text:
Everburn flares to front of ceramic log industry, opens Housewarmings retail stores
Quoting from the IndoUS Business Journal March 15th Issue.
LEXINGTON, Ky. March 15th 2006 — Happenstance in the form of a combustion and heat transfer degree and a job offer landed Ajay Gupta in the gas fireplace industry in 1988, an industry that, at the time, was on the verge of a redefinition thanks to new ideas and new products. But it was hard work, foresight and an instinct for survival that enabled Gupta to be one of the driving forces behind a transformation that managed to rouse a once stagnant industry.
These days, Gupta's company, the Lexington-based Everburn Manufacturing Inc., is one of the country's largest manufacturers of ceramic logs and the first to come up with a split log design in an assortment of natural colors. The 185-employee company generated $14 million in revenue in 2005.
Last year, the company opened its first 4,800-square foot retail store in Lexington, called Housewarmings, which in addition to Everburn's ceramic logs, sells everything associated with the product from outdoor and indoor fireplaces to furniture to outdoor grill islands.
"We would go to trade shows and see beautiful fireplaces and we were thinking about how to diversify," said Gupta. "Our concept is beautiful presentation and raising the bar several notches."
The concept seems to be taking off. The store did $1 million in sales last year and a second, 20,000-square foot store was just opened also in Lexington.
Gupta's career is all about raising the bar, even when it appears that there is no bar to be raised.
Gupta came to the United States in 1986 after receiving a bachelor's degree from Punjab Engineering College and working for three years for two different boiler companies in India. He received a master's degree in combustion and heat transfer from Southern Illinois University and then took a job for Valor, an England-based developer of gas fireplaces.
Valor wanted to set up a research and development laboratory in the United States to design gas fireplaces for the U.S. market. At the time, there weren't many models for the local industry. Gupta was a senior researcher with the company and their first model was a "big flop," he said.
But with the second model, Gupta said they had begun to understand the industry. So much so, that Valor ended up being the first company in the United States to develop vent-free gas logs, said Gupta. "It was very exciting because the industry was just starting to get launched and we were there," he said.
Valor was sold in 1991 and its fireplace division was shut down, but Gupta was hooked. He ended up at Stomping Ground Tool and Dye, one of the two U.S. manufacturers that licensed the design he had worked on at Valor. The company wanted Gupta to set up its fireplace division.
At the time, in the early 1990s, the English concept of ceramic logs for gas fireplaces was just being imported to the United States. Gupta's group gave the product a shot and impressed one of Stomping Ground's investors enough to motivate them to set up a separate log-making company. Everburn Manufacturing was born in 1992 with one stipulation according to Gupta: that he be involved in the company.
Within two years Stomping Grounds was sold and Gupta moved over to Everburn full time, becoming its president. The transition, he said, wasn't easy.
"Initially, we went through a hellish period," said Gupta. "It was more complicated than we thought and we didn't know what we were doing."
The company started out that year with five employees, one customer and a lawsuit because of a non-compete clause that one of Everburn's initial investors signed. The out of court settlement that was reached meant that Everburn couldn't deal with the industry's largest eight potential customers for three years.
In hindsight, and in an ironic twist, it is that verdict that provided Everburn with its biggest break. Initially, in those three years, the company was forced to pursue smaller customers many of whom grew but remained loyal to Everburn. The restriction also prevented Everburn from attending trade shows, forcing the company to develop a different, more intimate strategy to woo its customers that involved private shows and resulted in closer relationships.
More importantly, the company was forced to focus on its research and development to stay ahead. At the time, ceramic logs across the industry were all the same gray color. "We said logs are different colors in real life," said Gupta.
Gupta said customers initially loved the colored, split log designs that Everburn developed but couldn't figure out how to present them. "We saw we had to come up with the design ourselves," said Gupta. "That day we set up a design studio."
Eventually, Everburn came up with different colors, design barks and charred logs. By 1997, the company was up to 250 employees but was still a niche player in the industry satisfying more boutique, high-end requests.
And then Everburn's largest customer had a problem: a "massive order" from Lowe's which its current supplier couldn't fulfill. "I said we'll do it in six weeks but they needed it one week," said Gupta. "I said we'll do it. We were literally working 24-hours-a-day."
The effort helped Everburn enter the high volume market and shifted Everburn into high growth mode, said Gupta. By 1998 the company had 350 employees, $8 million in revenues and was dubbed by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the country.
Still, the company was only marginally profitable at the time but the implementation of what Gupta called "lean manufacturing" two years later changed that. Among other changes, the log-making process went from five days to two and a half hours and by 2001, Everburn hade $12 million in revenues. The more efficient production system also managed to buffer the company from the effects of the economy's downturn.
The opening of Housewarmings represents a continuation of Gupta's attempt to marry product and design. The store involves a series of rooms both indoors and out that demonstrate how gas fireplaces can be used. "We call it the dream house," said Gupta.
Gupta plans to expand Housewarming's product line and open additional stores. As for Everburn, Gupta said that he plans to innovate there as well by employing the same strategies that have gotten the company to where it is. "We believe in the team and we are passionate about partnerships," he said. "We grow with our customers."


text:
World: More investment needed in malaria battle in
Governments, development partners and the corporate sector should invest additional to sustain gains made in the fight against malaria to eliminate the disease, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
Three out of four people are at risk of malaria in the Southeast Asia region, home to a quarter of the world’s people. The disease remains a significant threat to the lives and livelihoods, although the number of confirmed malaria cases in the region decreased from 2.9 million in 2000 to 2 million in 2012.
“Around 1.4 billion people continue to be at risk of malaria in Southeast Asia. They are often the poorest, inclunding workers in hilly or forested areas, in development projects such as mining, agroforestry, road and dam constructions and in upland subsistence farming in rural areas and urban areas,” said WHO regional director for Southeast Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh, in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
She was speaking at the celebration of 2014 World Malaria Day, which falls on April 25.
“We must continue surveillance on malaria. Funding needs to be increased for diagnostics, drugs, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and research and response on drug and insecticide resistance. We need to empower communities to protect themselves. Eliminating malaria will take better political will,” Singh added.
World efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives. Malaria mortality rates have been reduced by 42 % and the incidence of malaria decreased by 25 % globally during 2000-2012.
Although substantial, the WHO said gains in malaria control could be reversed due to increasing parasite resistance to drugs, mosquito resistance to insecticides and the reintroduction of transmission in places where the disease has been eliminated.
Artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) is the initial line of treatment for the majority lethal type of malaria.
"The resistance to this drug would compromise the lives of hundreds of thousands of people affected by malaria, and there is an urgent need to invest in ways to contain the spread of resistance to these drugs," the WHO added.
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domain: news


text:
Psychological compulsion and physical dependence are responsible for many of the symptoms of crack withdrawal. Extreme craving, the anxiety, depression, the restlessness, that peculiar inability to feel pleasure, the shakes, muscle pain, nausea – these are just some many typical crack withdrawal symptoms. But what else can you expect during crack withdrawal? And how can you find help with crack addiction?
Were we take a look at what happens during crack withdrawal, why it happens, what is withdrawal from crack like, and how you can ease the process. If you have any further questions how you can withdraw from crack, you can always use our comment form below.
Why do crack withdrawal symptoms occur?
A drug that produces a near instantaneous high, crack is a stimulant that alters the brain chemistry of the user. Specifically, cocaine changes the production of the brain’s neurotransmitters during crack use. This change in levels of dopamine and serotonin are responsible for the change in behavior, thought process, perception and emotions of crack addicts. So what happens during withdrawal exactly?
When a crack user keeps using the drug, the body adjusts to the presence of the cocaine in the system. The normal production of neurotransmitters is modified and the drug no longer produces as intense a high as it used to. This is the dangerous phase of developed tolerance when a user is likely to increase their intake of crack to achieve euphoric effect and could end up overdosing. And when cocaine is removed, the body reacts to the abrupt chemical changes.
When an addict stops using crack, the central nervous system reacts to the absence to cocaine in the system. An array of symptoms will typically manifest, clinically called “Crack Withdrawal Syndrome”. In fact,a crack addict will typically feel a number of symptoms (both physical and psychological) manifest in the hours after last use. Long term withdrawal symptoms – also known as sub-acute withdrawal or protracted withdrawal symptoms – could occur weeks, months or even years after the initial detox phase.
What are symptoms of crack withdrawal?
Since crack is a strong stimulant drug that engenders feelings of euphoria, lowering of inhibitions, delusions of grandeur and lowered anxiety… the crash afterwards can be particularly harrowing. Also crack is one of the most addictive forms of cocaine; another reason why the following withdrawal symptoms can occur in a particularly acute form. Symptoms of crack withdrawal include:
- aggression and violent incidents
- anhedonia (the inability to feel pleasure)
- craving for the drug
- depression and lack of motivation
- exhaustion and fatigue
- feelings of paranoia
- flu like symptoms
- irritability and restlessness
- mood swings
- musculoskeletal pain
- psychosis, hallucinations and other mental disturbances
- sleep disturbances and vivid nightmares
- suicidal feelings
Crack withdrawal symptoms: How long?
Crack withdrawal symptoms can start hours after the last hit and could carry on for days, weeks or even months and can be very severe. Since users develop a psychological attachment to crack, the urge to use may resurface even after years of sobriety.
Crack cocaine relapse is very dangerous because the possibility of overdosing is very high, particularly when the body has re-established normalcy and has reverted to functioning without the drug. This is because the body will perceive what was a ‘normal’ dose during heavy use as an extremely high dose after having been sober for a significant length of time.
Crack withdrawal symptoms treatment
The aims of crack withdrawal symptoms treatment or recovery, are
(a) staying sober (abstinence)
(b) prevention of relapse and
(c) rehabilitation of the addict
The following aspects are important the treatment of during crack withdrawal symptoms.
Detox – This stage of treatment may require help from a hospital or outpatient setting. The user can undergo medical assessments and abstain from using in a supervised, phased manner. Heavy users may need to taper off their drug in a safe manner or as prescribed by the addiction specialist or physician.
Medications – Prescription drugs may also help manage difficult withdrawal symptoms or could be an effective means to help the user go off their drug gradually. Anti seizure medication, muscle relaxants, anti psychotic drugs, pain relievers and wakefulness promoting drugs could be beneficial during this phase. Medications prescribed should be such that the user doesn’t end up swapping one addiction for another.
Rehab – The physical dependence on crack is far simpler to resolve than the psychological addiction to the drug. Therapy and counseling are the most effective means to ensure lasting recovery. The addict typically needs guidance, structure and monitoring to help them remain sober.
Psychotherapy – Behavioral and psychological treatments can help a crack addict identify triggering behaviors and people and so the user can avoid them in favor or more sober environments and communities. It will also help the user develop coping mechanisms for stressful situations and triggering events.
Family therapy – Another important aspect of rehabilitation of the addict is to involve family and close friends in the recovery. Those around the addict need to understand how to alter enabling behaviors that may be fueling the addicts’ habit. Enabling behaviors could include financial support, inability or refusal to recognize signs of use, finding excuses for the addict’s behavior, etc. Such codependent behaviors can be addressed via family therapy settings.
Support systems – Joining a support group such as Cocaine Anonymous or even online support forums can help recovery and reduce feelings of isolation. Learning healthy behaviors that include regular physical exercise and a nutritious diet can also help support recovery.
Questions about crack withdrawal
Do you still have questions about crack withdrawal? Please leave your questions in the comments section below. We do our best to respond to you personally and promptly.

