text:
Jones Cup: Hossler, Grimmer, Hamilton tied for 36-hole lead
by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: View results for Jones Cup, Ocean Forest Golf Club, Will Grimmer Rankings
Will Grimmer
SEA ISLAND, Georgia (Feb 5, 2016) -- Three players at even par have taken a three shot lead at the Jones Cup, as another blustery day made the already-challenging course even more demanding.
Will Grimmer, a U.S. Open Veteran (Pinehurst, 2014 at age 17) who plays for Ohio State, excels in challenging conditions and for the second-straight day posted even-par 72. His card went nearly unblemished -- after opening with a par on the first hole and following with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 2 and 3, Grimmer parred every hole coming in except the par-4 11th, where he took a double bogey.
Blair Hamilton of Canada added a 73 to his first round 71 to stand at 144, where he is joined by a third player, the No. 3 ranked amateur (Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com rankings) Beau Hossler, fresh off a win for Texas at the Arizona Intercollegiate.
First round leader Taylor Funk had trouble matching his first round leading 69 -- his 79 puts him in a tie for 7th at 148 with Chase Koepka and Todd White. White, who competed on the 2013 winning USA Walker Cup team, is the low Mid-Am in the field.
The winner of the Jones Cup gets and exemption into the PGA Tour's RSM Classic for the second straight year. The tournament will be played later this year from Nov. 17-20.
FIRST ROUND STORY
Taylor Funk has taken the first-round lead at the Jones Cup Invitational in Georgia. He was the only player to break 70 as cold and breezy conditions added to the already daunting 7321 yard Ocean Forest Golf Club.
The Texas Longhorn sophomore and son of eight-time PGA Tour winner Fred Funk carded five birdies to go along with two bogeys. He holds a one shot lead over teammate Beau Hossler who is continuing his strong play coming off a win at the Arizona Intercollegiate.
University of Houston's Blair Hamilton and Florida State's Hand Lebioda were the only other players to break par, each opening with 1-under par 71. Todd White is the low Mid-am thus far after a 2-over 74.
TOURNAMENT PREVIEW
The names of those who have played the Jones Cup Invitational reads like a leaderboard on today's Tour. Jordan Spieth. Bubba Watson. Rickie Fowler. Dustin Johnson. Brandt Snedeker. The list goes on, and it's quite impressive.
This year, the list of participants is equally impressive. The mostly-collegiate field also includes amateur stalwarts Mike McCoy and Scott Harvey, high school stars Cole Hammer and Philip Barbaree, as well as top international ams like Romain Langasque.
The Jones Cup has been played at Sea Island, Georgia since 2001. The three-day competition will not have a defending champion this year as last year's winner, Austin Connelly, turned pro with guidance and advise from Jordan Spieth. Here's a brief look at contenders for the 2016 Cup, held at the 7,321-yard Ocean Forest Golf Club.
University of Texas star junior Beau Hossler is currently the #3-ranked player in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com player rankings. He is coming off a win at the Arizona Collegiate, already his second win of the season. Hossler feels at home playing in windy conditions, which is often the case on the Ocean Forrest course at Sea Island.
After finishing T-3 last year at the Jones Cup, Alabama senior Tom Lovelady looks to make a big return. The Birmingham native finished a stroke behind the leaders last year. His teammate Dru Love should feel right at home – it is, after all, where he lives, and he won the Georgia State Am at Sea Island's Seaside Course last July.
Frenchman Romain Langasque is the #7 ranked player in the Golfweek/AGC rankings and is coming off a strong 2015 where he won the British Am and dominated in the Ten Nations Cup. He would love to get a win on American soil after making it to the final 64 at the US Amateur last season.
Twenty-year old Lipscomb University student Dawson Armstrong of Brentwood, Tennessee is one to watch. Ranked at #15, Armstrong had an impressive 2015 season winning the Western Amateur and the Dogwood Invitational.
There are plenty of other talented players who will surely make a run at this year's title. Chase Koepka, Taylor Funk, Gavin Hall, Hank Lebioda (finished T-3 last year with Tom Lovelady) and Matt NeSmith, just to name a few.
Play begins Friday with Mid-Am legend Mike McCoy leading the first group off the tee at 9:00 a.m.
Results: Jones Cup
1 Beau Hossler Mission Viejo, CA 1200 70-74-70=214
T2 Matt NeSmith North Augusta, SC 900 74-73-73=220
T2 Blair Hamilton Canada 900 71-73-76=220
T4 Adrian Meronk Poland 700 79-72-70=221
T4 Matthias Schwab Austria 700 77-73-71=221
View full results for Jones Cup
ABOUT THE Jones Cup
The Jones Cup is probably the biggest of the springtime amateur majors in the United States, and the reason is the venue and the strong U.S. and international field. The past champions list is littered with PGA Tour stars, including Justin Thomas, Patrick Reed, Luke List, Kyle Stanley, Beau Hossler and several others.
This 54-hole individual stroke-play event, inaugurated in 2001, is played at Ocean Forest Golf Club. The Rees Jones design opened in 1995 and has hosted the Georgia State Amateur Championship, the Southern Amateur Championship and the 2001 Walker Cup Match. The Jones Cup brings together many of the finest amateurs from the United States and abroad for a three-day competition.
The Jones Cup was born from a deep commitment to amateur golf by the A.W. Jones family, who founded the Cloister and Sea Island Golf Club in 1928. The Sea Island Golf Club has played host to seven USGA championships. The Jones Cup is yet another extension of the family's strong involvement in amateur golf.


