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DGAP-News: Aareal Bank Group continues its positive development with a good third quarter
2021. november 11., csütörtök, 07:01
DGAP-News: Aareal Bank AG
/ Key word(s): Quarter Results
Aareal Bank Group continues its positive development with a good third quarter
- Consolidated operating profit rises to € 50 million in the third quarter (Q3 2020: € 11 million), and to € 123 million for the first nine months (9m 2020: € 24 million)
- Net interest income rose significantly, despite the low interest rate environment - up 21 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year, up 9 per cent against the previous quarter
- Strong new business in commercial property financing - full-year target for portfolio volume now at approximately € 30 billion
- Chief Executive Officer Jochen Klösges: "The encouraging results for the first nine months show that Aareal Bank Group is on the right path, and that the growth initiatives taken are making an impact. With regard to the further development of the pandemic during the current winter quarter, we will nonetheless remain vigilant."
- Chief Financial Officer Marc Hess: "Aareal Bank is consistently implementing its strategy. Thanks to the increased portfolio volume and good margins, the Bank has posted the highest net interest income in four years. At the same time, loan-to-value ratios in newly acquired business have remained at a comfortable level, with sound risk profiles."
Wiesbaden, 11 November 2021 - Aareal Bank Group has continued its growth path and increased its consolidated operating profit for the third quarter to € 50 million. Despite the low interest rate environment, net interest income increased by 21 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year, owing to the successful portfolio growth and the exploitation of market opportunities that have arisen - and Aareal Bank is still on course for further controlled, risk-aware growth. Loss allowance was down year-on-year, yet remained above the average pre-crisis levels on account of the pandemic.
Jochen Klösges, Chief Executive Officer of Aareal Bank since 15 September 2021, commented: "The encouraging results for the first nine months show that Aareal Bank Group is on the right path, and that the growth initiatives taken are making an impact. With regard to the further development of the pandemic during the current winter quarter, we will nonetheless remain vigilant."
Chief Financial Officer Marc Hess commented: "Aareal Bank is consistently implementing its strategy. Thanks to the increased portfolio volume and good margins, the Bank has posted the highest net interest income in four years. At the same time, loan-to-value ratios in newly acquired business have remained at a comfortable level, with sound risk profiles."
Consolidated operating profit rose to € 50 million in the third quarter (Q3 2020: € 11 million, Q2 2021: € 41 million), and to € 123 million for the first nine months of the current financial year (9m 2020: € 24 million). Major revenue components developed positively:
Net interest income for the third quarter rose significantly - by 21 per cent year-on-year - to € 155 million (Q3 2020: € 128 million, Q2 2021: € 142 million), thus reaching another new peak for the last four years. The increase was driven by the expansion of the portfolio volume - in line with the strategy - and hence, of the interest-bearing business, as well as by the healthy margins for new business originated during the past quarters. The TLTRO interest rate benefit remained unchanged from the previous quarter, at approximately € 7 million.
Net commission income amounted to € 56 million and was thus stable (Q3 2020: € 57 million). In the first nine months of the financial year, it rose to € 174 million (9m 2020: € 168 million), thanks to revenue growth at IT subsidiary Aareon and in the Banking & Digital Solutions segment.
At € 39 million, loss allowance during the third quarter again remained significantly lower than in the same period of the previous year (Q3 2020: € 61 million), totalling € 79 million for the first nine months of the year (9m 2020: € 167 million). Nevertheless, Aareal Bank remains cautious with regard to the further development of the Covid-19 pandemic during the current winter quarter, with case numbers recently on the rise again in many countries. The Bank therefore maintains the previously projected and communicated loss allowance range of between € 125 million and € 200 million for the full year (including the net result from financial instruments (fvpl)).
Administrative expenses rose slightly to € 125 million compared to the same quarter of the previous year (€ 114 million), totalling € 393 million for the first nine months of the year (9m 2020: € 352 million). The increase was driven, in particular, by growth-related costs and investments at Aareon. The lower figure for the previous year was also due to reduced costs on the back of the pandemic.
Taking into consideration tax expenses of € 27 million, consolidated net income attributable to shareholders of Aareal Bank AG amounted to € 23 million (Q3 2020: € 0 million). Assuming the pro rata temporis accrual of net interest payments on the AT1 bond (€ 3 million), consolidated net income allocated to ordinary shareholders stood at € 20 million (Q3 2020: € -4 million).
Aareal Bank continues to enjoy a very solid capital base. As at 30 September 2021, the Bank"s Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio was 21.5 per cent, which is very comfortable even on an international level. The total capital ratio stood at 28.1 per cent. The CET1 ratio determined on the basis of the Basel Committee"s final framework - the so-called Basel IV ratio (phase-in), which is relevant for capital planning - was 17.8 per cent.
On 2 November 2021, Aareal Bank convened an Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on 9 December 2021, to allow Aareal Bank"s shareholders to vote on the second dividend tranche - proposed at € 1.10 per share - for the 2020 financial year, as announced in February 2021. However, discussions with potential investors Centerbridge and Advent, which Aareal Bank made public on 7 October, are still ongoing. In the event of an offer being announced, depending on the content of the offer, the dividend proposal to be submitted to the Extraordinary General Meeting might be reassessed.
Developments by business segment
New business in the Structured Property Financing segment remained at a high level. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, it almost doubled to € 2.8 billion (Q3 2020: € 1.5 billion). New business in the first nine months thus totalled € 6.1 billion, up more than 46 per cent on the previous year (9m 2020: € 4.2 billion). For the year as a whole, Aareal Bank still expects new business of € 7 billion to € 8 billion - from today"s perspective, it anticipates reaching the upper end of this range. Reflecting the high volume of new business, the portfolio volume rose to € 29.6 billion as at 30 September - an increase of 10.7 per cent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. The year-end target has therefore already been exceeded: the Bank now already looks to reach its 2022 target of around € 30 billion by the end of 2021. Aareal Bank continued to maintain its conservative lending policy with a good risk-return profile. At around 225 basis points, average gross margins on newly acquired business in the first nine months were at a very strong level, with comfortable average loan-to-value ratios (LTVs) of 57 per cent.
Aareal Bank continued to successfully pursue its ESG activities in the property financing business in the quarter under review. Under its Green Finance Framework, Aareal Bank concluded its first "green" financings, including a mortgage loan for the Australian Pro-invest Group and for Cerberus Capital Management and Highgate in the UK. Overall, the Bank has extended green financing in the amount of € 275 million since June 2021.
The Banking & Digital Solutions segment, which bundles the Bank"s equity-light business, generated net commission income of € 7 million (Q3 2020: € 6 million). Persistent demand for digital products such as Aareal Meter and Aareal Aval is increasingly contributing to the business segment"s positive development. In addition, the Aareal Exchange & Payment Platform was expanded to provide applications for the energy sector, and plusForta, the Group"s specialist for tenant deposit guarantees, launched "heysafe", a completely digital deposit guarantee solution.
Sales revenue at IT subsidiary Aareon rose to € 195 million in the first nine months of the current financial year, compared to € 188 million for the same period of the previous year. The momentum for digital products remained intact. The increase was due, on the one hand, to the initiatives taken within the framework of the Value Creation Programme (VCP), as well as to the acquisitions executed (Arthur, Twinq, Fixflo, Tilt, wohnungshelden, and GAP Group) on the other hand. Aareon"s most recent takeover of GAP Group, a major provider of ERP software for the housing industry in the German market, has brought the total year-to-date number of acquisitions to six. Despite the ongoing Covid-19 burdens, adjusted EBITDA of € 13 million was roughly in line with the previous year"s level in the third quarter and at € 42 million for the first nine months, slightly above the previous year"s level.
Outlook: Guidance for consolidated operating profit affirmed for the full year 2021
Aareal Bank Group continues to anticipate a "swoosh"-shaped economic trend. However, Covid-19 case numbers have recently risen again in many countries, thus increasing uncertainty regarding the further development of the pandemic during the current winter quarter. Based on these assumptions and current insights, Aareal Bank Group continues to expect a clearly positive consolidated operating profit in a range of between € 100 million and € 175 million for 2021 as a whole, whilst guidance for loss allowance remains unchanged.
Margarita Thiel
margarita.thiel@aareal-bank.com
Christian Feldbrügge
christian.feldbruegge@aareal-bank.com
About Aareal Bank Group:
Aareal Bank Group, headquartered in Wiesbaden, is a leading international property specialist. It provides smart financings, software products, and digital solutions for the property sector and related industries, and is present across three continents: Europe, North America and Asia/Pacific. Aareal Bank AG, whose shares are included in Deutsche Börse"s SDAX index, is the Group"s parent entity. It manages the various entities organised in the Group"s business segments: Structured Property Financing, Banking & Digital Solutions, and Aareon. The Structured Property Financing segment encompasses all of Aareal Bank Group"s property financing and funding activities. Here, the Bank supports its clients in making large-volume commercial property investments. The investment properties mostly comprise office buildings, hotels, shopping centres, logistics and residential property, as well as student apartments. In the Banking & Digital Solutions segment, Aareal Bank Group supports businesses from the housing, property management and energy industries as a digitalisation partner - combining extensive advisory services and product solutions with traditional corporate banking services and deposit-taking. Subsidiary Aareon, a leading provider of ERP software and digital solutions for the European property industry and its partners, forms the third business segment. Aareon is digitalising the property industry by offering user-oriented software solutions that simplify and automate processes, support sustainable and energy-efficient operations and interconnect all process participants.
Aareal Bank Group - Key Indicators
1 Jan - 30 Sep 2021
Operating profit (€ mn)
Consolidated net income (€ mn)
Consolidated net income allocated to ordinary shareholders (€ mn) 1)
Cost/income ratio (%) 2)
Earnings per ordinary share (€) 1)
RoE before taxes (%) 1) 3)
RoE after taxes (%) 1) 3)
Property finance (€ mn) 4)
Equity (€ mn)
Total assets (€ mn)
Regulatory Indicators 5)
Risk-weighted assets (€ mn)
Common Equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1 ratio) (%)
Tier 1 ratio (T1 ratio) (%)
Total capital ratio (TC ratio) (%)
- Basel IV (phase-in) - 6)
1) The allocation of earnings is based on the assumption that net interest payable on the AT1 bond is recognised on an accrual basis.
2) Structured Property Financing segment only; In line with common practice in the banking sector, bank levy and contributions to the deposit guarantee scheme are not included; the previous year"s figure was adjusted accordingly.
3) On an annualised basis
4) Excluding €0.3 billion in private client business (31 December 2020: € 0.3 billion) and € 0.3 billion in local authority lending business by the former Westdeutsche ImmobilienBank AG (WestImmo) (31 December 2020: € 0.3 billion)
5) 31 December 2020: less a proposed dividend payout of € 1.50 per share in 2021 and incorporating the pro-rata accrual of net interest payable on the AT1 bond. The 2021 dividend payment of € 1.50 for 2020 will have to be made in two steps. In compliance with the requirements published by the European Central Bank (ECB) on 15 December 2020, the distributable amount was calculated at € 0.40 per share. A proposal on the allocation of profits was approved at the ordinary Annual General Meeting in May 2021. On 2 November 2021, an Extraordinary General Meeting was convened for 9 December 2021, to decide on the intended remaining payout of € 1.10 per share, amending as planned the resolution of the Annual General Meeting of 18 May 2021 on the appropriation of profits.
30 September 2021: less the remaining proposed dividend distribution of € 1.10 per share in 2021 and inclusive of the interim profits for 2021 less any pro rata dividends in accordance with the dividend policy and pro rata accrual of the net interest on the AT1 bond.
The SREP recommendations concerning the NPL inventory and the ECB"s NPL guidelines for exposures newly classified as NPLs were taken into account. The CET1 ratio, as shown in the regulatory report as at 30 September 2021, was 20.6 %, reflecting the fact that as at that date Aareal Bank had not submitted an application for inclusion of profits to the ECB.
6) Underlying RWA estimate, incorporating the higher figure determined using the revised AIRBA or the revised CRSA (phased-in), based on the draft version dated 27 October 2021 of the European implementation of Basel IV by the European Commission. The conservative calculation of the material impact upon Aareal Bank is subject to the final EU implementation as well as the implementation of additional regulatory requirements, such as the EBA requirements.
Consolidated income statement for the first nine months of 2021
(in accordance with IFRSs)
€ mn
Loss allowance
Net fee and commission income
Net derecognition gain or loss
Net gain or loss from financial instruments (fvpl)
Net gain or loss from hedge accounting
Net gain or loss from investments accounted for using the equity method
Administrative expenses
Net other operating income/expenses
Consolidated net income
Consolidated net income attributable to non-controlling interests
Consolidated net income attributable to shareholders of Aareal Bank AG
Consolidated net income attributable to shareholders of Aareal Bank AG 1)
of which: allocated to ordinary shareholders
of which: allocated to AT1 investors
Earnings per AT1 unit (€) 3)
2) Earnings per ordinary share are determined by dividing the earnings allocated to ordinary shareholders of Aareal Bank AG by the weighted average of ordinary shares outstanding during the financial year (59,857,221 shares). Basic earnings per ordinary share correspond to (diluted) earnings per ordinary share.
3) Earnings per AT1 unit (based on 100,000,000 AT1 units with a notional amount of € 3 each) are determined by dividing the earnings attributable to AT1 investors by the weighted average of AT1 units outstanding during the financial year. Earnings per AT1 unit (basic) correspond to (diluted) earnings per AT1 unit.
Consolidated income statement for the third quarter of 2021
Segment results for the first nine months of 2021
Banking & Digital Solutions
Aareon
Consolidation / Reconciliation
Aareal Bank Group
1 Jan-
attributable to non-controlling interests
Allocated equity 1)
1) For management purposes, the allocated equity is calculated for all segments on the basis of capital requirements pursuant to Basel IV (phase-in). Reported equity on the statement of financial position differs from this. Aareon"s total equity as disclosed in the statement of financial position amounts to € 141 million.
Segment results for the third quarter of 2021
Aareal Bank AG
Paulinenstr. 15
+49 (0)611 348 - 0
+49 (0)611 348 - 2332
aareal@aareal-bank.com
www.aareal-bank.com
DE0005408116
Indices:
Regulated Market in Frankfurt (Prime Standard); Regulated Unofficial Market in Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Tradegate Exchange; Stockholm


