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Photo by Mercie Ghimire
Great Decisions
A Current Events Discussion Group | Online Class
Thursdays, January 20; February 3 and 17; March 3, 17, and 31; April 14 and 28; 1:00–2:30 pm (PT)
$200 General; $160 Members
Now online—Be an informed citizen! Ahead of the midterm primaries, learn more about issues impacting our world using resources from the nonpartisan Foreign Policy Association.
Tuesdays, January 25–March 15, 12:00–2:00 pm (PT)
$240 General; $200 Member
Now online—Fine-tune your writing skills in this close-knit workshop. Whether you're developing a work-in-progress or using in-class prompts to create something brand new, get ready to take your work to the next level. With support from both the instructor and the class community, focus on key elements of the craft, including plot structure, scene building, and character development. Ideal for writers of fiction, personal essay, and memoir.
Broadway's Dynamic Duos
Tuesdays, January 25–March 1, 1:00–3:00 pm (PT)
There are few creative partnerships with a body of work as enduring and beloved as Rodgers and Hammerstein's. The duo left an undeniable mark on both the art of musical theater and American culture at-large with Broadway hits like Oklahoma!, Carousel, and The Sound of Music.
Movie Discussion Group: Wes Anderson
Wednesdays, February 2 and 16, March 2 and 16, 7:30–9:00 pm (PT)
$80 General; $70 Members
Wes Anderson uses narrative, visual, production, and design elements that are meticulous and unique. His storytelling style is consistent in each and every one of his films. Through viewing clips, storyboards, and related works, we'll explore four of Anderson's movies and discuss the elements that make them enduring and enjoyable works of art.
Skirball Book Groups: Stories of Immigration
Inspired by the Ashkenazi Jewish immigrant stories shared in the exhibition Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America, the Skirball's spring book groups invite you to read and discuss five critically acclaimed books that highlight the striking commonalities and stark differences found in American immigrant experiences across cultures, time periods, and circumstances.
Star Trek: Inspiring Culture and Technology
A series of three self-guided online classes | Available through February 20, 2022
$120 General; $80 Members
Examine how Star Trek's live-action television series and motion pictures have prompted audiences to question our history, humanity, and place in the universe.
Hand-Woven Tapestries—Postponed
New dates TBA
Play with contrasting colors, textures, and fiber weights to create a beautiful hand-woven tapestry. Class provided materials include yarn, wool, rope, and raffia. You may also incorporate materials into your weaving that hold sentimental value, such as trinkets, jewelry, linens, or lace, to create a work of art that honors your personal history or family story.
Registration Now Closed
Skirball Book Groups: Alternate Realities
Online*
Fall–Winter 2021
Registration for this class is now closed.
Open yourself up to new cultures and ideas through fiction and nonfiction! Under the direction of a professional book group facilitator, discuss the characters, themes, and motifs of five critically acclaimed books with a thoughtful cohort of fellow readers.


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Saracens ask top earners to defer salaries amid coronavirus crisis
Thursday, 16 Apr 2020
4:19 AM MYT
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Premiership Final - Exeter Chiefs v Saracens - Twickenham, London, Britain - June 1, 2019 Saracens players celebrate winning the Premiership final with the Gallagher Premiership cup Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
(Reuters) - Premiership club Saracens have asked their highest-earning players to defer part of their salaries until the start of the 2020/21 season and placed staff on the British government's furloughing scheme.
Players earning more than 75,000 pounds ($94,072) will be asked to defer anything above that amount, the club said in a statement on Wednesday.
England's top flight rugby league is suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has brought global sport to a standstill.
The defending English champions, who will be relegated at the end of this campaign after breaching salary cap rules, have a number of high-profile internationals, including England captain Owen Farrell, lock Maro Itoje, back row Billy Vunipola and Springbok World Cup winning prop Vincent Koch.
Chairman Neil Golding said the move was necessary to secure the future of the club.
"We understand this is really tough for everyone, but the reality is that the only way to survive this unprecedented situation as a club is to make these adjustments," he said.
"The board are very optimistic that this is a short-term issue and are taking steps to secure future funding which will put the club on a very sound financial footing."
The amounts deferred will be repaid over an 18-month period from the start of the 2020/21 season.
The furlough scheme means businesses can claim 80% of employees' salaries back from the government, up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds per individual.
"COVID-19 has had huge ramifications on every facet of society and rugby is no different, this is not an easy time for the players and the club alike," Itoje said.
"But in order to see this through, the whole organisation needs to pull together and do what we can for the future of Saracens and our individual careers within the sport."
Saracens had already negotiated a 25% pay cut with staff from April 1.
(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Toby Davis)
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Paoay Lake is now pollution-free
February 12, 2013 Ilocos Sentinel News Story 0
PAOAY, Ilocos Norte, Feb. 11 — It had to take an international event to do what good intentions failed to do for years in the Paoay Lake.
Paoay Lake has been blighted by wastes coming from fish cages resulting in high e-coli bacteria contamination for years.
Communities around the 387-hectare lake also make use of it as a disposal area for their poultry and piggery. And it is where the local water district draws its raw water source for consumers' tap water.
The areas with the highest ecoli-bacteria concentration were noted in the villages of Sungadan (5,680 hpc) and Nagbacalan (5,780 hpc) where most fish cages were found.
Getting rid of the fish cages on the lake has always been a challenge for the provincial government until the holding of the 71st International Regatta with Paoay Lake as the venue of the international rowing competition last month.
On top of organizing the global water sports, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos made sure that the lake will be free from debris of all kinds before the sporting event began.
The Ilocos Norte Water District (INWAD) started collecting water samples in July 2011 in five communities that surround the lake namely in the villages of Nangguyudan, Nangguyudan Centro, Sungadan, Suba and Nagbacalan.
Test results confirmed the presence of ecoli-bacteria ranging from 2,840 hpc (heterotrophic plate count) in one sampling point to 5,780 hpc in another point, way above the normal level of 500 hpc.
Marcos was delighted to announce before the event started last January 13 that the villages around the lake had kept the lake free from fish cages.
"We pulled out the last fish cages which have been causing pollution," Marcos said during the inaugural launch of the week-long sports competition last January 15.
Marcos said water sampling conducted after the cages were removed last January has shown a diminished contamination level.
"We are proud to declare that Paoay Lake is pollution-free. No other place can offer this," she said.
Jinky Calapit, Inwad's medical technologist, said water taken from the lake undergo several treatments from micro-filtration to chlorination before they are fed as tap water to their consumers.
"Lake water becomes free of any contaminants once it undergoes treatment. We make sure that water is safe for human consumption," she said.
Calapit said the Paoay Lake has always been positive of the e-coli bacteria which becomes even higher during the rainy season.
"Even our deep wells are contaminated with e-coli, how much more with raw water (from Paoay Lake) which does not undergo any kind of water treatment. Without chlorine treatment, water from deep wells will not be free of bacteria," Calapit said.
The provincial government is now working on promoting the lake as a future international training hub for rowing. Paoay officials have likewise initiated efforts to make the lake a venue for college water sports.
Paoay Mayor Bonifacio Clemente Jr. said the lake's development is part of a tourism master plan that the provincial government has drawn beginning 2010.
Locals started promoting the lake in 2010 as a site for various activities from stand-up paddle boarding to boat rides but they have yet to take off as a regular income earner for locals.
The site is a favorite spot for picnics and birdwatching during the cold spell when migratory birds from Asian countries flock to the lake to seek temporary shelter. (Cristina Arzadon)
Brisk sales of products at Pamulinawen trade fair
CHIZ ON PNOY VISIT TO MILF CAMP: 'BOLD, HISTORIC'