text:
Golden generation
Argentina at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
By Thore Haugstad | Jan 26, 2015 | 2 comments
Illustration: Sammy Moody
In the summer of 2008, Argentina took a burgeoning squad to the Beijing Olympics that contained Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero, two hotshots in their early twenties; Juan Román Riquelme, who, at thirty, had returned to Boca Juniors; and Ángel Di María, a slight winger who had moved to Benfica a year earlier. It was a gloomy time for the South Americans. Their last senior trophy had come in 1993, at the Copa América in Venezuela, after which they had not reached a single semi-final of a World Cup. In the 2002 edition, led by Marcelo Bielsa and spearheaded by Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Sebastián Verón, Pablo Aimar and Hernán Crespo, they stumbled in the group stage; four years later, under José Pékerman, they lost to Germany in the quarter-finals. In between, they had suffered two traumatic Copa América exits, in 2004 and 2007. It was not just that they squandered both finals, on penalties in 2004 and through a 3-0 drubbing in 2007. They lost them to Brazil.
Amid the darkness, some rays of light had emerged. Four years earlier, at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Argentina came close to playing the perfect tournament. The roster, managed by Bielsa, featured Javier Mascherano, Gabriel Heinze, Fabricio Coloccini, Andrés D'Alessandro, Javier Saviola and the captain, Roberto Ayala. (Ayala was one of three over-age players, the maximum allowed per squad at Olympic football tournaments. The other members must be under twenty-three.) The star was a Boca youngster named Carlos Tévez, who scored eight times, including the winner in the final against Paraguay. Argentina won all six matches, scoring seventeen goals, and becoming the first side to win a FIFA competition without conceding. It was their first Olympic gold in football, avenging final defeats against Uruguay, in 1928, and Nigeria, in 1996. The victory predetermined certain expectations. When the 2008 squad landed in China, only gold would satisfy.
Sixteen teams would participate at the Games. The four European sides—England, Serbia, Belgium and the Netherlands—had qualified by reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 European U-21 Championship. (The Dutch beat Serbia 4-1 in the final.) Nine teams qualified through regional preliminary tournaments: Honduras and the United States (CONCACAF); Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Nigeria (Africa); Australia, Japan and South Korea (Asia); New Zealand (Oceania). China were dealt a spot as hosts. Argentina and Brazil booked their tickets as the top two of the 2007 South American Youth Championship, hosted in Paraguay. It took place in January, so by the time the Olympics kicked off, their places had been confirmed for eighteen months.
The tournament had been an Argentine cliff-hanger. Its timing meant hardly any Europe-based players travelled, leaving the squad vastly weaker than the Olympic version. Notable members included Di María, then a skinny midfielder with Rosario Central; Éver Banega, a tenacious playmaker at Boca; Claudio Yacob, a defensive midfielder with Racing Club; and Franco Di Santo, a lanky striker at Audax Italiano, in Chile. Familiar faces also graced their rivals' squads. Brazil called up Alexandre Pato, the Internacional wunderkind soon to be signed by AC Milan, plus Luiz Adriano, Fernando and Willian. Chile had the second-highest scorer of the tournament in Colo-Colo midfielder Arturo Vidal. Uruguay had the top scorer, Edinson Cavani.
The cup format was bisected. There were two initial groups consisting of five teams each, from which the top three would progress to a final six-team group. From there, the top two would reach China. In the first phase, Argentina scraped into third despite winning one of their first four matches. They owed it to Colombia, who overturned a 0-1 deficit against Venezuela in the final round. In the second phase, with one round left, Brazil were on nine points, Uruguay on seven, Argentina on six. The Brazilians met Colombia while Argentina faced Uruguay, needing to win. Argentina's form was ominous: they entered the finale having scored once in their last three encounters. On the day, Brazil sank the Colombians 2-0 to take the title, while in the duel between Argentina and Uruguay, Lautaro Acosta, the Argentina forward, headed in the winner that earned La Albiceleste qualification. The victory was very much a marginal one. When Acosta scored, the clock stood at ninety-two minutes.
With passage sealed, Argentina started to ready the squad. The final list would include fifteen players aged under twenty-three and three over-age players. The coach would be Sergio Batista. El Checho had been a bearded defensive midfielder in the Argentina sides that won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and finished runners-up in 1990 in Italy. His two assistants were also in the 1986 squad: José Luis Brown, a central defender, scored the opener in the 3-2 final win against West Germany, while Héctor Enrique, a midfielder, assisted Diego Maradona's solo goal against England in the quarter-finals. (For which he would be wise not to take too much credit.) Batista's managerial record was modest. A couple of short-lived spells with domestic clubs had recently paved way for an appointment in Argentina's youth set-up. After being handed the Olympic gig, he said: "Four months ago, if somebody had said that I'd get this opportunity, I wouldn't have believed them. Now's the moment to show that I'm up to the job."
The talent pool available to Batista was unparalleled. A core of top-class youngsters had risen through the ranks in preceding years. They were accustomed to trophies. In 2005 and 2007, Argentina had won the U-20 World Cup with several of the players that would travel to China. In 2005, under Francisco Ferraro, they beat Nigeria in the final, on Dutch soil, with a squad that included Óscar Ustari, Pablo Zabaleta, Ezequiel Garay, Fernando Gago, Messi and Agüero. (Messi and Agüero were the only members born later than 1986.) Two years later, under Hugo Tocalli, they beat the Czech Republic in the final showpiece, in Canada, with players such as Sergio Romero, Federico Fazio, Banega, Di María and Acosta.
The U-20 World Cups had been dominated by either one of Argentina's two brightest stars. In 2005, an 18-year-old Messi became the top scorer with six goals; he was also declared the player of the tournament, ahead of Fernando Llorente. When it became clear that Messi would miss the 2007 edition, the scene was set for Agüero. The Atlético Madrid forward hit six goals too, and became the top scorer, the player of the tournament, and the scorer of the goal of the tournament. The winning strike was remarkable. Facing Poland, in the round of 16, Agüero received a low ball just inside the area, tightly marked, with his back towards goal. On the bounce, he looped it over the defender with his right foot before, on the other side, striking it first time with his left, hammering it into the far bottom corner.
In the six months prior to the Olympics, Argentina shred nerves over whether Messi and Agüero would participate. The call-up process was not straightforward. The tournament would last from the seventh to the twenty-third of August, interfering with preparations and season openings for European clubs. To FIFA's annoyance, no statute existed that demanded the players be released for Olympic duty. After Argentina qualified, in 2007, Messi had expressed an early interest. "From now on, those of us who are the right age to go to China can really start looking forward to taking part," he said. "I'd just joined the national team youth set-up when Argentina won the gold medal in Athens, so it would be incredible to be there defending the title next year."
By January 2008, Batista had confirmed two of his senior players. Riquelme and Mascherano would join the party, the latter getting a chance to become the first footballer to win two Olympic gold medals. The third had not been selected. Batista said: "It's difficult to confirm now because there are still a few months left, but if the tournament were to start today, I'd take Román, Mascherano and [Martín] Demichelis as the over-age players. I just love how Riquelme plays, Mascherano provides the necessary balance in midfield and Martín would add experience to our backline."
Complications over player call-ups soon began. When Batista named a La Liga contingent for a friendly to be played in February, he picked Banega, Gago, Gonzalo Higuaín, Agüero, Zabaleta and Messi. But Messi did not go. Barcelona withheld him, citing fear over injuries. A feud started between the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the club that would last until August. If Messi travelled to China, Barça would miss him for two qualifying ties in the Champions League, so they vetoed his involvement. The AFA did have one advantage: Messi wanted to go. "I am going to the Olympic Games whatever may happen," he said in June. "I do not know how we can resolve things, but there is no doubt that I will be there."
By the summer of 2008, Messi had long risen to stardom. He had scored for Argentina at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, and had completed four seasons with Barcelona under Frank Rijkaard. He had converted the Maradona-esque 'Hand of God' goal against Espanyol, and that solo run against Getafe. Maradona had declared him his successor. Veron agreed, saying: "I see Maradona every time he grabs the ball and accelerates." In 2007, Messi had finished third for the Ballon d'Or; in 2008, he came second. Though unpolished, he was unbelievably quick at the time, notably more so than now. Aged 21, he had nothing to do with youth football. For that he was much too good.
In late July, Schalke 04, Werder Bremen and Barcelona filed a complaint to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking legal confirmation over their powers to block call-ups. They got it. As late as the sixth of August, the day before the opening game, the Court ruled in favour of the trio. Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, said in a statement: "FIFA is surprised and disappointed by this decision, but we respect it. Nevertheless, I appeal to the clubs: let your players take part in the Olympic Games. It would be an act of solidarity in perfect harmony with the Olympic spirit. It would be wonderful for the players, for the fans and for the game itself."
With the announcement made so close to the tournament, the Argentine party had long travelled to China. Messi was included: there was never a chance of the AFA leaving him in Spain in case the ruling turned out negative. Barcelona could now demand his return, though Batista issued the argument that Messi wanted to play. He had no intentions of letting him go. "He will be on the start list for tomorrow from the beginning, and I am sure he can be here with us for the rest of the competition," the coach said.
Reportedly, it was Pep Guardiola, the new Barça coach, who eventually persuaded the club board to let Messi play. Potentially contributory was the fact Guardiola had won gold himself, at the 1992 Olympics, in a Spain team that also featured Luis Enrique. To Argentina's relief, the issue was resolved. Messi stayed in China.
If Argentina's rivals had been worried earlier, they certainly were now. Messi's inclusion completed what was already the strongest squad of the tournament. The rest of the list had long been confirmed. Bayern München had blocked the availability of Demichelis, leaving Batista to call up Internazionale defender Nicolás Burdisso. When Burdisso got injured, the choice fell on Nicolás Pareja, of Belgian side Anderlecht.
The full squad:
Óscar Ustari (aged 22)
Sergio Romero (aged 21)
Ezequiel Garay (aged 21)
Luciano Fabián Monzón (aged 21)
Pablo Zabaleta (aged 23)
Federico Fazio (aged 21)
Nicolás Pareja (aged 24)
Fernando Gago (aged 22)
José Sosa (aged 23)
Éver Banega (aged 20)
Juan Román Riquelme (aged 30)
Ángel Di María (aged 20)
Javier Mascherano (aged 24)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (aged 23)
Lautaro Acosta (aged 20)
Lionel Messi (aged 21)
Sergio Agüero (aged 20)
Diego Buonanotte (aged 20)
Several squad members had already been snapped up by Spanish clubs. Ustari, the first-choice goalkeeper, was with Getafe; Sergio Romero, his understudy, was playing for AZ in the Netherlands under Louis van Gaal. Zabaleta was contracted to Espanyol, and would sign for Manchester City shortly after the tournament. Garay had recently been sold to Real Madrid, but would return to Racing Santander on loan the next season. Pareja would soon join Espanyol. Fazio was at Sevilla. The only defender not connected to Spain was Luciano Fabián Monzón, a youngster at Boca.
Three of the midfielders had also been at Boca. Gago had been signed by Real Madrid, while Banega had gone to Valencia. Riquelme had returned to the Bombonera on a permanent contract, having initially joined on loan from Villarreal. Elsewhere in midfield were José Sosa, a youngster with Bayern, and Mascherano, of Liverpool.
In attack, the backups to Messi and Agüero were promising. Ezequiel Lavezzi had been with Napoli for a year, while Acosta had recently signed for Sevilla after impressing with Lanús, in Argentina. In the mix was Diego Buonanotte, the tricky River Plate playmaker. Also in contention was a midfielder whose standing was, by then, lower than it came to be. After the tournament, a story on FIFA's official website would note that "Argentina's squad list for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament featured the usual welter of established stars and some lesser-known names, among them Angel Di María."
Earlier, in April, the groups had been drawn. Argentina were paired with Ivory Coast, Australia and Serbia. It evoked memories of the 2006 World Cup pool, where Argentina met both Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro. After such draws, coaches are traditionally keen to display knowledge and a sense of preparation, but Batista admitted he knew little of how their rivals would play. Neither did he know who they would bring. "I always look at my own team first, and I know that if we are OK, we'll have no problems," he said. "They should be worried, because they will face one of the favourites."
Like in 2006, Argentina would face the Ivorians in their opener. Despite an unfortunate dress rehearsal—Argentina's last warm-up game, against Japan, had been called off due to heavy rain and lightening—Batista's men were clear favourites, lining up with Ustari; Zabaleta, Garay, Pareja, Monzón; Mascherano, Gago; Lavezzi, Riquelme; Messi, Agüero. The pre-match expectations were best summarised by Mascherano. "The biggest threat to Argentina will be Argentina itself," he said.
