|Publication number||US6915414 B2|
|Application number||US 09/909,507|
|Publication date||Jul 5, 2005|
|Filing date||Jul 20, 2001|
|Priority date||Jul 20, 2001|
|Also published as||US20050005088|
|Publication number||09909507, 909507, US 6915414 B2, US 6915414B2, US-B2-6915414, US6915414 B2, US6915414B2|
|Inventors||Gyle D. Yearsley, William J. Tiffany, Lloyd A. Hasley|
|Original Assignee||Zilog, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (7), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (14), Classifications (26), Legal Events (5)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to processing multiple contexts, and more particularly to a microprocessor using shared pipeline stages to facilitate context switching during processing.
2. Related Art
Electronic processors that execute arithmetic and logical operations (e.g., integrated circuit microprocessors) typically execute a predefined process (a program) in order to complete a particular task. Since such processors are typically assigned many tasks, they execute many corresponding processes to carry out assigned tasks. Pipelining is a well-known method of simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, executing instructions associated with two or more of such processes. The pipeline moves the data associated with the process through the processor as the processor executes the process. For example, the pipeline may be thought of as the instruction data that moves through the processor as the processor carries out the process. The context under which the processor is operating as it executes a particular pipelined process is the information that is associated with the process being executed by the particular pipeline. During execution of the pipelined process, multiple registers typically store context information associated with the execution. This context information may be, for example, address information, data, a program counter, a stack pointer, and flags (e.g., carry flag). Thus registers store context information that is associated with the pipelined process being executed.
System-on-a-chip (SOC) designs implement an entire electronic system on one integrated circuit chip. SOCs typically include at least one embedded microprocessor and other circuits required to implement the system. Microprocessors that can execute two or more pipelines are known. Typically in such microprocessors, a unique set of registers is associated with each unique pipeline, and each unique register set stores context information that is associated with each unique pipeline. Such registers require on-chip area. As SOC designs become more complex, however, chip area becomes an important design limitation. Therefore, what is required is a way to facilitate the use of multiple pipelines in a microprocessor topology while simultaneously saving chip area.
A shared pipeline instruction datapath and a shared pipeline processing unit are used to switch among several contexts. For example, when a microprocessor is executing a first pipeline under a first context, the microprocessor receives a request to execute under a second context. A clock cycle is borrowed from the first pipeline execution and is used to enable (e.g., prefetch an address vector) a second pipeline that corresponds to the second context. When the first pipeline stalls, the processor begins to execute the second pipeline without delay, since the second pipeline has been enabled while the first pipeline is executing.
In one case the shared instruction datapath and shared processing unit combination (shared processing path) comprise address, fetch, memory, decode, and execution pipeline stages. Context information (e.g., program counter; stack pointer, flags) for each of up to three pipelines is stored in three corresponding sets of registers, one set for each context. To switch contexts, the shared datapath and processing unit combination stop accessing the program counter and other context information for the stalled pipeline context and begin accessing the program counter and context information for the new pipeline context so that execution of the new pipeline can proceed. When a context switch occurs and a pipeline is no longer being executed, context information for that pipeline is preserved in the register sets. Therefore, when another context switch occurs and the pipeline is once again being executed, the required context information is available to the shared processing path. In one case, some registers in the shared processing unit are shared for processing each unique context. For example, in one case registers in the processing unit that are used for cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) are shared. When a context switch occurs, CRC information for a stalled pipeline is flushed from the shared registers, and new CRC information is loaded in the shared registers as the new pipeline executes.
Skilled artisans will understand that details have been omitted from the following description so as to more clearly describe embodiments. Embodiments are described in terms of a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor acting, for example, as a communication engine processor. Knowledgeable persons will understand, however, that such embodiments are easily adapted to apply to all microprocessor architectures, e.g., complex instruction set architectures, and to other electronic processors. Embodiments are described using three pipelines-labeled pipeline 0, pipeline 1, and pipeline 2. This number of pipelines is illustrative, and other embodiments share other numbers of pipelines.
The address stage outputs to the instruction memory (not shown) an address for an instruction to be fetched for processing a particular context. The fetch stage receives the fetched instruction (e.g., after waiting for at least one clock cycle on a high speed bus). The memory stage sets up additional memory addresses based on the fetched instruction, depending if data is to be retrieved from or pushed to a memory external to processing path 102. In some cases the memory stage must wait to generate the required addresses. If, for example, particular information has not yet been written to an address location from which the information is to be read, the memory stage stalls until the information is available to be read. The decode stage decodes, for example, which pipeline registers are to be used for the next operation and decodes instruction information. The execution stage executes instructions.
For a particular context being processed, the conventionally fetched instructions from an instruction storage location (not shown; e.g., conventional random access memory (RAM)) are placed on conventional instruction data bus 104. Shared pipeline instruction datapath 106 then carries out the fetch, memory, and decode pipeline stages. Shared pipeline processing unit 108 processes (e.g., performs arithmetic and logical operations) context information as the pipeline execution stage. Processing unit 108 reads and writes information from another conventional storage location (not shown) via conventional data bus 110. Memory controller 112 controls memory access (e.g., addressing) for all five pipeline stages in datapath 106 and processing unit 108.
As depicted in
In one case, each register set 114, 116, 118 includes a program counter register, a stack pointer register, a flag register, and one or more additional general purpose register sets used for information (e.g., instructions, addresses, data) associated with the pipeline's context. The stored program counter points to the next instruction to be fetched for the particular pipeline. The stored stack pointer points to a memory location used to store an intermediate value (e.g., a “scratch pad” location) during processing of the particular pipeline. The flag register contains conventional flag information (e.g., carry flag) associated with the particular pipeline.
In one case, the program counter, stack pointer, and flag register assignments are shared among the three pipelines. For example, if pipeline 0 is executing, then a pipeline 0 program counter register stores a program counter associated with the pipeline 0 context. If pipeline 1 is executing, then the pipeline 1 program counter register stores a program counter associated with the pipeline 1 context. When a switch from processing the pipeline 0 context to the pipeline 1 context occurs, processing unit 108 stops accessing the pipeline 0 program counter register contents and starts accessing the pipeline 1 program counter register contents. In one case the processor includes a single stack which is, for example, a 128 word area. Each context is associated with a unique 32 word area of the stack. A single, shared stack pointer register contains a stack pointer that points to a location in the stack, and if a context is switched a portion (e.g., 5 bits) is changed in the stack pointer so that the stack pointer now points to the stack area associated with the new context. Another portion of the stack pointer (e.g., 7 bits) points to the stack location within the context's stack area. In other cases other dedicated and shared register assignments are used. For example, in one case registers 114, 116, 118 are all general purpose registers and are not shared among pipelines.
Registers 114, 116, 118 are coupled to shared pipeline instruction datapath 106 and shared pipeline processing unit 108 via channel control multiplexer 120. When processing path 102 switches from processing one context to processing a new context, the necessary new context information from one of the registers 114, 116, 118 is directed to instruction datapath 106 and processing unit 108 via multiplexer 120.
Pipeline controller 122 is electrically coupled to multiplexer 120, shared datapath 106, and request controller 124. Requests from peripherals (not shown) are received by request controller 124 which, in turn, forwards processing requests to pipeline controller 122. Pipeline controller 122 subsequently sets up a pipeline to process the requested task, or if no pipeline is available, queues the request until a pipeline becomes available. Once pipeline processing is being carried out, pipeline controller 122 controls context switching as described below. When processing for one pipeline is halted (e.g., pipeline 0), the information remains in the associated register (e.g., register 114) and is flushed from shared instruction datapath 106 and shared processing unit 108. When processing of the next pipeline begins (e.g., pipeline 1), the information in the next pipeline's associated register (e.g., register 116) is loaded into shared instruction datapath 106 and shared processing unit 108. The decisions to halt a particular pipeline and to begin processing another pipeline are made in pipeline controller 122. These decisions are described in more detail below.
In 204 the microprocessor determines (e.g., by sampling) if a processing request has been received from a peripheral component (e.g., serial communication controller). If in 204 a processing request is received, then in 206 the request is assigned to an available pipeline. In one case the request is assigned to pipeline 0 if available, to pipeline 1 if pipeline 0 is unavailable, or to pipeline 2 if pipelines 0 and 1 are unavailable. Other pipeline assignment schedules may be used. Pipeline assignment differs from context switching priority described below.
In 208 a vector associated with the request received in 204 is fetched from instruction memory. The fetched vector is used to load the program counter and other registers for the assigned pipeline (e.g., pipeline 0). This loading enables the pipeline associated with the received request to be started. The pipeline assignment and fetch occurs even if another pipeline is currently executing. A single fetch cycle is borrowed from the executing pipeline, and the borrowed fetch cycle is used to fetch the information required to start the pipeline for the newly received request. Once the starting information is loaded and the pipeline is ready to be executed it is designated as an enabled (ready for execution) pipeline by setting an “enabled” bit in a pipeline register associated with the pipeline (see e.g.,
After a pipeline for a newly received request is enabled in 208, or if a new request was not received in 204, then in 210 it is determined if a context switch is required. If a context switch is not required, the process moves again to 204. If a context switch is required, however, then in 212 registers in shared instruction datapath 106 and shared processing unit 108 (
In one case, context switching occurs if one of three conditions exists. First, a context switch will occur if the current active pipeline execution stops because the pipeline thread ends. Second, a context switch will occur if the current active pipeline is a lower priority than another enabled pipeline. Third, a context switch will occur if the current active pipeline execution stops because a direct memory access (DMA) stall exists. These three context switch conditions are illustrative, and context switching may be based on other states such as any pipeline stall. In one case, context switching follows a round-robin schedule, with the context switching from pipeline 0 to pipeline 1, then to pipeline 2, and returning again to pipeline 0. But as described below, this round-robin schedule is modified in some cases to allow certain pipelines to be designated as higher or lower priority for execution.