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Chuck Jaffe
Soros serves as warning to mutual-fund investors
By Chuck Jaffe
Published: July 31, 2011 12:01 a.m. ET
Commentary: Hedge-fund strategies face tough times ahead
ChuckJaffe
BOSTON (MarketWatch) — There was a lot of speculation this week about the reasons why legendary money manager George Soros is shutting down his hedge fund and sending investors their money back.
Some said the 80-year-old Soros — who has run the Quantum hedge funds since the late 1960s — doesn't want to face the heightened regulation of hedge funds that's part of the Dodd-Frank legislation. Others suggest he wants to focus on his philanthropic and political causes, and still others suggest he is protecting his investment legacy, because Soros's record is no better than average in highly turbulent market conditions.
George Soros.
Whatever the reason, Soros's decision — his firm will return outside investors' money but continue to operate like a family business — should not go unnoticed by ordinary fund investors.
If one of the most successful hedge-fund managers of all time is hanging it up in current market conditions, what does that say for the future of all of the open-end mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that have "alternative" or hedge-like characteristics?
It's particularly worth answering that question in light of a sentiment survey of hedge-fund managers released by Infovest21, published by Investment News this week, which showed that many managers expect other hedge-fund operators to follow suit and start returning client money to run a family operation, just like Soros. (Clearly, since those other managers aren't all octogenarians, avoiding additional regulation and transparency is a key motivating factor.)
The wrong kind of volatility
Hedge-like mutual funds have been a booming part of the fund business for more than a decade now, but that trend has corresponded with a big macro-economic cycle that favored commodities investing, a cornerstone of many hedge/alternative strategies. For anyone who believes in looking at the biggest possible picture, the stretch of time that favored those investments is getting long in the tooth. That would suggest that some alternative strategies that have been popular and successful — the kind that cemented Soros' legacy — may be in for rough times.
INVESTING COMMENTARY IN TRADING DECK
for stocks?
Our Trading Deck has been home to a spirited debate over whether we're in for a crash.
• L.A. Little: Don't worry | Michael Gayed: Worry
• The warning signs of a 1987-style crash
• Hulbert: Stocks as overvalued as at 2007 high
Even if you don't subscribe to that biggest-picture view, there is no denying that many hedging strategies do best when the market is volatile, but with a strong sense of direction. Many market-neutral and long-short strategies — hedge strategies designed to profit no matter which way the market moves — struggle when the market lacks a trend.
"There is a growing, yet subliminal, sense of expected overall lower volatility moving forward," said Stephen L. McKee of Investment Selections & Timing Inc. in Dallas. "For some, it doesn't matter the direction as long as the direction is severe; that might be disappearing... Tighter circuit breakers, a more intertwined, cooperative world financial system, greater regulation of those on the edges will all contribute."
For the rest of us, McKee noted, lower volatility would be a positive, but for many hedged strategies it's a problem. Just as hedge funds have high costs — typically 2% of assets plus 20% of profits — mutual funds with hedge-like strategies tend to have above-average costs. Even the exchange-traded funds following alternative strategies are pricey compared to peers pursuing more mainstream tactics.
It's fine to pay for performance, so long as you actually get it. That hasn't happened for most hedge/alternative funds; instead, they've been all sizzle and no steak.
Russel Kinnel, director of mutual-fund research at Morningstar Inc., said investors should be less concerned with Soros's departure than with all of the famous guys who enter and exit the business without fanfare.
"The hedge funds and hedge-like mutual funds that flop are the ones that should be of concern to investors," Kinnel said. "The fact that so many have not succeeded despite the fact that the managers sound like brilliant rocket scientists is a concern. But Soros seems to me more to represent the promise of them. He and others show that there are hedge funds that can do well."
Don't wait for another Soros
That doesn't mean average investors should hold out hope for the "next Soros" to show up in the fund game at a time when the first Soros is leaving the biz.
Industry consultant Geoff Bobroff of East Greenwich, R.I., noted that many of the biggest, best-known fund firms have no offerings in the hedge-like or alternative space. "Maybe you could say they missed the boat or are behind the curve," he said, "but you can't say their investors are missing out, because you can reach your goals with mainstream funds that have solid track records and understandable strategies."
And that's why Soros's departure reminds ordinary investors not to fall in love with the idea of investing like the wealthy in a hedge-fund style. Hedge-fund tactics don't always work in mutual funds, and if the market is entering a time when those strategies don't even work for hedge funds, average folks should steer clear.
"Investors should stick with what they know and can understand; not based on someone they think they know or whom their friends claim to know, not based on claims of a better mousetrap without a few furry grey skins thumb-tacked above the trap to prove it, not based on what they think will make them the most money quickly," said Jim Lowell, chief investment officer at Adviser Investments in Boston. "The biggest risk to investors is assuming the like of Soros know more about the markets than they do; leaving them prone to all kinds of spellbinding claims."
Chuck Jaffe is a nationally syndicated financial columnist. Follow him on Twitter @ChuckJaffe.


1. Review CSR related policies and procedures and guidelines and recommend any required changes.
2. Plan and coordinate in conducting the required training and workshops for the designated ASG departments on CSR policies, guidelines, and best practices.
3. Review the global best practices, including international organizations and committees, in the CSR field and design applicable practices to ASG be presented to the line manager.
4. Monitor the execution, with the designated parties, internally and/or externally, of the approved CSR activities/initiatives.
5. Analyze ASG departments' processes, with the designated technical expert matter, to identify the possible points of development from CSR perspective.
6. Coordinate with ASG departments the execution of CSR policies and guidelines.
7. Analyze the measured outcomes and results of CSR initiatives using the designated tools.
8. Design, develop, and the check the accuracy of information of the GRI report in terms of the content, data, layout, and compliance to GRI, or any other framework, requirements and publications.
9. Maintain a record for all the CSR unit activities and initiatives, as per the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) criteria.


