Here we go again. I have the feeling that it's going to be a rough summer, especiallyin July and September as a number of events combine to give us part two of the financial horror show that is our country. California is in dire straits and has about fifty days left before its completely out of money. Its politiciansare in gridlock as they continue to livein denial about the magnitude of the budget cuts necessaryto restore order and sanity to the state government. Other states are going to be following suit, mostly all the big liberal states that havebought into the idea that government is your daddy and that government is going to take care of you. The other big deal, also the product of denial on the part of Washington politicians, if not mass psychosis, is the extravagant borrowing if finally unleashing inflationthe leading edges of which revolve around gas prices as our dollar continues to plummet.
Perhaps you've noticed: Gas Prices have been Going UP!
Gas prices are in the $70 a barrel range now and within a week or two it'll be in the $80's. As the stimulus spending is wasted by congress who now wants to shovel money faster in the economy, they weaken the dollar dramatically and thus oil and other commodity's goes up. It's a vicious cycle and we're in it. Some people say we'll stabilize around $90 to $100 for a while and other prognosticators say that as the ObamaAdministration and the nefarious Federal Reserve trash the dollar that oil will just continue to go up until it destroys the economy. Either way the prices are going higher and I suspect that we're seeing the leading edge of an inflationary tsunami that will shortly engulf us in yet another agonizing summer of bad economic news. The Arabs are not likely to raise production until its in the low hundreds a barrel and the Russians are champing at the bit to drive oil as high as possible and recover some economic clout.
The price of oilburst through the $71 a barrel mark today amid revelations that proven reserves had fallen for the first time in 10 years and predictions that the price could eventually hit $250.
The latest high – from lows of $30 only four months ago – came on the New York Mercantile Exchange, where the cost of July deliveries rose by $1.35 to $71.36.
This comes on top of a $2 rise the day before as investors rushed into the market on the back of lower stockpile figures, higher demand estimates and speculation against further falls in the dollar.
"I wouldn't be surprised if we're testing $80 in a week or two," said one analyst, while BP's chief executive, Tony Hayward, questioned whether $90 could be the "right" value.
Kuwait's oil minister, Sheikh Ahmad al-Abdullah al-Sabah, put some of the rise down to signs of recovery in Asia but warned that overall demand was still weaker than last year. Opec would not raise supply at current oil prices but did not rule it out "if it reached $100", he said.
The latest surge has also raised fears that higher energy costs could snuff out the nascent economic recovery. Shares on Wall Street's Nasdaq index fell 1%.
The febrile atmosphere in oil markets was fed by the publication of BP's Statistical Review of World Energy, which showed that the world's proven crude reserves had fallen by 3bn barrels to 1.258tn by 2008 from a revised 1.261tn in 2007.
Declines in important producers such as Russia and Norway offset rises in new areas such as Vietnam, India and Egypt. The figures did not include Canada's tar sands, which are put at 150bn barrels.
The drop is partly attributed to a drop in exploration drilling due to the precipitous fall in oil prices last year but also to the end of "easy" oil. Conflict this week in the Amazon and speculation about Arctic drilling underlined how oil companies are pushing into environmentally sensitive places to find new reserves.
Tony Hayward, BP'schief executive, insisted there was enough crude to last 42 years at current consumption levels, roughly the same as last year. Adherents of "peak oil" – the theory that the maximum rate of oil production has been reached – believe supplies will run out much sooner because of growing demand.
The BPboss said: "Our data confirms that the world has enough proved reserves of oil, natural gas and coal to meet the world's energy needs for decades to come." Higher prices allowed companies to invest in finding further reserves while not choking off demand, he said.
"There is a rational argument to say that somewhere between $60 to $90 a barrel is the right sort of level," he said.
Global oil consumption fell 0.6% to 81.8m barrels a day in 2008, the first decline since 1993 and the largest drop for 27 years. North Sea output dropped 6.3% to its lowest level for three decades.
By contrast, gas use rose by 2.5% globally and 16% in China. The use of coal, the heaviest emitter of climate-changing carbon, rose 3.1%, with Chinese demand up 6.8%, leaving it with a market share of 43% despite more high-profile announcements about its commitment to renewables.
BP says it is difficult to compare "primary" carbon fuels with renewable sources of electricity. BP notes that globally solar capacity rose nearly 70% and wind by 30% year on year but says renewables only generated 1.5% of global electricity and therefore began at a low base.But it notes these sources are playing an increasingly important role in some countries with wind power providing 20% of total electricity generation in Denmark, 11% in Spain and 7% in Germany.
Despite the 2008 rise in coal consumption, the BPdata showed growth in the use of the fuel continued to decline compared with 2007 when it rose 5% and five years ago when it went up by 8%.
But the coal figures will alarm environmentalists and increase the calls for companies and governments to speed up trials on "clean coal" technology and the use of carbon capture and storage.
China has promised to increase its use of renewables: Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice-chairman of the China's national development and reform commission, says the country may produce as much as 20% of its energy from wind and solar by 2020.
The insanity of the Federal Reserve manufacturing another Trillion Dollars in advance of the Treasury offering 2 Trillion of American Debt as Treasury Bonds. Given the deteriorating economies on earth it begs the question as to just who they think is going to buy all this debt when virtually every nation on earth is issuing bonds to "stimulate" the economy. The announcement of the Federal Reserve's action caused the Dollar to drop sharply and commodities like oil to increase about 7%.
It's going to be an interesting week as Wall Street contemplates the magnitude of the Federal Reserve's Actions and reacts accordingly. There's no explaining the stupidity of the Fed Actions and I think it's a legitimate question to ask Bernanke: Just whose side are you on, Ben?" Consider this article from the Associated Press and take a good look this week at gold prices and oil prices and the like because as this sinks in the prices are heading north. This may be the leading edge of an inflationary tsunami that will engulf America and usher in the worst economic conditions within living memory.
NEW YORK (AP) — A weakened dollar and evidence that OPEC has significantly slowed production sent oil prices soaring to new highs for the year Thursday.
Benchmark crude for April delivery surged $3.47, or 7 percent, to settle at $51.61 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil prices hit $52.25 earlier in the day, a price last seen on Dec. 1.
Crude prices have increased 11.6 percent since OPEC ministers met in Vienna on Sunday. The group said it would not cut production again immediately, but there is growing consensus that the millions of barrels taken off the market already each day are starting to balance a supply and demand picture that has been skewed for months.
With the April contract set to expire Friday, most of the trading had shifted to the contract for May delivery, where prices jumped $3.14 to settle at $52.04 a barrel.
Analysts rushed to buy crude after the Federal Reserve announced late Wednesday it would buy long-term government bonds, a measure that's expected to jolt the economy with lower rates on mortgages and other consumer debt.
The announcements sent the dollar into a tailspin. The U.S. dollar dropped against other major currencies almost immediately, at one point falling to levels not seen since January. The dollar has fallen about 5 percent against the euro over the past couple days.
Because oil is bought and sold in dollars, a weak U.S. currency makes crude cheaper globally.
"The government is basically printing money to buy back all this paper, and it devalues the dollar," said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp.
A government report that said jobless claims set a new record for the eighth straight week. The Labor Department said continuing claims for unemployment insurance jumped 185,000 to a seasonally adjusted 5.47 million, another record-high and more than the roughly 5.33 million that economists expected.
Job cuts are part of the reason for a severe drop-off in miles driven by Americans, a growing number whom no longer commute to work.
The Federal Highway Administration said Thursday that motorists logged seven billion fewer miles in January, 3.1 percent less than the same period in 2008.
Part of the reason is that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries appears to be pushing through the production cuts it promised to make last year, according to tanker tracker Oil Movements. Member states agreed last year to squeeze global oil supplies, trimming 4.2 million barrels per day.
Crude exports from OPEC countries have been shrinking during the past few months. They're expected to drop 770,000 barrels a day in the four weeks leading to April 4, according to an Oil Movements report.
While the recession kept oil near five-year lows, tighter supplies in the spring and summer should buoy crude prices in the next three months, the report said.
Also surging were natural gas prices after a government report showed that U.S. stockpiles fell slightly more than expected last week.
In other Nymex trading, gasoline for April delivery jumped 7.16 cents to settle at $1.4373 a gallon, while heating oil rose 9.2 cents to settle at $1.36 a gallon. Natural gas for April delivery jumped 49 cents to settle at $4.174 per 1,000 cubic feet. In London, Brent prices rose $3.01 to settle at $50.67 on the ICE Futures exchange.
Associated Press writers Ernest Scheyder in New York, George Jahn in Vienna, Austria and Alex Kennedy in Singapore contributed to this report.
The unfortunate Benjamin Bernanke, the historian and scholar of the great depression, has found to his chagrin, and our undoing, that he is to banking what Ehud Olmert is to Israeli war fighting. He has, with his bail out of Bear Sterns, unleashed a title wave of inflation that is likely to wash away the world financial structures as we know them. Bernanke acted to save banking and destroyed everything else ultimately including banking. I heard that Goldman Saks thinks we could have $200 oil yet this summer. Five bucks a gallon is cheap compared to $7.50 a gallon for Christmas. This insane inflation wave is about to bring spending around the world to a standstill and what banks are still standing are going to be very reluctant to lend anyone a dime. My conclusion is that the financial meltdown started in the mortgage loan crisis, gave rise to the financial crisis resulting in Bernanke's folly, the complete undermining of the dollar and complete destabilization of the oil market resulting in what is likely to be the next Great Depression.
There is no stopping oil going right through the roof and I would not be surprised to see $8.00 a gallon at the pump by New Years. As bad as the continuing rise in prices in gas is the unbelievable speed with which its occurring. It's the speed that's going to tank, and I mean TANK, the stock markets around the world. It's the speed of the rising prices that means consumers and businesses have hit the breaks, big time, on any discretionary spending until we know what's on the other side. Unemployment is going to show a huge spike as people react to the massive oil increases being passed on to consumers in every sector of commerce. Already there is reporting on companies closing stores and the tightening of belts. No one says anything like "It's as sound as a dollar" anymore: If they have a functioning brain they seem to be saying, "It's as sound as a barrel of crude oil". In the new normal that the unfortunate Mr. Bernanke has unleashed on us the value of oil has become the lifeboat of choice: forsaking and relegating the US Dollar to the dustbin of history. Oil has no end in sight and we are simply a day late and about 9.5 trillion dollars short.
Politically speaking this could not have happened at a worse time. The Republicans and the distinctly unpopular George W. Bush are about to get the blame for real terror in American families that is due to hit just before the presidential election. The result may well be the election of Obama, our first socialist president since we all know that Bill Clinton was the first Black President, and an overwhelming democrat majority in congress. Imagine all those socialist democrats in office when an economic crisis of this magnitude unfolds: they will have the government controlling everything. By this time three years from now you're going to have high unemployment and it won't be possible to tell the difference between America and Europe. The one lasting gift of the unfortunate Mr. Bernanke, to posterity, will be the end of America's leadership of the world and the return of Europe to planetary leadership. Yes, our "sophisticated" friends, the Europeans, will return to the leading role having hopefully learned from two world wars and soviet communism, to chart a less bloodthirsty role for itself. The political landscape in America is about to be permanently changed because the Federal Reserve once again made a fatal miscalculation.
The Bible makes it clear that the Europeans are in a leadership role in the end times. The United States is not referred to in any clearly identifiable way. I suspect that Pax-Americana is going to be the object of no small amount of nostalgia in the brave new world we are entering. All things come to an end and history is repeat with mighty empires that were destroyed or as in the case of Ancient Rome and the USA, collapsed from their own complacency. I'm afraid there are just three constants in human history to date: Death, Taxes, and people like the Unfortunate Mr. Bernanke.
Hard Times Ahead: How Oil Prices, Inflation, and the Falling Dollar will Produce a Global Depression.
We live in a time when the USA owes trillions of dollars to other countries. All the Social Security money and Medicare money has been spent, instead of saved and invested, and the Baby Boomers are now starting to retire. We've been in denial about our energy sources, and our energy production all these years and now oil is spinning out of control and taking the world's economy with it. Because we've been in denial about credit, from credit cards and personal debt, to mortgage lending, to all the crazy financial instruments of today, we've been forced to devalue our own currency, at an alarming rate. About three months ago during the Bear Sterns fiasco we hit what I think will be the trigger point for the next Great Depression which I fully expect within three months from now.
Here is how the song is sung, sing along with me, wont you? First we gave mortgages to every clown out there with no regard to credit worthiness. Next, we got into big trouble when major financial firms were suspected of being unsound so we rapidly expanded credit while debasing our US Dollar. With the dollar in the basement, the oil speculators went wild, figuring that oil is the place to be when you can't trust a dollar anymore. The oil prices are off the charts and this in turn exacerbates the problem of the falling dollar, while also causing gas, food, and shortly the price of EVERYTHING ELSE TO SPIKE. Our creditors look at us with disbelief while we refuse to develop and drill our own oil and our politicians preach that we "Cant drill our way out of this". We lower interest rates to support our exploding debt while the bill for our "entitlements" come due without a rational policy for entitlements. It usually takes about six months for a disaster to express itself in the economy. I think Bear Sterns started the clock.
Now we know what an alcoholic feels like because we, like the alcoholic, have lived in denial all this time about basic matter concerns with our survival. Money needs to be worth something. We need to live within our means. We only grant credit to people who are credits worthy. Building oil refinery's so we always have plenty of capacity, drilling our own oil, while doing our best to minimize the ecological impact, is not optional: WE MUST DO IT. We need to place logic and reason ahead of our self image and desire to be environmentally hip.
We have so many years of poisonous class rhetoric and "identity politics" that we can't avoid racial and class violence during what is sure to be a major social upheaval. In the Great Depression of the thirty's, crime actually went down. They had social workers interview people and ask them why they didn't turn to crime when facing destitution and Respondents mostly always said: "Because that would have been wrong." People don't act that way anymore. This time around there is going to be violence.
When I was a kid, I used to be amused at all those little pamphlets that the religious nuts would hand out to anyone that would take them. It was always titled something dramatic like "Beware the Mark of the Beast" or "Don't Take the Mark of the Beast!" The idea of all the governments of the world coming together to create a one world economic system was absurd. Give unto me, a break, I would think, and shake my head ,while pondering the prospect of all the different governments cooperating on anything! For crying out loud: Our own government can't agree that we should drill for oil and deport illegal aliens! In my wildest dreams I could not imagine anything that could produce such an event. I can now.
If I'm right then we're on the cusp of a real live depression, at a time when we are about to elect a real live socialist, Barak Obama. How would a dyed in the wool socialist get us out of a world curency crash? Eh? I suspect that the world's central banks will band together to create a super currency, or at least regional currencies, like the Euro and the coming Amero. I think banking, and currency will be stabilized in order to stabilize the oil prices. I suspect that while all this is going on we are going to have massive inflation to essentially reduce, to manageable levels, the amount owed to the Baby Boomers for their Social Security and Medicare. Given all the security concerns, and the massive illegal immigration going on, in both Europe and America; we'll need tamper proof ID's that will probably have biometric properties. This would also be a good way to tackle identity theft and government pension plan controls and even medical records that are tamper proof.
It sure looks to me like we are on the cusp of a global crisis that is likely to usher in the first of our global solutions and global institutions to defend the "common good". It's strange how so much of it just happens to line up so close to those goofy pamphlets the religious nuts handed out long ago. And they got it from a book by lots of different authors written over thousands of years that seems to have so much to say about today's headlines! Must just be a coincidence huh? I leave you with the following thought from the New Testament. Peace be with you.
8 Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. 9 For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting — and any other commandment — are all summed up in this one commandment: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements. 11 Another reason for right living is that you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. 13 We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. 14 But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires.