In 306 it is determined if a “thread end” (TEND) command has been received, indicating the current active pipeline has completed its processing task. If current active pipeline thread execution ends, then in 308 execution will switch to another enabled pipeline.
If a TEND command is not received in 306, then in 310 the “thread interrupt enable” (TIE) status for the current active pipeline is determined. In one case the TIE status is set using a TIE bit in the pipeline register (e.g., R10 in
In 312 it is determined if a DMA stall has occurred. If such a stall has not occurred in the current active pipeline, then current active pipeline execution continues in 304. If a DMA stall has occurred, then in 314 the “context switch disable” (CSD) status for the current active pipeline is determined. In one case the CSD status is set using a CSD bit in a pipeline register (e.g., R10 in
Thus the TIE and CSD features are used to set three pipeline execution priorities. The TIE feature allows a pipeline to be designated as low priority. This low priority pipeline operates in the background without blocking other processing requests received by the microprocessor. Routine priority pipelines have neither the TIE nor CSD features set. Setting the CSD for a particular pipeline designates the pipeline, once it begins executing, as a high priority pipeline to be executed ahead of all other pipelines, either pending or enabled during execution. That is, if CSD is set in a newly enabled pipeline, the currently active pipeline continues executing until a context switch occurs and the enabled pipeline with CSD set becomes the active pipeline. Other pipeline priority schemes may be used.
Shared pipeline instruction datapath 402 includes address stage 422, fetch stage 424, memory stage 426, and decode stage 428. Pipeline instructions 430 flow through stages 422, 424, 426, 428 during processing. Pipeline controller 406 is coupled to address and fetch stages 422, 424 and controls, for instance, the address and prefetch actions required to enable a pipeline before the pipeline is made active.
In 412, context control data for a first context are stored in context 0 registers 432, for a second context are stored in context 1 registers 434, and for a third context are stored in context 2 registers 436. In one case, the context control data for each context include the program counter, TIE status, and CSD status. Control data for a debug context are stored in registers 438. The data from registers 432, 434, 436, 438 are channeled to and from shared instruction datapath 402 and to shared processing unit 404 via multiplexer 410 and controller 406.
Control and data information from pipeline controller 406 and from decode stage 428 in datapath 402 is received by context register data multiplexer 440, and is subsequently distributed within processing unit 404. Pipeline processing registers 442, 444, 446 are coupled to multiplexer 440 and are dedicated to storing information required for processing pipelines 0, 1, and 2, respectively. In one case, registers 442, 444, 446 include the stack pointer, flags, and general purpose registers associated with pipelines 0, 1, and 2, respectively. Shared pipeline registers 448 are also coupled to multiplexer 440 and include, in one case, a command register and cyclic redundancy check (CRC) registers that are shared among pipelines 0, 1, and 2. Arithmetic logic unit (ALU) 450, logic unit 452, and shifter 454 are coupled to multiplexer 440 and provide conventional numeric, logical, and shift processing capability to execution unit 404. Memory multiplexer 456 is coupled between multiplexer 440 and high speed bus and memory controller interface 408, and directs information flowing between execution unit 404 and host bus 420.
During operation, software processing requests 460 from one or more peripherals (not shown) are received in request controller 414 via peripheral bus 418 and peripheral block 416. Request controller 414 also receives hardware processing requests 462. A received request is queued in request controller 414 which requests via handshaking 464 a vector fetch associated with the received request from pipeline controller 406. If controller 406 accepts the request it signals request controller 414 via handshaking 464 that the request has been accepted, whereupon controller 414 drops the received request from the request queue. To process the request, pipeline controller 406 subsequently assigns and enables a corresponding pipeline as described above. In one case the program counter, TIE status, and CSD status are loaded in the context register 432, 434, 436 that is associated with the newly enabled pipeline (e.g., into register 432 for pipeline 0, etc.). During processing of a particular pipeline, additional context information loaded into the processing register 442, 444, 446 that is associated with the active pipeline (e.g., into register 442 for pipeline 0), and into shared registers 448. In one case registers 442, 444, 446 each include the general purpose and pipeline registers associated with each pipeline, and registers 448 include stack pointer, command, and CRC registers. In some cases the command register is visible to all other on-chip processors (see e.g., the multiple processors shown in FIG. 6).
Shared processing unit 404 operates using a set of defined registers.
In an illustrative implementation, each unique pipeline has its own eight general purpose registers R0-R7, thereby allowing each pipeline (each context) to run independently of the other pipelines (other contexts). Each unique pipeline also has its own associated pipeline register R10. The stack pointer R11 is shared as discussed above. Registers R12-R15 are shared among all pipelines. Referring to
When a context switch is accomplished, the previously active pipeline (e.g., pipeline 0) instructions are flushed as necessary from shared datapath 402 and execution unit 404. Then, context control data (e.g., program counter, stack pointer) for the newly active pipeline (e.g., pipeline 1) is channeled from storage 412 (e.g., from register 434 in the case of pipeline 1) to datapath 402 and to shared registers 448 so that the new context control data controls shared datapath 402 operation. If the newly active pipeline is just beginning to process under a new context, then only the program counter associated with the new pipeline is switched in—the other pipeline registers contain invalid information since the information was from a previously processed context (e.g., a context previously processed by pipeline 1). If the newly active pipeline has been active before under the same context (e.g., a previous stall triggered a context switch to another pipeline) then the context information stored in processing registers 442, 444, 446 is still valid (e.g., in register 444 for pipeline 1) and is accessed as the newly active pipeline (e.g., pipeline 1) starts to execute. As the active pipeline executes, address and control information 466 is routed from memory and decode stages 426, 428 to host bus 420 via high speed bus and memory controller interface 408. Memory data 468 is exchanged between memory multiplexer 456 in processing unit 404 and host bus 420 via interface 408. In one instance bus 420 is an AMBA (Advanced Multiprocessor Bus Architecture, by ARM Ltd.) on-chip bus equivalent.
As shown in
Off-chip communication peripherals 622 are coupled to GPIO/PIN multiplexer 608. Data received from peripherals 622 are routed to peripheral bus 624 (peripheral busses shown in
Counter/timer 638 is coupled to peripheral bus 624 and provides general event timing function to processor 616. Counter/timer 640 is coupled to bus 626 and provides a similar event timing function to processor 618. In some cases timers 638, 640 may provide timing information to system processor 614.
Slave interrupt controller 642 acts as the primary interrupt controller for communication engine 602. Likewise, slave interrupt controller 644 acts as the primary interrupt controller for communication engine 604. Interrupt controllers 642, 644 are coupled to a command interrupt controller, which is described below.
Some peripherals 622 are provided DMA capability through communications engine 602. Fast Ethernet controllers 646 and their associate interfaces 648 (the [1:0] signifying two controllers and interfaces) are coupled to pass Ethernet information between multiplexer 608 and DMA controller 650. Fast Ethernet controllers 646 are also coupled to peripheral bus 624. Multi-channel High-level Data Link Controller (MHDLC) 652 (e.g., 128 HDLC channels) and its associated multichannel DMA 654 are coupled to pass information from multiplexer 608 to DMA controller 650, and also to pass information between bus 624 and DMA controller 650. An internal DMA (IDMA) unit 656 (the [2:0] signifying three subunits corresponding to each of three context-switchable pipelines), which provides general DMA capability, is also coupled to pass information between DMA controller 650 and mux 608, and between controller 650 and bus 624.
In ATM engine 604, ATM peripherals 622 are coupled to peripheral bus 626 and to host bus 658 via Utopia interface unit 636, which is conventional in design. Busses 626 and 658 are coupled via host-to-peripheral bridge 660.
Communication engine processor 616 is coupled to peripheral bus 624 and to host bus 662 (e.g., AMBA equivalent). Busses 624 and 662 are coupled by host-to-peripheral bridge 664. Processor 616 is coupled to random access memory (RAM) 666 via interface 668. The lines partitioning communication engine 602 and system block 606 are shown running through RAM 666 because RAM 666 serves both processors 616 and 620. (as well as other SOC 600 components, if necessary, as is depicted by the various interconnections shown in FIG. 6). RAM 666 is also coupled to host bus 662 via interface 668. Direct memory access for processor 616 is provided via communication engine DMA unit 670 (the [2:0] signifying three CDMA subunits, with each subunit being associated with one of three shared context-switchable pipelines as described above).
ATM communication engine processor 618 is coupled to peripheral bus 626 and to host bus 658 (e.g., AMBA equivalent). Processor 618 is also coupled to RAM 672 via RAM interface 674. The lines partitioning ATM communication engine 604 and system block 606 are shown running through RAM 672 because RAM 672 serves both engine 604 and block 606 components. Direct memory access for processor 618 is provided via segmentation and reassembly (SAR) DMA (SDMA) unit 676 (the [2:0] signifying three SDMA subunits, with each subunit being associated with one of three shared context-switchable pipelines as described above).