domain: psychology


Mad Gunz is a first-person shooting multiplayer game with 3D pixel cartoon game art animations. There are many skins and weapons waiting for you to unlock. Glad you will entertain with all five modes and win each royal battle. Keep calm and shoot first!
Use the WASD buttons or arrows.
How many people like the game and when is the publish date?
57.14% of 9 players like it, and the game was played 1,898 times since June-23rd-2021
Can I play the game on desktop, mobile phones and tablets?
Yes, of course. The game can be played on your computer and mobile devices like phones and tablets.
Can I Play For Free?
Yes, you can play all games online for free on CarGames.Com. Just visit the page in a Web browser (desktop, mobile or pad) and enjoy yourself. Play Car Games and other online games for Free on CarGames, No Download or Installation Required. Play Games Right Now and Enjoy Your Time!


text:
Katona blasts Price over Andre treatment
Published Mar 31 2010, 09:26 BST | By Daniel Kilkelly Kerry Katona
has reignited her feud with Katie Price, claiming that the glamour girl's "disgusting" behaviour caused her split from Peter Andre.
The former popstar, who has criticised Price on several occasions in the past, blasted her enemy for the way she used to treat Andre on their ITV2 reality shows.
Speaking to OK
magazine, Katona explained: "I remember seeing a clip of Katie kick off at Pete and it was disgusting. I wouldn't have stood for it. I love Pete. I'm Team Pete all the way.
"Pete's the best thing that ever happened to her. She's walked all over him and he just looks so sad.
"She totally crucified him on a TV show talking about his b*llocks - I'm not surprised that he ended up leaving her."
Katona met Andre on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
in 2004. In recent weeks, they have rekindled
their friendship after Katona signed up
to work with Andre's manager Claire Powell.

domain: entertainment


text:
Rhonda V. Anderson
Click here to add this poet to your My Favorite Poets.
Comments about Rhonda V. Anderson
If nobody smiled and nobody cared,
And nobody helped us along,
If each minute looked after itself
And good things all went to the strong,
If nobody cared just a little for you
And nobody thought about me,
And we stood all done in the battle of life,
What a dreary old world it would be.
Life is sweet because of the friends we have made
and the things which in common we share.
We want to live on, not because of ourselves,
but because of the people who care.
It's on giving and doing for somebody else
that much of life's splender depends,
And the ...

domain: literature


text:
Rick Stein, Porthleven
Situated along Porthleven harbour in Cornwall, featuring sharing boards and dishes from Rick’s adventures from Venice to Istanbul.
All images are subject to copyright. Please ensure all photo credits are given as detailed in the file name.
Click each image for the low-res version, or download the high-res version below it.

domain: artistic


Wearable technology that uses sweat to measure stress is not new, but it has only now begun to move from research and development into the consumer market. These new wearables can be categorized as biometric devices or biofeedback mechanisms. Biometric measurements used to study stress include blood pressure and heart rate. Biofeedback mechanisms used for stress measurement are often classified as self-regulation exercises such as meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation.
A considerable amount of research has been done in these areas, but the psychology of what we need to learn how to do with this information is quite different from the psychological understanding of the factors that cause our body’s reactions when we are stressed out or anxious.
A company called Qardio conducted market research to demonstrate the potential of a stress measuring device. Their survey found that physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches and an upset stomach, are more bothersome than mental symptoms such as feeling anxious or depressed. If people have a wearable device that makes them aware of when they are stressed and how bad the stress is, it could be used to avoid or mitigate some physical problems. Qardio found that two-thirds of their survey respondents were interested in a wearable to track stress levels.
The following patent is an example of one type of stress measurement technology that doesn’t require any additional sensors other than those already in a smartphone. The patent is from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (#US 9,558,928 B2).
The subject matter disclosed in this patent application relates to devices and methods of use thereof that measure stress through changes in the biometric characteristics of a person. In particular, the application discloses devices, methods, or systems with features to measure changes in physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance) that are indicative of stress and provide feedback related to the measured physiological changes. These features may include detecting changes (for example, increases or decreases) between two sets of values recorded at the same time on a first sensor monitor (e.g., a smartphone) and the second sensor monitor, respectively.
In one embodiment of the present application, an embodiment of a system includes a first sensor monitor (e.g., a smart phone) that monitors physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance) indicative of stress in a user and provides a first sensor data set. A second sensor monitor (e.g., a smart watch) that monitors physiological signals in the user provides a second sensor data set that is different from the first sensor data set and indicates changes in physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance). The second sensor data set is based on values measured by the second sensor monitor at the first time compared to the first time, where the first and second times are substantially similar. An alert condition is determined based on the second sensor data set that indicates changes in physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance) between the first and second times for the user. The alert condition may be generated automatically by a component of a device that remotely detects changes in physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance) and provides feedback indicative of detecting changes (for example, increases or decreases) in physiological signals where there are no immediate effects on physical health, such as a crisis response team member.
The following patent is another example of a device that uses skin conductance to measure stress. The patent is from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (#US 9,867,409 B2).
The subject matter disclosed in this patent application relates to biofeedback mechanisms for stress measurement. For example, devices, methods, or systems are disclosed for measuring physiological changes associated with stress by extracting a difference between two sets of values recorded at substantially the same time on devices capable of measuring physiological signals (e.g., heart rate or skin conductance) from the user. In particular, a device or system may include a first sensor monitor (e.g., a smart phone) that monitors physiological signals (e.g., skin conductance) and provides a first sensor data set. The first sensor data set may include values that are compared with a second set of values measured by at least one other monitor (e.g., a smart watch), and the second set of values may be obtained from another device. In one embodiment, the differences between the sets of values may be used to determine stress indicators such as heart rate, stress hormones (including cortisol), etc.
There are several devices that measure physiological changes associated with stress through changes in biometric characteristics. They typically only provide the stressful condition more directly than the technologies described in these patent applications. For example, Fitbit provides stress levels using its devices, as reported in this article. Fitbit has patented information tracking methods that use its products to provide insight into health.


text:
Pony considers Tim Shepard and his gang “future convicts” because they are more organized.
Pony feels that he, Darry, Two-Bit, and Soda should not spend too much time around Tim Shepherd and his gang and the leader of the Brumly boys because they are too rough.
We're greasers, but not hoods, and we don't belong with this bunch of future convicts. We could end up like them, I thought. We could. And the thought didn't help my headache. (Ch. 9)
Pony just wants to be make a distinction between the tough greasers and the ones that are just trying to make it in their neighborhood. He points out that everyone has to be in a gang, and being in a gang is about survival. Although some boys like Dally do enjoy messing around sometimes, and getting in trouble with the law, for most of them they are just targets because of who they are and where they live.
When you're a gang, you stick up for the members. If you don't stick up for them, stick together, make like brothers, it isn't a gang any more. It's a pack. (Ch. 2)
Being in a gang is about survival for the greasers, not about fun.
The Shephard gang, on the other hand, is serious and organized. Pony’s gang doesn’t even really have a leader. They are just a bunch of guys that are from the same neighborhood and stick up for each other. Although they might get into trouble, they avoid weapons and serious crimes.
The greasers are targeted by the Socs because they are greasers. They get jumped if one of them is walking alone. When one gets in a fight, the others have to fight a rumble against the rival gang in order to stick up for him. The cycle of violence always continues this way, until no one knows or cares how it started.
This is Ponyboy's world. There is no logic or organization to it. Yet with some gangs, there is order to the chaos. He realizes that this is not necessarily better. He does not want to be a better gang member.