Once the game had kicked off, Riquelme wasted little time in showcasing his lauded vision. He threaded a perfect pass through to Messi, who, clear on goal, finished calmly. It was the combination many had discussed beforehand: the creativity of Riquelme; the live-wire movement of Messi and Agüero. Later, a towering header by Sekou Cissé made it 1-1, a result that stood until the eighty-fifth minute. In the eighty-sixth, Messi caught the African defence unaware with a quick free-kick on the edge of the box. He played a one-two and let fly. It was saved, but the rebound fell to Acosta, an eightieth-minute substitute, who bundled in the winner.
It was a huge relief for Argentina. The game had been close and Batista's men, for all their talent, had underwhelmed. Like in the qualifiers, Acosta had proved the saviour. "Do I only score important goals?," he said. "God is great, and I've been fortunate to have him on my side more than once."
If Batista knew his side needed improvement, drastic alterations to the line-up was not perceived as a solution. He made one change for the second game, against Australia: Pareja replaced Fazio. The Aussies were underdogs and defended accordingly; they sat deep and relied on spirit. It was raining heavily. Argentina's display was more convincing than for the Ivorian drama, but it was still far off full capacity. In the seventy-sixth minute, quick interplay between Riquelme and Messi set up Di María, who delivered a first-time cross for Lavezzi to convert. It proved enough. Rather than reflecting on the champagne football many had expected, the Argentina camp were made to grab the win and trudge home. "We didn't play as well as we'd hoped, which is why we struggled to win the game," said Batista. "But we've qualified now."
Joy and moodiness spread in the two camps. For Australia, the result and the performance had been nothing to hide from, though coach Graham Arnold wielded sarcasm when asked whether the drizzle had hampered his side's chances. "If it hadn't rained today, we would have won for sure," he quipped to the press. For Lavezzi, the goal had stirred special emotions. The match had been played on what was Children's Day back in Argentina, and, prior to kick-off, his three-year-old son, Tomas, had asked him over the phone: "Can you score a goal for me?"
With Argentina qualified, the Serbia encounter became a formality. Batista reintroduced Pareja and kept Fazio, handing Garay a rest. Romero replaced Ustari, while Monzón, Riquelme and Messi were given the day off. In came Sosa, Banega and Buonanotte. Argentina took command early. Di María was felled inside the area, with Lavezzi scoring the penalty. When Argentina were awarded a second spot kick, Di María decided to step up himself. It was not a good idea. He missed, only for the referee to order that it be retaken. Handed a second chance, Di María misfired again. The win was not wrapped up until six minutes before time, when Buonanotte sent a free-kick sailing into the net.
While Argentina had galumphed through their group, much had happened in the other three. Brazil, who had moved Dunga down from his senior post to manage the project, were desperate for gold. The Olympics was the only football tournament they had competed in without winning, and what had previously been viewed as a competitive irrelevance had by now turned into an annoyance. The squad reflected such sentiments. It included Hernanes, Marcelo, Diego, Pato, Ramires and Thiago Silva. (Dunga seemed not to favour the latter two, benching them for the first matches.) Brazil had also wanted Kaká as an over-age player, but Milan had blocked the move, so the seniors were Ronaldinho, Anderson and Lucas Leiva. Kaká was not missed at first. After the group phase, the Brazilians stood with three wins and a nine-zero goal difference.
Also in the quarter-finals were Belgium, whose line-up featured Vincent Kompany, Thomas Vermaelen, Marouane Fellaini, Jan Vertonghen, Kevin Mirallas and Moussa Dembélé. They had been unlucky to finish second. In the group's decisive match, Brazil came out 1-0 winners after Kompany and Fellaini had been sent off. The Belgians had been superb prior to Kompany's dismissal, and the winner, scored by Hernanes, came in the seventy-ninth minute.
The remainder of the big-hitters fell short of such kind of stardust. The profiles of Italy, who had topped their group without conceding, were Riccardo Montolivo, Sebastian Giovinco and Guiseppe Rossi. Behind them finished Cameroon, while Ivory Coast were runners-up in Argentina's group. The final pool had been won by Nigeria, who had Victor Obinna, Peter Odemwingie, Chinedu Obasi and Victor Anichebe. Behind them came the Netherlands, something Batista knew all too well. They would meet Argentina.
The Dutch squad was not particularly intimidating. Roy Makaay was among the over-age players, but most names on the roster had not yet reached the households. Nor would they. The more famous participants were Jonathan de Guzmán, Urby Emanuelson, Ryan Babel, Hedwiges Maduro and Royston Drenthe. They had drawn 0-0 with Nigeria, rescued a 2-2 against the United States three minutes into stoppage time, and edged past Japan thanks to a second-half penalty. Hardly results that would erode Batista's assurance.
Batista recalled his strongest line-up: Ustari returned, as did Garay, Monzón and Pareja to complete the back line with Zabaleta. Back in action were Gago, Mascherano, Di María and Riquelme; and Messi and Agüero. Argentina started the game at frenetic pace. Messi rose to the occasion, dribbling round goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen to score in the fourteenth minute. The Dutch replied before the break, Otman Bakkal converting a simple finish after pouncing on a shot blocked by Mascherano. The game went into extra time. After one hundred and five minutes, Messi resurfaced, finding Di María with a pass for the winning goal. "We were under the cosh for the opening fifteen minutes but after that we found our feet," Netherlands coach Foppe de Haan said in the aftermath. "Messi's contribution was extraordinary."
In the other quarter-finals, Belgium saw off Italy by 3-2, while Nigeria sank Ivory Coast 2-0. Argentina's next opponent had also been confirmed. Brazil beat Cameroon 2-0.
Only three days separated the quarter-finals and the semi-finals, but it was ample time for a solid pre-match build-up. Argentina had much to revenge. The pain of the Copa América defeats in 2004 and 2007 still lingered. Since the last final, the historical clash had found place just once: a 0-0 draw in Belo Horizonte, in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. The match in China came at a difficult time for Brazil, and particularly Dunga: while the Copa win in 2007 had been a personal triumph, his senior side had made a laborious start to the World Cup qualifiers. In a country prided on samba football and rhythmic artistry, Dunga had also drawn criticism for his pragmatic style: Brazil prioritised solidity and defensive discipline, utilising three ball-winners. Ugly wins were controversial. Ugly losses were condemned.
Prior to the match, Batista said: "There's a lot of mutual respect, and I'm sure we both would have preferred to avoid each other until the final. Let me make something clear, though: Brazil aren't any better than Argentina, even if they have won the last few meetings. They've just been having a good run, like we did back in the 90s."
Was he confident of victory? "We're going to beat them," he said. "I'm sure of that."
Batista chose the same eleven that had beaten the Netherlands, with one exception. In the quarter-finals, Ustari had been forced off because of injury, so Romero replaced him. Dunga sent out his side in a Christmas tree formation. The line-up was Renan; Rafinha, Breno, Alex Silva, Marcelo; Hernanes, Lucas, Anderson; Diego, Ronaldinho; Rafael Sóbis.
The encounter started cautiously. On eleven minutes, Rafinha cut dangerously in from the right, but poked his shot wide. A minute later, a quick free-kick found Agüero, who missed the target from nine yards. Few other chances came in the first half, but, with so much talent on display, a show of finesse was inevitable. Ronaldinho earned cheers with slick dribbles and trickery. Messi ran circles round the defenders. At one point, Riquelme found Messi on the left with a reverse pass so well disguised that Lucas, trying to shift his feet, fell on his back.
The opener came just after the break, when Argentina tightened a grip. Again, Di María proved decisive. The winger cannoned in a cross that Agüero, rushing into the area, converted with his stomach. "To tell you the truth," Di María would later say, "it was meant to be a shot, not a cross. Luckily, I didn't catch it right, and El Kun was able to steer it into the net."
Six minutes on, Messi dribbled across the defence and found Garay, who smashed a low cross across goal. Agüero tapped it in. The Argentine fans erupted and, up in the VIP box, Maradona could be seen punching the air. Brazil had chances to come back. In between the two goals, Rafael Sóbis had hit the lower left woodwork and, after Agüero's second, Ronaldinho smacked a re-taken free-kick into the same post. A Brazilian goal had also been disallowed. Down the other end, Messi played in Agüero, who was clipped down by Breno inside the area. Penalty. Riquelme converted and Argentina led 3-0. The scoreline proved too much for the Brazilians, who had Lucas and Thiago Neves sent off inside the final ten minutes. Both offences were for fouls on Mascherano, who held his customary defensive midfield position. "Brazil got a bit nervy, that's all," Mascherano said. "It's not like I was the most skilful player out there on the pitch."
The result was a huge triumph for Batista and Argentina. Until now, the performances had never reached the heights of those in 2004. Here, they had delivered. "You don't normally get results like this when Argentina face Brazil," Batista remarked. Riquelme said: "This was a very special game for us. People said a lot of things about us, and we owed ourselves a performance like this, especially after last year's Copa América final." He added: "I saw Maradona in the VIP area, and we have a wonderful relationship with him. To see him very happy makes me very happy too. Now, I hope to take the gold medal to our country like we promised."
Argentina would now meet Nigeria, after the Africans had crushed Belgium 4-1 in the other semi-final, in Shanghai. It would be a re-match of the 1996 final. Back then, in Atlanta, Nigeria grabbed a 3-2 victory in what became an Olympic footballing classic, in front of 86,117 attendees. The winning goal came in the last minute through Emmanuel Amuneke. Both squads contained famous names. Nigeria had Celestine Babayaro, Taribo West, Nwankwo Kanu, Jay-Jay Okocha and Sunday Oliseh. Argentina, coached by Daniel Passarella, had Ayala, Javier Zanetti, Claudio López, Crespo, Ariel Ortega and Diego Simeone. Even the referee enjoyed a high profile: Pierluigi Collina carried the whistle.
The current Nigeria coach, Samson Siasia, also had scores to settle. As a forward, he had scored when Nigeria lost 2-1 to Argentina in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup. In 2005, he coached Nigeria at the U-20 World Cup when Argentina resurfaced in the final. His side lost 2-1 once more. The damage was done by two penalties converted by Messi, after he and Agüero had been fouled. "To defend against Lionel Messi is the biggest thing we have to do," he said. "We just have to make sure we stay close to him, and we don't give him the chances like we did the last time in the U-20 World Cup."
The two finalists relied on contrasting qualities. If Argentina's individual brilliance was obvious, Nigeria were the underdogs fortified by collective organisation. "I've never known team spirit like what we have in this team," said Siasia. "We have this bond together that is something special. We've been through hell together, so to speak. A lot of these boys come from very tough pasts and very difficult circumstances, and here we are playing for a gold medal at the Olympics. We've suffered hardship individually and as a team, and we lost a few players along the way, but we are stronger for it." For his part, Batista's confidence remained unflappable. Prior to the final, he was reported to have said: "With these players I'd be brave enough to fight in Iraq."
The Argentine line-up was as expected. Batista named Romero; Zabaleta, Garay, Pareja, Monzón; Gago, Mascherano, Di María; Riquelme; Messi, Agüero. The circumstances in China were difficult. The match would be played in the Bird's Nest, in Beijing, and the organisers had moved the kick-off forward to noon to clear the stadium's afternoon schedule. The teams were exposed to temperatures of up to 42˚C. Concerns soon spread about the health of the players, and two water breaks were called during the match. According to reports, FIFA doubled the number of medical staff for the game, and dispatched their chief medical officer, Jirí Dvorák, to supervise. "The players can't breathe and it's difficult to run," complained Maradona, in attendance. "The heat is unbearable."
The final was not a classic. The opener came in the fifty-eighth minute. Despite Siasia's vows, Messi broke free and found Di María, who chipped the goalkeeper. Nigeria had no reply. "I thought about hitting it hard, but as he'd closed the space down, I just flicked my foot under the ball," said Di María afterwards. "It came off my toe and luckily it went in. It was a nice finish, wasn't it?"
Argentina had done it. A second consecutive gold medal; the 1996 final reversed. "Messi terrorises not only our team, but all teams in Europe," said Siasia. "He didn't score but he created a lot of their chances. That is why we have the silver and they have the gold." Inside Argentine minds, thoughts quickly went back to the pre-tournament struggle between Barcelona and the AFA. Without Messi, the story could have been different. "People said a lot of things that annoyed me before I came to China, everyone knows that," said Messi. "That's what makes this medal so special."
The celebrations could start. The players rejoiced, as did the staff, and Maradona. "It's very special to win this title, especially with Diego being here," said Agüero. "He congratulated me and said I'd had a great tournament. You can't ask for any more than that." Riquelme said: "I'll be wearing the medal on the plane home. I won't be taking it off for anyone." For Mascherano, it was another Olympic souvenir added to his collection. "We won because we played attacking football, and we never stopped trying things," he said. "And we beat Brazil in the semi-finals. It was the perfect tournament."
White Rice Vellasamy
The "Hand of God" goal was against Espanyol and not Recreativo. Nice story otherwise!
Thank you. Corrected now.
© 2020 Time on the Ball. All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
W Polsce
 Jordanowo – wieś w woj. kujawsko-pomorskim, w pow. inowrocławskim, w gminie Złotniki Kujawskie
 Jordanowo – wieś w woj. lubuskim, w pow. świebodzińskim, w gminie Świebodzin
 Jordanowo – gromada w powiecie inowrocławskim
 Jordanowo – gromada w powiecie świebodzińskim

