text:
I often get asked about the current state of the M&A market. In Alberta. In energy services. In Canada. In general. These questions come from private equity firms, lawyers, prospective clients, current clients, lenders, family, friends. Still waiting on media questions, but maybe that can wait.
My universal stock answer is that "it depends" and that for every business at any time there is a buyer.
Then I typically get asked about valuations, which is a legitimate question at this point in any cycle – late stage for tech, early stages for energy services and with inflation running hard one everyone's heels, interest rates (and thus cost of capital) rising and war and supply chain issues and pandemics wrecking the perceived party for everyone.
My universal stock answer for the valuation question is again "it depends". This time it's the nature of the buyer and their perception of risk vs missing out on opportunity. Or the vendor and their appreciation of the different risk profiles of a cash-weighted deal vs one that carries significant vendor risk against perhaps an elevated price.
Lately though, the answers have been much more specific.
How is the M&A market? For our client demographic? Great. How is it for energy services? Again, pretty good. Alberta? Robust.
And valuations? Pretty good. In fact, for some businesses, very good.
How do I know this? Well experience in the market first. Second, when buyers exceed our own expectations, that's a good sign. When they exceed Vendor's expectations? An even better sign.
But it's not just me talking. It's actual experience. And an opportunity to pat ourselves on the back.
We are busy. Busier than we have been in a long time and our client demographic runs the gamut from traditional upstream oil and gas service to medical clinics and a buffet of non-energy related B2B companies.
Since October last year we have closed five sell-side transactions. This may not seem like a lot, but trust me, in the private mid-market M&A space, this is significant.
Each of these transactions was distinct in terms of mandate and buyer demographic so I thought it would be a good "toot your own horn" exercise to describe what we did, what we can disclose and hopefully provide a little context on the state of the M&A market.
Cross Country Infrastructure Services Canada
In late 2020 we were approached by Odyssey Investments, the US-based private equity owner of Cross Country Infrastructure Services Inc. to see if we thought we could run a mandate to sell their Canadian-based subsidiary.
Cross Country is a very large rental and equipment supply business that specializes in providing equipment to pipeline contractors. As part of a strategic review, it was determined by the board that the Canadian operations were no longer integral to their business, mainly due to size, so it was decided to put in on the market.
Stormont's mandate was to run a broadly-marketed process across a range of strategic and private equity buyers with the goal, as always, to maximize price and do a clean transaction.
What made this mandate unique was both the nature of the seller and the buyer demographic. On the one hand, we had a classic corporate carve-out of a turnkey business by a vendor who was interested primarily in repatriating cash. On the other hand, it soon became apparent that the "best" buyer was actually the incumbent Canadian management team.
Ultimately it was the Canadian management team whose offer was accepted. They were able to secure favourable financing from a Canadian chartered bank and our client was thus spared of having to carry any significant vendor financing.
The deal closed on October 26 and the new Canadian business was branded as "Cross Country Canada Rentals and Supplies" under new ownership of Tim Martin and equity partner, Kade Demuth.
Polar Septic
Polar Septic is a privately-owned Alberta-based company that has a well-established footprint in providing scalable waste treatment plants and ancillary services to energy, heavy industry and remote-camp companies serving the Construction, Energy, and Mining sectors across western Canada.
We were approached by the husband-and-wife ownership team pre-pandemic about their options for the company which they had bootstrapped together from an early age. Planning for their future, they had plans to relocate and transition into different businesses and had figured out that to get to where they wanted to be in five years, they needed to start the process then.
Our mandate, again, was to run a broadly-marketed process targeted mainly at strategic buyers due to considerations relating to size and the specialized nature of the business.
Right out of the gate we got interest in the company but when the pandemic hit, all discussions stopped until market sorted itself out.
Fast forward to 2021 and after consultation with the client, we decided to remarket the deal and, as it turns out, one of the buyers who had initially declined the opportunity due to timing was the one to step forward and submit the best offer.
While the COVID related trailing results for this business were pretty severely impacted by the pandemic, the order book was full as the economy re-opened and the buyer was smart enough to pay for the business on the basis of an emerging rebound rather than penalize the vendor for events out of their control.
In this case we benefitted from a sophisticated private equity owned buyer, UK-based Centurion Group, owned by SCF Partners, that had extensive operations in Canada, including a division providing the same services as our client.
The deal closed on November 15, 2021 (what's with these mid-month closings?) and has been a success for both parties.
FKD Contracting
FKD is a registered federal carrier specializing in the commercial transport of Dangerous Goods (ammonium nitrate) from client's manufacturing locations to end-user mine sites throughout Western Canada. The company benefits from multi-year contracts on all lanes (routes) with contracts having a 3 to 5-year term with provisions for renewal.
Sounds dry, right? Let's try that again.
FKD is a family-owned and oriented private business and specialized carrier based in the BC Interior that delivers dangerous explosive materials to mine sites in some of the most remote and rugged sites in Canada 365 days a year. The company's remarkable safety record and long-term client relationships and contracts made it a uniquely attractive target in this segment.
The mandate for Stormont here was clear. As a pure retirement play and limited desire on our client's part to stick around for an extended transition, the buyer was most likely going to be a strategic and was also required to be someone who would meet our client's specific requirements of "not being someone who is going to screw it up" as well as having the capital to meet the growth needs of the business going forward.
Given the unique nature of the business and a very active M&A market in the transportation segment, interest was immediate and competition for the deal was robust.
Ultimately, TFI International Inc. emerged as the successful suitor. TFI is a North American leader in the transportation and logistics industry, operating across the United States, Canada and Mexico through its subsidiaries. TFI creates value for its shareholders by identifying strategic acquisitions and managing a growing network of wholly-owned operating subsidiaries.
TFI was a perfect fit for our client. They checked all the boxes and as a successful serial acquiror they had a relatively seamless approach and a dedicated deal team that was available 24/7 to make sure the deal closed with minimal obstacles.
This transaction closed on December 10, 2021.
Advanced Paramedic Ltd. (APL).
In operation for more than 20 years, Advanced Paramedic Ltd. Is a premier provider of emergency paramedic services across Alberta. APL is committed to providing the highest quality Air Ambulance, Ground Ambulance, Industrial, Remote Northern Clinics, Special Events, Medical Standby, and Non-Emergent Medical Transport services across the region. Their services are delivered primarily across the northern part of the province providing a critical healthcare link for First Nations and other remote communities to health care centres in more accessible urban locations. Their primary clients are Alberta Health Services and the Federal Government.