domain: sociology


text:
Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight over Auckland’s West Coast.
Experience the awe-inspiring beauty of Auckland’s West Coast, from an unforgettable bird’s eye view on Heletranz’ most visually spectacular scenic flight. The flight covers Auckland City, the Waitakere Ranges and some of New Zealand’s most rugged coastline and wild surf beaches. The Coast to Coast Adventure flight flies from Albany over Kumeu and Huapai to Bethells (Te Henga) Beach, where we turn south to follow the coast for breath-taking views of surf-pounded black sand beaches and volcanic cliffs with jagged rocks and caves.
We continue over the beautiful bush clad Waitakere Ranges and water reservoirs hidden within. Almost to the mouth of the Manukau Harbour your helicopter leaves primordial New Zealand behind to over-fly suburbs leading to the central city area. Don’t miss the spectacular views as we over-fly Downtown Auckland, Viaduct Harbour and past the Sky Tower. The flight then tracks across the Waitemata Harbour to the Devonport Naval Base, North Head and out to view the crater of Rangitoto Island before returning to the heliport.
Please note, weight limitations apply on all flights.
*Scenic flights are generally made during the morning or afternoon and date and times are subject to availability. Booking availability will be confirmed within 24 hours. Bookings must be made at least 3 days in advance, for bookings within this time please call us 09 415 3550 or email us.

domain: travel


The maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) or maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) or maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) of an aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot is allowed to attempt to take off, due to structural or other limits. The analogous term for rockets is gross lift-off mass, or GLOW.MTOW is usually specified in units of kilograms or pounds. ...
In the FAA's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Max Takeoff Weight is defined as the "maximum allowable weight for takeoff." More specifically, the maximum takeoff weight is a limitation placed on the aircraft by the aircraft manufacturer during the design and testing process.
List of airliners by maximum takeoff weight. Jump to navigation Jump to search. This is a list of aircraft sorted by maximum takeoff weight. Airplanes. MTOW = Maximum take-off weight, MLW = Maximum landing weight, TOR = Take-off run (SL, ISA+15°, MTOW ...
How much stuff can I put in the airplane for takeoff? This is the perennial question for jet pilots, whether they are flying the lightest of very light jets or the heaviest of airliners. Before this can be answered by simple subtraction, the takeoff weight limit for the flight must be derived—sometimes by some not-so-simple calculations.
TAKE-OFF WEIGHT - Maximum allowable weight of an aircraft at the beginning of its take-off run. THRUST - Force which propels an aircraft through the air; generated by conventional propeller or the jet efflux of a turbine engine. Maximum ~: The maximum weight approved for the start of the take-off run.
But takeoff weight differs a great deal from the operating weight. So does the landing weight. A 747-400's takeoff weight can be over twice as much as its weight on the ground. Once again, my question is: Why is the takeoff and landing weight of an aircraft so much heavier than the standard operating weight?
depending on weight and model from 160 to 180 knots indicated airspeed note there is a huge weight range from about 160 to 345 metric tonnes for landing weight. max take-off weight con go up to 445 t.
www.definitions.net/definition/maximum take-off weight
Definition of maximum take-off weight in the Definitions.net dictionary. Meaning of maximum take-off weight. What does maximum take-off weight mean? Information and translations of maximum take-off weight in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.
4.7. Maximum design takeoff weight (MDTOW) The maximum takeoff weight (also known as the maximum brake-release weight) is the maximum weight authorized at brake release for takeoff, or at the start of the takeoff roll. The maximum takeoff weight is always less than the maximum taxi/ramp weight to allow for fuel burned
A member of Migos, Takeoff has been creating music with the hip-hop group for close to a decade. Following the release of a few mixtapes in the early 2010’s, they dropped their debut album, Yung ...


Predicting Control Valve Noise in Gas and Steam Applications: Valve Trim Exit Velocity Head vs. Valve Outlet Mach NumberDownload Now
Predicting and managing control valve noise has long been an important consideration in gas and steam applications, with the dual goals of protecting workers from potential auditory damage and preventing excessive vibration that could destroy equipment and piping, possibly leading to a catastrophic failure.
At first glance, it may seem that a logical way to achieve these goals would be to limit valve trim exit velocity head to a maximum of 480 kilopascals (kPa), and this indeed is how some have addressed the issue. In practical application, however, it is an oversimplified approach that, in many cases, will not produce the desired results. First, it typically requires the use of expensive multi-stage or multi-turn trim designs, which can cost up to 30 percent more than a simpler solution. More importantly, it also can create a false sense of safety.
This article will explain why the focus should instead be on keeping the valve outlet Mach number low. Practical examples will be used to illustrate that:
- Even if the trim exit velocity head is kept below 480 kPa, valve noise can be unacceptably high if the valve outlet Mach number is high.
- Even if the trim exit velocity number is above 480 kPa, valve noise can be kept to acceptable levels - without using costly trim designs - if the valve outlet Mach number is kept low.


These words were recently spoken by the man affectionately known as “The Father of the Internet”, Vint Cerf, in a recent NPR interview. Unfortunately, he didn’t apply that best practice to the invention he’s best known for. While he and his team created the vehicle that makes our entire world go round (i.e. TCP/IP and IP networking), he neglected to include a way to hold users accountable for their actions—no method to identify them.
And that is the fundamental flaw that scars the beautiful dream that is the Internet. Without provable identity, those that are less scrupulous than Mr. Cerf routinely use his amazing achievement as a perfect way to commit cybercrime, spy on nation states, and assault users behind a mask of anonymity.
While IP networking was designed to give admins convenient maintenance and administration of machines and devices, these network connections create additional threat vectors into devices controlling critical systems. Today, many of these devices run on proprietary firmware that is closed (unreadable) and rarely updated. As a result, organizations must connect these devices to some portion of the network even though there are very limited use cases for these devices to communicate. Traditional firewalls can help limit traffic in and out of designated areas, however, most firewalls enforce rules based on arbitrary (also dynamic and spoofable) IP addresses. Furthermore, inside the protection of a firewall, devices are still able to communicate laterally and are often visible to the rest of the network. And, any misconfiguration of either the device or the firewall can be catastrophic.
To resolve this problem, an additional name space is required to abstract the (permanent) identity of a device from the device’s corresponding addresses. Rather than using IP addresses to connect, networked things can now use a host identifier instead, providing a more reliable attribute of identity. One such implementation is the Host Identity Protocol (HIP), which adds a “host identifier” in the form of a cryptographic public key associated with the host. In the instance of HIP, two parties must share a cryptographic binding before being able to see each other on the network; effectively hiding portions of the network that are not allowed to communicate with each other.
Like doctors who deal with dangerous diseases, we should not treat the symptoms of a lack of identity with “medicines” known as next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) and Access Control Lists (ACLs)—We need a cure for the inherent insecurity of TCP/IP, a vaccine known as provable identities.


text:
How it all began
After returning to NH in 2003 he continued performing regularly with an improvisational all-star seacoast band. Nowadays he can be seen with the Carolyn Ramsay Band, Sounds Clever and the Valley Horns, the Nor’Easters and Bruce Marshall Duo. Yes he’s very busy.
Moving to New York in 1980 he joined a reunion group of Blood Sweat and Tears, touring the US and Europe, later joining the Buddy Rich band and touring with them as well. Al moved to the Mount Washington Valley in December 1997. Currently he stays very busy playing with Bruce Marshall & The Nor'easters, SoundsClever & the Valley Horns, the Black Mountain Ramblers Texas swing band and a variety of other bands when the mood strikes him!


