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February 18, 2016
Nevada is now close. South Carolina is not. We don’t know exactly what’s going on in the Silver State, but two of three polls released this month have Hillary and Bernie virtually tied. She leads in South Carolina by 18 to infinity points.
This isn’t by accident. Though Nevada was thought Hillary-favorable territory, due to a relatively high percentage of non-white voters, it’s not the perfect opportunity for her to draw a line in the proverbial or actual sand.
It’s a caucus state. That favors a more motivated supporter base. It’s a relatively youthful state. Perhaps most importantly, the non-white voters are a mix of Hispanics, African Americans and Asians, as opposed to South Carolina and many of the March 1 states, which derive most of their ethnic diversity from African Americans.
Since New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton has run for President of Black America. She won the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus. John Lewis, as venerated a civil rights movement icon as exists anywhere in the world, is campaigning for her.
Hillary is campaigning with the mothers and other loved ones of several victims of police shootings. She did a high profile event in Harlem, site of her husband’s post-presidential office, with ex-congressman Charlie Rangel and other local luminaries. Her speech focused on institutional racism among other things.
You get the idea. This is working. Bernie is not making much progress in South Carolina. PPP polled the 12 states holding Democratic primaries between March 1 and March 8. Hillary leads 8 states by 20 or more points, Michigan by 10.
Oklahoma is a toss-up. Vermont loves their senator. Massachusetts leans Bernie. All 8 heavily Hillary states are part of the Old Confederacy. All have much higher than average quantities of African American voters. So does Michigan.
Tonight, Clinton and Sanders participate in yet another town hall event. This one is on MSNBC at 9pm Eastern. Moderators are Chuck Todd and Jose Diaz-Balart. Latinos will make up a more than respectable percentage of the attendees and audience questioners.
At this point, the Democratic Party is a collection of various interest groups. In parliamentary systems, this isn’t as common. Third, fourth, fifth, ninth-parties spring up to promote the interests of particular groups. Major parties are often based on fairly consistent ideological principles.
The New Deal Era Democrats mixed together a diverse coalition, but it was built around some core principles that applied to most of their voters. This program collapsed in the 1960s, when civil rights legislation pushed away Southern Democrats and Vietnam alienated liberals.
In the 6 presidential elections between 1968 and 1988, Democrats won one. Narrowly. Jimmy Carter won a close election over the guy who pardoned Richard Nixon after Watergate and kept falling down stairs.
Democrats survived on the congressional level by focusing on majority minority districts and more liberal sections of the country. After many frustrations, Bill Clinton won two elections as a centrist, triangulating, New Democrat.
Winning was great, but there was no mandate for a liberal agenda. A couple steps in that direction were rebuked by the electorate in 1994, as Republicans won their first House majority in 40 years and regained the Senate.
Fast forward to 2008. Candidate Barack Obama found a way to take advantage of changing demographics to build an electoral coalition that did not require him to run or govern as a centrist. He couldn’t figure out how to make this work in midterm years, so he faces a GOP Congress, but it worked for him.
Before Bernie happened, Hillary was likely to try to repeat the same. Every four years, the Obama Coalition of progressives, LGBT, Millennials, Hispanics, African Americans and single women is a larger and larger part of the electorate. If she could retain most of it, the presidency was hers.
At first, it looked like Bernie was just peeling away the Bill Bradley group of overly educated white people. Not a problem. This wasn’t enough to nominate Bradley in 2000. The demographics are even less favorable now. Then it looked like Sanders was doing better with blue collar whites.
Not ideal. These voters supported Hillary in 2008 but were now against her. However, Obama didn’t have those voters either and managed to beat Hillary. Back then, Hillary led with Latinos, Obama with African Americans. Trading her blue collar voters for Obama’s black voters was at worst a draw.
Then everyone noticed how well Bernie was doing with voters under 40. Obama did well with them too, but not like this. Younger women have turned their backs on Hillary. So the choice was made to focus on South Carolina, March 1, and African Americans.
There is a risk. If Hillary wins all of the Old Confederacy states, each of which vote between February 27 and March 15, she will build up a delegate lead. But Bernie will not go away. There are a whole lot of other high profile states. It appears Sanders has made notable progress with Nevada Latinos.
If this carries over to places like Illinois, New York and California, Hillary still has a problem. Right now, she can claim Bernie is a regional candidate. His win was New Hampshire and it’s possible he can only add Vermont and Massachusetts to this over the next couple weeks.
However, Nevada is still up for grabs. So is Colorado, which caucuses on March 1. Oklahoma is a good bet for Bernie. Even Michigan is far from out of the question. PPP has her up 50/40. They’ve leaned towards Hillary in Iowa and New Hampshire. He got a majority of undecided voters in both states.
Carry both of those trends out and they’re effectively tied. This is after Hillary made a big push on the Flint crisis. If things go well, she can say Bernie can only win in New England. If they go badly, Bernie can say she can only win in the Old Confederacy. Iowa was a tie. Nevada will likely wind up very close.
Those are swing states, as is New Hampshire. The states Hillary is going to win are not. They vote Republican. Does Clinton continue to focus 98% of her attention on African American voters and risk abandoning or alienating the rest of the Obama Coalition?
Younger black voters are already more open to Sanders. In states outside of the South, the average age is a little lower. She risks leaving herself cornered. Sanders is not running as an interest group politician. As we all know, he’s running against Wall Street, Citizens United and special interests and for democratic socialism.
If younger African American voters decide this is more their thing, she’s done. I personally think John Lewis is an American hero. Well before his skull was cracked open on the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, he spent several years as a leader in SNCC, the student-led group responsible for many of the successful sit-ins in the South, as well as many other key movement victories.
When he and they other key figures in SNCC were getting rolling, they struggled with the slower pace set by civil rights leaders multiple generations ahead of them. Even MLK sometimes moved slower than they would have preferred. I’m not sure a 23-year-old activist is real concerned with who John Lewis is endorsing, any more than the 23-year-old John Lewis cared what A. Phillip Randolph wanted.
This is a very long way of suggesting Hillary may want to pivot a bit back toward Latinos tonight and for the remainder of the campaign. If you are going to play interest group politics, you have to count very carefully and make sure the groups you are pandering to add up to more than those you are ignoring.
Time is on Bernie’s side. If he can survive past March 15 without an unrecoverable delegate deficit, voters will have increasingly more time to get to know him. Many of the contests are caucuses where he’ll have an edge. After years of building a coalition of interest groups, older Democrats don’t immediately feel comfortable with the Sanders approach.
This is why super delegates don’t think he’s electable yet. Give it 6 to 10 weeks and they’ll start changing their tune. Hillary’s current approach is not popular with swing voters who have more broad-based concerns. Her favorability ratings in key states like Virginia are continuing to erode.
The numbers look good for the firewall, but if Hillary wants to build a real edge, she needs Nevada and Colorado. This requires a change in tone. Does the campaign have the confidence to start tonight?


Dua Lipa drops music video for new single “We’re Good”
Written by on February 16, 2021
Dua Lipa has dropped the video for “We’re Good,” the first track off her album remix Future Nostalgia (The Moonlight Edition).
The visual opens with Dua performing at a restaurant on a cruise ship, while diners order their dinner from a tank; in the song, Dua sings of freeing oneself from feeling trapped in a relationship when things just aren’t meant to be. Take a look at Dua’s new music video for “We’re Good” at the link – here.
Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com


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Successful MOHN Project Webinar with Lead Stakeholders
On Tuesday, we hosted a successful MOHN project webinar and are now delighted to present the progress and lessons learnt in the field of offshore hydrogen development. The event focussed on the transnational results of the MOHN project, which brought together North Sea countries including Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Denmark, Norway and Belgium.
The Programme: Updates on the MOHN project
We began with a detailed overview of the current status quo in these countries to lay the groundwork for our discussion. Meiko Neumann and Meryem Maghrebi from cruh21 then presented the identified success factors as well as the barriers affecting the ramp-up of the offshore hydrogen industry. This analytical insight formed the starting point for further discussions during the webinar.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of six strategic workstreams. Each of these workstreams is made up of bundled measures aimed at overcoming obstacles and creating cross-border synergies. These targeted approaches are designed to drive the offshore hydrogen industry forward and promote sustainable development.
Review and Outlook for the MOHN Project
Special thanks go to our lead stakeholders, including AHK Norway/German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, Norsk Hydrogenforum, Net Zero Technology Centre, TNO, German-Danish Chamber of Commerce and AquaVentus, who were instrumental in the success of this event. Through their participation, it was possible to gather relevant stakeholders in on-site workshops, which contributed to an effective and constructive discussion. We are optimistic that the insights and strategic approaches gained will help to sustainably strengthen and advance the offshore hydrogen industry.

domain: geography


Updated: Doors of Encouragement Auction raises $19,400 (Audio & video included)
4/30/2013 9:25:39 PM
By Nate Dunham
The Logan County Doors of Encouragement Auction was conducted in downtown Bellefontaine Tuesday evening.
The event, in its second year, allowed individuals and groups to decorate and donate a door to be auctioned off to raise money for the Logan County Cancer Society. Some of the doors were dedicated in honor of individuals who have survived or died of cancer.
(Pictured above left to right: Tammy Allison, Nancy Harmon, and Melody Couchman)
The 71 doors spread across Main Street, Opera Street, Columbus Avenue, and Court Avenue since April 6th.
The auction raised $19,400, which contributed to a grand total of around $35,000. The funds will be used to serve Logan County residents who have received a cancer diagnosis. The money will help the residents with the costs of medication, supplies, transportation to radiation, and mammogram services.
Shear Changes also conducted a basket drawing to contribute to the event. The drawing generated $830.
(Pictured right: line of doors waiting for auction)
Melody Couchman organized the event and thought that the community's support was overwhelming and incredible. She also said that a lot of memories were behind the doors' designs.
Couchman explains the event.
Logan County Cancer Society Chief Operating Officer Tammy Allison said it was a wonderful event and that it is more than just a fundraiser for the society. She has seen people come together and build friendships through the event. She also said that decorating a door gives people a chance to grieve through the process of losing someone or gives them a chance to celebrate their victory over cancer.
Allison discusses what the funds will be used for.
Auctioneer Mick Lile conducted the auction and likes to hear the final total because the money stays local and helps people with cancer.