Zobacz też Jordanów

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Agile Foundation
Private equity player offers four key pieces of advice for business survival
•Private equity
Tshego Sefolo on June 22, 2020
With R900 million available for investment in new opportunities including healthcare, at Agile Capital we believe that private equity partners have a key role to play during South Africa's potentially catastrophic economic future. Even those few enterprises which entered the lockdown with confidence that they could survive for a month or two are likely stretched to their limits.
There are certain levers that can be pulled to ensure the sustainability of businesses with good fundamentals. Private equity partners have a key role to play in the long-term viability of their investments. Ultimately, as responsible owners of companies, we believe that equity partners are well-positioned to practically demonstrate a partnership approach.
There is no silver bullet for businesses right now, but Agile Capital is advising our own portfolio companies to focus on four key areas of defense to survive the immediate crisis and give themselves the best chance of sustainability. All will require openness, a spirit of collaboration, compromise, and an emphasis on survival.
Covid-19 stress has a massive impact on employee morale and loyalty. Businesses must consider and talk about cost containment and cash preservation measures, but some of these measures will have a direct impact on employees – reduced salaries to keep the business liquid, for instance. These discussions and measures are both relevant and unavoidable, but businesses will be reliant on their people to deliver the goods and services that will return them to profitability. It is important to think about ways to encourage and acknowledge staff to avoid them feeling neglected whilst implementing these very necessary measures. One of the ways to achieve this is constant communication.
Businesses should demonstrate that they are focused on saving jobs. Recognition goes a long way. Leaders could thank IT staff for keeping people connected, for example, or those putting themselves at risk to provide essential services. Employees feel proud of where they work when leaders step up in ways that make a meaningful contribution to fighting the pandemic. Leaders should be visible and spend some time scenario planning for post-Covid, involving their staff in this process and allowing them to ask their 'what-if' questions.
Talent retention and management is crucial to avoid losing good people. Leaders should communicate that while drastic times call for drastic measures, employees have a significant role to play once the crisis subsides.
2. Prioritise cashflow and liquidity
Cashflow is lifeblood. The immediate priority is to ensure that while the business is starved of cash inflow, what is available is stretched. We suggest setting up discussions with creditors to investigate new arrangements to ease the situation in the short term. These must be undertaken with the awareness that they are probably also struggling with their own challenges, which means that proposals are likely to be met with resistance. It is in creditors' interest that the business survives as leadership works to find a workable way forward.
Another important engagement is with the principals from whom property and equipment are leased. In cases where the business is unable to utilize these assets to generate cashflow, it will not be able to honor its normal payment practices. Leaders need to enquire whether adjustments can be made to lease and payment terms.
The largest cost for most businesses is human capital and Agile believes that focusing on people is critical. In terms of immediate survival, we advise businesses to talk openly with their staff and try to get consensus. One possibility is to agree on reduced salaries for a while with a plan to catch up what is due at a later stage. These conversations will be difficult, but the survival of the business is at stake and leaders will need to be open.
3. Plan for profitability
Even if the business can trade, revenues are almost certainly significantly reduced. Yet profitability is arguably the most important point of defense in overcoming this situation. In the face of Covid-19, leaders must think critically about whether the existing business will serve the needs of customers affected by the realities of Covid-19 and pivot if necessary, to adapt to new norms. Service lines and their relevance need to be critically evaluated and perhaps the way in which services are provided needs to be adapted.
Clarify fixed and variable costs and work to reduce variable costs. This could entail, for example, returning rented equipment that is not currently in use. Fixed overhead costs are more complicated as there are generally contracts in place, but engagement will reveal whether there are ways to proactively limit costs. By doing so, the business may be able to reach break-even so that it can rebuild from a strong position after the immediate threat has subsided.
4. Funding and sustainability
If the business is funded by external debt (loan funding with specified terms), liquidity and cash will be needed to service this debt. Typically, debt funding involves funders and third parties who require payment at fixed intervals. If these are not met, the business will be in default which could result in the lender calling on security, instigating business rescue, or even liquidation proceedings. There is much talk around force majeure – clauses in contracts which can be invoked when either party is unable to meet their obligations due to factors outside of their control. We suggest investigating contracts with lenders to see whether the lockdown or other aspects of the pandemic qualify as force majeure events. At the very least, it provides scope to engage that the balance sheet does not allow for the normal servicing of the debt and that this impact could not have been anticipated.
Equity-funded businesses have investors who provided capital injections for long-term returns. As shareholders and co-owners of the business, this capital is much more patient. Once all avenues with lenders have been exhausted, shareholders may inject further equity in several ways, such as shareholder loans or direct equity injections.
The balance sheet must be adequately funded finding the right balance between debt and equity for long-term sustainability. Too much debt is a significant risk, yet it does not make sense to be exclusively funded through equity from a financial engineering perspective.
Private equity partners can help
In addition to practical support and advice that equity partners can provide, there may be new transactions, mergers or acquisitions that would be beneficial. With a current portfolio of 14 companies across various sectors in South Africa, Agile Capital is actively seeking opportunities in various sectors in the form of partnerships with businesses that meet our criteria for investment.
Agile Capital is sector agnostic and engagements with potential partners are tailored to each opportunity. Solid enterprises with strong management teams or which are an owner-driven business can obtain more information on www.agilecapital.co.za.
Article published by VC4A
Previous PostDue Diligence: Agile Capital CEO sees opportunity in infrastructure and agri-processingNext PostAgile Capital Acquires Significant Equity in SA Biomedical
•1st Dec 2021
CFOs Play a Critical Role in Management Buy-Outs
•14th Sep 2021
Agile Capital: Funding Management Buyout opportunities
•5th Aug 2021
The First Woman
AGILE CAPITAL EQUITY FUNDS
Focused on businesses with a solid record, tangible growth prospects and strong management teams.
Call : +27 (0) 10 476 0690
info@agilecapital.co.za
Deal Making Opportunities Ahead
Importance of Partnership in Investment.
Agile Capital is an astute and principled South African mid-market private equity investment firm, offering a solid investment track record and long term growth prospects.
Contact Agile Capital
Illovo Point, Unit 1203
12th Floor, 68 Melville Road
Illovo, Sandton, 2196