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Did you know that the Egyptians referred to Aloe Vera as the plant of immortality? Now, that definitely sounds like something we want in our skin care routine. Contrary to popular belief, Aloe Vera can be used on your skin all year round, not just for those annoying burns during the summer time. Fun Fact: Aloe Vera is from the cactus family and its leaves provides a clear gel that can help to topically heal and soothe skin. This makes it a perfect and naturally-derived ingredient for sensitive skin.
When we are well rested and have spent time with ourselves, the serotonin (also known as happiness hormones) are activated and immediately improves your mood. Having some pamper time also means your physical looks are enhanced and / or polished. Feeling good from the inside to the out is so uplifting. When is your next pamper day scheduled?
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Outrageous police procedural series from the writer of Shameless, starring Joanna Scanlan, Elaine Cassidy and Alexandra Roach. Keeping these streets clean is a Herculean task, enough to demoralize even the keenest rookie – but there's a reason why this hotchpotch of committed cops are on this force, on this side of town. Drug labs, arsonists, neo-Nazis and notorious murderers are all in a day's work for this close-knit team, led by the dizzyingly capable but unquestionably unhinged DI Vivienne Deering. But when a particularly twisted serial killer emerges it leaves even the most hardened of these seasoned coppers reeling.


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Seaford Russell jr.
Environment • News
Three car collision near a gas pump
Police have launched an investigation into a three-vehicle collision at a George Town gas station on Wednesday (7 November) night.
According to police, the collision happened around 7:30 p.m. on Crewe Road near Agnes Way.
They said a white Dodge Dakota and Honda Accord collided near the entrance of Jose's gas station. The Dakota then collided into a BMW that was at the pump getting gas at the time.
"I was pumping on pump eight and then all of a sudden I heard a loud bang from the cars that crashed. So I secured the place and pushed for security," said Mr. Jhet Dalisay, pump attendant.
Police said those involved in the accident were treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries.
TagsTop Stories
Seaford Russell Jr. joined Cayman 27 in the spring of 2018. He started off as a part-time photographer but thanks to his hard-work, dedication and eye for photography, he was offered a full-time position as a reporter trainee. Seaford is committed to bringing the people of Cayman informative and balanced news about what's happening in the community.
Dog struck by school bus reportedly died within minutes
Illegal gambling arrests up 300% so far for 2018

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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est un thème artistique tiré du Livre de Judith, particulièrement représenté dans la peinture européenne du . Judith entre dans la tente d'Holopherne, un général assyrien sur le point de mener une offensive contre la ville de Béthulie. Il s'enivre au point de perdre connaissance ; Judith le décapite, et emporte sa tête dans un panier (la tête est souvent représentée dans un panier portée par une servante de Judith, plus âgée qu'elle).

Les peintres représentent généralement l'une des deux scènes suivantes : la décapitation d'Holopherne allongé sur son lit, ou Judith tenant la tête d'Holopherne, parfois aidée par sa servante. Un vitrail du  fait exception en représentant deux scènes : l'une, la plus grande, au centre, représente Judith et Holopherne assis pendant un banquet ; l'autre, plus petite, représente Judith et sa servante mettant la tête d'Holopherne dans un sac, le corps sans tête figurant à l'arrière-plan.

Œuvres médiévales

Œuvres de la Renaissance

Œuvres baroques

Œuvres caravagesques

Datation et attribution à l'étude

La datation et l'attribution de la « Judith de Toulouse », retrouvé dans les combles d'une habitation privée près de Toulouse, ne font pas consensus. Certains historiens d'art pensent que c'est une œuvre du Caravage dont la version à Naples serait une copie, d'autres y voient une œuvre de Finson.

Œuvres du Siècle d'or néerlandais

Œuvres du

Œuvres du

Œuvres du

Judith et Holopherne (en allemand : Judith und Holofernes) est une peinture de l'artiste autrichien Gustav Klimt, réalisée en 1901. Il s'agit d'une peinture à l'huile, rehaussée d'or plaqué.