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Mixed reaction to Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage
Tom Gordon
As state Republicans cry foul, State Rep. Patricia Todd plans a new challenge to Alabama's ban.
Alabama is not immediately affected by today's Supreme Court gay rights-related rulings, but a gay legislator from Birmingham says she and her partner now plan to file a court challenge to Alabama's ban on gay marriage.
"With Alabama's history, you know, it's obvious that we never really advance any civil rights unless it's a court decision," said state Rep. Patricia Todd. "So we 're going to have to take the journey again to be able to strike down that restrictive constitutional amendment."
Todd said she and her partner, Jennifer Clarke, had talked about filing a suit but wanted to wait until today's Supreme Court rulings.
Around the state, Equality Alabama, a civil rights group, said it was encouraged by the high court's decision to strike down part of a federal law that denies federal benefits to gay couples legally married in other states. Alabama Republicans expressed dismay.
The provision denying benefits was in the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), passed in 1996. Twelve states and the District of Columbia now recognize same sex marriages, according to the Associated Press. While ruling against the benefits denial, the high court did not address gay marriage bans on the books in other states, including Alabama. Alabama's Sanctity of Marriage amendment, approved overwhelmingly by voters in 2006, bans gay marriage in the state and does not extend legal recognition to gay marriages legally performed in other states. That ban on recognition is still part of the Defense of Marriage Act, according to the AP.
In its second ruling, according to the AP, the Supreme Court again did not address the issue of gay marriage but "left in place a trial court's declaration" that California's Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, was unconstitutional. Golden State voters approved the measure in 2008.
Todd, a Democrat who has been in the legislature since 2006, said she never thought she would see a ruling such as that issued by the Supreme Court on DOMA, and she added that the ruling should give gay marriage advocates the legal standing to "move forward to strike down" gay marriage bans now in place around the country.
Fergus Tuohy, chairman of Equality Alabama, said in a statement that the civil rights group was "encouraged" by both of the high court rulings and would hold rallies in Birmingham and elsewhere around the state in response to them.
But Tuohy also said "the fact remains that there is still much work to be done.
"As long as LGBT youth face bullying in schools and LGBT workers fear job loss simply because of who they love, we will continue to stand up for them," he added. "Equality Alabama will continue our work until all of our LGBT brothers and sisters truly have equal protection under the law."
The Alabama Republican Party issued a statement noting that the high court's DOMA ruling would not "immediately affect Alabama, but it does mean that our taxpayers will now be on the hook for extending federal benefits to homosexual couples in the 12 states that allow gay marriage."
Party chairman Bill Armistead said the ruling and its consequences showed the federal government was "hijacking marriage, a uniquely religious institution, and they must be stopped.
"Whether by a constitutional amendment or other means, U.S. taxpayers should not be forced by their government to reward those who engage in activity that had been banned in 35 states," Armistead said. "This is a nation founded on Christian values and the Bible is very clear on marriage – one man and one woman. Alabama's state law banning gay marriage will prevent these benefits from being extended in Alabama, but our tax dollars will still go to support a lifestyle that we fundamentally disagree with."
Todd said she and her partner, Clarke, had a formal wedding planned in September, but may actually get married before then in Maryland, Massachusetts or another jurisdiction in which same sex marriage is legal.
In states where gay marriage bans are challenged, "you'll hear from the opposition that this is going to be the end of moral values and blah, blah blah, the end of the world, and it's not," Todd said. "Change is hard for people and you know, any progressive civil rights decision takes some time for people to get comfortable with. But it always has been my point that my marriage to my partner has nothing to do with anybody else but me and my partner. And you know, all that we wanted to be able to do was go to the courthouse and get a marriage license."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Heavens, I apologize for the tardy post, but this has been a hectic week: my girlfriend and I just rescued a cute-as-pie Corgi from a shelter, and the week has been consumed by trying to teach the pooch that, though the hardwood floors are attractive, they're not fit for pooping. Or peeing.
Anyway, this week I turn my attention to Dragon's Milk. It's a dangerously delicious (hey, hey 10 percent ABV) stout that gets its oaky, vanilla character from a turn in bourbon barrels. It's a beauty, let me tell you. If you're curious about reading more, you can gander at my full review at AOL. Drink it up!