In system block 606, host bus 680 (e.g., AMBA equivalent) provides a centralized information routing capability to various SOC 600 components. Host bus 680 is coupled to off-chip main memory 682 via memory controller 684 (in other cases using, for example, wafer-scale integration, at least a portion of the main memory may be on the same chip/substrate as SOC 600). Host bus 680 is coupled to host bus 662 via host-to-host bridge 686, and to host bus 658 via host-to-host bridge 688. Bus 680 is coupled to RAMs 666, 672 via RAM interfaces 668, 674, respectively. Host bus 680 is coupled to system processor 614 via bus interface 688. Host bus 680 is coupled to JTAG test access port (TAP) 690 via debug port 692. Finally, host bus 680 is coupled to peripheral bus 694 via host-to-peripheral bridge 696.
As shown in
System debug unit 6112 is coupled to peripheral bus 694 and to each of the four SOC 600 processors 614, 616, 618, 620 (the coupling routes are omitted for clarity) and provides debug capability for SOC 600. Each of the four processors generates two break types if a processing fault is encountered: a local break which stops the processor generating the break, and a global break which stops all processors. The debugger provides the capability to generate such breaks, and also provides status information regarding which processor has generated breaks. The debugger further allows either system processor 614 or an off-chip processor to act as the host for debugging.
Test data for SOC 600 is exchanged via JTAG TAP 690. Received test inputs are routed from port 690 directly to system processor 614 or to host bus 680. Test results are output to port 690 directly from system processor 614 or from host bus 680.
Information passing between integrated circuit 602 and other devices outside integrated circuit 602 is via conventional input/output pad ring 610, the connections to which are omitted for clarity. Likewise, conventional connections to JTAG input/output ring 612 are not shown.
As a brief illustration of SOC 600 operation, in some instances communication engine processor 616 moves communication data within SOC 600, and in some instances processor 616 only provides information that facilitates information movement within SOC 600. For instance, if an SCC 632 informs communication engine processor 616 that the SCC requires data, processor 616 examines data tables generated by system processor 614 to locate the required data and then fetches the required data via CDMA 670. Processor 614 then performs any required processing (e.g., CRC) and then passes the requested data to SCC 632. If SCC 632 signals processor 614 that SCC 632 has data to be received, then processor 614 reads the data from SCC 632 and passes the read data to memory via CDMA 670. In another instance, data passing at a high rate is routed, for example, directly through FEC 646 or MHDLC 652 to DMA 650 with processor 614 providing only an address and byte count for the information being passed. When processing is required, processor 614 assigns pipelines and performs context switching as described above when, for example, DMA controller 650 signals that a DMA stall has occurred.
Skilled persons will understand that although the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, many variations exist. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.
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|U.S. Classification||712/219, 714/E11.207, 718/108, 712/228, 710/117, 712/E09.053, 712/E09.027, 713/323, 712/E09.06, 713/401|
|International Classification||G06F9/52, G06F9/54, G06F9/00, G06F9/38, G06F9/46, G06F9/30|
|Cooperative Classification||G06F9/3861, G06F9/462, G06F11/3648, G06F9/3851, G06F9/30123|
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|Oct 19, 2001||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: ZILOG, INC., CALIFORNIA
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|Dec 19, 2008||FPAY||Fee payment|
Year of fee payment: 4
|Sep 3, 2010||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: IXYS CH GMBH, SWITZERLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ZILOG, INC.;REEL/FRAME:024964/0132
Effective date: 20100217
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text:
SAFT ON WEALTH-Be wary if your mutual fund manager also runs hedge funds: James Saft
By James Saft
May 18 (Reuters) - If your mutual fund manager is also managing a hedge fund you may not be getting the best deal.
Sometimes called side-by-side management, the practice of having the same managers running mutual funds as well as hedge funds has attracted concern over potential conflicts of interest, as well as increased scrutiny and regulation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The worry: asset managers will be tempted by the potential for higher compensation from hedge funds to favor those clients, potentially allocating trades to the detriment of their mutual funds.
As part of an effort to address this and other concerns, the SEC in 2005 put in place mandatory new disclosures. Using data from these disclosures, a new study finds evidence that the mutual funds in side-by-side management arrangements lose out.
"We find that funds with side-by-side managers underperform ... peers without side-by-side managers, particularly when a fund's manager has a greater percentage of their assets under management outside the fund industry or has a relatively performance-insensitive mutual fund clientele," according to a study by Diane Del Guercio of the University of Oregon, Egemen Genc of Erasmus University Rotterdam and Hai Tran of Loyola Marymount University.
"Overall, our results cast doubt on the effectiveness of the monitoring and governance mechanisms that advisory firms put in place to mitigate the conflicts of interests due to side-by-side management." (http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2774273)
Looking at data from the 30 largest U.S. fund families, which themselves represent about 75 percent of mutual fund assets, the study found that roughly 7 percent of managers are simultaneously steering hedge and mutual funds.
Mutual funds with at least one side-by-side manager underperform those without by 9.6 basis points per month, or 1.15 percentage points a year, using a standard measure of outperformance, or alpha, according to the study. What's more, the effect was only found when mutual fund managers run hedge money, not in similar arrangements when they run separate pooled accounts.
Funds that switch from not having side-by-side management to having it show even more striking underperformance: about 2.5 percentage points a year.
"We can rule out the alternative explanation that simply adding more assets under management leads to underperformance. Rather, the results specifically point to a performance decline only when the manager begins simultaneous management of a hedge fund," according to the study.
AGENTS WITH CONFLICTS
To be sure, the study sheds no light on whether the underperformance also represents an underperformance against the markets themselves or a broader universe of funds. The promise, or selling proposition, of side-by-side management has been as a talent retention and attraction mechanism for fund managers, who've argued that mutual fund clients can benefit by getting access to managers who might otherwise leave them for the greener pastures of the hedge fund industry.
One thing is clear: those managers who do side-by-side management can earn a disproportionate part of their compensation, all else being equal, from the hedge fund side.
An earlier study found that for each incremental dollar earned by hedge fund investors, the typical manager expects a 16 cent reward from incentive fees and the increase in value of their managerial ownership stake. That same dollar of incremental return also drives 23 cents in prospective reward for managers in the form of inflows and growth in future investments. That latter figure is as much as eight times higher than the rewards a mutual fund manager might expect.
The study did find, however, that managers for whom mutual fund money represents an above-median proportion of their funds under management did not display the same lag in performance.
"Managers are presumably reluctant to shift performance away from the mutual fund if poor performance is likely to result in significant outflows and potential career consequences," according to the study.
While the study does show underperformance, it does not demonstrate how this happens, though the SEC has taken proceedings in past against managers for "cherry picking," where more profitable trades are allocated to favored clients.
While investors may simply choose not to invest in mutual funds with side-by-side management, the real need is for better regulation to provide assurance that clients are treated fairly. (At the time of publication James Saft did not own any direct investments in securities mentioned in this article. He may be an owner indirectly as an investor in a fund. You can email him at firstname.lastname@example.org and find more columns at http://blogs.reuters.com/james-saft) (Editing by James Dalgleish)
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Should she be grateful to him for that? Should she be pleased to have had his attentions? Is a dog thankful for the foot that kicks it? My mother turned away, her head hanging down and her hands covering her face. She stayed so, silent, for so long I thought she did not intend to answer. What would have been the point anyway?
Finally, my mother turned back to Hrorik and raised her eyes to meet his. When she spoke, her words surprised me even more than his had. You know it is so, and my heart will not let me deny the truth about the past, though bitterness may fill it today. We did share some happy times, when first you brought me into your home. When your first wife had not long been dead. When your children, Harald and Sigrid, were young and sad and alone. When I became as a mother for them. When I became as a wife to you.
And soon enough my belly filled with a child of my own—our son, Halfdan. But those days have long been past. But now the only attention you pay me is late-night visits to my bed, whether I wish it or not. My mother covered her face with her hands again and stood with her head bowed. I could see her lips were moving, as if to speak, but they made no sound. Had her voice failed her in her fear? All eyes were on her, but no one spoke. But in exchange I will extract a bargain. It appears I am soon to die, so now I have little to lose.
It would be wise for you to tread carefully around me until I am gone. My mother turned back to Hrorik. No doubt any of your men would willingly slay me on your bier. Gunhild herself is eager to speed my passing. But to do so would be unwise. I would die cursing you to my God and his angels of destruction.
The afterworld is the realm of all the Gods. On its voyage to the lands of your Gods, your death ship might not escape the wrath of my God and His angels. Their anger would fall upon it like a storm batters a ship trapped on the open sea. And even if you did safely reach the hall of your Gods, you would find little comfort in me there if you force me on this journey against my will. I swear on all that is holy to me I would be a companion who would seek to bring you eternal misery rather than pleasure.