text:
This week I would like us to recognise some very special and dedicated ordinary people in our society who relentlessly and judiciously carryout extraordinary work for our country with very little recognition by the establishment.
These are the people who toil long hours under very difficult conditions for the love of their profession and nothing else as their pay packages are miserly. I want to recognise our teachers, our law enforcement personnel and our nurses.
We ought to wake up, change our mindsets, start recognising and rewarding them appropriately before they rebel and there are signs that they are beginning to feel the pinch and agitated. I believe they need to be rewarded handsomely for what they do regardless of their level of academic qualifications.
Academic qualifications now seem to have overtaken common sense. I believe people should be rewarded or remunerated not only for the academic qualification they possess but also more importantly for the performance and delivery of expected results. Noting however, that minimum educational requirements for any given job, is mandatory.
Allow me to digress a little, to clarify my point above. Given a particular job, a teacher for example and four candidates, one with a diploma, another with a degree, the other a masters’ degree and the forth a PHD graduate. Is there any guarantee that the one with the highest qualification will produce better results than the one with the lowest in the same job? If these four people are doing the same job, they should be paid the same basic salary.
However, there should be a portion of their salary that is performance based, performance being measured by the results as determined based on set criteria. If the qualification helps the individual to get better results that individual will automatically get better remuneration based on the results produced not the qualification. I am sure a lot of you will understand why I am saying this.
People especially government employees are acquiring more and more qualifications for the sole purpose of getting a raise in their salary and not necessarily to increase productivity. This is a serious weakness in our remuneration system.
The above is my own personal views and a lot of people may agree or differ with me but I believe strongly that we have shifted disproportionately towards the need for higher and more qualifications at the expense of increased productivity which productivity is loosely measured by quantity and quality of results achieved given specified means of production. We have to move away from a situation where academic qualifications are more important than experience and superior job execution, otherwise we will continue to experience increasing decline in productivity levels.
I am proud of our teachers because I am a proud product of all my teachers especially those from primary and secondary school. I do not believe most of my teachers were degreed but they were exceptionally talented, both in the class room and outside in the extra curricula activities.
I will not talk about tertiary education because it is different. At university we have lecturers who are facilitators and students are required to be self taught. The lecturers provide guidelines and resources for the student and the student must be mature enough to know why they are at university. Hence primary and secondary teachers are very critical in preparing our children for higher learning and to a large extent the world of work.
I know the conditions under which our teachers work and the remuneration they attract. When I was given an option to become a teacher I said, ‘not me’. Teachers accept children from varied backgrounds in our societies, some with unknown learning disabilities, some disadvantaged children with all sorts of societal challenges, some with average and others with superior learning ability. They have to teach all these kids to learn how to learn together.
To make it even more difficult for our teachers there are no preschools where kids are prepared for public schooling. There is no screening to help identify different learning abilities. There are no special needs teachers to talk about in our public schools. Hence the teacher has to be a jack of all trades and get these kids to learn and graduate from primary to secondary and from secondary to university or the world of work. I salute all the teachers out there and understand why they now demand overtime, which was never the case before.
Recently I went to a certain school where I was again reminded of the deplorable conditions under which our teachers operate, where a special needs teacher, uses a corner of the school hall as her classroom, when other activities are taking place in the same hall at the same time.
She has no where to store her teaching aids and she was appealing for help for the sake of these children. Her story was heart wrecking; the hours she spends at school for the various activities she has to carryout for these kids are ridiculously long.
Many times she hardly has enough time for her own family and what recognition does she get for all this from us and the government? Most of us know how much these people earn; pittance. Can she afford a helper at home to help her with her home chores while doing this thankless national duty for our kids? The answer is no, so her family suffers as a result of her dedication to duty; a duty that is squarely ours as a nation as taxpayers and when our taxes are used to fund corruption.
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE
The police force and army are charged with our personal and national safety and security. These people work long hours and are required to be available 24/7 should the need arise. My concern is how well do we look after these people? How much do we care about their welfare? I want to share two incidents which will always haunt me. I know many of our men and women in uniform experience the same dilemma.
A gentleman in the army approached me and told me he wanted to leave the country. He wanted to go overseas to Canada or to America to look for a job; ‘any job for that matter’ he said. He believed there, he will find a job that will pay him enough to look after himself and his family.
He needed financial help to migrate. I wanted to know why this young gentleman charged with looking after our security wanted to leave and leave for an undefined, unsecured job overseas. He told me that his father passed away in a tragic accident. His mother is not working and he has six siblings still at school. He is not married yet but he has a child he is maintaining. He would like to marry but he cannot afford it. He has to look after himself, his mother and his siblings including his girl friend and child.
I said to him, ‘but you are working and have been working for some time now and some of your age mates are not working and you should be thankful that you are at least working and serving your country’. He said, ‘uncle, I am earning only P2000 per month and in fact those colleagues of mine not working are better off than me because they earn more than me doing only odd jobs there and there, may be I should quit and join them if I cannot afford to go overseas’. This was few years ago, this chap actual quit his job, failed to go overseas, is still unemployed and unmarried.
My house was broken into recently, three special constables where the first at the house and some other regular policemen came later for finger prints. The special constables traced the tracks and spent half a day in the bush searching frantically and tirelessly.
The culprit was later apprehended and stolen goods recovered through their work. One of the constables, a young lady with two kids said to me she was looking for accommodation and perhaps I knew someone who has a servant quarters to rent.
She said she could afford only up to P800 per month. I was curious and asked how much she earned and how long she has been employed as a special constable. She has been working for years and earning less than P2000 per month.
She does not see any prospects for her advancement, any time soon. Now with two kids, having to pay for her accommodation, food for her and her two children and travelling to and from work. Maybe she also has a mother and father who she also has to help look after as per our traditional way of life. How do we expect this young lady to make a living?
If you have been to any of our public hospitals and see these people at work 24/7 looking after patients suffering from all sorts of ailments, some with no prospects for survival, but the dedication to serve by these nurses remaining solidly intact. The conditions in some of these hospitals are deplorable; where some of the patients have no beds, no blankets and hygiene in many cases severely compromised. My heart goes for these people. There are always smiling and willing to go the extra mile to assist the patients and their relatives to come to terms with the reality and the situation they find themselves in.
My concern is despite the nature of their job which put them at risk of all sorts of infections, despite their dedication to serve despite these deplorable conditions and despite the fact that we can afford to pay them more we continue to pay them starving wages.
WHY I PICKED ON THESE PEOPLE?
I have singled out the three categories of employees because these are the people we cannot do without and they do their jobs with so much dedication for such low wages. It breaks my heart knowing the cost of living in this country and our extended family set up to see our government paying such low salaries to the people who are literally carrying such a heavy load this republic, while we pay more to people we have to bribe before they provide service we pay them to provide, people who spend their eight hours at work reading newspapers, on the phone chatting to their friends, doing their own businesses and other notorieties.
What can we do without our teachers, without our nurses and without law enforcement people? Can we develop as a country without education? Can we survive without health care? Without law enforcement would we still want to stay in this country and would we attract any foreign investment as a country?
The question in my mind and the frustration in me is how do we remunerate these people adequately? As a nation do we think we are dong justice to these people? The majority of our teachers, police men, soldiers and nurses earn between P2000 and P5000 per month. We do have some of our people paid as low as P900 per month, while we have others paid over P45000 per month. This to me is diabolical. We need to change and reduce the gap. We all live in the same country where the cost of living is the same for every one.
While there must be different in pay for different categories of work, the difference must be justifiably earned and reasonable. We need a pay structure that enables a more equitable remuneration distribution system that recognises not only academic qualifications, but also level of productivity and the conditions of work.
Parliament was this week once again seized with matters that concern them and borders on conflict of interest and abuse of privilege.
The two matters are; review of MPs benefits as well as President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s participation in the bidding for Banyana Farms. For the latter, it should not come as a surprise that President Masisi succeeded in bid.
The President’s business interests have also been in the forefront. While President Masisi is entitled as a citizen to participate in a various businesses in the country or abroad, it is morally deficient for him to participate in a bidding process that is handled by the government he leads. By the virtue of his presidency, Masisi is the head of government and head of State.
Not long ago, former President Festus Mogae suggested that elected officials should consider using blind trust to manage their business interests once they are elected to public office. Though blind trusts are expensive, they are the best way of ensuring confidence in those that serve in public office.
A blind trust is a trust established by the owner (or trustor) giving another party (the trustee) full control of the trust. Blind trusts are often established in situations where individuals want to avoid conflicts of interest between their employment and investments.
The trustee has full discretion over the assets and investments while being charged with managing the assets and any income generated in the trust.
The trustor can terminate the trust, but otherwise exercises no control over the actions taken within the trust and receives no reports from the trustees while the blind trust is in force.
Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Secretary General, Mpho Balopi, has defended President Masisi’s participation in business and in the Banyana Farms bidding. His contention is that, the practise even obtained during the administration of previous presidents.
The President is the most influential figure in the country. His role is representative and he enjoys a plethora of privileges. He is not an ordinary citizen. The President should therefore be mindful of this fact.
We should as a nation continue to thrive for improvement of our laws with the viewing of enhancing good governance. We should accept perpetuation of certain practices on the bases that they are a norm. MPs are custodians of good governance and they should measure up to the demands of their responsibility.
Parliament should not be spared for its role in countenancing these developments. Parliament is charged with the mandate of making laws and providing oversight, but for them to make laws that are meant solely for their benefits as MPs is unethical and from a governance point of view, wrong.
There have been debates in parliament, some dating from past years, about the benefits of MPs including pension benefits. It is of course self-serving for MPs to be deliberating on their compensation and other benefits.
In the past, we have also contended that MPs are not the right people to discuss their own compensation and there has to be Special Committee set for the purpose. This is a practice in advanced democracies.
By suggesting this, we are not suggesting that MP benefits are in anyway lucrative, but we are saying, an independent body may figure out the best way of handling such issues, and even offer MPs better benefits.
In the United Kingdom for example; since 2009 following a scandal relating to abuse of office, set-up Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA)
IPSA is responsible for: setting the level of and paying MPs’ annual salaries; paying the salaries of MPs’ staff; drawing up, reviewing, and administering an MP’s allowance scheme; providing MPs with publicly available and information relating to taxation issues; and determining the procedures for investigations and complaints relating to MPs.