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Living the dream! Slamstox tennis player Willem van den Akker is leaving for Florida tomorrow to continue his studies and his tennis career at Saint Leo University!
A nice reward for his hard work in recent times; after finishing his high school, Willem started training hard and found a job to cover his tennis costs himself. At night Willem went to work cleaning trucks and airplanes, during the day he was on the tennis court to further develop his game and his physique.
Character and hard work; Coach Chad Berryhill was also impressed by that. That fits in with the American sports and college tennis culture and we are convinced that Willem will make many more steps, both on and off the court. The Saint Leo University Lions were ranked # 1 in their division last year, so Willem is in for a treat. The first match is scheduled for February 5, but Willem is ready for it.
Willem, we thought it was cool to work with you over the past few months and we will definitely continue to follow you in the US. Good luck and have fun! Go Lions!

domain: news


Analysis of Field Reliability of Two Models of Heavy Vehicles
A steel mill uses four functionally identical heavy vehicles manufactured by two different manufacturers. The information of failure time and downtime is available. This paper aims to compare the field reliability of the vehicles based on the field repair reports. A cost model is developed to comprehensively evaluate the overall performance of the vehicle. The preventive maintenance frequency of the vehicle is determined based on an empirical approach. The study is useful for the manufacturer to have a clear picture on the competability of its product and is also useful for the user to select an appropriate model of vehicles.
J. Xu et al., "Analysis of Field Reliability of Two Models of Heavy Vehicles", Advanced Materials Research, Vols. 317-319, pp. 1733-1738, 2011


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Find your healthy Shih tzu puppies for sale near you today with ease
Cheappuppiesforsale is your most trusted and reliable source to find AKC shih tzu puppies for sale near you .We connect families with the best and most reputable shih tzu breeders in the United States with a blink. A shih tzu puppy for sale is an amazing family dog. They are wonderful with children, loving and loyal to their owners. They only need one thing from you, lots of love and attention.We specialize in breeding and selling healthy registered teacup shih tzu puppies for sale and standard shih tzu dogs for sale near you .
Origin of shih tzu puppies
The Shih tzu puppies for sale near you is a small dog breed that originated in China. The breed’s name is derived from the Chinese word for “lion,” as the Shih Tzu’s long, flowing coat and mane-like appearance was thought to resemble that of a lion.
The Shih Tzu is believed to have been developed as a companion dog for Chinese royalty as early as the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). They were kept in seclusion in the Imperial Palace and were not seen outside of it. They were highly valued by Chinese emperors and were given as gifts to foreign dignitaries.
In the early 20th century, the Shih Tzu was brought to England and later to the United States, where they quickly became a popular companion dog and show dog. They were recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969 and have been one of the most popular breeds in the United States ever since.
What is the Personality of Shih tzus
Shih Tzu puppies are known for their playful, outgoing and affectionate personalities, they are also known for their intelligence, loyalty, and ability to adapt to different living environments. They are small and low maintenance, making them a good choice for apartment living. They are also known for their long and luxurious coat which requires regular grooming to keep them looking their best.
Overall, the origin of Shih Tzu puppies is from China and it’s believed that they were developed as a companion dog for Chinese royalty as early as the Ming Dynasty. They were highly valued by Chinese emperors and were given as gifts to foreign dignitaries. They were later brought to the United States where they quickly became a popular companion dog and show dog. They are known for their playful, outgoing, and affectionate personalities, as well as their intelligence, loyalty, and adaptability.
Males and females alike stand at nine to ten and a half inches tall and weigh nine to 16 pounds.
All dog breeds have a purpose. Historically, the purpose of the Shih Tzu was to be a companion–and that’s just what they want to be. They simply desire to be with you. So don’t expect them to hunt, guard, or retrieve; that’s not their style.
Affection is their dominant characteristic, and your lap is their favorite destination. They’re happiest when they’re with their family, giving and receiving attention.
That said, the Shih Tzu is not a total couch potato. They’re alert and lively and may bark at newcomers to their home. Don’t worry, though; they’ll make friends with your guests the minute they walk inside.

domain: pet


This book series from French publisher Toluca, a limited edition of 30, presents original prints by a photographer within packaging created by a product designer. We were commissioned to do the packaging design for STRUCTURE PULSION, a book containing eight works by photographer Honma Takashi. Photographs transform their three-dimensional subjects into two dimensions. Our packaging mirrors this transition through a gradation pattern that moves subtly from three to two dimensions. To create the complex form, we used a powder sintering machine. The technology allowed us to manufacture the casing in one piece, including 'buttons' to press to turn to the desired page, 'hinges' to lift open the lid, 'tabs' to keep the lid in place, and 'ribs' to maintain its strength. The result: the high grade finish of an industrially produced object, even in small batch production.
→go to website


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Actress Rukky Sanda sent tongues wagging with the release of titillating new pictures on social media as she turned a year older on Friday, August 23.
The 35-year-old Nollywood star stunned her 1 million Instagram fans with a series of beautiful indoor photoshoot as she sent herself lovely birthday wishes.
Describing her new age as the best part of her life, Sanda captioned one of the pictures saying: “Only By God’s Grace & Immense Love, I am here, I am present, I am living proof of a divine extraordinary boundless love. And I feel the energy all around me.”
Check out photos below:
View this post on Instagram
Only By God's Grace & Immense Love, i AM here, i AM present, i Am Living Proof Of a Divine ExtraOrdinary Boundless LOVE. And i feel the Energy All Around Me. #Grateful♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 〰〰cheers2aFabulousLuxuriousLIFE🥂For the rest of my Life* 🍒 🎨; @bare2beauty 📸; @praise_that_photographer
Sanda enjoyed some time off with family and friends as she let her hair down at her pre-birthday dinner on Thursday evening.
The party saw in attendance actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde among a host of guests.

domain: celebrity


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If your food processing goals involve efficiency, reliability, and productivity, JERSEY CRUSHER’s lump crusher machines for the food industry are the leading solution you need. These machines are specifically designed to crush and size lumps and make processing food and materials easier. This makes your production process smoother, minimizes downtime, and increases overall output. Whether you’re working with small foods, larger objects and items, or looking to ensure a hygienic production environment, our precision-engineered crushers are built to handle any challenges that come your way. Dive into the details behind our various lump crusher machines for the food industry:
Enhance your food operations with the unmatched proficiency of JERSEY CRUSHER, a top-tier contractor in Northern New Jersey. Uncover an opportunity to revolutionize your company by utilizing our state-of-the-art machinery for processing a diverse range of bulk food industry materials.
Lump Busters for the Food Industry
We offer a wide range of nearly 30 different models that cater to various needs within the food and food processing industry. These machines can handle everything from spices and chocolate to sugar granules while managing the harsh operating conditions they may face. Our lump busters for the food industry are crafted from stainless steel and designed to meet rigorous sanitary requirements for different materials. They are available in both single and twin-shaft configurations and excel in addressing granular demands. And by improving flow characteristics and offering excellent size reduction capabilities, our lump crusher machines for the food industry help limit the dust and fines and ensure precise particle sizing.
Particle-Izers for the Food Industry
There are numerous durable machines available specifically for crushing challenging food lumps efficiently. However, manufacturers need to exercise caution to avoid altering the composition of the granules. This is where our particle-izers for the food industry stand out from the competition. These machines are designed to cater to the specific needs of food manufacturers by finely grinding and processing a wide range of food products, such as grains, spices, and herbs, into uniform particles and powders.
Our particle-izers are designed to handle various bulk materials and are equipped with carbon and stainless steel screens. These screens facilitate the processing of bulk materials while ensuring safety by preventing any unwanted dispersion. We offer a range of unit sizes from 10″ to 48″, and we also provide the option for special application sizes to meet additional needs and requirements you may have.
Screw Conveyors for the Food Industry
To achieve optimal food processing, efficient material transportation is crucial. Therefore, your company must possess suitable transportation tools and conveyors that ensure the safe handling of materials without sacrificing productivity or product quality.
Our screw conveyors for the food industry streamline the transportation process effectively. JERSEY CRUSHER’s screw conveyors are made of durable steel and other ally metals that are food-grade, meaning they are safe for use in food processing facilities. The screw conveyors are custom-built to accommodate each client’s specific needs, so they can handle different types of food products, such as grains, nuts, and powders, among others. Moreover, JERSEY CRUSHER offers flexible screw conveyors that meet superior hygiene standards and prevent cross-contamination when handling foods that must be separate.
Volumetric Feeders for the Food Industry
Volumetric feeders play a critical role in the food processing industry by enabling accurate measurements of substances in terms of both volume and weight. These precise measurements ensure consistent bulk density and reliable production with limited inconsistencies. Explore our wide selection of top-notch volumetric feeders for the food industry. Our feeders provide precision measurements with limited downtime and interruptions while also giving you control over the flow rates of dispensed materials and more. And with an exceptional design and a team committed to providing long-term solutions for large-scale and small-scale food operations, JERSEY CRUSHER is your trusted source for volumetric feeders and other lump crusher machines for the food industry.
Look to JERSEY CRUSHER for the Finest Lump Breakers for Compact Food Manufacturing
Situated in the heart of New Jersey, JERSEY CRUSHER is a dedicated company that specializes in streamlining food manufacturing processes in more ways than one. Our fantastic selection of high-quality lump crusher machines for the food industry revolutionizes food production for many. We also take great pride in our unwavering commitment to size-reduction equipment, ensuring durable performance by not cutting corners, using quality materials, and ensuring your food processing needs are accomplished daily.
Reach out to us today to discover more about our lump breakers for compact food manufacturing, as well as our comprehensive range of size-reduction equipment for many other industry needs. We will provide you with an extensive overview of our products and demonstrate how they can effectively enhance your production process.