The Lordblock collective has been sharing impressive Minecraft scenes here on Sketchfab. After we had a chat with them, they offered to re-create our Paris and New York offices in Minecraft – an offer we couldn't refuse! Here's a look into their world and the creation of these models.
We're a team of about 10 artists and designers who evolve around Minecraft.
The major skill required to join us is to know how to "build", but we also have render makers (C4D, Photoshop), graphic designers, cinematic makers, a translator, … in our team. Right now, we're all French-speaking, but we have members who live outside of France (Switzerland, Québec, …).
The team had a modest start. Our aim was to bring talented people who had a common interest to share and to acquire group experience. The whole team grew quickly with the "Under the Tea" project.
After this project, we realized that it was quite interesting to work on the concepts, the presentation and everything around basic realization to maximize the potential of the creation. We consider some of our projects as Concept Arts and it's on this purpose that we build our projects. It's this desire that the team really was built on. We kept doing project after project and we recruited more teammates. By the way, we're still recruiting, people can join by sending an application to lordblockmc@gmail.com.
How does the custom Minecraft design business work? Who are your customers?
Regarding the team members, some of them do paid commissions. Clients contact them via websites and forums like McMarket and Spigot. These clients usually are Minecraft server owners. They ask for maps, like spawns or minigame maps, or just a specific element, like an organic or a statue. This changes from client to client.
The builder must fulfill the client's expectations, regarding design, because every commission has a specific use planned for it.
Each project has many factors : deadlines, the size of the project and the number of participants. We try not to have too many projects at the same time, to provide better quality work, but we did in the past have 3 active projects at the same time with all the teammates working on them, without including their personal occupations.
We submit it to the team, we choose if it's doable and if the teammates like it.
Then we have a brainstorming session, we share our ideas and decide what the concept will be.
Finally the post-production, which helps us to complete the project and to add information to help understand the concept.
About the Sketchfab offices project: how did you approach this recreation? What were the challenges?
We needed 3 builders for this project: 1 for NYC, 1 for Paris and 1 "Helper" to do the final detailing. We first checked every team member's availability, then we shared out the different things to do.
The first thing we did was choosing the scale, as Minecraft has a height limit. We then were able to work on the width and finally on the details. The actual challenge actually was to get a realistic depiction of the buildings with blocks only.
We used some of the plans you sent us but we mainly used Google Earth/Maps and pictures found on the Internet.
Can you share your favourite model?
It represents everything we like when we are building. We always try to find a good concept for our map, and we really like this one and she have nice and large scale organics (human, animals, vegetals). It's a project on wich every builder made something, there a bit of all of us in this one.
Anything you'd like to share with the Sketchfab community?
We hope that the Sketchfab community will welcome Minecraft-created 3D like they welcome any other type of more conventional 3D. We'd also like to encourage more and more Minecraft creators to share their projects on Sketchfab!
Note: you can use Mineways to easily export your Minecraft projects to Sketchfab.
You can see more of LordBlock's work here on Sketchfab and on YouTube and DeviantArt. You can follow them on Twitter @ LordBlockMC.
You can't currently do that on Sketchfab, but any decent 3D editing software should allow you to do this. I recommend you take a look at Sketchup or Blender to get started.


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text:
just-drinks home
PepsiCo's dividend increase highlights successful response to COVID-19 in 2020 - analysis
GlobalData30 November 2020
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Earlier this month, PepsiCo declared a quarterly dividend increase versus the same time last year, at a time when many companies have cancelled dividends altogether in 2020. Furthermore, PepsiCo's share price has rebounded to a position higher than pre-pandemic levels. Pepsi's rising share price indicates the group continues to gain in value at a time when many of its rivals have suffered significant losses during a tough year.
PepsiCo's responses to the coronavirus pandemic, such as the introduction of fully-recycled plastic for the Naked smoothies range, has been designed to appeal to Millennial consumers
Though most famous for its namesake cola brand, PepsiCo's presence in breakfast and snack categories has provided resilience against diminishing sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's diversified portfolio enabled an agile response to drastic changes in consumer behaviour earlier in the year. Remote working and lockdowns have led to increases in at-home consumption as the work-life balance now became entirely derived from inside the household.
Meanwhile, in the US, PepsiCo reacted swiftly to consumers' increased use of online retail channels and launched Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) platforms to foster consumer engagement.
PantryShop.com and Snacks.com were launched in May, giving consumers an opportunity to buy goods directly from the supplier as opposed to third-party retailers. Such a move will also cut out the retailer 'middleman', saving on costs and allowing PepsiCo to deal directly with its consumers. While on-the-go beverages have declined as expected, the company's Frito Lay division grew during the height of lockdowns as people snacked indoors while its Quaker Oats breakfast unit also outperformed last year. Meanwhile, drinks rival The Coca-Cola Co announced a major restructuring plan to streamline its portfolio.
PepsiCo's operational response to the pandemic has been driven by two underlying themes; digitisation and environmental friendliness. By visualising its target audience as younger consumers who are most likely to shop online and care about sustainability, PepsiCo also rolled out its Naked-branded smoothies in 100% recycled plastic bottles in the UK. These types of measures add to the brand's image and demonstrate a willingness to press ahead with innovation, even during a tough year.
Whilst the world is likely to return to some semblances of normality next year, many of the adopted behaviours around shopping will not revert back. According to GlobalData's '2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery Week 10 Consumer Survey', 45% of global consumers will "buy more products online rather than visiting a store" after the pandemic period, rising to 51% amongst Millennials.
PepsiCo's operational responses around sustainability and digitisation will ensure the group remains well-positioned for long-term growth in both food and beverages.
Sectors: Soft drinks, Water
Companies: The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo
PepsiCo - Coronavirus (COVID-19) Company Impact
PepsiCo: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Company Impact reports key findings as of April 8, 2020 based on market analysis and brand diversification by industry and geography.
Concha y Toro's guide to capturing the post-COVID-19 wine consumer - analysis...
What just-drinks said about the soft drinks category - The review of 2020 - FREE TO ACCESS...
The soft drinks category in 2020 - just-drinks' Review of the Year, Part II - FREE TO ACCESS...
Why COVID-19 has been a friend to alcohol-free beer - analysis...
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text:
import {expect} from 'chai';
import * as sinon from 'sinon';
import * as Rx from '../../dist/cjs/Rx.KitchenSink';
import {SubscribeOnObservable} from '../../dist/cjs/observable/SubscribeOnObservable';

