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New Zealand: the land of milk and honey… and mountains. Lots of them.
This month we’ve canvassed some of the country’s best known trampers and climbers to get their pick of the 50 best mountains in New Zealand. That’s no easy feat when there are literally thousands to choose from.
You’d probably expect to see the likes of Aspiring, Tasman and Aoraki in such a list. But that would be predictable. Our mountains are ones every tramper can climb.
The one condition we had when compiling the list is that they had to be non-technical with the only concession to safety being possible use of crampons and an ice axe. For the majority of the peaks, you need nothing more than your boots and the fitness to walk or scramble to the top.
Lists are dangerous things of course. No doubt there will be cries of outrage that Mt Suchandsuch was left off. If you feel we’ve been negligent, let us know – we’d love to know what you consider to be the best tramping mountains in the country.
Scanning the list, I am quite disappointed to see how few I have climbed – just 10 and some of those I’ve done several times. I really need to get out more.
But peaks like Avalanche, Barrier Knob and Roys Peak have always been on my tramping hit list (by the way, everyone I have asked in Te Anau says Barrier Knob – at least as far as Gertrude Saddle – is the best day trip in Fiordland, which must make it one of the best in the country).
Anyway, it’s not about how many you’ve done (though I’m sure many will delight in ticking off the ones they’ve summited on the 3D map on the centre pages). As always, it’s about sharing places we’ve been and grabbing ideas for places we haven’t.


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From the Jaws of Death! S02E05
The contestants are joined by guest star Tippi. After a grueling combat, and acquiring some apprentice robes, they trudge through the Masters' Domain, reaching the Hall of Necromancy, where they met Phaia, a Red Wizard necromancer. After convincing her they were "new hires", she instructed them to acquire a sacrifice to go over the basic of necromantic rituals with Hendrick. Using Quintessence, Hendrick skipped himself, a victim, and Phaia 1 minute into the future, where a rock wall from Ravanal was used to kill her. Unable to question her in her state, Enkidu DI'd to Hangman successfully, who allowed Enkidu to detach his soul to talk to Phaia's soul, and also cursed Ravanal by imbuing him with the gift of life. After finding out how to reach the Phylactery Vault, the contestants disrupted more of the black gates, and prepared to journey to the Temples of Extraction... For her guest star role, Tippi received a 10-die quality fluffy coat.
Noteworthy Postgame Events

domain: entertainment


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“Disable macros and always be extra careful when you manually enable it while opening Microsoft Office Word documents.”
You might have heard of above-mentioned security warning multiple times on the Internet as hackers usually leverage this decade old macros-based hacking technique to hack computers through specially crafted Microsoft Office files, particularly Word, attached to spam emails.
Posted in banking malware, banking Trojan, hacking news, macro malware, macros, Microsoft office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word | Comments (0)
The Russian Interior Ministry announced on Monday the arrest of 20 individuals from a major cybercriminal gang that had stolen nearly $900,000 from bank accounts after infecting over one million Android smartphones with a mobile Trojan called “CronBot.”
Russian Interior Ministry representative Rina Wolf said the arrests were part of a joint effort with Russian IT security firm Group-IB that
Posted in Android Banking Malware, banking malware, Cyber Crime, Group-IB, hacker arrested, hacking news, mobile backdoor, mobile banking trojan, Russian hackers, Tiny.z mobile Trojan | Comments (0)
A Russian computer hacker wanted by the FBI on hacking allegations was arrested and jailed in Spain earlier this week, while a decision on his extradition to the United States has yet to be made.
The Guardia Civil, Spanish law enforcement agency officers, have detained 32-year-old Stanislav Lisov at Barcelona–El Prat Airport based on an international arrest warrant issued by Interpol at the
Posted in bank hacking, banking malware, computer programmer, fbi most wanted hackers, hacking news, most wanted hacker, NeverQuest Banking Malware, Russian hackers, Stanislav Lisov | Comments (0)
A vulnerability in Chrome for Android is actively being exploited in the wild that allows hackers to quietly download banking trojan apps (.apk) onto victim’s’ device without their confirmation.
You might have encountered a pop-up advertisement that appears out of nowhere and surprise you that your mobile device has been infected with a dangerous virus and instructs you to install a security
Posted in android antivirus, Android Malware, Android Security, banking malware, banking Trojan, Best Android apps, hacking android phone, how to hack android, security application | Comments (0)
A Russian man who spent about 3 years behind bars in the United States has been spared further prison time but ordered to pay $7 Million to cover damages he caused to banks using a vicious computer virus.
Nikita Vladimirovich Kuzmin was arrested in 2010 and imprisoned in August 2011 for developing a sophisticated computer malware called Gozi and infecting more than 1 million computers
Posted in bank hacking, banking malware, Cyber Crime, Cyber Criminal, Gozi Malware, Gozi Virus, hacking news | Comments (0)

