sweat, of grain, of what have you, for nothing palpable at all." It's a scam, fundamentally, all preoccupations of the spirit detract from the city's wealth, which is a solid argument for the clerk to not have admitted the thing in the first place. But whatever, right ?Let people make their own choices.
Yet what choices are they making ? "I would voluntarily give up this slice of bread from my plate to see something I never saw before, something new and wonderous". "Cesare the Somnambulist" is proposed to fit that bill, as it happens, but whatever, right ? If they enjoy it then it was a show ; and if they clap then retroactively Cesare will have been The Somnambulist. It's how this somnambulism thing works (and didn't they pick a great name ?).
Yet how was it a show ? Before it was a show, it was a bum's notion of getting to some bread, wasn't it ? And what did he do ? He put some make-up on a guy, he made up a broken story, but broken specifically in a certain wayii... tried to come up with something people'd make a show out ofiii, right ? He's going to show them something that isn't new, or wonderous, at least not necessarily. Google doesn't show you new things, it shows you things it expects you want to see, right ? And Seinfeld didn't make a billion dollars telling jokes, that's Carlin. Seinfeld made a billion dollars carefully avoiding anything that may conceivably upset anyone. Right ?
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari exposes things about gnoseology, what.
1920 -- that's right, almost one hundred years ago. By Robert Wiene, with Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt. From a time before women were worth putting in films. [↩]
Why are there spelling errors in spam copy ? Why is the "somnambulist" in a box past a curtain past a gate ? The bum keeps droning on, and then moving on, and the impression in the audience that something's finally happening overwhelming, yet what is actually happening ? Mispackaging, a kind of misdirection, right ? [↩]
"Nothing happens ?"
"Nothing!"
"Why is this a show ?!"
"Because it's on TV!"
"Not yet..." [↩]
Category: Trilematograf
The unaided rape position on Trilema - A blog by Mircea Popescu. (via Pingback)
[...] the perceived needs, of fiction, and story-telling, and cinemaiv rather favour short counts with clearly bordered behaviours. And so it comes to pass that in their quest to portrait the important, made-for-TV [...]
The Devils on Trilema - A blog by Mircea Popescu. (via Pingback)
[...] and it'd have blown straight out of the water everything those people managed to put together, what cabinet, what Caligari [...]
« Imaginary questions nobody asked of me, an incomplete compendium.
Let's duckduckgo a little, see what comes out. »


Many industries have sweepingly digitized their documentation in the name of efficiency – substantial efficiency. The healthcare industry created the electronic health record (EHR) in the name of efficiency as well (among other benefits). But EHRs are far from universal in the medical space. While some hospitals and practices are simply slow to adopt modern practices, the greatest barrier to the universal adoption of electronic health records is privacy and security.
But healthcare organizations can't run from digitatization forever. Nor can they ensure information security with paper documentation. Stakeholders in this industry must focus on implementing data security measures – like those in any other industry.
Not every organization uses the same exact security techniques. Business structures are different. Data needs vary. And of course, budgets are not made equal. Yet, there are three pillars of security that every organization must lean on to keep confidential information confidential.
A high-level measure, administrative safeguards revolve most around people – employing a Chief Information Security Officer, conducting risk analyses, and developing contingency, business continuity and disaster recovery plans.
As its name suggests, physical safeguards include access controls such as RFID badges, workstation security, and assigned security responsibilities to members of your organization.
Digital records require digital protections, of which there are many techniques – access control, entity authentication, data encryption, firewalls, and audit trails, to name a select few.
Each of these categories deserves your attention, but if there are only specific techniques you can learn about this second, let it be firewalls and cryptography.
Healthcare organizations' most commonly-implemented data security measure is firewalls. There are many kinds of internal and external firewalls of course, but they've categorically helped organizations secure their networks and the data that's stored within them.
A packet filtering firewall sifts through your internal electronic feeds and prevents externals feeds from penetrating your network. Similarly, a status inspection firewall filters your feeds; but it can also dynamically correlate incoming feeds with previously filtered feeds to verify their security. An application-level gateway firewall grants user access to external network connections only after scanning each IP webpage for threats. Lastly, a Network Address Translator hides your intranet IP address from external users, creating a barrier between your intranet and local area network.
Cryptography has also been instrumental to safeguarding electronic health records and systems. Especially during exchanges of such data, encryption ensures that health information is unrecognizable while in transit. Only users with the decryption key are able to unlock and read the data. In addition, the process of exchanging confidential information should be recorded when the encryptions are being enabled or disabled to track data access.
Though these are just two data security tactics, they are critical steps to take. Start here, assess your current level of security in these areas, and act before it's too late.
Read the Veriato blog to learn more about health data security.