text:
Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
Giuseppe Genduso, Eric Litwiller, Xiaohua Ma, Stefano Zampini, Ingo Pinnau
Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center
Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Science and Engineering
Mixed-gas sorption of CO2-CH4 mixtures in rubbery polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at 35 °C demonstrated that the presence of CH4 changed the behavior of CO2 sorption and vice versa. This mutual interaction indicated that gases in mixtures do not sorb independently in rubbery membranes. Moreover, we observed that at increasing pressures the interaction between PDMS and CO2-CH4 mixtures enhanced the solubility selectivity of PDMS. Mixed-gas solubility coefficients of CH4 in PDMS were lower than 0.5 cm3(STP) cm−3 atm−1. To accurately measure these values, a new sorption system was designed, constructed, and optimized for low solubility coefficients; an operator-friendly approach to mixed-gas sorption experiments is also discussed in this work. CO2-CH4 mixed-gas diffusivity trends were evaluated from Maxwell-Stefan model fitting of mixed-gas permeation and sorption data. The analysis of both mixed-gas diffusion and sorption data demonstrated that CO2/CH4 mixed-gas permselectivity of PDMS was mainly influenced by CO2 sorption. In mixtures, CH4 diffusion coefficients increased with higher volumetric CO2 concentration, whereas CO2 diffusion coefficients were essentially concentration independent in both pure- and mixed-gas environments.
Journal of Membrane Science
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.01.046
10.1016/j.memsci.2019.01.046
https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/631006/1/1-s2.0-S0376738818325067-main.pdf
Dive into the research topics of 'Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
sorption Physics & Astronomy 100%
polymers Physics & Astronomy 52%
gases Physics & Astronomy 45%
solubility Physics & Astronomy 30%
diffusion coefficient Physics & Astronomy 18%
gaseous diffusion Physics & Astronomy 14%
coefficients Physics & Astronomy 12%
selectivity Physics & Astronomy 10%
Genduso, G., Litwiller, E., Ma, X., Zampini, S., & Pinnau, I. (2019). Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Journal of Membrane Science, 577, 195-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.01.046
Genduso, Giuseppe ; Litwiller, Eric ; Ma, Xiaohua ; Zampini, Stefano ; Pinnau, Ingo. / Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In: Journal of Membrane Science. 2019 ; Vol. 577. pp. 195-204.
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title = "Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)",
abstract = "Mixed-gas sorption of CO2-CH4 mixtures in rubbery polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at 35 °C demonstrated that the presence of CH4 changed the behavior of CO2 sorption and vice versa. This mutual interaction indicated that gases in mixtures do not sorb independently in rubbery membranes. Moreover, we observed that at increasing pressures the interaction between PDMS and CO2-CH4 mixtures enhanced the solubility selectivity of PDMS. Mixed-gas solubility coefficients of CH4 in PDMS were lower than 0.5 cm3(STP) cm−3 atm−1. To accurately measure these values, a new sorption system was designed, constructed, and optimized for low solubility coefficients; an operator-friendly approach to mixed-gas sorption experiments is also discussed in this work. CO2-CH4 mixed-gas diffusivity trends were evaluated from Maxwell-Stefan model fitting of mixed-gas permeation and sorption data. The analysis of both mixed-gas diffusion and sorption data demonstrated that CO2/CH4 mixed-gas permselectivity of PDMS was mainly influenced by CO2 sorption. In mixtures, CH4 diffusion coefficients increased with higher volumetric CO2 concentration, whereas CO2 diffusion coefficients were essentially concentration independent in both pure- and mixed-gas environments.",
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Genduso, G, Litwiller, E, Ma, X, Zampini, S & Pinnau, I 2019, 'Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 577, pp. 195-204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2019.01.046
Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). / Genduso, Giuseppe; Litwiller, Eric; Ma, Xiaohua; Zampini, Stefano; Pinnau, Ingo.
In: Journal of Membrane Science, Vol. 577, 29.01.2019, p. 195-204.
T1 - Mixed-gas sorption in polymers via a new barometric test system: sorption and diffusion of CO2-CH4 mixtures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)
AU - Genduso, Giuseppe
AU - Litwiller, Eric
AU - Ma, Xiaohua
AU - Zampini, Stefano
AU - Pinnau, Ingo
N1 - KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01 Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): BAS/1/1323-01-01 Acknowledgements: This work was supported by funding (BAS/1/1323-01-01) from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
N2 - Mixed-gas sorption of CO2-CH4 mixtures in rubbery polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at 35 °C demonstrated that the presence of CH4 changed the behavior of CO2 sorption and vice versa. This mutual interaction indicated that gases in mixtures do not sorb independently in rubbery membranes. Moreover, we observed that at increasing pressures the interaction between PDMS and CO2-CH4 mixtures enhanced the solubility selectivity of PDMS. Mixed-gas solubility coefficients of CH4 in PDMS were lower than 0.5 cm3(STP) cm−3 atm−1. To accurately measure these values, a new sorption system was designed, constructed, and optimized for low solubility coefficients; an operator-friendly approach to mixed-gas sorption experiments is also discussed in this work. CO2-CH4 mixed-gas diffusivity trends were evaluated from Maxwell-Stefan model fitting of mixed-gas permeation and sorption data. The analysis of both mixed-gas diffusion and sorption data demonstrated that CO2/CH4 mixed-gas permselectivity of PDMS was mainly influenced by CO2 sorption. In mixtures, CH4 diffusion coefficients increased with higher volumetric CO2 concentration, whereas CO2 diffusion coefficients were essentially concentration independent in both pure- and mixed-gas environments.
AB - Mixed-gas sorption of CO2-CH4 mixtures in rubbery polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at 35 °C demonstrated that the presence of CH4 changed the behavior of CO2 sorption and vice versa. This mutual interaction indicated that gases in mixtures do not sorb independently in rubbery membranes. Moreover, we observed that at increasing pressures the interaction between PDMS and CO2-CH4 mixtures enhanced the solubility selectivity of PDMS. Mixed-gas solubility coefficients of CH4 in PDMS were lower than 0.5 cm3(STP) cm−3 atm−1. To accurately measure these values, a new sorption system was designed, constructed, and optimized for low solubility coefficients; an operator-friendly approach to mixed-gas sorption experiments is also discussed in this work. CO2-CH4 mixed-gas diffusivity trends were evaluated from Maxwell-Stefan model fitting of mixed-gas permeation and sorption data. The analysis of both mixed-gas diffusion and sorption data demonstrated that CO2/CH4 mixed-gas permselectivity of PDMS was mainly influenced by CO2 sorption. In mixtures, CH4 diffusion coefficients increased with higher volumetric CO2 concentration, whereas CO2 diffusion coefficients were essentially concentration independent in both pure- and mixed-gas environments.
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Critics worry the president has a love for tyrants and little interest in promoting human rights and democracy.
Egypt's military ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was never invited to the Obama White House, where he was viewed as a brutal tyrant with little regard for human rights and democracy.
On Monday, President Donald Trump will roll out the red carpet for him.
Reviled by activists for what they call the harshest political repression in Egypt's history, Sisi has emerged as an early Trump favorite among world leaders. The two men first met during the presidential campaign in September, leading Trump to call Sisi a "fantastic guy," and Sisi was the first foreign leader to reach Trump after his election.
Their meeting Monday will offer important clues about how Trump plans to engage with foreign dictators with poor human rights records. It is also key to Trump's effort to bolster ties with Arab allies in the fight against Islamists across the Middle East.
While Western governments have protested Sisi's imprisonment of thousands of people on dubious political charges, Trump has openly praised the Egyptian autocrat's ruthlessness.
"He took control of Egypt. And he really took control of it," Trump said in a September interview with the Fox Business Network. Sisi claimed the title of president after a June 2014 election in which his official vote total was 96.91 percent.
Trump and his advisors admire Sisi's hard—many say brutal—stance against Islamic radicalism. The Egyptian general helped lead the overthrow of an elected Islamist Muslim Brotherhood government in July 2013, and denounces the Islamic State. Other Sisi backers in the White House include senior adviser Stephen Bannon; counter terrorism adviser Sebastian Gorka; and Derek Harvey, the National Security Council's top Middle East official. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also back better ties with Egypt.
But Trump's enthusiasm for Sisi disturbs human rights and democracy advocates who worry that Trump is drawn to authoritarian rulers and tactics. Trump has called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "strong leader," and once approvingly described the decisive force of the Chinese government's 1990 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square.
They also see Trump's virtually uncritical embrace of Sisi as the latest sign that he finds little use for democracy and human rights as priorities in American foreign policy.
"The larger message that I hear from the president is that he is not interested in America being a force for good in the world," said Tom Malinowski, who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor from 2014 until this year.
Trump has even implicitly rejected the very idea that the U.S. enjoys any special virtue. "When the world sees how bad the United States is and we start talking about civil liberties, I don't think we are a very good messenger," he told the New York Times in July. Asked in a February Fox News interview whether Vladimir Putin is a "killer," Trump replied: "There are a lot of killers. You think our country's so innocent?"
Malinowski and others cited several recent instances where Trump officials have sidestepped or downplayed human rights.
Last month, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson broke with tradition by not personally presenting his department's annual report on human rights worldwide. In mid-March, the Trump administration declined to sign a letter condemning alleged torture practices in China that was backed by 11 other nations, including Britain, France, Germany and Canada. And Trump's proposed cuts to the State Department budget would weaken programs designed to promote U.S. values abroad.
Last week, the State Department notified Congress that it would end conditions imposed by Obama on arms sales to Bahrain that require evidence of progress on human rights and political reform.
That part of the America brand will take a back seat with Sisi arrives at the White House Monday. On Friday a White House official told reporters that Trump would criticize Sisi's record on human rights only "in a private, more discreet way" than past presidents.
Human rights advocates are skeptical that Trump will show much energy on the topic, which the White House official only addressed after a reporter asked about it.
A White House statement announcing Sisi's visit last week listed only two issues—terrorism and economic reform—on the meeting agenda. Among the omissions was the case of Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American citizen who ran a charity for orphans until she was arrested in 2014 on what activists call bogus charges tied to her foreign nationality and interest in political reform. Pressed on her case, the White House official declined to say that Trump would raise it with Sisi.
"I see no signs in general that Trump is very concerned with human rights abuses in Egypt or their consequences," said Stephen McInerney of the Project on Middle East Democracy. "Sisi's approach to ruling Egypt directly undermines his ability to be an effective partner" on terrorism and economics, McInerney said.
McInerney warned that Sisi's repression might breed more radicalism. Egypt has imprisoned thousands of young men on non-violent political charges alongside genuine extremists who might try to convert them to their cause.
But Trump has suggested in the past that brutal tactics can keep a lid on Islamic radicalism. During the 2016 campaign, he complained that U.S. interventions to topple Arab dictators who repressed their populations only unleashed terrorism.
Several key Trump advisors also believe Sisi deserves more fulsome U.S. support than he received from an Obama administration hoping to pressure him into a more open governing style.
"Why won't President Obama talk to Egyptian President Sisi? Sisi has taken on the threat of violent, intolerant Islamic jihadism at great personal risk," Harvey wrote on his personal blog in January 2015.
While never cutting ties with Cairo, Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry sharply criticized Sisi for his government's historic clampdown, in which hundreds of people were killed or sentenced to death. Sisi shut down NGOs and charitable groups, limited press freedoms and jailed thousands of people affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood.
White House officials did not respond to a request to comment for this story. But the official who briefed reporters on Friday added that human rights "are always of concern" to the U.S.
Trump officials have made some public gestures on that front. During his recent visit to China, Tillerson said that the U.S. "will continue to advocate for universal values such as human rights and religious freedom." The State Department and White House also condemned the arrest of hundreds of political protesters in Russia last weekend. But critics call those exceptions to the rule.
Every modern president has struggled to define the relationship between values and security. Ronald Reagan celebrated freedom but backed anti-communist dictators. George W. Bush vowed to spread democracy across the Middle East but did little to discomfort undemocratic allies like Saudi Arabia. Obama spoke about dignity and civil rights but struck security deals with repressive tyrants from Iran to Uzbekistan.
The results often seemed hypocritical, and some foreign policy scholars argue that the U.S. should not adopt a pose of moral superiority. But Republicans in particular subscribe to the idea of "American exceptionalism," and lambasted Obama for allegedly doubting it; they have said little about Trump's apparent rejection of the notion.
Trump's critics fear that he is undermining the image of a virtuous America, and the values it represents, just as Russia and China promote their own authoritarian vision abroad.
"You can't promote moral values around the world if you're constantly echoing the propaganda of our adversaries that America is not a moral country, no better than anybody else," Malinowski said.


The first Breakfast Briefing was a hit! A big thank you to Alison Moore of HBO for sharing her time and insight into the development of HBO GO and other HBO forays into the digital market. We must also thank David Zax of Fast Company for his interesting questions and outstanding moderation. In case you missed the talk, we put together a little recap of the event.
Register now for the remaining Breakfast Briefings, which take place the last Tuesday of each month at The Southwest Porch from 8:30am to 9:30am. Breakfast Briefings provide an intimate forum to connect with NYC-based executives at the forefront of their industries, and a chance to hear first-hand about the exciting challenges they face. Enjoy breakfast and coffee courtesy of 'wichcraft. Brought to you be Southwest Airlines and Fast Company.
Talk to @FastCompany, @SouthwestAir, and @BryantParkNYC on Twitter with the #bizbriefs hashtag.


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text:
Get Closer è un album in studio della cantante statunitense Linda Ronstadt, pubblicato nel 1980.