domain: food


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Window on the World was an exhibition of an extraordinary body of work by pinhole photographer Nilu Izadi. Constructing cameras from boxes and tins of all shapes and sizes, Izadi captures the world around her in a series of beautiful and mysterious photographs. The artist describes it as an unpredictable process where one gently plays with chance and time.
This exhibition included photographs taken from around the world using a biscuit tin and colour film. We are presented with a unique and intense view of her travels through India, America and the Caribbean. Experimenting with multi-aperture cameras, film and colour processing, Izadi pushes the boundaries of pinhole photography with a body of work that is truly breathtaking.

domain: artistic


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A Call To Action
Prime Minister Harper, listen up! CIC President Jennifer Jeffs gives some inspiration for a foreign policy review.
Past President of the Canadian International Council (CIC).
While Canadians ponder whether Canada needs another foreign-policy review, the CIC urges Prime Minister Stephen Harper to turn to the CIC’s Open Canada: A Global Positioning Strategy for a Networked Age.
The report’s title is based on its strategy: a cross-country review of Canada’s foreign-policy interests conducted by Edward Greenspon, former editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail, and his globally oriented, digital-age panel members.
When the Open Canada report was released in June 2010, Canada was assuming the highly visible international profile that it, for better or worse, currently sustains: The Olympic Games had been held in Vancouver that winter, and the G8 and G20 meetings were held in June in Hunstville and Toronto, and were associated with considerable controversy, both at home and abroad.
The CIC chose that moment to take stock of Canada’s international interests in order to make strategic recommendations to our government for navigating the uncharted waters of rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics and technological change, particularly in communications. The CIC also chose to take advantage of its unique position as an independent, member-based council promoting foreign-policy discussion nationwide by engaging CIC members and branches in the research process. As one of our signature bloggers notes on this website, a foreign-policy review “should be subjected to rigorous discussion across government, and with Canadians.” By involving a wide variety of Canadian constituencies, the Global Positioning Strategy (GPS) panel was able to calibrate the demands of the international moment with the expressed interests and values of Canadian citizens, whose lives, hopes, and future are directly affected by foreign-policy directions and decisions.
The GPS group presented a set of guiding principles on which to base a global positioning strategy. These principles included: the priority of enhancing Canada’s global economic position and the tenet that national interests do not wear partisan badges; and the understanding that international policy is closely intertwined with domestic policy, and that a networked world means that international engagement takes place on many levels among constituencies whose interests have rapidly been internationalized. The report made recommendations for enhancing Canadian international influence and prosperity on issues such as relations with our North American and hemispheric neighbours and the emerging Asian giants, environment and energy, the Arctic, development, aid, and defence policy, all while exploring the new avenues for multilateralism created by technological change.
The CIC believes that a Canadian foreign-policy review must embrace the networked nature of the multilateral world. In fact, we think the Open Canada report made such a good case for the digital nature of Canada’s international future that we gave its name to our website, which seeks to aggregate the best ideas on international issues and presents them for discussion among Canadians nationwide. OpenCanada.org continues with the call to action of the Open Canada report – a call on all Canadians, not just those in government, to “concentrate our minds” on the international issues that directly impact our lives and determine our prosperity. OpenCanada.org is part of the international affairs discussion. Please join in.


