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Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel laureate in economics and a friend to Nigeria, places great emphasis on the role of capital markets for developing economies like ours. He reminds us thus: “If capital is at the heart of capitalism, then well-functioning capital markets are at the heart of a well-functioning capitalist economy.” Resuscitation and restructuring of the capital market is therefore sine qua non so that the market for long-term funds can be fluidly channelled toward the projects, sectors and companies which will help us unravel the developmental challenges of infrastructure deficits, economic development, unemployment, etc. We have sought to highlight specific thrusts for action which will help us all join hands as firms, investors (retail and institutional), clients, regulators, banks, government, etc., to bring about recovery and sustained development of the capital market.
Economic structure and growth
Revised 2010 and Q4 GDP estimates suggest that earlier estimates for Q4 2011 were optimistic at 8.68 percent. New estimate shows that the economy grew by 7.68 percent compared to 8.36 percent in Q4, 2010. It is also lower than the forecast of 8.46 percent. Growth in all quarters of 2010 is higher than that of 2011. The slowdown is traceable to the slowdown in investment in the oil and gas sector. The impact of sustained monetary tightening is a major source of decline in growth in 2011.
Nigerian capital market overview
The market depth is quite shallow considering the statistics: only 247 securities listed as at April 18, 2012, made up of 200 companies (including 12 ASeM securities), 25 federal government bonds, 9 state government bonds, 10 corporate bonds, 3 preference shares, and total market (equity/bond) capitalization of about N9.5 trillion ($63.4 billion).
Meanwhile, only the telecom sector can add an estimated N3.5 trillion to the market capitalization by listing the top three companies.
Market development – equity market
The Nigerian equities market lost 16.31 percent in 2011 but started this year on a slightly positive note. Sustained retail-investor apathy, systemic liquidity crunch and impressive return on alternative assets classes are largely responsible for the loss in 2011. Considering above and largely optimistic outlook for the economy, equity valuations remain impressive. Q1 corporate results, benefit expectations and positioning could keep the market relatively stable in Q2. The high inflation expectations suggest the possibility of further rise in interest rates and more pressure on ECM as currently constituted. Comparative low yield of the market amongst other asset classes could keep the market low in the short- to medium-term.
Market development - debt market
Yield declined across tenor compared to February; and even December 2011 at the shorter end of the market. The curve inversion is still obvious. 5-yr, 7-yr and 10-yr bonds currently trade at or below 15.5 percent. The decline in yield accompanied the hold on MPR by the MPC recently, a sign that rates may come down soon. The marginal yield on the new issue 10-yr bond in February closed at 16.16 percent. The yield on the Nigeria 10-yr Eurobond improved to 5.6 percent in March, suggesting increasing demand and positive outlook for the economy globally. Funds continue to flow into the market as market capitalisation rises. The outlook for the bond market is mixed as the potential for sharp decline in yield is rising. Government plans to issue N794.4 billion in 2012 to fund budget gap.
The Need is clear
Equity capital markets and debt capital markets are central to development. As we seek to aid ailing sectors like manufacturing and deepen fragmented sectors such as agriculture, we must note that capital markets facilitate the reconciliation of national savings and investment flows and therefore play a crucial role in the real sector of the economy. Beyond this, more sophistication will be engendered via a resuscitated market to insure the healthy development of credit risk transfer instruments and institutions, including hedge funds.
Whilst there is a momentum that has seen us grow GDP impressively despite global economic upheaval, it is essential that we in Nigeria fully capitalize on this unusual moment ahead of the downturn which the likes of the World Bank, IMF and Institute of International Finance warn may lie ahead in 2012-2013.
This year, international analysts such as those from the Institute of International Finance expect capital flows to sub-Saharan Africa to reduce slightly but remain robust compared to the more significant slowdowns expected for Brazil and India and notable cut-backs for a previously stellar performer like Brazil. In their view, strengthening capital markets in this context reinforces sound economic management practice that will strengthen public debt management and aid market discipline in domestic finance; strengthen the investor base and improve regulation and consistency of treatment of institutional, foreign, and other investors; develop financial derivatives such as repos and swaps, as well as asset-backed securities markets, improving access by foreigners to domestic hedging services. This of course must be matched by suitable regulation of equity derivatives markets, as well as increased market surveillance and improved risk management at every level; bring trading, settlement, custody, and delivery mechanisms up to world standards, where necessary through regional linkages, and opening up to global investment in these services.
John Lipsky, when with the IMF, held that a more variegated market is central to making emerging economies more liquid, sounder and more resilient. Nigeria must now seek to take advantage of improved economic fundamentals and the resiliently liquid international finance markets to help restructure balance sheets (especially regarding systematically important sectors such as banking and insurance) via deepened local capital markets. Despite the markets turmoil, international investors are increasingly prepared to be seen purchasing securities denominated in local currency – with attendant support for our naira. The strategy now must be to turn the sometimes over-exuberant “search for yield” in an environment of low interest rates and considerable liquidity to a committed focus on value for all concerned.
The federal government will see a commitment to a revived market rewarded via enhanced employment platforms, better-structured, higher public revenue streams and improving tax collection (and better tax regime). The facts below will be boosted by the resuscitation of the market: public share issues, plausible mass privatisation through programmes such as voucher schemes, and employee buy-outs, listings and the like to strengthen the nation’s entrepreneurial base, especially regarding the SMEs which are crucial to sustainable development.
Nigeria is a unique country that has had more stockbroking firms (at a stage over 250) than quoted stocks. The Nigerian equities market has gone from representing a comparative 38.8 percent of Nigeria’s GDP in 2008 (at the market’s high) to a meagre 6.8 percent today. The intent 3-4 years ago had been to boost the nearly 40 percent comparative to a more competitive 100 percent so as to match middle income economies’ markets like South Africa’s. Today’s reality reminds us just how far off kilter we are.
Over the last 3 years, most of these practitioners have found themselves looking in from outside a vastly shrunk market (current total equity market cap of N6.63 trillion is back to July 2006 levels and posits that a staggering half or 50 percent of wealth has been wiped out) which sees the top 5-10 firms controlling more than half of market trading activity. This is an unwholesome and definitely unsustainable situation.
As a series of sanitisation moves sweep the financial services sector, there is an urgent need for palliatives to prop up the scores of firms which are teetering on the edge of closure with hundreds of professionals facing an onerous labour market which is choc-a-bloc with professionals from other sectors. In the last few months to the end of 2011, the market lost over N1.4 trillion in market capitalization, losses we believe were driven by the soft global economy, including debt crises in the United States of America and European Union (EU accounts for 22 percent of foreign portfolio investment into Nigeria); the Nigerian banking crisis (including nationalization of 3 banks in August); concerns about the security situation in the country; and rising interest rates which is encouraging investors to shift to fixed income instruments.
Investor confidence is low and this is evinced by a virtual wiping out of the retail segment of the market. This explains to a large extent why the handful of stockbroking firms which have a catchment of institutional clientele virtually run the market as oligopoly. In addition to a retreat by local mom-and-pop investors, international investors (which, according to the Nigeria Stock Exchange CEO, hold up to 40 percent of free float equities on the market) also folded back portfolios and have stayed largely away to obviate risks in the face of the global markets turmoil. Most problematic, though, is the underweight portfolios of institutional investors (fund managers from insurance companies, corporate and government treasurers and, most significantly, the pension fund administrators – who should be investing 25 percent or over N600 billion of their N2.4 trillion war chests in the market (other emerging economies have considerably higher proportion of pension AUM invested in equities), but only have under a quarter of a trillion or N250 billion committed – have dampened enthusiasm from other sectors. From historic volatility patterns, an extra N300-N350 billion of market liquidity could trigger multiplier effects of up to 50 percent increments in market value.
Nigeria pension fund industry vs. emerging market peers
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), real net returns by Nigeria’s pension industry was (11.9) percent in 2010. However, PENCOM data indicates (0.16) percent, a much lower negative real return than our OECD source. This is nonetheless a poor performance when compared to the recovery in other developed and emerging market countries, evidenced by the impressive growth in pension AUMs.
Analysts note that significantly reduced interest by domestic institutional investors has ceded over 70.0 percent of trading to foreign investors leading to dull and uninspiring activities on the bourse. Average daily value traded dropped from N3.4 billion in Q1 2011 to N2.7 billion in Q2 2011, and further to N1.9 billion from July to date, meaning a drop of 45 percent in investor activity within 2011 alone. Set against the N3.03 billion daily trade average of 2010, the N2.4 billion trend for the whole of 2011 reminds us of just how dire the level of market confidence is currently – especially considering the fact that 2010 was merely a tenuous period of recovery itself.
Lessons from the crisis
One major lesson we have learnt from the global credit crunch is that a free market cannot regulate itself. On the global front, with particular reference to the US, the meltdown was caused by complex and poorly underwritten home loans unsuitable to the borrower. In Nigeria, we had thought we were insulated from the global crisis and in many ways slow to act; hence, the failure of risk managers and regulators to ask and provide answers to some critical questions that led to the bubble that burst in the nation’s stock market. Nevertheless, the common thread running through both economies is that highly leveraged, largely unregulated financial instruments and inadequate risk disclosures magnified the crisis. The resulting crisis of confidence has led to reduced credibility in the financial system, gridlocked credit markets, liquidity squeeze, locked up capital and depletion of shareholders’ wealth.
In Nigeria, the implausible and inconceivable occurred to get us to the point of N1 trillion toxic asset levels. Companies seeking listing on the exchange successfully floated initial public offerings (IPO) which were oversubscribed, though the entire process was flawed by lack of transparency and thin disclosure levels to the investing public. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the subject of how much regulation is required is greatly debated. Modern free market‘s school of thought argued that too much regulatory oversight was a socialist inclination. However, with taxpayers’ bearing the financial burden of the recent bailout of financial institutions, a review into just how much regulation we need to maintain stability is imperative.
Market intervention expectations
Generic intervention expectations
Market interventions during the extant global markets turmoil has taken different guises regarding size, scope, sophistication, etc., depending on the segment targeted and the nature of the germane practitioners. The following are the proposed measures that would act as catalyst for rejuvenating the market:
Harmonisation and possible merger of the regulatory framework: With the insurance and pension funds both playing the role of mobilising long-term capital in the economy, we strongly admire the Chilean model, which brings the pension and insurance industries under one regulator.
Risk management should be at the heart of the business function: Rather than view risk management as a support function, it should be upgraded to the heart of the business and then evolve into a competitive differentiator.
Fuller and more transparent disclosure level: We strongly support increased transparency, including all efforts to make financial products easily understood by both consumers and investors. The poor disclosure levels and abuse of insider information in the Nigerian market prosper price manipulation, round-tripping, and often trigger panicky sell-offs. The abuse of insider information currently operates as the norm rather than the exception. Overhaul our regulations so they are comprehensive and free of gaps: Regulatory oversight and strict enforcement at all levels of government can stop harmful products and practices from escaping through the cracks.
The independence of regulatory watchdogs is non-negotiable: Standard-setters have to rebuild their independence and this should commence with the staffing of regulatory bodies. Human capacity development should be a pre-requisite and continuous. This independence should be institutionalised through appropriate legislations.
Credible credit database: As Nigeria adopts global trends in finance such as consumer financing and credit card business, we must recognise the risks that the lack of a credible creditors’ database poses to the entire financial system.
Pre-emptive not reactionary: New regulations must be forward thinking and must provide adequate cover for all foreseeable risks.
Combined communication campaign by SEC, NSE, CBN and FMoF: The SEC, NSE, CBN and FMoF should embark on a massive communication campaign and dialogue with stakeholders in the capital markets working in conjunction with the market operators and their professional associations or bodies such as AIHN, ASHON and CIS.
Expectations from CBN
Forbearance and debt cancellation: A large number of stockbrokers are currently under heavy debt burden occasioned by the diminution in the value of securities they are holding due to price crash and high interest rates from banks. The proposal is for CBN or AMCON or MOFI to assume a minimum of 50 percent of the facilities the stockbroking houses are currently carrying. AMCON should be encouraged to assume a large amount of the debts owed by the stockbroking firms in line with what was done for the banks.
Intervention fund: The CBN in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Finance should create or avail an intervention fund of N250 billion to stockbrokers at single digit interest rate. The availability of these funds would lead to an upsurge in trading activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Ensuring a low interest rate environment: The high cost of borrowing is a challenge to the equity market as investors are unable to access the needed liquidity for investing. Even the supposed alternative investment in fixed income instruments is only beneficial if the interest rate environment is stable due to the requirement for marking to market. Therefore, a stable and low interest environment that can stimulate economic activities and direct liquidity to the capital market is desirable.
Expectations from the federal government
Taxation: We believe that the government should consider reducing or altogether eliminating taxes on brokerage transactions. It is apparent that a burden of taxation as high as 12 percent is quite significant in the context of the margins brokers make on institutional trades which range from 0.25 percent-0.5 percent of the value of the transaction. Institutional investors account for 90 percent of the average daily volumes traded on the Exchange.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF): The benefits of an SWF to the Nigerian economy cannot be overemphasized, which is why other oil economies around the globe have long embraced the idea. Foreign portfolio investors have proven volatile and lack sufficient faith and understanding of the Nigerian markets. The SWF can help create stability in the markets and deepen investors’ confidence. It will also allay the fears of sceptics who argue that the Nigerian market may not be able to absorb equity listings of major corporations from Telco’s and oil and gas companies.
Persuade PenCom and PFAs: PenCom should be encouraged to persuade PFAs to increase their investment in equities from the current less than 10 percent to up to 20 percent, since the Act permits them to invest up to 25 percent of their investible funds in equities. PFAs are the biggest buy-side institutions in the Nigerian market and their asset pool is the biggest in terms of long-term capital. However, short-term money market instruments currently take precedence. This pool should be guided properly into the capital formation process to ensure long-term stability of the market.
Expectations from the SEC
Encourage share buyback: Quoted companies should be encouraged to embark on share buyback to reduce the stock of outstanding shares currently traded on the Exchange. The laws can be reviewed to encourage the companies to act accordingly.
Encourage new listings: SEC should persuade major corporations, both domestic and multinationals, to list on the NSE using moral suasion and other incentives such as those tied to tax and excise waivers or coordinated actions with other regulators or government MDAs such as FIRS, PenCom, CBN, etc.
Enhancing capacity of domestic institutional investor base: For sustainable funds to come from institutional money managers/ collective investment schemes, some intervention will also be required. We suggest that the minimum subscription amount for both non-sovereign debt and equity transactions should be significantly raised such that only qualified HNIs and institutional investors can directly access the market. The rationale behind this is to encourage use of licensed asset managers which should build the industry viz assets under managements, with stricter rules for asset management licenses in force.
Privatization and subsequent listing: Privatized companies should be encouraged to list so as to attract other privately-owned enterprises to list on the market. Subsequent sale of shares of privatized companies should be carried out through the use of licensed stock exchanges.
SEC should also do the following: begin quarterly investment seminars across the country to increase investor education and elevate aggregate informed investments; increase oversight functions of the capital markets and act as a conflict resolution agency; encourage the creation of alternate markets such as over-the-counter platforms and commodity exchange markets to help deepen the market and increase investors’ appetite and activity; increase human capacity and remuneration at the apex regulatory in order to up the game in the market and increase efficiency; ensure companies and markets adhere to timely disclosure requirements; and set and implement rules to encourage a client-interest focused environment.
Expectations from the Nigerian Stock Exchange
Listing requirements should include investor relations desks in offices of firms so investors could access company information. This would ensure active and informed investments. This sort of trades tends to be more long-term rather than knee-jerk trades which tend to be herd-like and short-term in nature. NSE should also relax liquidity requirements to encourage more firms to come to the market; fast-track provision of liquidity backbone for market making firms to hedge against failure of this project (We support the recent moves by the management of the NSE to increase the daily price movement band from 5 percent to 10 percent and steam-roll the market making process. We also would like to see flexibility in policy formation.); promote investor-company interactions which would assist in reducing the “agency problem” and boost investor confidence and transparency; and encourage creation of alternative investable assets such as derivatives, REITS and MBS.
Expectations from the brokers/dealers
Brokers/dealers should act in the best interest of clients by preserving the confidentiality of information communicated by clients and not engage in practices designed to distort prices or artificially inflate trading volume with the intent to mislead market participants; encourage best practice amongst fellow stockbroking houses; act in a professional and ethical manner at all times; communicate with clients in a timely and accurate manner; uphold the applicable rules governing capital markets; refrain from seeking and trading on insider information; educate and discourage investors on over-reliance on dividend and bonus declaration as an evidence of good performance/prospect. This puts unnecessary pressures on corporations and may make them to invest in risky ventures and to engage in sharp practices in order to show short-term profits.
Expectations from the domestic investors
Investors should continually seek investor-company interactions, through AGMs and analyst forums. They should be encouraged to listen to companies’ presentations and ask questions on the strategic direction of the companies so as to make informed investment decisions.
Investors should also try to gain the knowledge of market and company-specific developments by following sell-side analyst recommendations. It is very important for them to self-educate themselves by asking questions whenever possible and read up investments journals and other available information for better understanding of how the market works.
Nigeria’s challenges remain formidable – a country with poverty rate (according to the Nigeria Poverty Profile 2010 Report recently released by the NBS) of nearly 61 percent or a staggering 100 million citizens should not be tardy in implementing programmes to enhance the relatively sophisticated facets of its financial system such as capital markets. Such a strategy should be quickly implemented as feedstock to the very pressing developmental issues of food, transport and other basic necessities which need to be tackled directly.
Critics may even point to arguments that the average life expectancy of poor Nigerians may have fallen during the years since democratic rule was achieved. Simply put, obvious strategy stances such as a revitalised capital market should be a quick-win en route the thornier issues at hand. Reaching out to the target companies to list on the market will be an enhanced way to help work around the rules and regulations as well as create desired enablers that will immediately attract them. Segmentation of the companies would also help in creating the needed flexibility to negotiate listing requirements away from the one-size-fits-all approach being currently adopted.
The commitment to drive immediate initiatives at attracting big cap companies would also depend largely on efficient collaborations with other regulators – SEC, CBN, NAICOM, PENCOM, CAC, FMDA and IFRS.