My son Halfdan is the grandson of a king in Ireland. He is your son, too—the son of a great chieftain of the Danes. He should not be a slave. Free him this night, so that you and I can look on him together and see him as a free man. Then in the afterworld, we can remember him proudly and listen for tales of his exploits. My mouth fell open and I gaped like a fool. Hrorik nodded his head slowly, as though he was thinking on the words my mother had spoken. Then he looked at me and spoke, and in that brief moment my world changed.
I should have done so long ago.
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I entrust him to your care. Do for him what I cannot. Someone was shaking my shoulder. When I opened my eyes, I saw Harald standing above me, looking down at me with a tired smile. Behind him I could see a bright beam of sunlight shining through the smoke hole in the roof, cutting through the dim light of the interior of the longhouse. From its angle, I could tell I had slept long past dawn. I sat up, my mind still confused from sleep. I could not understand why Harald would be waking me. He did not concern himself with the doings of slaves. Our father, Hrorik, is dead.
I was free. My mind had been filled with visions of myself as a warrior, wandering in foreign lands across the seas. Not once did I regret—or even think of— the price my mother would pay to buy it. In the light of morning, though, as the fog of sleep cleared from my thoughts, the fantasies that had filled my wakeful dreams the night before scattered before the realization that my mother was to die.
We spoke of many things. Late in the night, he told me he wished his death ship to be built on the hill behind the longhouse, overlooking the sea. He said it was his favorite place on these lands. He grasped it tightly to his chest and tried to sit up, but was too weak. I reached out to raise him, but by the time I did he was already dead. My mind might know he was my father, but in my heart he was still my owner, even though now I was free.
Harald had spoken of a death ship. I had seen funerals before, of course. Death, after all, is a part of life, and is ever present. The dead were buried in the earth, sometimes with a few of their favorite possessions to give them comfort in the next life. I did not know what was required. Ubbe has taken a cart and two other thralls to collect stones to build its hull with, and Gudrod is in the forest cutting wood to build the death house. It is our duty to see that he is honored as befitting his rank.
My ignorance embarrassed me. My brother. To Harald and others of his rank, slaves, though essential to the work of the estate, were property. More than beasts perhaps, but less than men. Yesterday I, too, had been just a thrall. Today I was Halfdan, a free man. Today Harald called me brother. How did he feel about my sudden change of status? Did he feel shamed to be brother to a former slave? Did he resent me? Nothing showed on his face except a tired smile, but folk often mask their true feelings with a smile.
It is one of the less noble characteristics that distinguish men from beasts. Angry voices erupted in the longhouse. Harald sighed in exasperation and strode down the hall toward the source of the noise. I quickly pulled on my clothes and ran after him. My mother and Gunhild were arguing. I have ordered this slave to come and help. She will not obey me. Mother nodded her head. May I not have this last day of my life to compose my heart and make peace with my God? Gunhild would work me until the very moment I step into the death house. Then he turned to Gunhild.
Now I am the master of this household. Do not again forget. Watching her go, I knew her rage would soon be felt by some unsuspecting and undeserving thrall. I was glad it could no longer be me. He turned back to her, anger still visible in his eyes. It is a threadbare rag. Harald stared at her, also startled, then laughed aloud. A new dress you should have, Derdriu.
When Hrorik enters the hall of the Gods, he would want the Gods and heroes there to gaze with respect upon the woman who enters at his side.
It lies in his sea chest still. I will fetch it for you now. Your mother has a dress to make. I paused, abashed, before my mother. Tomorrow she would die. I knew it would happen. Yet at the same time, it did not seem real to me while she stood and lived in front of me. I felt there was something I should say to her, but no words came.
He is your brother, and a fine man. And I must sew a dress. Tonight we will talk. I have much I wish to say to you. Three men, all thralls who worked on the estate, were digging on the hilltop with wooden shovels. Hrut and Ing, thralls by birth, worked the fields. Since I was a toddler, Fasti had been a special friend to me—almost an uncle.
When we drew near, I hailed them, wishing them a good morning. The three men turned their eyes to the ground, and none answered. I grabbed his sleeve and stopped him. How she sleeps with a piglet in her bed, to keep her warm when her man is away. Now you will not even look me in the face. You and I have always been friends, Fasti. Look at me and tell me truly what is wrong.
Perhaps he felt he had to, because I had ordered it. When he raised his gaze, I saw there was sorrow in his eyes. I did not mean to give offense. I am happy for your good fortune, Halfdan. But whether you know it yet or not, you are greatly changed. You have crossed over a gulf almost as wide as that between the living and the dead.
I know. I crossed that gulf myself, years ago, when I was stolen from my home by Hrorik and made to work his lands as a slave. Yesterday you were my companion, one of us, a thrall. Today you are a master. Fasti looked at me sadly. You were a good-hearted boy, and I have watched you grow into a fine young man. I am sure you will make a kind master. But the way of things now is that we are no longer equals. When you speak, I must do as you say. You are a master and I am a slave. I am your property, not your friend. Now I found my new status was also filled with pain.
My freedom, my dream, was taking my mother and my friends from me. Perhaps it felt strange to him, too, for after a moment he removed his arm. When he spoke, though, his voice was gentle, and his words kind. The three workmen—the thralls—had cut the turf in strips and lifted them from the ground. The strips of turf were stacked some distance away in a pile.
Harald walked out into its center, pulling me with him. The earth must be dug out deeper in this square, as deep as my leg, from my foot to my knee. Pile the soil you remove beside the stack of cut turfs. We will need it after the fire. What fire? Will we not bury Hrorik in the earth? We believe the smoke rises to the heavens, and signals the Gods and heroes in Valhalla that a great warrior is on the way to join them. We burn them in a ship, either a real one, or a death ship we build specially for their final voyage. The flames and smoke launch the ship and the dead on their final voyage, and speed their journey to the feast-hall of the Gods.
Harald was pleased with our progress, and said we should easily finish the following day. At the evening meal, my mother ate little, then retired to her bed-closet. Few who lived in the longhouse slept in the privacy of an enclosed bed. Most, slave and free both, made their beds at night on the long platforms built against the side walls of the longhouse.
My mother, Derdriu, also had a bed-closet. It had been something of a scandal and had caused a terrible fight between Hrorik and Gunhild, when Hrorik had told Gudrod the Carpenter to build a bed-closet for my mother, a mere slave. But Hrorik came often to her bed, and did not choose to do his rutting in full view of the entire household.
That evening, Mother and I sat together on her bed late into the night, talking, the doors of her bed-closet open for light. To me, Mother appeared far more at peace that night than I felt, though she left no silence long unfilled. You owe him nothing. I die for you. I am grateful I have the chance to give you this gift.
My grandmother in Ireland possessed it to a very high degree. When my grandfather was king, he would often consult her before he acted. It passed through her blood to my mother, and through my mother to me, though weakly. Perhaps it has passed to you, too. Time will tell. In the same way, I know that there is greatness inside of you. But that greatness can only be realized if you are a free man. And I know that only I can set you free.
There is much about him, and about what passed between him and me, that you do not know. The past is like a great stone that lies on the bed of a river, hidden from view but shaping the currents of the water as it flows by. You cannot read the currents in the river of your own life, and navigate them safely, if you do not understand what causes them. You must know your past, for it will shape your future.
By the time you were old enough to understand, Hrorik had already wed Gunhild and the paths our lives were following seemed a doom that was set and could not be changed. To have told you this tale before now would have only made you bitter. I was his only child. We were to be wed at the end of the summer, at the harvest feast. Kilian was strong and tall, with a gentle manner and pleasing smile.
I was considered the greatest beauty in our two kingdoms, and we were both well pleased with the match. One of the ways he indulged me was in my desire for learning. I craved the knowledge contained in the books and manuscripts there, many of them hundreds of years old. And the abbot, who was a kindly man, was willing to humor so avid a student, even though I was not a male.
I was reading in the library at the monastery. Suddenly I became aware of cries of alarm coming from out in the courtyard. When I ran to the window and looked out, I saw that Northmen were attacking and had already breached the gate. A few of the monks tried to resist, but they were not warriors.
The Northmen cut them down without mercy, and the rest surrendered without a fight. I pulled a chair into a corner of the library, stacked it and the floor around with books and scrolls, then crouched behind, trembling with fear and praying desperately to God to make me invisible to the heathen eyes of the pirates. My efforts were, of course, to no avail. One of the pirates found me. I still remember how he looked, and how he smelled of sweat and blood. He dragged me from my hiding place, threw me on my back on the table in the library, pulled my skirts up over my head and was going to rape me then and there.
I was screaming—I did not know so much sound was in me. He was thinner then through the body, and his beard and hair were still a rich, yellow gold, without a trace of gray. It is strange how vividly that first image of him still lives in my mind. I remember, too, that he carried a long Danish waraxe in one hand. It was the first time I had seen such a weapon. I soon realized I was wrong. He began touching me, feeling the cloth of my dress, and turning my head from side to side, studying my face.
Then he ran a hand through my hair and bent down and smelled it. When he did that I believed he had stopped the other man merely to take his place, and I began screaming again. Then he smiled. He was genuinely amused, and his humor showed in his eyes. He put one hand across my mouth to muffle me. His other hand he freed by hooking the blade of his axe on the edge of the table, then he raised a finger to his lips and spoke a word that was common to both our languages.