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Recent years have seen an increase in both the demand for and the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in which corporations take on ethical obligations to stakeholders, society, and the environment and do so in excess of the requirements of laws and regulations. It has become trendy to laud CSR as a win-win practice for business and society; yet it is a practice rife with problems.
For all the CSR activities in which corporations have engaged, we have seen major lapses in ethical conduct, resulting in a series of bankruptcies, bank failures, government bailouts, a credit crunch, and widespread threats to the global financial system. The economic security of billions of people across the globe has been placed in jeopardy by the supposedly socially responsible conduct of corporations. In the current climate of fear regarding global economic instability, there is bound to be a certain amount of irrational thinking and carelessness in constructing solutions for existing problems. CSR has been a popular solution to ethical problems in business and justice problems in global society, and reliance upon such a careworn solution is likely. Should we count on CSR to solve these problems? Will CSR turn the tides of the current financial crisis?
I argue that we should not fall back on CSR to ameliorate present economic difficulties or to create a just global society. Instead we should strengthen government oversight over corporations and assign greater moral responsibility to persons who bear limited liability for corporate behavior. We also need to devise mechanisms for holding individuals legally accountable for the effects of their actions on markets as a whole. Ultimately, governments must rethink the governance structure of corporations to ensure that corporations adhere to principles of justice.
As we will see, CSR endangers governments’ capacity to fulfill their role as guardians of the public welfare. CSR has evolved into the notion that corporations should act as states that replace nation states in protecting citizens’ rights. The plausibility of a corporate state becomes all the more apparent once we realize that corporations are better understood as markets than as privately owned businesses. The logic of this analogy will lead us to abandon the CSR solution and instead forge into the terrain of justice for corporations.
Problems with Globalization, Strategic CSR, and the Corporate State
Counterintuitively, CSR may be most dangerous when practiced by multi- and transnational corporations operating in the global economic arena. On the one hand, globalization drives the demand for CSR, namely where governments do not protect human rights and the environment because they are weak, corrupt, or undemocratic. On the other hand, CSR enables corporations to usurp the power and autonomy of governments. The socially responsible corporation comes to replace the government as the institution for meting out justice and advancing social welfare.
Because wealth maximization is the primary function of corporations, executives are obligated to pursue CSR only when it is strategic for them to do so. In troubled economic times, CSR will not be a reliable form of assistance for developing countries. More problematically, the profit motive of corporations creates an incentive for them to interfere with the activities of any institution that impedes the goal of creating wealth.
Indeed, CSR could be adopted as a ploy to shrink the political sphere of society, weaken or control national governments and intergovernmental organizations, and minimize or eliminate laws, regulations, and restrictions. In his 1958 paper “The Dangers of Social Responsibility” Theodore Levitt anticipated this eventuality, arguing that CSR causes a troubling dissolution of the distinction between the private and public sectors and would eventually lead to heightened corporate power, to the detriment of government. Moreover, corporations have few checks against operating as unjust institutions that promote global anarchy or corporate autocracy, violating liberty, and corrupting the market system. Ironically, this possibility is the inverse of the socialist threat that libertarian Milton Friedman attributed to CSR in his 1970 article, “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits.” Friedman was absolutely correct that CSR is a “fundamentally subversive doctrine” that has “been undermining the basis of a free society,” but not for the reasons he supposed.
Recent developments in the Corporate Citizenship (CC) literature bear out Levitt and Friedman’s worries. CC is a relatively new concept and the difference between CSR and CC is ill-defined. In Matten and Crane’s 2005 paper, “Corporate Citizenship: Toward an Extended Theoretical Conceptualization” they argue that CC involves corporations acting as surrogate governments for inadequate nation states in that they secure the social, civil, and political rights of citizens. On their view, corporations aren’t citizens, but instead promote citizenship rights where governments fail to do so because of voter apathy, insufficient development, or supranational problems (i.e. climate change). They would say that the current financial crisis creates a need for CC since the proper functioning of global financial markets is not a matter that can be solved by any one national government, and “since corporations are the main global organizations active in world financial markets, they might be said to be one of the few actors able to reform them to improve protection of property rights.”
Although Matten and Crane acknowledge that such an expanded role for corporations is undesirable because it lacks mechanisms of accountability to citizens, they seem to think that CC can be a stopgap for present inadequacies in global governance. However, this stopgap may be dangerous for liberty and democracy over the long run. As Matten and Crane acknowledge, goverments sometimes fail to secure citizens’ rights due to corporate lobbying and contributions to political parties. The problem they fail to acknowledge is that, in so doing, corporations create a need for the governance problem they seek to solve. In “The Economic View of Corporate Citizenship” (2008), Ludescher, McWilliams, and Siegel have labeled Matten and Crane’s account of CC as advocacy of a “corporate state,” and argue that CC be interpreted as a self-legitimating version of a strategically employed CSR. The argument is that economically, an important motivation for corporations to engage in CC is to demonstrate the value of corporations to society, and hence maintain their capacity to generate profits. On this view, CC that legitimates a state-like role for corporations might be profitable, but it remains undemocratic. If CSR or CC were implemented broadly, the corporate state could supplant the democratic nation state.
The purpose of corporations is to create wealth. Despite being publicly traded, they are privately owned enterprises under the law. David Ellerman has noted in “Translatio versus Concessio: Retrieving the Debate about Contracts of Alienation with an Application to Today’s Employment Contract” that inasmuch as shareholders possess the ultimate right to direct the activities of the firm through their agents, corporations are governed autocratically. For all the talk of shareholder democracy, the important fact remains that shareholders govern workers and other stakeholders through their control over executives. Of course, in practice, it is the executives who have all the control and remunerate themselves handsomely with it. Executives are supposed to serve their principals, the shareholders, which is why Milton Friedman, Elaine Sternberg, and others have argued that non-strategic CSR is a form of theft whereby managers pursue personal moral agendas at the expense of the bottom line.
By contrast, governments are meant to promote and defend the social welfare and to secure the public’s economic and non-economic needs and rights. In democratic institutions, citizens have the ultimate right to determine public objectives and the means by which their represented officials will serve those objectives. Thus corporations serve the wealth objectives of their owners whereas governments serve the social objectives of their citizens. If corporations are to take over the role of the government, then we must understand the nature of the corporate form of enterprise and decide whether it should be altered to include the better parts of the government function in society. What is a corporation? What should it become?
Reconceptualizing the Corporation
A brief tour through some theories of the firm will allow us to challenge the notion that firms are private enterprises to be run for shareholder gain. Corporations have not always been valued as the best instruments for wealth creation and their role in society has evolved considerably over time. Adam Smith argued that the joint stock company, a forerunner of today’s corporation, was competitively unviable due to the fact that managers do not bear ultimate responsibility for the company’s success or failure and may, therefore, be tempted to waste money. His vision of capitalism was built on the assumption that the sorts of firms competing with one another would be enterprises privately owned by entrepreneurs. For some time, corporations could receive a charter from the state only if their business served a public objective that no private entrepreneur could risk or muster the capital to secure. There has been a longstanding debate about whether corporations should serve private or public ends.
An important step in the direction of criticizing the private nature of corporations was made in 1932 by Berle and Means in The Modern Corporation and Private Property. Berle and Means observe that the public trading of stock results in a “separation of ownership and control” between those who invest equity and executives who manage the firm. This loss of shareholder control forces the question of whether it would be reasonable to regard shareholders as owners. Classically, ownership involves a bundle of rights that include control over and responsibility for the property held.
But even if shareholders gained greater control over corporations, they would still not be owners in the classical sense on account of the institution of limited liability. Unlike the classical entrepreneur, shareholders do not bear full responsibility for success or failure of the enterprise; they are only liable to the extent of their investment. Especially without full responsibility for the business operations, shareholders should not be regarded as the private owners of corporations. Berle and Means ultimately argue that the public nature of corporations implies that they should be run for the sake of the public welfare, rather than for private gain.
Ronald Coase, on the opposite side of the ideological spectrum, also regarded corporations as problematic institutions in his important 1937 paper, “The Nature of the Firm.” In a corporation, workers have to cede control to managers who then override the price mechanism and plan economic activity, which seems like the antithesis of a free market. Coase explained the cession of economic liberty in shareholder owned corporations by positing the existence of costs to using the price mechanism, called transaction costs. Such costs include the cost of acquiring relevant information and the costs associated with negotiating and enforcing contracts. So, workers give up freedom in corporations because it is generally more efficient to produce under the direction of authority in hierarchical arrangements.
The problem with corporations that Coase exposes is that workers and suppliers of other forms of capital contract with the firm in such a way that the management directs the flow of resources and determines the prices of the goods to be sold. Workers do not act as private contractors who agree to deliver the products of their labor to capital owners; rather, they agree to be managed by agents of capital suppliers who then make decisions about how labor should be allocated across the entire organization, namely by directing workers on how to perform their tasks and moving them from one task or department to another. The authority of the executives ultimately determines the allocation of resources. Resource allocation occurs under the direction of control, where workers abnegate some freedom with respect to the nature of the labor and the price of the products ultimately produced because of it.
Agency theory and transaction cost economics now model the corporation as a “nexus of contracts” between constituencies, such as investors, employees, suppliers, and customers. Ownership is not central to this theory of the firm as corporations are defined by their contracts, which structure ownership in varying ways. In “Theory of the Firm: Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs, and Ownership Structure,” Jensen and Meckling have argued that corporations be compared to markets rather than the classical entrepreneur owned enterprises of Adam Smith’s world. On their view, corporations are markets that are privately owned by shareholders. When we combine the insights of Coase and Jensen and Meckling, we can see that if corporations are like markets, they are certainly not free markets. Rather, they are privately owned planned economies, or command markets.
However, it is not obvious from this point alone that there is any problem with corporations. Corporations compete with one another in the larger economy, which is by and large free (there is no global government regulating transactions between them). Labor markets, markets for managerial labor, capital markets and so on act as important checks on the power of any one corporation. If workers do not like the way they are managed in firms, they can seek employment in a different corporation. If executives are not satisfied with their compensation, they can go elsewhere. If capital suppliers are not satisfied with their returns on investment, they can invest elsewhere. Hostile takeovers also serve as an important check on managerial abuses; corporate raiders can offer shareholders a better deal and try to manage firms more profitably after they purchase them. Competition between corporations also ensures that the most efficient form of enterprise becomes dominant in the market overall. Economists explain the prevalence of shareholder “owned” corporations by observing that competition between these more standard firms and firms with different ownership structures such as worker-, supplier-, or consumer-owned cooperatives leads to a preference for the most efficient ownership structure. Shareholder owned firms emerge as the strongest.
Nevertheless, the fact remains that today’s global free market is dominated by competition between various command markets. Given this modern conceptualization of the corporation, is CSR a good idea?
From CSR and CC to Justice
Once we regard corporations as markets, we realize that we must alter our expectations of corporate responsibility. Jensen and Meckling contend that CSR is a nonsensical concept because markets are not the sorts of entities to which the term responsibility can meaningfully be applied. In a sense, this point is an updated version of Friedman’s claim that “only people can have responsibilities,” “but ‘business’ as a whole cannot be said to have responsibilities.” If a firm is akin to a market, then, like business generally, it is not responsible for anything. With Friedman, Jensen and Meckling emphasize the responsibility of persons within a firm. For example, agents, the executives, bear contractual obligations to shareholders and other constituencies to maximize firm value.
But these rejections of corporate responsibility beg the moral question of justness. If corporations are privately owned, planned economies, then the relevance of CSR recedes--but only because, comparatively, issues of justice become prominent. The reason is that markets as opposed to businesses are essentially public institutions and as such are matters of social and political concern. Put another way, markets are socially shared institutions, the nature of whose structure is determined through political processes. Questions therefore arise about whether those political processes and the decision outcomes for the economic structure are just. Businesses, while also critical for social life in the sense that they affect others who contract or do business with the firm, are privately owned and are not fundamentally shared social institutions. The difference between businesses and corporations with respect to the appropriateness of justice derives from the difference in ownership between the two, primarily with respect to the responsibility dimensions of ownership.
Businesses are essentially the enterprises of individuals who own the capital used for the production of private gain or profit, where the owners both control and assume responsibility for the use made of that capital on others. Corporations, on the other hand, are essentially markets that acquire capital via contract and sometimes assign control over the use of that capital to the suppliers of equity who forgo a contractual entitlement to a fixed income in exchange for control and a right to residual revenue. In corporations, nobody, not even the nominal owners who control the use of capital, bears full responsibility for the effects of contractual commitments on the profitability of the corporation as a whole, to say nothing of the effects of contractual commitments on all other (contracting and non-contracting) parties. It is this difference in responsibility that marks the chief dissimilarity between businesses and corporations, and ultimately makes the individuals in the latter subject to the responsibility to create justice and not merely the responsibility to behave ethically.
The transition from CSR to questions of justice is inescapable if the corporation is a market. We might hold all market participants ethically responsible for how they deal with one another, but we would not hold any one participant fully responsible for the effect of their contracts on the system as a whole. When a market crashes, we do not blame a single individual – though the recent financial meltdown has revealed a tendency to blame certain stakeholders, corporations, industries, governments, and even cultures. It might be more reasonable to hold them all responsible to some degree: in a sense, all market participants bear limited liability for the flourishing or failures of markets. It is the institution of limited liability that makes corporations functionally equivalent to markets and dissimilar to business enterprises.
Questions of justice apply to corporations and other market institutions whether or not they are structured in such a way that nominally gives ownership to a select set of individuals who participate in the institution. The assignment of private property rights to shareholders in a corporation is not the basis of the corporation, but a product of individual decision making that occurs against the backdrop of a larger system whose operating rules are rightfully subject to questions of justice. The fact that corporations are often privately owned does not mean that they are not public institutions to which justice considerations apply. Rather, corporations, which come into existence and take form through contractual relationships in a free market, are publicly created entities.
If firms are markets, and we analyze political economy in terms of the concept of justice, then the relevant moral question about corporations is not whether they should be socially responsible, but whether these new sorts of market institutions are just, and if not, what would be required to make them just. In other words, we would not ask if the wheat or stock market is behaving responsibly, to use Jensen and Meckling’s examples, but we would ask if the wheat or stock market is structured justly, that is, whether the structure of the system adheres to appropriate principles of justice. We might also ask whether the individual participants who bear limited liability for those markets are behaving responsibly. In other words, we might hold all market players, which in corporations are their stakeholders, responsible for the roles they play in enhancing or diminishing the justice of the market or corporation. This responsibility to uphold justice would be in addition to the ethical responsibility to abide by contractual obligations and respect the dignity of other constituencies.
Of course, the theory of justice to which one is committed will affect the assessment of the justice of markets. A libertarian would be likely to say that a deregulated, liberalized, non-publicly owned market is just because such a market protects liberty rights. A social democrat would be likely to say that a regulated, protectionist, (at least partially) publicly owned market is just, because such a market protects an expanded set of rights and promotes other values in addition to liberty. In posing the question of justice with respect to corporations, the point is not to impose a specific or partisan conception of justice on corporations, but to note that the appropriate structure of its economic arrangements should be subject to political evaluation.
The turn to justice in corporations should not be interpreted as a recommendation for widespread nationalization of companies because such an extensive state role might itself be unjust. We should not forget that governments suffer from justice problems as well, not least because their civil servants are beholden to corporate and other special interests as a result of lobbying. Nevertheless, it is clear that governments, insofar as they are democratic, have a strong role to play in securing corporate justice. To say that a corporation is a public institution is not to say that it should be owned by the citizens of a given nation, but to say that its purposes and structure can and should be shaped by government.
CSR is a misleading and distracting doctrine that blinds us to the real political issues confronting us in an era of corporate economic globalization. We need to examine the principles of justice we think should be operative in markets generally and ask whether those same principles ought also be applied to corporations seen as a subset of the broader market. So long as corporations are formed through state charters, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that corporations are just institutions. Governments need to decide what sorts of ownership schemes, governance structures, and income distributions are just. Given that shareholders do not bear full responsibility, it is not obvious that they should bear the right to control the corporation and govern the other constituencies. Worker or consumer cooperatives may be more just, and if so, then we need to explore the means by which government can make those forms of enterprise more viable economically. If shareholder owned corporations are deemed more just, then serious public discussion needs to be devoted to the problem of fostering greater responsibility. Either the institution of limited liability needs to be abolished, or other mechanisms need to be instituted that will hold shareholders, executives, and other key players responsible for their actions on the corporate market as a whole. Since we cannot create full liability for markets generally, fostering greater responsibility in corporate markets may be a better way of bolstering responsible action in society at large than merely “solving” the problem by converting corporations into fully private institutions. Given an optimistic view of human nature, we might merely ask all individuals voluntarily to assume moral responsibility for corporations. Alternatively, we might devise better systems for holding individuals legally accountable for the effects of their actions on markets as a whole. Either way, it is up to government to decide the fate of corporations in global society.
Previously, the HIR had published an incorrect version of the article. This is the final version of Professor Ludescher's piece. We apologize for the mistake.