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Here’s the Nonsense: Obama’s questioning of the Supreme Court’s authority to overturn legislation as unconstitutional (specifically Obamacare) was just an error in semantics. He certainly didn’t mean it the way it sounded.
Here’s the Horse Sense: Maybe we should be asking if Obama’s statement was simply a poor use of semantics or if it was really representative of something much deeper and more disconcerting for America.
President Obama fully understands the constitutional power of each of the three branches of our government. His words this week about the Supreme Court and their authority regarding overturning legislation may be a telltale sign of something very sinister in his views of how our government should work.
President Obama has appointed dozens of czars in various positions in his administration. On March 31, 2008 as a candidate, Obama said, “The biggest problems that we’re facing right now have to do with George Bush trying to bring more and more power into the executive branch and not go through Conrgress at all. And that’s what I intend to reverse when I’m president of the United States.” Yet since his inauguration he’s appointed dozens of czars using his administration’s unique interpretation of executive powers thereby avoiding the need for Senate confirmation and any accountability to Congress.
One of those czars is Cass Sunstein*, the regulatory czar. He wrote in the Yale Law Journal in 2006 that “there is no reason to believe that in the face of statutory ambiguity, the meaning of federal law should be settled by the inclinations and predispositions of federal judges. The outcome should instead depend on the commitments and beliefs of the President and those who operate under him.” Mr. Sunstein expresses distress that when presidents have interpreted the law there have been cases where the Supreme Court has overturned those interpretations.
Is it possible that someone appointed for such an influential position as that of regulatory czar may have been expressing an opinion that is now also the president’s opinion? Is it possible that the president desires to see our system of government, with three co-equal branches, be changed to something far different with no checks and balances on the power and authority of the office of the president?
* For those who aren’t familiar with Cass Sunstein, here is some information about him: He attended Harvard law school and then clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. He also spent time working for the federal government in the Office of Legal Affairs. He taught at Chicago Law school beginning in 1981 and met Barack Obama there. One of his books, The Second Bill of Rights: FDR’s Unfinished Revolution and Why We Need It More than Ever, is where he advocates the U. S. Constitution needs to have added to it rights to healthcare, housing, and education. He advocates the idea that government can be a “choice architect” for citizens who make poor decisions. (source: Whistleblower Magazine, November 2009)