It was the first word your father spoke to me. He told me he could tell I was a valuable prize, either the daughter or wife of a noble, and worth much ransom. He had not intended to show me kindness, only to protect my value. Abbot Aidan was among the prisoners, and I was tied together with him. His knowledge allowed him, during those early days of our captivity, to converse with our captors and to explain to me their plans for us. He confirmed to Hrorik that I was indeed of noble birth, and in fact was the daughter of King Caidoc who ruled over the surrounding lands.
Hrorik was much pleased by the news. The pirates intend to ransom me, too. Your father and the abbots of the other monasteries across the land will all contribute to free a churchman of my rank who has been taken captive. I fear no one can afford to pay for the safe return of all of them. Some at least, perhaps all, are doomed to a life of slavery.
I could feel only relief for my own fate, knowing that soon I would be free.
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My father learned of the raid on the monastery and my capture. He had no way of knowing, of course, that Hrorik was protecting me from harm and intended to exchange me for ransom. Gathering such force as he could assemble on short notice, he set out in pursuit. By chance—unfortunate chance, as it proved—my betrothed, Kilian, and his father, King Frial, were out hunting with a small retinue of their followers, and encountered my father and his men as they were racing after the Danes. They, of course, joined in the pursuit, though they were not equipped for war.
Because of the dryness that summer, the water in the stream came no higher than our ankles, but in wetter seasons the stream ran swiftly. Over many years, its waters had cut the channel of the streambed as deep as the waist of a grown man. Hrorik assembled half of his men in a battle line, standing shoulder to shoulder with the prisoners huddled behind.
All of the men who lay hidden were armed with bows or spears. When Hrorik saw them as they rounded the base of a low hill, riding in their chariots, he threw back his head and laughed. His laughter chilled my heart. The chariots could not cross the barrier created by the streambed. The warriors on horseback galloped on, undeterred. Then the hidden pirates rose from their place of concealment below the edge of the bank and let their missiles fly. The chariots and horses rushing behind could not stop in time to avoid them.
Instantly all was chaos as the second wave of the charge collided with the sudden barrier of dead and dying mounts. Some of the chariots flipped, cart over horse, flinging their drivers like stones shot from a catapult. Others, trying desperately to turn aside, skidded sideways till their wheels caught in the soft turf and their carriages rolled, crushing their human cargo. A few skilled riders on horseback—my betrothed, Kilian, was among them—vaulted over the mass of wreckage and injured, raced past the first group of Danes, and crossed the streambed to the battle line beyond on the far bank.
They were too few, though. I saw Kilian fall with a spear through his side. Those in the rear of the charge were able to turn aside in time. In a few brief and bloody moments, everyone who might have paid ransom to the pirates and won my freedom was killed. They stripped the bodies of their valuables, their weapons, and sometimes even their clothes. We stood and watched, numb and despairing, making no sound except when Abbot Aidan led the monks in prayers for the dead. It was when the pirates were robbing the bodies of the slain that they found two men wearing circlets of gold.
Hrorik realized the significance of the find. He brought Abbot Aidan and me to where they lay, and we confirmed that one of the dead men was my father, and the other King Frial. On this field of battle not only does my father lie slain, but also my betrothed, and his father, too. My doom is upon me. I who was once a princess shall now become a slave, and no doubt shall die as one. I can only pray that death finds me soon. You have but lost a ransom. I feel as though my heart has been ripped from my breast.
After this had happened several times the awkwardness which Hrorik had spoken of manifested itself. He stopped in front of me and spoke some words. There was no reason he should have expected me to understand, but he was obviously drunk, so perhaps his wits were dimmed by ale. The two of them argued back and forth for a time, their voices growing louder and angrier. Finally the black-haired Dane shook his head, shouted one final word, and grabbed me by my arm, pulling me to my feet. The man staggered back and shouted furiously at Hrorik.
Then both men turned and walked away. He kept offering a higher and higher price, but the black-haired Dane refused. Then the chieftain slapped him. Among their people, it is a deadly insult. The other Dane had no choice but to challenge the chieftain to a duel. They have gone to arm themselves. My captor was armed with a spear and shield, plus a long knife stuck in his belt. He had no helm nor armor. I suspect he was too poor to afford them. Perhaps to make the fight appear more fair, Hrorik also wore no armor, and did not even carry a shield.
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He entered the ring the pirates formed around the fire armed only with his sword, yet the thin Dane clearly was afraid. He kept moving away from Hrorik, backing around the circle while Hrorik followed, stalking him. When he reached our position and stood over me, though, he did naught but hold out a heavy woolen cloak.
After I cautiously took it, he spoke briefly with Aidan, then returned to the celebration at the fire. He said to tell you his name is Hrorik, and now you are under his protection. The other women prisoners, and even some of the men, began wailing and crying. I was silent, though. I had no strength left in my spirit for such displays. I just watched quietly as the green hills of Ireland slowly receded until finally I could see them no more.
In my heart I knew I would never see my home again. He called frantically to Hrorik, reminding him that the church would pay ransom to win his freedom. Then he called another of the crew to take over steering the ship, and came to where Aidan, now dejected and silent, was sitting beside me among the other prisoners. He says he wants me to teach you to speak the tongue of the Northmen, too. Then he spoke rapidly for a few moments with Aidan, and rose as if to leave.
To speed our progress, neither of us will have any other duties while we are onboard his ship. Hrorik indicated that he should translate my words, and waited impatiently for him to do so. When Aidan had finished, Hrorik answered brusquely. You will care for his children. Their mother recently died. He said that if he wished to take you by force, he would have done so already. It is not his desire. He says he does not understand his own heart and head in this matter, for you are very beautiful, and he is used to taking what he wants.
Her tale left me astonished. I, too, thought of Hrorik as a man who had cared little for the wishes of others, and had claimed as his own whatever he wanted. And I would not have you go through life believing you were a bastardchild who was the result of rape, rather than conceived in love.
This was too much to believe. Then he had only a smaller farm in the north on the Limfjord. Although it was small, there was a homey air of comfort about it that this greater estate lacks. He took great delight in simple things, such as teaching me the names for plants and trees, for different beasts, or foods, or farm implements. So obvious was his pleasure in speaking with me, and so gentle and kind his manner, that I, too, came to enjoy the times we spoke together, though I felt guilt that I could feel anything but hate for the man responsible for the death of my father.
He talked with great pride of the accomplishments of his two young children, Harald and Sigrid, and he told me of their mother, Helge. Hrorik and Helge had known each other since childhood, and their families had always expected that they would marry. From what he told me of her, Helge was a merryspirited woman, whom he had enjoyed and respected greatly. She died of a fever when Harald and Sigrid were five years of age, during the winter before the raid on Ireland when I was captured.
Primarily, I was to be as a mother to Harald and Sigrid. I could do so without guilt, for unlike their father, their hands were not stained with blood. We had had a merry dinner, with much laughter and too much drink. When there were no guests, as on that night, Hrorik would insist that I eat at table with him, though I was but a thrall.
That night Abbot Aidan had joined us, too. It was his telling of tales, some quite bawdy, from his days as a Frankish merchant-sailor that had caused our merriment. When I was done, I saw Hrorik still seated at the table, now alone, and I went to him. His expression had turned somber. Hrorik took a deep breath and released it slowly. My face must have shown it, for he looked away as though dismayed. When he turned back to me, he kept his eyes downcast. And there were many more nights, and days, too, over the next three years that were as sweet as honey.
I believed he would free me and we would wed, and you would stand next to Harald as his son. Dorestad was captured and sacked, and all who went on the raid won much wealth. Men began to flatter Hrorik, telling him that if he continued to grow in wealth and renown as a chieftain, he was surely destined to someday be made a jarl by the king and rule over a district.
A chieftain named Orm had been killed in the Dorestad raid, leaving a rich widow. It should have been me, not her, standing by his side. But instead we remained thralls. Jarl Eirik still lives, but now Hrorik is dead. He sacrificed our happiness but never gained his prize. Though he treated Gunhild with respect, it did not take her long to realize that his heart belonged to another. She argued often with him that he should sell me, but he would not. After a time, he began visiting my bed again.
Because he is your father, much of him is in you, so it is good you know the tale. As far back as my mind could find memories, I had known love for my mother, and she had always shown her love for me and tenderly cared for me. That kind of love I understood. Even thralls, who possess almost nothing, can feel such love.
I did not understand how my mother could ever have come to love Hrorik. To me, it seemed obvious he had never truly loved her. If he had, he would not have betrayed her by marrying Gunhild, and dooming Mother and me to lives of slavery. That was no way to show love. Too many years of slavery had gone before. My mother and I had suffered too much, for too long. My mother might forgive him, but I never would.
We embedded tall stones, each almost as large as a man, in the ground at either end of the outline of the ship that had been cut into the thick turf on the hilltop. The two tall stones formed the stemposts of the death ship, as the curved wooden timbers rising from the keel formed the stemposts on a real longship. It was windowless and had a single low doorway. The top of the bier, which was waist-high, was a platform of rough planks, draped with cloaks, to lay the bodies on.
We leaned stacks of dry, dead wood against the outside walls of the death house, as high as the roof. When lit, it would make a bonfire that could be seen for miles. My hopes were in vain. Images of my mother snuck constantly into my mind. I was building her funeral pyre. She still lived, but I was preparing for her funeral. I felt as though I was trapped in an evil dream which I was powerless to wake from. Such thoughts apparently did not trouble Harald. He stood, hands on his hips, surveying the product of our labors.