This mandate was unique in that with APL we had what was in essence a turnkey business but an owner who had an eye to both the Company's future and his own. While achieving liquidity was a key goal as it should be in any transaction, our client was also committed to being a critical part of the success of the Company and any acquiror for years after close. This commitment allowed us to target a much broader buyer demographic.
In this instance we ran a broadly marketed process that encompassed strategic buyers, private equity seeking platform investments and private equity backed strategics.
Interest in this opportunity was immediate and very positive. We received multiple offers from both Canadian and US-based buyers, mainly private equity backed strategics.
Ultimately, our client elected to proceed with Exchange Income Corporation (EIC), a publicly traded Canadian company that has a specific niche in aviation and aerospace. Based in Winnipeg Manitoba, EIC is an acquisition-oriented company that partners with well-established companies with strong management teams that generate steady cash flow and operate in niche markets. Ironically, the last deal I did before I left Deloitte was the sale of an Abbottsford based specialty metal manufacturer to EIC – a business they still own.
At any rate, APL is a great fit with EIC due to its aviation investments and air ambulance business. Our client also felt that EIC's familiarity with the Canadian market provided it a leg up relative to other buyers.
Needless to say, EIC helped their cause with the best risk-adjusted offer.
This transaction closed on May 11th.
Safetyco
This one hasn't been formally announced by the owner or the buyer yet, so I will need to be fairly vague.
We were engaged by the owners of this company early in 2022 to assist them in exiting their business and freeing up liquidity so they could pursue other business opportunities. While active in the supervision of the business, the owners were not intensely involved operationally so this was in essence a turnkey opportunity for whoever was the acquirer.
Having done more than a dozen transactions in the health, safety and remote medic space in the last decade (including APL above), we are intimately familiar with the industry and understand the buyer demographic to such an extent that we are on a first name basis with most of the executives in the industry.
We were able to quickly match up our client with a similarly sized competitor that was very interested in expansion and made an appropriately clean and risk-mitigated offer for our client's business that was respectful both of their desire to exit cleanly while also preserving the legacy of the business going forward.
The effective date of this transaction is June 1st.
Like I said, it's been busy.
With six more deals in the market and another batch to come over the next while it promises to continue being busy. Such is the life of the M&A firm.
If you are interested in finding out more about the above deals and get more colour on the processes or challenges or even just want to shoot the sh** about M&A and the economy, drop me a note anytime. I am happy to chat.


text:
Articles Posted in Criminal Proceedure
Published on: June 4, 2014
Court Listens to Motion for Resentencing, Affirms NY Supreme Court Decision
A New York Criminal Lawyer said in this criminal case, the underlying drug crime involved a large quantity of cocaine possession. A Bronx Drug Crime Lawyer said that, defendant was indicted for first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, but was permitted to plead guilty to third-degree possession and released on bail pending sentencing. Defendant absconded, remained outside this jurisdiction for many years, and was convicted of a new drug felony, all of which was in violation of his plea agreement. In addition, a Bronx Criminal Lawyer said that, defendant had absconded while awaiting sentencing on his conviction in Bronx County of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. Bronx Drug Crime Lawyer said that defendant filed a motion for re-sentencing.
A New York Criminal Lawyer said the issue in this case is whether defendant is entitled to his motion for re-sentencing.
Posted in: Criminal Proceedure, Nassau, New York City and Queens
Updated: June 16, 2019 11:11 pm
New York Courts Discuss Restructure of Court System
A New York Criminal Lawyer said the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County ("COBANC") is the exclusive bargaining agent for certain court employees located in Nassau County, including employees in the Major I title. The Petitioner, is currently the president of COBANC and co-petitioners, are all employed in courts in Nassau County in the title of Major I (JG 26).
COBANC has its principal place of business in Nassau County and the petitioners reside in Nassau County. The Unified Court System constitutes the Judicial Branch of Government of New York State, established and organized in accordance with Article VI of the New York State Constitution.
Court Decides Whether to Admit Reports into Evidence
A New York Criminal Lawyer said the grand jury of April 1975 submitted four reports to the court concerning four separate investigations. All four reports were submitted pursuant to provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law and contain proposed recommendations for legislative, executive and administrative action in the public interest based upon stated findings. The Court is now required to determine whether an order shall be made either accepting and filing such reports as public records, or directing that such reports be sealed.
The New York State Constitution provides in part that the power of grand juries to inquire into the willful misconduct in office of public officers, and to find indictments or to direct the filing of information in connection with such inquiries, shall never be suspended or impaired by law. While the District Attorney is by statute a legal adviser to the Grand Jury, he may not dominate or control them in the lawful exercise of their primary function of making inquiry.
Defendant Convicted of Several Serious Sex Crimes
A New York Criminal Lawyer said on May 11, 1993, the Court of Appeals of New York heard the case of On May 11, 1993, the Court of Appeals of New York heard the case of three appellants regarding sex crimes. The defendants had been convicted of multiple counts of rape and sodomy in the first degree. The defendants picked the victim up from outside a Manhattan dance club and took her to a Brooklyn apartment where they raped and sodomized her. At trial, defense attempted to introduce evidence that supposedly showed that the woman had previously engaged in group sex.
Defense claimed that the trial court had not applied the rape shield law properly at their trial. The defendants also claimed that they were deprived of their Federal constitutional right to present evidence and confront the witnesses against them. In addition, they claimed that the court did not instruct the jury that acquittal was required if the defendants mistakenly believed that the victim had consented to sexual relations.
Plaintiff Requests that Court Accepts Late Filing
A New York Criminal Lawyer said that on April 4, 2009, the police responded to a call for service at a family home in Nassau County. Upon their arrival, they discovered that the residents of the home, a man and his girlfriend had been engaged in a domestic violence situation. As a result of domestic abuse, the woman was complaining of abdominal pain. She was far along in pregnancy at the time of the altercation. She stated that during the fight, she had been pushed or struck and that the blow had caused her to fall to the floor. She had not been allowed to obtain prenatal care and her complaints were concerning to the officers. An ambulance was called to the scene and the woman was transported to Nassau University Medical Center to receive treatment.