domain: news


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For decades, universities have been accommodating physically disabled students who require guide dogs and other types of service animals. Within the past several years, however, mentally disabled students have increasingly petitioned colleges with no-pet policies to permit them to bring their animals on campus because they need a companion or emotional support animal to make college life easier and to reduce their stress, loneliness, depression, and/or anxiety. Institutions that unlawfully reject such requests are finding themselves in court and charged with disability discrimination. Schools are understandably confused about their obligation, if any, to waive their no-pet rules under these circumstances. This article discusses pets on campus and provides administrators guidance with respect to this increasingly contentious issue and to keep their organizations "out of the legal dog house."
|Publication Title||Administrative Issues Journal: Education, Practice, and Research|
|Publisher||Southwestern Oklahoma State University|
|Cite this work||
Researchers should cite this work as follows:

domain: sociology


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LONDON — Britain’s Labor Party leader Keir Starmer said he has “no intention” of changing the country’s drug laws if his party wins the next election.
Speaking to Anne McElvoy, host of POLITICO’s new Power Play podcast, Opposition Leader Starmer said: “Other countries will take different approaches to those they have traditionally taken, but our approach is established and isn’t really the subject of much debate, even within the Labor Party. »
However, this is what some members of the party are demanding.
Earlier this year, Labor peer and former U.K. Home Secretary David Blunkett told POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast that there should be an “open debate” about how drug addiction victims are treated. processed, and urged Starmer to launch an inquiry into the decriminalization of drugs. Meanwhile, Labor Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched pilot schemes to end prosecutions of young people arrested for possessing cannabis in some London boroughs.
They are not the only ones changing their attitudes toward drug policies. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who hosted a meeting of progressive leaders in Montreal last weekend that Starmer also attended, introduced reforms to legalize the sale and use of cannabis. Several US states have adopted a similar approach. Closer to home, Germany recently passed legislation to liberalize its cannabis laws.
But Starmer insisted he would have other priorities if his party won Britain’s next general election, due in 2024. “We’re going to have a huge amount of work to do,” he said. “I will focus on the five government missions that I have defined. And we don’t have the bandwidth for much else, I’m afraid.
In a lengthy interview about his approach to world affairs, the Labor leader also said one of his priorities would be “the restoration of the United Kingdom and its reputation on the world stage.”
Starmer, who campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, added: “I think it’s a mistake to think that the only way to have influence or play a role on the world stage is is to return to the EU. I don’t think that’s true. And if we look at what has happened, for example, in the area of security, especially in the last 18 months since the conflict in Ukraine, we see that the anchor point is actually the NATO and not the EU.”
You can hear the full interview with Keir Starmer in the inaugural episode of Power Play here and on all podcast platforms.


In another example of how Bidenomics is about helping people, expanding the middle class, and lifting up the impoverished, the Biden/Harris Administration announced today (August 29, 2023,) that ten drugs have been selected for price negotiation with Medicare.
With new prices set to take effect in 2026, these drugs and what they treat are:
- Eliquis: Prevention and treatment of blood clots.
- Jardiance: Diabetes; Heart failure.
- Xarelto: Prevention and treatment of blood clots; Reduction of risk for patients with coronary or peripheral artery disease.
- Januvia: Diabetes
- Farxiga: Diabetes; Heart failure; Chronic kidney disease.
- Entresto: Heart Failure.
- Enbrel: Rheumatoid arthritis; Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis.
- Imbruvica: Blood Cancers.
- Stelara: Psoriasis; Psoriatic arthritis; Crohn’s disease; Ulcerative colitis
- Fiasp; Fiasp FlexTouch; Fiasp PenFill; NovoLog; NovoLog FlexPen; NovoLog PenFill: Diabetes.
For senior citizens with these illnesses, this announcement, if followed through after the 2024 Presidential Election, could be a God send.
In a White House Statement, President Joe Biden said of the momentous event:
“For far too long, Americans have paid more for prescription drugs than any major economy. And while the pharmaceutical industry makes record profits, millions of Americans are forced to choose between paying for medications they need to live or paying for food, rent, and other basic necessities. Those days are ending.
Today, my Administration announced the first 10 Medicare Part D drugs that have been selected for price negotiation — for the first time ever. They are among the most common and costly prescriptions that treat everything from heart failure, blood clots, diabetes, arthritis, Crohn’s disease – and more. This is on top of progress we made in reducing the cost of insulin to $35 a month for seniors on Medicare.
We’ve reached this milestone because of the Inflation Reduction Act– one of the most significant laws ever enacted, and one that passed with the leadership of Democrats in Congress. We took on Big Pharma and special interests, overcoming opposition from every Republican in Congress, and the American people won.
When implemented, prices on negotiated drugs will decrease for up to 9 million seniors. These seniors currently pay up to $6,497 in out-of-pocket costs per year for these prescriptions. In addition, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reports that this will save taxpayers $160 billion by reducing how much Medicare pays for drugs through negotiation and inflation rebates.
This plan is a key part of Bidenomics, my economic vision for growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up – not the top down. And it’s working. That’s why Big Pharma has already filed eight lawsuits against my Administration, and spent nearly $400 million last year to try to stop our progress. Let me be clear: I am not backing down. There is no reason why Americans should be forced to pay more than any developed nation for life-saving prescriptions just to pad Big Pharma’s pockets. For many Americans, the cost of one drug is the difference between life and death, dignity and dependence, hope and fear. That is why we will continue the fight to lower healthcare costs – and we will not stop until we finish the job.”
Julie Chavez Rodriguez, the Campaign Manager for Biden-Harris 2024 issued a statement, writing:
“For decades, presidents have tried to take on Big Pharma on behalf of seniors, but President Biden finally got it done. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, millions of seniors, including those taking life-saving medication to prevent heart failure or to manage chronic diseases like diabetes, will see their drug costs significantly lowered. Today’s announcement is on top of capping insulin costs for seniors at $35 a month, and permanent health care subsidies that are making health care cheaper for the American people.
Elections have consequences. Because a historic number of Americans came together in 2020 to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, seniors across America will begin paying less when they pick up their medicine at the pharmacy. That is what delivering results looks like.
But that progress is all on the line in 2024. MAGA Republicans running for president want to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, which would deliver a massive win for Big Pharma and increase costs for the American people. The choice in this election is between a President focused on you, and a slate of candidates focused on extreme policies that put their wealthy donors first.”
The President with Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared at a White House event to celebrate the announcement.
President Biden and his campaign manager are right.
This election is about fighting for the disadvantaged over the advantaged.
Voters would be wise to consider which team is for and has fought for the middle and working class and which one has not.