domain: news


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Basic Energy Services Reports First Quarter 2013 Results
FORT WORTH, Texas, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Basic Energy Services, Inc. (NYSE: BAS) (“Basic”) today announced its financial and operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013.
FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
First quarter 2013 revenue increased one percent to $304.4 million from $302.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, and declined 18% from the $370.9 million generated in the first quarter of 2012.
For the first quarter of 2013, Basic reported a net loss of $8.8 million, or $0.22 per basic and diluted share compared to net income of $19.6 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, reported in last year’s first quarter. For sequential comparison, Basic reported a net loss of $20.0 million, or $0.49 per basic and diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2012. The fourth quarter 2012 net loss before special items was $11.0 million, or $0.27 per diluted share. The fourth quarter 2012 special items included: $4.9 million ($7.9 million pre-tax), or $0.11 per diluted share, of early extinguishment of debt costs associated with the redemption of the $225 million 7.125% Senior Notes due 2016; $2.4 million ($3.9 million pre-tax), or $0.06 per diluted share, of relocation costs associated with the relocation of Basic’s corporate headquarters to Fort Worth, Texas; $2.3 million ($3.7 million pre-tax), or $0.06 per diluted share, of prior years’ state sales and use taxes associated with an audit that is currently in progress; and $560,000 ($910,000 pre-tax), or $0.01 per diluted share, gain on the bargain purchase of an acquisition.
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2013 increased four percent to $51.5 million, or 17% of revenue, from $49.4 million, or 16% of revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, Basic generated Adjusted EBITDA of $92.4 million, or 25% of revenue. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and the net gain or loss from the disposal of assets. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are not measures determined in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), are defined and reconciled in note 2 under the accompanying financial tables.
Ken Huseman, Basic’s President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Demand ramped more slowly in the first quarter than we anticipated as E&P companies seemed deliberate in finalizing 2013 spending plans and cautious in initiating new projects. We did see a steady improvement in utilization late in the quarter although late winter storms hampered activity in the northern half of our operating footprint. Despite weaker than expected demand, pricing remained essentially unchanged from the year-end rate structure. Our operations group managed to hold segment margins flat sequentially as good cost control offset the 80 basis point impact from the annual reset of unemployment taxes which always hit in the first quarter.
“Although we continue to see a significant amount of uncertainty in the market, our customers are gradually increasing spending and we are benefiting from the increase in daylight hours particularly in our well servicing segment. We recently disclosed expectations for a ten percent sequential increase in second quarter revenue driven by greater demand in all of our markets. Although we do not anticipate any improvement in pricing in the second quarter, higher utilization should produce an uptick in segment margins.
“Our outlook for the full year continues to be based on the assumption that upstream spending and oilfield service activity will be similar to 2012. With winter weather behind us and additional daylight hours available, we should see activity increase through the summer and into the fall with the last half of the year substantially busier than the first half. We expect full year revenue to essentially match the level generated in 2012.
“Following our customers’ lead, we have restrained capital spending to this point in the year and will continue to do so in each service segment until we see solid upticks in demand. Our growth capital has been targeted to expanding our high margin rental equipment fleet with $3.5 million invested in pumps, power swivels and well control equipment and $6.4 million to expand our disposal well network to support our full service capabilities in that segment.
“We continue to review a number of acquisition opportunities but have not been able to negotiate reasonable purchase prices on most of those deals. We closed two small acquisitions early in the quarter which added the expertise and personnel to augment our water re-cycling capabilities. Those two purchases along with the planned addition of 10 to 12 disposal wells over the course of 2013 will enhance our ability to support the growing demand for comprehensive fluid services throughout our footprint.”
Business Segment Results
Completion and Remedial Services
Completion and Remedial Services revenue declined three percent to $118.4 million in the first quarter of 2013 from $121.7 million in the prior quarter. During the first quarter of 2013, revenue from stimulation services and coil tubing slumped in February due to severe weather and subdued drilling activity, but improved in March. Revenues from our cementing and acidizing, rental tool and snubbing services remained fairly consistent with the prior quarter’s levels. For each of our service offerings, pricing throughout the quarter remained similar to where we exited the fourth quarter of 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, this segment generated $164.4 million in revenue.
Segment profit in the first quarter of 2013 declined to $39.4 million compared to $40.9 million in the prior quarter. Segment margin for the 2013 first quarter decreased to 33% from 34% in the prior quarter, due primarily to overall lower utilization. The decline in margins was partially offset by lower input costs in our stimulation services line. During the first quarter of 2012, segment profit was $67.4 million, or 41% of revenue.
As of March 31, 2013, Basic had approximately 292,000 hydraulic horsepower (hhp), compared to 291,000 at the end of the previous quarter and 276,000 hhp as of March 31, 2012.
Fluid Services revenue in the first quarter of 2013 rose three percent to $84.3 million compared to $81.9 million in the prior quarter. The sequential increase in revenue was mainly due to the full quarter revenue contribution from the Salt Water Disposal of North Dakota acquisition that was completed in mid-December 2012 and the partial effect of the Atlas and PetroWater acquisitions that were completed in late February 2013. Additionally, revenue from hot oiling and skim oil sales increased from the fourth quarter, but that revenue was partially offset by lower frac tank rentals. During the first quarter of 2012, this segment generated $95.3 million in revenue.
The weighted average number of fluid services trucks rose one percent to 963 during the first quarter of 2013, increasing by 9 trucks from the weighted average truck count of 954 during the fourth quarter of 2012. The weighted average number of fluid services trucks was 900 during the first quarter of 2012. Truck hours of 555,600 during the first quarter of 2013 were flat with 555,200 in the fourth quarter of 2012, and declined four percent compared to 580,700 in the same period in 2012.
The average revenue per fluid service truck was $88,000 in the first quarter of 2013, increasing two percent from $86,000 in the prior quarter and declining 17% compared to $106,000 in the same period in 2012.
Segment profit in the first quarter of 2013 was $26.5 million, or 31% of revenue, compared to $23.8 million, or 29% of revenue, in the prior quarter and $32.5 million, or 34% of revenue, in the same period in 2012.
Well Servicing revenues increased four percent to $87.7 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $84.1 million in the prior quarter, due to the normalizing of the work environment from the year-end holidays and the increasing daylight hours during the first quarter. Revenues from the Taylor Rig manufacturing operations were $3.7 million in the first quarter, down from the $4.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, well servicing revenues were $95.9 million.
At March 31, 2013, the well servicing rig count was 425, the same as the end of the prior quarter. The weighted average number of well servicing rigs was 425 during the first quarter of 2013, declining from 429 in the prior quarter, and up from 423 during the first quarter of 2012. Rig hours increased four percent to 210,800 in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 203,000 in the previous quarter, and were down nine percent from 231,300 in the comparable quarter of last year. Rig utilization was 69% in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 66% in the prior quarter and 76% in the first quarter of 2012.
Excluding revenues associated with the Taylor Rig manufacturing operations, revenue per well servicing rig hour was up two percent to $399 in the first quarter of 2013 from $393 in the previous quarter and from the $393 reported in the first quarter of 2012. The increase in revenue per rig hour was due to an improvement in barge workover rig activity which has a higher revenue per hourly rate.
Segment profit in the first quarter of 2013 declined to $22.7 million from $23.0 million in the prior quarter and $28.7 million in the same period in 2012. Segment profit margins declined to 26% in the first quarter of 2013 from 27% in the previous quarter. The sequential decline in segment margin resulted from the reset of unemployment taxes at the beginning of the year. In the first quarter of 2012, segment profit was 30% of revenue. Segment profit from the Taylor Rig manufacturing operations was $516,000 in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $829,000 in in the prior quarter and $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2012.
Contract Drilling revenue declined two percent sequentially to $14.0 million during the first quarter of 2013 compared to $14.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. During the first quarter of 2012, this segment generated $15.2 million in revenue. Basic operated 12 drilling rigs during the first quarter of 2013, the same number of rigs as in the previous quarter and in the first quarter of 2012. Revenue per drilling day in the first quarter of 2013 was $16,500, up three percent from $16,000 in the previous quarter and up four percent from $15,800 in the first quarter of 2012. The sequential increase in revenue per drilling day was a result of a higher proportion of days worked from our higher horsepower drilling rigs.
Rig operating days during the first quarter of 2013 declined five percent to 850, producing a utilization rate of 79%, compared to 892 days, or 81% utilization, in the prior quarter. The sequential decrease in drilling days was mainly due to a reduction in activity for our lower horsepower mechanical drilling rigs. In the comparable period in 2012, rig operating days were 967, producing a utilization of 89%.