En 1979, Léa Lublin réalise lors d'une exposition de la galerie Yvon Lambert Le milieu du tableau, un ensemble de quatre croquis accompagné d'un texte. Cette œuvre est une relecture de Judith décapitant Holopherne d'Artemisia Gentileschi.

Œuvres du

En 2008, le peintre canadien James Miller, à la suite des révélations sur le scandale d'Abou Ghraib, revisite la version du Caravage en plaçant George W. Bush dans la position d'Holopherne et en changeant l'apparence de Judith.

Voir aussi
 Pouvoir des femmes

Notes et références

Décapitation dans la peinture
Judith dans la peinture

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I remember sitting down with my mom as a 19 year old bride-to-be. I really knew nothing about weddings and I didn't know anything about planning or budgeting for them either. But my mom sat down with me to determine what the most important thing to invest in was….
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HomeBusinessGlobal Passions for Football and Biodiversity Harnessed for Life
Global Passions for Football and Biodiversity Harnessed for Life
January 28, 2010 Jim Crabtree Business Comments Off on Global Passions for Football and Biodiversity Harnessed for Life
NAIROBI, Kenya, January 7, 2010 (ENS) – The world of international championship football and the world of biodiversity conservation are coming together this year in a partnership announced Wednesday by the German sport lifestyle shoe and clothing company PUMA and the United Nations Environment Programme.
The Play for Life partnership will support the UN's 2010 International Year of Biodiversity by raising awareness about habitat and species conservation among football fans and the general public during worldwide football events. These include the Orange Cup of African Nations in Angola from January 10 to 31 and international friendly games leading up to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa from June 11.
This will be the first time that the FIFA World Cup tournament has been hosted by an African nation.
Joined by Cameroon's national football team, the Indomitable Lions with team captain Samuel Eto'o, at their press conference in Nairobi, PUMA unveiled their key fundraising lever, the new Africa Unity Kit – the world's first "continental football kit" designed to be worn by the 12 African football national teams that PUMA sponsors.
These include the World Cup qualified teams Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Algeria who are headed to the Africa Cup of Nations with hosts Angola and the national teams of Egypt, Mozambique, Togo and Tunisia, as well as non-qualified federations of Senegal, Morocco and Namibia.
The Africa Unity Kit has been approved by FIFA, which stands for Federation Internationale de Football Association, the international governing association of the sport of football, called soccer in the United States.
PUMA's profits from sales of the replica fanwear for the Unity Kits will help fund biodiversity programs in Africa, expecially for endangered species on the continent such as lions, elephants, gorillas and the desert fox.
"In 2010, Africa will be at the center of the footballing world," said PUMA Chairman and CEO Jochen Zeitz. "PUMA is creating a unique kit embracing the diversity of African Nations teams while valuing the unity of players and supporters towards a common goal."
"Biodiversity and therefore valuing and protecting all life on our planet is a huge issue, not only in Africa, but around the world, and we are proud to partner with UNEP to raise both awareness and funds through the sale of our Unity products," said Zeitz.
"As the whole planet comes together for the World Cup, 2010 marks the year when people around the world will unite to conserve the planet's almost priceless natural resource – its biodiversity," Angela Cropper, UNEP's deputy executive director, told reporters at the press conference.
"The planet's living organisms are the building blocks of the multi-trillion dollar services – from freshwater to agricultural nutrients – that underpin all life on Earth," she said. "Bringing together the public's global passion for football with its global passion for animals, plants and other life forms surely makes a match-winning team."
The UN's 2010 International Year of Biodiversity is a global initiative to help raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and to encourage worldwide action to conserve plants and animals and the environments in which they live.
The Play for Life campaign focuses on Africa, a continent that hosts two of the five most important wilderness areas on Earth – the Congo Basin, and the Miombo-Mopane Woodlands and Savannas of Southern Africa.
Nine of the planet's 35 biodiversity hotspots, the richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth, are also in Africa.
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity warns that human activities are creating the greatest extinction crisis since the natural disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
Species have been disappearing at up to 1,000 times the natural rate, and this is predicted to rise. Based on current trends, an estimated 34,000 plant and 5,200 animal species, including one in eight of the world's bird species, face extinction.
Indomitable Lions captain Eto'o, flanked by fellow squad members at the unveiling in Nairobi, said, "The new Africa Unity Kit has inspired me and my teammates. Not only are we very proud to wear a shirt that helps bring the continent of Africa together but to do so for such an important cause is truly an honor."
"Supporting the Africa Unity Kit sends out a positive message for Africa – we are uniting as a continent to help life and the planet," said Eto'o.
PUMA has other gear designed to generate additional funds to support biodiversity, including PUMA Unity t-shirts and PUMA Lacelets, collectable shoe laces featuring patterns by artist Kehinde Wiley.
Zeitz says these products all bear the PUMA Yellow "life" Label, which gives consumers an easy way to identify products that benefit projects supported by PUMAVision, PUMA's Corporate Social Responsibility Program.
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'High Country Bandits' busted?
Joel Jay Glore and Ronald Michael Capito were taken into custody Thursday after a week of surveillance.
Originally Published: March 11, 2010 10:49 p.m.
HOLBROOK - Authorities say two Linden men have been arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies of banks and credit unions in four states. FBI officials say Joel Jay Glore and Ronald Michael Capito were taken into custody Thursday after a week of surveillance.
The men, both in their early 50s, are suspected of being the so-called "High Country Bandits" who robbed up to 16 banks and credit unions in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah since September. The Arizona robberies were in Prescott Valley, Flagstaff, Heber, Pinetop and Payson.
Authorities say Glore was arrested at a Show Low hospital where he was being treated for a ruptured appendix while Capito was arrested at his Linden home.
FBI agents executed search warrants at the men's homes. Authorities would not disclose details on how Glore and Capito were identified as suspects or how much money was taken in the robberies.
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India's Power Reform - New UDAY on the Horizon?
It has been a while since the Power Minister of Government of India, Mr Piyush Goyal, announced the Ujjwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY). The purpose of the programme is to permanently resolve the crisis of indebted state owned power distribution companies (utilities) in India. The crisis is pretty severe - despite a 2012-13 financial restructuring package, the total outstanding debt on the distribution utilities is over INR 4 lakh crore. Most of the debt is ironically concentrated in just eight states, including notable names such as Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana being among these ignonimous leaders. UDAY tries to target the past legacies of debt by repackaging it as state debt instead of discom debt. This debt, upto 75% of which shall be taken over by the state, shall be repackaged as state bonds and shall be sold with first right to banks and pension funds. While the standard loan interest rate has been at around 14%, the bonds shall be giv
Are the Chennai Floods A Signal of Changing Climate?
An ariel view of a submerged Chennai (courtesy: NDTV) The recent washout that Chennai is nothing short of a catastrophe. It happens on a regular basis in other parts of India; however a Mumbai or Chennai does manage to get our attention in ways we cannot fathom. The severity of the low pressure system has ensured that rain stopped only yesterday, giving the city, the administration and the agencies involved in disaster relief a moment to gasp and bring some semblance of normalcy to people's lives. Of course, the real disaster danger lies once the rain stops and the water begins to subside, as the threat of epidemic manifolds itself in the city. Mind you, so far we have only heard of Chennai - many other cities in Tamil Nadu are faring much worse. Kanchipuram has been completely submerged, and other affected towns are still off-limits to many. While the rescue and relief operations are going on and the Chennaiites must be commended for rallying together in this time of crisi
Key Takeaways from Bihar's Elections 2015
In Alliance We Won _ Nitish Hugging Laloo (Courtesy: The Hindu) The verdict is out , and the combine of Laloo Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and the All India Congress Committee of Rahul Gandhi hanging by the coattails of the other two has swept across Bihar. There are several interesting observations that need to be made in order to understand the trend that was with their alliance against a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition in what was perceived to be a tight race. It is very interesting to note that democracy, equality and liberty are nebulous terms, and their vagueness can be seen in the oddity of the alliances and the outcome of the results. As Erik Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn points out in his book Liberty or Equality , the premise of what constitutes the sense of freedom and the freedom to choose are not necessarily concomitant, and the ideas are certainly at variance as exhibited in the result. That democracy can be
Sri Lanka: The New Country - A Fine Example of Good Reportage
In March earlier this year I had gone to Colombo in Sri Lanka for work. Coincidentally, it followed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successful visit to the country that had elected a new President, Maithripala Sirisena a few weeks earlier. While I drove around in taxis and visited offices, courteous Sri Lankans, of Sinhalese and Malay descent, kept talking to me in pidgin English about how they find our new PM fascinating, and how Indians generally are seen as good friendly neighbors but for the destructive Sri Lankan Tamil politics practiced by Tamil Nadu politicians. I was witness to a post-engagement lunch in the restaurant where I ate of a Tamil couple, being served with prompt attention by the mostly Sinhala staff. Much of it then made me wonder whether much of the reportage as I saw for Sri Lanka and its problems in the post-LTTE phase deserved attention. In this context, I decided to pick up a book written by Padma Rao Sundarji, an old Indian hand of South Asian
Arun Shourie's Criticism - How Valid Is It?
Diagnosing the Problem - Arun Shourie (Courtesy The Hans India) Since yesterday evening there are words and acrimonious exchanges flying thick and fast within and without the right wing sphere. Much brouhaha has to do with Arun Shourie's 'criticism' of the Narendra Modi led government , and many Adarsh Liberal Presstitutes have been trying to give a spin to what he said (and did not say) to imply that there was nothing but bluster for Modi. Irony could die a thousand deaths because the very same bunch of people derided him for attacking holy cows of secularism in the past; such hypocrisy is indeed hard to miss. However, there are several layers of subtext that most people have conveniently ignored, especially if one has been following Arun Shourie's assessments over the past year. Arun Shourie has criticized the government on economic reforms repeatedly. His repeated diagnosis has been that not enough is being done to free the economy. Now it is no secret that th
The Adarsh Liberal Nautanki - Nothing Akademic About It
The Nautanki of Nayantara Sahgal - Much Ado About Nothing (Courtesy - The Hindu) Of late, we have been seeing writers across the board returning their Sahitya Akademi award for great creations. It all started with the niece of the hallowed Jawaharlal Nehru, Nayantara Sehgal, followed by people like Ashok Vajpayi, Uday Prakash and many other people, including the likes of Surjit Patar joining the list, totaling to a grand number of twenty one. "Freedom of speech being throttled", "no space for free speech", "vitiated communal atmosphere" are phrases that are being bandied about as reasons for the protest. A cursory examination however demolishes many of the facts that are being loosely thrown around recklessly to vitiate the atmosphere. Most of the writers have just announced returning of awards. A news report by the Indian Express has specifically noted how many of these 'eminent' writers have been more than eager to announce in the media
नव युग के नव प्रभात में नव पंकज तुमको है खिलना रंग प्रकाश सुगंध भाव संग क्षण भर भी विक्षन्न न होना स्मरण करो उन बलिदानों को शूल छिन्न उन अपमानों को मत भूलो इतिहास की वेला क्या कुछ नहीं है तुमने झेला चक्र चला है आज अनोखा समय द्वार पर पालक देखा सत्य बधिर, मूक कण्ठ धारे चहुँ ओर माया का फेरा शब्द असत्य, चित्र असत्य कण कण में है घोर असत्य अंतःकरण को कर भ्रमित है मिथ्या की पाशों ने जकड़ा अवसर आज, अस्त्र भी साथ कर में थाम तू कर प्रहार मिथ्या के पाशों को काट कर स्वतंत्र तू सत्य को आज हुई पराजय बीते कल में छीनो उससे विजय को आज करके पलटवार पुनः तुम सत्य का दामन थामो आज देखना तुम, इस बलिदान से विजय पताका संग के साथ नित्य संघर्षरत रहो तुम अवसर मिलेगा फिर न आज नव युग के नव प्रभात में नव पंकज तुमको है खिलना रंग प्रकाश सुगंध भाव संग क्षण भर भी विक्षन्न न होना
Indian Media's Unprofessionalism Has Reached New Heights
Isn't it surprising that we have people shouting themselves hoarse on absolute non-issues in India just to ensure a slant in the coverage of India? Well it should not surprise anyone. However the examples are just so many that one can lose track of the shoddiness (perhaps deliberate) in presenting half-researched stories as an 'alarming Hindutva fringe attack on India'. Sample these: 1. A girl in Mumbai who works in a media house shouted herself hoarse claiming she was denied a house because she is Muslim. The media went overboard and pointed how intolerance is rising within India? We had editorials and discussions by the hallowed likes of Barkha Dutt and Rajdeep Sardesai extolling secular values. However, research done by Mid-Day, a Mumbai based paper showed that the real matter was something else. Apparently, the girl had already lived in the same apartment for over two years and was having problems with the broker of the apartment. In fact, there were Muslim families c
Repo Rate Cut - What Does It Mean for India?