Project Manager Chris Anjesky
Graphic Designer Sarah Steinmetz
Urban Green Council convened the NYC Building Resiliency Task Force on December 19, 2012 at the request of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn to create a set of proposals that would simultaneously advance resiliency and mitigate climate change in response to Hurricane Sandy. Real estate owners, property managers, architects, engineers, contractors, utility representatives, subject matter specialists, city officials, code consultants, cost estimators, and attorneys devoted nearly 5,000 hours over five months to discuss and develop these proposals. After their work was done, I designed a multi-page executive report of their findings.
A system of icons differentiates the urgency of the recommendations and nuances between types of proposals—for example, an open padlock for a proposal that would remove an impediment to positive change, and a gavel for a proposal that would require a change to the building code. Double-page spreads function as chapter introductions, and feature powerful photography to humanize seemingly technical recommendations. The report also features charts and infographics that clearly demonstrate the need to improve our building stock in the face of climate change.


Bollywood Film Review
Set in the princely state of Rajasthan in India, Eklavya is a picturesque edge of the seat dramatic thriller.
Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Saif Ali Khan, Vidya Balan, Sharmila Tagore, Boman Irani, Jimmy Shergill, Raima Sen
Eklavya (Amitabh Bachchan) is the royal guard of this dynasty who lives in a time warp protecting the fort and the king.
For nine generations Eklavya’s family has protected Devigarh, a centuries old citadel in Rajasthan.
His marksmanship is the stuff of legends. His unflinching loyalty inspires ballads.
Eklavya has spent his entire life serving the royals and closely guarding their secrets but now he’s getting old and increasingly blind.
Unable to cope with the suffocating customs of his land, the heir, Prince Harshwardhan (Saif Ali Khan), has stayed away in London.
But the sudden demise of the queen, Rani Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore), forces the Prince back to the kingdom he had left behind.
The Prince’s return brings a rush of joy into the fort. His mentally challenged twin sister, Princess Nandini (Raima Sen) and his childhood love Rajjo (Vidya Balan) are delighted to see him. But the joy of reunion is short-lived.
There is unrest in the kingdom. Farmers are being stripped of their lands. The king, Rana Jaywardhan (Boman Irani), influenced by his brother, Rana Jyotiwardhan (Jackie Shroff), supports the atrocities being forced upon the helpless peasants.
Soon the king receives a death threat over the phone. Police officer, Pannalal Chohar (Sanjay Dutt), is called in to investigate but he might be too late as the kingdom is already in turmoil.
The fragile peace of the land is suddenly shattered by a barrage of bullets. And amidst the mayhem, the safely guarded secrets of the fort are unveiled.
What follows is a contemporary, edge-of-the-seat dramatic action thriller with a Amitabh Bachchan heading an all star cast.
The film marks the return of Vidhu Vinod Chopra who directs after a gap of seven years.
The film sees veteran actress, Sharmila Tagore sharing screen space with her son Saif Ali Khan.


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As election season fades, so begins the important work of bringing our communities together. We can achieve this by strengthening our social connections, giving back to our towns and cities by volunteering, building trust in our institutions, and staying meaningfully engaged with our elected officials (not just during election years).
As Nebraska’s pre-eminent democracy-building organization, Civic Nebraska invites you to join us on Dec. 14 for The State of Civic Affairs in Nebraska, a panel discussion on where we are in our quality of civic life, and what specific steps every Nebraskan can take to strengthen our civic life.
The virtual panel discussion and interactive Q&A session, which will be hosted on Zoom, will offer key insights into the current state of democracy in Nebraska and our nation. We’ll learn from experts in the civic spheres of education, policy, and civic health in Nebraska as well as the national civic landscape.
As of Nov. 18, panelists include:
Amanda Barker, deputy executive director, Civic Nebraska. Amanda, the head of Civic Nebraska’s Civic Health Programs, focuses on helping Cornhusker State communities of all sizes create a vibrant civic infrastructure through social connectedness and community engagement. Growing up on a farm near Nebraska City, Amanda learned firsthand the value of being an active community member.
Amanda has developed a background in nonprofit work and community development through her time at MindMixer, the Nebraska Tourism Commission, and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Jeff Cole, network lead, Beyond School Bells. Jeff is an expert in expanded learning opportunities, having coordinated after-school and summer learning opportunities at New York City’s High School for Environmental Studies. He led the Lincoln Public School Foundation’s program to launch the city’s Community Learning Center initiative.
Jeff’s work with Beyond School Bells has focused on building partnerships and policies that support more high-quality, sustainable expanded learning opportunity programs across Nebraska.
Westin Miller, director of public policy, Civic Nebraska. Westin is Civic Nebraska’s point person for policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels and leads the organization’s efforts in the Nebraska Legislature lobby. Westin conducts research, oversees Civic Nebraska’s coordinated legislative strategy, and assists state senators and their staff with research and strategy.
Also: We’ll be adding an expert panelist from outside Nebraska to share insights on the national civic landscape. Stay tuned for more information on this addition to our panel in the coming weeks.
Interested in reserving your space for this important and timely discussion? Spots are limited, so don’t delay. RSVP via Eventbrite at your earliest convenience, and we’ll send you information on how to join the virtual gathering closer to Dec. 14.


A car engine starts thanks to the ignition system. This is the unit that supplies the energy to get the motor going. The ignition system begins with a key, which you insert and turn, and ends with a spark that ignites combustion in the cylinders. This combustion is what starts the engine.
How does the engine of a car work?
The engine consists of a fixed cylinder and a moving piston. The expanding combustion gases push the piston, which in turn rotates the crankshaft. … After the piston compresses the fuel-air mixture, the spark ignites it, causing combustion. The expansion of the combustion gases pushes the piston during the power stroke.
How a car engine moves the wheels?
How Energy from the Engine Turns the Wheels. In a car, the piston in the engine is connected by the piston rod to the crankshaft. The crankshaft rotates when the piston moves up and down. … The rotating driveshaft turns the wheels of the car.
How does an engine create power?
Combustion engines employ the expansion of hot gases to push a piston within a cylinder, converting the linear movement of the piston into the rotating movement of a crankshaft to generate power. … In diesel engines, air is compressed until the temperature rises to the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel.
How many parts are in a car engine?
How a Car Engine Works: The 3 Main Parts. In broad terms, the engine can be segregated into three key parts, the head, the block and the oil sump. 1. The cylinder head is the channel through which the fuel enters the engine chamber and exhaust gases exit.
What is the heart of a car?
The engine is the heart of your car. It is a complex machine built to convert heat from burning gas into the force that turns the road wheels. … That is why the machine is called an internal combustion engine. As the mixture burns it expands, providing power to drive the car.
What is the most important part of a car engine?
Flywheel is one of the most important engine components. It is a large and heavy metal wheel. Flywheel is attached to the back of the crankshaft to smooth out the firing impulses. It provides inertia to keep the crankshaft turning smoothly during the periods when no power is being applied.
What is the main part of a car engine?
The heart and soul of your vehicle is the internal combustion engine. The engine block features parts such as the timing chain, camshaft, crankshaft, spark plugs, cylinder heads, valves and pistons.
Which engine is used in cars?
They both use internal combustion engines. A gasoline car typically uses a spark-ignited internal combustion engine, rather than the compression-ignited systems used in diesel vehicles. In a spark-ignited system, the fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and combined with air.
What causes a car to move?
A car moves by converting the potential chemical energy of gasoline into kinetic energy at the wheels. This is done by a process of burning gasoline, which produces expansion of gas and exhaust of waste gases.
What causes a vehicle to move physics?
Newton’s third law of motion is closely related to the motion of a car. … As the wheels of the car spin backwards, they push the road backwards. In consequence, the road must push the wheels forward according to the third law of motion. It is this reaction force acting on the wheels causes the car to move forward.
What type of energy does a moving car have?
The moving car has kinetic energy, which is the energy of motion.
What is the power of an engine?
It measures the amount of force that is required to twist an object. In terms of vehicles, it is the amount of twisting force available at the crankshaft. The more torque you have the more pulling power the engine has, this is the force you feel when accelerating.
What is the firing order of a four stroke engine?
Most 4-cylinder engines have a firing order of 1-3-4-2 although other firing orders such as 1-3-2-4, 1-4-3-2, 1-2-4-3 are possible. Consider the inline 4 engine in Figure 1. The cylinders are usually numbered 1234 from the front of the engine where the accessory drives (pulleys) are installed.