Segment profit in the first quarter of 2013 was $4.8 million, up from $4.5 million in the prior quarter and down from $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2012. Segment margin of 35% increased sequentially from 32% in the fourth quarter of 2012 due mainly to lower repairs and maintenance costs offset by the higher unemployment taxes. Last year in the comparable period, segment margin was 33%.
General and Administrative (“G&A”) expense in the first quarter of 2013 was $42.0 million, or 14% of revenue. Last quarter’s G&A expense was $42.8 million, or 14% of revenue, which excludes $3.9 million of relocation costs and $3.7 million of costs related to a state sales and use tax audit. The comparable sequential decline was due to lower personnel and incentive compensation expense offset by the increase from the reset of unemployment taxes that occurs in the first quarter every year. During the first quarter of 2012, G&A expense was $41.4 million, or 11% of total revenue.
Cash and Total Liquidity
On March 31, 2013, Basic had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $81 million, down from $135 million at December 31, 2012 and up from $67 million on March 31, 2012. At the end of the first quarter of 2013, total liquidity was approximately $309 million, which included $228 million of availability under Basic’s $250 million revolving credit facility.
Basic’s tax benefit for the first quarter of 2013 was $7.4 million, compared to a benefit of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, net of special items, and tax expense of $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. The tax benefit in the first quarter of 2013 equals an effective tax rate of 46%, up from the fourth quarter effective tax rate, net of special items, of 37%, and an effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2012 of 38%. The increase is due to Basic’s temporary and permanent differences and gross margin taxes, which are relatively static amounts, and have a larger impact on the effective tax rate when calculated on a full-year basis for 2013.
Total capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2013, including capital leases of $15 million, were approximately $54 million, comprised of $15 million for expansion projects, $36 million for sustaining and replacement projects and $3 million for other projects. Expansion capital spending included $8 million for the Fluid Services segment, $6 million for the Completion and Remedial Services segment, $659,000 for the Contract Drilling segment and $460,000 for the Well Servicing segment. Other capital expenditures are mainly for facilities and IT infrastructure.
During 2013, we plan on investing approximately $185 million in capital expenditures, with approximately $40 million being funded by capital leases.
Basic will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2013 results on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (8:00 a.m. Central). To access the call, please dial (480) 629-9645 and ask for the “Basic Energy Services” call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. The conference call will also be broadcast live via the Internet and can be accessed through the investor relations section of Basic’s corporate website, www.basicenergyservices.com.
A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available until May 10, 2013 and may be accessed by calling (303) 590-3030 and using the pass code 4610548#. A webcast archive will be available at www.basicenergyservices.com shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 30 days.
About Basic Energy Services
Basic Energy Services provides well site services essential to maintaining production from the oil and gas wells within its operating area. The company employs more than 5,700 employees in more than 100 service points throughout the major oil and gas producing regions in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kansas, and the Rocky Mountain and Appalachian regions.
Additional information on Basic Energy Services is available on the Company’s website at www.basicenergyservices.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Basic has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, including (i) changes in demand for Basic’s services and any related material impact on its pricing and utilizations rates, (ii) Basic’s ability to execute, manage and integrate acquisitions successfully, (iii) changes in Basic’s expenses, including labor or fuel costs and financing costs, and (iv) regulatory changes. Additional important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations are disclosed in Item 1A of Basic’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and subsequent Form 10-Qs filed with the SEC. While Basic makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither Basic nor its management can guarantee that anticipated results will be achieved. Basic assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements made by Basic, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Contacts: Alan Krenek, Chief Financial Officer Basic Energy Services, Inc. 817-334-4100 Jack Lascar/Sheila Stuewe Dennard - Lascar Associates 713-529-6600
-Tables to Follow-
Basic Energy Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Income and Other Financial Data (in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, --------------- 2013 2012 ---- ---- Income Statement Data: (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Revenues: Completion and remedial services $118,361 $164,420 Fluid services 84,330 95,325 Well servicing 87,675 95,902 Contract drilling 13,985 15,250 Total revenues 304,351 370,897 ------- ------- Expenses: Completion and remedial services 79,008 97,025 Fluid services 57,874 62,847 Well servicing 65,002 67,250 Contract drilling 9,164 10,206 General and administrative (1) 41,957 41,358 Depreciation and amortization 49,781 43,984 Loss on disposal of assets 1,089 1,719 Total expenses 303,875 324,389 ------- ------- Operating income 476 46,508 Other income (expense): Interest expense (16,808) (15,223) Interest income 17 12 Other income 162 149 --- --- Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes (16,153) 31,446 Income tax benefit (expense) 7,375 (11,815) ----- ------- Net Income /(Loss) $(8,778) $19,631 ======= ======= Earnings per share of common stock: Basic $(0.22) $0.48 ====== ===== Diluted $(0.22) $0.47 ====== ===== Other Financial Data: EBITDA (2) $50,419 $90,641 Adjusted EBITDA (2) 51,508 92,360 Capital expenditures: Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 16,464 18,584 Property and equipment 39,873 46,823 As of March 31, March 31, 2013 2012 ---- ---- Balance Sheet Data: (unaudited) (unaudited) Cash and cash equivalents $81,489 $67,230 Net property and equipment 951,854 881,327 Total assets 1,573,959 1,457,697 Total long-term debt 847,297 747,760 Total stockholders' equity 364,899 378,294
Three months Three months Ended March 31, Ended December 31, Segment Data: 2013 2012 2012 Completion and Remedial Services Segment profits as a percent of revenue 33.2% 41.0% 33.6% Fluid Services Weighted average number of fluid services trucks 963 900 954 Truck hours (000's) 555.6 580.7 555.2 Revenue per fluid services truck (000's) $88 $106 $86 Segment profits per fluid services truck (000's) $27 $36 $25 Segment profits as a percent of revenue 31.4% 34.1% 29.1% Well Servicing Weighted average number of rigs 425 423 429 Rig hours (000's) 210.8 231.3 203.0 Rig utilization rate 69.4% 76.5% 66.2% Revenue per rig hour, excluding manufacturing $399 $393 $393 Well servicing rig profit per rig hour $108 $117 $108 Segment profits as a percent of revenue 25.9% 29.9% 27.3% Contract Drilling Weighted average number of rigs 12 12 12 Rig operating days 850 967 892 Revenue per day $16,500 $15,800 $16,000 Drilling rig profit per day $5,700 $5,200 $5,100 Segment profits as a percent of revenue 34.5% 33.1% 31.8% ---- ---- ----
(1) Includes approximately $2,817,000 and $2,173,000 of non-cash compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
(2) This earnings release contains references to the non-GAAP financial measure of earnings (net income) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or “EBITDA.” This earnings release also contains references to the non-GAAP financial measure of earnings (net income) before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and the gain or loss on disposal of assets, or “Adjusted EBITDA.” EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income or loss, cash flows provided by operating, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with GAAP. However, Basic believes EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are useful supplemental financial measures used by its management and directors and by external users of its financial statements, such as investors, to assess:
- The financial performance of its assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;
- The ability of its assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on its indebtedness; and
- Its operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to those of other companies in the well servicing industry, without regard to financing methods and capital structure.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA each have limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income and operating income, and these measures may vary among other companies. Limitations to using EBITDA as an analytical tool include:
- EBITDA does not reflect its current or future requirements for capital expenditures or capital commitments;
- EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on, its debt;
- EBITDA does not reflect income taxes;
- Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and
- Other companies in its industry may calculate EBITDA differently than Basic does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
In addition to each of the limitations with respect to EBITDA noted above, the limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool include:
- Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect Basic’s gain or loss on disposal of assets;
- Other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than Basic does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA, which is the most comparable GAAP performance measure, for each of the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 2012 Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA: (Unaudited) Net income / (loss) $(8,778) $19,631 Income taxes (7,375) 11,815 Net interest expense 16,791 15,211 Depreciation and amortization 49,781 43,984 EBITDA $50,419 $90,641 ======= =======
The following table presents a reconciliation of net income to “Adjusted EBITDA,” which means our EBITDA excluding the loss on disposal of assets:
Three Months Ended March 31, 2013 2012 Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA: (Unaudited) Net income / (loss) $(8,778) $19,631 Income taxes (7,375) 11,815 Net interest expense 16,791 15,211 Depreciation and amortization 49,781 43,984 Loss on disposal of assets 1,089 1,719 Adjusted EBITDA $51,508 $92,360 ======= =======
Contacts: Alan Krenek, Chief Financial Officer Basic Energy Services, Inc. 817-334-4100 Jack Lascar/Sheila Stuewe Dennard ? Lascar Associates 713-529-6600
SOURCE Basic Energy Services, Inc.