declare const {hot, expectObservable, expectSubscriptions};
declare const rxTestScheduler: Rx.TestScheduler;

describe('SubscribeOnObservable', () => {
  it('should create Observable to be subscribed on specified scheduler', () => {
    const e1 =   hot('--a--b--|');
    const expected = '--a--b--|';
    const sub      = '^       !';
    const subscribe = new SubscribeOnObservable(e1, 0, rxTestScheduler);

    expectObservable(subscribe).toBe(expected);
    expectSubscriptions(e1.subscriptions).toBe(sub);
  });

  it('should specify default scheduler if incorrect scheduler specified', () => {
    const e1 = hot('--a--b--|');
    const obj: any = sinon.spy();

    const scheduler = (<any>new SubscribeOnObservable(e1, 0, obj)).scheduler;

    expect(scheduler).to.deep.equal(Rx.Scheduler.asap);
  });

  it('should create observable via staic create function', () => {
    const s = new SubscribeOnObservable(null, null, rxTestScheduler);
    const r = SubscribeOnObservable.create(null, null, rxTestScheduler);

    expect(s).to.deep.equal(r);
  });

  it('should subscribe after specified delay', () => {
    const e1 =   hot('--a--b--|');
    const expected = '-----b--|';
    const sub      = '   ^    !';
    const subscribe = new SubscribeOnObservable(e1, 30, rxTestScheduler);

    expectObservable(subscribe).toBe(expected);
    expectSubscriptions(e1.subscriptions).toBe(sub);
  });

  it('should consider negative delay as zero', () => {
    const e1 =   hot('--a--b--|');
    const expected = '--a--b--|';
    const sub      = '^       !';
    const subscribe = new SubscribeOnObservable(e1, -10, rxTestScheduler);

    expectObservable(subscribe).toBe(expected);
    expectSubscriptions(e1.subscriptions).toBe(sub);
  });
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Zinga peut désigner :

Toponyme

 Zinga est une localité du sud-ouest de la République centrafricaine, située dans la commune de Mongoumba.

Patronyme

 Damase Zinga Atangana, évêque camerounais.
 Marc Zinga, acteur et chanteur belge.
 Raymond Lema A'nsi Nzinga, un musicien congolais,

Divers
 Coffre zinga, autre nom de Lactophrys bicaudalis, une espèce de poissons tetraodontiformes.
Patronyme camerounais
Patronyme congolais

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


"Sell in May and go away, don't come back till St Leger Day": With a week to go, should you sell in May? - CNBC Comment | City A.M.
You have a week left to make up your mind about what to do with your money. But don't panic – there's no reason to call your broker just yet. This countdown only applies if you believe the much-touted adage for investors, "sell in May and go away, don't come back till St Leger Day". St Leger Day, as a point of information, is the last big event of the UK horse-racing calendar, usually in mid-September. The question, of course, is, does this saying hold true this year?
You could easily argue this year – or even the last five years – have been like no other. This year, global markets have been whiplashed by the European Central Bank's (ECB) QE program, the Swiss National Bank's shock decision to remove the currency peg, and volatile swings in the oil price. That's not to mention the bull run in the US dollar, which then petered out, only to be topped off by a number of vicious moves in the bond market, taking yields back to pre-QE levels. And a good dose of ECB verbal intervention, which took yields up again.
So what are the experts saying? Bob Iaccino, chief market strategist at Tethys Partners, recently told CNBC that "Sell in May" does not hold this year: "every old adage needs to be put away, because we are in an era that we haven't seen before. We don't know how it's going to be when the Federal Reserve comes out of this record liquidity, money printing – we don't know how any of the markets are going to react". Iaccino, who is focused on US markets, added: "what you're seeing is that the employment cost index is showing a dip and that lowers individuals earnings, so the retail sales numbers will be increasingly important. If you sell in May and go away, you may miss the next move... but you have to have a strong stomach to be involved".
But not everyone agrees about staying invested in risky assets. According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, you might be better off abiding by the old saying this year, as its analysts are predicting a "scary summer for markets". Chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett writes that investors are "trapped in a twilight zone" – the uneasy transition from ultra-easy monetary policy to the gradual normalisation of policy, as the Fed prepares to hike rates. During this wobbly in-between phase, investors are in for a rocky ride, including "mediocre returns, volatile trading, correlation breakdowns and flash crashes". In a nutshell: reduce risk during the summer, says Hartnett.
Whether you believe old market adages or not, with the ominous summer months approaching, the consensus suggests that volatility is here to stay – so buckle up.
Are emerging markets in for a bumpy ride?


The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is the regulatory authority for broadcasting in Zimbabwe. BAZ was established through an Act of Parliament in 2001 providing for the functions, powers and duties of the authority. BAZ falls under the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity. BAZ issues licenses to television and radio broadcasting companies in Zimbabwe.
To create an environment that promotes the development of a local dynamic broadcasting industry, which provides quality services, that are universally available and affordable.
To effectively manage the licensing process and the broadcasting frequency spectrum to safeguard public interest and national sovereignty.
To ensure compliance with the law as well as international telecommunications and broadcasting treaties to which Zimbabwe is a signatory to.
To cooperate with other national and international regulatory bodies.
To develop and retain highly motivated employees through recognition of effort, opportunities for personnel development and competitive rewards.
On the 23rd of August 2017, B.A.Z announced that it had cancelled the license of Dr. Dish because the company had failed to provide the My TV Africa Service.However after a legal battle the license was restored.
B.A.Z was reported to have been criticized for refusing to license independent operators of TV and Radio in Zimbabwe. Commercial Radio licenses have been issued only to government owned companies and those private companies owned by senior politicians of the ruling party, Zanu-PF.
Please visit the following to contribute to the profile of Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe.