“The purpose of IGAP grants is to help tribes develop environmental programs, and over 70 percent of tribes have met at least one of EPA’s strategic goals for improving human health and the environment in Indian country. However, only 12 percent of tribes are implementing Federal environmental programs.
Many tribes have not developed long-term plans that describe how they will build environmental capacity to operate their environmental programs. For tribes that do have plans and long-term goals, EPA has not tracked progress against the plans and goals. Six of 27 reviewed tribes that have received funding for more than 5 years had activities limited to outreach, training, and meetings; how the activities will lead to implementing environmental programs is unclear. This situation has occurred because EPA has not provided a framework for tribes to follow or adapt as they develop their capacity to implement environmental programs. As a result, it is not clear whether IGAP funding will result in tribes being able to operate their own environmental programs. EPA has awarded $455 million in IGAP funds since 1992.
EPA often uses the target funding level of $110,000 as the basis for IGAP funding instead of considering environmental capacity needs and prior progress. EPA and tribes consider IGAP funding to be essential continuing support for tribal environmental programs. When the funding is not based on tribal capacity needs or priorities, EPA cannot demonstrate that the highest human health and environmental needs are addressed.”


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A 37-year survey of monarch populations in North Central Florida shows that caterpillars and butterflies have been declining since 1985 and have dropped by 80 percent since 2005.
Earlier this year, President Barack Obama, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed to work together to save the monarch butterfly. In June, a.
Despite being so close to the city, the wetlands have a wide range of wildlife, including flying foxes, possums, squirrel gliders, frogs, reptiles and butterflies. save the wetlands and to overturn.
· Monarch Butterfly at Twin Peaks – Oct 2017 Posted on October 9, 2017 by webmaster A few days ago, a viewer watching the planes rehearse for Fleet Week spotted a different kind of aerial phenomenon: Monarch butterflies, fluttering around over Twin Peaks.
In California’s drought, the struggling monarch butterfly may have found a sprinkling of hope. s deserts and chaparral – plants that have the potential to help save water and monarchs at the same.
· Save the Monarch Butterfly: Plant Milkweed April 12, 2016: Their annual migration from North America to Mexico has been called “one of the most spectacular natural phenomena in the world,” but the monarch butterfly is not only in decline – it’s closer to.
From Thief River Falls to New Mexico to Colorado and back home again… Colorado school shooting victim died charging attacker – News Vire Colorado Real Estate program presented by CamelBak announces fifth honoree in 2019 Ambassador Overview: As an ET Ambassador, you will provide a presence on the ET in a non-enforcement capacity, offering information to trail users, seeking and passing on to the ET Executive Director any comments from trail users or any trail problems, and actively promoting the trail. You will hand out trail maps, provide information about.The most popular listings on Brownstoner this week include a standalone in Fiske Terrace, a well-preserved row house in Park Slope and a co-op in crown heights. park Slope is popular again this week,The 18-year-old immediately charged, pinning the attacker to the wall before Castillo was fatally shot protecting classmates, witnesses said.And in New Mexico, 36 miners at a nuclear waste repository were trapped underground in an elevator for about three hours because of a power outage caused by the extreme weather. The storm also.
Why not round up the kids and head to Mile Square Regional Park (the county side off Euclid Street) to experience the annual Monarch Butterfly Day. For more information, call the park office at 714.
about 350 Monarch and Painted Daisy butterflies were released by about the same number of people, Farrell-Stroyan said. "This is a wonderfully positive opportunity to come together as a community to.
Columbine attack shapes schools, families 20 years later In the 20 years since, through other prominent school shootings.. And over the years, it has continued to shape the national conversation, as well.. to serve students, parents, and faculty after the nearby school shooting at.
The second lives of caterpillars. Colourful dances in the air. About. A subreddit community completely and wholeheartedly devoted to the beauty and wonder of the interesting and amazing lives that the complex process of metamorphosis provides for all of us humans in the fantastic colorful creations called butterflies.
Research by Plymouth University showed coastal communities were generally supportive of the. with the aim being to protect the marine environment while enabling its sustainable use. This study is.
Registered Nurse – Emergency Room, Evenings – St. Francis Medical Center in COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado | Careers at SFMC-ST FRANCIS MEDICAL CENTER Columbine attack shapes schools, families 20 years later For the last 20 years since she was injured in the columbine high school attack, she has lived with post-traumatic stress disorder, along with physical pain. Now a mother of four, she has worked.Search 805 Careers available. OSFCareers. Join the No. 1 team. find where you belong at OSF HealthCare, ranked the No. 1 health care employer in Illinois – and Top 10 nationally – by Forbes magazine.
. for the group to take up the fight to save the monarch butterfly. Everyone was on the hunt for eggs and caterpillars and the quest was a successful one. The Bogans were pleased “to see the.

domain: geography


text: $1/2 Coupon for Kraft or Cracker Barrel Cheese October 14, 2009 at 12:03 am by Cindy Livesey | Printable Coupons 0 comments It’s very hard to find a coupon for Cracker Barrel cheese so I was happy to find this and of course I already printed them. It’s good for any Kraft or Cracker Barrel cheese. You can go here to print yours. Other deals you might enjoy: FREE Craft Ebook: Cheap and Easy Crafts Magic Jack – 30 Day Risk Free Trail 0sharesShareTweetPinEmail The links in the post above may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure.

domain: hobby


text:
The surplus of the NPK balances of Hungarian agriculture, appearing in the nutrient balance sheet is a consequence of intensive fertilization in the past. Hungary had a positive P-balance between 1960 and 1990 for 30 years, and a positive NK-balance between 1970 and 1990 for 20 years during the 20th century.Studying the long-term effects of superphosphate in a field experiment on calcareous chernozem soil, it was found that the “half life time” of residual P was 5–7 years. The trial, i.e. the P after-effect lasted for 20 years.Liming and fertilization are the main soil fertility improving considerations for acidic sandy soils. These soils are often poor in all major nutrients. Mineral fertilizers, mainly NH4NO3, acidify soil, the pH values sink in comparison to the unfertilized plot. Liming and use of dolomite powder may counterbalance the acidification.
Bascomb, C., 1964. Rapid method for the determination of cation exchange capacity of calcareous and noncalcareous soils. J. Soil Sci. Food Agri. 15. 821–823.
Bascomb C., 'Rapid method for the determination of cation exchange capacity of calcareous and noncalcareous soils' (1964) 15J. Soil Sci. Food Agri.: 821-823.
Bascomb C.Rapid method for the determination of cation exchange capacity of calcareous and noncalcareous soilsJ. Soil Sci. Food Agri.196415821823)| false
Magnuson, J. J., Bowser, C. J. & Beckel, A. L., 1983. The invisible present, longterm ecological research on lakes. L and S Magazine. College of Letters and Science. Univ. Wisconsin. Madison. Fall. 3–6.
Beckel A. L., '', in The invisible present, longterm ecological research on lakes. L and S Magazine, (1983) -.
Beckel A. L.The invisible present, longterm ecological research on lakes. L and S Magazine1983)| false
Márton, L., 2006. Effects of rainfall and fertilization on the yield of a winter rye monoculture in a long-term experiment. Agrokémia és Talajtan. 55. 165–174.
Márton L., 'Effects of rainfall and fertilization on the yield of a winter rye monoculture in a long-term experiment' (2006) 55Agrokémia és Talajtan: 165-174.
Márton L.Effects of rainfall and fertilization on the yield of a winter rye monoculture in a long-term experimentAgrokémia és Talajtan200655165174)| false
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Agrokémia és Talajtan
2021 Volume 70
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
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domain: chemistry


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Bound & Broken feat. Janina
Trailblazer (Original Mix)
Not Alive Yet feat. Suzi
Floating Away Fire
Original Club Mix
Give Me A Dub
The Blurry Mist of Yourself
Turn The Lights
Alex Lentini Remix


text:
One of the obstacles in a purely “liberationist” studying, nonetheless, is the truth that the artist is male and white; whereas the our bodies that are acted upon by his hand are black and Asian. The energy of artwork to break down the walls of the non-communication of the world as tv spectacle is another central deconstructive impact of GROUNDSWELL. Thus the struggles of South Koreans, Chileans and Germans are brought together “by the hand” of the filmmaker. LA BATALLA DE VIEQUES significantly struggles against an abusive navy and capitalist institution by different social sectors of Vieques. But additionally it is, and equally significant, about how Puerto Ricans and Viequenses handle these circumstances. And the one granting of distinction is not enough to account for the widespread Puerto Rican apathy to the Vieques battle.
Puerto Rico Women: Pros And Cons
Adopting a comparative and multidisciplinary approach to Puerto Rican literature, Marisel Moreno juxtaposes narratives by insular and U.S. Puerto Rican ladies authors in order to study their convergences and divergences. Moreno proposes the popularity of a “transinsular” corpus to mirror the increasingly transnational character of the Puerto Rican inhabitants and addresses the need to broaden the literary canon to have the ability to embody the diaspora.
AURELIA functions as a reflection upon the cut up subject, torn by U.S. shopper culture, Catholic and historical spirituality, gender conventions, and a corrosive social environment girl puerto rico. However, unlike ALBA, spirituality just isn’t Aurelia’s refuge from her alienation as she is trapped by deforming conventions about the feminine.
The labor movement in Puerto Rico organized as a political get together and adopted socialist ideology to balance the facility of U.S. corporate capitalism. In addition, after the United States took management of the island, employees saw a chance to join labor organizations such as the American Federation of Labor. Workers attempts to fight socioeconomic oppression have been facilitated by their socialist critique of the working environment.
The people know what they want, they usually have already shown what they’ll do with authorities officers who ignore our calls for for a greater life. The arguments for recruiting and retaining extra women cops resemble the arguments for the Human Terrain approach in Iraq and Afghanistan as part of the War on Terror.
This failure of motion within the face of startling charges of violence towards ladies is what led women and their allies to make the decision to occupy public house and camp out on Calle Fortaleza so as to pressure the governor and different high-ranking authorities officers to hear. A extra comprehensive education as regards to gender inequality at schools is important to lift a technology of feminist males and empowered ladies. Public businesses staffed with officers must take each case of domestic violence and every pink flag significantly — be that with extra girls government officials, a extra socially conscious school curriculum or stricter prosecution of abusers.
This perception distinguished Capetillo from different suffragists in Puerto Rico who linked the demands for women’s suffrage to a professional middle class. Capetillo, influenced by anarchist belief in the ineffectiveness of voting, concentrated her efforts on organizing strikes and disseminating propaganda.” (Matos Rodríguez, xx). This coverage, although seemingly based mostly on scientific rules, was based mostly on a set of stereotypes about Puerto Ricans that characterised them as racially inferior and unable to make their very own selections about their fertility. It is on this method that the insular authorities developed public policy to manage what they labeled as a culture of poverty. In this regard, the fate of the Puerto Rican ladies was in the palms of American scientists and demographers and local authorities officers.