He turned to me. It is a strange sight to behold. Send messengers out to the folk of the village. We will have the funeral this afternoon, when the sun begins to fall, and feast afterward. You should go to your mother. Both appeared to have been weeping, but they rubbed their cheeks when they saw me approaching, and spoke in cheerful voices.
She lifted the hem to show me the shift underneath. Sigrid has given me this fine white linen shift to wear under my dress. This amber necklace. She gave me this, too. Sigrid put her arms around her and held her. This day, may I call you Mother? She nodded her head, her eyes glistening with tears. Then both women began weeping. I stood beside them, silent and embarrassed, not knowing what to do.
Finally Sigrid kissed Mother on both of her cheeks, then backed away. She turned to me, smiling through her tears. One by one, Mother handed them to me. There was a white linen tunic with embroidery around the neck opening and the ends of the sleeves, a pair of dark green woolen trousers, a leather belt with a silver buckle and tip, and a short cloak of gray wool with a large circular silver brooch, cast in the shape of a fanciful serpent, to pin it.
They are in fine condition, not worn out at all. Sigrid has helped me remake them to fit you. I would have shamed myself at the funeral and feast, had I worn my tattered and filthy tunic—the only clothing I possessed. No doubt I would have shamed Harald and Sigrid, too. A small, graceless voice in the back of my mind wondered if that was the real reason for my new clothes. I might be free, but in my heart still lived the suspicious, petty spirit of a slave. Sigrid embraced me. When she released me, she turned to my mother.
Mother took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. It is time? I looked down, embarrassed. The work is completed. Messengers have been sent to summon the villagers. Mother took off her linen cap, unpinned her hair, and let it fall down her back. Although it infuriated Gunhild, Hrorik had let her keep her hair long, unlike the rest of the thralls, who wore their hair cropped short.
Mother did keep it pinned up and concealed under her cap, though. Gunhild was not a woman to anger heedlessly. Hrorik used to love to run his hands through my hair. Years ago, when we lived in the north, sometimes he would sit behind me and comb it for me. It was as black and shiny as the feathers of a raven, without a trace of gray. After a time, she spoke to me over her shoulder, as I stroked the comb through her tresses. This bed-closet shall of course be yours. Poor Gunhild. How it infuriated her that I, a mere thrall, should have a bed-closet, when none of the carls who live in the longhouse had one.
All Gunhild could see, though, was this bed standing in her house every day as a monument to his affection for another woman. It is well made. The teeth are fine and close together, and catch even the smallest lice. It will serve you well. And these two other things I want you to have most of all. It seemed wrong. But wordlessly I obeyed. It contained a small parchment scroll, relating the life of the man-god the Christians worshiped. Hrorik had taken it as plunder in a raid many years ago, and had given it as a gift to my mother. Why should a thrall learn to speak and read the language of a foreign people, or study the life of a weak God, who held no power in our lands?
If the White Christ was as great a God as Mother claimed, why had he not protected her? Still, I knew Mother valued the little scroll highly, and to her the gift meant much.
I stroked the worn leather of the little pouch gently, swallowing hard. I felt embarrassed that I had nothing to give her. She smiled and reached out and placed her hand over mine, on the pouch. No mother could ask for more than that. A shadow of fear briefly crossed her face. Then she forced a smile to her face and spoke, though her eyes betrayed the falseness of her cheery expression and voice.
Run to the washhouse and clean off the sweat and dirt from your labors. You must present a fine appearance, for all will be watching. We have little time to prepare you. She combed my hair for me and pinned the cloak together at my left shoulder with the silver brooch.
But we have no time. As it grows out, ask Sigrid to trim it for you. It would be a sisterly thing for her to do for you. I feared she might recoil at the suggestion. But I said nothing to my mother. We embraced, and I could feel her trembling. I wondered if she could feel that I was trembling, too. As we stepped out of the door of the longhouse, Mother put her hand in mine and gripped it tightly. She held her chin high and looked straight ahead as we walked. As we took that final walk together, I glanced frequently at her, at the ground, at the people who were gathering on the hill above—anywhere except at the death ship that awaited us.
The sun still shone brightly outside, though the shadows were beginning to deepen and lengthen as the sun dropped toward the horizon and the afternoon waned. A light breeze rustled the grass as Mother and I climbed to the top of the hill. In the sky above, two gulls circled, calling to each other in their harsh voices, their curiosity no doubt aroused by the gathering on the hill.
Most of the folk of the village were already up on the hilltop, standing together on the landward side of the stone ship, looking across it out toward the sea. They stared at us, but did not speak.
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At the summit their paths parted from ours. The latecomers moved to join the crowd of villagers and folk from the estate. Mother and I walked toward the entrance of the death house. My legs felt disconnected from the rest of my body, and my steps slow and awkward, like movement in a dream. I wished it was but a dream, a bad dream, and that I could awake from it. Harald and Sigrid awaited us at the entrance. She was a shaman, and the local priestess of the goddesses Freyja and Frigg.
In one hand she held a staff carved with magic runes and symbols, and something was wrapped around her other hand. I realized it was a knotted cord. I glanced at my mother, and saw that she, too, was staring at the cord. He nodded, and she left, joining the crowd standing around the stern of the stone ship.
As a parting gift, to one who loved you as a mother, will you help me on my way? I did not understand how he could smile. I knew his heart must hold some kind feelings for my mother because she had raised him when he and Sigrid were young. Sigrid had told Mother she loved her.
Yet now Harald must kill her. His face showed nothing, though. Harald was a true warrior, who feared nothing. I could never be such. My mother turned to me and we embraced for the last time. Mother turned and with her back straight and head held high, she walked to Harald and Sigrid. Each embraced her in turn. You were still carrying Halfdan in your belly. Sigrid hooked a fish and you helped her pull it in. Do you remember? It was a beautiful day, sunny with a light breeze, much like today.
It is a joyful memory that I carry to this day. Do you recall it? I thought I heard a gasp, and Harald stopped talking. I ran to the doorway and looked inside. Harald was holding my mother in his arms, lifting her onto the platform of the bier. Sigrid glanced back and saw me watching from the doorway. She stepped in front of something lying on the floor, and Harald bent over and picked it up.
It was this horn that had summoned us to the hilltop. Now, as he exited the death house, he lifted the horn to his lips and blew two long, slow notes. Most were folk of the household who lived in the longhouse, but many also were from the village over which Hrorik had presided as chieftain. All who approached were bearing gifts, save a few who led or carried beasts. Harald indicated that I should stand with Sigrid and him at the doorway of the death house, to greet the procession of gift bearers.
It was a magnificent garment, thick wool dyed a deep green, with a red silk border sewed around the edge. She stopped in front of the three of us, but looked only at Harald as she proclaimed her speech. I bring my husband his sword, that he may wear it proudly in the halls of Valhalla. And I bring other gifts, for his comfort on his sojourn there. His one remaining hand she raised and rested on the hilt, clasping it to his chest. Even in death, it seemed, she sought to separate them. Safe journey, and may the mead be sweet and strong in Valhalla. Sigrid took my hand and stepped down through the door and into the death house, then indicated I should stand in the doorway.
As the other gift-bearers came forward one by one, Harald received their offerings and handed them to me, and I passed the gifts to Sigrid, who arranged them around the bier. There were many gifts. She sighed and shook her arms wearily after Harald took the gifts from her. Several of the villagers bore chickens and ducks—and one a goose—all presented with their necks already wrung. Others brought cheeses or slabs of butter wrapped in cloth, or pitchers of fresh milk. Gunulf, a carl who owned a large farm in the village and was locally renowned for his brewing skills, brought a small cask of ale.
Hrorik had loved his ale. For a thrall who owned next to nothing, it was a fine and generous gift. She bent and kissed Mother good-bye on her cheek. I saw that her eyes were brimming with tears when she turned to leave. Your gifts and wishes will speed his journey. Ubbe had a knife— a seax with a long, thin blade—in a scabbard hanging from his belt. At his approach, Sigrid exited the death house and stood watching from just outside the ring of stones, off to the side of the doorway. I joined her. First came the thrall Hrut, leading a sheep by a short length of rope.
He half led, half dragged the poor creature bleating in fearful protest, down into the death house. Ubbe followed closely behind. After a moment the sheep fell silent. A moment later Hrut hurried out. Ubbe limped into view in the doorway, holding the long knife, its blade now dripping blood. But don't expect 60 Years a Slave any time soon. And Years, Millions of Slaves? Forget about it. Club opined that McQueen is "essentially tone-deaf when it comes to performance, and skirts by on casting".
The film "lacks a necessary emotional continuity. I don't think it's something the movie is denying in the way it intentionally denies so many other conventions; it's still structured around an ending that's supposed to function as a release, but because it can't organize that sense of catharsis it so badly needs, it just feels as though McQueen is scurrying for an exit.
Also: The cast is wildly uneven. Some critics identified the 12 Years a Slave as an example of the white savior narrative in film. The film also was a period piece that featured a happy ending ushered in by a 'white savior' in the form of Brad Pitt's character. Regardless of your race, these films are unlikely to teach you anything you don't already know. It earned three Academy Awards , including Best Picture.