A newly renovated space welcomes students to Design Media Arts at UCLA. The Broad Art Center, designed by Richard Meier & Partners Architects, also houses the Department of Art, the New Wight Gallery and the Dean's Office for the School of the Arts and Architecture. Located on north campus, the building's plaza exhibits a torqued iron ellipse sculpture, "T.E.U.C.L.A.," by world-renowned artist Richard Serra. In addition to structural upgrades, the Broad provides interactive multimedia technology, updated classrooms, studio space, and galleries for student exhibitions and public presentations.
DMA operates several state-of-the-art instructional and service labs in support of its curriculum including a video lab dedicated to digital video and audio editing, a digital audio lab, a fabrication lab for construction, and a dedicated electronics lab for interactive and electronic installations, a print lab equipped with laser printers, ink jet printers and large-format plotters, a shoot room that facilitates photographic and video production, eight faculty research labs, and a large lab space shared by graduate students.
The department has a central server room with approximately 25 servers for file sharing, web hosting, print accounting, databases, mail, licensing, video streaming and other server-based systems. All users and classes in the department are given web space as well as databases, e-mail lists, and other services. Each of the instructional computer labs features a mix of Apple Macs and Windows PC workstations.
DMA also provides access to a large library of graphics software in the areas of digital photography, illustration, interactive media, and 3D modeling and animation. Examples include: Adobe Suite, Apple Logic and Final Cut Pro, Unity game engine, and the Autodesk Entertainment Creation Suite.
The DMA Labs feature high-end Windows and Macintosh computers; various peripherals, such as scanners, laser printers, and large-format Epson plotters; CD and DVD burners; and film recorders and digital video cameras. The Labs also provide access to a large library of graphics software in the areas of digital photography, illustration, interactive media, and 3D-modeling and animation. Wireless access is available to laptop users, and all the computers in our facilities are connected to the campus network, giving students individual access to DMA network resources and the Internet. The DMA Labs also contains the DMA Help Desk, which provides student support for Labs activities. The DMA Labs support website provides a wide range of online services to DMA students, faculty, and staff, including the abilities to view current lab and help desk hours, lab information and guides, reserve equipment from inventory, modify user accounts, access charge histories, and submit print jobs.
The video lab features high-end Macintosh computers equipped with specialized video cards, video decks and monitors capable of HDV-video editing.
The Audio Lab is a digital audio recording and editing space containing a Macintosh/Logic Studio system, microphones, monitoring speakers, and other tape, vinyl, and disc playback equipment. The Audio Lab is operated by the School of Arts and Architecture and is available to students, faculty, and staff in the School.
The fabrication and electronics labs provide students and faculty with physical computing and fabrication resources. Located in room 2250 on the second floor of the Broad Art Center, the fabrication lab facilitates physical construction across several different media, including wood, metal, and plastics. In addition to traditional manual and powered fabrication equipment, such as table saws, drills, routers, and sanders, the fabrication lab features a growing collection of computer-aided milling and rapid- prototyping facilities. The adjacent electronics lab supports research and development for projects utilizing physical computing with the goal to move away from standard computer interfaces such as monitors and keyboards. The lab provides electronics fabrication resources, including soldering equipment, power supplies, multimeters, oscilloscopes, basic components, and micro controllers. Additionally, the electronics lab functions as a communal site for sharing and documenting physical computing experiments.
See the fablab website for more information.
The Print Lab offers high quality laser and large format poster printing on various paper stock to our students. Other services include video and photo equipment rental, booklet binding, and technical support for the instructional labs.
The shoot room is a dedicated studio used for professional photography and video production. The studio is equipped with a variety of lighting options, including moveable kinfolk floods, spots, soft boxes and photography strobes. The studio maintains multiple photography backdrops, a large blue screen and a state-of-the-art Reflecmedia curtain and camera ring for high quality chroma key shoots.
Additional specialty centers that offer environments dedicated to exploration in a particular area of study or inquiry include the Game Lab and the Art|Sci center.
The UCLA GAME LAB fosters the production of computer games and game related research. The lab supports exploration of these areas of focus: Game Aesthetics through experimentation in the look, sound, language and tactility of games; Game Context through development of games that involve the body, interface, physical space and performance in new ways; and Game Genres through examination of the socio-historic-political discourse around games and the development of new game genres that challenge the presently accepted boundaries of gaming.
The Game Lab's primary function is a research and production space for collaborative teams to pursue focused work on gaming projects, while benefiting from the technological infrastructure and expertise provided by the lab staff and faculty. This type of incubation space creates a context of community, interdisciplinary exchange, privacy, focus and continuity that is vitally conducive toward the completion of ambitious game projects. Professor Eddo Stern is the director of the Game Lab.
The Art | Sci Center is dedicated to facilitating the infinite potential of collaborations between contemporary artists and cutting edge scientists. The center was founded in 2005 in cooperation with California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, and the Department of Design | Media Arts and to date has organized over 200+ events, including lectures, workshops, symposia, mixers, and screenings. Themes range from artificial intelligence to nanotech, to designing with genetics and biomaterials, with an eye to address social, medical, ethical and environmental issues. Students, faculty and the public benefit from the international community that the center is actively part of including University of Tokyo, University of Tsukuba, Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna, Ars Electronica in Linz and Leonardo ISAST.
DMA offers a range of gallery spaces in the Broad Art Center including a multimedia and experimental space for installations and performances (the EDA), a dedicated graduate student gallery and, the New Wight Gallery, an exhibition space used by both the Department of Art and the Department of Design Media Arts.
The EDA (Experimental Digital Arts) is an experimental space designed for multimedia lecture presentations, performances, and exhibitions. The EDA was established in 1999 as a space to encourage dialogue between disciplines and experimentation with new technologies. The DMA website features a schedule of past and present events, as well as an extensive archive of streaming video documentation from all previous events.
The DMA Grad Student Gallery is a space primarily for the exhibition of MFA first year solo shows. The gallery is located on the ground floor of the Broad Art Center, adjacent to the EDA in room 1250 of the Broad Art Center.
Located on the ground floor of the Broad Art Center, the New Wight Gallery, established in 1995, is a vital center on the UCLA campus for the display and discussion of student art, design and media arts work. In winter and spring quarters, MFA exhibitions representing work from the UCLA Department of Art and the UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts are presented in the 5,500-square-foot gallery, offering each graduating MFA student a professional exhibition setting for their work and an appropriate venue for review by their graduate faculty committees.
DMA maintains its own library dedicated to media arts and design in the Broad Art Center, the Media Arts Research Space (MARS). UCLA's Arts Library, located a short distance from the Broad, is also an important resource to our students.
The Arts Library has more than 270,000 books in the fields of architecture, architectural history, art, art history, design, film, television, photography, theater, and allied disciplines. Approximately one-third of these holdings are stored in the Southern Regional Library Facility. Reference assistance is available during reference hours and via email. Detailed research guides are available online for Architecture and Design, Art and Art History, and Film, Television and Theater.


text:
Artist-in-Residence "AIR 3331"
B1F/2F - Galleries
Accessibility, Kids-Friendly
Countermeasures against COVID-19 at 3331 Arts Chiyoda
Notice of New Year Holiday
Press Release vol.2|POCORART World Exhibition - Latest information about the exhibited artworks and related events
Open to the community, an art center where anyone can encounter diverse expressions.
3331 Arts Chiyoda is an art center that was built through refurbishing former Rensei Junior High School, a Chiyoda City public school. Since 2010, it has served as both an artistic hub for anyone wanting to create, as well as a relaxing and open space for the community. Year after year, 3331 Arts Chiyoda has held countless programs including exhibitions, events, and workshops spanning fields beyond contemporary art from architecture and design to performing arts and local history and culture.
In the former classroom spaces of the basement and second floor, there are over 10 art galleries, each with their own exhibition concepts and presentations of artists'work.
Schedule Learn More
6-11-14, Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo JAPAN 101-0021
Tel: +81-(0)3-6803-2441(Main)
©2010 3331 Arts Chiyoda


text:
from End of the Trail
Stanley Friese
Obit: Thursday, October 23, 1980
Notices in this section are limited to names of those who have achieved pioneer status through many years in the North, or who are otherwise of unquestioned importance in the daily scene.
http://alaskamagazine.com
Stanley Friese, 62, former superintendent of Alaska State Operated Schools, died October 23 in Chula Vista, California, where he was vacationing. He came to Alaska in 1942 as a radio operator with the Army Signal Corps in Wrangell. He lived in Juneau in the 1950s, worked in California in the 1960s and returned to take the state schools post in 1971. He later was superintendent of schools in Ninilchik, and upon retirement in 1979 he and his wife Sue moved to Soldotna to operate a riverside campground. [Feb1981]
Source: Alaska Sportsman, Feb 1981
This obituary is printed here with special permission from the editor and is copyrighted as such.
Posted: 3-1-2013
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Obituaries Home • Contact Administrator • Partner Site - Our Family Tree


"Harry Potter receives 150 points for catching the Snitch! Gryffindor wins!"
Harry Potter is a natural born Quidditch player, and in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, he flies to victory despite having a bewitched Bludger chasing him. The Harry Potter (Quidditch Version) sixth scale collectible action figure shows Harry as seen in the film and features an all-new hand painted and highly detailed head sculpt with detailed expression. Harry is sportily attired in his red Quidditch robes, protective pads and boots, and his signature Gryffindor sweater. He is accompanied by his Nimbus 2000 broom and a Golden Snitch. Included with the figure is a multi-position stand with a green grass pattern base.


text:
ICMM publishes updated guidance on handling and resolving community concerns and grievances
The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) published an updated version of its guidance, Handling and Resolving Local-Level Concerns and Grievances: Human rights in the mining and metals sector. The guidance, originally published in 2009, integrates the eight effectiveness criteria of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The guidance also shares good practice on how mining and metals companies should design effective mechanisms to systematically handle and resolve community concerns or grievances, and provides practical tools to support companies with implementation.
ICMM company members recognize the importance of undertaking meaningful stakeholder engagement and commit to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The updated version was published on Dec. 10, Human Rights Day.
"Demonstrating transparency and accountability is fundamental to meaningful engagement with host communities," said ICMM chief executive officer Tom Butler. "Effective grievance mechanisms are a key part of a company's responsibility to respect human rights and can benefit both the company and host community by providing channels for resolving issues and building trust. I hope that ICMM's updated guidance will become an effective tool that responsible companies can use to put this into practice."


Learn maths online with our Functional Skills Maths Level 1 and Level 2 online courses. Functional Skills Maths Level 2 is the same as a GCSE Maths pass grade.
It's an online maths course for adults who need to retake their GCSE Maths. Level 2 Maths is the same as a GCSE Maths pass grade 1 to 3 (or A* to C on the old grading system).
Do you need learning support to help you pass your course? Choose one of our support packages. Our friendly, experienced maths tutors will help you pass your maths test.