text:
The Coastguard is helping in the search for missing student Libby Squire, which is now entering its fourth day.
The University of Hull student hasn't been seen since vanishing from Hull's Beverley Road on Thursday night.
Police dogs have been deployed around the area where she was last spotted.
Speaking yesterday, Detective Superintendent Simon Gawthorpe said: "There are a number of leads we are following up and I want to offer my thanks to everyone who has come forward with information, your help has been invaluable.
"We're trying to trace Libby’s steps and piece together her movements that night. We know she got into a taxi outside the Welly Club on Beverley Road at around 11pm on Thursday, 31st January.
"Libby got out of the taxi a short while later near her home address on Wellesley Avenue, but was later seen on CCTV on Beverley Road, close to the junction with Haworth Street at around 11.45pm.
"We're keen to speak to anyone who may have been on Haworth Street, which is almost adjacent to Beresford Avenue, between 11.30pm and 12.30am as part of this line of enquiry, to understand Libby's movements that night.
"Officers will be conducting further house to house enquiries in the Beresford Avenue area, Haworth Street and around Beverley Road today and special constables will be out on patrol in the areas.
"We have specialist teams again out today carrying out searches and we are working with Humberside Fire and Rescue and the Coastguard, who will be around the River Hull.
"I completely understand people will want to help with the searches, but I would please ask that you instead continue to help us by coming forward with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be, as it could link together with information we already have and help us to find Libby.
"We need your help with information to piece together Libby’s movements, to find her and return her home safely to her family."


text:
The opening ceremony of Pakistan Super League proved to be one of the most spectacular extravaganzas of the year where cricket met entertainment and left the audience awestruck.
Our favorite Pakistani celebrities like Fawad Khan, Shuja Haider, Aima Baig, Junoon, Boney M and others enthralled the audience with their performances and everybody enjoyed every bit of it. Moreover, many Pakistani celebrities were present at the ceremony to support their teams and were all decked up beautifully.
— Danie Shahid🇵🇰🇵🇰🇵🇰 (@daniyalshahid67) February 14, 2019
The Junoon band also got on the stage and blew the audiences away with their powerful performance. The band is rightly known for breaking doors as they literary left the audience grooving to their beats.
— @mnA (@Mystfer) February 14, 2019
It was a treat for the spectator’s groove on the patriotic songs!
However, during the performance, the ace Pakistani singer Ali Azmat suffered a major wardrobe during his performance and now the Twitterverse just cannot stop talking about the incident.
Look at what people have to say!
— Raheel the Steel (@ra_heals) February 14, 2019
Special shout out to that last button on ali azmat's shirt that tried to keep all its burdens inside but had to accept defeat in the face of his powerful tunni. The fallen warrior shall be remembered 😔✊
— ._. (@Wut_is_yo_face) February 14, 2019
It's Haya Day, Ali Azmat, please cover yourself! #PSLOpeningCeremony
— faiza khan (@faizakkhan) February 14, 2019
— Saira Javaid Malik (@sairajavaid20) February 14, 2019
— saira iftikhar (@_sairaiftikhar_) February 14, 2019
30 Mins ki Opening Ceremony mai Ali Azmat ka nanga pait hi nazar aya ubhi tak. 😭😂#HBLPSL2019
— Zubair Mughal (@zubairmoughal11) February 14, 2019
Well, we think that the incident can happen to anyone and we are nobody to troll our celebrities!
What are your thoughts about the story? Let us know in the comments section below.
For more updates and details, stay tuned to Very Filmi.

domain: entertainment


text:
Oct. 13 - In a ceremony filled with pomp and circumstance on the rainy South Lawn, President Barack Obama welcomed South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to the White House where both leaders hailed a trade deal between the two nations as a jobs creator. Rough cut (no reporter narration).
(ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak hailed a long-sought trade deal as an engine for job creation in both countries as their White House summit got under way on Thursday. Hosting Lee amid the pomp of a formal state visit, Obama sought to underscore what is widely seen as a high point in the longtime alliance between Washington and Seoul as well as his ever-closer personal bond with the South Korean leader. The top item on the agenda was the consummation of a U.S.-Korea trade pact, which is expected to help anchor the United States in the economically dynamic Asia-Pacific region as it competes with an increasingly assertive China. The two leaders were also expected to coordinate strategy on the North Korean nuclear standoff. The U.S. Congress ratified the trade deal just hours after Lee arrived on Wednesday. It was the largest of three pending bilateral agreements, the other two with Colombia and Panama, and all passed in rapid succession


The Chelsea boss spent over £100m to lure Michy Batshuayi, N’Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso and David Luiz to Stamford Bridge during the summer sales.
Conte has guided the Blues to the Premier League summit but a number of pundits have expressed doubts about his squad depth.
“I’m a believer that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it”Kerry Dixon
However, former Chelsea striker Dixon reckons Conte won’t attempt to rock the boat by making in additions in the middle of the campaign
He told Starsport: “I’m a believer that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Certainly at the moment there’s nothing broke.
“There’s talk about back up but he’s got Batshuayi, he’s got other options with Pedro, Willian and Hazard to play [in attack].
“He’s got any two out of three in midfield, he’s got various wide players who can come in and play.
“Nathaniel Chalobah’s champing at the bit, wanting to prove he can play anywhere.
“John Terry, who despite what people say, can come in and do a job in any of the back three positions.
“I don’t see or feel the need to disrupt the squad with the mentality that he’s got.
“Other than a serious injury to anyone, I don’t see him buying anyone.”
Kerry Dixon was speaking ahead of the release of a film about his life. The premiere takes place at the Sanctum Hotel on March 3.


text:
Poetree has attained great popularity and entries from a number of campuses have already been received, right from JNU and St Stephen’s College New Delhi to Shanti Niketan Kolkata and Hyderabad Central University, not to forget mentioning several other varsities all over India. Students and young writers from Jawaharlal Nehru University, St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, Shanthiniketan, West Bengal, Central University, Hyderabad, Madras University, Calicut University, Maharaja’s College, Kochi, Nehru Arts and Science College, Kanhangad, BCM College, Kottayam, Farook College, Kozhikode, University College, Thiruvananthapuram, Brennan College, Thalassery and other institutions sent their entries to be displayed on the tree.
It was an innovative initiative for creating an ambience that inspires creative expression among students as a special ‘space’ has been carved out on the campus for promoting creativity.
The initiative of the Media Club of the Krishna Menon Memorial Government Women’s College here was, as the organisers claimed, the launch of a new campus culture that would stimulate creativity among the students of the college. At the centre of this initiative is a tree which has been re-christened as ‘Poetree’. Poems, stories and other literary works of students from colleges all over the country will be hanging from the tree near the open auditorium of the college.
The Media Club, a joint venture of the departments of Journalism and English of the college, has set up a unique ‘space’ for campus creativity called Poetree. A tree on the campus has been baptised by that name and poems, stories and other literary works of students from colleges all over India will continue to hang from it. Entries will be changed weekly.
“Poetry was a safety valve for society. This imaginative initiative is a reflection of our desire for poetry to exist,”
said Malayalam poet Veerankutty in his brief speech while inaugurating ‘Poetree’ on the college campus here on March 22.
“In today’s fast paced world, Poetree marks a return to nature. With over 100 poems that have blossomed on its branches, the Poetree is a wonderful sight,’’
says Nasooha M., second year B.A. English Literature student, and also a budding writer from the campus.
“The idea is to exhibit writings from other campuses in India,’’
says writer V.H. Nishad, convenor of the Media Club, who also teaches journalism at the campus.
“As the name reflects, Poetree is a tree that captures the soaring imagination of students from different campuses, reflecting their thoughts in poems, prose or in the form of short stories —irrespective of lingual or regional differences”
says Varsha Pramod, coordinator.
- Poetry Poetry Everywhere (April 10-14) (curlyteri.wordpress.com)
- Jai Bhim Comrade – Anant Patwardhan’s documentary film screening in New Delhi (icrindia.wordpress.com)