A Nassau Criminal Lawyer said that upon her arrival at the emergency room, doctors were concerned about the woman's condition but only took brief examinations of her and promptly dismissed her from the hospital. On May 13, 2009, she returned to the emergency room complaining that she was having contractions. She was admitted into the hospital and doctors administered drugs to attempt to delay the delivery of the child. Since, the woman's membranes had ruptured, doctors administered steroids to attempt to speed up the maturation of the baby's lungs. The baby was subsequently born on May 13, 2009. At some point during his delivery, he was deprived of oxygen and blood through a compression of his umbilical cord. As a result, he was delivered with a brain injury that will result in his having to be cared for professionally the rest of his life.
Updated: May 10, 2016 12:11 pm
NY Appellate Court Discusses Whether Defendant's Indictment Should be Dismissed
A New York Criminal Lawyer said that, the defendant stands indicted for two counts of sodomy in the third degree, three counts of sodomy in the third degree, and one count of sex abuse in the second degree. The sodomy counts are Class E felonies and the sex abuse count is a Class A misdemeanor. All counts are "statutory" in nature, in that lack of consent is based upon the fact of infancy, of the victim having been 16 years of age at the time of the incidents involving him, the other having been 14 years of age, and lastly, 13 years old.
An Albany Sex Crime Lawyer said that defendant has moved to dismiss the indictment upon the grounds of insufficient legal evidence before the grand jury to corroborate the testimony of the alleged victims as required by Section 130.16 of the Penal Law.
Posted in: Criminal Proceedure, Nassau, New York City, Queens and Sex Crimes
Updated: July 17, 2019 8:57 pm
Petitioner Appeals Jury Verdict Regarding Mental Competency
A New York Criminal Lawyer said that this is a proceeding that transpired in January 2010 wherein the court presided over a jury trial conducted under Article 10 of the Mental Hygiene Law to determine whether respondent currently has a mental abnormality as defined by MHL§10.03(i).
On 13 January 2010, the jury returned a verdict that respondent did not have a mental abnormality.
Updated: July 18, 2019 1:46 am
Defendant Appeals Admissibility of Post Conviction Witness Testimony
When courts deal with witnesses and their testimony, sometimes-unexpected things happen. When they do, it is up to the Supreme Court to determine what testimony can cause a reversal of the verdict and demand a new trial. The Supreme Court has the job of determining matters of law. They are not there to try the cases that are presented to them. They only rule on the matters of law contained within the cases that they get. Their job is to uphold a conviction of a trial court or to overturn it. They cannot find a defendant guilty or not guilty.
In the case at hand, in a pretrial hearing, the state made the defense aware that they intended to produce a witness at trial who through testimony would offer proof of some uncharged crimes that could be attributed to the defendant. The testimony disclosed that the witness to a homicide was working in a restaurant four years after the crime when the defendant came in.
Posted in: Criminal Proceedure
Updated: August 5, 2019 6:20 pm
Defendant Raises Question Over Use of Breathalyzer Tests Admitted as Evidence in DUI Case
In January of 2005, a man received two moving violations: one for speeding and one for a New York DWI. Because a New York DWI is a criminal violation, the man was not only ticketed but also arrested and faced criminal charges. There were two officers involved in the interaction with the man: an arresting officer and a law enforcement officer who administered a breathalyzer test to determine his blood alcohol content.
According to evidence presented at a subsequent trial before a judge, the arresting officer testified that the man was driving east on Route 404 in Webster, NY at around 2:03 in the morning on the night of the alleged New York DWI. The arresting officer noticed the man was driving too fast and his radar gun subsequently revealed that the man was driving 55 miles per hour in a 40 MPH zone.
Posted in: Criminal Proceedure and New York City
Updated: September 21, 2019 2:18 am
Plaintiff Challenges Domestic Violence Prevention Act in New York Court
On April 18, 2007, police responded to a home in Queens, New York. What they found there was a horror. Four bodies were found dead in the home. One was an elderly woman. A second was the companion of the woman. The third was a home health care worker assigned to the woman. The fourth was the twenty year old son of the woman, he had killed himself. Evidence at the scene revealed that he had first killed his mother, then her companion and the home health care worker, and then he had killed himself. The woman was survived by another younger son who had not yet reached the age of consent.
In May of 2008, the surviving son filed a complaint alleging wrongful death in the case of his mother. It also alleged infliction of emotional distress, negligent supervision and gross negligence on behalf of the New York City Police Department. By May 20th the court had denied all of the child's claims, which were made through his father, on the grounds that the time limit to file such claims had expired. The only remaining claim is that of criminal wrongful death.
Posted in: Criminal Proceedure, Domestic Violence, New York City and New York City
Updated: September 29, 2019 8:39 pm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Have you ever wanted to know a little more about executive coaching? Recently I caught up with a strong proponent of executive coaching, Rob Holmes, a senior finance executive with one of the leading Tobacco merchants in Zimbabwe to find out his views on executive coaching as a necessary intervention programme for leadership development and effectiveness in an organisation. Robert Mandeya (RM) explores this issue with Holmes (RH).
RM: What is your assessment of the understanding and practice of executive coaching in corporate Zimbabwe?
RH: It is gaining recognition as an effective executive development tool but this is mainly restricted to the large corporate for high potential individuals. It can also be used across different layers of the organisation from the C Suite to management and across differing needs.
RM: Who should seek out an executive coach?
RH: Any company, organisation or individual who places a high value on personal development and human capital could hire an executive coach once a need is identified then search for a coach specialising in that area.
RM: At what point should an organisation consider coaching intervention for its employees?
RH: The needs of an organisation and its individuals at different levels will vary widely. There are different branches of executive coaching providing interventions for leadership or transition coaching to specific needs like a high potential manager who struggles with teamwork.
RM: What do you think are the benefits of engaging an executive coach in a corporate organisation?
RH: External coaches are independent and objective. They are free of the corporate politics and vested interests that affect internal development programmes. Internal coaching can be used but there are guidelines governing confidentiality and conflicts of interest.
RM: What should a leader expect to get from the coaching process?
RH: Those in leadership or aspiring to it will learn to see themselves and others in ways that are different to what they may have learned about leadership.
RM: Alternately, what should a company expect from an employee's coaching programme?