Tracce

Collegamenti esterni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Sunday's training camp practice for the Miami Dolphins began on a beautiful sunny day.
Some players that were held out from practicing today were linebacker Mike Hull (knee), center Jake Brendel (calf), defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (shoulder), and wide receiver Kenny Stills (ankle).
With Kenny Stills sitting out, it opened up opportunities for receivers Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson. Although neither had much impact on the field today.
Sunday's practice was very rusty for the offense. Other than the occasional pop of run or two (Frank Gore had a 35-yard touchdown run up the gut), there weren't many exciting highlights from the offense through the air.
Cornerback Xavien Howard was doing his thing in blanketing DeVante Parker, defensive end Charles Harris had a sack on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, defensive end Cameron Malveaux burst through the line and deflected a screen pass by David Fales, Safety Trae Elston intercepted a Brock Osweiler pass deep, Cam Wake had a sack on Tannehill, and DT Vincent Taylor blew up center Mike Matthews for a loss in the backfield.
Center Daniel Kilgore told me one of the toughest things about going against this defense is their philosophy of rotating lineman. The rotation keeps the DT's with fresh legs as opposed to the offensive line who cannot sub-out because they need to keep continuity and chemistry.
Kilgore also said he felt the offense came out flat today and did not have enough explosive plays. He felt the offense had some, but not as much as they were hoping for after getting together after the preseason game against the Buccaneers.
Yeah… tough day for the offense.
Perhaps defensive coordinator Matt Burke's stunts were a cause for the offensive woes today.
Burke was running a lot of different groupings of personnel. One of the most interesting things was seeing slot-corner Bobby McCain playing on the boundary with the 1st-team. Cornerbacks Torry McTyer, Tony Lippett, and Tankersley who have been competing for the starting boundary spot opposite of Xavien Howard were not included in their typical level of involvement today. McCain stayed on the boundary for most of the practice.
But there were some highlights from kicker Jason Sanders who is currently competing for the position against Greg Joseph.
Sanders went 8 for 8 on his kicks today. He started with some 33-yarders and eventually graduated to nailing a 42-yarder as the Dolphins continued to distance the kicks. Later on in practice, the Dolphins went into some game-type situations which left Sanders staring down a 61-yard attempt.
Sanders followed through with the kick and it just barely made it's way over the crossbar.
Okay… he made one. Anyone can do it once, right?
Well, the same attempt was staring him down again. And the ball found it's way over the crossbar in the same fashion.
Fellow kicker Greg Joseph didn't have a chance to match. The Dolphins apparently have changed to only using 1 kicker per day. This is different from the last 2 weeks of camp when both kickers were rotating.
But as of now, Sanders has had an edge over Joseph, and it seems he's just distanced himself.


We have seen the usual rotation of Managers this season in full force and Bolton has been in the thick of it, tempting Douglas Freedman away from Crystal Palace to replace the erstwhile and amiable Owen Coyle. This led to Ollie Holloway leaving Blackpool to take the position vacated by Freedman and Michael Appleton leaving troubled Portsmouth to take the position vacated by Holloway.
We have seen neighbours Blackburn accept the resignation of Steve Kean and replace him with former player Henning Berg, who quite notably criticized the club's owners on Norwegian television by saying there were "no real Managers with credibility who would accept a job like that" and neighbours Burnley lost Manager Eddie Howe to Bournemouth and replaced him with ex-Watford boss Sean Dyche. Even more recently, Queens Park Rangers sacked Mark Hughes and when the dust from his departing car had settled, former Tottenham Manager Harry Redknapp was seen getting out of his vehicle to occupy Hughes' still-warm managerial seat.
(or something stronger) before you read on. To round up the roundabout, the Brazilian National Team has parted ways with Manager Mano Menezes after two years in charge after losing crucial games against Germany, France and notably Mexico in the Olympic Football Final.
To say that change is the only constant is clearly more than just a truism. Our Douglas has been doing his fair share of changes to his first team - rotations and experiments have been the order of the day in a five-game run that has remarkably not yielded a loss, despite the close attentions of this past weekend by a Brighton & Hove Albion team that must count themselves as desperately unlucky not to have claimed all the points on offer. The magnitude of the task at hand is clearly obvious to all and sundry and the optimistic opinions at the start of the season have been shown to be just that.


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8 Best Places to Go Shopping in New Territories
What to Buy and Where to Shop in New Territories
When it comes to shopping in New Territories, you'll find that this region is no different than most locations in Hong Kong – there are plenty of shopping malls offering a wide range of local and international brands, along with restaurants and onsite entertainment.
Serious shoppers will find lots of tempting merchandise displayed in these malls, most of which are located in the New Town area. You can shop for just about everything in New Territories, from clothes, beauty and skin care products, to arts and crafts, antique furniture as well as Chinese tea and herbs.
D Park Hong Kong
D Park Hong Kong is a mall and residential development spanning over 59,000 sq m in Tsuen Wan. The 3-storey shopping mall is themed as a tropical rainforest, complete with an artificial waterfall. It's known for its extensive dining options, from restaurant chains like Genki Sushi, Outback Steakhouse and Yoshinoya, to popular local bakeries such as Lucullus, Kee Wah Bakery, and Twelve Cupcakes.
Poloha: 398 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Otevřeno: Daily from 8am to 11pm
Autor fotografií: Exploringlife (CC BY-SA 4.0) upraveno
IKEA Store
IKEA is one of the market leaders in home furnishing and lifestyle products. Many items on sale are the assemble-it-yourself type of products which have a worldwide reputation for functional, good design at surprisingly low prices.
IKEA is also popular for its affordable food market, where you can enjoy signature dishes like Swedish meatballs, prawn cocktails, and hot dogs throughout your visit. There are several branches in the New Territories, with the most convenient one located in Tsuen Wan, close to Discovery Park.
Poloha: Level 3, 8½, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Otevřeno: Store: daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm. Restaurant and Café: Monday–Friday from 8am to 10pm, Saturday–Sunday from 9.30am to 10pm
Autor fotografií: Ausi TCHEm Lamiw (CC BY-SA 4.0) upraveno
Landmark North
Landmark North features more than 100 shops selling goods as diverse as the latest fashions and electronic items alongside a good range of restaurants. You'll find mid-range to luxury brands like Coach, Fossil, Lancome, and Kiehl's.
Located next to the Sheung Shui MTR station, the mall is within a 5-minute train ride from the Lo Wu boundary checkpoint, close to mainland China.
Poloha: 39 Lung Sum Ave, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong
Otevřeno: Daily from 10am to 10pm
Autor fotografií: Gaosoruela (CC BY-SA 4.0) upraveno
Maritime Square
Maritime Square is a nautical-themed shopping mall in Tsing Yi. There are around 140 shops and restaurants spread across 4 floors. It serves many transit passengers as it's within a 30-minute drive of Hong Kong International Airport.
Poloha: 33 Tsing King Rd, Tsing Yi, Hong Kong
Otevřeno: Sunday, Tuesday–Friday from 7.30am to 11pm, Monday and Sunday from 6am to 11pm
Autor fotografií: WiNG (CC BY-SA 3.0) upraveno
New Town Plaza
Located in Sha Tin, New Town Plaza is a huge shopping and entertainment complex offering everything from cheap bargains to high-end shopping, including internationally renowned designer boutiques, cinemas, and a good range of gourmet cuisine in its restaurants. It also has a few big Japanese supermarkets.
This plaza gets really crowded at weekends, so it's best to go on a weekday. If you're looking for cheaper shopping options, look around the retailers directly outside New Town Plaza.
Poloha: Sha Tin Centre Street, Sha Tin, New Territories, Hong Kong
Autor fotografií: WeWahWaic (CC BY-SA 4.0) upraveno
Tai Po Mega Mall
Tai Po Mega Mall is divided into 5 zones, categorised by youth fashion, international fashion, beauty, grocery, and dining. This New Territories mall has around 180 brands, including Bossini, Columbia Sportwear, Pandora, and Uniqlo. You'll also find plenty of outlets selling food, books, cosmetics, computer games, and eyewear.
Poloha: 8 & 10, On Pong Road, Tai Po, New Territories, Hong Kong
Autor fotografií: Wing1990hk (CC BY 3.0) upraveno
TMT Plaza
TMT Plaza has about 400 shops spread across 5 floors, making it one of the largest shopping malls in Hong Kong. With its location in central Tuen Mun, the plaza is always busy with not only eager shoppers but people who come for the extensive choice of dining and entertainment options.
You can also catch the latest films at its onsite cinema, located on the 3rd floor. TMT Plaza's anchor department store is AEON, which occupies 3 floors.
Poloha: 1 Tuen Shun Street, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong
Autor fotografií: Mk2010 (CC BY-SA 3.0) upraveno
Tsuen Wan Plaza
Tsuen Wan Plaza can be found on Tai Pa Street, next to the Tsuen Wan MTR station. One of the largest shopping venues in the New Territories of Hong Kong, this 7-storey mall offers a mixture of shops, restaurants and entertainment options, including a 6-screen cinema.
You can find prominent international brands such as Bershka, Lancome, Monki, New Balance, and Nike, while dining options range from fast-food joints and ice cream parlours to Japanese and Korean restaurants.
Poloha: 4-30 Tai Pa Street, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
Autor fotografií: Ecxiamrreo (CC BY-SA 3.0) upraveno
Paul Smith | Cestuje často
24 Best Things to Do in New Territories
9 Best Restaurants in New Territories
10 Best Nightlife in Central Hong Kong
Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo
Paul Smith, 21 Oct, 2019
New Town Plaza Hong Kong
10 Best Shopping Malls in Hong Kong
10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Hong Kong
Ladies' Market Hong Kong


Furniture — This furniture, is one of the 18 designs published under the gallery: Gorgeous Designs With Affordable Home Office Desks. In the next page, we have the chic design ideas using rectangular black wooden stacking chairs and rectangular black wooden desks also with rectangular brown rugs [ ... ]. While in	the previous page, we have the captivating design ideas using rectangular brown motif rugs and l shaped black wooden desks also with round white desk lamps [ ... ].