domain: literature


im new and need help!
Hi, im relativly new to Java and J2ME but have been set the task of designing an application in J2ME.
The application is to do with navigation around a building
It involves the phone user entering where they are (possibly from a dropdown) and selecting their destination
eg a House example, im in the bedroom looking for the kitchen? You see what i mean?!
Once this is entered the program will return a map with directions of the route.
My question is quite broad but i guess what im asking is how is the best way of going about the task, what will i need? complexity, im just after as much help as your willing to give me.
Thankyou for reading and i hope you can help
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text:
- WHAT'S HOT
- MILL VALLEY SHOP
- OUR FIT STUDIO
- TRIPS, BLOGS, PIX
by Scott Penzarella on August 01, 2012
Today we started our ride in Bisbol, about 30 minutes from the villa. A quick cortado at the cafe across the street and we were off. Ritchie led us out as Colin had “forgotten” his helmet and shoes...
Busy city streets quickly gave way to charming farm roads, and then to a gentle yet mature climb winding through the forest of the old country. Scott, Eli, Ron, Mark, Bill and Mike had ridden directly from the house and were due to catch us at any minute. I looked over my shoulder and saw someone coming at me as if he were descending versus climbing this hill. I said “Hola!” as he flew past, he smiled, and I thought “I wonder if that’s a Spanish pro rider--they train out here”. As the blur faded, I realized it was Scott.
We descended into the first of several beach towns which were reminiscent of Venice Beach and other Southern California beach town mob scenes. Progress was slow but amusing--dodging pedestrians, locals, tourists, kids, parallel parkers, car doors, backer-uppers, roundabouts, etc., etc., etc. Roundabouts can be a bit hair-raising for the uninitiated. And that’s when you’re in a car. On a bike it is a sort of white-knuckle affair where you take a quick look, try to recall the “rules” that apply for this yawning 400-yard radius of intentional chaos, and gas it into the breach while mentally crossing yourself in the hope of some late-breaking divine intervention.
We were miraculously spit out the other side unscathed and arrived at the best beach town where we had lunch watching the locals and the beautiful blue Mediterranean. Some of us swam before getting back in the saddle for the second half of our day. Every inch away from the coast saw a tiny tick upward in the mercury, but as the views seemed to be competing with one another, our attention was elsewhere. Around each corner the new view handily outdid the last one every time.
To this point, the fun rollers and the scenery had combined to create a delicious harmony. Only now did Scott inform us of the 8K climb we were about to face. And it would be steep. And it would be hot. And there would be no shade. It would still be beautiful, I just wasn’t mentally prepared for it. It went up and up and up, and as Jasmine so accurately described it later that evening, “...and then there was the boat ramp”. Just when you thought it was over, a wall of pavement materialized in front of you, resembling--well--a boat ramp. A couple of swear words under the (heavy) breath, and we all huffed it over the top to a long descent into Llagosterra.
We reconvened at a glorious fountain in town, some of us (me) opting to take the van back, and more than half of the crew opting to ride the rest of the way back to Bisbol. It was fun watching the hammerheads sprint for the town line from the comfort of the air-conditioned van.
Back at the villa, pool and beverages were once again enjoyed by all. Chef Ritchie/Chris prepared his best dinner yet, in my estimation. Sole, roasted carrots with onion, garlic (balsamic?), braised rabbit, pasta fabuloso, and bread. Ritchie showed us how to expertly bone a fish, and since there were extras on the table, well, we just had to keep trying it over and over and over. And since waste is sinful, we had to eat it all as well. Dessert was a peach over a Greek yogurt panna cotta that was muy deliciosa.
Tomorrow: Options--beach day or ride up the really steep hot mountain to the monastery.
50% chose to ride, 50% chose beach.
I’ll be the one under the umbrella with a parasol in my drink.

domain: travel


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I'm so grateful you're here, inviting me to be a part of your story!
I am a wedding and brand photographer creating compelling imagery for joyful brides, personal brands, and small businesses.
Serving Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southeast Missouri, and beyond!
You know what big family groups often struggle with? Wardrobe! As an Illinois family photographer, I’ve learned it’s pretty hard to coordinate the whole family for a cohesive look. I mean, it’s hard enough to find an outfit for ourselves, much less match the rest of the group’s style! Plus, we’re working with each family […]
February 7, 2022
Your wedding exit: the part of the day that leaves one of the most lasting impressions on your family, friends, and guests.
January 17, 2022
Oh I am so happy to be sharing this winter engagement session at Dragonfly Wedding Venue! Sam and Monika’s session was beautiful and warm!
December 20, 2021
DJ + Macey’s Sweet Sunset Wedding at A Pocket Full of Sunshine had gorgeous November weather and lots of beautiful details.
November 11, 2021
Michael + Hannah’s romantic fall wedding at Dragonfly was a show stopper. The rich details by Deliciously Ordinary were immaculate!
November 4, 2021
Tyler + Alexis’ country sunset engagement session gives you all the fall feels then add in a breathtaking vintage truck! This one is a must!
October 24, 2021
Matt + Miranda’s vintage timeless wedding at The Havisham House left us speechless and had us swooning over every single detail.
October 21, 2021
Derek + Tiffany’s sweet fall covered bridge engagement session had a little rain but that didn’t stop them from laughing.
October 10, 2021
Connor + Claire’s romantic sunset engagement was clearly one for the books! The sky was definitely showing off with this gorgeous sunset.
October 6, 2021
Andy and Jocelyn’s breathtaking wedding with a view was celebrated at The Historic Bell Hill Wedding Venue.
September 23, 2021

domain: artistic


St Albans City to move to Verulamium Park - UPDATED
- Credit: Archant
Ambitious plans to move St Albans City FC from its current ground in Clarence Park to another park in the city have been unveiled this morning.
As a result of serious flooding at Verulamium Park during the recent wet spell, the district council is proposing to drain the lake and allow the football club to build a new home ground there.
It will mean transferring the water fowl and the herons that nest on the island to the Broad Colney lakes - a project that will take place this summer subject to there being no drought warnings from water company Affinity.
St Albans City FC is understood to be delighted at the proposal to move from Clarence Park where it has long had plans for redevelopment but was thwarted by surrounding residents.
Spokesperson Frila Loop said: “This is great news for everyone. We can incorporate all sorts of features at Verulamium Park, including the Roman wall and the toilet block, into the ground and the council will no longer have to worry about the lake flooding or criticism about its lack of maintenance. It is the best of all worlds.”
The council meanwhile has shrugged off environmental concerns about the loss of the lake. A spokesperson said: “We appreciate some people will miss the lake, particularly dog walkers, but to be honest, what with cyclists whizzing around it and the scruffy state of the area around the Fighting Cocks, this is a solution which will suit everyone.”
* Apologies to anyone who fell for this year’s April Fool’s joke, and thanks to Lawrence Levy from St Albans City for his good humour about this story.
- 1 Recap: Rail delays through St Albans and Harpenden after train hits branch
- 2 Fire crews receive 'multiple' 999 calls amid large blaze at Welham Green
- 3 Goods worth more than £260 in total stolen from St Albans Co-op store
- 4 Clarence Park deckchairs banned following council concerns
- 5 Teenager ‘robbed at knife-point' by two males in Hemel Hempstead
- 6 St Albans garden centre dedicates fundraising year to Brain Tumour Research
- 7 Katherine Ryan and Romesh Ranganathan spotted filming in St Albans
- 8 Jubilee garden opened at Harpenden primary school
- 9 Can you answer these 10 GCSE questions designed for 16-year-olds?
- 10 New play areas open at Harpenden parks
Some of the comments we received on Twitter (names removed to protect their dignity) included:
“What about the local footy pitches there?”
“Is this a proposal or definite? It may be good for the football club, but bad for the environment and I will miss the lake.”
“What!!!! Absolutely outrageous - they can’t do that.”


- Bronx, NY
- Indie Band
- 2 miles from Harlem
Hundred Percent Records LLC. label is a brand and trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Also a publishing company that…
In the past year, Indie Bands have sent 253 quotes to event planners
Indie Bands rank #285 in popularity out of 543 categories on GigSalad
117 Indie Band reviews on GigSalad with an average rating of 4.8 stars
From request to booking, it takes 1.6 days (on average) to hire an Indie Band
Only the hippest and coolest of cats know what exactly an “indie” band is... and that’s the point. Indie bands are those “undiscovered” groups that record for independent labels and play music that doesn’t fit in with the mainstream radio airwaves. GigSalad has many indie bands anxiously waiting to rock your event, whether it be a public concert, private party, or wedding reception. Some indie bands may play original music, covers from your favorite indie bands, or pay tribute to one particular indie band. Either way, an indie band is bound to make your event cooler than the rest! Search for Indie Bands in Harlem, New York above.
Please note that these Indie Bands may also travel to Edgewater, Fairview, Guttenberg, Ridgefield, Long Island City, Leonia, Weehawken, Sunnyside, Woodside, Englewood Cliffs, Ridgefield Park, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Little Ferry, College Point, Greenpoint, Moonachie, Bogota, South Hackensack, Corona, Maspeth, Teterboro, Rego Park, Middle Village, Whitestone, Hasbrouck Heights, Ridgewood, Wood-Ridge, Wood Ridge, and Tenafly.