"My name is Raghuram Rajan and I do what I do" - Rajan in a decisive mode (Courtesy NDTV) Raghuram Rajan, the hallowed Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), caught everyone by surprise today by announcing a 50 basis points (bps) cut in the repo rate , which is down to 6.75%. While the corporate world can sing hosannas about capital now being available and bankers can go gaga in turn while slashing their own rates, there are a couple of points that can get overlooked in this hyperbole, and need to be seen at carefully. The RBI has clearly noted that the availability of capital can be a potential problem in pushing for economic growth, due to which the forecast was redefined. It is particularly telling that the cut has come at the time of the initiation of disbursal of loans to small and medium enterprises under the MUDRA scheme. The cut complements the initiative of the government and its funded banks very well. This also shows that the RBI governor, unnecess
The Overkill of Bihar Elections by Mainstream Media
I am going to stick my neck out and say that the Bihar elections are being oversold by the media as a mandate on one government or the other. There are several reasons to it, and we shall examine them in some depth as follows. 1. Bihar has a footprint on national politics Not anymore. With the creation of Jharkhand, the number of seats in the Lok Sabha from the state of Bihar came down from fifty six to forty. That makes West Bengal and Maharashtra more important (forty two and forty four respectively) in the national political scenario. Even in terms of Rajya Sabha, Bihar is no different from these states, and even if the state assembly elections are lost by the Bharatiya Janata Party in this state, they can make up for the Rajya Sabha numbers through smaller states that they seem set to sweep (Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir and Uttarakhand) within a short span of time. 2. Bihar will decide Narendra Modi's fate Bihar already decided his fate in 2014. It does not
Land Acquisition Amendment Withdrawal - Hasty Retreat or Canny Politics?
Hum Saath Saath Hain - NDA Chief Ministers Talking to Narendra Modi at a NITI Aayog Meet (Source: Indian Express) In the din of the last three weeks in Parliament, the amendment to the Land Acquisition Act (2013) was shelved without much notice. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his meeting at NITI Aayog with the respective state Chief Ministers clearly stated that states will have to take the lead on this matter, since the issue cannot be resolved at the federal level very easily. The numbers in the Rajya Sabha would never allow the passage of such a bill; also, constituents of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expressed their reservations on the bill repeatedly. Contentious clauses such as the ones on Social Impact Assessment and minimum compensation amounts were hot potatoes that most political parties think were too problematic to their electoral prospects.While it is a pity that electability has become an excuse for not taking decisions on 'se
Can We End This Mexican Stand-Off in Parliament Please?
Last Man Standing - Sonia Gandhi Protesting Outside Parliament During this Monsoon Session In Parliamentary democracy, it is not that we do not see stand-offs. Taiwan and South Korea's National Assemblies are notoriously famous for the brawls that the elected representatives regularly indulge in. Turkey, Ukraine, Bulgaria are quite famous for their punch-ups, and Jordan has the unique reputation of a member of parliament firing an AK-47 in the building. Kicks, slaps, moshes (oh yes, they look no different), blockades - you name it, they do it. Despite this confrontational approach of the opposition benches, irrespective of who occupies them, business eventually does get done. Vibrancy of the democratic set up gets displayed in a rather perverse manner however; brazenness is considered to be an undesirable trait by everyone, and efforts are never stopped to reconcile the various parties. The effort never stops - not only because there is no intransigence on the part
Nitish Kumar - Thy Name is Blind Arrogance
The Original Ghar Wapasi of Nitish Kumar (Courtesy BBC News Hindi) In the Mahabharata, Kurukshetra Parva brings to highlight the aggrieved arrogance of Dhritrashtra. He let the war happen not because he wanted his son to be king; rather, it was his love of power and his perceived right to be king that was the dharmaprasna that needed resolution. Blindness was not just physical in his case. One must also realize that Dhritrashtra's blindness was not just physical but symbolic too - he became blind to the decay of Hastinapura by becoming oblivious to the affairs of the state and instead indulging in holding on to power at any cost. The reason why I draw the analogy of the Mahabharata is because of recent happenings in Bihar. In a spur of the moment, Laloo Prasad Yadav, that great scion of politics, compared Narendra Modi to Kamsa , a character overlapping between the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagvatam. In the midst of it all, Nitish Kumar started playing his own mindgames wit
फ़सल
बोलो, किसने करी आज पंजाब की ये फ़सल ख़राब? मिलता नहीं आज मुझे कहीं से भी कोई जवाब डाल किसने कालिख़ आज ये मिट्टी करी यूं अज़ाब किसने ज़हर के धुएं से आज धुंधलाया पूरा दोआब? ये कैसी खाद लगा गए है लहलहाते खेतों में के रोती रहीं है अगलों की मौत पे सैंकड़ों माएँ आज ये कैसी सांसें ले रही है आज की गुमशुदा पीढ़ी सरसों ने भी खिलखिलाने से किया आज यहाँ है इनकार? ये दरिया में आज घोला किसने है ऐसा जानलेवा सा अज़ाब के सुबह सवेरे आज लेता हर कोई घूँट अंग्रेजी शराब? पनीर दूध दही मक्खन की रोटियाँ हुईं कहीं ग़ुम बस चाहिए आज तीनों वक़्त वो मीठे ज़हर की एक ख़ुराक बाजरे की इन सिट्टों को आज कर गया है कौन राख़? ये काँटों की सेज कैसे बिन जाने बिछ गयी आज? किसकी बुरी नज़र लग गयी पंजाब को सूख के मिट्टी हो गए उम्मीदें बेहिसाब बोलो, किसने करी आज पंजाब की ये फ़सल ख़राब? मिलता नहीं आज मुझे कहीं से भी कोई जवाब
The Facetiousness of Arvind Kejriwal
I am Big Brother - Arvind Kejriwal in an Accusatory Moment at the Auto Rally in Delhi (courtesy Financial Express) For all those people who do not quite grasp logic on the subject of Arvind Kejriwal, please close this webpage right now. This is not meant for you, as stinging arrows of criticism are something that thin hides cannot protect. Or you may wish to continue, provided you are no different from a pangolin. The last ten days have been spent in an unnecessary wrangle, where the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi have shifted from purging people from the Party to finding newer more exciting ways to stay relevant in the media. A ten day temporary posting has been selected for the battleground, and swords have been drawn against constitutional bodies, using such aide-de-camps as five star legal activists to prove that Mr Arvind Kejriwal is being prevented from ushering in utopia into Delhi. Of course, the truth is far removed from what Mr Kejriwal and his men
Sheher - Ek Nazar
कभी जागते, तो कभी सोते देखा है इस शहर को हमने ग़ुम होते देखा है ईमारतों के पीछे छुपे हुए वो बाग़ हवेलियों महलों के टूटते हुए टाट अजी दो मंज़िले को ग्यारह मंज़िले से उलझते देखा है इस शहर को हमने ग़ुम होते देखा है मोटर और टांगों की खीँचातान भी है शोर-ओ-ग़ुल में सुकूँ भी कहीं है नवाबी शौकियों को भी ख़ार खाते देखा है इस शहर को हमने ग़ुम होते देखा है सच का जामा ओढ़े झूठ को बेपरवाह गश्त लगाते देखा है तहज़ीब के दायरों में लिपटी जिस्म की नीलामी को देखा है रात के सन्नाटों को दिन में हमने ग़ुम होते हुए देखा है चाँद की चौदहवीं को कुछ यूं अमावस से गले मिलते देखा है बस, चंद लम्हात में हमने कई ज़िन्दगियाँ गुज़रते देखा है अजी सभी कुछ यहां होते हुए देखा है इस शहर को हमने ग़ुम होते देखा है
कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था
कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था कुछ ख़्वाबों से भरके झोली गोया ज़मीन पे उतर आया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था यहीं राह पर उस मुसाफ़िर को हमने गश्त लगाते देखा था जाने किस कूचे की फ़िराक़ में यूँ रात की गहराई में वो अचानक चला आया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था चंद तारों को काली बुक्कल में उसने नगीनों से जड़ रखे थे उस बुक्कल की टाट खड़ी कर झोली खोल उसने अपनी ख़्वाबों का बाज़ार लगाया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था कुछ निराश, कुछ हताश और कुछ सुस्तायी आँखें उससे नींद उधार ले गये थे कुछ यादों ने भी उसी टाट में अपना ठिकाना बनाया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था लम्हों की गुज़ारिश थी की कुछ देर और कारोबार चले पर चाँद ख़ामोश इतराया था और बिन कोई निशां छोड़ सेहेर की अंजान राह पे उसे हमने ग़ुम होता पाया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था कुछ ख़्वाबों से भरके झोली गोया ज़मीन पे उतर आया था कल रात यहाँ चाँद आया था
The Whole Language Debate is Redundant
I have been reading for ages about how English is killing off other languages in India, and how Hindi hegemony is being used to bully non-Hindi speakers. To me, these myths have no standing in today's India. Let me illustrate my own experiences to explain how. I essentially belong to a family that has Pahari culture. Our ancestors hail from a region called Kangra. However, Kangra has for the longest time been a part of Punjab, and so both our local Pahari dialects and Punjabi have a lot of cultural and linguistic affinity. Since the Pahari culture extends all the way up to Jammu and Bhaderwah, we can even communicate, and have familial links all the way, with Dogri and Bhaderwahi people. My father speaks Punjabi with his Dogri cousins, who respond in Dogri, and laugh at the same jokes and cry over the same sad stories. I grew up studying with English being the medium of instruction for all my schooling and English is what I say my first language of thought. I had been a long s
आज सिंह गुर्राया है
आज सिंह गुर्राया है वन में गर्जन छाया है छुपे श्वान सब अपने बिल में एक नवयुग उदय कराया है कर प्रहार, हुए अनेक वार चोटिल हुआ है बारम्बार पर अवसरवाद कर तुमने केसरी को ललकारा है आज सिंह जो दहाड़ा है वन में गर्जन छाया है करो प्रत्यक्ष पर पर्दा किन्तु दर्पण आज दिख आया है क्षीण भाव का परिचय बनकर अपना स्तर तुमने गिराया है फेर पंजा वनराज ने किन्तु क्षद्मों को धूल चटाया है आज सिंह गुर्राया है वन में गर्जन छाया है छुपे श्वान सब अपने बिल में एक नवयुग उदय कराया है
मृत्यु तू आरम्भ है
मृत्यु तू आरम्भ है एक अनभिज्ञ आभास का अभय हो अब आलिंगन कर करें त्याग हम श्वास का जो ज्ञात न हो हमें क्यों व्यर्थ चिंतन उसपर करें अंतिम क्षण तो पूर्वविधित है हर मनुष्य के प्राण का भ्रांतियाँ घेरें अनेक हैं इस जीवन के दर्पण पर मात्र एक सत्य कर स्वीकार करें आह्वान धर्मराज का मृत्यु तू आरम्भ है एक अनभिज्ञ आभास का अभय हो अब आलिंगन कर करें त्याग हम श्वास का
वीर-रस
चलें हैं फिर आज हम तो पुनः सत्य के शूलों पे उतरें हैं फिर आज हम तो पुनः अग्नि के कुंडों में अवगत थे न हम कभी जीवन की किसी सरलता से मरुस्थल में पुष्प को खिलाना वीरों से सीखा है हमने
प्रेरनागान
वीर निराश तू कभी न होना युद्ध से विचलित कभी न होना अवगत हो अपने साहस से अंतिम समय बंधे ढांढस से अन्त निकट अभी नहीं तुम्हारा उगा सूरज, हुआ उजियारा जलती चिता में बुझते प्राण काल आहुति मांगे बलिदान किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ न होना हँसमुख होकर आगे बढ़ना जीवन नाव कर तटस्थ तुम पृथ्वी पे फूलों सा सजना घाव अनेक, पर मृत्यु एक स्मरण रहे यह क्षण प्रत्येक वीरों को शोभा नहीं देता रणभूमि की वेला छोड़ना रथ सवार कर धर्मराज का अंतिम चरण में भागी होना वीर निराश तू कभी न होना युद्ध से विचलित कभी न होना
नव इतिहास को फिर दोहराएं
थका तन, निराश मन अश्रु और लहु के कण अनगिनत बार हमने बहाये यत्नाग्नि में हारे जाएँ स्वप्न असंख्य टूटे हर बारी चिता बुझी छोड़ चिंगारी रात्रि के अँधेरे घेरें करें श्वान मृत्यु के फेरे पथ प्रतिष्ठित मगर हैं त्यागे पग पग कर बढ़ते हम आगे आशा के सूरज की ओर एक पग हम अब और बढ़ाएं भय को अट्टाहास मान हम व्यर्थ की चिंता दूर भगाएं सिंह की भाँति जीवन को अपना उपवन हम पुनः बनाएं विजय पराजय संज्ञान करके नव इतिहास को फिर दोहराएं
Delhi Elections and the Silly 'Power Games'
Among utter mudslinging, maligning and language spins, elections to the legislative assembly of the state of Delhi are going to happen on February 7, 2015. It is impossible to believe that to elect members of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (which includes the Chief Minister) we are seeing right now competitive populism at its worst taking place, with no estimates of money being given from anyone. One key area that we need to examine is the electricty scenario of Delhi, whereby everyone wants to power their autorickshaws to the chair of Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had ridden the first bid at power on the protest of power tariffs in Delhi. Fact is that the power scenario of Delhi is a mess to begin with, encouraged by the political opportunism of hooligans of the likes of AAP who believe that freeloading is the way to go. Seeing this, both the Indian National Congress (INC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also been m
The Iranian Blind Spot of Intellectuals
The death of the Saudi King Abdullah has generated a lot of debate heat across the world. In love, as in death, the Kings have always been a point of much debate for a large number of those vying to be called intellectuals who decry Saudi Arabia's human rights violations. We are being three days enlightened over Rauf Badawi's shocking sentence, whereby a ten year prison term is to be supplemented with fifty lashes per week every Friday after evening prayers in public. Stories of daughters being imprisoned or of terrorists being funded in some way or the other keep surfacing. Much ridicule is hurled at the kingdom for its medieval thinking about women rights and the rights of modern day slaves. The problem with much of this much justified criticism is just one. What is sauce for the goose is just not sauce enough for the gander in the eyes of liberal intellectualism. 'Intellectuals' often talk glowingly about Iran's defiance of the West, particularly the ho
Ten Lesser Known Places to Visit in Delhi This Winter
It is that time of the year again when the pullovers, shawls and trendy jackets come out in full flair, as people flaunt their stuff across the national capital of Delhi. People love to sit out and bask in the sun, and weekends can see popular destinations dotted by people across the city, like India Gate, Qutb Minar, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Akshardham and Humayun's tomb among other perennial shopping destinations like Chandni Chowk. But step aside from these popular jaunts, there are innumerable sites that few know about, and tend to be free of the crowds that throng the otherwise popular places. Chunnamal Haveli, Chandni Chowk Being the only preserved haveli or old bungalow in Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi, it belonged to Lala Chunnamal, a Khatri businessman who went on to become the richest man in Delhi and whose wealth was envied even by the likes of Mirza Ghalib. Do check it out for its beautiful architecture and lavish interiors, that take you back in time, thanks to the desc
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The Pharmacy sector is faced with a both opportunities and challenges in the future but community pharmacists can still thrive in Ireland. With over 1,800 community pharmacies in Ireland the sector plays a vital role in society, delivering much needed services to communities around the country.
In the report we hear from Jason Bradshaw, Corporate Finance Partner in JPA Brenson Lawlor discussing the current outlook for Irish pharmacies. The report highlights the evolution of the sector after the impact of reference pricing and cuts and the increase in buying and symbol groups in the sector.