A property expert on Sunday said despite tighter lending requirements, the number of first time home owners has risen.
First National Bank (FNB) home loan strategist John Loos, believes more young new buyers are entering the market.
He said this trend has grown in recent years.
"First time buyers have come to the market in bigger numbers, and if we look at our state agent survey. First time buyers have a percentage, total buyers have risen quite significantly and now are about 20 percent. So it can't entirely be that tough …" he said.


text:
Q: Prove that A is isomorphic to the subring of K[T] generated by $T^2$ and $T^3$
Let $A = K[x,y]/\langle y^2-x^3\rangle$. Show that $A$ is isomorphic to the subring of $K[T]$ generated by $T^2$, $T^3$.

I tried to show a map from $\phi : A \to K[T]$ which sends $x \to T^2$ and $y \to T^3$ is an isomorphism. But couldn't prove it.  Can anyone help me out?
Also,

Show that fraction field of $A \cong K(T)=$ (field of rational functions in $T$) .

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: a question about DATE_ADD I want to add 1 month and 3 months, should I do like that:
UPDATE `set` SET expire = DATE_ADD(`expire`, INTERVAL 1 MONTH) WHERE ID='$lid'

UPDATE `set` SET expire = DATE_ADD(`expire`, INTERVAL 3 MONTHS) WHERE ID='$lid'

is that right ?
3 MONTH or 3 MONTHS ?

A: No, it's always MONTH - singular.
UPDATE `set` SET expire = DATE_ADD(`expire`, INTERVAL 3 MONTH) WHERE ID='$lid'

A: Here is a safe way for you to try both syntaxes and see for yourself:
SELECT expire,DATE_ADD(expire,INTERVAL 3 MONTH) FROM set LIMIT 5;
SELECT expire,DATE_ADD(expire,INTERVAL 3 MONTHS) FROM set LIMIT 5;


text:
Driver Killed in School Bus Accident in Lake Elsinore, CA
Riverside County, California (Lake Elsinore, CA) – On May 12, 2022, an SUV driver was killed and three people on a school bus sustained minor injuries when an automobile crashed near Lake Elsinore.
According to the authorities, the incident was reported at 6:32 a.m. on Riverside along Highway 74. The operator of the 2009 Chevrolet HHR had to be moved out of the automobile. The victim was recognized as 57-year-old Anthony Ramirez of Lake Elsinore, who succumbed to death at Inland Valley Medical Center.
Two minor students, an 8-year-old boy, and a 5-year-old girl were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and were later released. The bus operator was unharmed, the bus operator was a 69-year-old, local of Wildomar. A 20-year-old occupant on the bus sustained slight injuries. The eastbound SUV sideswiped the bus as it was turning left from northbound Riverside Street into westbound Highway 74.
Stoplights govern the junction, and authorities are attempting to identify which car ran a red light.


At SciLifeLab, we provide access to a range of pioneering technologies in molecular biosciences. Together, our facilities enable the scientific endeavors of users from academia, industry and health care. Dedicated staff scientists can offer support throughout the experimental process – from study design to data handling. Regardless of your particular field of work, you are welcome to seek support from facilities at SciLifeLab. Most of our technolgies are agnostic to applications, meaning thay can be used to adress questions in a range of life science disciplines, e.g. precision medicine, ecosystem surveillance and evolutionary biology.
Would you like to learn more about what other researchers have acheieved using our infrastructure services? Get inspired by the scientific papers in our user publications database.
Our infrastructure technologies are always evolving in response to the rapid global advances in the field. Facility staff collaborate closely with academic experts and industry partners, creating a unique testbed for technology development and breakthrough research.
Continuous technology scouting and rigorous evaluation by international experts ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of life science technology. Technologies that no longer fulfil the strict criteria of national SciLifeLab facilities, or that become widely available to the research community, are phased out to make way for emerging capabilities.