The sun was already westering as they rode from Edoras, and the light of it was in their eyes, turning all the rolling fields of Rohan to a golden haze. There was a beaten way, north-westward along the foot-hills of the White Mountains, and this they followed, up and down in a green country, crossing small swift streams by many fords. Far ahead and to their right the Misty Mountains loomed; ever darker and taller they grew as the miles went by. The sun went slowly down before them. Evening came behind.
The host rode on. Need drove them. Fearing to come too late, they rode with all the speed they could, pausing seldom. Swift and enduring were the steeds of Rohan, but there were many leagues to go. Forty leagues and more it was, as a bird flies, from Edoras to the fords of the Isen, where they hoped to find the king's men that held back the hosts of Saruman.
Night closed about them. At last they halted to make their camp. They had ridden for some five hours and were far out upon the western plain, yet more than half their journey lay still before them. In a great circle, under the starry sky and the waxing moon, they now made their bivouac. They lit no fires, for they were uncertain of events; but they set a ring of mounted guards about them, and scouts rode out far ahead, passing like shadows in the folds of the land. The slow night passed without tidings or alarm. At dawn the horns sounded, and within an hour they took the road again.
There were no clouds overhead yet, but a heaviness was in the air; it was hot for the season of the year. The rising sun was hazy, and behind it, following it slowly up the sky, there was a growing darkness, as of a great storm moving out of the East. And away in the North-west there seemed to be another darkness brooding about the feet of the Misty Mountains, a shadow that crept down slowly from the Wizard's Vale.
As the second day of their riding drew on, the heaviness in the air increased. In the afternoon the dark clouds began to overtake them: a sombre canopy with great billowing edges flecked with dazzling light. The sun went down, blood-red in a smoking haze. The spears of the Riders were tipped with fire as the last shafts of light kindled the steep faces of the peaks of Thrihyrne: now very near they stood on the northernmost arm of the White Mountains, three jagged horns staring at the sunset. In the last red glow men in the vanguard saw a black speck, a horseman riding back towards them. They halted awaiting him.
He came, a weary man with dinted helm and cloven shield. Slowly he climbed from his horse and stood there a while gasping. At length he spoke. 'Is Eomer here?' he asked. 'You come at last, but too late, and with too little strength. Things have gone evilly since Theodred fell. We were driven back yesterday over the Isen with great loss; many perished at the crossing. Then at night fresh forces came over the river against our camp. All Isengard must be emptied; and Saruman has armed the wild hillmen and herd-folk of Dunland beyond the rivers, and these also he loosed upon us. We were overmastered. The shield-wall was broken. Erkenbrand of Westfold has drawn off those men he could gather towards his fastness in Helm's Deep. The rest are scattered.
While Theoden was speaking, Gandalf rode a short way ahead, and he sat there alone, gazing north to Isengard and west to the setting sun. Now he came back.
He spoke a word to Shadowfax, and like an arrow from the bow the great horse sprang away. Even as they looked he was gone: a flash of silver in the sunset, a wind over the grass, a shadow that fled and passed from sight. Snowmane snorted and reared, eager to follow; but only a swift bird on the wing could have overtaken him.
'What does that mean?' said one of the guard to Hama.
'Wormtongue, were he here, would not find it hard to explain,' said the other.
'Maybe you will wait long,' said the other.
The host turned away now from the road to the Fords of Isen and bent their course southward. Night fell, and still they rode on. The hills drew near, but the tall peaks of Thrihyrne were already dim against the darkening sky. Still some miles away, on the far side of the Westfold Vale, lay a green coomb, a great bay in the mountains, out of which a gorge opened in the hills. Men of that land called it Helm's Deep, after a hero of old wars who had made his refuge there. Ever steeper and narrower it wound inward from the north under the shadow of the Thrihyrne, till the crow-haunted cliffs rose like mighty towers on either side, shutting out the light.
At Helm's Gate, before the mouth of the Deep, there was a heel of rock thrust outward by the northern cliff. There upon its spur stood high walls of ancient stone, and within them was a lofty tower. Men said that in the far-off days of the glory of Gondor the sea-kings had built here this fastness with the hands of giants. The Hornburg it was called, for a trumpet sounded upon the tower echoed in the Deep behind, as if armies long-forgotten were issuing to war from caves beneath the hills. A wall, too, the men of old had made from the Hornburg to the southern cliff, barring the entrance to the gorge. Beneath it by a wide culvert the Deeping-stream passed out. About the feet of the Hornrock it wound, and flowed then in a gully through the midst of a wide green gore, sloping gently down from Helm's Gate to Helm's Dike. Thence it fell into the Deeping-coomb and out into the Westfold Vale. There in the Hornburg at Helm's Gate Erkenbrand, master of Westfold on the borders of the Mark, now dwelt. As the days darkened with threat of war, being wise, he had repaired the wall and made the fastness strong.
The Riders were still in the low valley before the mouth of the Coomb, when cries and hornblasts were heard from their scouts that went in front. Out of the darkness arrows whistled. Swiftly a scout rode back and reported that wolf-riders were abroad in the valley, and that a host of Orcs and wild men were hurrying southward from the Fords of Isen and seemed to be making for Helm's Deep.
'Has aught been seen of Gandalf?' asked Theoden.
'Then let us be swift,' said Eomer. 'Let us drive through such foes as are already between us and the fastness. There are caves in Helm's Deep where hundreds may lie hid; and secret ways lead thence up on to the hills.
Aragorn and Legolas went now with Eomer in the van. On through the dark night they rode, ever slower as the darkness deepened and their way climbed southward, higher and higher into the dim folds about the mountains' feet. They found few of the enemy before them. Here and there they came upon roving bands of Orcs; but they fled ere the Riders could take or slay them.
The rumour of war grew behind them. Now they could hear, borne over the dark, the sound of harsh singing. They had climbed far up into the Deeping-coomb when they looked back. Then they saw torches: countless points of fiery light upon the black fields behind, scattered like red flowers, or winding up from the lowlands in long flickering lines. Here and there a larger blaze leapt up.
'It is a great host and follows us hard,' said Aragorn.
'At the breach our rearguard must stand, if we are pressed,' said Eomer.
There was neither star nor moon when the Riders came to the breach in the Dike, where the stream from above passed out, and the road beside it ran down from the Hornburg. The rampart loomed suddenly before them, a high shadow beyond a dark pit. As they rode up a sentinel challenged them.
The host passed through the breach and halted on the sloping sward above. They now learned to their joy that Erkenbrand had left many men to hold Helm's Gate, and more had since escaped thither.
'If they come to bargain for our goods at Helm's Gate, they will pay a high price,' said Gamling.
The king and his Riders passed on. Before the causeway that crossed the stream they dismounted. In a long file they led their horses up the ramp and passed within the gates of the Hornburg. There they were welcomed again with joy and renewed hope; for now there were men enough to man both the burg and the barrier wall.
Quickly Eomer set his men in readiness. The king and the men of his household were in the Hornburg, and there also were many of the Westfold-men. But on the Deeping Wall and its tower, and behind it, Eomer arrayed most of the strength that he had, for here the defence seemed more doubtful, if the assault were determined and in great force. The horses were led far up the Deep under such guard as could be spared.
The Deeping Wall was twenty feet high, and so thick that four men could walk abreast along the top, sheltered by a parapet over which only a tall man could look. Here and there were clefts in the stone through which men could shoot. This battlement could be reached by a stair running down from a door in the outer court of the Hornburg; three flights of steps led also up on to the wall from the Deep behind; but in front it was smooth, and the great stones of it were set with such skill that no foothold could be found at their joints, and at the top they hung over like a sea-delved cliff.
A slow time passed. Far down in the valley scattered fires still burned. The hosts of Isengard were advancing in silence now. Their torches could be seen winding up the coomb in many lines.
Suddenly from the Dike yells and screams, and the fierce battle-cries of men broke out. Flaming brands appeared over the brink and clustered thickly at the breach. Then they scattered and vanished. Men came galloping back over the field and up the ramp to the gate of the Hornburg. The rearguard of the Westfolders had been driven in.
It was now past midnight. The sky was utterly dark, and the stillness of the heavy air foreboded storm. Suddenly the clouds were seared by a blinding flash. Branched lightning smote down upon the eastward hills. For a staring moment the watchers on the walls saw all the space between them and the Dike lit with white light: it was boiling and crawling with black shapes, some squat and broad, some tall and grim, with high helms and sable shields. Hundreds and hundreds more were pouring over the Dike and through the breach. The dark tide flowed up to the walls from cliff to cliff. Thunder rolled in the valley. Rain came lashing down.
Arrows thick as the rain came whistling over the battlements, and fell clinking and glancing on the stones. Some found a mark. The assault on Helm's Deep had begun, but no sound or challenge was heard within; no answering arrows came.
The assailing hosts halted, foiled by the silent menace of rock and wall. Ever and again the lightning tore aside the darkness. Then the Orcs screamed, waving spear and sword, and shooting a cloud of arrows at any that stood revealed upon the battlements; and the men of the Mark amazed looked out, as it seemed to them, upon a great field of dark corn, tossed by a tempest of war, and every ear glinted with barbed light.
Brazen trumpets sounded. The enemy surged forward, some against the Deeping Wall, other towards the causeway and the ramp that led up to the Hornburg-gates. There the hugest Orcs were mustered, and the wild men of the Dunland fells. A moment they hesitated and then on they came. The lightning flashed, and blazoned upon every helm and shield the ghastly hand of Isengard was seen. They reached the summit of the rock; they drove towards the gates.
Then at last an answer came: a storm of arrows met them, and a hail of stones. They wavered, broke, and fled back; and then charged again, broke and charged again; and each time, like the incoming sea, they halted at a higher point. Again trumpets rang, and a press of roaring men leaped forth. They held their great shields above them like a roof, while in their midst they bore two trunks of mighty trees. Behind them orc-archers crowded, sending a hail of darts against the bowmen on the walls. They gained the gates. The trees, swung by strong arms, smote the timbers with a rending boom. If any man fell, crushed by a stone hurtling from above, two others sprang to take his place. Again and again the great rams swung and crashed.
Eomer and Aragorn stood together on the Deeping Wall. They heard the roar of voices and the thudding of the rams; and then in a sudden flash of light they beheld the peril of the gates.