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text:
NewsLabor
Union Leaders, Port Truck Drivers Protest XPO Labor Practices at Shareholder Meeting
May 11, 2016 by Clarissa Hawes
XPO truck drivers and members of the Teamsters union rallied outside a shareholders' meeting for XPO Logistics in Greenwich, Conn (Photo: Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media)
Union leaders and port truck drivers staged a protest at the annual shareholders meeting of XPO Logistics Inc. Wednesday, alleging that the carrier engages in unfair business practices at ports in the U.S. and Europe.
The protest won a meeting with Bradley Jacobs, XPO founder and chief executive, and the company's board of directors, for a small delegation of XPO drivers, Teamsters' leaders and union representatives from Europe. They were in Greenwich, Conn., for the carrier's shareholder meeting.
The group claims XPO failed to keep its promise not to lay off former Con-way Freight drivers after purchasing the less-than-truckload carrier for $3 billion in September 2015. Labor leaders in Europe said the company also broke its promise not to lay off employees for at least 18 months after purchasing Norbert Dentressangle S.A. for $3.5 billion a few months earlier.
Both purchases are part of Jacob's strategy to consolidate other carriers into XPO.
XPO disputed the group's claims, stating it was "obviously a publicity stunt by the Teamsters."
"We have excellent relationships with our employees and the owner operators who serve our customers," XPO said in a statement. "Our drivers and the owner operators we do business with are aware that we pay them more than their union counterparts in other companies. The Teamsters will have to look elsewhere for a way to solve their declining membership problem."
Union leaders came away from the meeting disappointed.
Jacobs and board members declined to answer questions about the company's business practices regarding the misclassification of drivers, said Fred Potter, international vice president and director of the Teamsters' Port Division.
Union leaders also failed to get an answer on whether XPO plans take advantage of an amnesty program that is being offered to trucking companies working at ports in California that misclassify employees as independent contractors.
"We asked the company if they were going to take advantage of the amnesty program and Bradley Jacobs did not want to answer the question," Potter told Trucks.com. "We were told it's a legal issue and they couldn't discuss pending legal matters with us."
Potter said XPO independent contractors make an average of $28,000 before taxes, after rent, fuel, insurance and all repair costs are deducted from their paychecks.
The trucking industry's classification of drivers as independent contractors has become a contentious issue, especially in California, which has the largest ports nationally. Since 2011, truckers have filed 799 wage claims due to employee misclassification, the California Labor Commissioner's Office said. More than $35 million has been awarded to drivers in 302 cases.
Drivers from XPO, Pacific 9 Transportation and Intermodal Bridge Transport went on strike in Southern California last year to protest the issue.
The amnesty program would allow California companies to pay back wages to misclassified drivers and change their work status from independent contractor to employee drivers. In exchange, the companies would be relieved of any liability that may result in fines and other penalties.
While the Teamsters were protesting XPO labor practices, analysts were praising the company's operations.
Stifel Transportation & Logistics Research Group has a buy rating on the carrier and a $40 per share price target. The stock closed at $27.78 Tuesday.
The management team is competently executing its corporate strategy of acquiring other carriers, Stifel analyst John Larkin said in a report to investors Tuesday.
"The company has been able to diagnose and remedy problems embedded at the former Pacer and at the former Con-way LTL remarkably quickly," Larkin wrote.
XPO has avoided the missteps "one might expect" from a series of rapid acquisitions. Larkin said he "has never seen an integration take place so rapidly and with such fluidity."
"Cross selling opportunities abound and are being vigorously explored and developed," Larkin said. "Best practices are being shared across the operating units. Systems are being rapidly updated and integrated."
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Clarissa Hawes
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Emma Hurt
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Michelle Rafter
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Truck Driver Annual Wages Jump 5.7% Since 2016