text:
You are here. Home » Recent News » Jennifer's Publicist Denied 'Hateful Eight' Project Involvment
Jennifer's Publicist Denied 'Hateful Eight' Project Involvment
by Angelic August 23, 2014 0 comment
Almost as quickly as word spread that Jennifer Lawrence might splatter some blood all over Quentin Tarantino's buzzy new film, "The Hateful Eight," a rep for the Oscar winner reportedly denied that she has any involvement with the project.
Collider reported on Thursday that Lawrence was in serious talks to take a role in Tarantino's new Western, the nondescript teaser trailer for which leaked online the day earlier. Presumably Lawrence's role would be one of the central eight characters, only one of whom, Daisy Domergue aka "The Prisoner," is female. Amber Tamblyn read that part during a live table read of the script in April. There's also a second female character named Six Horse Judy, whom frequent Tarantino-film actress Zoë Bell read.
Whether Lawrence is in contention for one of those parts now seems doubtful.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE's publicist on HATEFUL EIGHT reports: "Despite internet rumors, her reps have confirmed she's not doing this project."
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) August 21, 2014
Of course, it's always possible — especially given the brouhaha following the "Hateful Eight" script leak — that Tarantino and company are simply keeping tight lips on the movie's cast. Typically, however, when actors' reps deny a rumor that's true, they do so with more open-ended language than Lawrence's did. Nonetheless, this could take a turn at any point. The role seems like great bait for Lawrence, who has starred in a couple of David O. Russell films and could find her next Oscar break with the highly anticipated Tarantino movie.
Source: Huffington Post
Gwyneth Paltrow Not Mad About Jen & Chris Dating
New 'Serena' Still!
Adele reportedly planning a 'wild' bachelorette party for...
Jennifer Lawrence Reveals the One Movie Role She...
Jennifer Lawrence reveals that she has 'not had...
Jennifer Lawrence and Jodie Foster to Present Best...
Jennifer Lawrence, A New Light
Jennifer Lawrence walks her dog Pippi in New...
Jennifer Lawrence Got Half of Her Golden Globes...


MUNGO'S HI FI FT. MR. WILLIAMZ - Industry - 7"
MUNGO'S HI FI - Fire Pon A Dubplate / Itchy Robot - 12"
MUNGO'S HI FI FT. JOHNNY CLARKE - Rain Keeps Falling - 7"
SQUAREWAVE & DOCTOR / MUNGO'S HI FI FT. YT Police Officer / Boomsound (Vital Techniques & Mikey B Remix) - 12"
MUNGO'S HI FI FEAT SUGAR MINOTT & DADDY FREDDY - Raggamuffin / Chimpo Remix - 12"
MUNGO'S HI FI FT. BLACKOUT JA - Freedom Come - 7"
BIM SHERMAN / MUNGO'S HI-FI - Lightning & Thunder / Thunderclap Dub - 10"
MUNGO'S HI FI FEAT. SOOM T - Listening Bug - 12"
MUNGO'S HI FI FT. BLACKOUT JA - Get A Lick - 7"
MUNGO'S HI FI FT. LADY ANN - Sound Get A Beating - 7"
MUNGO'S HI FI FT. YELLOWMAN & MR. WILLIAMS - Dubplate Master - 12"
MUNGO'S HI FI - Nice N' Naughty - 7"
STALAWA FT. LLOYD D STIFF - Rough Winer - 7"
MUNGO'S HI FI FEAT. SOOM T - Bong Bong - 12"
DANNY T & TRADESMAN FT. MARK IRATION - Up Deh - 12"
NARAM FT. ROBERT LEE - Raggamuffin Soldier - 7"
SUBACTIVE FT. MARINA P, SPENG BOND, PARLY B & CAPRA DREAD - Pepper Dem EP -12"
PARLY B - Galang (DANNY T & TRADESMAN Remix) - 7"
MUNGO'S HI FI FEAT. YT & JOHNNY OSBOURNE - No Wata Down Ting - 7"
MICHAEL PROPHET / DANMAN - Searching For Jah / Tribulation - 10"


text:
package tracker.server.request.handlers;

import io.vertx.ext.web.RoutingContext;

/**
 * Created by sohan on 7/4/2017.
 */
public interface DispatchingRequestHandler extends RequestHandler {
    @Override
    void handle(RoutingContext ctx);
}


October 16, 2015—Minnesota began its "Cold Weather Rule" ( Minnesota Statute 216B.097 ) this week. According to the rule, between the dates of October 15 and April 15, utilities are not allow to disconnect the utility service of any residential customer whose primary heating source would be affected by the cutoff. They must also reconnect any qualifying customers who already have been cut off.
In order to qualify, the household income of the customer must be at or below 50 percent of the state median income. If customers are already receiving any form of public assistance, they are automatically qualified. In addition, the utility must provide customers seeking protection with referrals to energy assistance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer's energy bills. They must also offer low-income customers facing disconnection the opportunity to participate in a Cold Weather Program (CWP) payment plan.
The CWP plan cannot require the monthly payment to be more than 10 percent of the household's income. If a household and the utility cannot agree on a payment plan, the household can appeal to the Public Utilities Commission, which will establish a payment agreement. The Cold Weather Rule does not, however, protect households from shut-off if they fail to make and keep CWP payments. All customers are given 20 days after receiving a shut-off notification to contact their utility provider to start working out a CWP plan.
Minnesota is just the first of many states that use a date-specific program season to start their disconnect policies. According to the data gathered from LIHEAP state plans, only two states, Minnesota and Ohio, begin their programs by the end of October. The majority of state grantees begin by the end of November with a few beginning in December. Other states, such as Colorado and California, run a year-long disconnect policy that prevents disconnects to homes with seriously ill or disabled household members. Others, such as Arizona and Texas, have a temperature-based system. For more detailed information about disconnection policies in each state, see the Clearinghouse website .