domain: finance


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College football changes overtime rule
The NCAA has recently announced that they are changing the way overtime takes place in football games. The new rule will now require all teams to attempt a two-point conversion starting in the second overtime session. The rules currently don't force teams to attempt two-point conversions until the fifth overtime session.
The rule was changed to reduce the chance of injury for the competing college athletes. These rules won't affect Ohio State too much as opponents rarely make it to overtime, and when they do they rarely go beyond the second session. But, you never know, especially in games where...
Projecting the Ohio State basketball starting lineup, key players for next season 2.0
As soon as the season ended, we went through an exercise of projecting what Ohio State basketball's starting lineup and key contributors could look like for the 2021-2022 season. Since then, there have been some changes. Musa Jallow transferred out of the program, the Buckeyes brought in Penn State transfer guard Jabari Wheeler and Indiana transfer Joey Brunk, and Kyle Young surprised everyone by deciding to come back for one more season.
Add all of that to both E.J. Liddell and Duane Washington testing...
BTN's Andy Katz believes Ohio State basketball can win the Big Ten if this happens
We are officially in the dead period of college basketball and will be for months. However, that doesn't stop us from looking ahead to what could be in 2021-2022.
For Ohio State, it's looking to build on a rather surprising 2020-2021 campaign that saw it stay in the Big Ten race most of the year, make the Big Ten Tournament championship game and receive a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament as one of the top teams of the latter half of the year.
We will not talk about the whole thing coming down with a thud with