Felony reckless evading occurs when a person attempts to flee from or elude a law enforcement officer while driving a motor vehicle, and, in doing so, acts with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others or property. This willful or wanton disregard is the linchpin differentiating misdemeanor evading (2800.1 VC) from felony reckless evading (2800.2).
For the purposes of this statute, the term willful means the defendant had specific intent to evade police. A person acts with willful and wanton disregard if they are aware that their actions create an unjustifiable risk of harm and they ignore that risk intentionally. Neither the intent to harm or actual harm is necessary to qualify as an offense. It is merely the awareness of the risk and choosing to ignore it that characterizes this crime.
The peace officer and vehicle were clearly and distinctively marked.
A minimum of one red lamp, lighted and visible when viewed from the front of the police vehicle, that the defendant saw or should have reasonably seen.
A siren that was operated as reasonably necessary.
In contrast with its name, felony reckless evading is a wobbler that can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. But in most cases, the offense is charged and prosecuted as a felony.
Six months to one year in county jail.
In addition to the above penalties, individuals convicted under 2800.2 VC may face vehicle impoundment and driver's license suspension.
Lack of the necessary intent to willfully evade a police officer.
The arrest was the result of an illegal stop.
Voluntary intoxication. Of course, this will likely result in other charges such as driving under the influence (23152 VC).
Due to the potentially serious criminal penalties and possible loss of driving privileges, consulting with a qualified attorney is highly recommended.
Are you or someone you care about charged felony reckless evading under California Vehicle Code 2800.2? Contact Long Beach traffic defense attorney Don Hammond. Mr. Hammond represents clients in Long Beach and the South Bay area of Los Angeles, including Signal Hill, Lakewood, Carson, Gardena, Inglewood, Lomita, San Pedro, Wilmington, and surrounding communities.


Bayview Lake Dam is a dam located just 2.7 miles from Adamsville, in Jefferson County, in the state of Alabama, United States, near Mulga Mine, AL. For Fishing License purchase, fishing rules, and fishing regulations please visit Alabama Fish & Wildlife. Please remember to check with the local Fish and Wildlife department to ensure the stream is open to the public. Now get out there and fish! Check out our Fishing Times chart to determine when the fish will be most active.


text:
require 'rails_helper'

describe MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist do
  describe  "::permanent_block!" do
    subject { described_class.permanent_block!(email) }

    let(:email) { 'good@email.com'}

    context "with exists email" do
      let!(:modifier) { 2 }
      let!(:email_blacklist) { MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.block!(email) }

      it 'blocks email permanently' do
        expect(subject.permanently_blocked).to be_truthy
        expect(subject.blocked_until).to be_nil
      end

      it 'increases the block counter' do
        expect {
          subject
        }.to change {
          email_blacklist.reload
          email_blacklist.block_counter
        }.by(1)
      end
    end

    context "with not exists email" do
      let!(:modifier) { 1 }

      it 'blocks email until the date based on modifier' do
        expect(subject.permanently_blocked).to be_truthy
        expect(subject.blocked_until).to be_nil
      end
    end
  end

  describe  "::block!" do
    subject { described_class.block!(email) }

    let(:email) { 'good@email.com'}
    let(:curret_time) { Time.parse('01.01.01 00:00 +0000') }

    before { allow(Time).to receive(:now).and_return(curret_time) }

    context "with exists email" do
      let!(:email_blacklist) { MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.block!(email) }

      it 'blocks email until the date based on modifier' do
        expect(subject.permanently_blocked).to be_falsey
        expect(subject.blocked_until).to eq(curret_time + 4.weeks)
      end

      it 'increases the block counter' do
        expect {
          subject
        }.to change {
          email_blacklist.reload
          email_blacklist.block_counter
        }.by(1)
      end
    end

    context "with not exists email" do
      it 'blocks email until the date based on modifier' do
        expect(subject.permanently_blocked).to be_falsey
        expect(subject.blocked_until).to eq(curret_time + 1.week)
      end
    end
  end

  describe  "::unblock!" do
    subject { described_class.unblock!(email) }

    let(:email) { 'good@email.com'}
    let(:curret_time) { Time.parse('01.01.01 00:00 +0000') }

    before { allow(Time).to receive(:now).and_return(curret_time) }

    context "with exists email" do
      let!(:email_blacklist) { MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.block!(email) }

      it 'unblocks email' do
        expect(subject.permanently_blocked).to be_falsey
        expect(subject.blocked_until).to be_nil
      end
    end

    context "with not exists email" do
      it 'raises an record not found error' do
        expect { subject }.to raise_error(ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound)
      end
    end
  end

  describe  "::blocked?" do
    subject { described_class.blocked?(email) }

    context "with exists email" do
      let(:email) { 'good@email.com'}

      context "with blocked email" do
        before { MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.block!(email) }

        it 'returns true' do
          expect(subject).to be_truthy
        end
      end

      context "with permanently blocked email" do
        before { MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.permanent_block!(email) }

        it 'returns true' do
          expect(subject).to be_truthy
        end
      end

      context "with unblocked email" do
        before do
          item = MailSweeper::EmailBlacklist.block!(email)
          item.unblock!
        end

        it 'returns false' do
          expect(subject).to be_falsey
        end
      end
    end

    context "with not exists email" do
      let(:email) { 'fake@email.com'}

      it 'returns false' do
        expect(subject).to be_falsey
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Buy Allied Brass Sag Harbor 18-Inch Towel Bar in Polished Chrome from $122.99 at Bed Bath & Beyond. Add a stylish touch to your bathroom with this finely crafted towel bar. This elegant bathroom accessory is created from the finest solid brass materials. High quality lifetime designer finishes are hand polished to perfection.Add a stylish touch to your bathroom with this finely crafted towel bar. This elegant bathroom accessory is created from the finest solid brass materials. High quality lifetime designer finishes are hand polished to perfection.


Nobody likes feeling taken for granted. And yet, we all take people, and things, and opportunities, and even God for granted from time to time.
1. Take two minutes to reflect on all you have to be grateful for, and thank God.
2. Express your gratitude to someone in your life.
Do these two things each day for the next month, and you will be amazed how two, two-minute exercises can have such a powerful impact on your life and relationships.
I am grateful for you . . . all the people who read my books, come to my events, pray for me, and become Ambassadors to join us in this work! It is a privilege to serve you and I thank you.
Marriage has a potent impact on your life. Marriage can help you become the-best-version-of-yourself and get to heaven.
I am embarrassed to admit it, but it's true. When my wife, Anita, and I were celebrating twenty-five years of marriage, I finally understood a crucial secret about life. Frankly, it should not have taken twenty-five years for it to become so obvious to me.
What's the secret? Your decision to marry will almost certainly be the most significant and influential decision of your life.
There it is, in plain words. A truth almost no one will speak out loud.
Why is your marriage decision so important? First, because your marriage will bind you in a relationship so close and so intimate that it will profoundly shape your whole future. Second, because your marriage will also deeply impact and affect the lives of the people around you for the rest of your life. In fact, this one crucial decision—the selection of your husband or wife—will not only influence every aspect of your life; it will also affect your entire family (your parents, your siblings, your children, all of them) in ways you cannot anticipate, well after you are dead and gone.
Just think for a moment about a few key figures from the Old Testament. Jacob invested more than fourteen years to marry Rachel, and that patience set him up for a fruitful life. Samson, on the other hand, continually fell in love with various women. In the end, that proved to be his demise. King David allowed his eye to wander and became captivated with Bathsheba. His effectiveness as a leader never recovered. Solomon refused to obey God, married non-Hebrew women, and critically damaged his own reign as king.
Again, your decision to marry will most certainly be the most significant and influential decision of your life. Perhaps that's why Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, "With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life."
There's no denying the truth. Marriage has a potent impact on your life. Marriage can help you become the-best-version-of-yourself and get to heaven. Or it can slowly erode you from the inside out, like some kind of relational Chinese water torture. With so much at stake in a single decision, it seems obvious that you would want to gain wisdom on marriage from every helpful source you can.
I've earned a Ph.D. from Yale University, pastored an evangelical megachurch, hosted a nationally syndicated mainstream radio show, and written several Catholic best-selling books after being received into the Church. I've also been married to the same woman for more than twenty-six years. These experiences have given me wonderful opportunities to view, study, and aid marriages from a perspective that is up close and personal.
and from listening to couples while I've been leading Dynamic Catholic's Passion & Purpose for Marriage events to enrich relationships across the country.
Your life and relationship will be enriched by these undeniable secrets of marriage.
The Church teaches that God himself is the author of marriage, and that marriage has been "endowed by him with its own proper laws" (Catechism 1603). My search for the secrets of marriage comes from a deep desire to understand God's laws for the relationship between a man and a woman.
Now, as my wife and I celebrate twenty-six years together, and with my own daughters moving toward marriage in their own lives, I am writing down these secrets for all to share. These twenty-one secrets of marriage make all the difference.
Embrace them and you will embrace life.
Will you be "getting away" this summer? Will you be taking some time off?
As a kid, I always looked forward to our family summer vacations. My dad loved to fish, so a resort on a lake in northern Wisconsin was our annual destination.
As kids, my siblings and I were constantly asking, "Are we there yet?" In the days before interstate highways, the drive seemed as long as the vacation itself. The first one to see the lake was the champ!
Whether in our teen years or our sixties, recovering from an illness or going through a divorce, suffering from anxiety or overwhelmed with excitement, we are all on some journey. The choice is ours: to despair at the circumstances of our exile, or to hope for the goal God has in store for us.
This summer, take time every day to curl up in the classroom of silence to reflect on your life journey. It can be even more re-energizing than catching a boatload of fish. Every season has its own personality. Make the best of each, starting with this summer.
Our eighth grade students had a fantastic experience with the DECISION POINT program. When I came across the workbook, I knew it was the right thing for our students. I incorporated it into our religion class, and I taught it myself because I wanted to get a deep, first-hand experience. In short, I was blessed to be a part of it.
I read the responses to the discussion questions from each student and provided thoughtful feedback to them after each section. In this way, I came to know them and the spiritual journey they were on.
The students absolutely LOVED the program. They begged me to call their parish and recommend DECISION POINT for their Confirmation program! Each video kept the students engaged and left them with "big" questions to ponder (which I continually reminded them they weren't too young to do).