text:
struct devdata {
	char name[32];
	int numofpids;
	unsigned char pid[16];
};

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Finally, in the midst of commonplaces which, to his apprehension, were verging upon flatness, a bold inspiration disclosed itself-as splendid as the dent du midi revealing its glaciers above the mounting sunrise-in his brain.
She began to tremble, and an unreasoning fear of the depth of the darkness to take hold of her.
We feel this distinctly in the treatment of dante, whose genius seems to have exerted at least as strong an influence over signorelli's imagination as over that of michelangelo.


text:
Indigenous Communities and Pandemics, Past and Present
Posted By : Sabrina Fields/
From the time Europeans arrived in the Western Hemisphere in the late 15th century to the present COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous people have been highly impacted—in many cases disproportionately—by infectious diseases. Experiences with disease outbreaks are part of the oral histories of Indigenous communities across Canada and the United States, and these experiences are passed down through generations, shaping the ways communities respond to disease outbreaks in the present. An overview of the past and a survey of the present show that while this knowledge is being deployed by Indigenous leadership as they manage the COVID-19 crisis, these leaders are not adequately supported by the federal and local governments as gaps in government COVID-19 response coincide with long-existing problems that have rendered Indigenous populations especially vulnerable to disease.
A Long, Dark History
As has been widely documented, the arrival of Europeans in the Americas brought a number of diseases to which Indigenous peoples had never been exposed, such as smallpox, measles, and yellow fever. Because they did not have the antibodies necessary to prevent infection, Indigenous people were subject to extensive depopulation throughout the hemisphere as communities came into contact with European ships and explorers.
The spread of disease throughout what is currently Canada is documented in the oral histories of Indigenous communities that experienced it, as well as in the journals and correspondence of explorers and fur traders. In the 16th century, Jacques Cartier observed the drastic impact of smallpox on Indigenous populations in the St. Lawrence River watershed, including the depopulation of the once-thriving Iroquois village of Stadacona (present-day Quebec City). As the fur trade spread west across the continent, so did disease, and by the end of the 18th century, George Vancouver was documenting deserted villages up and down the Northwest Coast.
In some cases, Indigenous people were subject to intentional genocide by European settlers, who either intentionally infected Indigenous people with diseases known to kill them, or took advantage of the ravages of disease to force Indigenous leaders to bend to the will of colonial armies. The most well-known incident of intentional infection occurred in 1763 during Pontiac's War, an uprising against the British by a confederation of Indigenous groups from the Great Lakes region. Colonial correspondence from this time shows British military leaders discussing the introduction of smallpox to their Indigenous adversaries via infected blankets, an act later carried out by a trader at Fort Pitt (present-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania).
After the establishment of the United States in 1776, politicians like Andrew Jackson were eager to push Indigenous people out of the eastern US to make way for settlers, even as these populations had already been drastically reduced by previous centuries of disease and warfare. When Jackson became president, he signed the 1830 Indian Removal Act to pave the way for the Trail of Tears, a multi-decade forced removal of the Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Nations from their ancestral territories in the southeastern US to "Indian Territory" west of the Mississippi River. These forced removals were known as "death marches" due to the arduous journey that killed many through the spread of infectious disease in addition to malnutrition and exposure to the elements.
On the Northwest Coast, the 1862 smallpox epidemic was devastating, killing approximately half of the Indigenous people living along the coast between southern Puget Sound and southeastern Alaska. The epidemic began in March 1862, when a steamship carried smallpox from San Francisco to Fort Victoria, British Columbia (present-day Victoria), a bustling fur trade hub. While many settlers were immune, the Indigenous people staying at a nearby encampment were not, and when those who did not die of smallpox returned to their communities, the disease went with them. According to Robert Boyd, a leading scholar on the matter, "this [Indian] epidemic might have been avoided, and the Whites knew it."
The disproportionate effects of disease on Indigenous people continued to be a factor well into the 20th century, with Indigenous communities being hit hard by the 1918 influenza pandemic. At the time, it was believed that isolated communities would be safe from the pandemic, but naval ships travelling to Alaska brought passengers and crew members who asymptomatically carried the virus. Some of these crew members delivered mail to remote areas of Western Alaska, like the Inupiat village of Wales, the population of which was then decimated. The 1918 pandemic hit Alaska the hardest in all of the US, with an estimated 2000-3000 people dead and 8 percent of the total Alaskan Indigenous population killed. Subsequent flu pandemics in 1957 and 2009 raised similar fears for Indigenous communities and produced similar effects.
Memories of the Past, Carried into the Present
Today, in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous people continue to be disproportionately affected. Competition for funding, delayed funding, and expedited timelines to spend funding once it is received have made it difficult for communities to respond to the situation as it unfolds on their reserves. Combined with existing factors like lack of clean, running water and protective equipment and limited access to health services, the pandemic has been devastating. The Navajo Nation in the southwestern US has been held up by the media as an example of how badly things can go wrong—in May, the Nation passed New York City for the highest per-capita rate of COVID-19 in the US.
Underlying the current situation with Indigenous communities and pandemic response is a long history of issues with government funding for Indigenous health care, where Indigenous patients are often delayed or denied care due to jurisdictional discrepancies over which government (provincial or federal, in Canada) is responsible for covering costs. As detailed in a special brief by the Yellowhead Institute on COVID-19 and the Numbered Treaties in Canada, the current situation sheds light on the differing interpretations of treaty language around health care and the resulting implications for communities during the pandemic.
Even in places where COVID-19 has been contained, it has been a struggle for Indigenous leadership to assert their rights to control who can and cannot enter their territories. As lockdown restrictions have lifted (or as people have grown tired of staying at home), tourists are attempting to flock to Indigenous territories for their vacations in spite of the wishes of these communities to stay closed. In the US, this is happening in places like Glacier National Park in the territory of the Blackfeet Nation, which has chosen to stay in lockdown to protect members and is now dealing with Park tourists putting their community at risk. In Canada, First Nations on the coast of BC have clearly stated since the beginning of the pandemic that they are closed to outsiders, but non-Indigenous tourist operations have been ignoring these wishes and trying to open for business, leading to situations like the Haida Hereditary Chiefs deeming the Queen Charlotte Lodge sportfishing operation no longer welcome in Duu Guusd, the North Coast and the waters of Haida Gwaii.
During Times of Crisis, We Need to Listen to Communities
Both the history of pandemics and the present situation across Canada and the US show that the broader approaches taken by federal and provincial/state governments are not working for Indigenous communities. Many long-existing problems with health care access, funding, and reliable infrastructure for things like clean water—which Indigenous people have been asking for decades to be remedied—have exacerbated an already dire situation. Indigenous leaders are attempting to protect their people by instating checkpoints and deeming their territories closed to outsiders, but the public frequently ignores their authority. While there is no easy fix to any of these issues, it is clear that the place to begin is listening to Indigenous communities about what they need and how they want to manage their territories, whether during a time of crisis or not.
Environmental impact assessments and Indigenous rights should not be sacrificed for the sake of rapid post COVID-19 economic recovery.
As provincial and territorial governments across Canada continue to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis, businesses and individuals are looking for rapid economic recovery. Major projects – i.e. large, capital-intensive projects such as mines, hydro-electricity and pipelines – are central to the Canadian economy and form a key component of economic revitalization. These projects take place on Indigenous land and must only be developed with Indigenous Nations' free, prior and informed consent. However, the push for economic recovery is resulting in efforts to fast-track major projects and bypass environmental and socio-economic oversight, in violation of Indigenous rights. This is particularly clear in the area of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
What is Environmental Impact Assessment?
EIA refers to:
"the process of identifying the future consequences of a current or proposed action. The 'impact' is the difference between what would happen with the action and what would happen without it," (IAIA 2009).
EIAs are designed to identify, predict and mitigate the environmental and socio-economic effects of potential projects before they are authorized to proceed. EIAs are absolutely critical for Indigenous communities because it gives them the opportunity to voice their concerns, identify impacts on their lands and communities and shape the conditions under which the project should operate. Indigenous nations have historically been relegated to the sidelines of the EIA process. However, new EIA legislation and processes in Canada are moving toward a more meaningful role for Indigenous nations regarding consideration of Indigenous rights and recognition of Indigenous jurisdiction.
How is COVID-19 impacting EIA?
The Canadian economy plummeted in March of 2020 as a result of business shut-downs related to COVID-19. Rather than accommodating this unprecedented economic pause, jurisdictions responsible for EIA across Canada have tried to keep major projects rolling or find ways to speed them up. This approach has played out in three major ways, each of which have a detrimental impact on Indigenous communities:
1. Business as Usual: During the initial months of COVID-19 lock-down, various jurisdictions allowed regulatory processes for major projects to proceed rapidly, with little regard for Indigenous communities' capacity to meaningfully participate. Despite the closure of Indigenous community offices, project referrals kept rolling in, regulatory timelines were unaltered and exploration work continued (such as the Ontario government's decision to allow remote mine claim staking permitting processes, over the protests of Indigenous nations). While the protests of Indigenous communities resulted in some accommodations such as extended timelines, other measures are being put in place to speed up environmental reviews, such as doubling up process steps that usually occur sequentially.
2. Regulatory Rollback: The EIA process results in legally-binding conditions that a company must adhere to in order to construct and operate their project. Some of these conditions include requirements to monitor the project's impacts and the effectiveness of its mitigation measures. Various Canadian jurisdictions have suspended some of these requirements (as well as others) in order to provide companies with greater operational free-reign. For example, the Alberta government suspended environmental monitoring requirements for oil sands producers, the Ontario government suspended a section of the Environmental Bill of Rights (since reinstated), and BC, Quebec and Saskatchewan granted leeway for non-compliance with environmental laws.
3. Fast-tracking: Perhaps the most worrisome development is an emerging trend to fast-track major projects with little-to-no scrutiny of environmental and social impacts. For example, Quebec's Bill 61, would allow the government to expedite environmental reviews for 202 projects and make certain provisions of the Environmental Quality Act inapplicable (the bill received substantial backlash and is still under review). In Ontario, Bill 197 (COVID-19 Economic Recovery Act, 2019) introduces substantial amendments to the province's Environmental Assessment Act with the goal of reducing assessment time for major projects by up to 50%. Among many of the changes introduced by the Bill, automatic assessment for public sector projects will be replaced by a to-be-determined list of projects designated by Cabinet, class EIAs will be replaced with "streamlined" EIAs, and a mechanism enabling the public to request a full project review will be removed. Other examples of this trend include Alberta's decision to allow open-pit coal mining in the foothills of the Rockies and advocacy from industry groups and think tanks to accelerate infrastructure projects while streamlining EIA processes.