domain: finance


Corruption, the State and the Challenge of Social Stability in Nigeria
Nigeria, and indeed many African countries, rank high on both the corruption and failed state indices. This means that there is high incidence of corruption and more likelihood of social instability. Beside the feed back loop between corruption and social instability, scholars use different approaches to make sense of the endemic nature of corruption and the volatility of the Nigerian polity. One of such approaches is the underdevelopment theory which focuses mainly on socio-economic factors. Another approach focuses on cultural issues. Without denying the usefulness of these approaches, it is my view that the mode of introduction of the State as the socio-political structure for organizing society and the nature of the relationship that has developed between the State and the Nigerian society contribute to the endemic nature of corruption and the social instability that plagues the country. A healthier Nigerian polity can only emerge if these elements are reviewed and corrected.


In my experience there are two types of people who are drawn to photography. One group focuses on the experience of the individual image. The other group, focuses less on the individual image and more on the overall impact -- either the ability of the photographer to create a consistent style that runs through the images or the way that the images are sequenced. In very rare cases, like Robert Frank's American's, one gets the lucky combination of both stunning individual images and stellar sequencing.
Individuals fixated on the power of the individual image will find more pop in other places. But, for those interested in how images are put together and sequenced, this is the most important project of the past decade. Graham has achieved the rarest of accomplishments -- stretching the boundaries of the media. I've only had my copy for a few days, so I can't comment on how often I'll return to it. But I can say, without hesitation, that it is a unique experience not to be missed. With over 150 years of photobooks in print, Graham has managed to create something fundamentally new.


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B.C.'s provincial health office, Dr. Bonnie Henry during a press conference in Victoria. (Photo - BC Govt.)
British Columbia is reporting another eight deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2,953.
Hospitalization numbers continue to drop in the province, with 329 people in hospital Wednesday compared with 345 a day earlier while 51 people are in intensive care.
Surrey Memorial Hospital is reporting a new outbreak.
There are nine facilities with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, most of them in long-term care homes.
Nearly 91 per cent of eligible people aged 12 and up have had their second vaccine and 56.8 per cent of those have had a third dose.
Since December 2020, almost 11.5 million doses of vaccines have been administered in B.C.
Toronto police say a man has died after an interaction with officers during which a police gun was fired. Police Chief ...
Police say an adult and two youths are in custody for ``suspected involvement'' in the death of a 41-year-old man last ...


AT&t Corp. is giving Google, the dominant Internet search engine, $10 billion in cash, in a deal that is likely to bolster Google’s ability to expand its business center operations across the U.S. as part of the Alphabet Inc. buyout.
AT&ts CEO Randall Stephenson and his Google executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, said Tuesday in a statement that they are acquiring the combined company’s “chief information technology officer,” John Gamble, and a group of about 200 employees.
The combined company, which includes Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., will be called Alphabet.
Google said the deal will bring the two companies “the combined resources and expertise needed to accelerate the growth of Google businesses across the Americas.”
Stephenson said the acquisition is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
AT &ts Chief Financial Officer John Gamble said in a tweet that the company is acquiring Google’s chief information technology official John Gamble.
The two companies will work together to make Google’s business centers more effective and expand the company’s business and mobile technology operations.
The companies’ chief technology officer will have access to Google’s largest data centers, the company said.
Google is a major shareholder in AT&s stock, valued at about $75 billion, and AT& is one of the world’s largest internet search engines.
Stephenson said that the acquisition will help accelerate the company “the ability to further invest in its business and expand its reach across the globe.”
AT&Ts revenue in the U .
S. jumped 4% in the first quarter of 2017 to $10.5 billion, according to Thomson Reuters data.
Google has been working with AT&ters tech unit, Alphabet’s Internet division, to create a business center in Texas that will be used to build out its business operations across Texas.
AT-T also is building a new technology center in Houston that will house about 500 employees and support other IT functions.
The deal will create the largest technology center to operate within the U


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A suffocating defense helped Jonesboro handle Forest Park 34-0 in a Georgia high school football matchup on Sept. 16.
Jonesboro jumped in front of Forest Park 6-0 to begin the second quarter.
The Cardinals registered a 12-0 advantage at intermission over the Panthers.
Jonesboro thundered to a 28-0 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cardinals hummed like a well-oiled machine through the final quarter, extending the lead with a 6-0 advantage in the frame.
The last time Jonesboro and Forest Park played in a 56-6 game on Oct. 8, 2021.
In recent action on Sept. 8, Forest Park faced off against KIPP Atlanta Collegiate and Jonesboro took on Hampton Dutchtown on Sept. 2 at Hampton Dutchtown High School.
For a complete roundup of today’s boys football action, Click here.
This news brief was powered by ScoreStream and Lede AI using automation technology. To see more game results from your favorite high school team, download the ScoreStream app and start scoring your local games. Also, for statewide results and expert analysis of sports coverage across Georgia, sign up for our free newsletter Sports Daily and follow AJC's high school sports coverage.