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From Taggart Siegel, director of the award-winning documentary The Real Dirst on Farmer John, comes a profound, alternative look at the global bee crisis. Queen of the Sun takes us on a journey through the catastrophic disappearance of bees and the mysterious world of the beehive.
This engaging and ultimately uplifting film weaves an unusual and dramatic story of the heartfelt struggles of beekeepers, scientists and philosophers from around the world, including Michael Pollan, Gunther Hauk and Vandana Shiva. Together they reveal both the problems and the solutions in renewing a culture in balance with nature.
"Vital... Colony collapse disorder might be a lesser-known issue than climate change, but it's one that's arguably more critical." - Los Angeles Times.
"Stunning...as soulful as it is scientific, as uplifting as it is alarming. Siegel sets himself and his film apart with exquisite cinematography and awe-inducing visual artistry." - Christine Champ, Film.com.
"Must-see film.. Likely the most important documentary of the year."- Current.
If you are a student or a professor:Watch now
If you are a librarian or a professor:

domain: library


UltiClip Crux Concealment System
The Crux is a fully customizable concealment system. It applies additional leverage by rotating the holster and the grip of the gun towards the user’s body, creating better concealment and less “printing” of the firearm. The Crux can be mounted for both right or left-handed carry. Its modular design allows each user to customize it to fit their need for concealment.
The Crux system works well with our appendix carry Omega AIWB™ holster, or can be fitted to many other holsters on the market. To mount the Crux on the Omega AIWB™ holster, just remove the belt clip below the weapon grip and use the supplied hardware to mount the Crux.
Each Crux Concealment System comes complete with:
- Crux concealment plate
- Adjustable compression tab
- 2 – 1/4” screws & posts
- 2 – 3/8” screws & posts
- 2 – 1/16” rubber spacers
- 2 – 1/8” rubber spacers
- 2 – 1/2” screws
- Made in USA
- 30-Day Manufacturer's Warranty


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“When you fish for love, bait with your heart, not your brain.”~M Twain
I love the Asian influence in design; I find the lines and simplicity with pops of dramatic detail here and there visually pleasing. My home is decorated with a modern Asian slant and I have taken classes in Chinese Brush Painting, origami and ikebana (the art of Japanese flower arranging).
I look to art for eye candy but also for the effect it has on me. Once in a while I’ll appreciate having my senses jarred with something futuristically modern or one of those dark pieces purposely meant to take you aback and be “avant garde” (said with a French accent) but I generally go for beauty. And I find the Asian aesthetic of beauty very calming and appealing. This is my photographic take on that, textured koi in a pond.


The write command in Linux allows two logged-in users to communicate with each other via the terminal in real time until they are on the same network.
This command copies the text from one terminal to another, making it possible to send messages or text content with or without piping.
Note that both parties need to have terminal write access turned on before they can talk to each other. If you don’t know what this means, check out our mesg command article.
So, let’s keep this aside and see how you can send message or text file content to another user with or without piping using the write command in Linux.
|Write a Message on the Terminal of a Specified Logged in User.
|Root or Sudo Privileges
|Ubuntu, Manjaro, Fedora, etc.
Usage of the Write Command
The write command takes two arguments: one is the user login name (required), and the other is the TTY name (optional).
$ write [USERNAME] [TTY Name]
Note that the user’s login name (or account name) needs to be given when this command is invoked.
The TTY name is only needed if the same user logs in to the same network using more than one method, such as multiple terminal windows or an SSH session.
To make sure both terminals (sender and receiver) can talk to each other, use the following command to check that the terminal’s write access is enabled.
From the above picture, it’s clear the current terminal has write access; in access, if the output is “
is n“, then execute the “
mesg y” command to enable terminal write access.
How to Check All Users on the Same Network
Before using the write command, you need to find out all the users on the same network and their account login names.
To check who logged in, use the w command, which will return all the user’s login names as well as their tty (teletype) or pts (pseudo terminal slave).
As you can see from the above picture, three users are connected to the same network, and “
david” logged in multiple times with two different SSH sessions.
In this scenario, where the same user is connected with two different methods, they will only receive the message on the active one; however, you can specify their TTY to send the message on a specific terminal line.
How to Write a Message to a User
The simplest way to use this command is to directly invoke it, specifying the user’s login name as an argument.
$ write david
As you can see from the above picture, when the command is invoked in the sender system, it expects the input message that will be sent to another user (or receiver).
While on the receiver end, it will show the information related to the sender in the following order:
linuxtldr@linux– username@hostname of sender.
pts/1– Sender TTY.
15:14– The timestamp.
Now both users can type the message and press the “Enter” key to send it to each other.
To end the communication, simply use the “Ctrl+D” shortcut key.
As you can see from the above picture, once the user terminates the communication, the receiver will receive the EOF (end-of-file) message on the screen, indicating that the conversation is over.
How to Write a Message on a User’s Specific TTY
When a user has more than one terminal session open, the message will be sent to the one that is currently active.
However, you can send the message to the user’s specific session by passing their TTY as an argument to this command.
w” or “
who” commands to get all the connected user information.
$ write david pts/2
How to Write a Message from a Text File
If you have a text file, then you can send the content of it as a message to another user using the write command.
For example, the following is “
file.txt” content that you can use as an example.
$ cat file.txt
This is the "file.txt"
For the write command example
Now you can copy and paste the above content in a text file and pass the file name as an argument to the write command with the “
<” redirection symbol.
$ write david < file.txt
Once the text file content has been sent to another user, the communication will automatically end.
How to Write a Message by Pipe
In contrast to the previous example, you can pipe another command and send its output to another user’s terminal as a message.
In the following example, the echo command is piped with the write command, and the output of the echo command will be sent to the specified user as a message.
$ echo "It's Linux TLDR" | write david
Write in Bash Script
You can use the write command to notify yourself when a specific or a group of commands in the shell script are executed.
For example, the following command will notify the “
linuxtldr” user when the system update and upgrade are done.
sudo apt update -y
echo "Update completed" | write linuxtldr
sudo apt upgrade -y
echo "Upgrade completed" | write linuxtldr
Note that the current user should not be equal to the user mentioned in the shell script.
So, that is all for now.
I hope this article is useful for you and you learned something in your Linux journey.
However, if you are stuck somewhere or have any questions or queries related to this or anything else, then feel free to ask them in the comment section.
Till then, peace!


Much effort has been put into examining control/monitoring strategies for semiautonomous/autonomous urban air mobility vehicles (UAMVs). Less has been done to define information requirements for passengers to facilitate their cognitive comfort. Similarities and differences between driverless automobiles (and transport-category aircraft) and UAMVs will both affect what information is needed and what operational factors influence that need, including; perceived locus of control, shared fate, ambient visibility, familiarity with the area to be traversed, and operational status of the vehicle. Information impacted includes route/progress (location, estimated time of arrival), phase of flight, and system status as well as communications between passenger and vehicle operator/monitor. Some intermediate level of information less than that required for orientation and control will likely suffice to achieve passenger acceptance, and that the level of information required is likely negatively correlated with both the visibility in the external environment and with the perceived safety/reliability of the vehicle/system.
Beringer, D. B.
(2021). An Analysis of Information Requirements for Passengers of (Autonomous) Urban Air Mobility Vehicles. 21st International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, 1-6.


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My newfound quote : Books are the bees which carry the quickening pollen from one to another mind.
– James Russell Lowell
It’s wonderful to know that no matter race, gender, culture, or religion we all have something in common….. reading!
Originally posted on Steve McCurry's Blog:
To read is to fly:
it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view
over wide terrains of history,
human variety, ideas, shared experience and the
fruits of many inquiries.
– A. C. Grayling
Reading is everything. Reading makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something,
learned something, become a better person.
Reading makes me smarter. Reading gives me something to talk about later on…
Reading is grist. Reading is bliss.
– Nora Ephron
View original 358 more words


Four men were sent to the hospital early Sunday after a single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Oregon and Industrial ways in Longview.
Washington State Patrol reports drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, which was caused by speed and impairment.
A Toyota RAV4 was driving southbound on Oregon Way, through the Industrial Way intersection around 3:15 a.m., when the driver couldn’t make it around a curve, crossed the center medium and came to rest on a road parallel to Oregon Way called East Port Way, according to a WSP report.
The four people in the vehicle were AJ Albert, 18, of Longview; Jaywan Skinny, 22, of Kelso; Dacanay Detor, 18, of Kelso; and Gerald R. Manuel, 27, of Longview. The latter two were identified as passengers, while Washington State Patrol reports troopers are investigating who was driving.
People are also reading…
All four people were taken to PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center, and the SUV was totaled.