Running like fire, they sped along the wall, and up the steps, and passed into the outer court upon the Rock. As they ran they gathered a handful of stout swordsmen. There was a small postern-door that opened in an angle of the burg-wall on the west, where the cliff stretched out to meet it. On that side a narrow path ran round towards the great gate, between the wall and the sheer brink of the Rock. Together Eomer and Aragorn sprang through the door, their men close behind. The swords flashed from the sheath as one.
Dismayed the rammers let fall the trees and turned to fight; but the wall of their shields was broken as by a lightning-stroke, and they were swept away, hewn down, or cast over the Rock into the stony stream below. The orc-archers shot wildly and then fled.
For a moment Eomer and Aragorn halted before the gates. The thunder was rumbling in the distance now. The lightning flickered still, far off among the mountains in the South. A keen wind was blowing from the North again. The clouds were torn and drifting, and stars peeped out; and above the hills of the Coomb-side the westering moon rode, glimmering yellow in the storm-wrack.
'We did not come too soon,' said Aragorn, looking at the gates. Their great hinges and iron bars were wrenched and bent; many of their timbers were cracked.
They turned and ran. At that moment some dozen Orcs that had lain motionless among the slain leaped to their feet, and came silently and swiftly behind. Two flung themselves to the ground at Eomer's heels, tripped him, and in a moment they were on top of him. But a small dark figure that none had observed sprang out of the shadows and gave a hoarse shout: Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-menu! An axe swung and swept back. Two Orcs fell headless. The rest fled.
Eomer struggled to his feet, even as Aragorn ran back to his aid.
'I shall not find it easy to repay you,' said Eomer.
'Two!' said Gimli, patting his axe. He had returned to his place on the wall.
The sky now was quickly clearing and the sinking moon was shining brightly. But the light brought little hope to the Riders of the Mark. The enemy before them seemed to have grown rather than diminished, still more were pressing up from the valley through the breach. The sortie upon the Rock gained only a brief respite. The assault on the gates was redoubled. Against the Deeping Wall the hosts of Isengard roared like a sea. Orcs and hillmen swarmed about its feet from end to end. Ropes with grappling hooks were hurled over the parapet faster than men could cut them or fling them back. Hundreds of long ladders were lifted up. Many were cast down in ruin, but many more replaced them, and Orcs sprang up them like apes in the dark forests of the South. Before the wall's foot the dead and broken were piled like shingle in a storm; ever higher rose the hideous mounds, and still the enemy came on.
The men of Rohan grew weary. All their arrows were spent, and every shaft was shot; their swords were notched, and their shields were riven. Three times Aragorn and Eomer rallied them, and three times Anduril flamed in a desperate charge that drove the enemy from the wall.
Then a clamour arose in the Deep behind. Orcs had crept like rats through the culvert through which the stream flowed out. There they had gathered in the shadow of the cliffs, until the assault above was hottest and nearly all the men of the defence had rushed to the wall's top. Then they sprang out. Already some had passed into the jaws of the Deep and were among the horses, fighting with the guards.
Down from the wall leapt Gimli with a fierce cry that echoed in the cliffs. 'Khazad! Khazad!' He soon had work enough.
Gamling the Old looked down from the Hornburg, hearing the great voice of the dwarf above all the tumult. 'The Orcs are in the Deep!' he cried. 'Helm! Helm! Forth Helmingas!' he shouted as he leaped down the stair from the Rock with many men of Westfold at his back.
Their onset was fierce and sudden, and the Orcs gave way before them. Ere long they were hemmed in in the narrows of the gorge, and all were slain or driven shrieking into the chasm of the Deep to fall before the guardians of the hidden caves.
They gathered such small boulders and broken stones as they could find to hand, and under Gimli's direction the Westfold-men blocked up the inner end of the culvert, until only a narrow outlet remained. Then the Deeping-stream, swollen by the rain, churned and fretted in its choked path, and spread slowly in cold pools from cliff to cliff.
He climbed up and found Legolas beside Aragorn and Eomer. The elf was whetting his long knife. There was for a while a lull in the assault, since the attempt to break in through the culvert had been foiled.
Eomer and Aragorn leant wearily on their swords. Away on the left the crash and clamour of the battle on the Rock rose loud again. But the Hornburg still held fast, like an island in the sea. Its gates lay in ruin; but over the barricade of beams and stones within no enemy as yet had passed.
'Yet dawn is ever the hope of men,' said Aragorn.
'So the minstrels say,' said Eomer.
Even as they spoke there came a blare of trumpets. Then there was a crash and a flash of flame and smoke. The waters of the Deeping-stream poured out hissing and foaming: they were choked no longer, a gaping hole was blasted in the wall. A host of dark shapes poured in.
'Devilry of Saruman!' cried Aragorn. 'They have crept in the culvert again, while we talked, and they have lit the fire of Orthanc beneath our feet. 'Elendil, Elendil!' he shouted, as he leaped down into the breach; but even as he did so a hundred ladders were raised against the battlements. Over the wall and under the wall the last assault came sweeping like a dark wave upon a hill of sand. The defence was swept away. Some of the Riders were driven back, further and further into the Deep, falling and fighting as they gave way, step by step, towards the caves. Others cut their way back towards the citadel.
A broad stairway, climbed from the Deep up to the Rock and the rear-gate of the Hornburg. Near the bottom stood Aragorn. In his hand still Anduril gleamed, and the terror of the sword for a while held back the enemy, as one by one all who could gain the stair passed up towards the gate. Behind on the upper steps knelt Legolas. His bow was bent, but one gleaned arrow was all that he had left, and he peered out now, ready to shoot the first Orc that should dare to approach the stair.
Aragorn turned and sped up the stair; but as he ran he stumbled in his weariness. At once his enemies leapt forward. Up came the Orcs, yelling, with their long arms stretched out to seize him. The foremost fell with Legolas' last arrow in his throat. but the rest sprang over him. Then a great boulder, cast from the outer wall above, crashed down upon the stair, and hurled them back into the Deep. Aragorn gained the door, and swiftly it clanged to behind him.
'Things go ill, my friends,' he said, wiping the sweat from his brow with his arm.
'Alas! That is evil news,' said Legolas.
Aragorn now passed into the citadel. There to his dismay he learned that Eomer had not reached the Hornburg.
Aragorn strode on through the inner court, and mounted to a high chamber in the tower. There stood the king, dark against a narrow window, looking out upon the vale.
'What is the news, Aragorn?' he said.
'Do not judge the counsel of Gandalf, until all is over, lord,' said Aragorn.
'I will ride with you,' said Aragorn.
Taking his leave, he returned to the walls, and passed round all their circuit, enheartening the men, and lending aid wherever the assault was hot. Legolas went with him. Blasts of fire leaped up from below shaking the stones. Grappling-hooks were hurled, and ladders raised. Again and again the Orcs gained the summit of the outer wall, and again the defenders cast them down.
At last Aragorn stood above the great gates, heedless of the darts of the enemy. As he looked forth he saw the eastern sky grow pale. Then he raised his empty hand, palm outward in token of parley.
'The king stays or comes at his own will,' said Aragorn.
'I looked out to see the dawn,' said Aragorn.
So great a power and royalty was revealed in Aragorn, as he stood there alone above the ruined gates before the host of his enemies, that many of the wild men paused, and looked back over their shoulders to the valley, and some looked up doubtfully at the sky. But the Orcs laughed with loud voices; and a hail of darts and arrows whistled over the wall, as Aragorn leaped down.
There was a roar and a blast of fire. The archway of the gate above which he had stood a moment before crumbled and crashed in smoke and dust. The barricade was scattered as if by a thunderbolt. Aragorn ran to the king's tower.
But even as the gate fell, and the Orcs about it yelled, preparing to charge, a murmur arose behind them, like a wind in the distance, and it grew to a clamour of many voices crying strange news in the dawn. The Orcs upon the Rock, hearing the rumour of dismay, wavered and looked back. And then, sudden and terrible, from the tower above, the sound of the great horn of Helm rang out.
All that heard that sound trembled. Many of the Orcs cast themselves on their faces and covered their ears with their claws. Back from the Deep the echoes came, blast upon blast, as if on every cliff and hill a mighty herald stood. But on the walls men looked up, listening with wonder; for the echoes did not die. Ever the horn-blasts wound on among the hills; nearer now and louder they answered one to another, blowing fierce and free.
And with that shout the king came. His horse was white as snow, golden was his shield, and his spear was long. At his right hand was Aragorn, Elendil's heir, behind him rode the lords of the House of Eorl the Young. Light sprang in the sky. Night departed.
'Forth Eorlingas!' With a cry and a great noise they charged. Down from the gates they roared, over the causeway they swept, and they drove through the hosts of Isengard as a wind among grass. Behind them from the Deep came the stern cries of men issuing from the caves, driving forth the enemy. Out poured all the men that were left upon the Rock. And ever the sound of blowing horns echoed in the hills.
On they rode, the king and his companions. Captains and champions fell or fled before them. Neither orc nor man withstood them. Their backs were to the swords and spears of the Riders and their faces to the valley. They cried and wailed, for fear and great wonder had come upon them with the rising of the day.
So King Theoden rode from Helm's Gate and clove his path to the great Dike. There the company halted. Light grew bright about them. Shafts of the sun flared above the eastern hills and glimmered on their spears. But they sat silent on their horses, and they gazed down upon the Deeping-coomb.
The land had changed. Where before the green dale had lain, its grassy slopes lapping the ever-mounting hills, there now a forest loomed. Great trees, bare and silent, stood, rank on rank, with tangled bough and hoary head; their twisted roots were buried in the long green grass. Darkness was under them. Between the Dike and the eaves of that nameless wood only two open furlongs lay. There now cowered the proud hosts of Saruman, in terror of the king and in terror of the trees. They streamed down from Helm's Gate until all above the Dike was empty of them, but below it they were packed like swarming flies. Vainly they crawled and clambered about the walls of the coomb, seeking to escape. Upon the east too sheer and stony was the valley's side; upon the left, from the west, their final doom approached.
The hosts of Isengard roared, swaying this way and that, turning from fear to fear. Again the horn sounded from the tower. Down through the breach of the Dike charged the king's company. Down from the hills leaped Erkenbrand, lord of Westfold. Down leaped Shadowfax, like a deer that runs surefooted in the mountains. The White Rider was upon them, and the terror of his coming filled the enemy with madness. The wild men fell on their faces before him. The Orcs reeled and screamed and cast aside both sword and spear. Like a black smoke driven by a mounting wind they fled. Wailing they passed under the waiting shadow of the trees; and from that shadow none ever came again.