text:
Evaluating road safety is an enduring research topic in Infrastructure and Transportation Engineering. The prediction of crash risk is very important for avoiding other crashes and safeguarding road users. According to this task, awareness of the number of vehicles involved in an accident contributes greatly to safety analysis, hence, it is necessary to predict it. In this study, the main aim is to develop a binary model for predicting the number of vehicles involved in an accident using Neural Networks and the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH). For this purpose, 775 accident cases were accurately recorded and evaluated from the urban and rural areas of Cosenza in southern Italy and some notable parameters were considered as input data including Daylight, Weekday, Type of accident, Location, Speed limit and Average speed; and the number of vehicles involved in an accident was considered as output. In this study, 581 cases were selected randomly from the dataset to train and the rest were used to test the developed binary model. A confusion matrix and a Receiver Operating Characteristic curve were used to investigate the performance of the proposed model. According to the obtained results, the accuracy values of the prediction model were 83.5% and 85.7% for testing and training, respectively. Finally, it can be concluded that the developed binary model can be applied as a reliable tool for predicting the number of vehicles involved in an accident.
Development of a Binary Classification Model to Assess Safety in Transportation Systems Using GMDH-Type Neural Network Algorithm
Giuseppe Guido;Sina Shaffiee Haghshenas;Sami Shaffiee Haghshenas;Alessandro Vitale;Vincenzo Gallelli;Vittorio Astarita
road safety; transportation system; neural network; GMDH; binary model


Surprisingly bad relatively short needle game. It's got a reasonably polished aesthetic and a lot of spike art which is nice, but the gameplay is bad.
It makes use of the classic water2 jump conservation concept, which is neat enough but the actual jumps are terrible. Most saves boil down to hold your jump while you drift down some downwards water diagonals, corners, 16px or planes (this is actually 60% of the game) then do a drop gate. Zowee. Then maybe there's some more gates, and it ends on an extended downward squished water diagonal.
Not recommended unless you love downward generic jumps in water.
Take Green the Eye. Add Feel Blue. Make a couple more stages as good as these two games, and you'll have a very amazing needle game as a result. Honestly, these games are so much similar that I can't help but think that they're just different stages from the same game. Sure, as different stages, they have some particularities. Green the Eye has the spears...And this game has the waterfalls.
This game is beautiful. It's one of the very few fangames I've seen so far where the water actually feels natural. The few issues I can find about this game are that it feels like just a stage from a bigger game, and the borderkills (Makes things look a bit less natural than they should). There are plenty of jumps that might seem generic at first, but most of them are remodelled in a way that makes things fun and original at the same time (Probably the only needle game that actually made me enjoy going through a water corner). Some are still just generic, though. It's also very challenging (I still don't know how did I get past the penultimate save. The last one was a joke compared to that thing), although the difficulty curve isn't very precise.
It's one of those 'fangames with personality'. Highly recommended for more experienced needle players.
Amazing needle game which is basically I wanna green the eye: water edition (the graphic style is similar and that's not surprising considering the two games were made by the same person). The main element of this game is indeed water, the kind of water that does not let you jump in the air after getting out unless you didn't already use your second jump (water1?). Now this sounds terrible, but the level design is built entirely around this quirk, leading to new and unique jumps, some extremely precise. Although you won't avoid the dreaded underwater diagonals, I can guarantee you that this game is a really fresh and interesting experience, a true hidden gem of level design!


text:
Vanuatu's economy is primarily agricultural; 80% of the population is engaged in agricultural activities that range from subsistence farming to smallholder farming of coconuts and other cash crops.

Copra is by far the most important cash crop (making up more than 35% of Vanuatu's exports), followed by timber, beef, and cocoa. Kava root extract exports also have become important.

Economic sectors

Financial sector
In addition, the Vanuatu government has maintained the country's pre-independence status as a tax haven and international financial center. About 2,000 registered institutions offer a wide range of offshore banking, investment, legal, accounting, and insurance and trust company services. On the Tax Justice Network's 2011 Financial Secrecy Index, Vanuatu received a "secrecy score" of 88/100, though its marginal market share placed it near the bottom of the weighted list. Vanuatu was one of three Pacific island nations (along with Nauru and Palau) which four major international banks placed a U.S. dollar transaction ban on in December 1999.
Vanuatu sells citizenship for about $150,000, and its passports allow visa-free travel throughout Europe. With demand from the Chinese market booming, passport sales may now account for more than 30% of the country's revenue.
Vanuatu maintains an international shipping register in New York City.