10 January Transfers Everyone Wants To See: #4 Miguel Almiron
No matter how good some players are, football players or otherwise – they kind of need a bigger turf or neighbourhood to show that they belong, to prove that they have the “it” factor. Such is the story of some of the most exciting professional footballers in the game today, they can only become as big as the club they play for and we have a few names that many would want to see move to other pastures. Some have been rumoured away from their clubs and some haven’t but sooner rather than later, transfers are inevitable. You wouldn’t have guessed the fourth person on our list.
To many, he may come as a shocker but to those fortunate enough to be first movers in the field of recognising talent, they will be familiar with the name Miguel Almiron. The 25-year-old Paraguayan enjoyed something a little bit beyond what is normally called a breakout year in 2018. The Atlanta FC playmaker became “the playmaker of the American Major League Soccer,” scoring 13 times and serving up 11 assists in 37 MLS appearances. He was more than instrumental in Atlanta’s 2018 MLS cup triumph, spotted more often than not, combining with the tournament’s MVP Josef Martinez, in terrorising opponents. The usual thing that follows after such greatness, chose not to shy away, comparisons and rumours flew in left, right and centre. One of the most significant piece of rumours was that of reported inquiry by the Arsenal on the player as a possible replacement for one of the world’s best playmakers, Mesut Ozil. In the eyes of many, he would be a more suitable number 10 to Unai Emery who is leading a revolution at the North London club because of his intensity which happens to be a critical component of Unai’s pressing style of play. What seems more becoming is still a move to the English Premier League but in the colors Newcastle. A big money move is reportedly being lined up as Atlanta President has promised not to let him go for “chump change.”
Miggy, as they call him, is surely on the verge of adding to the redefinition MLS’s position amongst the global community of football leagues as a capable source of youth talent after Alphonso Davies’ move to Bayern Munich.


Investigators say 50-acre Cowiche Canyon fire intentionally set with fireworks
YAKIMA, Wash. - Firefighters say a fire at Cowiche Canyon Road in Yakima was started after lit fireworks were thrown in the area.
A shop building was lost and roughly 40 to 50 acres of land were scorched in a fire at the 5600 block of Cowiche Canyon Road, according to the Yakima Fire Department (YFD).
YFD investigators learned from three witnesses the fire was started from fireworks being lit and thrown from a moving vehicle. Investigators confirmed these reports when they found a discharged ground bloom flower where the fire started.
Fire officials are asking anyone with information regarding the incident or the individuals who may have started this fire to call 509-575-6060.
The department is taking this opportunity to remind people the use of fireworks is illegal and sales are banned in the city and Yakima County.


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The Nigerian extremist group, Boko Haram, has released a new video showing the massacre of civilians in the Nigerian state of Gowza.
The video was sent to local journalist late last night and was not released on social media. The massacre appears to have taken place in a school hall or dormitory, with the room filled with dead bodies, some still twitching, on the floor, near the town of Bama.
The victims are predominantly adults and are described as "non-believers" by the Islamist group, whose name means "Western Education is Forbidden".
In a chilling statement, Boko Haram's leader Abubakr Shekau reportedly declares: "We have made sure the floor of this hall is turned red with blood, and this is how it is going to be in all future attacks and arrests of infidels."
The fanatical leader, who has become known for his ranting videos, says: "From now, killing, slaughtering, destructions and bombing will be our religious duty anywhere we invade."
Shekau goes on to state that, according to the Prophet Mohammed, prisoners should be detained and held under protection. However, the extremist leader claimed that the latest victims were not worthy of saving.
Speaking coldly to the camera, Shekau says: "We felt this is not the right time for us to keep prisoners; that is why we will continue to see that the grounds are crimsoned with the flowing blood of prisoners."
Since the radical insurgency went on the rampage in 2002, an estimated 1.6 million people have been displaced. Many civilians from the northern states, most notably Borno, have been caught up in fierce fighting between the Nigerian army and miliants from Boko Haram.
The group is predominantly based in the thick Sambisa forest in northeastern Nigeria, enabling the group to easily cross over the borders of neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger.
Boko Haram rose to world prominence after they kidnapped over 200 schoolgirls from a school in Chibok. The Borno state town was left devastated and a world appeal, led by a number of celebrities including Michelle Obama, attempted to raise awareness of the kidnapped girls. Many of the girls remain in the hands of Boko Haram.

domain: sociology


Cadillac and the 2014 Portland International Auto Show are excited to be bringing the latest in electric vehicle technology from the Motor City straight to Portland. The Cadillac ELR extended range vehicle has an aggressive, forward-leaning profile that introduces a new, progressive theme and proportion in Cadillac’s design evolution. The overall shape is reinforced by a prominent, sweeping body line accented by 20-inch wheels pushed to the edges of [...]
Smarter, tougher and more capable is how Ford describes the all new 2015 F-150. The all new take on America’s best selling truck is one we are excited to have on display a the 2014 Portland Auto Show.
The new F-150 features many improvements in technology, fuel economy, and even the body itself. Boasting new aluminum construction, Ford was able to remove up to 700 pounds of weight. Four engine [...]
For the first time in the 105 year history of the Portland International Auto Show you will be able to participate in an all electric vehicle indoor experience: BMW i3 – Born Electric. This event will offer Portland an in-depth first look at the all new BMW i3 electric vehicle. For more information please visit the BMW i3 Born Electric Ride section of our website.
2014 marks Kia’s 20th anniversary in the United States and the all-new K900 is a symbol of how far the brand has come. The K900 represents the next bold example of the challenger spirit that has benefited Kia over two decades of growth and maturation.
Offered with a V6 or a V8 engine, the K900’s list of standard equipment will feature first-class accommodations and advanced technology. The three-spoke leather-wrapped steering [...]
First unveiled last year, the 2015 Volkswagen Golf represents the latest in the long line of famous hatchbacks from the German automaker. Scheduled to go on sale mid 2014 the Portland International Auto Show is proud to have it on display prior to its release.
Bringing updated looks and an all new power plant to the car, the 2015 VW Golf is wider and longer for more interior legroom. Although [...]