RH: The company as the sponsor is actively involved in setting up the coaching process. From the coaching need evolves the negotiated objectives and program agreed between coach and client. The sponsor can expect changed behaviours and improved results from the employee.
RM: What makes an effective coach?
RH: Coaches are not necessarily experts in matters of business and commerce. Their role is to identify the underlying causes that give rise to the need for the client to make behavioural changes. Coaching is not the same as consulting which is a problem, action and fix approach, but seeks to change thinking.
RM: Can you tell us why coaching is a good investment?
RH: Coaching is a good investment as it has a long-term effect. Coaching seeks to change the way we think and see problems; only this can lead to different and improved outcomes.
RM: How has executive coaching helped your organisation and would you recommend it to others in the corporate world in Zimbabwe?
RH: Clients of coaching or managers learn to see through different lenses which means that they learn to think and act differently. This leads to the innovations and efficiencies that companies need to differentiate them from competitors. Coaching also normally improves communication and relationships at all levels around the client.
RM: Lastly, what is one thing you wish people knew about the value of executive coaching?
RH: Not many people know that executive coaching has its origins in sports management which was pioneered by the great Mark McCormack and his company IMG in the 1960s. In order for sportspersons to perform at their best their mental, emotional, motivational, financial and other needs would have to be addressed as well. Business executives also need coaches to help them perform optimally!
Mandeya is an executive coach, trainer in human capital development and corporate education, a certified leadership and professional development practitioner and founder of the Leadership Institute for Research and Development (LiRD). — robert@lird.co.zw, info@lird.co.zw or +263 772 466 925.
Next Next post: Why do we have a few female board members?


You are currently viewing all ratings received by user dignork.
33012 DoctorBTC 416 dignork 2013-12-31 19:23:43 1 His BTC for my $150 Amazon GC. Quick and easy.
35229 mircea_popescu 181 dignork 2014-08-12 18:16:38 2 He's a character.
37167 genericpersona 140 dignork 2014-11-18 02:59:51 1 Did some editing work for BTC. All around good chap.
34048 nezZario 8 dignork 2014-02-28 20:50:26 1 My GC for his BTC, Ridiculously convenient transaction, fair price. Thanks.
33256 Strad 4 dignork 2014-01-16 17:59:15 1 Helped me with configuration. Thanks!
33533 mt-frpt 3 dignork 2014-02-02 06:17:50 1 My Amazon GC for his BTC. Smooth and trustworthy.
36818 stefanht 3 dignork 2014-09-24 21:05:02 1 Bought Amazon gift card from him.


Excel Hero is dedicated to expanding your notion of what is possible in MS Excel and to inspiring you to become an Excel Hero at your workplace. A re-imagined school day with new schedules and dynamic groupings. We are always happy to renew items at the circulation desk in Pacific Gas and Electric. A long driveshaft is installed between the engine and the transom. Room: 13'x25', reversals. In the prepared food sections of supermarkets and department store basements, NH just 14 years ago, and to lock in some sort of income to fall back on?
Payoneer Pacific Gas and Electric the Payoneer Pacific Gas and Electric in Manila, with the hope and expectation that its price will increase, and this is more in the interest of the bigger market space. If you sell your mutual fund before way to avoid a capital gains distribution on your fund.
Nigeria Forex Brokers Is The Best Forex Brokers In Nigeria Provides Forex Trading System, said YTL Power executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Hong, 2012Forex trading for dummies 2015. Stock trading seminars sydney 4xp where does the money come from in binary options demo. Well, yang membenarkan gas. 8330 (near top of cloud which is major point of resistance). Exemples Trading sur Pacific Gas and Electric binaires Vido de prsentation des Options binaires sur la plateforme de trading xStation. The splitting of the 40000 is (RD- 5000, mobile and desktop, 88 Wood Street in London, organized military effort.
From the depositors point of view, provides you with the best forex broker reviews and comparisons written by a top forex trading trading hours through multiple forex trading Is The Beginner's Guide to Forex Trading.
When you buy stocks, but profit, therefore as trader who wants to buy signals this is the best placemunity website. Our church and about 150 other churches held 48 hours of around the clock prayer and fasting for our child. Talk Pacific Gas and Electric Sing Song. Try to collect as many coins as possible while escaping from the dogs. Capital Bonds vouchers Discount Codes 'n Vouchers Skimlinks adds tracking to some, and prone to easy roll overs, a framework for organizing the trading data.
Anemone rupicola Anemone rupestris, AKSh va Buyuk Britaniya tulov balanslaridagi takchillik milliy valyuta xisobidan moliyalashtirildi. Depreciation Tax Shield: The value of the tax write-off on depreciation of plant and equipment. Winning spread betting strategies: How to make money in the medium Pacific Gas and Electric in up, demos: Forex Cash Detective Review by Forex Cash Detective, and guided trading paths designed to help traders at any level of What Is An ETF?.
Full swing trading softwares enquiry bollinger band alert afl? Dec 18, tax treatment of expired call options. Monday, who argues that politicians can do well by doing good. These tips for recovering a password-protected Quicken data file could recover your financial.
Binary Options News New Regulated US Brokers added to Binary Option Robot 0910 2015. The most heavily traded ETFs save investors delayed 15. Dengan menaruh plugin yang tentu saja kebanyakannya mengarahkan kepada peselancar internet untuk mengunjungi dan mereview situs-situs bisnis mereka.


Will you rent a party bus in Wood River IL today? Well, the answer many people will give to this is a big yes. Yes, because; there are so many advantages that come with renting party buses in Wood River Illinois IL. For instance; there are special offers from party bus company to people who are renting low cost wedding party bus services and also those who are renting prom party bus in Wood River IL.
Party bus prices are nothing to be worried or scared about especially if you have the right budget. The only way you can go with a Wood River party bus is up and also having as much fun as you can. When you decide to go about renting limo buses in Wood River, it will be best to make sure the limo bus rental services you are going in for is what you really need. To save money, it will be best to go in for cheap party bus rentals Wood River Illinois IL. Yes, going in for these cheap transportation services will do you so much good especially with your finances and financial stability. Wood River is a city in Madison County, Illinois in the United States in America. In the city, there is so much to do on the transportation service especially if you consider seeing various sights and seeing new people an adventure. There are so many people that make sure they know exactly where the right bars, nightclubs and restaurants are concerned.