This is both the most of any film released in its production year. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Theatrical release poster. Main articles: 12 Years a Slave score and 12 Years a Slave soundtrack. Main article: List of accolades received by 12 Years a Slave film. Fox Searchlight Pictures. British Board of Film Classification. February 19, Retrieved February 19, Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 10, Retrieved January 2, Civil War History. The Hindu. Retrieved March 12, Retrieved March 13, BBC News.
February 17, Retrieved February 17, August 23, Retrieved October 14, Retrieved June 24, Retrieved December 8, Archived from the original on October 13, Retrieved October 25, October 24, USA Today. Retrieved June 19, Retrieved October 30, The Times-Picayune. Retrieved October 29, Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 3, Daily News. The Guardian. The Playlist. Archived from the original on March 13, The Independent.
Louise Blouin Media. Retrieved February 1, August 13, New York. Retrieved October 27, The Town Talk. Archived from the original on October 27, Retrieved October 26, The Hollywood Reporter.
Archived from the original on October 23, Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 3, Costume Designers Guild. October 18, The Credits. Motion Picture Association of America. Archived from the original on December 3, Film Music Reporter. October 14, Retrieved October 28, Huffington Post. The New York Times.
Retrieved November 19, The Atlantic. Retrieved November 17, The Washington Post. Christianity Today. History Extra. Retrieved January 13, Scene-by-scene Breakdown of Hollywood Films". Information Is Beautiful. Retrieved July 28, Deadline Hollywood. Toronto International Film Festival.
Toronto International Film Festival Inc. Archived from the original on November 5, Debut at NYFF51". Film Society of Lincoln Center. New Orleans Film Society. August 8, Archived from the original on July 29, Retrieved June 17, Philadelphia Film Society. Archived from the original on October 29, Penske Business Media.
McCarthy, LLC. October 2, Retrieved October 16, Archived from the original on March 4, Retrieved December 29, The Wrap News Inc. Retrieved January 10, Retrieved February 28, Forbes publishing. Retrieved November 11, Fandango Media. Retrieved June 15, CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 13, October 20, Retrieved October 1, Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 2, Rolling Stone.
The Hidden Dangers in Your Phone Number
Wenner Media LLC. The Daily Telegraph. Slant Magazine. October 29, Archived from the original on March 30, Retrieved January 21, The Village Voice. Voice Media Group. Critics contended it was yet another film showcasing a White savior with Pitt who also produced the film positioning himself as such. Retrieved December 14, March 2, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Steve McQueen. Hunger Shame 12 Years a Slave Widows Codes of Conduct cancelled. Queen and Country Brad Pitt. Awards and nominations Filmography. Plan B Entertainment Douglas Pitt.

domain: artistic


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Coltrane’s A Love Supreme: Live in Amsterdam reissue from the Branford Marsalis Quartet out now and available on vinyl for the very first time Read more »
Miguel Zenón is organizing free jazz performances in Puerto Rico
Caravana Cultural is a project born out of a personal desire to present music at its purest form. Our main objective is to bring music directly to the people, setting aside any financial or business related interest. Just Music, Plain and Simple. By focusing on Jazz Music, we intend to eliminate any social or political stigma that could be tied to this style of music, while also taking this music to places where the public has had little or no exposure to it.
The concerts will focus exclusively on standard songs from the Jazz repertory and each performance will serve as a tribute to a legendary figure from the history of Jazz (Miles Davis, Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington, among others). During the performance a previously chosen group of students from the “Revive la Musica” program will join the band on stage to perform a song. A “Pre - Concert Talk” will take place before each performance. These talks will include some insight into the music to be presented at the concert, as well as a discussion on the basics of Jazz and Jazz Improvisation.These concerts are absolutely FREE OF CHARGE and open to all ages.
Caravana Cultural - 2011 Dates
Featuring: Miguel Zenón (saxophone), Mike Rodríguez (trumpet), Aaron Goldberg (piano), Matt Penman (bass) and Nasheet Waits (drums)
June 12th, 2011 - The Music of Charlie Parker - Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
More dates to come in 2012!

domain: entertainment


A great carry round for personal defense! These Federal .357 SIG JHP ammo has fantastic stopping power for any concealed or open carry circumstance. Federal is a company that is chosen time and time again by law enforcement and civilians alike.
Not to be confused with the .357 Magnum, the .357 SIG was first introduced in 1994. Despite the similarity in name, they are truly completely different rounds. Magnum rounds are longer versions of the .38 special, which were standard caliber for police back in the day. SIG rounds are shorter and wider, necked with a .40 case and 9mm bullet. So, needless to say, they are NOT interchangeable!
These rounds are brand new, reloadable, non-corrosive, nickel-plated brass and boxer-primed with a muzzle velocity of 1350 fps. They feature Federal’s Hydra-Shok notched copper bullets and their center-post hollow point design that initiates and controls expansion.
Federal is world renown for their reliable products and have kept their head in the game when it comes to modern advancements. Owned by Alliant Techsystems, Inc (ATK), Federal is also the parent brand of Federal American Eagle and Federal Premium.
You will receive 50 Rounds of .357 SIG Ammo by Federal - 125gr JHP
Review by PHIL
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You will need to seperate the crank case breather pipe from the turbo inlet. This feeds oil vapours and combustion blow-by back around into the intake (emissions regulations reducing oil fumes by not venting to atmos) . On mine I have removed the whole intake filter box assembly and replaced it with a simpler airfilter>MAF sensor>silicon pipe to turbo.
The oil recirc pipe feeds into a small seperator pot, where after a few weeks running a small amount of oil condesates back to liquid, the small second tube vents the excess gas downwards under the car.
changing the intake assembly saves alot of time on servicing later as things are easier to access, and quite a few Kgs.. mine also runs Very well
1.9 JTD M-Jet 16v 140ps.
Gas flowed head, Polished valves, Port matched manifolds, New Turbo.
JS-T primary Decat, MrZ full-bore Center Decat , Oil recirc tank, Big filter conversion.

domain: hobby


Its amazing how sloppy the fit between the vacuum tubing (which on mine is about 1/8" o.d. and color coded red, white, blue, yellow, green, black, with clear plastic nipples to connect to the device @ ea. end) and the dash switch nipples. They slide on/off the dash switch w/almost no effort, as frequently reported here on iRV2.
I'm gonna get a new dash radio/CD... some day soon to replace the $3 unit WRV used. When I have the old radio out there will be much better access to the vacuum switch connections & I'll safety wire the clear plastic to the switch nipples or maybe put a small piece of glue-type shrink tube on the nipple to make a tighter fit. I have one setting (AC on feet & in face) where the vacuum runs constantly & that'll be a good time to attack it.
Also while poking around I found that the seal between the plastic blower shroud & front bulkhead isn't made well for about 4" (where some one WRV'd* the fastener), so I taped it shut to regain lost efficiency. I can also see one of the blower output spiral plastic ducts is nearly smashed w/its current routing, and that could be easily rerouted w/slightly better access.
*WRV'd: to power the fastener till it strips or the plastic part under it is wrecked. Motorhomers find many WRV'd fasteners over time.
Baja-tested '08 2-slide 36'
Alpine: The Ultimate DIY'er Project


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Chiangrai Times – Mohammad Shanar Ryad the man alleged to have murdered Westport man Charles Jones will go to trial on September 18.
Mr Jones was murdered while on holiday in Thailand just over a year ago.
The 56-year-old was the New Zealand president of the World Croquet Federation and was on his way home from a world croquet tournament in London when he was stabbed to death in his hotel room in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya.
Brother-in-law Robert McMillan said the family was still discussing the possibility of one of them traveling to Thailand for the trial.
He expected they would be kept up to date by phone by the New Zealand embassy which had been looking after them very well.
Mr McMillan understood Mr Jones’ alleged murderer was an ex-Syrian commando who was not supposed to be in Thailand at the time.
He said the family was all doing fine a year after Mr Jones’ death.

domain: news


Secretary of State John Kerry has been the talk of the town here in Israel lately, so why not join the fun. Israelis differ in their answer to the question, “is John Kerry friend or foe?” One has to admit that when there are not a few Jews, not a few Israelis, and not a few Knesset members paralleling sentiments held and statements made by Secretary Kerry, the assertion that Kerry is a foe of Israel is not at all a straight forward proposition.
Personally, for the life of me, I cannot tell whether John Kerry is a clever foe, a bird-brained friend or just a dogged and ambitious personal glory seeker. Perhaps having just turned 70 this past December has ratcheted up his inner fire to leave a lasting legacy to his name.
Whatever Kerry’s correct classification may be, the sad and serious fact is that he is not bringing peace to our little nation, he is bringing war.
A very clever foe whose goal is to weaken Israel without being labeled or recognized as such would act in very much the same way Secretary Kerry has in conducting these latest peace talks. That is, such a foe would seek to be perceived as an honest broker who has Israel’s best interests at heart, all the while setting Israel up as the fall guy if and when the negotiations collapse.