text:
WICKED & DIVINE TP #6
WICKED & DIVINE TP
(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson When you're at the peak of your powers, there's only one way to go. The question becomes-how many people are you willing to drag down with you? The bestselling, critically acclaimed comic by KIERON GILLEN, JAMIE McKELVIE and MATT WILSON reaches its most dramatic arc yet. Collects THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #29-33.
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Jamie McKelvie & Various (CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson The gods are free to do whatever they want. Inevitably, they do. Collects THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #23-28, including the critically lauded KEVIN WADA magazine issue. ...
(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson Every ninety years, twelve gods incarnate as humans. They are loved. They are hated. In two years, they are dead. The team behind critical tongue-attractors like Young Avengers and PHONOGRAM reunite to create a world where gods are the ultimate pop stars and pop stars are the ultimate gods. But remember: just because you'r...
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Jamie McKelvie, Matthew Wilson (CA) Matthew Wilson, Jamie McKelvie The critically-lauded best-selling hyphen-abusing series of stardom, divinity, and death returns with a second volume that's even grander than the first, because it contains six issues instead of five. THE FAUST ACT is over. Welcome to FANDEMONIUM. Includes cover gallery and anything else w...
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Jamie McKelvie & Various (CA) Jamie McKelvie After the detonation of FANDEMONIUM the gods-as-pop-stars of THE WICKED + THE DIVINE try living in the long dark shadow. Team WicDiv are joined by a stellar cast of guest artists to put the spotlight on each of the gods. The multiple Eisner Award nominated series continues in the only way it knows how: darker, w...
(W) Kieron Gillen (A) Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson (CA) Matt Wilson, Jamie McKelvie ADVANCE SOLICIT Every ninety years, twelve gods are reincarnated as young people. They are loved. They are hated. And sometimes - just sometimes - they fall into open Superstar wars. The fourth volume of the award-winning, best selling series from acclaimed creators KIERON GILLEN, JAMIE McKELVIE ...
AUG180194(W) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Jamie McKelvie, Matt Wilson In the past: awful stuff. In the present: awful stuff. But, increasingly: answers.Collects THE WICKED + THE DIVINE #34-39 In Shops: Oct 03, 2018 ...


At AVP, customer satisfaction is our ultimate commitment and the cornerstone of our success.
AVP is committed to create value that increases our customer's success through our superior product, prompt & expedited services and continuous technology innovation.
AVP is committed to ensuring its products meet or exceed customer expectations in all respects along the product life cycle. We are committed to continuous improvement in our performance and to seek the best solutions in order to fulfill our customer's needs and or requests.
Off/On-site system field service support on various thin film deposition and etching tools.
Hardware upgrades and reconfiguration of legacy OEM deposition and etch tools.
Latest up to date hardware to protect against obsolescence.
Significantly improve tool performance, reliability and extended tool life time.
Industry proven process to reduce process development time and effort.
Lower cost and short lead time.
Custom design of vacuum and sputter/etch systems.
New DeviceNet/PLC control system and SEMI standard software.
More reliable and flexible process and maintenance.


Mahindra Verito price in Fatehgarh Sahib starts at ₹ 7.46 Lakhs and goes upto ₹ 11.53 Lakhs. Diesel Verito price in Fatehgarh Sahib starts at ₹ 7.46 Lakhs. Electric Verito price in Fatehgarh Sahib starts at ₹ 11.14 Lakhs.
Price in Fatehgarh Sahib not available.
Mahindra car company has 1 new car dealers/showrooms in Fatehgarh Sahib.


By the age of two, Sandy Patangay had already found her calling. It all began with an innocent moment, when her mother was trying to keep the young girl occupied. She gave her daughter a tiny bowl of henna — a dye commonly used for artistry in her native India — in lieu of crayons, and let the budding designer go to work. What she couldn't have known was that she was setting the stage for a sweet career that would one day catch the eye of America's top tastemaker.
And while her family coaxed her to concentrate on her math and science studies, somewhere in the background, there was always a book of henna artistry which, in her spare time, Sandy would work hard to replicate.
But on the weekends, Sandy would make time to explore her new home. And one day, as she was in the back of a taxi, driving through New York's Chinatown, she saw a sign that spoke to her.
But what she quickly discovered, was that it wasn't being done often enough. After waiting twenty minutes, for the artist to appear, the manager came out to say that she only worked by appointment. Sandy took the opportunity to sell herself and two weeks later, she got a call that would change the course of her career. New York's Museum of Natural History was holding a three-day event celebrating body art and the manager who she had met so serendipitously, wanted her to come along and demonstrate her skills.
It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Sandy continued her schoolwork, but would do henna designs on weekends — for private clients in the Chinatown studio and for major events around the city. And even as she launched a career on Wall Street, she had customers lining up — patiently waiting for her to find some free time.
Some might say it was the icing on the cake, of her already successful career. But there were others who suggested, that maybe it actually should be.
So Sandy picked up a simple white canvas at a local bakery — a cake topped with a sugar fondant, which created a porcelain-like finish. And then she went to work — creating a stunning mix of design and the vibrant colors of her heritage, intertwining sugar beads and gold dots with each step, and when she was finished, she had an edible work of artistry.
The possibilities were exactly what caught the eye of a food blogger, who just happened to be at a baby shower where Sandy was invited to do her designs. The writer couldn't wait to show her audience of foodies her latest find. And suddenly, Sandy's little experiment went viral. Everyone wanted to know where they could buy the scrumptious works of art.
It was 2011, and Wall Street was on shaky ground. Many of Sandy's colleagues were concerned about their careers — wondering what they might do next. And at that moment, the designer who'd limited her artistic endeavors to weekends, knew it was time to pursue her dream. She was going to bring henna to America — but in a way she'd never considered.
By day, Sandy continued to work in the financial district, but used her spare time and her project management skills to test market her idea with her target audience — event planners that were already inviting her to work at their high-end affairs.
And while the smart entrepreneur approached her new endeavor with caution, it only took one taste, for her cakes to rise to the top. One of those event planners had shared Sandy's edible artistry with Martha Stewart's editorial director.
So before she even had an official business, Sandy had customers — lots and lots of customers. She signed a lease on a design studio in lower Manhattan and the company she named Crème-Delicious took off. But the best was yet to come. Martha's team was so impressed with Sandy's skills, they invited her to sample her work at an event so big, it's been called the Fashion Week of the bridal industry.
It wasn't long before Sandy expanded her edible artistry empire to include cookies and macaroons and her Crème-Delicious creations were being ordered from as far away as Dubai — and of course, by Martha, herself. This Valentine's Day, Martha Stewart sent more than 2,000 Crème-Delicious macaroons, as a sweet thank you, to her clients.
And now the former Wall Streeter has her sights set on New York's fashion district — as she begins discussions with a well-known designer about to launch a line of very sweet treats.


text:
+Maps & Schedules
MBL History
Montebello Bus Lines - Transportation service began in Montebello in 1910 with one motorized coach. As previously stated, Montebello was predominantly an agricultural region but World War I and the discovery of oil in the Montebello Hills quickly transformed the community. By 1917, there were four private companies competing for passengers among the influx of workers drawn to the area.
In 1922, two years after the incorporation of the City of Montebello, the city officially initiated a municipal bus service. Six years later, the city sold the operation to the Motor Transit Company, a division of Southern Pacific Railroad. Motor Transit later became Pacific Electric, operators of the famed "red cars."
In 1931, the City purchased the lines back from the Motor Transit Company and launched its second municipal bus line. The City purchased a lot on Greenwood Avenue with a fleet of four coaches and began Montebello Bus Lines (MBL). During this period, a 17 passenger coach could be purchased for $2,700 each; a bus driver's salary was $120 a month and the driver had to purchase his own uniform; and the fare was five cents.
What Do We Do ?
Montebello Bus Lines' (MBL) primary responsibility is to provide transportation services to residents of Montebello and neighboring cities. MBL is the third largest municipal bus system in Los Angeles County, behind Long Beach Transit and Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus. With a fleet of 66 buses, MBL serves over 8 million passengers a year throughout the communities of Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights, Commerce, Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, La Mirada, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, South Gate and Whittier.
Service Data
FIXED ROUTE BUSES — FY 2014
Ridership 31,118 Weekdays — 7,934,976 Annual
Base fare $1.10
Service routes 8
Bus stops 950
Service hours 234,823
Service miles 2,486,292
Service areas Serving the communities of Alhambra, Bell Gardens, Boyle Heights, Commerce, Downtown Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, La Mirada, Montebello, Monterey Park, Pico Rivera, Rosemead, San Marino, South Gate, South San Gabriel, and Whittier.
Bus fleet 66
Peak service 65
DIAL-A-TAXI PROGRAM — FY 2014
Ridership 43,553
Base fare $0.50 Customer pays cash fare directly to taxi driver and swipes card which contains a maximum of 40 rides per month.
Serivce hours 24 hours per day, 7 days a week
Serivce areas Montebello City Limits and neighboring cities (medical purposes only).