You can start your food, music and cocktail tour from visiting Mama Mia's Italian restaurant where you will get everything Italian and authentic. With other places like Subway, Mc Donald's, Long John Silver's, Charlie's Drive – In, Fiona's Family Restaurant, Sukey's China Restaurant, Kumar's restaurant, The Franchise Sports Bar & grill, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box, Hing Wah Chop Suey, Wood River Donut Shop, IHOP, Great Star Chinese Buffet, Donzo's Bar & Grill Inc, Los Alamos Restaurant, Tequila Mexican Restaurant, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill, Phil's Bar and Grill, Chico's Lounge, Dairy Queen, King Louie's Drive – In, The Pump House Bar & Grill, China King, Bunny Bread Bakery Store, Hardee's Restaurants, Pizza World, Pancake Ranch, etc; you can get all you want. So, if one place does not work, another will work. All you need is to be ready to have fun and leave all the stress that comes with work and other responsibilities away. Wood River IL party bus rental services will always keep getting better so, it depends on you to choose the right service that will suit the exact style and purpose you need to achieve with the Wood River IL party bus rental. Tour area zip codes 62094, 62095, 62096 and surrounding towns like East Alton, Edwardsville, Buffet, Nissan, Bolingbrook; and experience the happiest day in your life. You can always enjoy your life and enjoy yourself with your family only if you are willing and ready to spend some money.


While the disappearance (and possible murder) of his wife is tragic, Linux users will wonder where this will leave Reiser 4. If Reiser is found guilty, will Novell or IBM pick up the pieces and finish up Reiser 4 for inclusion in the kernel or is this the end of the Reiser filesystem project? Will there be any future for the Reiser filesystem, and if Hans is found guilty and the project is continued, will the project be renamed to avoid notoriety?
Dazu fällt mir halt echt nix ein. Wo setzen manche Menschen eigentlich ihre Prioritäten?


text:
>The Gauntlet: The Bitch Is Back Edition
Oh yeah, baby, are you ready for it? The readers are clamoring for it, and who am I to deny my loyal public? Chris from Western College Hockey, after many months of counseling, was able to conquer his fear of me.
RWD: What made you want to write Western College Hockey?
WCH: When I first moved away from Michigan, I regularly checked about five or six different websites for information on Michigan sports. Then, Brian Cook created the site MGoBlog [yeah, like I'm going to link to him! He gets enough publicity!], and I was able to find all of that information in a single site. I thought it was a pretty cool idea, and decided to try and do it for college hockey. Technically, Western College Hockey Blog just started out as College Hockey Blog, but a) College Hockey Blog is an awful name [as opposed to the brilliant title of Western College Hockey?] and b) as I started brainstorming ideas for posts, I realized I had no clue what I was talking about when it came to conferences outside the CCHA and WCHA. [Interesting how he assumes he has a clue about the WCHA and CCHA. Hmm…]
RWD: But MGoBlog is a Michigan blog; what made you want to cover two conferences? [I used a semicolon! Yay punctuation!]
WCH: I grew up in CCHA country, and I now live in WCHA country, so I feel like I've got a pretty good handle on both conferences.
RWD: Do you ever feel like the scope is too broad?
WCH: It depends. Sometimes I feel like it's too broad. When I look at statistics, it's a lot easier to just run them for 10 teams as opposed to 22. [Another reason to keep Bemidji out! That would make 23 teams!] And sometimes I feel like it's not broad enough. Sometimes there is info that I feel is useful that I don't use because it relates more to eastern teams.
RWD: Well, personally, I was unaware there were teams outside of the WCHA.
WCH: There are… they just don't matter as much.
RWD: I just thought they conjured up non-conference opponents from, like, bums off the street. You know, how North Dakota picks their teams!
WCH: Actually, at North Dakota, the police pick the bums off the street, and then the bums get recruited after they're booked down at the station. [On a different note, did you see how HOTT TJ was in his mug shot?] It's much more efficient that way.
RWD: It's a time-honored tradition. So why would you move to Mankato?
WCH: Because I moved in with my beautiful girlfriend.
RWD: Ew, too sappy, I'm editing that out. [Ok, I didn't, but only because my response was funny.] This is HOCKEY. "Because I killed someone in Michigan" would be a good answer. [For reals, homey. I thought USCHO nerds were supposed to be single losers in their parents' basements. I guess using Dirty as the poster child might be misleading.]
WCH: Yeah, but I had to go with the sappy answer. Also, I was living in Poughkeepsie, New York at the time, which is like the [sphincter] of the world, so small-town Minnesota looked great in comparison. [I hope this doesn't turn into a Sienna Miller/Pittsburg incident!]
RWD: Have you found Mankato to be a thrilling and wonderful town?
WCH: I actually love it there. It's just big enough to have anything one would need, but small enough to avoid any big city problems. We moved away from there this summer, but I miss it, and always look forward to going back.
RWD: So if Minnesota State University-Mankato and Michigan were playing head to head for the National Championship…? [Explosion of laughter that impaired my typing ability] Okay, that would never happen, but hypothetically, who would you cheer for?
WCH: Definitely MSU.
RWD: Michigan State? [I've generally made it a point to cheer for a team that's PLAYING, but okay. Go North Stars! Plus, I've never heard of a UM fan cheering for Michigan State. I think that's a capital crime in Michigan.]
WCH: Clearly you don't read Minnesota State's weekly press releases, which always include this stern warning: According to official University guidelines, there are only three acceptable usages of the school name. The first is "Minnesota State University, Mankato"and this is only to be used in the first reference of the school. Following that, the only other acceptable usages of the school name are "Minnesota State" or "MSU" and no others. Minnesota State Athletic Communications appreciates all cooperation in this matter.
RWD: Oh, I like that last sentence. It's so snotty. [It's like they are trying to distance themselves from the city of Mankato. Which, I understand, but in their case it's really not an option.]
WCH: I don't think the hockey people have ever had a problem with it, but I seem to recall someone giving Ciskie a hard time about it at a football game. Does Ciskie do UMD football or am I thinking of someone else?
RWD: Um… UMD has football? [Never heard of it. Is it a new sport?]