Owing to what has happened in the Parliament of Botswana recently, we now need to have a way of limiting what MPs can do especially when it comes to laws that concern them. We cannot be too trusting as a nation.
MPs can abuse office for their own agendas. There is need to act swiftly to deal with the inherent conflict of interest that arise as a result of our legislative setup. A voice of reason should emerge from Parliament to address this unpleasant situation. This cannot be business as usual.
The 490-hectare campus researches the world’s deadliest pathogens, including Anthrax (in 1944, the Roosevelt administration ordered 1 million anthrax bombs from Fort Detrick), Ebola, smallpox, and … you guessed right: coronaviruses. The facility, which carries out paid research projects for government agencies (including the CIA), universities and drug companies most of whom owned by the highly sinister military-industrial complex, employs 900 people.
Between 1945 and 1969, the sprawling complex (which has since become the US’s ”bio-defence centre” to put it mildly) was the hub of the US biological weapons programme. It was at Fort Detrick that Project MK Ultra, a top-secret CIA quest to subject the human mind to routine robotic manipulation, a monstrosity the CIA openly owned up to in a congressional inquisition in 1975, was carried out. In the consequent experiments, the guinea pigs comprised not only of people of the forgotten corner of America – inmates, prostitutes and the homeless but also prisoners of war and even regular US servicemen.
These unwitting participants underwent up to a 20-year-long ordeal of barbarous experiments involving psychoactive drugs (such as LSD), forced electroshocks, physical and sexual abuses, as well as a myriad of other torments. The experiments not only violated international law, but also the CIA’s own charter which forbids domestic activities. Over 180 doctors and researchers took part in these horrendous experiments and this in a country which touts itself as the most civilised on the globe!
Was the coronavirus actually manufactured at Fort Detrick (like HIV as I shall demonstrate at the appropriate time) and simply tactfully patented to other equally cacodemonic places such as the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China?
THE FORT DETRICK SCIENTISTS’ PROPHECY WAS WELL-INFORMED
About two years before the term novel coronavirus became a familiar feature in day-to-day banter, two scientist cryptically served advance warning of its imminence. They were Allison Totura and Sina Bavari, both researchers at Fort Detrick.
The two scientists talked of “novel highly pathogenic coronaviruses that may emerge from animal reservoir hosts”, adding, “These coronaviruses may have the potential to cause devastating pandemics due to unique features in virus biology including rapid viral replication, broad host range, cross-species transmission, person-to-person transmission, and lack of herd immunity in human populations … Associated with novel respiratory syndromes, they move from person-to-person via close contact and can result in high morbidity and mortality caused by the progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).”
All the above constitute some of the documented attributes and characteristics of the virus presently on the loose – the propagator of Covid-19. A recent clinical review of Covid-19 in The Economist seemed to bear out this prognostication when it said, “It is ARDS that sees people rushed to intensive-care units and put on ventilators”. As if sounding forth a veritable prophecy, the two scientists besought governments to start working on counter-measures there and then that could be “effective against such a virus”.
Well, it was not by sheer happenstance that Tortura and Bavari turned out to have been so incredibly and ominously prescient. They had it on good authority, having witnessed at ringside what the virus was capable of in the context of their own laboratory. The gory scenario they painted for us came not from secondary sources but from the proverbial horse’s mouth folks.
CDC’S RECKLESS ADMISSION
In March this year, Robert Redfield, the US Director for the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told the House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee that it had transpired that some members of the American populace who were certified as having died of influenza turned out to have harboured the novel coronavirus per posthumous analysis of their tissue.
Redfield was not pressed to elaborate but the message was loud and clear – Covid-19 had been doing the rounds in the US much earlier than it was generally supposed and that the extent to which it was mistaken for flu was by far much more commonplace than was openly admitted. An outspoken Chinese diplomat, Zhao Lijian, seized on this rather casual revelation and insisted that the US disclose further information, exercise transparency on coronavirus cases and provide an explanation to the public.
But that was not all the beef Zhao had with the US. He further charged that the coronavirus was possibly transplanted to China by the US: whether inadvertently or by deliberate design he did not say. Zhao pointed to the Military World Games of October 2019, in which US army representatives took part, as the context in which the coronavirus irrupted into China. Did the allegation ring hollow or there was a ring of truth to it?
THE BENASSIE FACTOR
The Military World Games, an Olympic-style spectrum of competitive action, are held every four years. The 2019 episode took place in Wuhan, China. The 7th such, the games ran from October 18 to October 27. The US contingent comprised of 17 teams of over 280 athletes, plus an innumerable other staff members. Altogether, over 9000 athletes from 110 countries were on hand to showcase their athletic mettle in more than 27 sports. All NATO countries were present, with Africa on its part represented by 30 countries who included Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Besides the singular number of participants, the event notched up a whole array of firsts. One report spelt them out thus: “The first time the games were staged outside of military bases, the first time the games were all held in the same city, the first time an Athletes’ Village was constructed, the first time TV and VR systems were powered by 5G telecom technology, and the first use of all-round volunteer services for each delegation.”
Now, here is the clincher: the location of the guest house for the US team was located in the immediate neighbourhood of the Wuhan Seafood Market, the place the Chinese authorities to this day contend was the diffusion point of the coronavirus. But there is more: according to some reports, the person who allegedly but unwittingly transmitted the virus to the people milling about the market – Patient Zero of Covid-19 – was one Maatie Benassie.
Benassie, 52, is a security officer of Sergeant First Class rank at the Fort Belvoir military base in Virginia and took part in the 50-mile cycling road race in the same competitions. In the final lap, she was accidentally knocked down by a fellow contestant and sustained a fractured rib and a concussion though she soldiered on and completed the race with the agonising adversity. Inevitably, she saw a bit of time in a local health facility. According to information dug up by George Webb, an investigative journalist based in Washington DC, Benassie would later test positive for Covid-19 at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital.
Incidentally, Benassie apparently passed on the virus to other US soldiers at the games, who were hospitalised right there in China before they were airlifted back to the US. The US government straightaway prohibited the publicising of details on the matter under the time-honoured excuse of “national security interests”, which raised eyebrows as a matter-of-course. As if that was not fishy enough, the US out of the blue tightened Chinese visas to the US at the conclusion of the games.
The rest, as they say, is history: two months later, Covid-19 had taken hold on China territory. “From that date onwards,” said one report, “one to five new cases were reported each day. By December 15, the total number of infections stood at 27 — the first double-digit daily rise was reported on December 17 — and by December 20, the total number of confirmed cases had reached 60.”
TWO CURIOUS RESEARCH HALTINGS
Is it a coincidence that all the US soldiers who fell ill at the Wuhan games did their preparatory training at the Fort Belvoir military base, only a 15-minutes’ drive from Fort Detrick?
That Fort Detrick is a plain-sight perpetrator of pathogenic evils is evidenced by a number of highly suspicious happenings concerning it. Remember the 2001 anthrax mailing attacks on government and media houses which killed five people right on US territory? The two principal suspects who puzzlingly were never charged, worked as microbiologists at Fort Detrick. Of the two, Bruce Ivins, who was the more culpable, died in 2008 of “suicide”. For “suicide”, read “elimination”, probably because he was in the process of spilling the beans and therefore cast the US government in a stigmatically diabolical light. Indeed, the following year, all research projects at Fort Detrick were suspended on grounds that the institute was “storing pathogens not listed in its database”. The real truth was likely much more reprehensible.
In 2014, there was a mini local pandemic in the US which killed thousands of people and which the mainstream media were not gutsy enough to report. It arose following the weaponisation at Fort Detrick of the H7N9 virus, prompting the Obama administration to at once declare a moratorium on the research and withdraw funding.
The Trump administration, however, which has a pathological fixation on undoing practically all the good Obama did, reinstated the research under new rigorous guidelines in 2017. But since old habits die hard, the new guidelines were flouted at will, leading to another shutdown of the whole research gamut at the institute in August 2019. This, nonetheless, was not wholesale as other areas of research, such as experiments to make bird flu more transmissible and which had begun in 2012, proceeded apace. As one commentator pointedly wondered aloud, was it really necessary to study how to make H5N1, which causes a type of bird flu with an eye-popping mortality rate, more transmissible?
Consistent with its character, the CDC was not prepared to furnish particulars upon issuing the cease and desist order, citing “national security reasons”. Could the real reason have been the manufacture of the novel coronavirus courtesy of a tip-off by the more scrupulous scientists?
President Mokgweetsi Masisi may have breathed a huge sigh of relief when he emerged victorious in last year’s 2019 general elections, but the ultimate test of his presidency has only just begun.
From COVID-19 pandemic effects; disenchanted unemployed youth, deteriorating diplomatic relations with neighbouring South Africa as well as emerging instability within the ruling party — Masisi has a lot to resolve in the next few years.
Last week we started an unwanted cold war with Botswana’s main trade partner, South Africa, in what we consider an ill-conceived move. Never, in the history of this country has Botswana shown South Africa a cold shoulder – particularly since the fall of the apartheid regime.
It is without a doubt that our country’s survival depends on having good relations with South Africa. As the Chairperson of African National Congress (ANC), Gwede Mantashe once said, a good relationship between Botswana and South Africa is not optional but necessary.
No matter how aggrieved we feel, we should never engage in a diplomatic war — with due respect to other neighbours— with South Africa. We will never gain anything from starting a diplomatic war with South Africa.
In fact, doing so will imperil our economy, given that majority of businesses in the retail sector and services sector are South African companies.
Former cabinet minister and Phakalane Estates proprietor, David Magang once opined that Botswana’s poor manufacturing sector and importation of more than 80 percent of the foodstuffs from South Africa, effectively renders Botswana a neo-colony of the former.
Magang’s statement may look demeaning, but that is the truth, and all sorts of examples can be produced to support that. Perhaps it is time to realise that as a nation, we are not independent enough to behave the way we do. And for God’s sake, we are a landlocked country!
Recently, the effects of COVID-19 have exposed the fragility of our economy; the devastating pleas of the unemployed and the uncertainty of the future. Botswana’s two mainstay source of income; diamonds and tourism have been hit hard. Going forward, there is a need to chart a new pathway, and surely it is not an easy task.
The ground is becoming fertile for uprisings that are not desirable in any country. That the government has not responded positively to the rising unemployment challenge is the truth, and very soon as a nation we will wake up to this reality.
The magnitude of the problem is so serious that citizens are running out of patience. The government on the other hand has not done much to instil confidence by assuring the populace that there is a plan.
The general feeling is that, not much will change, hence some sections of the society, will try to use other means to ensure that their demands are taken into consideration. Botswana might have enjoyed peace and stability in the past, but there is guarantee that, under the current circumstances, the status quo will be maintained.
It is evident that, increasingly, indigenous citizens are becoming resentful of naturalised and other foreign nationals. Many believe naturalised citizens, especially those of Indian origin, are the major beneficiaries in the economy, while the rest of the society is side-lined.
The resentfulness is likely to intensify going forward. We needed not to be heading in this direction. We needed not to be racist in our approach but when the pleas of the large section of the society are ignored, this is bound to happen.
It is should be the intention of every government that seeks to strive on non-racialism to ensure that there is shared prosperity. Share prosperity is the only way to make people of different races in one society to embrace each other, however, we have failed in this respect.
Masisi’s task goes beyond just delivering jobs and building a nation that we all desire, but he also has an immediate task of achieving stability within his own party. The matter is so serious that, there are threats of defection by a number of MPs, and if he does not arrest this, his government may collapse before completing the five year mandate.
The problems extend to the party itself, where Masisi found himself at war with his Secretary General, Mpho Balopi. The war is not just the fight for Central Committee position, but forms part of the succession plan.