Merry Christmas from the Superego family! On this Throwback Thursday, we bring you a not so throwback song from Kanye, Good Music, and a bunch of Harlem rappers. Christmas in Harlem is a real feel good song and it's produced by Hit-Boy (one of his first big hits). Enjoy this song and enjoy your Holiday!


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The Supreme Court term is starting — without Brett Kavanaugh
But the Court is perfectly capable of functioning with eight justices.
By Dara Lind Updated Oct 1, 2018, 8:54am EDT
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The Supreme Court's term begins October 1.
On Monday, October 1, the Supreme Court will start its 2018-'19 term. But nominee Brett Kavanaugh won't join them for another week at the earliest.
Kavanaugh won't get his confirmation vote until the end of this week, after the FBI conducts a mini-investigation into allegations against him from Christine Blasey Ford (who claims he attempted to rape her in high school) and Deborah Ramirez (who claims he exposed himself to her as a Yale student).
In a best-case scenario for Kavanaugh, the FBI won't turn anything up that might frighten Senate Republicans, and he'll be on the Supreme Court bench by October 8. But if the FBI investigation doesn't go smoothly, wavering Senate Republicans might decide it's better to replace Kavanaugh with another conservative judge who can be confirmed before the new Senate term starts in January.
From the Court's perspective, they probably don't need to rush.
The Supreme Court is perfectly able to function with only eight justices — they did so for over a year after Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016. (Republicans refused to confirm a replacement nominated by Barack Obama, and the seat was ultimately filled in April 2017 by Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch).
The only potential hiccup is a 4-4 case that makes it impossible to issue a nationwide ruling on a subject — but the Court has enough control over when it takes cases, and when it rules on them, that it could easily go through the first few months of the term without having to issue a 4-4 ruling on a case it would rather have a 5-4 ruling on.
Traditionally, if you weren't on the bench for the oral argument, you don't cast a vote
The Supreme Court doesn't have to release any decisions before Kavanaugh (or whoever) gets seated on the Court.
Because it's a new term, there isn't a backlog of pending cases that have been argued and haven't been decided yet. (This is the crucial difference between a justice leaving the court in the middle of the term and the end: There were cases in which Scalia, for example, had participated in the oral argument and would have voted a particular way, but after he died the Court couldn't count his vote in any cases that hadn't yet been released.)
The justices will start hearing oral arguments in new cases on Monday, and the schedule is packed: The Court's hearing six cases next week — arguments that Kavanaugh will definitely miss. It's hearing another five cases the week after, six cases the last week of October, and six cases the first week of November.
But that's it. The rest of the Court's schedule isn't set — there are a lot of cases that the Court has agreed to hear at some point, but hasn't set a date for. And if it looks likely that there won't be a nine-justice court until after the first week of November, the justices will probably keep declining to schedule the cases that they know they'll want nine votes on. (This is what the Court did after Scalia's death, too.)
The reason they might delay: Traditionally, justices don't vote in cases unless they were present at oral argument. (Justice Gorsuch, for example, recused himself from all cases that had been heard before he was confirmed in April 2017.)
But that rule appears to be an unwritten one, and it's been breached before, albeit in different circumstances — when Chief Justice William Rehnquist had a tracheotomy in 2004, he participated in cases by working off the transcripts and notes of oral arguments he missed. If future Justice Kavanaugh (or whoever) really wanted to cast a vote in a case heard this week, and the other justices really wanted his input, it would probably work out.
This term's early cases aren't ones Kavanaugh (or whoever) would be burning to weigh in on
None of the cases that have been scheduled involves an issue that Justice Kavanaugh (or whoever) would necessarily be burning to weigh in on.
Remember that most Supreme Court cases don't break down along partisan lines. Under Chief Justice John Roberts, in particular, there are a lot of unanimous decisions. And there's no difference between an 8-0 vote and a 9-0 vote.
There is one capital punishment case on the docket, being heard Tuesday, but it's a narrow one determining whether the Eighth Amendment prohibits executing someone who no longer remembers the crime they committed after suffering several strokes.
More representative of the term's early cases is the opening docket on Monday the 1st: Kavanaugh will miss riveting cases on the scope of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act as it applies to employers part of political divisions of states, and on whether determinations of economic impact in designating critical habitat are subject to judicial review.
There are a few early cases that are likely to be legally tricky — such as a case set to be heard Tuesday on lawsuits in federal court from people whose property has been taken by the government — and that might even result in 4-4 splits.
But even a 4-4 split isn't the end of the world; it just means that the lower court's ruling stays in effect. That can be frustrating when there are conflicting rulings from different lower courts, but it's generally survivable — and there's nothing stopping the Court from taking a similar case up once there are nine justices to resolve the same question.
Court-watcher Adam Feldman of the blog Empirical SCOTUS theorized to Fox News that the justices might have set up their fall schedule knowing that Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire and his successor might not be appointed yet when the next term began. In that one regard, at least, this confirmation process is fairly normal.
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Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold 'blown away' by how relaxed the England World Cup experience has been
The Three Lions' wildcard spoke exclusively to talkSPORT about being the new kid on the block and kicking back in the England hotel
By Sean O'Brien
14th June 2018, 6:48 pm
Updated: 14th June 2018, 6:57 pm
Trent Alexander-Arnold admits his time in Russia with the England squad has been surprisingly relaxing so far.
The 19-year-old is completely new to the international game, without a single cap to his name prior to being selected.
England's players have been enjoying their time in Russia so far
Upon finding himself on the plane for a World Cup, the Liverpool full-back concedes he had no idea what to expect.
In an exclusive interview with talkSPORT, he said: "It's a lot more relaxed and together than I thought it would be as an England squad.
"You don't spend too much time together [with your clubs] but since I've come in the team is one, it's a whole.
"Everyone's got the same aims, the same goals and everyone's bought into the idea of wanting success as a team.
"Coming into it I didn't expect us to have such a good team morale, but I've been blown away. All the players have helped me become part of the team."
The England hotel in Repino is not the most upmarket selection compared to previous tournaments, but it is quiet and there are plenty of ways for the players to switch off.
Alexander-Arnold has been welcomed into the squad with open arms
Alexander-Arnold, who spoke with real maturity, stressed the importance of down-time in what he knows can be a stressful environment.
He added: "We have a lot of time to just relax and there's a lot of things to do within the hotel. You can chill by yourself, watch films or whatever.
"There's lounge areas where you can just talk. The staff have done an excellent job."
That said, the youngster is looking forward to football above all else, and wishes the Three Lions' opener against Tunisia would come sooner.
He continued: "As soon as the games get up and running, that's when a tournament properly kicks in.
"It's a bit of a waiting game with us being one of the last teams to play.
"We're all very excited for that game to come around on Monday."
talkSPORT will be with listeners all day and all night at this year's 2018 FIFA World Cup™ with over 800 hours of World Cup content and all 64 games live across the talkSPORT network.
Dyche to become Everton boss, Newcastle target Gordon back in training, Porro to Spurs