With safety as a number one priority in this top-level family vehicle, the SafetyTec Group package is now standard with all 2018 Chrysler Pacifica models. Additionally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have also been made standard. Certain trims have also gained their own new standard items. The Touring Plus is now standard with a security alarm and remote start on top of all the features it had already offered and the Touring L now has a power passenger seat, perforated leather seats, and a new Premium Group with Alpine 12-speaker audio. Read on to find out more!
What safety features does the Pacifica offer?
The 2018 Pacifica comes with many standard features and offers even more standalone options or upper trim features. Some of the standard safety features available for all trim levels include KeySense to promote safe driving with teens, a rearview camera, rear parking sensors, traction control, child door locks, traction control, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. A Uconnect system is also added with voice control to help keep focus on the road.
What is under the hood of the Pacifica?
The Pacifica has two engine options. Both engines come with front-wheel drive. This minivan is one of the most powerful minivans money can buy with the standard transmission being a 3.6-liter V6 with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powerful engine comes with 287 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The EPA gave it a fuel economy rating of 28 miles per gallon. The second engine is the same fuel-friendly Atkinson-cycle engine, but with two electric motors of 16kWh batteries that boast a 260 horsepower output with 84 MPGe and a battery-only range of 33 miles with a full charge.
What are the various trim options?
The six Pacifica trim levels are L, LX, Touring Plus, Touring L, Touring L PLus, and the Limited. The L trim starts off with a standard rear parking sensor, heated mirrors, keyless entry, a rearview camera, a 7-inch touchscreen, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, Bluetooth, an auxiliary jack, and a six-speaker audio system. The LX adds tri-zone climate control, an automatic engine stop-start system, a driver information display, an eight-way power driver seat, and a stow 'n go seat for the second-row. The Touring Plus come with additional automatic headlights, LED taillights, foglights, automatic climate control, full keyless entry, satellite radio, remote engine start, a charge-only USB port, and power-sliding rear doors. The Touring L comes with a second-row USB port, heated front seats, and leather upholstery. The Touring L Plus then includes heated second-row seats, navigation, two sunroofs, ambient lighting, and a heated steering wheel. At the top of it all the Limited then adds on ventilated front seats, an in-vehicle vacuum cleaner, LED foglights, xenon headlamps, premium leather upholstery, and the ability to upgrade the rear entertainment system.
Are you looking for a great family vehicle with lots of space and powerful engine? Look no further than the Chrysler Pacifica. Come take a test drive with us!


text: Q: What is the difference between New Code feature in Sonarqube 8.9 Community edition and the Developer edition I would like to know the major difference between New Code feature in Sonarqube Community edition and the Developer edition. I browsed the internet but couldn't get any segregation on the features.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


While one of the best parts of the keto diet is getting control of your sugar cravings, sometimes it is still nice to have a bite of something sweet. Keto Ice Cream can be made at home for a fraction of the cost and tastes just as delicious as any keto ice cream brand.
I am not a huge fan of ice cream – but my family sure is – and having a sweet treat that keeps us all on track is a total win-win.
We have tried a couple keto friendly ice cream brands from the store, and still were not quite satisfied, so I took on the task to make it myself.
The beauty of making your own keto friendly ice cream is you can make it as sweet as you want!
I made mine a little less sweet – that way I could enjoy my Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies right along with it!
I did use an ice cream maker to make this – and highly recommend this one for making keto ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt, etc.
Place 2 cups of heavy whipping cream into a mixing bowl, and beat on high until it thickens and just begins to form semi-soft peaks.
Add the unsweetened vanilla almond milk and just ½ a teaspoon of liquid Stevia to the mixing bowl.
Taste the mixture to see if more sweetener needs to be added.
If you would like it to be sweeter, you can add another ½ teaspoon of liquid Stevia at this time.
Avoid adding too much liquid Stevia, as it can give your ice cream a bitter taste.
Once the mixture has thickened, pour it into your prepared ice cream maker, and make it according to your machine's instructions.
For us, it took about 20 minutes.
This delicious sweet keto treat will curb your sugar cravings without blowing your macros! Goes perfectly with my Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Taste the mixture to see if more sweetener needs to be added. If you would like it to be sweeter, you can add another ½ teaspoon of liquid Stevia at this time. Avoid adding too much liquid Stevia, as it can give your ice cream a bitter taste.
Once the mixture has thickened, pour it into your prepared ice cream maker, and make it according to your machine's instructions. For us, it took about 20 minutes.
Scoop the ice cream directly into serving bowls, and garnish it with chopped pecans. Leftover ice cream can be kept in the freezer in an airtight container.


Snowmass Village is getting a makeover, and there's going to be a whole lot more to do on the base area.
SNOWMASS - Snowmass Village has been undergoing a massive, $600 million renovation, changing the base area of the ski area and giving people a lot more to do.
There's a new hotel, high-end penthouses suites for sale, caviar crepes you can buy for $120.00, free ice skating and Colorado's tallest indoor climbing wall.
Here's a look at nine things you can check out.
The new Snowmass grounds will have free outdoor ice skating.
Try a $120 crepe. That's not a typo. But if you can't swing that, the Crepe Shack has crepes that cost $8, $9 or $10. But if there IS some money burning a hole in your pocket, try the caviar crepe with Maine salmon for $120.
There's a doughnut shop called Sweet Coloradough where you can get a doughnut and a shot of whisky.
Inside the new Limelight, you'll find Colorado's tallest indoor climbing wall. It stretches five stories right at the front entrance.
The wall has a granite-like surface that mirrors real rock walls near Snowmass, including the popular grotto area near Independence Pass.
Boulder-based Eldorado Climbing Walls designed the structure.
The Limelight also has a kids gaming lounge. There are toys, classic '80s video games and more modern gaming consoles to give the kids (or kids-at-heart) something to do (other than ski).
Looking for a second home and have a few million dollars? There are 11 high-end residence units in the Limelight. Three are still for sale. The least expensive is a little more than $2 million, with the most expensive close to $4.8 million.
If you become a member of the Snowmass Mountain Club, you will be a part of an exclusive private club with member parking, lockers and lounge space right at the base of the mountain.
Membership's not cheap. It starts at $50,000 and will go up to $100,000.
After skiing, grab a Snowmass S'mores. They're free from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day throughout the winter season courtesy of Snowmass Tourism.


text:
$(document).ready( function() {

    // Connection can take a second. Let the user know what's happening.
    addOutputMessage( "Connecting... see the debug console for log messages." );

    // This establishes a socket connection to the Coder device. A
    // socket conection stays open while the user is viewing this page,
    // which allows us to send a receive data very quickly from the device
    // instead of checking for updates multiple times a second.
    //
    // Coder.socketConnection.init takes a callback function that will
    // be executed once the connection is established. Anything that
    // requires an established connection in order to function
    // correctly should be placed in here.
    Coder.socketConnection.init(function(){

        // Each connection gets a unique ID.
        addOutputMessage( "Connected with ID: " + Coder.socketConnection.socketID );

        // Send a "connect" message to our Node page when we first connect.
        Coder.socketConnection.sendData( 'connect', {} );

        // Listen for a "buttonupdate" socket message from the device
        Coder.socketConnection.addListener( 'buttonupdate', function( d ){
            console.log("button gpio value: " + d);

            // The data we get should be an integer, 0 (off) or 1 (button pressed).
            var val = parseInt( d );
            if ( d === 1 ) {
                $("#buttonval").addClass('on');
            } else {
                $("#buttonval").removeClass('on');
            }
        });

        // Set an interval that will repeatedly send LED on and
        // LED off messages to the device. This will cause the led
        // to blink.
        blinkEnabled = false; // it's off by default
        setInterval( function() {
            // Only blink the LED if the user has
            // turned this feature on.
            if ( blinkEnabled ) {
                ledToggle(); // toggles the led. see below.
            }
        }, 100 ); // This function is repeatedly called every 100ms

        $("#blinkon").click( function() {
            startBlink();
            ledOn(); // start out with the light in the on state.
        });
        $("#blinkoff").click( function() {
            stopBlink();
            ledOff(); // also make sure the light is off
        });
        $("#toggle").click( function() {
            stopBlink(); // discontinue blinking in case it was running
            ledToggle(); // flip the LED state
        });