domain: politics


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Thursday, August 25, 2011
STILLWATER - Gov. Mary Fallin said she is working on a plan to ramp up the state's economy by producing more college graduates. Her goal: 1,700 more college graduates a year.
"We need a much higher number of college-educated graduates in our state," Fallin told a town hall meeting on the Oklahoma State University campus.
The state currently produces about 27,000 college degrees a year.
Fallin said she will reveal details of the state's part in the Complete College America program next month, but she said it will involve a new emphasis on retaining college students through to graduation.
The program also will address transfer issues between state colleges and work with private employers to make sure state colleges and universities are producing graduates with the kinds of skills they need, she said.
State Chancellor of Higher Education Glenn Johnson, state Education Secretary Phyllis Hudecki and others are working on the plan, Fallin said.
She agreed that asking state colleges and universities to produce more graduates would logically lead to a call for more higher education funding, but she was hesitant to commit to a budget increase, saying savings should be squeezed out of other areas.
The state's future prosperity will depend on its ability to provide a highly skilled workforce, Fallin said.
Only 20 percent of the people in the current Oklahoma workforce have college degrees, but that number will change, she said.
In 2018, Oklahoma will have 87,000 new jobs for college graduates but only 42,000 new jobs for people with only high school educations and 17,000 jobs for those with less than a high school education, she said.
"It's clear how important higher education is to our success," Fallin said.
Thirteen members of Fallin's Cabinet talked about initiatives and answered questions from the public at the event.
State Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez said education and training are consistent issues on the minds of new business prospects for the state.
"It's all about the workforce," he said. "What we hear from our businesses is: 'We need degree completion.' "
Lopez said economic development and education "are two sides of the same coin."
Hudecki said part of increasing the number of college graduates will be making students accept a more rigorous curriculum in high school and college.
While a high number of high school students say they want to get college degrees, too many are not taking the sort of college-preparatory courses - especially in math and science - that they will need for success in college, she said.
Legislative leaders in the audience were enthusiastic about what they heard from Fallin.
Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, said a big part of increasing the number of college graduates will come by making sure the students who enroll as freshmen complete their courses of study.
Denney is chairwoman of the House subcommittee that oversees education funding.
Sen. Jim Halligan, R-Stillwater, said the state can increase its number of college graduates by targeting out-of-state students.
Halligan, a former OSU president, said out-of-state students more than pay their way in higher tuition and increase the state's future pool of highly trained workers.
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer


text:
The Washington African American Chamber of Commerce (WAACOC) is launching in the western area of the city. The need for an organization to advocate, educate, and connect African American businesses to the available resources is long overdue. During National Black Business Month, the Chamber will launch on August 20, 2023 at Hotel Interurban with keynote speaker Frank Boykin from the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).
“The WAACOC is committed to targeting African American businesses with the tools and resources they need to succeed in 2023 and beyond,” said Jenefeness Franke, President of the WAACOC western area. “We will advocate on their behalf, educate them about the business landscape, and connect them with potential clients and partners for sustainable growth.”
The WAACOC will offer a variety of programs and services to its members, including:
Government relations advocacy
Marketing and promotional assistance
“We are excited to support the launch of the WAACOC and to help African American businesses in the western area of the city thrive,” said Frank Boykin, Director of Washington Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center. “We believe that by working together, we can make a significant impact on the economic development of our community.”
The WAACOC launch event will be held on August 20, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Hotel Interurban in Tukwila. The keynote speaker will be Frank Boykin, Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). This event is open to the community with a complementary RSVP here.
To learn more about the WAACOC, please visit www.waacoc.com.

domain: economics


- Filed Under
As "All My Children" and "One Life to Live" continue to settle into their online format, both shows have made significant writer changes. Lisa Connor and Chip Hayes, who have history with "AMC," are its new head writers, taken on to work within the twice a week format.
In its second writing move, Jessica Klein and Marin Gazzaniga are now co-head writers at "OLTL," both with backgrounds at "As the World Turns." Meanwhile, the two shows are currently caught up in a labor dispute over whether "AMC" went over its production budget. The soaps began a scheduled hiatus several weeks early but have enough episodes already taped to air through September, and are hopeful of returning to work in mid-August, as planned.
"Young and Restless" is considering a recast of Tucker McCann, previously played by Stephen Nichols. Nichols' unavailability for the part stems from the possibility of his return to "General Hospital" as Stefan Cassadine, a role he played from 1996 to 2003.
"Days of Our Lives" is casting two new contract characters, both expected to make their debuts in late summer or early fall. "Ben" is in his 20s with a country background, who might be a musician, and "Sabrina" is a quiet, innocent and good-hearted teenage girl.


text:
I have some thoughts about Corona... Imagine if there is something bigger than us - a force that is now showing its muscles. Because we don't listen to mother earth's voice to reduce our environmental impact - stop traveling and consuming too much like now. Because we don't listen to take care of each other or ourselves - stress ourselves to death and forget to appreciate those closest to us...
Now it came - the slap in the face from above. Now we are not allowed to travel, must stay at home and take it easy. We clearly cannot decide to take care of the planet together - so now we are forced to look at ourselves. It is also difficult to wage war when you are in quarantine and being a criminal is not fun these days either. No one wants to assault or get close to anyone - no pepper spray needed - just a sneeze is enough. It's all about perspective - in the short term it's super annoying and absolutely awful, but in the long run we might end up with a much cleaner, happier and more humane world, where we appreciate what we have rather than taking everything for granted...
In these chaotic times, we need to strengthen our bodies so that we have resistance, even if we are hit by the coronavirus, the body takes less of a beating if it has a good immune system and strong health from the start.
I have worked for 25 years in holistic health and here I share mine
6 best health tips to keep the body strong and resilient!
1 teaspoon of our raw juice concentrate sea buckthorn gives you about 100 berries!
Wash your hands often, especially after using the toilet, handling food and if you sneeze or cough.
Be sure to wash thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
What we eat has a big impact on our resilience.
Anti-oxidants are effective when they come from food because they contain fibre, which helps the body to counteract free radicals.
Our berry powders are, among other things, rich in fibre, minerals, Vitamin C, A and E.
And if you still get it, the immune system overcomes an infection faster. In one study, a group of women began exercising 45 minutes a day most days of the week. One result was that the number of colds among the women in the following year fell by more than 50 percent.
Exercise strengthens the immune system by increasing the blood's content of natural killer cells (NK cells). These cells are an internal surveillance system that keeps track of whether viruses enter the body.
5. Maintain fluid balance
Without enough water in the body, we cannot effectively eliminate toxins and other impurities that accumulate in our bodies. If not removed, toxins are absorbed into the bloodstream and weaken our immune system.
Try to always carry a water bottle with you so you have no excuse for not drinking enough water!
6. More sauna sessions!
The heat from the sauna is seen by the body as "fever" and is part of the body's immune system. The white blood cells start working to fight the "fever" and cool down the skin with sweat. The red blood cells are also activated. Most bacteria and viruses are killed or their effectiveness is reduced at 38.5 ° C. Therefore, the heat in the sauna and steam sauna has a preventive and therapeutic effect on the lungs, throat infections, colds and bronchitis.

domain: medical


text:
Date:Friday February 16 2007
Emre's future at Newcastle has been thrown in to further doubt after he was again accused of racism.
The latest incident relates to the Newcastle game against Bolton and remarks Emre allegedly made to El-Hadji Diouf.
The player is already facing a personal hearing after an incident at Goodison Park.
And whilst Emre strongly denies both allegations, manager Glen Roeder has already made clear that any player found guilty of such charges does not have a future at the club.
Emre`s agent said: 'Emre is very upset about the allegations and is confident he will clear his name.'
Emre has not played for the club since New Year's day because of a calf problem.
5 Years Since Sir Bobby Left Us (Thursday July 31 2014)
Remy Back OnThe Agenda? (Monday July 28 2014)
NUFC Chasing The Wrong Targets* (Sunday July 27 2014)
The Usual (Sunday July 27 2014)
Forthcoming Friendly Cup Chosen For TV (Thursday July 24 2014)
Mbiwa Still Linked With Loan Move (Thursday July 24 2014)
French Exodus Continues (Wednesday July 23 2014)
Liam Sweeney and John Alder (Monday July 21 2014)
Ben Arfa Saga Is A Real Shame (Thursday July 17 2014)
Janmaat Gets His Confirmation (Thursday July 17 2014)
|10. Man City||0||0||0||0||0||0|
|11. Man Utd||0||0||0||0||0||0|
|Bojan Gets Squad Number
» Stoke : 31/07/2014 21:46:00
|Arsenal Fan Goes Out On Loan
» Arsenal : 31/07/2014 21:30:00
|Danny: Champion of the World!
» Spurs : 31/07/2014 21:10:00
|Albion Announce 2014-15 Squad Numbers
» WBA : 31/07/2014 18:13:00
|Bertrand Joins On Season Long Loan
» Southampton : 31/07/2014 18:02:00