text:
LUXE Models Blog
Welcome to the LUXE Models blog, where you can find the very latest from the world of fashion, modelling, style and beauty.
What Happened to Katherine Heigl?
Luxe Models ask: Where is Katherine Heigl now?
This week Luxe Models got to wondering where Katherine Heigl has disappeared to in the last few years. It was only a few years ago she was on the cusp of super stardom as one of Hollywood's hottest A-listers, but now she's apparently nowhere to be found. Obviously we're huge fans of Grey's Anatomy and we loved her for her role as Dr Izzie Stevens in seasons 1-6, and we really enjoyed her part in Knocked Up. So we thought we'd do a little digging and we were pretty surprised by what we found!
According to some, Kazza can be extremely difficult to work with. Not what we were expecting since most of her characters have generally been relatable and friendly. She's gained a reputation as a "difficult" actress, costing time on movie sets, constantly questioning scripts and complaining about wardrobe issues.
In 2007 she starred in her breakout movie, Knocked Up alongside Seth Rogen. However after a successful release, both critically and commercially, Heigl proclaimed that she found the movie to be a little sexist. This is possibly something you should have considered after a first read-through of the script, Heigz!
She also spoke out about Grey's Anatomy, suggesting that Izzie's character arc was "a ratings ploy". And despite winning an Emmy in 2007, the following year she openly declared that she wouldn't be pursuing another award for the role as a means of maintaining the integrity of the institution. In other words, Grey's doesn't deserve the recognition. Ouch! Recently though, Heigl has stated that she'd like to return to the show to see how things panned out for the character. Luxe Models think that seems a little odd if there's so much bad blood there.
Apparently this nasty reputation problem isn't entirely down to Katherine herself. Her mother and manager, Nancy Heigl, is also quite a difficult customer. People who have worked with the pair have stated that they couldn't say anything to Nancy without being sworn at or branded an idiot.
Many producers have said they think Heigl would be perfect for the roles they have to offer but that her reputation precedes her and they're unwilling to take the risk. However, certain others disagree. For example, Denise Di Novi, an executive producer on Life As We Know It has been quoted as saying that Heigl is hardworking and reliable.
Similarly, Anthony Burns, director of Heigl's upcoming indie flick North of Hell, said she's a "cool" person to work with and that she just enjoys a little honesty. She said she simply speaks her mind and when you get used to that, it's really not an issue.
We certainly hope that the latter is true! We'll give her new movie a go when it's released and hopefully Katherine Heigl will return to Hollywood's good graces. It would really be a shame to waste such a great acting talent because of a few misplaced words in the past! She also has a new TV series coming up that you can read about here.
For more stories like this one, follow LuxeModels on Twitter.
Labels: Actress, Gossip, Grey's Anatomy, Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up, Luxe Models, North of Hell, Seth Rogen
Luxe Models on Upcycling
The latest figures suggest that in Europe alone, we throw away 5.8 million tonnes of textiles to landfill every year! In the UK, we're responsible for about 350,000 tonnes of that, and we reckon it's about time to get a grip on it and bring the number down drastically. That's why Luxe Models were pleased this week to see that upcycling is becoming much more popular in the fashion world.
Many people don't realise that nylon takes 30-40 years to decompose, or that wool as wool breaks down, it releases methane, which is a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Upcycling offers fashionistas the chance to recondition old items and fabrics and release them back into the fashion sphere.
This practice has the potential to revolutionise the fashion business. Jewellery creator Kerry Howley's Attraction/Aversion collection is made entirely of discarded human hair, and while this may sound a little grotesque, the pieces themselves are really quite beautiful and certainly something to get people talking. In terms of more mainstream textiles and clothing, TRAID are a fantastic group who turn discarded items into new, original pieces with all the profits going to charity. Similarly a couple of years back, Topshop teamed up with Reclaim to Wear to produce garments made using leftover fabrics from the fashion industry.
Taking inspiration from generations before us, these initiatives show that inspiring fashion steps can be made through making do and mending. Though that's not to say Luxe Models don't still love high fashion items! Of course we do! We just think that with a little time and effort, there are plenty of ways to make fashion last forever.
For more stories like this, follow Luxe Models on Twitter!
Labels: Europe, fashion, Kerry Howley, Luxe Models, Reclaim to Wear, Topshop, TRAID, Upcycling
Luxe Models on the Girls Premiere
Stars and fashionistas extraordinaire were out in force on Monday for the Girls season 3 premiere in New York. Luxe Models were sad not to receive an invite (we assume it got lost in the post), but we were at least consoled by the amazing line up of gorgeous outfits on display! Here's a lowdown of the highlights!
The four leads of the show; Lena Dunham (who writes, produces, directs and stars); Allison Williams; Jemima Kirke and Zosia Mamet were all beautifully co-ordinated in shimmering metallic numbers. FYI, if you're aiming to stay ahead of the game, this is set to be a big look for 2014!
Elsewhere, Arianna Huffington attended in a satin blazer with black trews, and Orange is the New Black star, Natasha Lyonne, sported a sexy, figure-hugging black dress. Oh, and by the by, if you've yet to watch Orange is the New Black, get with it, people! We guarantee you'll enjoy it immensely!
Hilary Rhoda was seen in a sharply tailored, deep-green suit, while Jenna Lyons was a little more casual in a logo sweater and trews. Nicky Hilton sported a lacy Dolce and Gabbana number in red and Karlie Kloss went for a slinky Calvin Klein dress in white.
However, it was Anna Wintour who really stole the show. Clearly out to turn heads, she was draped in an ultra-meta fur coat by Prada with a girl's face printed across the front! Very fitting, Ms Wintour! She was no doubt toasty in the -10° winter weather that NYC was experiencing that night. Anna will probably be feeling pretty smug since her bold statement coat certainly trumped the rainbow-patterned one Marc Jacobs was spotted wearing last week. It's not the first time this pair has been caught in a Prada coat of – check this out for more details!
It was really great to see so many talented, successful women together in one place. We couldn't be more excited by the prospect of Girls season 3. This first two series were a.m.a.z.i.n.g. and we're certain this one won't disappoint! Not long to wait now – the first episode airs on 12th January!
For more stories like this, follow us on Twitter.
Labels: Anna Wintour, Calvin Klein, Dolce and Gabbana, Girls, Lena Dunham, Luxe Models, Marc Jacobs, New York, Orange is the New Black, Premiere
Luxe Models on GQ's Best-Dressed Men
Well the New Year is upon us and here at Luxe Models we thought we'd head down a different route and bring you a men's fashion update for once! GQ have just released their list of Best-Dressed Men of 2014, so here's a rundown of chaps to check out in the coming year.
Nick "Grimmy" Grimshaw
The Radio 1 breakfast anchor Nick Grimshaw topped the list this year. He's certainly a daring fashionista, pairing worn leather jackets with delicate, tailored floral shirts. He's standing proof that being locked in a radio studio doesn't necessarily mean you have to let your fashion game slip.
Last year's winner was edged down into second place this year, though that's still a great fashion achievement! With everything from crisp, three-piece suits to more casual-cool items (including his personal favourite, an Armani leather jacket), Luxe Models certainly agree that Tom Hiddleston knows how to get up and get dressed!
Becks has always been a fashion favourite and he continues to rank pretty highly in polls like this one. While he's not quite made the top ten, Luxe Models reckon that 13 isn't too bad for a man now enjoying his retirement.
2013 was a great year for Arctic Monkeys with the release of their fifth studio album, AM, which debuted at number 1 in the UK and garnered a Mercury Prize nomination. But front man Alex Turner is no doubt much more excited by his inclusion in the top ten of GQ's best-dressed list, right?
The ever-enticing Eddie Redmayne comes in at number 27 this year. In equal parts he is both handsome and cute, and we're fairly certain that he could wear sack cloth and still look amazing. Thankfully he favours fashionably-tailored, trendy suits in various colours and cuts.
A bit of a surprise entry at 26 comes in the form of Prince Philip. The Queen's right-hand man has been lauded for his services to classic British tailoring. He always looks delightfully dapper in sharp suits, pulling off the double-breasted jacket as no one else can. His influence seems to reign supreme over the younger members of the royal family, with his sons and grandsons honouring his classic style.
So there you have it, a few highlights from the GQ Best-Dressed men of 2014! For the full list, click here. For more stories like this, you can follow Luxe Models on Twitter.
Labels: 2014, Alex Turner, Arctic Monkeys, Best-Dressed, David Beckham, Eddie Redmayne, fashion, GQ, Luxe Models, Men's Fashion, Nick Grimshaw, Prince Philip, Tom Hiddleston
The Mystery of the Celebrity and the Gagging Order
News of a juicy celeb affair hit the tabloids recently. The kicker? LUXE Models consider the importance of a gagging order and why it'...
Creating a modelling portfolio with LUXE Models
Your modelling portfolio is an essential marketing tool for both full professional and inexperienced models. It's the first impre...
Kate Middleton's Pregnancy Style
After much speculation, it's been confirmed that Kate Middleton has gone in to labour. She's being taken to St Mary's Hospi...
How to become a foot model
If you're looking to get into modelling with no experience , the first thing you should do is decide what kind of model you want to be. It&...
Five Tips For Stylish Halloween Costumes
Halloween is upon us once more. As a fashionista, this night presents you with a conundrum. How can you wear a really scary costume, withou...
LUXE Models on Pinterest
Visit Luxe Models's profile on Pinterest.
LUXE Models on Twitter
Tweets by @LUXE_models
LUXE Models Elsewhere on the Net
Main LUXE Models Site
LUXE Models on LinkedIn
LUXE Models Soundcloud
LUXE Models on Facebook
LUXE Models Tumblr Blog
LUXE Models Wordpress Blog
LUXE Models