        // Treat this like a push button that turns the light off while
        // the mouse is pressed, and turns it off immediately on release.
        $("#push").on("mousedown", function() {
            stopBlink();
            ledOn();
        }).on("mouseup", function() {
            stopBlink();
            ledOff();
        });

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Unity of purpose ‒ unity of spirit!
7 Well known Kazakh athletes.
Ski Jump centre in Almaty, built for the Games.
One country only sent officials.
↑ ক খ Asiada2011 in the press ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ৯ জানুয়ারি ২০১১ তারিখে. Astana-almaty2011.kz (2011-01-21). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Olympic Council of Asia : News ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ২৭ জুলাই ২০১১ তারিখে. Ocasia.org (2011-01-13). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Athletes[স্থায়ীভাবে অকার্যকর সংযোগ]. Info.astana-almaty2011.kz. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Athletes[স্থায়ীভাবে অকার্যকর সংযোগ]. Info System. Retrieved on 2011-02-14.
↑ China target Winter Asiad for pre-Olympic training. News.xinhuanet.com (2011-01-21). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Olympic Council of Asia : News ওয়েবসাইটে আর্কাইভকৃত ১৫ জুলাই ২০১২ তারিখে. Ocasia.org (2011-01-08). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Players ready to shell out money but govt says no. Hindustan Times (2011-01-20). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ جهت حضور در هفتمین دوره بازیهای آسیایی زمستانی- قزاقستان؛ترکیب تیم ملی اسکی اعزامی به آلماتی مشخص شد ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ২২ জুলাই ২০১১ তারিখে. Olympic.ir. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ 167 athletes will represent Kazakhstan at the VII winter Asian games/ Khabar[স্থায়ীভাবে অকার্যকর সংযোগ]. Astana-almaty2011.kz. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ 제7회 동계아시아경기대회. Sports.or.kr. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Google Translate. Translate.google.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Ice rink needed to promote winter sports ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ২২ জুন ২০১১ তারিখে. Thestar.com.my. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ 19 Malaysian Athletes To Take Part In Asian Winter Games ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ২৮ জুন ২০১১ তারিখে. Bernama (2011-01-11). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Fil-Am skaters vie in Asian Winter Games | The Philippine Star >> News >> Sports আর্কাইভইজে আর্কাইভকৃত ১০ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০১২ তারিখে. Philstar.com. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Chen, May. (2011-01-07) He's Singapore's first winter games athlete আর্কাইভইজে আর্কাইভকৃত ৭ জুলাই ২০১২ তারিখে. Admpreview.straitstimes.com:90. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Olympic Council of Asia : News ওয়েব্যাক মেশিনে আর্কাইভকৃত ২৭ জুলাই ২০১১ তারিখে. Ocasia.org (2011-01-10). Retrieved on 2011-02-02.
↑ Info System[স্থায়ীভাবে অকার্যকর সংযোগ]. Info.astana-almaty2011.kz. Retrieved on 2011-02-02.


If you're a military veteran and have suffered disabilities connected to your service, the Obama Administration wants to let your private insurance foot the bill, not the VA.
Basically that means that veterans who do have private insurance, will see their rates sky-rocket and there will be aging veterans, older WW2/Korean vets, and even younger generation veterans as well, that simply wouldn't be able to afford any care for their service-connected injuries.
No link to back this up? If Obama really does this, it would severly hurt his chances at a second term, even if the economy does improve.
In general i'm an Obama supporter, but one thing i'm not a big fan of is the bank bailout money. How in the hell is that supposed to help us anyways?
yeah dirk stojakovic is a douche bag.
because if you're American the backbone of your economy is finance.
if your backbone is broken you are a cripple.
do you want to see America become crippled?
Who will push the wheelchair?
When the banks had the money they were still crippled by their crooked practices. Fixing the problem at its root should be the bigger focus so that we're not dumping more money and fostering more corruption.
why is that on obama? he wasnt president when it passed.
didn't Bush pass this into law?
This is definitely true, it's not some made up extreme right smear. Pretty disgusting thing to propose, no matter how much money it'd save taxpayers. I don't even know how you'd expect such a thing to be passed, unless that's the point. Reach some sort of compromise like allowing the VA to bill Medicare.


text:
George Soros, Charles Koch team up to form antiwar think tank
CP Current Page: Politics | Monday, July 01, 2019
By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post Reporter | Monday, July 01, 2019
Liberal financier George Soros speaks at the World Economic Forum.
Liberal billionaire businessman George Soros and libertarian billionaire businessmen Charles Koch have teamed up to form a nonprofit centered on advancing pacifist foreign policy.
Known as The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, the new organization was named after former president John Quincy Adams, who championed isolationism, according to a Boston Globe story published Sunday.
According to its website, the Quincy Institute says that it seeks "a new foreign policy centered on diplomatic engagement and military restraint."
"Political leaders have increasingly deployed the military in a costly, counterproductive, and indiscriminate manner, normalizing war and treating armed dominance as an end in itself," stated the Institute.
"The current moment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring together like-minded progressives and conservatives and set U.S. foreign policy on a sensible and humane footing. Our country's current circumstances demand it."
As of Monday, the Institute was still in its infancy when it came to social media outreach. The Facebook page's earliest post was from last Thursday. While its Twitter account is listed as beginning in March, the first post was on Sunday.
The partnership is significant as both Soros and Koch are the subject of much partisan hatred in American politics, with both usually being associated with political conspiracy theories.
In response to the news, Nick Gillespie of the libertarian-leaning publication Reason celebrated the creation of the Institute as "a welcome sign that worn-out, old political coalitions are making way for new alliances."
"The Quincy Institute, drawing financial and ideological support from parts of the political spectrum that aren't supposed to row in the same direction, is the latest sign that a 21st-century politics, one rooted in the way we live now and committed to finding answers to our present and future predicaments, is at long last emerging," wrote Gillespie.
Noted conservative writer and co-founder of The Weekly Standard Bill Kristol was more critical, taking to his Twitter account to defend U.S. foreign policy.
"75 years of a US-led liberal international order, based on a US forward presence and backed by US might, with regional and bilateral alliances and relatively free trade, has enabled remarkable peace and prosperity. But let's go back to the 1920's and 30's!" tweeted Kristol.
Soros and Koch have also teamed up along with others for the After Charlottesville Project, which is aimed at combating online extremism.
Created in response to the white nationalist rally held in the Virginia city of Charlottesville in 2017, the Project is scheduled to hold a conference later this month, according to the Observer.
5 bipartisan accomplishments of the 115th Congress
National Prayer Breakfast keynote: Don't let 'tribal divisions' stop you from pursuing the good
World Refugee Day: Christian charity group lobbies against Trump admin refugee cap
Prison Fellowship Praises Koch Decision to Not Ask Job Applicants About Criminal Record: Represents Gospel Message of Redemption


The other day, someone wrote into the radio station I was listening to to say, "winter's almost over, enjoy it while you can". It seemed like one of the most alien concepts a Canadian could encounter at the end of a particularly harsh February. It was in direct opposition to everything I had seen while wandering the Internet as I ate my breakfast. I had scrolled past three individual text-over-image posts conveying nothing other than, hey guys, remember bonfires? with thousands of likes each, an ad announcing that spring styles are in stores now!, a recipe for a summer cocktail, 11 Reasons Why We Hate Vancouver Right Now, and several other reminders of how much North America hates winter only a few hours earlier.
After my second year of trying, obstinately, to create an appreciation of winter so I could trick myself into liking it, thereby mitigating my winter sadness, I found this stranger's words incredibly inspiring. It's -12°C right now, -20°C with the windchill, but the sun is out and shining through the icicles that hang from every building in the city, the sky is that bright, crisp blue the you only get to see when it's too cold to snow, the rich, dark brown branches of the bare trees are silhouetted against streets and houses covered in a downy blanket of blindingly bright white snow, I'm wearing a cardigan several sizes too big for me because I stole it from my husband's side of the closet and I'm happy.
I think a huge part of embracing winter is getting out of the house, by choice, on days like these and spending some time soaking it all in. That's why when my husband asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday this year, I said "go to the beach".
I didn't grow up near the beach so driving across the city just to see some frozen water was quite novel and exhilarating for me. My friends couldn't understand why I would do such a thing.
It was quiet. The carousal was boarded up for winter, the obnoxiously buff volley ball guys were gone and there wasn't a single family reuniting over hot dogs. It was just us, the birds, a few people playing hockey out on the ice and a handful of other couples in the know. It was cold, otherworldly and beautiful.