Fishing industry
There is substantial fishing activity, although this industry does not bring in much foreign exchange.
Vanuatu claims an exclusive economic zone of  and possesses marine resources. Some ni-Vanuatu are involved in fishing, along with foreign fleets.

Mining industry
In contrast, mining activity is unsubstantial.

Agricultural sector
Exports include copra, kava, beef, cocoa and timber, and imports include machinery and equipment, foodstuffs and fuels. Copra, cocoa, kava and beef account for more than 60% of Vanuatu's total exports by value and agriculture accounts for 20% of GDP.

Vanuatu produced in 2018:

 374 thousand tons of coconut;
 53 thousand tons of root and tubers;
 16 thousand tons of banana;
 13 thousand tons of vegetable;

In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products, like peanut (2.6 thousand tons) and cocoa (1.8 thousand tons).

Tourism sector
Tourism is Vanuatu's fastest-growing sector, having comprised 40% of GDP in 2000. Industry's portion of GDP declined from 15% to 10% between 1990 and 2008. Government consumption accounted for about 27% of GDP.

Vanuatu has commodities, mostly agricultural, produced for export. In 2000, imports exceeded exports by a ratio of nearly 4 to 1. This was offset by high services income from tourism, which kept the current account balance fairly even. After a downturn in 2001 and 2002 due to a decrease in tourism funding, the economy was expected to grow by 3.9%, increasing to 4.3% in 2007.

Exports
Luganville, the second largest city, is a hub for exports with 64.3% of domestic exports leaving it compared to 35.7% for the capital of Port Vila, whereas imports show the opposite trend with 86.9% entering through the capital and 13.1% through Luganville.

Reform

In 1997 the government, with the aid of the Asian Development Bank, committed itself to a 3-year comprehensive reform program. During the first year of the program the government has adopted a value-added tax, consolidated and reformed government-owned banks, and started a 10% downsizing in the public service. The program was derailed when Barak Sope became Prime Minister. Under Prime Minister Edward Natapei, reform programs were reintroduced.

Traditional economy
The government declared 2007 to be "the Year of the Traditional Economy" (), encouraging the trade of sea shells and pig tusks and discouraging cash transfers. By the end of the year, they extended the experiment in to 2008. The establishment of the Tangbunia Bank, to deal in customary wealth, was linked to this initiative.

Economic statistics
Vanuatu scored 32.06 (versus a worldwide score of 42.94, lower scores translating to higher risk) on the June 2013 Euromoney Country Risk rankings.

All "$" units are US Dollar.

GDP:
purchasing power parity - $1.237 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
2.6% (2012 estimate)

GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $ (2012 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture:
20.6%
industry:
11.7%
services:
67.6% (2012 est.)

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%:
NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2012 est.)

Labor force:
 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 58%,
industry 10%,
services 32% (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate:
1.5% (2010)

Budget:
revenues:
$188.2 million
expenditures:
$207.4 million, including capital expenditures of $700 000 (2012 est.)

Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:
12% (2011 est.)

Electricity - production:
52 GWh (2008)

Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel:
90%
hydro:
0%
nuclear:
0%
other:
10% (2012)

Electricity - consumption:
40.22 GWh (2008)

Electricity - exports:
220 kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008)

Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, kava, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables, fish, beef

Exports:
$280 million (f.o.b., 2012 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:
Thailand 57.3%, Japan 21.8% (2011)

Imports:
$242 million (f.o.b., 2012)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners:
China 26.7%, Singapore 21.2%, Australia 13.6%, New Zealand 7.2%, Fiji 6.7%, Japan 5.4% (2011)

Debt - external:
$307.7 million (2011)

Economic aid - recipient:
$27.5 million (2002)

Currency:
1 vatu (VT), no subdivisions

Exchange rates:
vatu (VT) per US$1 – 94.03 (2012), 96.91 (2010), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 129.76 (December 1999), 129.08 (1999), 127.52 (1998), 115.87 (1997), 111.72 (1996), 112.11 (1995)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