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Sinead Carew, Eric Auchard27 Nov 2007 17:02
Local online retailer Kalahari.net, a popular stop on the web for South Africans looking to buy especially CDs, books and DVDs, has been chosen as best e-commerce store of the year, for the second year in a row.
The South African e-Commerce Awards is an initiative hosted by online shopping search engine Jump Shopping that acknowledges South African e-commerce stores displaying impressive growth.
Kalahari.net also was named best online bookstore, as well as best online jewellery and watch store.
Other winners included Woolworths for best online food and wine store, Private Property for best property website and Digital Planet for best online computer store.
“The 2007 awards were a runaway success with new entries joining in the running as well as a clear indication that the standard of local e-commerce stores has vastly improved from the previous year’s selection,” said Albert Bredenhann, MD of Jump Shopping.
He expects to see an e-commerce boom hit the market within the next two years due to South Africans’ increased access to broadband as well as more offline stores joining the online arena.
This year’s awards nomination process received more than 17Â 000 votes by members of the public for their favourite online stores.
Internet research firm World Wide Worx reported in October this year that South African online retail is turning into a healthy and attractive business as more consumers access broadband and become more comfortable with online shopping.
By the end of this year, online spending on retail goods in the country is expected to have grown by more than 35%, compared with 33% growth a year ago.
The total spent on online retail goods in South Africa this year is expected to be R929-million, up from R688-million in 2006, according to a World Wide Worx report titled Online Retail in South Africa 2007.
These figures exclude the sale of air tickets online, which continue to dwarf the numbers for online retail.
Winners of the 2007 South African E-Commerce Awards
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Flurry deals damage in a 90 degree cone with a radius of in front of Pandamonium. Any enemies he lands on are stunned. The slow is at full strength in the first 2 seconds, and decays over 4 seconds afterwards. Wish I brought a parachute! Face Smash deals damage on impact and every second after, so the target remains stunned for 0. You and your targets are Pushed Forward Units.
|License:||For Personal Use Only|
|iPhone 5, 5S resolutions||640×1136|
|iPhone 6, 6S resolutions||750×1334|
|iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus resolutions||1080×1920|
|Android Mobiles HD resolutions||360×640, 540×960, 720×1280|
|Android Mobiles Full HD resolutions||1080×1920|
|Mobiles HD resolutions||480×800, 768×1280|
|Mobiles QHD, iPhone X resolutions||1440×2560|
|HD resolutions||1280×720, 1366×768, 1600×900, 1920×1080, 2560×1440, Original|
The slow is at full strength in the first 2 seconds, and decays over 4 seconds afterwards. Upon landing, applies Flicked to target for 6 seconds. ALL his damage is physical and thus subject to mitigation by Armor. Upon pandamomium, the target unit takes a 0. But don’t use it to just “blink” away as you will be stunned after you land.
Melee 5 Carry 3 Ganker 2 Initiator 1. Throw self toward target location over 0. Game pandamoonium and materials are trademarks and copyrights of their respective publisher and its licensors.
The flat damage bonus on Runed Axe does not further increase the damage of your skills eihter because it does not increase base damage again, insanitarious does increase base damage and if you only want it for the manareg simply get a Bottle and Power Supply.
Face Smash Cast action time reduced from ms to ms. Target unit is hoj for 1 second, and is stunned while being flicked. Cannot be used while immobilized.
Navigation menu Namespaces Page Discussion. If you lack initiation get Key before Heart. He moves with a grace that belies his great stature and strikes with fury surprising in one with such an apparently gentle nature. Runed axe gives you a cleave but with insanitarious you will instagib creep waves with your flurry, you do absolutely not need Cleave! pandaminium
Charges are set to maximum on death. After cast time, Pandamonium will move to the target at speed, stopping once he gets within units of the target.
Portal Key for initiation or for blink-ult on their carry. Never mess with a panda’s cubs. Mana cost reduced from 40 to 30 per hit. Upon landing, the target foe is slowed and has reduced Armor.
Pandamonium – Heroes of Newerth Wiki
Pandamonium unleashes devastating physical attacks on all opponents in front of him, pushing them, along with pandamonuum, in the direction he faces. Mana cost reduced from 85 to Flick Range increased from to Enemy Units Pandamonium unleashes devastating physical attacks on all opponents in front of him, pushing them, along with himself, in the direction he pandamoniuum. Any enemies he lands on are Stunned. Flurry follows pathing and does not push through terrain.
Target unit is flicked 0. Posted by zabuzar at Riftshard crits do happen during Face Smash.
Heroes of Newerth – Hero – Pandamonium
Panndamonium Main page Recent changes Random page Community portal. Tuesday, 6 March [Pandamonium]. Retrieved from ” https: Total damage remains the same.
Armor decreased from 5.

domain: game


Editorial: As One Naples nears climactic decisions, both sides need to recognize realities
With critical hearings coming up before the Collier County Planning Commission and the board of county commissioners, it’s too soon to pass judgment on the evolving One Naples project.
But we have to say, we like the direction things are trending.
The ambitious effort by Stock Development to transform the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and Gulf Shore Drive, a seashell’s throw from the Gulf of Mexico, is a little more focus now that the developer has released architect’s drawings of the concept.
Architect’s drawings are just that — drawings _ they’re not building plans or site specifications, so it’s important not to read too much into them.
But along with the drawings comes news that the maximum number of residences has shrunk from 300 to 172 and the maximum building height is 16 stories of residences over two stories of parking, down from 21 total stories. The tallest building would be 208 feet, still tall, but shorter than some nearby buildings, including the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which is 215 feet.
Neighbors still have concerns about the project’s density, the noise and traffic it will generate.
The competing points of view, for and against the project, will play out in a series of hearings at the CCPC and county commission later in the fall.
In all likelihood, those hearings will be held under the COVID-19 guidelines, meaning attendance will be limited and remarks delivered remotely will be encouraged.
Recent participation in hearings over a county mandate to wear a mask in public indicates constituents can still be heard in those circumstances.
Neighbors have every right to be concerned about the future of their area and the years-long back and forth over what is appropriate on the six-acre site is an example of the process working as it should.
But we sense the drama is approaching a denouement and it is important to keep a couple of things in mind.
The corner, now a mishmash of vacant land and older buildings, isn’t going to stay that way forever.
Although it may seem quaint, a throwback to olden times when greater Naples wasn’t as planned and manicured as it is today, it is too valuable a piece of real estate to remain underutilized.
A slate of Naples City Council candidates won big in March on a platform of “just build to the code,” and advocating an end to the sort of re-zonings and plan amendments the current One Naples project requires.
However, the code in the part of unincorporated Collier County that One Naples would occupy allows for up to 100,000 square feet of commercial use over one floor of parking.
The developers say that would equate to something on the scale of the Venetian Village complex to the south.
While it wouldn’t be as tall as the One Naples mostly residential plan, little else about that concept gives us comfort.
It’s hard to believe 100,000 square feet of shops, restaurants and offices wouldn’t generate far more traffic than 172 homes, some occupied only part of the year, and a small commercial component meant to serve mainly the sunseekers who already flock to Vanderbilt Beach.
We’re not convinced Stock’s Plan B, should One Naples be denied, is an idle threat. Again, the developer has invested millions accumulating the land. Allowing it to sit in its present state wouldn’t seem to be a long-term option.
The Naples election was proof that an anti-developer, anti-rezoning sentiment exists in the city. There’s no reason to suspect it doesn’t spill over into the unincorporated county where One Naples is proposed as well.
Stock Development should recognize the political winds aren’t blowing in its favor. One Naples opponents should recognize the undeveloped corner of their slice of paradise is coming to an end, one way or another.
In between, we’re optimistic further dialogue will result in a project most can live with.
(Brent Batten wrote this for the Naples Daily News editorial board.)


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Very few books can be described as “prophetic”, but a case could be made for George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 as one work of fiction that has seemingly crossed over into our plane of existence. With the current “Syrian Refugee Crisis” – an event that is basically the Moral Imperialism of a childless, leftist, East German, hag named Merkel – Jean Raspail’s The Camp of The Saints has now achieved “1984-Level” insanity.
What 1984 is to the leftist, police/surveillance state, The Camp of The Saints is to modern immigration. This book lays out the endgame for the Islamic takeover of Europe, made possible by the suicidal altruism of the progressive left. Witness what happens when the leftist self-loathing for the society their forefathers created finally reaches it’s chaotic and destructive zenith. At the date of this writing, you would be hard pressed to put this book down, then turn on world news and be able to tell the difference.
First published in France in 1973, the book describes how the huddled and unwashed masses – in an unprecedented wave of 3rd World immigration – burst forth into Europe like vomit through the bottom of a wet paper bag.
This book is so accurate in regards to the current “cultural enrichment” going on in Europe that it’s actually quite disturbing. This thing blows right past just plain “spooky”. It’s genuinely frightening and uncomfortable to read.
Click Here for a free .pdf download of The Camp of The Saints by Jean Raspail

domain: literature


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Once In Golconda
True Drama Of Wall Street, 1920-38
de John Brooks
Sobre o livro
The 1920s and 1930s constituted an unforgettable epoch in Wall Street history. The creation and destruction of wealth is mirrored in the life of Richard Whitney, the president of the New York Stock Exchange. The book also examines the drama, ruthlessness, greed, and fantasy of the era.

domain: library


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Yesterday as I was working away on a painting which was already up on auction I found that where I had rested my hand against what should have been a dry part of the painting I had smeared black paint onto the background. Hm, I thought, I must have put that paint on thick! I wiped at the paint and fixed the background with some fresh paint and left it to dry. Then I came back and sure that it had to be dry this time started painting again. Same story. I also noticed that the little brush I had been using seemed to be especially difficult to clean. How such clear undications eluded me I do not know, but after checking I found that a tube of oil paint had snuck in with my acrylics! Bah! I'm going to have to scrap the whole painting.
Meanwhile, my little silhouetted witch Dachshund is finally done and ends soon on auction at: Witch Weiner Dog Original Dachshund Halloween Painting. This is one for the calendar and I am very pleased with how it turned out. It has had little time on auction with a completed image, but hopefully people will find it. This one was a lot of work! Acrylics are still quite the learning process for me.