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Myths and Legends That Will Make You Want to Travel to Aklan!
Beyond just the stunning beaches of Boracay, Aklan has other destinations that attract people. There are the Jawili Falls, Bakhawan Eco Park, Alta Vista de Boracay, and many others. More than just these attractions, Aklan also has a mysticism to it that draws people in. From a miraculous wooden figure to a mythical beast, the province has colorful myths and legends you may never have heard of before. Read on to know more about this mystical place. Beyond Boracay culture that you have grown to love, you'll have other reasons to travel to Aklan!
The arrival of Bornean kings
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia
Considered the oldest province of the Philippines, Aklan's story takes us back to mid-13th century. Legend or not, the province's story started with 10 Bornean datus landing on the shore of Sirwakan River with their families in the 1250s. They were escaping the tyranny of the Bornean king Sultan Makatunaw and were in search of new lands.
The leader of the expedition, Datu Puti, met with the Atis, the black-skinned aboriginal inhabitants of Panay Island.
The ten Bornean datus who formed part of the expedition were Datu Puti, Datu Domalogdog, Datu Libay, Datu Paduhinogan, Datu Bangkaya, Datu Balensuela, Datu Dumangsil, Datu Dumangsol, Datu Paiborong, and Datu Sumakwel. Ati King Marikudo and Queen Maniwang-tiwang gave the datus a friendly welcome.
Datu Puti and Ati King Marikudo arrived at an agreement. Lands were traded for a gold saduk (wide-brimmed hat), gold long-chained necklace, and other items like jewelry, clothes made of fine fabric and armaments. This trade is known in history as the "Barter of Panay." A grand feast joined by Borneans and Atis followed the selling of the land. The grand celebration that included singing, dancing, and a rich banquet is said to be the beginning of the traditional Ati-atihan Festival.
The selling of the land forced the Atis to give way to the families of the datus and live in the hinterlands instead.
The story of miracle behind the Ati-atihan Festival
Filipinos celebrate the Ati-atihan Festival every January. The celebration is known to be a form of devotion to the Santo Niño. What many Filipinos do not know is that there's a richer story behind the festival.
The story starts with an old couple in Barangay Naile in the early early-1700s. An unnamed fisherman went to catch fish in the river. Instead of catching fish, he caught a piece of wood instead. He kept trying to throw the wood away, but it would return to his net every time. Feeling dismayed over his misfortune, he brought the wood home and put it aside to use as fuel. He went to sleep with his wife but was later roused by a beating sound nearby. They were surprised to find the carving of a child in place of the piece of wood.
The couple placed the wooden child in their altar and started receiving blessings like abundant fish harvests. After several weeks the fisherman went to a priest to seek advice. The priest instructed the fisherman to bring the wooden child to the Ibajay Parish. Several days later, the townspeople started to wonder why the piece of wood always disappeared from the parish only to be found back again at the fisherman's home. They eventually took this as a sign that they needed to repent and seek forgiveness for their sins. As part of their penance, they blackened their faces with coal and dressed in rags. The piece stopped disappearing from the parish after they started doing this ritual.
One day, Spaniards from Mindoro tried to invade Ibajay. The townspeople fought back, and dedicated their victory to the statue. To this day, the symbolic battle continues to be commemorated as part of the Ati-atihan Festival in Ibajay. In 1978, Padre Fernando de Legaspi of Malinao got word of the yearly Ibajay celebration. He walked several kilometers to reach the town, witnessed the revelry and decided to duplicate the celebrations when he was assigned in the town of Kalibo. And that was the start of the yearly Ati-atihan festival celebrated in Aklan.
The mythical aswang
Beyond stories of kings and miracles, mythical creatures have also captured the imagination of Aklanons. One such creature is the aswang. The aswang takes on the form of a human during the day and transforms into a monstrous form to prowl the night for humans to eat. The aswang often changes into an animal form, usually into a tiktik or a big black bird with a long tongue. It also takes the form of a pig, cat or black dog. Some aswangs can transform to another form at will while others use a concoction of foul oils prepared by albularyos or local faith healers.
The locals believe that to fend off the attack of an aswang, they'd have to leave their brooms upside down, keep a blessed dagger in their home, and place a "badiawan twig" at their home's windows.
The horrific manananggal
Rife with Aklan myths, the province has no shortage of horror stories. In 1997, a story spread across Aklan of villagers who claim to have found a manananggal. This creature is believed to be capable of separating its upper body from its hips and legs and to sprout batlike wings. This hideous creature is often female. She flies into the night sky to look for a human prey.
The story of the manananggal started to form its own wings when a group of men claimed to have seen the wakwak, another local name for the manananggal. They said they failed to see the manananggal's body as it was covered with her wings. Neither did they see her face as it was covered with her hair. They said they were certain, nonetheless, that it was a manananggal. Other residents also claimed to have had seen the creature, describing it as a woman with red eyes. The people scrambled the village for the horrific creature but failed to catch one.
The favored beast of the Aklanon god
Another known mythical creature in Aklan is the panigotlo, said to be the favored beast of Gamhanan, the Aklanon god. As Aklan legends would have it, if the panigotlo is heard making a wavering cry during a full moon, particularly before midnight, then the next day is expected to have an abundant harvest. If the wavering cry is, however, heard after midnight then it is taken as an omen that something bad is about to happen.
Legends and myths, though they may not be real, makes a culture more interesting. It shows how creative the locals are when crafting these stories and also reflects their rich history. The next time you travel to the province, make sure you experience more of the rich Aklan culture. Alta Vista de Boracay, a luxurious condotel perched atop a mountain peak, is just the place of refuge you need as base for your little adventure. Have the time of your life in Aklan!


ALEXIS SANCHEZ launched Arsenal back in the title hunt last night.
He scored one, made another and made a complete mess of Watford's defence.
He was helped by Alex Iwobi, who has turned his back on England but not Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
The pair combined to make mincemeat of Watford and were helped by Mesut Ozil, Arsenal's current fall guy.
There was also substitute Theo Walcott scoring in added time to make it a goalfest.
And after avenging Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to the Hornets last month, Wenger warned his title rivals – write us off at your peril.
It is not a shoo-in Leicester will be crowned champions. And Tottenham, the youngest team in the Premier League, could yet crumble.
Never write off Arsenal. Remember 1989 when they had to beat Liverpool at Anfield by two goals to win the title?
It is foolish to write Arsenal off, although they will face much tougher opposition than Watford yesterday.
Watford seem to almost be in FA Cup semi-final mode and nothing else matters. They will need to step up their game to beat Crystal Palace to claim a place in next month's final.
It all adds up to a fascinating title run-in, particularly as Arsenal have got the likes of Sanchez to raise their game while Ozil still has much to offer after being given an ear-bashing by Wenger for believing it was all over.
But yesterday Arsenal were as breathlessly good as Watford were poor. So how does that feel to those who have called for Wenger's head?
They are likely to still fall short but another season of Champions League football beckons and many teams would settle for that.
This season was Arsenal's best chance to take their first title since 2004. But then who would have believed Leicester would be the surprise package – and Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City would collapse quicker than 5p supermarket plastic carrier bags?
Arsenal fans have got to be realistic. This has not been a bad season.
Deposed holders Arsenal were geared up for revenge after being booted out of the FA Cup by Watford at The Emirates.
They took the lead after just four minutes and added to Watford's woes as being one of the worst clubs in the Premier League in 2016.
Wenger had demanded in his programme notes they be more efficient, ruthless and correct previous mistakes. And Sanchez and Iwobi answered his call.
Watford had bruised egos and ambitions by beating Arsenal 2-1 in the FA Cup last month by scoring with their only two shots on goal.
It led to a massive outpouring of angst by Gunners fans who have since paraded banners demanding that Wenger goes.
But Wenger admitted being disappointed that Iwobi, a youngster Arsenal had have nurtured since he was seven, has opted to play for Nigeria, the country of his birth, instead of England.
So England's loss floated over a cross for Sanchez to see his header palmed out by Watford keeper Heurelho Gomes but was alert to fire home the rebound.
Arsenal scored their second in the 38th minute when Sanchez returned the favour and supplied the pass for Iwobi to turn home.
Arsenal, having scored just six goals in their last eight home games in all competitions despite averaging 25 shots for each goal, again showed their ability to go forward, often slowly at times as they showboated.
But when in decent areas they showed they can also be lethal. This showed again in the 49th minute when Sanchez worked one-twos with team-mates and then saw his cross pushed out to Hector Bellerin whose shot was deflected in off Ben Watson.
Arsenal continued to dominate and finished in style, Ozil whipping a 45-yard crossfield pass that substitute Joel Campbell crossed for fellow sub Theo Walcott to score in the 90th minute.
Flores said: "We are not happy. I would like to think we are not in semi-final thoughts.


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