text:
Of all the elements, earth is the one with which we have the deepest, most emotional, personal
relationship. This was recognized by our sages who described earth as mother, the nurturer,
the sustainer of life; earth, who held within her womb not only the riches of Nature, but also
her secreds, and tumults; earth, whose very creation was the intense birth of form out of the
formless. So the concept lent itself to varying musical interpretations, ranging from the
dramatic and awe-inspiring to the lyrical and tender.
In the first half, I have used selected passages from the beautiful Hymn to the earth from the
Atharwa Veda, surely a hymn of all mankind, poetically descriptive of man's reverence for
earth. In the section "Earth my Mother", I have chosen Raga Des for its deep sense of
belonging, expressed with great sweetness and poignance. But the earth mother is also the
female principle of fertility; thus, the tribal rhythms of the "Fertility Dance" are evocative
of primeval rites in the worship and propitiation of the earth. "Earthquake" is a description
in sound of terrifying upheaval and elemental rage: the destructive aspect.
The second half is a depiction of earth and tow other elements water and sky (heaven, space).
In the sound of the oboe, we hear the pathos of the arid earth, them the joy when her thirst
is slaked by rainfall, which also quickens her to renewed life. And the sounds of the French
horn and flute recall the majesty of Dyaus, the Vedic god of Heaven, who, according to legend,
is the father of all men, just as Prithvi, the earth, is the mother. The very last track is a
celebration of the elemental mother.
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Jazz in the western world is all thanks to Lieutenant James Reese Europe (also known as Jim Europe). Jim Europe and his band were the leading pioneers for the growth of African-American-created jazz throughout the post-war period. Their brand of proto-Jazz music, written exclusively by black composers, kick-started a movement that would see jazz music eventually hit the mainstream.
After receiving acclaim throughout New York City and America, Europe and his military band began a tour of France. They traveled 2,000 miles, playing anywhere from the smallest of villages to the largest concert halls.
By the time Europe had landed back in America, post-war Paris (Lower Montmartre in particular) was alive with Jazz music. Hughes Panassié and Charles Delauney then formed the Jazz Hot Club to further develop Jazz music in the country. Two of their first proteges were Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli.
The legacy of these two would go on to inspire millions of jazz enthusiasts all over the world. Paris’ Left Bank and Montmartre also saw many underground venues popping up to showcase this exciting new genre.
The era of the smoky Parisian jazz club had begun: here are the best jazz clubs in Paris.
Best Paris Jazz Clubs
1. Le Duc des Lombards
42 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France
Le Duc des Lombards is one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city that calls itself “the jazz capital of the world“. The club is on the trendy Rue des Lombards, a small street halfway between Place du Châtelet and the Pompidou shopping center. Although easy to miss, the street is best known for hosting three of the main French jazz clubs: Le Baiser Salé, the Sunset/Sunside, and of course, Le Duc des Lombards.
American jazz pianist Bobby Few was the first Stateside pianist to play the venue, back when it was called ‘Bar de l’Etoile’. Few then listed five commandments for what makes a good jazz club, which the club has adopted as its cornerstone principles.
These were the following: a good piano (‘le Duc’ does have an excellent piano), an open-minded owner, a sharp audience, proximity to people (the club has an alluring intimacy), and a place where musicians can go after a show to relax or improvise.
The club is best known for its piano, its frequency of shows (approximately 300 per year) with twice-per-evening shows at 7.30 pm and 10 pm Monday-Saturday, and its free late-night jam sessions from 11.30 pm.
At its best, the club combines performances by the likes of established musicians such as Jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz and singer Melody Gardot, with up-and-coming jazz musicians.
Le Duc des Lombards offers a sleek modern design with excellent acoustics, classy lighting with excellent food available until 11 pm in the on-site restaurant.
2. New Morning
7/9 R. des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris, France
Mainly a jazz venue, New Morning also showcases live music from across all genres. The club also runs a successful online radio station that streams soundchecks, jazz sessions, stories, interviews, and DJ sets.
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers delivered the first-ever performance at New Morning in 1981. The venue then became a favorite for jazz legends reaching the end of their career. Famous artists to have played at the venue include jazz poet Gil Scott Heron, trumpeter and violinist Chet Baker, pianist George Russell, bandleader Dizzy Gillespie, and Cuban-American trumpeter, pianist, and composer Arturo Sandoval.
The legendary Bob Dylan has also played a show there; so too have Jean-Jacques Goldman and the late Prince who declared New Morning his favorite place in Paris. After first playing with his father in 1986 and 1987, Prince returned to the New Morning in 2010, playing a mammoth four-hour set and ending with a version of Purple Rain which replaced the title words with ‘New Morning’.
The hole-in-the-wall venue lies in Paris’ République district, on rue des Petites Écuries. The room itself is cold and unassuming, with a capacity of 500. However, the room and stage are so intimate, the crowd and performing act look as though they are all moving in tandem.
The club was founded by Egyptian journalist Eglal Farhi. Originally a club in Geneva, Switzerland, Farhi was asked to take the concept of New Morning to Paris. In April 1981, on the eve of her sixtieth birthday, the venue was opened. She would become the muse for many a jazz artist until her death in 2019 at the age of 97.
Despite its plain interior and modest exterior appearance, the New Morning remains a favored club for its stand-out impromptu jazz sessions.
3. Le Caveau de la Huchette
5 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris, France
The site of 5 rue de la Huchette, in Paris’ Latin Quarter, has a fascinating history that pre-dates even the legendary concerts held within its walls.
The site was the original meeting place for Rose-Croix and the Templars, which led to the formation of a secret Freemasonic lodge on the site. The venue also has a deep underground court, prison, and execution rooms. During the French Revolution, the site was used as a torture chamber.
After its opening in 1949, La Caveau was one of the first places in Paris to play jazz music. The historic subterranean site has since been graced with performances by Memphis Slim, Finn Ziegler, Bill Coleman, Al Copley, Sidney Bechet, and Sacha Distel, among many many others.
You may also recognize Le Caveau’s four walls from the big screen. The jazz club has been featured in many films including La La Land (2016) and Les Tricheurs (1958), The First Time de Claude Berri (1976), and Un Bonheur N’arrive Jamais Seul (2012).
Count Basie, Claude Bolling, Lionel Hampton, and Art Blakey are all more famous names that have stepped down into La Caveau to hear jazz bouncing off walls that hold many a tale.
Nowadays, you can enjoy residencies by Nirek Mokar & His Boogie Messengers, Dany Doriz, and Michel Pastre Fathers & Sons, plus the Megaswing and Blues Monday events.
4. 38Riv Jazz Club
38 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France
In the bowels of Paris’ affluently hip Le Marais neighborhood is the 38 Riv’ Jazz Club. The venue is loved for its regular jazz concerts (including Swing, BeBop, Modern, Manouche, and Métis sessions), impromptu mixed-genre events, and gigs celebrating different musical cultures, such as Baroque and Brazil’s Bossa Nova.
Located in a vaulted underground cellar, with exposed brickwork and stellar acoustics, people have been dancing the hard bop at the 38 Riv’ for decades. Located just a stone’s throw from Notre Dame, there is a really homely authentic feel to the venue. The medieval-like setting has two adjoining rooms: one for music and one for the bar.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, the club hosts a late jam which starts at midnight and swings through till the early hours of 4 am.
60 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France
The first of three groundbreaking jazz clubs on Rue des Lombards, Sunset/Sunside is a double venue with diverse sets played at the basement bar ‘Sunset’ and the ground-floor bar ‘Sunside’.
The Sunset began in May 1983 at the behest of musicians who would visit the trendy American bar which occupied the building. The venue The Sunset quickly became a right of passage for any American jazz musicians on tour in Europe. One evening, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock stepped into the club and remarked on how friendly and generous the place seemed. Led by different musical programmers in its time, the club has always afforded diversity.
In the second half of the 80s, the club’s direction was steered more toward classical jazz. Miles Davis’ collaborators Lee Konitz, Kendrick Lamar and Solange songwriter Steve Lacy and Benny Golson, founding members of The Jazztet with Art Farmer.
In October 2001, the Sunside opened its doors, replacing the upstairs restaurant. Nowadays, the Sunset is home to eclectic electric jazz and world fusions, whilst the upstairs Sunside is devoted to acoustic jazz. Both venues run gigs every night, seven days a week, as should one of the best jazz clubs in Paris.
Regulars still wax with enthusiasm about the time Wynton Marsalis popped in and jammed until the early hours. Long-term visitors will also remember appearances by Kenny Barron, Terry Callier, and Kurt Elling. They have also hosted festivals such as the American Jazz Festival, A Festival of Vocal Jazz, and JVC International Jazz festival.
Every Sunday the venue hosts its well-loved Jazz & Goûter (Jazz & Snack) afternoons, with themes ranging from Frozen to Walt Disney and Billie Holiday. The event is for little ones aged from 2-3 years old. For the adults, they have regular Jam Sessions with Laurent Courthaliac with nights devoted to Chuck Berry, Chet Baker, Thelonious Monk, and Nat King Cole among others.
Best Jazz Clubs in Paris List
- Le Duc des Lombards – 42 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France
- New Morning – 7/9 R. des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris, France
- Le Caveau de la Huchette – 5 Rue de la Huchette, 75005 Paris, France
- 38Riv Jazz Club – 38 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris, France
- Sunset/Sunside – 60 Rue des Lombards, 75001 Paris, France


text:
I couldn’t wait to try this breakfast tea, an Assam that promises not to leave a bitter aftertaste. A lot of breakfast Assam teas leave not only a bitter aftertaste for me but a stomach ache as well. I don’t take milk or sugar in my tea, but I will make an exception for Assam tea that is too strong for me. A little splash of milk will usually make it a pain-free breakfast beverage for me.
This teabag (made of biodegradable cornstarch!) says to steep for only two minutes, and guess what I did? That’s right! I tried to multitask and ended up oversteeping it! I have no idea for how long. I added a bit of hot water just in case and still was left with a deeply rich red/brown cuppa. Bracing myself, I took a sip to wash down my scrambled eggs and summer sausage. (Come on, you really have to have good, strong black tea with a breakfast like that!)
The good news is that it IS a strong and hearty, malty and bready English Breakfast, almost what I would consider an Irish Breakfast. The great news is that even with all the hefty body and strong malty flavor, I had no heartburn whatsoever. No stomach ache. No regrets about my morning beverage choice.
I am looking forward to trying some more of their blends!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Black
Where to Buy: We Are Tea
The nations favourite for a reason! Our full bodied breakfast blend of the finest Assam is perfect for those who love a malty and smooth cuppa. Our blend is packed each June in India’s lush Assam region. A cup of this whole-leaf tea is great for any mood at any time of day, promise. Our English Breakfast provides a smoother brew with no bitter aftertaste.