text:
Maybe Kevin D. Williamson Should be Writing for Politico
by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton | Jul 12, 2015
UnsavoryAgents
The usually brilliant and stalwart Kevin D. Williamson of National Review appears at last to have fallen victim to the virus known as Beltway Insider-itis. In doing so, he joins the likes of David Brooks and Jen Rubin, so-called "conservatives" who act as the unofficial PR wing of the Chamber of Commerce, Karl Rove, and the Republican National Committee.
We fully expect the Left to tar Constitutional Conservatives and Tea Party activists as racists (no matter their love and support of Allen West, Ben Carson, Tim Scott, Ted Cruz, Israel, et. al.); most recently the progressive sissy-boy (which is the term he prefers, I hear) Damon Linker of The Week labeled the conservative base a bunch of Birchers who hate, among others, "negroes, elites, decadent city folk, Catholics [and] Jews".
We do not expect the likes of Williamson, however, to channel Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, Karl Rove and Tom Donohue and slam the very group of Americans who handed the Republican Party massive midterm wins at every level of government in 2010 and 2014.
Thus, it was with great surprise that I read Williamson's latest ("WHINOS: On the Martyrdom of the Holy, Holy Base"), a full-throated attack on you and I, who he terms "WHINOS".
Never mind the Democrats, economic realities, Putin, ISIS, the geographical facts of the U.S.-Mexico border — all would be well and all manner of things would be well if not for the behind-the-scenes plotting of Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and their enablers, who apparently can be bribed with small numbers of cocktail weenies. The WHINO is a Republican conspiracy theorist, in whose fervid imaginings all the players — victims, villains — are Republicans.
Why the vitriol (and patently false vitriol at that)?
Williamson, like many Beltway insiders, has panicked at the latest polls showing Donald Trump (no, not Donald Trump!) atop the current GOP field.
Recall, however, that at this same moment in the prior election cycle, Rudy Giuliani sat in Trump's position.
Williamson also insists Romney was a wonderful candidate and anyone who couldn't see the difference between the former Massachusetts governor and Obama was either a "fanatic or extraordinarily ill-informed". Or perhaps nominating the Godfather of Obamacare made the dominant policy issue of 2012 a moot point?
And why do I call Williamson's insipid arguments patently false?
He need look no further than his own website to read the sobering wisdom of Andrew C. McCarthy ("Republicans Have Needlessly Undermined their Ability to Resist the Iran Deal"), which effectively shreds every last molecule of Williamson's diatribe.
In fact, on the most important national security question in possibly all of American history, the Obama-Kerry nuclear Iran agreement (McCarthy terms it "a disastrous deal that would end sanctions against the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism while paving its way to a nuclear-weapons arsenal"), John Boehner and Mitch McConnell conspired with Barack Obama to simply cede Congressional oversight of a deal that will reward Iran with $150 billion and allow it (easily) to build nuclear weapons.
That legislation … enacted as the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015, shifts the burden of persuasion away from President Obama and onto opponents of the Iran deal, thus making the deal virtually impossible to stop or undo…
…Iran, of course, is not just an accused party; it is an incorrigible recidivist. In overt contempt for our nation and president, Tehran is already in flagrant violation of the "Joint Plan of Action" it agreed to with the administration. The mullahs see that, even as they systematically flout this interim deal, Obama is hell-bent on looking the other way. It is therefore certain that they will violate the final deal — which will be so frontloaded with carrots (e.g., a $150 billion signing bonus in the form of immediate sanctions relief) that the sticks can be laughed off…
…Under the Constitution, the president must persuade a two-thirds supermajority of senators to approve an agreement with a foreign power. That is, as I've repeatedly contended in connection with the Iran negotiations, the Constitution's presumption is against legally binding international pacts…
…Under the Constitution's burden of persuasion, then, the Iran deal did not have a prayer of becoming law … In the final Iran deal, the burden of persuasion is key. Enter the Corker legislation. It undermined the Constitution's presumption against international agreements by shifting the burden of persuasion: Rather than forcing the president to persuade two-thirds of the Senate to approve the deal, it imposes on opponents the burden of persuading two-thirds of the full Congress to reject it.
In other words, the Corker bill (and, remember, Bob Corker is simply a puppet of Mitch McConnell in this and many other matters) surrendered full control of the most dangerous deal imaginable — handing cash and nuclear weapons to a terror state whose unofficial slogan is "Death to America" — to Barack Hussein Obama.
I don't know whether McCarthy wrote his piece as a direct assault on Williamson, but suffice it to say that it appears purpose-built.
Williamson must also ignore the fact that, in order to get elected, men like Boehner and McConnell pledged fiscal responsibility, a full repeal of Obamacare, and investigations of Barack Obama's high crimes and misdemeanors.
In fact, a Republican Congress has aided and abetted the most massive expansion of government since World War II; an act of fiscal irresponsibility so unhinged and detrimental to society that Mark Levin's new book on the topic (Plunder and Deceit) is already a #1 bestseller weeks before it hits the shelves.
In fact, a Republican Congress has done nothing of import to repeal the disastrous Obamacare law, even as the Supreme Court and the Department of Health and Human Services rewrites it at will.
In fact, a Republican Congress has failed to name a Select Committee to investigate the weaponization of the IRS (the mere suggestion of which was outlined in Richard Nixon's prospective articles of impeachment); it has permitted Hillary Clinton to destroy her government records that were under subpoena with virtually no repercussions; and it has failed to diligently pursue any one of dozens of other scandals (e.g., Fast and Furious, Solyndra, the UAW bailout, the violation of the War Powers Act, etc.) that should be front and center every single day.
Is it any wonder that the conservative base is frothing at the mouth?
Williamson concludes with the pithy phrase "[w]hining is no substitute for winning"; unfortunately his beloved Establishment has done very little winning, whether in general elections or on the most important policy questions of the day.
In order to win, Kevin, you have to fight.
Feckless, cowardly boobs like John Boehner and Mitch McConnell have surrendered at every opportunity without even considering a fight, insisting before the battle is even joined, for instance, that they'll never shut down the government.
The American people need a Presidential candidate who will fight. Whether that man is Donald Trump or, more realistically, someone like Ted Cruz, Americans want a candidate who will not hesitate to face our enemies, whether they be foreign or domestic.


text:
The Phuket scene is about to go crazy. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off on 4th October 2013. Below is the full details about where and when things are happening as produced by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. This is one of the most colourful festivals in Phuket, Thailand. Not for the faint hearted as there is a lot of knives, spears, blood, piercing and scary acts that may not suit children. However, for those that are adventurous and love cultural discovery....this is the place to be.
Rihanna & The Loris Saga In Phuket
Superstar Rihanna made a stop over holiday in Phuket Thailand for a few days before heading to Singapore for the Formula 1 night race, grand prix concert. Little did she know controversy would arise over a tiny little creature know as a Loris. These animals are endangered species but she was captured on camera, where she even placed in on her Badgirlriri Instagram page and twitted about it as well.
She was also seen feeding and playing with elephants and her tweets about going to see a ping-pong show on the paradise island didn't help either. The Rihanna and Loris incident seems to have occured on notorious Bangla road in the Patong beach area. In all fairness many street touts, even ladyboys, try to either sell tourist anything & everything. In this case it just seemed like they wanted money for photo taking with the animal. Many others on Bangla road use large reptiles like monitor lizards with the same intention of making money from tourist. It is not known if the Loris owner even knew she was a celebrity.
For Rihanna, it seems like she may not have known about these endangered animals and only found them to be cute and cuddly and probably got her curious. However, police and animal rights groups have been up in arms over the issue. Phuket, being a major tourist destination, authorities have since made several arrest, fined and removed these Loris from them. The story continues....but another controversy popped up during the F1 concert in Singapore. Riri, as she is also known as, has been accused of lip syncing during the F1 concert. Plus she looked either drunk or stoned on drugs. Celebrities....what can we say.