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SDB bank Negombo branch was refurbished and re-opened at the same location recently with the objective of providing more efficientand friendly service to its customers with more sophisticated facilities.
Sanasa Development Bank PLC is a public quoted company with limited liability incorporated under the Companies act 17 of 1982 and re-registered under Companies act No.07 of 2007 and registered as a licensed specialized bank by Central Bank of Sri Lanka under the Banking Act no 30 of 1988, operates with a branch network of 91 branches all over the country.
SDB bank has been able to introduce a variety of banking products and services with a vast coverage of customers, from new born babies to all categories of senior citizens. Those products and services comes under different brand names of SDB Dayada, Lakdaru Children’s Savings, Jawaya, Uththamavi, Upahara, Uththamachara, Dashaka, SDB Top Saver, SDB Ayojana, Swarnakirana, SDB Leasing, SME Plus, etc. introduced for the convenience of Bank’s customers.
P.M.K.R. Perera heads the Negombo branch and it has been serving the area for nearly last10years.
SDB Negombo branch was ceremonially opened with the participation of some prestigious invitees including Nimal C. Hapuarachchi – General Manager / Chief Executive Officer of SDB bank, Kumar Mayadunne – Chief Operating Officer of SDB bank, Saman Samarakoon – Head of IT of SDB bank, Ranmalie Fernando – Head of HR of SDB bank, A.M. Nimal Chandra - Regional Manager and Branch Managers of Western II Region, Presidents of Negombo MPCS and Katana MPCS and other distinguished guests from public and private sectors including 35 societies also were participated.

domain: economics


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Strandline Resources has completed a definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Fungoni heavy mineral sands project in Tanzania, confirming strong financial returns.
Based on the study, the company needs to incur an expenditure of $30m towards the development of the project, including mine infrastructure, port facilities, working capital, land access, and pre-production mining.
The DFS confirmed maiden ore reserve of 12.3Mt at 3.9% total heavy mineral (THM), with internal rate of return (IRR) of 56% and revenue-to-operating cost ratio of 2:7.
The project is expected to have pre-tax net present value (NPV) of $42.9m, revenue of $168m over the life of mine (LoM) and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) of $98m.
Strandline Resources managing director Luke Graham said: “This DFS confirms that Fungoni is an outstanding project which will generate strong financial returns for Strandline shareholders and deliver significant socio-economic benefits for the people of Tanzania.
“The project has an exceptional high unit-value heavy mineral assemblage, is simple to mine, recovers +93% of the valuable mineral in the ground and produces a highly marketable product suite.”
“The path to profitable production is short, based on proven low-cost execution strategies, the payback period and rates of return are very attractive, and there is potential to grow mine life and re-use the infrastructure on future Strandline projects.”
The company has secured the environmental certificate for the project and is awaiting mining licence and land access approvals. It is planning to accelerate project execution planning activities and negotiate major contracts.
The project is expected to be a conventional open-pit dry mining operation, with multiple stages of advanced process beneficiation and mineral separation.
According to the DFS, construction, and commissioning of the project is estimated to be completed within a 12-month period.
Separately, the company made mineral sands discoveries at Bagamoyo tenement, located 40km north of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.


30 January 2004 San Jose, CA Lightwave -- Arrayed Fiberoptics Corp. has introduced an epoxy-free fiber array designed to be used as a subcomponent for planar lightwave circuits (PLCs), such as arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs).
Currently, the industrial practice for PLC waveguide-to-fiber coupling is simple butt-coupling using epoxy. In this approach, the PLC edges are polished, aligned, and epoxy bonded to a fiber array device. The fiber array device is typically made by machining V-grooves into the surface of a glass or silicon plate, and placing the fibers in these grooves. Epoxy bonding is proven to provide quick and simple alignment, low cost, and robust packaging.
However, this approach leaves epoxy in the optical path, says Arrayed Fiberoptics, where it causes limitations in power, performance, and reliability due to epoxy degradation. These problems are most acute for AWGs because they are typically used in long-haul DWDM applications, which require very high power.
These limitations have inspired various attempts to eliminate epoxy from the optical path, typically through the use of additional hardware such as microlenses or external mounting plates. However, due to the complexity and cost of these approaches, they have not been widely adopted.
Arrayed Fiberoptics' epoxy-free fiber arrays (EFFAs) incorporate a patent-pending, integrated epoxy-blocking structure. These EFFAs preserve the simplicity, low cost, and robustness of typical fiber butt-coupling, while keeping the optical path epoxy-free, the company claims. As a result, PLC manufacturers can use their existing packaging designs with very little modification. Arrayed Fiberoptics says the EFFAs offer an unprecedented combination of power handling, performance, price, miniaturization, and reliability. They can be configured in linear arrays up to 1x64 channels and 2-D arrays, with array pitch as small as 127 microns. Even in large arrays, EFFAs provide very precise positioning of fibers, to +/- 0.3 microns in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. This is much higher precision than is available from the V-groove technology traditionally used for similar applications, the company asserts. Further, unlike V-grooves, these EFFAs enable not only linear arrays, but also 2-D arrays.
Typical applications for the EFFAs include coupling to PLCs or array devices, such as AWGs, beam splitters, optical add/drop multiplexers, optical crossconnect switches, microlens arrays, etc. Arrayed Fiberoptics will team with component vendors to integrate these EFFAs into their existing devices for improved characteristics. Alternatively the arrays can be used to create new component designs.
Evaluation samples of Arrayed Fiberoptics' EFFAs are available now with 250-micron pitch; EFFAs with pitch as small as 127 microns are currently in development. The company will demonstrate sample devices at the Optical Fiber Communication (OFC) conference in Los Angeles, February 24 - 26, 2004.


Kingpin repair is a complicated business. The kingpin is a critical component of heavy-duty trailers, as it connects the tractor to the trailer and allows for the steering and maneuvering of the entire rig. However, due to the constant wear and tear from regular use, kingpins can become damaged and require repair.
Unfortunately, traditional kingpin repair options can be quite costly, with some repairs costing thousands of dollars. In addition, these repairs can also result in significant downtime for the trailer, resulting in lost productivity and revenue for the business. In this article, we will explore alternative, more cost-effective solutions for kingpin repair and maintenance.
Traditional Kingpin Repair Options: High Costs and Downtime
When it comes to traditional kingpin repair options, there are generally three main choices: Partial Plate Replacement, Fifth Wheel Replacement, and Structural Repair. Each of these options comes with a high cost and potential for failure, as well as a lack of consistency across repairs.
Partial Plate Replacement: This option involves replacing only the damaged portion of the kingpin plate and welding it back to the original plate. While it may seem like a cost-effective solution, partial plate replacement can be quite expensive due to the labor required to remove and replace the damaged portion of the plate.
Additionally, welding can be inconsistent, which can lead to potential failure and the need for additional repairs. The costs for this option are estimated at $50K in the first year and $125K over the next three years.
Fifth Wheel Replacement: This option involves replacing the entire fifth wheel assembly, which includes the kingpin. This option can be quite costly as it requires the replacement of multiple components and the installation of a new assembly.
Additionally, replacing the entire fifth wheel assembly can result in significant downtime for the trailer, as it can take several days to complete the repair. The costs for this option are estimated at $200K every four years.
Structural Repair: This option involves reinforcing the kingpin with additional steel plates and welding them in place. This can be quite costly as it requires extensive labor, and the repair may not be consistent across different trailers.
Additionally, structural repairs may not withstand the stress and pressure of regular use and can fail over time, resulting in the need for additional repairs. The costs for this option are estimated at $250K the first year, and $600K+ thereafter.
Refurbishment: A Cost-Effective Solution
Refurbishment is an alternative solution to traditional kingpin repair options that can provide significant cost savings and reduced downtime. The refurbishment process involves thoroughly inspecting the damaged kingpin, and then repairing and reconditioning it to like-new condition.
Our refurbishment process includes inspecting the kingpin, cleaning it of any grease, and pre-heating it before doing a spiral weld wrap up the kingpin to build up new material and fill in any wear. We then use our patented portable lathe machine to bring the kingpin back down to the manufacturer’s specifications. Finally, we stamp the kingpin with a unique ID number to keep track of the exact materials used on each kingpin.
Compared to traditional repair options, refurbishment is often less expensive as it utilizes the existing kingpin, rather than requiring a replacement. It also results in significantly less downtime for the trailer, as the refurbishment process can often be completed in a fraction of the time required for a replacement.
Additionally, refurbishment can add years of service life to the kingpin. Moreover, it can be a more environmentally friendly solution as it reduces the need for new parts and waste.
The costs for refurbishment are estimated at $25K per four-year maintenance plan. This is a fraction of the cost of traditional kingpin repair options, with savings estimated at $200K+ based on an average fleet of 100 trailers with average wear patterns.
All in all, refurbishment is a cost-effective and efficient solution for kingpin repair and maintenance that can provide significant benefits for businesses that rely on heavy-duty trailers.
Maintenance Plans: Prolonging the Life of Your Kingpin
In addition to refurbishment, our company also offers maintenance plans to fleets to help prolong the life of their kingpins and avoid costly repairs in the future. Our maintenance plans are specially designed for heavy-duty trailers and include regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs as needed. Our four-year maintenance plan is tailored to help fleets achieve wear rates as low as 4% and keep their trailers on the road.
With our maintenance plans, we work closely with our customers to develop a customized schedule of regular maintenance and repairs that best suits their needs. This can include regular inspections and lubrication of the kingpin, as well as repairs and refurbishment as needed. Additionally, our experienced technicians are equipped to quickly identify and repair any issues that may arise, minimizing downtime and keeping your trailers on the road.
By implementing a maintenance plan with our company, fleets can save money in the long run by extending the life of their kingpins and avoiding costly repairs. Furthermore, our maintenance plans can also help improve the safety and performance of the trailers, which can lead to increased productivity and revenue for the business.
Conclusion: Cost-Effective Kingpin Repair and Maintenance
In conclusion, the kingpin is a crucial component of heavy-duty trailers and regular maintenance is essential to keep it in good working condition. Traditional kingpin repair options, such as Partial Plate Replacement, Fifth Wheel Replacement, and Structural Repairs, can be costly and result in significant downtime for the trailer.
On the other hand, refurbishment is a cost-effective and efficient solution that can provide significant benefits for businesses that rely on heavy-duty trailers. Furthermore, maintenance plans are also an important aspect of keeping kingpins in good condition, as they can help prolong the life of the kingpin and avoid costly repairs in the future.
We encourage fleet owners and managers to consider refurbishment and maintenance plans as a cost-effective solution for kingpin repair and maintenance. Our four-year maintenance plan is tailored to help fleets achieve wear rates as low as 4% and keep their trailers on the road.
By implementing a maintenance plan with our company, fleets can save money in the long run by extending the life of their kingpins and avoiding costly repairs. Additionally, it can also help improve the safety and performance of the trailers, which can lead to increased productivity and revenue for the business.
Don’t let costly kingpin repairs and downtime slow down your business. Contact us today to learn more about our refurbishment and maintenance options and how they can benefit your fleet. With our solutions, you can keep your trailers on the road and your business running smoothly.