Kerry has not been shy of periodically reminding us of acute international isolation, economic boycotts and the break out of a third intifada if the talks fail. Implicit in these warnings made in front of the world’s cameras is that it is Israel’s choice whether to make peace or not, as if 20 years of Palestinian intransigence and lack of good will can be overcome by Israel simply deciding it wants peace. Furthermore, by making these warnings, Kerry creates all the incentive in the world for the Palestinians to view the collapse of the negotiations as a good outcome, i.e., an isolated, boycotted and sanctioned Israel blamed by the international community for the lack of peace.
The problem with labeling John Kerry as a foe is that Israeli politicians such as Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid and new Labor party head Isaac Herzog are publicly (and quite foolishly might I add) making the very same statements. How can Kerry be accused of being a foe when mainstream Israelis themselves (not extreme left Israelis) agree with his modus operandi and praise him for his conduct? Thus it appears most logical to interpret Kerry as a bird-brained ally whose lack of regional understanding results in lessening the chances for peace rather than strengthening them.
We have seen a song and dance played out on international airwaves in which various Israeli politicians (at times including Prime Minister Netanyahu) condemn a statement or call for a certain concession made by Kerry. This is inevitably followed by Kerry’s cronies (never Kerry himself) essentially saying, “How dare you Israel call us into question after everything that we have done for you!”
Of course it cannot be questioned that the United States has been our most stead-fast ally, helping Israel and coming to its diplomatic defense on many an occasion. But friendship, and what some would term charity, does not translate to the recipient being beholden to the giver’s will, losing the right to make decisions that contradict the will of such a friend.
Imagine that a close friend, who has been there for you on many an occasion in your time of need, takes you on an outing to the deep sea to witness the great white shark. You descend into the protective cage and see the menacing sharks swimming by. Then your long-time friend (who is not in the cage with you) says, “OK, it’s time for you to open the cage door, trust me it will be fine.” You of course hesitate and refuse, knowing a shark will likely enter the cage. Your friend insists and says, “Listen, I understand your hesitation, but trust me, the shark will not enter the cage and your experience will be so much better.” In response to your continued refusal, your friend takes umbrage and states, “after everything I have done for you how dare you disrespect me in this way and call my good judgment into question!”
Israel is the person in the shark cage. Should we open up the cage door simply because it is the United States who requests we do so, while at the same time giving all kinds of dire warnings for our refusal to do so? Giving up the Jordan Valley is opening up that cage, plain and simple. Willingly giving power and strategic territory to an entity hell-bent on your demise is opening up that cage.
Many Israelis are currently losing their nerve and adjuring, “open the cage door, don’t you realize what will happen to us if you continue to refuse?” But let’s be clear, exchanging a perceived danger for a clear and present danger (that is deadly shark attack) is no solution. “Well what do you propose then?” “Let’s start with not letting in the sharks. That is basic, no?”
All this focus on Secretary Kerry has taken the focus off President Obama. At the end of the day, Kerry is pushing Obama’s agenda, and we find the same conundrum trying to assess his intentions. Is Obama friend or foe?
President Obama celebrates Hanukkah and Passover at the White House, but spent 20 years attending an avid anti-Semite’s and anti-Zionist’s church — that is the church of Pastor Jeremiah Wright. According to credible accounts, America’s security cooperation with Israel has never been better, yet, we are pressured to make territorial and security concessions that will expose our underbelly to the enemy. President Obama has been instrumental in helping to create the sanctions structure that has effectively hurt Iran and led them to the negotiating table. Yet at the same time, Obama has released that pressure at a critical moment and during the popular 2009 uprising in Iran, he chose not to provide even moral support for the Green Movement protestors on the ground that American interference would be counterproductive, especially in a region weary of American interventionism. Yet Obama did not hesitate to intervene in Egypt, Libya, and of course Israel.
Frankly, at the end of the day, to what degree the Obama administration does or does not have our best interests at heart is irrelevant. Israel knows better than any other actor what is or is not in its best interest. Our leaders must base their decisions on an on-the-ground assessment of our national and security interests, not based on fear of international pressure. And lately, I no longer can tell whether the Tzipi Livni’s of this nation are deep down motivated by true on-the-ground assessment or fear of how the world will react. Whatever the case, when Miss Livni and others chastise Israel’s political right for refusing to abandon yet another red line, a little humility would be in order.
It has been said before, but needs to be said again. If Israel’s founders had made decisions from a place of fear of world reaction, the Jewish nation-state would have never come to be. Back in those days the pre-nascent nation faced the possibility of a second Holocaust on the very heels of the Nazi calamity. Nevertheless, Ben Gurion declared the independence of the Jewish state. In comparison, today, warnings about economic boycotts has us running scared (not to understate the real existential threats we do currently face). Our nation needs to get a grip and stop trying to satisfy a world which will never be satisfied no matter what we do.


|Reviews for Ancient - The Cainian Chronicle:|
|User Reviews:||Your Review:||
the first song of ancient that i heard was "Part II: lilith's embrace" which they realesed in video(recommanded) and that song is awesome very gloom,sinister and the vocals realy outstanding!!|
so i bought the cd and i was a bit disapointed 'cause most of the song are o.k+ nothing speical excpt "Part II: lilith's embrace" that is realy unique and every black metal fan should at least hear it 1,so cheak it out you might like it.
Review by: midvinter2
This album is not too bad, guitars are originals, not
"basic" bm riffs.
The intro is a deep piece of synth, followed by "the Cainian chronicle" theme which is quite coherent;
vocals are interesting.
Review by: undead'spath
This, to me, is the best Ancient album of all their releases. Epic, emotional black metal. They seem to lose their epic/majestic sound with later albums. There's a good blend of male and females vocals here along with a strong and fluid orchestration. A master work.
Review by: wolfenchanter
This album is by no means great and was definitely the commence of the decline of good Ancient material. It is still fun to listen to at times and has a few good tracks. Overall the concept of the work is a little cheezy and is quite Overdone. The album suffers from severe lag and seems to drag on forever - which it almost does at the end (a 10 minute whistle sound or whatever it is). One cool part is this interlude track with tribal drums that continuously get more intense and heavy as the song progresses - a good 'fucking' song - eventually concluding with female orgasm sounds which turn into screams and the laugh of the male who just sodomized the fucking shit out of her. good times. 7/10
Review by: shanewick
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Sugar Coat your success by Investing in Bakery Franchise
The bakery business in India is the largest in the food processing sector. The industry has achieved a third position in generating revenue among the processed food sector.
The bakery industry is also noted to be one of the fastest growing segments within foods with an annual growth rate of 20-25%. Bakery products have gained popularity and become an item of mass consumption owing to its international quality today, competitive prices, coupled with rapid growth and changing eating habits of people.
With emerging consumer trends, growth of upcoming bakery institutions and the rise in aspiring bakery chefs, the industry is all set to bloom.
The bakery segment in India can be classified into the three broad segments: bread, biscuits and cakes. The per capita consumption is very high in industrialised states like Maharashtra and West Bengal. Biscuits are becoming quite popular in rural areas as well. Generally, rural sectors consume around 55% of biscuits. Tier-I and II cities are growing, but in tier-III cities, there is a significant boom. There has been a shift from mainstream bread, toasts and Khari to cakes, which has led to immense growth and potential in the bakery industry.
The bakery and confectionery has about 35% of the market share in the food service domain due to the rise in the ready-to-eat a baked product with a higher shelf life. The confectionery vertical focusing on frozen desserts is all set to move up the ladder to serve the masses.
Trends Propelling the Growth
Cakes and bakery goods are an important part of gifting, especially in big cities and the trend is soon catching up in small towns and cities. Due to the rapid population growth, rising foreign influence, the emergence of a female working population and the fluctuating eating habits of people, bakery products have gained immense popularity among people, thus contributing significantly to the growth of the bakery industry.
Another factor which is propelling the growth of the bakery industry is the online delivery service. With the increased penetration of internet and many brands offering same-day delivery services, as well as midnight delivery, have led to increased consumption of bakery goods, especially for gifting purpose. For India’s largest flower-gifting chain, Ferns N Petals, cakes account for 40% of its online business. The trend of combining cakes with flowers with a lot of customisation is also providing the relevant boost to the bakery market.
The customisation of cakes & other bakery items has been in demand for the past few years. Customers no longer want the basic designs, but personalised according to their needs and taste. An,d this is not a metropolitan fad anymore; it has established its roots in tier-II and III cities as well. In addition, Indianisation is also helping the market grow. For instance, customers are now demanding for Indian-inspired French pastry. Bakeries and patisseries are taking inspiration from the flavour notes of traditional Indian sweets and pairing them with classic French pastry to create one-of-a-kind desserts.
Bakery franchises are a rage in today’s time. If you've ever wanted to start your own bakery, opting for a bakery franchise could be the perfect opportunity for you. It will not only provide you with the ease of setting up a successful business model but will also help you attain relevant training and support. The bakery franchise business calls for an investment of at least 10-20 lakhs.
Established brands like Monginis demand investment of about 15-25 lakhs depending on the location and size. They require a minimum area of 225 sq. ft. to 300 sq. ft and the investment cost is inclusive of franchise fees, performance deposit, shop infrastructure cost and Government licensing fees.
The margins typically range between 25-30% with the anticipated return of investment to be around 60-70%. Moreover, for unsold/returned products after shelf-life expiry, franchisors will reimburse 100% of those products within 21 days and after 21 days, 85% of the cost will be reimbursed.

domain: food