All of these economic responses to COVID-19 put Indigenous peoples and their lands at greater risk. Moreover, these measures go against Canada's legal duty to consult and accommodate Indignous nations, as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (fully endorsed by Canada in 2016) which states:
"Indigenous peoples have the right to participate in decision-making in matters which would affect their rights, through representatives chosen by themselves in accordance with their own procedures, as well as to maintain and develop their own Indigenous decision-making institutions" (Article 18, UNDRIP) and
"States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain their free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources" (Article 32, UNDRIP).
Canadians want the Canadian economy to recover as quickly as possible from the effects of the global pandemic. Indigenous nations also want a rapid recovery from COVID-19. Indeed, the pandemic is causing even greater impacts in vulnerable Indigenous communities, particularly given the history of infectious diseases devastating First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities as a direct result of colonization. Remote communities face particular challenges as they often have less access to medical equipment and financial resources.
However, business as usual, regulatory roll-back and project fast-tracking will hinder rather than help Indigenous communities. Indigenous nations need time and resources to carefully consider proposed projects that have the potential to impact their rights and territories. This may include undertaking community-based research with elders and citizens to identify values, concerns, knowledge and use – a process that needs to be respectful, appropriate and cannot be rushed.
Whether Indigenous nations choose to assess the project independently or collaboratively with the proponent or Crown, they need accurate information to inform their consent-based decisions and any conditions they may have for allowing a project to proceed.
In an interview with The Narwhal about EIAs being conducted during the pandemic, Firelight Director and Regulatory (EIA) Team Lead, Alistair MacDonald, stated:
"It can take two to three years to conduct an environmental assessment. That's a heavy commitment for an individual nation. Capacity is very limited, very few nations have the funding capacity or human resources that they could devote a single person to a single environmental assessment. This is not a 'business as usual' environment we're living in, especially for First Nations with multiple responsibilities in governance."
Moreover, fast-tracking the EIA process does not guarantee that major projects will actually be completed faster and is likely to result in greater costs for government and corporations. In fact, most project delays result from social conflict regarding unaddressed environmental and social concerns which, from a business perspective, is not just time lost and money not being made, but also money being spent on heavy legal costs. One study found that almost half of mining projects in Canada between 2008 and 2012 were delayed and of that 81% of these projects were delayed due to "non-technical" issues such as lack of regard for social and environmental concerns thus resulting in court cases (Sestagalli 2017).
Designing Better EIA and Promoting Economic Reconciliation
Now is not the time to start gutting or bypassing EIA processes. The EIA process is far from perfect, but has made considerable advances over the past 50 years. New federal EIA legislation, new EIA legislation in BC and developments elsewhere in Canada (such as the Yukon's initiative to improve its EIA process) recognize the essential role of Indigenous nations in the EIA, including the importance of early planning and Indigenous co-management. These processes need to be continuously improved upon to ensure that projects are sustainable, result in real benefits to Indigenous communities and avoid impacts to the environment and Indigenous rights.
One of the most innovative aspects of new Canadian EIA legislation is the ability of Indigenous nations to drive some or all of the process. The Impact Assessment Act, for example, includes mechanisms for delegating some of the impact assessment, or even substituting the entire process, to Indigenous jurisdictions. Indigenous nations are undertaking a greater role in preparing their own studies, writing up reports and co-managing the process. Despite fears raised by some, the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous nations in the EIA process is likely to speed up, rather than slow down project approval and construction. When Indigenous issues and concerns are adequately and appropriately dealt with from the earliest opportunity, proponents will avoid costly and lengthy mid-EIA battles and project design changes, as well as post-EIA legal challenges.
Economic recovery should not be driven by a focus on developing all major projects as quickly as possible, but by a focus on developing the right projects with a view to the future – particularly, those projects that promote sustainability and economic reconciliation with Indigenous nations. There are many examples of "shovel-worthy" projects that could benefit the environment and Indigenous communities, such as orphan well clean-up, Indigenous-led low carbon energy development, infrastructure development in Indigenous communities, and natural infrastructure projects. Whatever the project, it should be developed in partnership with the Indigenous nation on whose land it is situated. Additionally, Indigenous nations should take a leadership role in assessing and approving major projects that occur on their territories. Finally, Indigenous nations should take on a much more active project oversight role through mechanisms such as Indigenous guardian programs.
By developing the right projects, promoting true Indigenous partnership, enhancing Indigenous co-management, and supporting Indigenous leadership and oversight during the EIA process, Canada could seize this moment in history to shape a healthy, prosperous and just future together with Indigenous nations.
What Indigenous Communities Can Do
The First Nations Major Projects Coalition developed a Major Projects Assessment Standard (MPAS) that outlines Indigenous requirements for EIA of major projects. The MPAS provides 9 principles that must be adhered to during a major project assessment, including:
1. First Nations Rights will be respected, maintained, and promoted.
2. First Nations will be fully engaged in assessment and decision-making for major projects, integrating their laws, norms and values.
3. First Nations stewardship and governance rights and responsibilities will be respected and adhered to throughout the major project life cycle.
4. Ecological values and services will be maintained and if necessary, restored.
5. Impacts to Indigenous culture, socio-economic conditions, health, rights, title and traditional use will be properly assessed and managed to the satisfaction of the affected First Nations.
6. First Nations will have access to adequate resources, information, and time in order to inform their engagement and decision-making processes.
7. The major project assessment scope and process will adhere to agreed upon high quality practices and reflect First Nations values.
8. All projects will be assessed using a focus on total cumulative effects loading and best practice of cumulative effects assessment.
9. Adequate information will be provided to inform consent decisions made through First Nations' Worldviews.
If Indigenous communities are experiencing regulatory rollback or fast-tracking there are a few things they can do which include:
Directly contact investors and finance institutions to inform them of the risks the project creates through a fast-tracked process;
Refer government and industry to the recent Moody's Investor Services report titled Focus on Indigenous Rights Increasingly Vital for Project Execution;
Talk to legal counsel and/or write a letter flagging the legal risk of bypassing meaningful engagement and/or consultation;
Document all communication, concerns, and disputes on paper;
Engage with other Indigenous groups involved in the same process and seek multi-nation unity in voicing their concerns;
Seek support from the First Nations Major Projects Coalition's Environmental Stewardship Technical Team which can provide further advice;
Contact the Firelight Group for further advice and consultation.
Welcome to Firelight Gabe Mahamad!
We are so grateful for our staff and want to share more of their stories. We recently welcomed Gabe Mahamad to our team as an Environmental Monitoring Intern supporting the Impact & Benefit Agreement and Regulatory teams. We feel honoured to work with Gabe and are excited to be a part of his story. Here is his journey to Firelight in his own words:
"My name is Gabe Mahamad and I'm an Environmental Monitoring Intern with The Firelight Group. I'm currently entering my 4th year of Civil Engineering at the University of Alberta. Here's a little bit about myself and what I do at Firelight!
My goal as an aspiring engineer has always been to use my technical skills to improve the everyday lives of people from communities all around the world. I chose the civil discipline knowing I'd be able to realize my goal while working on infrastructure projects that will have an impact on many people. Indigenous communities in Canada have an important role when it comes to big projects and new endeavors in the energy and resource sectors. With this in mind, I realized working for an Indigenous consulting firm was the perfect fit for me to not only develop my skills in a professional setting, but also work towards my personal goal of helping others.
My co-op placement with Firelight is my second of three co-op placements before I finish my undergraduate degree. My first placement was with Thurber Engineering, where I got hands-on experience working on various construction projects while performing materials testing and assisting in project management. I wanted to build off of that experience and luckily, I've been able to as an Environmental Monitoring Intern with Firelight!
I work with the Impact & Benefit Agreement and Regulatory teams at Firelight. Over the past couple of months, the two main projects I've been focusing on have been about Water Resource Management and Environmental Remediation. These are two areas of Civil Engineering that interest me so I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity I've been given. I spend most of my time writing and reviewing technical documents and attending meetings with clients. I've been fortunate enough to work with a variety of professionals, including elders from many Indigenous communities. Working with such a diverse group of people has put me in a great learning environment that will help me develop my skills as I progress in my career. I'm having a great experience working with Firelight, and I'm looking forward to what the future will bring!"
Tania Salerno: My Journey to Firelight
We are so grateful for our staff and we are going to be featuring their stories more often. Tania Salerno has been a contract regulatory and IBA researcher with us for a while and she was recently promoted to a full-time staff member.
We feel honoured to have Tania as a member of our team and wanted to share her journey to Firelight. Here is her story in her own words:
"For over ten years, I have had the opportunity to work with communities around the world, examining Indigenous rights, food sovereignty, land rights, agro-ecology, and more.
Before coming to Firelight, I completed a PhD at the University of Amsterdam and worked as a lecturer in their anthropology department. During that time, I spent a lot of time in the field, conducting research in communities across Indonesia and the Philippines. In Indonesia, I travelled around the country visiting government offices, exploring oil palm plantations, visiting Indigenous families that have lost their lands to oil palm expansion, and discovering the beauty of some of the last remaining orangutan territories left in Kalimantan. In the Philippines, I explored farming cooperatives around Mindanao, visited large-scale banana plantations around the country, conducted focus groups in jeepneys on route to protests, stayed with Indigenous communities, and more.
I then decided to shift my focus to the Canadian context, bringing me to Firelight. I started working with Firelight as a contractor in 2018, supporting in Impact and Benefit Agreements research and negotiation work. More recently, I moved in to regulatory and environmental assessment research and support work. I now provide support to clients in impact assessment coordination, research, policy analysis and more.
I really appreciate the dedication of Firelight staff to their clients and the excellent work Firelight produces. I am excited to be joining the team full-time and to bring with me an interdisciplinary approach to Indigenous rights, inspired by grassroots movements."