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Rocky Johnson Autobiography Hits on September 3rd
WWE Hall of Famer and father of The Rock, Rocky Johnson, is getting his own autobiography from ECW Press. The book arrives on September 3. Here’s a full synopsis:
Before there was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, there was “Soulman” Rocky Johnson
At 14, Rocky Johnson left home to seek fortune and, after a short stint in boxing, decided to make professional wrestling his career. He had his first match in 1965 and never looked back. An incredibly agile and talented wrestler for a man his size, he was a featured main-eventer in every territory he worked — Vancouver, Los Angeles, Florida, New York, and all points in between. He also appeared in wrestling arenas worldwide, including in Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Samoa, and Puerto Rico.
In Soulman, Johnson explores not only his career accomplishments, but also reflects upon what his achievements, as a direct descendant of slaves, mean historically and for Black culture. In the South, he shattered racial barriers when he became the first African-American to win the Southern, Georgia, and Florida heavyweight titles, and in 1983, he teamed with Tony Atlas to become the first all-Black WWWF tag team champions. Rocky sees his greatest accomplishment, however, in his son Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson whom he trained to be a wrestler in 1995 and who is now the highest-paid actor in Hollywood and one of the most-recognized names in the world.
Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story is an in-depth look at the life of a self-made man who wouldn’t let anything stand in his way on the road to success.


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Every edible item has its day of celebration: popcorn, burritos, even Fig Newtons (January 16, in case you were wondering). But some foods are so special, so memorable, so irresistible they get a whole month of commemoration. Grilled cheese is one such food. And April is its month.
After all, who doesn't love cheese paired with bread? It's an eternally irresistible combination with almost endless incarnations. And luckily for the grilled-cheese lovers of Miami, there are plenty of good ones to choose from. Here are five that are worthy of your rapt attention.
Truffle butter makes everything better, including grilled cheese. Pair it with lots of cheddar, plenty of provolone, and some Roma tomato, and you'll be giving thanks to baby Cheesus.
Gooey is a really, really good thing when it comes to melted cheddar. Michelle Bernstein's grilled-cheese creation includes white cheddar cheese smooshed between two slices of butter bread.
Thick, buttery bread and copious amounts of white cheddar, Brie, and Gruyère oozing outside their boundaries are the earmarks of this creation. Such a gluttonous abundance of dairy delight is the perfect way to pay tribute to the medium.
This epic creation at the cozy little midtown haunt comes complete with provolone, spicy chorizo, and arugula on hefty country white bread. Trust us -- you'll never go back to American again.
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Fruit and cheese are even better together after they've taken a turn on the grill. This food-truck favorite is an amazing combo with spiced apples and Havarti cheese on multigrain bread. Apples mean it's totally diet-friendly, right? Right.
Follow Hannah on Twitter @hannahalexs.


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Te quiero Barcelona!
Trip Start Sep 18, 2010
86Trip End Jul 27, 2011
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Spent another day letting myself get lost in the streets of Barcelona. For the first time today I felt appreciative and blessed to be here alone. I would not have taken it all in in the same way had a co-traveler taken away my focus.
I am refraining from another description or lame account of my days here. Today, I have fully succumbed to this cityīs beauty. I donīt recall ever before having been quite this struck, choked up and teary-eyed about any other place. Have you ever been so overwhelmed by beauty that it made you cry? Does that make me crazy? Mental? Is it happiness? Depression? Bliss? Or maybe just PMS.
Either way, here is a thought I had today I wanted to share:
When I die, I want my ashes to be spread across hundreds of little containers
Here is my own list so far. Obviously, I hope to be adding to this in the next few months:
- Barcelona (which has just topped my list of favourite places!)
- Venice, Florence
- Ushuaia, Buenos Aires, Puente del Inca, Perito Moreno Glacier, Cerro de los Siete Colores
- Machu Picchu, Belen in Iquitos
- Chicago, Toronto right from my own balcony, hide me in the best and prettiest restaurants in Toronto and NY
- Jamaica: Give one piece to Buffalo Bill to find the most beautiful place there for me
- Harbour Island / Bahamas
- Cologne, Heidelberg, the backyard of the house I grew up in in Pforzheim
- your favourite neighbourhoods in Paris, Budapest, Toronto
Off to Toledo via Madrid tomorrow.


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after this post i panicked a little. that was a lot of personal “stuff” to share and even though your comments were kind and generous there was no going back. there was no taking back what i wrote and when that sunk in i felt overwhelmed.
elizabeth sent me this beautiful quote:
There is in every woman’s heart a spark of heavenly fire which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.
i love this photo by henri cartier bresson. there’s not a lot of beauty around her but that little girl’s spark is shining bright.
One thought on “a spark”
I love that quote. I think I need to add it to my journal….
I don't think I could ever get tired of Bresson's photos either.


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Savannah Guthrie Dropped Big Career News and 'Today' Fans Can’t Stop Celebrating
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It seems it's not enough for Savannah Guthrie to be a Today show anchor, attorney and children's author. Now, she's adding executive producer to her long list of accomplishments.
The 51-year-old mother of two recently announced that her best-selling children's book "Princesses Wears Pants" has been developed into a 14-episode TV series on Netflix titled Princess Power. The book, which Savannah wrote with clinical psychologist Allison Oppenheim, is a fairytale-inspired story that focuses on female empowerment and showing girls that what they do is so much more important than what they look like.
Savannah, who produced the show with Drew Barrymore, dropped the exciting news that folks can now watch her latest project. "What a day! So excited to launch Princess Power on @netflix. Streaming TODAY!" she wrote on January 30.
Naturally, Today show fans couldn't stop sharing heartwarming sentiments applauding the NBC star's latest endeavor.
"Congrats to you! What a great message for everyone! Lots of love 🤍," one person commented on Instagram. "So so proud of [you] my queen! This will bring joy to so many [people] ❤❤," another added. "This is so cool! Can’t wait to watch!!! 💖," a different follower said.
What's more, fellow Today show co-stars also took to the comments section with sweet messages. "You princess..you!!! Love this! ❤," Jenna Bush Hager wrote. "Amazing!!!! Congratulations!!!" Dylan Dreyer added. "So so happy!!!! It’s beautiful on so many levels!!!! 💗💗," Sheinelle Jones chimed in.
The series, which features celebrities like Tan France, Rita Moreno and Andrew Rannells, follows the stories of princess friends from four different Fruitdoms — Blueberry, Kiwi, Pineapple and Raspberry — as they each use their special talents to work together to make their worlds a better place.
When asked to elaborate on the meaning behind the book, Savannah told the Today website that female friendship is a pillar of the new show. "Female friendship is really the highlight and hallmark of the series,” she shared with the outlet. “It's not one princess — it's a team of princesses."
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Small arms and light weapons range from clubs, knives and machetes to, for example, mortars below the calibre of 100 mm.
Over the last few years, tragic gun attacks in Europe have repeatedly caught our attention – in Norway, Belgium, Finland, France or Italy to mention a few. Despite efforts at international, EU and Member States level, more can be done to address vulnerabilities across the whole lifespan of firearms.
Today the Commission presents suggestions for how to reduce gun violence in Europe. It identifies actions at EU level, through legislation, operational activities, training and EU funding, to address the threats posed by the illegal use of firearms.

domain: law