domain: food


Goldberg makes no secret of the fact that she is staunchly opposed to President Trump, but she disagrees with how his daughter, Tiffany Trump, was treated during a show at New York Fashion Week.
During the recent New York Fashion Week, it can not be denied that Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany Trump was subtly being bullied when no one would sit next to her.
"You know what, Tiffany, I'm supposed to go to a couple more shows". "As I was chatting with them, a Philipp Plein executive came over and asked those guys to move because Philipp's sister and girlfriend wanted to sit there - it turned out those ended up being highly covetable seats!" she explained to us. Because nobody's talking politics at the-you're looking at fashion. "Because bragging about this online and saying, 'Look, she has no one to sit with her, ' that's being a mean girl just for sport". But she did not like that one takes in to the daughter of the insane policy of self-tanner. "I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm coming to sit with you", Whoopi said during Wednesday's episode. "As you say, America first, when is that going to kick in with you all?!"
Trump announced later Wednesday that she'd "love to" sit with Whoopi.
The Trump family continues to feel the effects of President Donald Trump's controversial presidency and the whole sitch is getting pretty darn nasty.
First flu-related death in Sussex County confirmed
A 74-year-old woman is the first person in Sussex County to die of flu-related symptoms during the current influenza season. Called FluMist, this flu nasal form is made from a weakened flu virus form, unlike traditional shots using dead virus.
The panel chimed in on reports Trump's team had ongoing contact with Russian officials, reports Trump dismissed as "fake news".
Several magazine editors circulated photos on social media of Ms. Trump, 23, sitting next to empty seats at Philipp Plein's fashion show Monday night.
Empty seats next to Tiffany Trump.
Christina Binkley, a former Wall Street Journal fashion columnist, tells PEOPLE that after the two women seated next to Trump left, the seats remained unoccupied for two minutes or less - and Trump seemed unaware.
- Seahawks won't lose draft pick for concealing Richard Sherman's injury
- Steve Smith happy to turn up heat on India
- Russia Tests Trump With Treaty-Violating Missile Deployment
- Tour bus crashes in Taiwan, at least 32 dead
- Rare Kroos goal helps Madrid to comeback win over Napoli
- Virginia Judge Rules Trump's Travel Ban Is Based on Religious Bias
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What to watch: Our old crop price level destiny, for now, is largely wrapped-up in the French/Russian export battle.
Russian wheat values dropped sharply (-$6/tonne), while those in France were far more stable, aided by a weaker euro/dollar rate.
Markets likely to remain in limbo for a while longer as farmers hold off selling old crop until domestic buyers meet farmers’ current selling targets.
After a steep 13% correction in a month due to the Chinese coronavirus outbreak and political tensions between Malaysia and India, palm oil has tried to rebound although unconvincingly.
Nov-20 LIFFE wheat futures closed on Wednesday, February 12 at £161.60/tonne, a fall of £0.25/t on the week.
The UK markets continue to limp from day to day with little fresh news. Where weather has allowed, farmers have managed to get on with some further drilling and even some spring field work, but tractor hours have largely been limited due to the storms which have battered all the country.
Farmers seem to be embracing ‘public money for public goods’ – without being paid any extra, by clearing fallen trees off roads and pumping water to help out local communities.
The markets are likely to remain in limbo for a while longer as farmers hold off selling old crop until domestic buyers meet farmers’ current selling targets, but with consumers always aware of import price parities the current game could end in tears for some.
The uncertainty around the 2019 crop size and what 2020 may bring, just goes to show the need for good sound data and for those in positions of power to understand the market and the impact that ‘flaky’ data can have.
Exports seem slow due to the current price standoff, which ultimately leaves traders on their toes in anticipation that this market could be in for some good price moves as the months erode towards the summer.
Cecilia Pryce, Openfield
USDA produced few surprises in Tuesday’s report as the trade was already looking for a small drop in US stocks, which was confirmed by the USDA raising exports by 25m bushels.
US corn inventories were reported unchanged month on month.
While the trade remains optimistic regarding exports to China, the coronavirus outbreak has raised some concerns over short and medium-term demand. Officials have told the US they will meet their phase one purchase targets and WTO import quota.
China will remain the major factor in the market, with the trade waiting for any signs of increased buying activity of US agricultural products. The longer the wait, the more nervous the US trade will become, especially if the virus outbreak continues to intensify.
Australia’s wheat harvest has been completed. It is expected to be one of the lowest in recent years following the severe drought, which has now been replaced by heavy rains and floods.
In Argentina, dry conditions have scaled back crop size to an estimated 19MT, although reports that the crop may already be oversold may have consequences during the coming months.
Russian prices have started to ease as export competition eats into the country’s traditional destinations. Recent Egyptian tenders have seen more aggressive offers, which have secured some business.
Both the Ukraine and Kazakhstan report exports running ahead year on year, which may result in a slower export pace over the final months of the marketing season.
David Woodland, ADM Agriculture
In the past week, Russian wheat values dropped sharply (-$6/tonne), while those in France were far more stable, aided by a weaker euro/dollar rate. As a consequence, at this Tuesday’s Egyptian tender, Russia and Romania origins took the spoils, selling 180,000t each. No French offers were made, since they were not deemed competitive enough. In the previous Egyptian tender, French wheat was priced some $6/t below Russian delivered prices and secured 180,000t in sales.
In today’s Algerian tender, the bulk of the 660,000t wheat purchased will likely be French origin, partly due to historical ties between the countries, partly due to a cheap finance deal from France and partly due to geographic proximity, which doesn’t disadvantage French origin.
With little expected competition forthcoming from Argentina, USA or Australia, French and Russian wheat origins are currently vying to carve-up the North African and some Middle Eastern markets between themselves. At present the French market is on the back foot, but with plunging dry bulk shipping rates and sustained weakness in the euro, French wheat may again become competitive into Egypt.
UK wheat export prices have been trading at a consistent discount (£5-10/t) below French wheat for months. Our old crop price level destiny, for now, is largely wrapped-up in this French/Russian export battle.
Rupert Somerscales, ODA
After a steep 13% correction in a month due to the Chinese coronavirus outbreak and political tensions between Malaysia and India, palm oil has tried to rebound although unconvincingly. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 [the new ‘nickname’ for the coronavirus] continues to spread rapidly, with more than 60,300 confirmed cases and a surge in the death toll with 1,369 dead, of which 1,310 in Mainland China, one day after a senior medical advisor in Beijing stated the outbreak would end by April.
The trade remains concerned about its potential impact on demand and it contradicts the optimism from the USDA, which raised its 2019/20 China soybean import forecast by 3MT to 88MT in its February WASDE report.
The US government keeps anticipating China will deliver on its promises to increase its US agricultural goods purchasing programme after the two largest economies in the world signed the Phase 1 trade deal on Jan 15.
The 30-day implementation period from China will be over on Saturday and the market will be eager to see if Beijing jumps in this weekend to confirm large ‘orders’. If not, prices could once again edge lower in the weeks ahead with a record 125+MT Brazilian soybean crop and a brightening outlook in Argentina whilst their currencies are historically low against the US dollar, making them even more competitive on the export market.
Yet, the tight rapeseed/vegoil fundamentals have not changed overnight but it could take longer than previously expected for a sustainable rally in price.
Benjamin Bodart, CRM AgriCommodities


The Russian military said that it has no information confirming the reports of death as a result of the US-led coalition's strike.
"The Russian Defense Ministry does not possess information confirming reports of deaths and the type of the destriction as a result of the US-led coalition's bombing near Deir ez-Zor."
"Unmanned aerial vehicles have been sent to the area to monuitor the situation," the ministry added.
The US-led coalition has denied that its strike hit a terrorist warehouse storing chemical weapons.
Syrian opposition claimed on April 4 forces loyal to President Bashar Assad had used a chemical gas on people in the northwestern province, killing nearly 80 and injuring 200. Assad argued his government has no chemical weapons after agreeing to have them destroyed in 2013. He also ruled out having used chemicals against own people.
The Russian Defense Ministry said next day that the airstrike near Khan Shaykhun was carried out by Syrian aircraft, which struck a terrorist warehouse that stored chemical weapons slated for delivery to Iraq.