Wang Zhian, a Tokyo-based mainland Chinese journalist, sparked an online backlash after mocking Taiwanese election campaigns on a comedy talk show. He was subsequently banned from entering Taiwan for five years.
The ex-Chinese Central Television (CCTV) journalist was slammed for his discriminatory joke about a disabled legislative candidate, Chen Chun-han of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in a comedy talk show “The Night Night Show with Hello”. The episode was released on January 22, 2024.
Two days later, Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency (NIA) stated that Wang had breached his tourist visa term by appearing on the show and hence revoked his entry permit and banned him from entering Taiwan for five years.
However, some were sceptical about the reasoning, as many Chinese independent journalists and bloggers, such as Sydney Daddy on X, had travelled to Taiwan on a tourist visa to observe the Taiwanese elections.
Wang's political jokes
Wang Zhian was a former TV news host for China’s state-owned CCTV. On June 4, 2019, his social media accounts from three major platforms were removed. Eventually, he left China and settled in Japan in 2020. He is currently the chief reporter of Tokyo Fuko and runs a YouTube channel with about 1.2 million subscribers commenting on mainland Chinese current affairs.
Like many Chinese independent journalists, he travelled to Taiwan in January for two weeks to observe the Taiwanese general elections. In the process, he interviewed many local Taiwanese on their views on the elections, Taiwan society, cross-strait relations, and more.
Wang Zhian made several political jokes during the 30-minute show. For example, near the end of the talk show (see the embedded video below), when cohost Albee said, “rise-up China”, Wang raised Taiwan’s national flag while the host Horlung raised China’s national flag and told Albee, “The Republic of China (ROC) represents China. The People's Republic of China (PRC) is called Beijing, China.” Wang also jokingly accused Horlung of acting like a traitor as he raised the PRC flag in Taiwan. Horlung answered in a satirical tone, “Artists do not have nationality.”
— 中華民國光復者🇹🇼 🇺🇦 🇺🇸🇯🇵🇰🇷 (@roclove2020) January 24, 2024
Wang's controversial comment took place when he was asked about his impression of Taiwan’s presidential elections during the interview. Wang answered:
Taiwan's presidential election is like a show. Going to a campaign site gives people the feeling that they have gone to the wrong movie theatre, not like a political campaign stage, but like a concert site, with singers paving the way and those who “push the disabled up to stir up emotion”… Once the tears come, the music follows, and the disabled man says, “Support the Democratic Progressive Party and rescue Wang Yi-chuan”! [Wang imitated the disabled politician’s gesture when he uttered the line.
It is a bad joke. An overseas mainland Chinese YouTuber, SydneyDaddy, posted the 23-second video clip on X and suggested Wang make a public apology:
— 悉尼奶爸 SydneyDaddy 雪梨奶爸 (@SydneyDaddy1) January 23, 2024
#TheNightNightTalkwithHello has deleted the 23-second clip on YouTube and made a public apology; they also deleted the whole interview on Facebook. Chen Chun-han, DPP’s disabled legislative candidate at-large, has publicly condemned the show. This was Wang Zhian’s first big ignorant mistake. The most proper response is a solemn apology; at least stay low. The worst reaction is to create another spectacle. […]
Many Taiwanese, in particular DPP’s supporters, found the joke offensive, as the disabled politician in question is Chen Chun-han, who suffers from Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) syndrome and survived a fire that led to the amputation of both his legs. He overcame the physical difficulties and obtained the professional status of a lawyer and accountant. Chen was listed in the DPP legislative candidate at-large list and appeared at DPP’s election rally on January 12, calling on the people to vote for the DPP for the party’s commitment to vulnerable groups’ needs and rights.
In an open statement, Chen urged Wang Zhian to reflect upon his stereotype against the disabled as political tools, rather than autonomous, competent actors, and suggested that his comment was a result of his mainland Chinese background:
Perhaps Wang’s comment is related to his background; perhaps he doesn’t understand what is behind the value of democracy, freedom and human rights.
In response to the outrage, Wang said he would like to apologize to Chen for offending him. However, he insisted that the DPP was using the disabled politician in its election campaign as it placed Chen as the 16th in the at-large legislative candidates, which means Chen was unlikely to win his seat. The total number of seats in the at-large legislative constituency is 34, out of which the DPP won 13 seats.
Five-year visa ban controversy
Then on January 23, the Taiwanese Immigration Authority issued a five-year travel ban forbidding Wang from entering Taiwan as a tourist. According to Taiwan’s immigration law on travellers with mainland Chinese background, mainland tourists cannot appear on media outlets or participate in election campaigns, rallies and commercial activities. However, the law has been implemented selectively as, for decades, a large number of mainland Chinese have travelled to Taiwan to observe elections, participate in pride parades, etc. Hence, many also criticized the ruling party for abusing its power to suppress critical voices against the DPP.
Huang Cheng-yi, a Taiwanese law professor, also criticized the Taiwanese authority’s decision:
— 黃丞儀 (@Cheng_yi_Huang) January 24, 2024
Wang had once said that China and Taiwan were two distinctive entities even though they looked the same from the outside. This was not the first time he had travelled to Taiwan to observe the elections, and he commented that now that Taiwan had democracy, China had no excuse not to implement a democratic system. From the perspective of making friends, there is no need to corner him like this. Just making it clear that we do not like that mockery of the disabled should be enough.
The current decision to ban him from entering Taiwan for five years is regrettable and too heavy. How about other YouTubers who travel to Taiwan, would the law apply to them too?
Worse still, Wang’s critical comments against the DPP have added fuel to a circulating conspiracy theory alleging the ex-CCTV host is a mainland Chinese spy — partly because Wang has exposed some scandals within overseas mainland Chinese dissidents, such as the Falungong’s network in his YouTube channel. But many also spoke out for Wang by pointing out that his critique against mainland Chinese authorities has been equally unsympathetic and sharp.
In the latest contention, however, some DPP supporters vowed they would find ways to pressure the Japanese government to revoke his visa. Wang responded to the criticism with dark humour:
— 王局志安 (@wangzhian8848) January 25, 2024
I feel my life is hanging by a thread, and I can't take it anymore. Expelled by the Chinese Communist Party and banned from entering the ROC (Taiwan), now they file reports to the Japanese government and preventively to the United States, too. There is no way out. Who can help me contact Xi Jinping? Or do I have to turn myself to the Chinese government? The worst is to stay in prison for 18 years, like Ren Zhiqiang.
Ren is a CCP member, a real estate tycoon, and an opinion leader. He disappeared on March 12, 2020, after calling Xi Jinping a clown over his zero-COVID policy. In September 2020, he was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment on corruption charges.
In a parallel development, many mainland Chinese X users started labelling the DPP as the Green Communist Party (綠共), arguing that Wang's visa ban shows the Taiwanese ruling party's attitude towards free speech is selective.