See also
Fishing in Vanuatu

References

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Seriously, this shop has it all! From bows, headbands, turbans, leggings, beanies, and MORE! Be sure to check out their Facebook page for flash sales and new products.
And those AMAZING little moccasin boots she's wearing? You can pre-order these babies soon and trust me, you need a pair. They're super adorable. Miss P walks in them no problem and you don't even need socks because they're fully lined and have sherpa on the bottom. We love ours!
With the holidays right around the corner, consider checking out Pink and Blue Ninja Bowtique for some unique and handmade gifts.
« How to have great hair everyday.


text:
The painstaking process of repairing a damaged cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., sustained major damage during a rare 2011 earthquake. Nearly eight years later, reconstruction is still underway at the country's second-largest church. Jeffrey Brown visited the landmark to learn more about the long and painstaking repair effort, including how it has been funded and what steps have been taken to avoid future disaster.
The full episode is no longer available for online streaming. Why?
Please continue to enjoy extra(s) from this episode.
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Iowa poll, Mueller hearings
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on Iowa 2020 poll, Mueller report hearings
Grieving mothers visit prison to break the cycle of violence
How these grieving mothers seek to stop the cycle of violence
Can Mexico keep its immigration promises to the U.S.?
Will U.S.-Mexico deal reduce immigration? A report from 2 borders
Which 2020 Democrats are stepping up Iowa campaign efforts
How U.S. women's soccer is striving for cultural change
How the U.S. women's soccer team offers a cultural story, not just an athletic one
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Galleria Mall Condos is a highly ambitious project to revitalize the infamous Galleria Mall at Dufferin and Dupont. Steps from the already vibrant Bloor West Village, Freed and Elad are brining a world-class mixed-use urban development, that includes commercial, office and residential uses, the creation of a larger urban park, and a dynamic new community hub.
Peter Freed is reimagining the city with his own brand of designs, constantly driven by what he calls an obsession with each and every detail of the building process. Freed developments have designed a community of large buildings, each with their own unique feel. Freed is a modern progressive lifestyle company. Freed Developments is quickly approaching $1 billion dollars in development along with the new investment property Galleria Mall Condos in Toronto. A strong believer of the live, work & play in your neigbourhood principle, Freed has set out to build lifestyle hubs. Breathtaking rooftop pool and lounge areas, all in prime locations just a few steps from everything. Each living space Freed builds is an expression of lifestyle through architecture and design, its ultimate purpose to enhance the life and human connectivity of its community. Live better, live Freed. For over 20 years, Freed has been changing the face of the city with its unique brand of design- based development. The company was the driving force behind the remarkable transformation of King Street West, turning it in just a few short years into one of the city's most desirable neighbourhoods. A Freed property is more than just a building it's a lifestyle hub. It's a place where people live near where they work and play.
Since its inception in 1997, Elad Canada (Galleria Mall Condos) has pursued an aggressive growth strategy in central Canada acquiring income producing properties from various asset classifications as well as development sites, resulting in a portfolio of approximately 5.9 million square feet of commercial space and approximately 17,000 apartment and seniors' units by 2008. In recent years, the company has shifted its focus from income producing properties to development sites, specializing in mid- and high-rise condominium development and master planned communities. Best known for its visionary approach at the award winning Emerald City master planned community in Toronto, the Cité Nature condominium development next to the Olympic Village pyramids and the redevelopment of the historic Nordelec building in Montreal, Elad Canada leads the way with innovative development projects.