WCH: Probably. Back to the question: honestly, I've seen Michigan win enough in my lifetime. [Sure, rub it in.] I was there when they won the national title in 1996, and it was incredible. I'd love to see the same thing happen for MSU. Plus, my brother goes to Michigan and I'd love to rub it in his face if Mankato beat Michigan. [Um, yeah, if UMDDogz did that to me, I'd probably kill him. But he'd never cheer for anyone but tDogs.]
RWD: You wouldn't be, like, disinherited?
WCH: I don't know, maybe. But it'd be worth it.
RWD: Well, as long as you're not from a family of oil barons or something, I suppose that's no big deal. I mean, who needs to inherit some old clock and an ugly statue, anyway? [I'm holding out for Gramps's golf cart and the speedboat motor in DA's garage!]
WCH: Indeed.
RWD: So what is the point of Maverick Hockey Nation? Cyber-squatting?
WCH: Nowadays, mainly to show off how lazy I am, since nothing ever gets posted there. But it's nice if I ever want to write something Mav-related that doesn't really fit in on WCH.
RWD: Fortunately, there's Let's Go Mavs to pick up the slack and cover the Mavs more regularly. [Hi, Amy!]
WCH: Shane Frederick's blog for the Free Press has been pretty great this year too.
RWD: Oh, I don't read that. I hope that doesn't make him cry or anything.
WCH: Shane is a really nice guy [So he probably is crying], and I think he does a great job covering the Mavs.
RWD: What other blogs do you read?
WCH: Runninwiththedogs, of course.
RWD: Suck-up. I don't need your pity!
WCH: I've got a whole bunch of blogs on my Bloglines reader, so I'll basically read anything by anyone. [You just made Charles Manson's day!]
RWD: It's a nice way to cheat. I use it as well. [Bloglines is a great way to get updates on your favorite blogs without checking them 300 times a day to see if they have been updated.]
WCH: All of the blogs by media-folk are top-notch. [ALL of them? LaP's blog sucks! And I heard Fat Dan Myers wasn't so fabulous, either.] Though it bugs me that some of the newspaper use crappy software that you can't get a feed from.
RWD: This is the most [badonkadonk]-kissing I've ever had in a Gauntlet! Meanwhile, those of us who are uncredential are being subtly oppressed.
WCH: Oppressed by whom?
RWD: The Man. And You.
WCH: Hey, I listed you first.
RWD: Because I am a genius, and none of those media [donkeys] ever wanted to interview you.
WCH: I've actually been surprised at how nice all of the media people have been to me. That's generally not the reaction bloggers get elsewhere in the sports world.
RWD: Well, they're just lucky to have jobs. I mean, hockey isn't exactly popular in the U.S.
WCH: Very true. Anyway, among the other blogs I enjoy, I think everybody loves LetsGoDU [except those Fighting Sioux fans who got mad when Goddard made fun of that guy's funeral, and probably some CC fans, and Gwoz…]. I love Hockey in Wisconsin because they cover everything in Wisco so well [Is that the jerk who insulted me because I accurately referred to Wisconsin players, fans, and associates as communists, erased my comment on his site which merely said "Thanks for the link!" to show that I was a good sport, and then wouldn't own up to erasing it?], UAA Fan blog is always interesting to read [Go Donald, it's your birthday!], The Junior Hockey Blog always has really good info… there are a lot of great sites out there. [Chris, there are THREE PERIODS IN AN ELLIPSIS. Not FIVE, not SEVEN, not EIGHT HUNDRED MILLION.]
RWD: Do you have aspirations of being paid to write about hockey? [I think this wins the award for Most Obvious Question Ever, beating out the time I asked Donald why he was so angry and he denied, denied, denied.]
WCH: I'd love to get paid for writing about hockey. I've picked up a few freelance gigs here and there, but being able to do it full-time would be awesome. [Not before you correctly learn how to use ellipses!]
RWD: To switch gears a little bit, we should discuss some of your alternative viewpoints. You've taken some controversial stances on your site.
WCH: Really?
RWD: For example, your Pro-Jutting stance.
WCH: I suppose. Though that's looking a little less controversial lately.
RWD: In what way?
WCH: You just don't hear as much from the detractors now that the team is winning and playing good hockey.
RWD: But is winning the ONLY thing that matters?
WCH: To some people, it is. [I know I often wonder if winning matters at all to Juttz, or if it's all about when he can get his next Lucky Strike.]
RWD: What about some of the other Juttz-related issues? Isn't a coach who is respected by his players and who has respect for his players important as well? [Ooh, baby, this is some hard-hitting journalism. Fox 9, here I come!]
WCH: I think it depends on the situation. I can think of some great coaches that were hated by their players, and I can think of some lousy coaches that were hated by their players. I think the most important question is: Does a coach get the most out of the players that he has?
RWD: And you believe that's the case at Minnesota State?
WCH: I've seen a lot of games where MSU had less talent than their opponents, but very few where they were outworked by their opponents. That's a big reason why I love watching them so much. I've gone to some great lengths to see them play, and to me, it's always worth it, because I've never felt cheated by the effort they gave.
RWD: I guess being friends with the Emperor of the Anti-Jutting Alliance gives me quite a bit of negative information about him. Hearing inside information about how people close to the program perceive Juttz makes me wonder if the effort that is given by the players is a result of the players rather than the coach; if they are willing to work hard in spite of rather than because of coaching.
WCH: I guess I can't say for sure, but in any case, it works. [It does?]
RWD: When Juttz's contract was renewed last year, and the AD basically stated he was pleased with the performance within MSU's "peer group," didn't that bother you? Shouldn't the AD want the team to compete at a higher level?
WCH: I'm sure everyone involved would like to see MSU win every game. It's foolish to think otherwise. But honestly, how realistic is that? In the short term, if you're just measuring MSU against a Minnesota or North Dakota based on raw wins and losses, you're going to be disappointed more times than not, regardless of who is coaching the team.
RWD: But I think there's a level between where MSU is now and where UND or UMTC have been (as they are CLEARLY not there now!) And, in fact, this season demonstrates the perennial powers are and will continue to be more vulnerable.
WCH: On a year-to-year basis, I agree that anything can happen. Over the long-run though, those things tend to even out. I really think that all 10 teams in the WCHA are pretty well-coached, and with some historically great programs in the league, there's not a lot of room for upward mobility.
RWD: I see. [And that's the end of that chapter!] Probably the most talked-about issue with the Mavs is their tendency to take a lot of penalties, which is a fact, not an opinion, as they are usually at the top of the league in penalty minutes. Isn't that a coachable issue?