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Interest Yoko Kanno, Motohiro Hata Team Up for Kids on the Slope Song
posted on 2012-03-22 01:40 EDT by Egan Loo
Soundtrack composer Yoko Kanno (Macross Plus/Frontier, Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and singer Motohiro Hata are teaming up to make the ending theme song "Altair" for next month's Kids on the Slope (Sakamichi no Apollon) anime series. Hata wrote the melancholy lyrics for the "medium ballad," while Kanno composed the music.
Hata also sang songs for two other manga-based anime series: Itazura na Kiss and Naruto Shippuden. Kanno is producing the rest of the soundtrack for Sakamichi no Apollon, which is being directed by Cowboy Bebop director Shinichiro Watanabe.
The ending theme's CD single will go on sale on May 30, and a limited first pressing will bundle a DVD with the music video. Former Judy and Mary vocalist Yuki wrote and sang the lyrics for the opening theme song "Sakamichi no Melody," which Kanno scored.
The Sakamichi no Apollon anime adapts Yuki Kodama's manga of the same name. In the coming-of-age story of "love, friendship, and music," two boys and their friends share a passion for jazz in a provincial town in the late 1960s. The manga won the General Category in this year's Shogakukan Manga Awards.
Source: Tower Records
Image © Yuki Kodama, Shogakukan/Sakamichi no Apollon Production Committee


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This is the post that nearly wasn’t. My quest to make this dish sent me on a wild goose chase across London, causing unforetold amounts of stress and frustration, and almost resulting in no dish at all.
See, I was intending to come up with a clever mash-up of two favourite meals: mejadarah, the addictive Arab dish of rice, lentils and onions, and koshary, its close Egyptian cousin, which adds pasta to the mix. I’m an especially big fan of the latter, but sometimes feel like the pasta overwhelms the other textures. My clever solution? Israeli couscous. Essentially super-small, spherical bits of pasta, I figured the couscous was the perfect way to keep the taste and texture of this dish just so.
Only, I couldn’t find any Israeli couscous. Anywhere. I tried supermarkets. I tried heath food shops. I tried specialty food shops and even the expensive department store food halls in the West End. I grew so frustrated I even considered asking my Mum to mail me the box of Israeli couscous that I knew was sitting in our pantry back home. Though I’m no stranger to becoming obsessed with hunting down an obscure ingredient, this was the first battle that made me feel like raising my white flag and giving up.
And you know what? I did. After coming home, exhausted, from what will now be called The Great Israeli Couscous Hunt of 2010, I found a box of tiny, rice-shaped puntalette pasta in my corner shop. Good enough.
Purists, I must warn you: this dish is neither mejadarah, nor koshary, nor a reasonable simulation of either. I made countless changes, mainly to suit my laziness and impatience as a cook. Both of the original dishes cook the rice with the spices, then sear each carb in a separate pan, which results in confusion and many dirty dishes. I made mine a one-pan meal, compromising neither flavour nor feel. I also substituted puy lentils for the called-for brown, because I think their firmer texture works here.
So authentic my Mejadarish might not be, but it is delicious. Delicious enough that, on tucking into a bowl of this carb-fest for lunch the other day, I resolved to make it again as soon as humanely possible. I still think it would be great with Israeli couscous, so Mum- do you mind popping that box into the mail?
serves 4 as a main; 8 as a side
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1/2 cup puy lentils
- 1/2 cup Israeli cous-cous or very small pasta shape
- 3 medium onions
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp. cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. turmeric
- sea salt, to taste
- Bring a pot of water to the boil, salt it, and cook the rice according to package instructions. Rinse with cold water, drain and set aside. Do the same for the lentils and the pasta. (You can do this in three pots at the same time, or one after another. Doing it the day before, or using leftover grains works well, too.)
- Thinly slice the onions and place them in a large pan over medium heat, covered tightly. Shake the pan every so often and keep checking to make sure they don’t burn; they will give off a lot of liquid and then dry out and start to stick. When this happens, add 1/4 cup of the olive oil and turn the heat down to very low.
- Continue to cook the onions over a very low heat, stirring frequently, for 20-40 minutes. You are aiming for a dark, rich and jam-like flavour, with few crispy bits.
- When the onions are done to your liking, add the spices and stir quickly, letting the mixture become fragrant. If the spices stick to the pan and become dry, de-scale with a tablespoon or two of water.
- Push the onions to the edges of the pan and turn the heat up to high. Add one-third of the remaining oil and when it gets hot, add the pasta/couscous. Don’t move it around too much- let it cook until you get some browned and crusty bits, then push the pasta also to the sides of the pan. Repeat this step with the rice and lentils- adding oil and cooking to heat through and crisp up. When everything has been added, give the dish a good stir and salt to taste. Serve hot.
Note: The best way to eat this as leftovers? Add a can or two of chopped tomatoes and simmer until hot through. Serve with crumbled feta on top. The sweetness of the tomatoes and saltiness of the feta make this version almost better than the first.