Photo: No cover for bad taxis.
We're big believers in the need for having adequate travel insurance and nothing bites worse than you being in a bind and the insurer refusing to pay. Here are some of the most common gotchas you need to watch out for in travel insurance policies.
We use World Nomads travel insurance ourselves whenever we travel internationally—we use them because we've met the people behind World Nomads and we think they've put together an excellent product designed with the independent traveller in mind, but that isn't to say they are the perfect fit for everyone.
The points below are not specifically (nor solely) related to World Nomads—always do your research and use the following to help you select a provider that is a good fit for you.
Travel insurance is generally sold on the expectation that you have a return ticket to your home country. Let's say your policy has a provision that in the event of a medical emergency they'll look after getting you home. This is often referred to as a Trip Interruption Event. When the insurer says they'll get you home, what they may really mean is they'll pay the fees associated with changing the dates on your return ticket to get you home. What they mostly don't mean is that they'll buy you a ticket to go home.
If you don't have a return ticket, and you need to return home for a medical emergency (for example), you may end up needing to pay for that ticket yourself.
See our separate section on motorbikes and insurance for a wrap on this, but essentially if you have an accident on a motorbike you are riding and you are unlicensed or not wearing a helmet, then your insurance is most likely void.
If you do not possess a valid motorbike licence, consider very carefully the risks before deciding to ride one. Always, always, always (even if you are just a passenger) wear a helmet.
Your policy will probably say you should be exercising this, particularly if you are robbed. Did you leave your smartphone on the bar while you went to the toilet and when you came back it had been stolen? I'm shocked to hear that. Your insurer most likely will not pay.
Generally if, looking back, you're thinking, "Oh my God, what was I thinking?" then chances are your insurer will be thinking the same, and they won't cover it.
If your home country's government has a "do not go" alert on where you go, you're probably not covered. Likewise conflict zones and civil strife are very grey areas. If there is a chance you'll be shot if you step outside, then now may be the time to stay indoors and read the small print on your policy.
At times, travel insurance providers like to pass the buck. They may say they cover flight delays, but read the fine print: Let's say your airline cancelled your flight for no clear reason and the roll on effect had you losing hotel reservations and so on. Your insurer may say it's the airline's fault and tell you to make a claim with them (good luck with that!). Even if you do, the airline might say, well, you didn't purchase our insurance when you bought the ticket, so we can't help you.
Sometimes trips are going so well you decide to stay away longer, meaning your one-month policy is going to run out before your trip is over. No worries, just extend your policy?
Insurance providers often talk about extending policies when what they really mean is selling you a new policy. This is no big deal if you never made a claim based on the initial policy. But if you did, that claim may have just become a pre-existing condition and so is no longer covered. This can be a very big gotcha.
If there is a good chance your trip will go for longer than planned, consider buying a longer policy to avoid needing to "extend" your policy.
Your fancy digital camera is worth $5,000 but your travel insurance policy has a maximum per item reimbursement of $500. That has to hurt! If you're travelling with expensive gear, travel insurance providers often have more expensive "premium" policies that offer higher payouts. Again, read the small print and buy the right policy for you.


There are three major educational initiatives sweeping the country like wildfire: Teacher evaluation, tying student growth to teacher evaluation, and the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This course arms you to navigate all three initiatives by demonstrating how to use the Danielson Framework to prepare for your next evaluation, develop a system to measure student growth, and how to implement the CCSS into your music classroom. Video chat sessions will be held one night each week for approximately 45-60 minutes (night and time to be determined by the members of the class).


What is the premium for Phoenix waterfront property?
People have often commented that Phoenix waterfront property is an oxymoron. How can there be waterfront homes in a desert? Not too far into the conversation, the question will be "Is waterfront property more expensive than non-waterfront property?" The easy answer is "yes, of course" since there is less of it. Where it gets more complicated is the question, "How much more expensive is a waterfront home?" My answer has always been, "well, it depends". I thought it was about time to put some numbers to it.
The definition of waterfront property in Arizona can vary greatly. To some, waterfront property means having a boat dock at the edge of the property with the ability to cruise around the man made lake in a pontoon boat at sunset. Others are classified as waterfront when there is a fence and small common area buffer between the property and the water. Then there is the agent that checks the waterfront box because you can stand on the 2nd story deck and see a man-made lake on the golf course. The most generous classification for waterfront can be seen when a home borders one of the many canals that run through the Phoenix area . For example, Scottsdale Waterfront Residences condos on Camelback border the Arizona Canal so that has to be waterfront, in fact its even in the name right? Maybe a better classification would be water-view or water feature instead of waterfront for many of these properties. The reason for pointing out these differences is that it is impossible to apply a flat premium percentage to waterfront or lakeside property in Phoenix because all waterfront is not the same. The premium for waterfront property will vary depending on the proximity & accessibility to the water and the waterfront views associated with the home.
* The Cove at the Islands-Waterfront Townhouses in Gilbert; 4 waterfront and 4 non-waterfront that sold in 2014, all two stories. The waterfront $/sq.ft average was $156/sq.ft while the non-waterfront units was $130/sq.ft. This represents a 20% premium for waterfront townhouses in this lake community.
If you'd like to receive automatically listings of waterfront homes, click on Receive listings of homes automatically. Please describe in detail your dream home.
*Crystal Shores at Val Vista Lakes. Two story homes with the same floor plan and square footage in Gilbert. The off the water home sold for $340K and the waterfront home sold for $450K two months later, a difference of $110K or a 32% premium.
*Playa Del Rey Estates, a water ski community. Two single story homes across the street from each other. A difference of less than 200 sq.ft., the off the lake property had a private pool. The ski lake property sold for $184/sq.ft. and the other property sold for $136/sq.ft., or a premium of 35%. It would be even greater adjusting for the private pool of the non-waterfront home.
*Lakewood in Ahwatukee. Waterfront homes (6) that sold in 2014 compared to non-waterfront homes(20). All homes had private pools. Waterfront homes averaged $200/sq.ft. vs. $138/sq.ft. for non-waterfront, yielding a 45% premium for Lakewood waterfront property.
*Cantabria Shores, waterfront and golf townhouses in south Chandler. Two waterfront units sold for an average of $157.5/sq.ft. while two interior townhouses sold for $139.6/sq.ft., resulting in a 13% premium for Cantabria waterfront townhouses.
*Ocotillo Lakes. Chandler Waterfront homes sold in 2014 with a pool, $191/sq/ft. vs. $154/sq.ft. for non-waterfront with a pool is a 24% premium.
As you can see the answer is still the same; " it depends" upon the type, location,and waterfront view. However, this does show a general range for the waterfront property premium and show that waterfront property does cost more.
To receive more waterfront information and listings, click on receive waterfront property home listings. For specific questions, feel free to call me or e-mail me at gordonbaker@remax.net. The valley cities that have the most lake communities are Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Mesa, Peoria, Glendale, Tempe, and Avondale.
HOA Reserve Study – What can it tell you?
Do tile roofs require maintenance?


Tencent's WeChat app now has 980 million monthly active users.
Chinese Internet giant Tencent said it will invest more in its digital content businesses spanning publishing to film-making after its third quarter net profit surpassed expectations yesterday.
Tencent, Asia's most valuable company with a market capitalisation of $472 billion, is looking to invest more in its digital content and better integrate its products across platforms in order to draw more time from more paying customers, president Martin Lau said during an earnings call yesterday.
Analysts said it was a move towards helping Tencent better monetise its various content platforms that dominate Chinese mobile users' daily life through increased subscription and advertising revenue.
Tencent's messaging-to-payment super app WeChat now has 980 million monthly active users, with 38 billion messages sent daily.
Its YouTube equivalent, Tencent Video, has become the video streaming service with the largest paying subscriber base in China, at 43 million subscriptions, Lau said.
Tencent will invest in online video through original content production or IP purchase, despite it being "an unprofitable sector", Lau said, because it is core to Tencent's cross-media intellectual property strategy and increases engagement time.
Tencent recently listed several subsidiaries on stock exchanges in Hong Kong and the US in a slew of stellar initial public offerings (IPOs).
Lau said more IPOs may come, but spin-offs similar to publishing arm China Literature, which this month raised $1.1 billion, will not be the "norm".
"Over time, there will be more and more of our investee companies that reach the kind of maturity that can be IPOed in the market," Lau said. "But I would say for the majority of our businesses, which have been home-grown and organic, there is actually more reason for them to stay together so they can reinforce each other."
Tencent's net profit for the three months ended September rose 69% to 18 billion yuan ($2.7 billion), beating an average estimate of 15.2 billion yuan.
Smartphone games were Tencent's largest revenue source, surging 84% to 18.2 billion yuan in the quarter, led by titles such as the online battle arena game Honour of Kings.
The fantasy role-playing game based on Chinese historical characters became so popular that Tencent had to introduce curbs on play time earlier this year amid reports of serious addiction among children. Its release in the US has been delayed from this month until next year.
Lau said Tencent has a series of survival-themed mobile games in the pipeline ? a genre that is the latest hit for Chinese players as a new game from rival Netease eclipses Honour of King's popularity.
Total revenue in the quarter rose 61% to 65 billion yuan, with earnings from payment-related and cloud services more than doubling.
Tencent shares closed at HK$383 before results were announced, bringing their gains for the year to just over 100% against the wider market's 31% rise.