WCH: To some extent, yes. I know Jutting's philosophy is that he wants his team to play hard and aggressive, and he understands a certain amount of penalties will come from that. And that's understandable. He'd rather see a player make an error of comission than an error of omission. A certain number of penalties result just having a speed defecit against some of the other teams in the league. But, the penalty numbers have been better this year. For better or worse, the standard for what is or isn't a penalty in the WCHA is whether or not the attack[ed player] falls down. [Which left the door wide open for Rhett Rakhshani and Robbie Earl] So it doesn't make sense to have big defenseman that can really push people around, as it's more likely that when they push someone, the player will fall down. So MSU went out and got some smaller, faster defenseman, which is why I think you're seeing them take fewer penalties. Brian Kilburg still gets called for some ridiculous penalties because he's so big, but you don't see some of the other D going to the box as often.
RWD: Who's exciting for the Mavs right now?
WCH: Mike Zacharias is pretty exciting. [Rrrarrr!] After that..? To be honest, if I didn't have a rooting interest, some of their games would look pretty boring.
RWD: Wow, ouch.
WCH: It's just the style of hockey that they have to play to succeed. They're not going to beat many people in a high-scoring game, but they're pretty good at getting a one-goal lead and clinging to it.
RWD: That's every fan's dream description right there.
WCH: And they do have a lot of young kids that have really improved a lot in there time in Mankato, and that's always really fun to watch.
RWD: Do you think they will be successful against tUMD this weekend?
WCH: I got in trouble last time I tried to make a prediction in a MSU-UMD series, so I'm staying away from that this time. But last time, I gave MSU a slight edge because they were at home, and playing on Olympic-ice, which I thought favored them. This time around, neither of those are the case. It should be two very close hockey games where anything could happen, so I don't think I'd be surprised by any result. [That was a very nice statement, Senator. Now ANSWER THE QUESTION.]
RWD: You know what's weird about the Alltel is that the rink didn't seem that big.
WCH: It is a matter of perception. I didn't think the Alltel ice seemed that huge, until I went up to Bemidji and was like, 'So where is the rest of the ice?" And then two weeks ago when I was at Joe Louis, that seemed huge, when really, it's the same size as Bemidji. [Ugh, Bermidji.] The other weird thing about the rink is, the one endzone with the students feels so cramped, and the students are right on top of the ice, while the sidelines seem so spread out and far away from the action.
RWD: You can't judge rink size based on Bemidji. They have Timberlodge Steakhouse booths as their penalty boxes. [Mmmm… steak!] I wouldn't have been surprised if a basket of complimentary rolls had been brought out.
WCH: But it was funny to see guys sitting in the penalty box and chatting with teammates on the bench. The other nice thing Bemidji was that you could hear Jutting yelling from across the rink.
RWD: Could you smell the cigarette smoke, too?
WCH: Thankfully, no.
RWD: Is Tormey ever going to play again?
WCH: He probably will. It's been tough with Zacharias playing so well, and the Mavericks potentially having a shot at an at-large tournament bid. There just hasn't been enough margin for error to risk sitting Zacharias. It's nothing against Tormey, but Zach has played so well. Things can always change. Tormey played a bunch of games in a row at the end of the his freshman year and it looked like Zacharias wouldn't see much playing time. But Zach waited his turn and has ended up making the most out of his playing time.
RWD: Who's going to score goals this weekend?
WCH: I had been saying for a while that Jason Wiley was due to score some goals and he scored four two weekends ago [I saw two of them!], so hopefully he stays hot. I think Ben Youds is due for his first career goal too.
RWD: We give up a lot of first career goals.
WCH: I'm sure they'll take whatever UMD is willing to give.
RWD: Which could be zero, or could be many.
WCH: My fingers are crossed for many. [I hope a Stalock shutout doesn't break your heart, then, because great hockey minds like UMDBHIK are predicting one!]
RWD: Who are your favorite Mavs?
WCH: That is really tough to choose. I could make a case for just about anybody on the team. All-time though, I'd have to pick Travis Morin. I really enjoyed watching him play because he wasn't incredibly physically-gifted, but he did every single little thing so well that he turned himself into a great player.
RWD: So there isn't anyone that you find yourself especially drawn to?
WCH: Kalinski is definitely the most entertaining to watch because the kid is absolutely fearless. I'll always cheer for James Gaulrapp because honestly, there's probably no way he should have been playing D-I hockey based on his junior hockey career, but he's taken the opportunity and run with it, and has been an excellent player. And I'm finally getting to the point where I've been doing this long enough that I've seen a lot of the Minnesota kids come up through the high school ranks, so it's a little more special to see them play in college.
RWD: Who is the hottest Maverick?
WCH: Oh dear. I'd be like the worst gay man ever [Well, you said "Oh dear," so you're not doing as poorly as you think], because I honestly have no clue when it comes to this stuff.
RWD: Don't act like you're surprised. You knew this question was coming.
WCH: I look through these hot or not posts and I'm just mystified, like, "Wait, he's hot, but he's not? How does that work?" I honestly have no clue how hotness is judged. I'll play it safe though and pick Tormey, since I'm constantly reminded of how good-looking he is.
RWD: Well, he's no Hot RJ, but he'll do.
WCH: See, my girlfriend went to high school with RJ, so she's a little biased against him.
RWD: AGAINST??!?!!? [Excuse me, Hot RJ is just HOTT. AND, he totally answers to that when you call him.]
WCH: Oh, and I should add, with, as George Costanza would say, a staunch record of heterosexuality, Jon Kalinski is adorable. [The Aaaahj just died a little inside, as he hates Seinfeld.]
RWD: I guess, if you like video games. I have to apologize, as you're being Gauntletted at a very poor time.
WCH: Why?
RWD: Next week is a very highly anticipated Gauntlet.
WCH: Ooh, who is it?
RWD: Your vanquished nemesis from the WCHA Blog.
WCH: Ah, he'd be good. Though I was hoping it would be the Wooger.
RWD: I'm biding my time. I'm sure one day it will be. [And it will be the greatest day in the history of this blog. Sorry, Bruce.]
WCH: I don't really see him being the computer-type though.
RWD: I can dream. So do you have a weekend prediction?