1. I'm guest blogging today at Killer Hobbies, filling in for my critique partner who's off being incredibly creative and productive at a writing retreat. The rest of the Killer Hobbyists have been blogging about the writing craft all week–incredibly detailed information about technique. Stop by and leave a comment on any of the posts, and Terri & I will enter you for a chance to win a copy of The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide.
2. I'm feeling pretty committed to working through the entire plot (at a basic level!) of my WIP. I'm also heading into plotting the middle, which is going to test that commitment in a big way. It's good timing, though, with the holidays coming up–less time for sustained writing, plenty of time for sitting down at the computer and figuring out a few scene goals.
3. I got some early critique feedback & questions from Susan Taylor Brown yesterday on my picture book. Good stuff. Yes, the mom either has to step up to the plate and DO something, or she can just back slowly away from the story at all. I'm in favor of the first option; we'll see what she and I can come up with.
4. The weather today is some of my favorite. Gray clouds overhead with a little breeze that, every few minutes, picks up and blows leaves around, makes the bark on the eucalyptus trees wave, and causes SOMETHING you can only hear to skitter across the road or roof. It's incredibly cozy, calling for fleece and a fire, I think. Okay, maybe not till tonight!
5. I'm jumping all over the place on Pandora, looking for new music I can plot to. I can do a bit more lively with plot than I can with writing, in fact more energy helps. This morning, I'm listening to Spin Doctors radio, but I'm considering some reggae for later in the day.
I'm hoping we get some of that lovely weather down here. Right now the sun is just shining like usual. Boring.
Oh, I just realized that's probably why I'm a bit of a dawdler today. Still futzing around with the beginning–probably because I don't WANT to get to that muddle.
"DO something!" — an excellent motto for characters. And middles, come to think of it.
Wishing you luck with both!
Yay for good feedback! And the plot stuff. Oh, the plot. I'm having great ideas on this front, too! Hope you had a great weekend!
Good for you! I'm back to it this week, at least before the holidays hit.
I'm definitely a work-through-the-plot kind of gal!