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NBA roundup: LeBron returns to help power Lakers to win
Anthony Davis racked up 25 points and 15 rebounds, LeBron James added 21 points in his return after missing five games and the visiting Los Angeles Lakers sprinted away from the plummeting San Antonio Spurs 105-94 on Friday.
James was a force after being out with an adductor strain since Nov. 9.And Davis continued a run of double-doubles -- six in a row -- by scoring 11 of his points in the fourth quarter.
Lonnie Walker IV added 18 points and Troy Brown Jr. had 10 for Los Angeles, which has won four of its past five games. The Lakers were without Patrick Beverley, who was sitting out the first game of a three-game suspension for shoving the Phoenix Suns' Deandre Ayton.
San Antonio dropped its seventh straight game and fell for the 12th time in 13 contests so far in November. Tre Jones led the Spurs with 19 points, with Devin Vassell scoring 18, Keldon Johnson adding 15, Jeremy Sochan hitting for 13 and Jakob Poeltl tallying 10.
Warriors 129, Jazz 118
Stephen Curry poured in a game-high 33 points and teamed with Klay Thompson for 12 3-pointers as Golden State improved upon its stellar home record with a triumph over Utah in San Francisco.
In winning for an eighth straight time at home to improve to 9-1 in their own building, the Warriors got double-figure scoring from all five starters and reserve Jordan Poole in their first meeting of the season with the upstart Jazz.
Lauri Markkanen had a team-high 24 points for Utah, which lost a third straight for the second time in two weeks. The Jazz have dropped six of eight overall.
76ers 107, Magic 99
Shake Milton collected 24 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds and Tobias Harris added 23 points and 10 boards to lift Philadelphia to a victory over host Orlando in a battle of undermanned teams.
Milton made 7 of 13 shots from the floor -- including 4 of 7 from 3-point range -- for the 76ers, who outscored the Magic by a 55-43 margin in the second half. Georges Niang added 18 points off the bench and Montrezl Harrell added 14 points and eight rebounds as Philadelphia posted its fifth win in seven outings.
Franz Wagner scored 24 points and Bol Bol collected 18 points and eight rebounds for the Magic, who have lost five of their last six games. Orlando star rookie Paolo Banchero scored 19 points in his return from a seven-game absence due to a sprained left ankle.
Rockets 128, Hawks 122
Jalen Green scored 30 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter as Houston rallied from a 16-point, second-half deficit and stunned visiting Atlanta.
Houston's Kenyon Martin Jr. (21 points, 15 rebounds) had his first 20-10 game since his rookie season in 2020-21. Mathews added 20 points off the bench and rookie Jabari Smith Jr. had 21 points and nine boards for the Rockets, who parlayed 22 offensive rebounds into 37 second-chance points. Kevin Porter Jr. added 12 points and 10 assists for the Rockets.
Trae Young led the Hawks with 44 points while Dejounte Murray added 39. However, they were the lone Atlanta starters to score in double figures.
Grizzlies 132, Pelicans 111
Ja Morant, Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke had double-doubles and host Memphis dominated New Orleans from beginning to end.
Morant had 23 points and 11 assists, Adams added 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Clarke had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Dillon Brooks scored a game-high 25 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. had 20 as the Grizzlies won for just the second time in six games.
Trey Murphy III returned from a two-game absence caused by a foot injury to score 21 points, Zion Williamson added 14 and Herbert Jones had 13 to lead the Pelicans, who lost for just the second time in seven games. New Orleans' Brandon Ingram left the game in the first half due to a toe injury and did not return.
Pacers 128, Nets 117
Buddy Hield scored 26 points for Indiana, which rode a dominant fourth quarter to a win over Brooklyn in Indianapolis.
Tyrese Haliburton supplied 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Pacers, who didn't lead in the second or third quarters before outscoring the Nets 40-23 in the fourth. Myles Turner finished with 23 points and eight rebounds, and Bennedict Mathurin had 20 points.
Kevin Durant scored 36 points for the Nets, including 20 in the fourth quarter. He also had nine rebounds and eight assists. Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons each finished with 20 points as Brooklyn lost for the fourth time in seven games.
Hornets 110, Timberwolves 108
Kelly Oubre Jr. scored 28 points and Charlotte used a strong second half to overcome visiting Minnesota.
Terry Rozier's 22 points, PJ Washington's 16 points and reserve Theo Maledon's 14 points also gave the Hornets a boost as they won back-to-back games for the first time this season. Oubre, who is usually a major 3-point threat, was 10-for-21 from the field overall and 3-for-7 on 3s.
Anthony Edwards poured in 25 points to lead the Timberwolves, who had a five-game winning streak snapped. D'Angelo Russell had 20 points and a game-high 10 assists, Karl-Anthony Towns supplied 19 points and Rudy Gobert had 17 points and 17 rebounds.
Celtics 122, Kings 104
Foul-plagued Jayson Tatum scored 30 points and led a third-quarter surge that propelled host Boston past Sacramento for its 11th win in 12 games.
Jaylen Brown, also dealing with foul trouble, chipped in with 25 points for the Celtics. Derrick White added 16 points and Al Horford 13 for Boston, which improved its best-in-November record to 11-2.
De'Aaron Fox had a team-high 20 points for the Kings, who rallied from a double-digit, first-half deficit to lead 84-78 on a Kevin Huerter layup with 4:04 remaining in the third period. Domantas Sabonis notched an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double to complement a game-high six assists for the Kings.
Bucks 117, Cavaliers 102
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 38 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists as Milwaukee used a dominant third quarter to storm past visiting Cleveland.
Jevon Carter made five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points, while Bobby Portis added 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bucks, who outscored the Cavaliers 35-10 in the third period.
Donovan Mitchell had 29 points to lead the Cavaliers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Darius Garland had 20 points.
Trail Blazers 132, Knicks 129 (OT)
Jerami Grant scored a career-high 44 points for visiting Portland, which overcame a 14-point deficit in the first half and edged New York in overtime
Anfernee Simons had 38 points, and Jusuf Nurkic finished with 20 points, including a three-point play that put the Trail Blazers ahead for good with 3:31 left in overtime. Josh Hart finished with 10 points and 19 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the first time in three games without star guard Damian Lillard, who is out with a right calf injury.
Jalen Brunson scored 32 points but missed a potential game-winning floater from two feet just before the fourth-quarter buzzer for the Knicks, who have lost three of four. RJ Barrett had 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Julius Randle collected 23 points. Immanuel Quickley had 18 points off the bench, while Mitchell Robinson added 12 points.
Thunder 123, Bulls 119 (OT)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points, including five critical free throws in the closing seconds of overtime, to lead host Oklahoma City past Chicago.
Darius Bazley added a season-high 17 points off the bench for the Thunder, who won for the first time in four games.
DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 30 points, including all nine of Chicago's overtime points. Zach LaVine added 27 points, and Nikola Vucevic had 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Heat 110, Wizards 107
Bam Adebayo scored a season-high 38 points and added 12 rebounds, leading host Miami to a win over Washington.
Adebayo made two free throws to give Miami a 106-105 lead with 1:37 left. Then, with 21 seconds remaining, Adebayo made a drive over 7-foot-3 Kristaps Porzingis for a 108-105 lead. Washington had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Bradley Beal's off-balance 3-point attempt at the buzzer missed badly.
Beal, who returned from a one-game injury absence (thigh), posted 28 points, five assists, five rebounds and three blocks. Kyle Kuzma also had 28 points and added seven rebounds for the Wizards.
Suns 108, Pistons 102
Deandre Ayton recorded 28 points on 11-of-13 shooting and also collected 12 rebounds to lead Phoenix to a victory over visiting Detroit.
Devin Booker contributed 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists as the Suns defeated the Pistons for the fourth straight time. Cameron Payne added 16 points and 10 assists for the Suns.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points to pace Detroit. Killian Hayes recorded 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Alec Burks also had 17 points.
Nuggets 114, Clippers 104
Aaron Gordon scored 29 points, Jamal Murray had 21 points and nine assists and Denver won its third straight road game, beating Los Angeles.
Murray's production came after he missed a victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday due to heel soreness. Nikola Jokic contributed 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Nuggets. The Nuggets prevailed despite watching the Clippers shoot 54.4 percent from the field. Denver held Los Angeles to just four offensive rebounds.
John Wall had 23 points and Terance Mann added 16 for the Clippers, who were missing a significant amount of offensive firepower. For the second straight game, Los Angeles played without Paul George (hamstring), Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and Luke Kennard (calf).
Mavericks star Luka Doncic exits with sprained ankle
All-Star Game to pit Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis; starters revealed
Cloudy in Salt Lake City