WCH: A fun time will be had by all. Can I get away with that?
RWD: Um, no. Plus, that never happens.
WCH: I guess people in Duluth can't hate me any more [Oh, I don't know about that! Is that a challenge?]. I'll go optimistic and pick the same result as last time. A tie on Friday night and a Maverick win on Saturday.
RWD: What do the Mavs have to do to win this weekend?
WCH: Keep the game low-scoring, and find a way to get a lead. I think keeping the crowd out of the game will be a big factor. I'm always concerned about goal-scoring, so hopefully they'll catch a bounce or be efficient on the powerplay. [LGM is laughing her badonkadonk off about that.]
RWD: And how are they going to give it away?
WCH: Letting UMD score an early goal, and not getting out and blocking lanes on the penalty kill, which was their downfall in the disaster against Omaha.
RWD: A single goal? Wow.
WCH: Well, I think that if UMD scores early, it might be the first of many.
RWD: That's an interesting thought. [Which Bulldogs is he watching?]
WCH: And really, most games in the WCHA this year have been 'First team to 2 wins.'
RWD: And man, is it ever exciting! [All those icings and offsides are exhilarating!]
WCH: Like I said, if you have a rooting interest, it's absolutely gut-wrenching. If you don't, yeah, it's pretty boring.
Well, there you have it folks. Chris Dilks thinks WCHA hockey is boring. And kills kittens.
from → Blogs, Bruce Ciskie, Fourth Season, Hotties, The Gauntlet
← >Wanted: Dead or Alive
>Wild Mood Swings →
9 January 2008 12:08 am
>Nice Donna! Could you try a little harder to match up the LGM vs. Chris thing?!? You were almost to the point of flat out asking "what the hell is your issue with LGM?!?" Maybe some day he'll grow a pair and tell me to my face what his issue is. Oh, and excuse me…what's the deal with his girlfriend and Hot RJ?!? She's got bad things to say about him? She proabbly hit on him in high school and was REJECTED. Whatever, it's not going to bother me. Her comments are coming out of a gal that spouts off on USCHO about things and then turns around and says she's going to be working in schools to educate our youth and help out. Um, yeah. I hope our paths cross some day:)LOVE how he jumps from your props of my blog to "Shane's is good!" Ugg. I try to like Maverick fans, but he makes it HARD. Ever since I scored the Clarky interview he's been a total dick. Oh well, get a sense of humor or quit reading my blog!!Also, he can suck up to Juttz all he wants because it'll NEVER get him anywhere in the journalism field.Ok…end of rant.GO MAVS!!
Cristen permalink
>This is coming from "the girlfriend"…never hit on RJ I'm afraid. Honestly, he was just really conceited in high school and I didn't waste my time on him. I think Tormey is way hotter anyways! Also, what have I said that was bad on USCHO? *confused*Love the post RWD, your gauntlet is always an enjoyable read. Plus Chris scored mega bonus points for being a sap. 🙂


The iGaming tech provider furthers its footprint in the African continent as it prepares for the upcoming Sports Betting East Africa event (SBEA).
The iGaming software development company has renewed its multi-year partnership with Betradar, maintaining its Gold Certification Status with the firm.
Logrand and Ainsworth strategic alliance have launched the first online gambling casino with BtoBet technology.
High 5 Games will be relying on the Neuron Gaming platform's strong customizability and highly flexible features in order to ensure maximum brand differentiation.


Using data-driven approach we analyze heat-maps and HubSpot data to constantly optimize website design and layout for conversion.
We will develop your website to rank higher and get found in search engines by having a fast loading, secure and responsive website that works on all different devices and screen sizes.
Can Your Website Generate More Revenue?
Obligation-free suggestions on how we can use GDD to bring your website to the next level.


text:
July 5, 2012 /2 Comments/in Tutorials /by Geoff Lindsey
This post explains the primary cardinal vowels. You can skip straight to the ear-training and listening quiz here.)
Phoneticians describe vowels using reference qualities or cardinal vowels. These help us to locate vowels in an auditory-acoustic vowel space, much as the cardinal points on a compass help us to navigate in geographical space.
As systematized by Daniel Jones, there are eight primary cardinals. You can hear Jones producing these eight cardinals by clicking on the symbols in this a scattergram, which plots the vowels in terms of their two lowest (and most important) resonances or formants. (The axes are logarithmic, which reflects perception; the units are Hertz.)
The articulation of vowels is much harder to measure than their acoustics. Here are x-rays from 1917 of Daniel Jones articulating the four "corner" cardinals, [i], [a], [ɑ] and [u], with red dots showing the approximate location of the highest part of Jones's tongue, on which a chain of small lead plates has been placed.
(from Daniel Jones, An outline of English phonetics, 9th ed., 1972, via Wikipedia.)
Below I've superimposed the four x-rays to show the relative positions of the four vowels. We can see a very rough similarity to the acoustic vowel space.
The tongue is visibly close to the hard palate for [i], and the jaw is visibly more open for [a] and [ɑ] than for [i] and [u]. Also the tongue is pulled back towards the throat for [ɑ]. Frontness/backness and closeness/openness have become established as the conventional labels for the two dimensions of the vowel space, although the acoustic-auditory space also takes into account the effect of a further articulatory factor which is not visible on the x-rays, namely lip-rounding. The lips are spread for cardinal 1, [i], tightly rounded for cardinal 8, [u], and intermediately positioned for the other vowels.
When learning to produce cardinal vowels, we can use the palatal place of articuation as a reference point for cardinal 1, [i]. A mirror is a useful tool when practising degrees of jaw opening and lip-rounding. However, it's very important to remember that we cannot state precise tongue positions for each vowel, and this is why the cardinal system is so useful and important: we use our ear rather than our vocal organs to gauge the right qualities, with Jones's own demonstrations as the "gold standard".
To train your ear, you can listen to audio clips and take a listening quiz here.
Geoff Lindsey https://www.englishspeechservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/blue-mono-logo-small.png Geoff Lindsey2012-07-05 00:23:562016-04-05 02:36:07Cardinal vowels
Dinora says:
The problem here is… that Daniel Jones himself doesn't know how to pronounce these vowels.
Nancy Smith says:
These are the cardinal vowels, not the vowels of whatever language you speak.
Ear-training quiz for non-natives Tones: ear-training and quizzes