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Home › Information › Cases › Robert Chaston v SWP Group PLC (2002)
Robert Chaston v SWP Group PLC (2002)
Payment by a target company of the fees of accountants retained by the purchaser to prepare a long form report amounted to unlawful financial assistance within s.151 Companies Act 1985.
Defendant's ('SWP') appeal from that part of an order of Davis J dated 26 April 2002 by which he dismissed SWP's Part 20 claim against the respondent ('C') for damages for breach of fiduciary duty for having procured, or contrived in, the grant by a company ('DRC') of which C was a director and major shareholder, of financial assistance for the acquisition by SWP of the shares in DRC's parent company ('Holdings') contrary to s.151 Companies Act 1985. The alleged financial assistance was the incurring of liability to Deloitte and Touche ('D&T') by DRC to pay certain fees, and/or the payment of those fees. The fees arose out of the preparation by D&T of a long form report on behalf of SWP in relation to the DRC group of companies. The issues on the appeal were: (i) whether the commitment to pay those fees, or the payment of them, amounted to "financial assistance" at all; (ii) to which party was the financial assistance given; and (iii) whether the assistance was "for the purpose of" the acquisition by SWP of the share capital of Holdings. SWP brought its Part 20 claim as assignee from DRC of all claims that it might have against C.
(1) The general mischief towards which s.151 was directed was clear enough: the resources of the target company and its subsidiaries should not be used directly or indirectly to assist the purchaser financially to make the acquisition. (2) Looked at as a matter of commercial substance and reality, the payment of D&T's fees undoubtedly helped to smooth the course of the acquisition. (3) The judge was wrong to conclude that this assistance was not "for the purpose of" the acquisition. The fact that the fees had been paid in order to further the acquisition inevitably meant that the payment was for the purpose of the acquisition.
Court of Appeal
Ward LJ, Buxton LJ, Arden LJ
LTL 20/12/2002 : (2003) BCC 140 : (2003) 1 BCLC 675
Mark Cunningham QC