domain: food


When the Los Angeles County Bar’s Customs Law Committee met with the local U.S. Attorney in July, one point got universal agreement: There aren’t enough prosecutions regarding purely import-export trade fraud. Although it might seem an odd thing for lawyers to say, there’s some logic to it — and it’s not a matter of creating more work for the lawyers.
To get the attention of an industry, people must be reminded regularly that there are serious consequences for violating the law or regulation. Failure to reinforce those consequences inevitably leads to lax internal controls and due diligence. In the import-export arena, only a handful of recent cases involved criminal prosecution for purely trade-related violations. One recent one involved an importer who undervalued goods. The loss of revenue was less than $500,000, but the company’s owner ended up in jail.
A more recent accusation came when New York state authorities charged London-based Standard Chartered Bank with “wire stripping,” which allegedly allowed Iranian money to be laundered through U.S. banks. Wire stripping is a process whereby information about the source or routing of the wire is removed so there is nothing to identify the instructions and funds as having come from a sanctioned country.
The authorities say the bank took this action because it wanted to collect millions of dollars in fees. One bank executive, the authorities assert, also wrote an e-mail questioning why the Americans thought they could tell the rest of the world with whom to deal. The FBI is said to be investigating, but you have to wonder: Where is the Office of Foreign Assets Control in all of this?
Another illustration of the types of cases being brought is the antitrust settlements with the airlines and forwarders in the U.S., Japan and Europe. These were also the outcome of international trade activities, but weren’t prosecuted for purely import or export violations.
In the export arena, we have seen a few notable convictions. The one getting the most press involved J. Reece Roth, a University of Tennessee professor convicted of conspiring with Atmospheric Glow Technologies to unlawfully export defense articles to China and of wire fraud for defrauding the university.
Roth’s problems arose in conjunction with a contract AGT, a university spinoff, won from the U.S. Air Force to develop a plasma actuator intended to reduce drag on the wings of drones. Under the terms of the contract, Roth was prohibited from sharing sensitive data with foreign nationals.
Despite clear warnings, Roth took his laptop containing project plans to China, where he asked a colleague to e-mail data about the project to the account of a Chinese colleague. Upon receipt, Roth shared the contents with the colleague, a violation of deemed export regulations that restrict the export of sensitive technology or data.
Further violations arose because Roth had two foreign students, one Chinese and one Iranian, working with him on the project without government knowledge or approval. He received a 48-month sentence.
Another recent action involved import issues brought under the False Claims Act. This sort of lawsuit arises when a whistleblower provides the government with evidence of fraud against government contracts and programs. As often happens, the government takes a long time to act, so typically the whistleblower sues, in a sense on behalf of the government, to recover the stolen funds. As in most whistleblower contexts, if the lawsuit is successful, the whistleblower receives a portion of the recovery.
In this case, the violation involved misclassification of auto parts made in China. About two-thirds of the $6.3 million settlement was paid from seized assets. The related criminal proceedings led to one company pleading guilty to a charge of entry of goods by means of false statements. The sentence was two years’ probation and a $25,000 fine.
What did the parties do? They misclassified the goods, entering them as free of duty, but charging customers the correct 2.5 percent, pocketing the difference. A total of 706 entries are said to be involved where the manifolds were entered as unfinished, when they were actually finished. The duty calculated as evaded was $2,549,000. The matter came to the government’s attention when a whistleblower filed the claim.
What does the government need to do? First, the seizure of goods is an effective tool, but this happens to individual shipments, and no publicity is allowed because of the Trade Secrets Act. So, although some in industry know, for example, about the importer-of-record issue related to fabric and garments, there have been no prosecutions. Perhaps hapless folks in the U.S. doing a friend or relative in China a favor have no idea what they are getting into when they agree to become importer of record. Imagine how the dynamics might change if one or two people ended up in jail for getting into these schemes?
A few years ago, a port publicized the penalty settlement with a company for NAFTA violations. On the one hand, the news reminded companies about the importance of compliance. On the other, it sent shockwaves through the industry. If OFAC and the Bureau of Industry and Security can announce their settlements, why can’t Customs?
These cases prove again that people matter. You can have the best compliance program in the world, but if it’s not followed, bad things generally happen. When was the last time your company performed a due diligence checkup?
Susan Kohn Ross is an international trade attorney with Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp in Los Angeles. Contact her at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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After a few weeks without one, welcome to this week’s Morning Coffee; get your favourite blend of pick-me-up ready and join me on a short journey as we take a look at the new £20 note design, which in my opinion is a thing of beauty and a well needed change for the better.
I’ll also briefly pick apart the subject matter of the design, there are two stunning paintings to analyse as well as an inspirational quote to consider.
Before going into the details let’s take a look at the note design itself, proudly featuring my favourite landscape artist of them all, JMW Turner.
The information regarding this incredible new design, as written on the Bank of England’s website is as follows –
Th Turner note will be a £20 note printed on polymer and will be issued by 2020. The reverse of the note will include:
- J.M.W. Turner’s self-portrait, painted c. 1799 and currently on display in the Tate Britain.
- One of Turner’s most eminent paintings The Fighting Temeraire; a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire which played a distinguished role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
- The quote – “Light is therefore colour” from an 1818 lecture by Turner referring to his innovative use of light, shade, colour and tone in his pictures.
- Turner’s signature from his will, the document with which he bequeathed many of his paintings to the nation.
This is a truly exciting new design for the £20 note, in general I care little for money as far as the design aspects go, more interested in the value and what can be purchased or paid with it; this one however, I will find very hard to part with and as sad as it may seem, I’ll certainly be framing one.
After all, £20 is not much to part with for a masterpiece.
This self-portrait shows a young and ambitious Joseph Mallord William Turner, having already made an impressive name for himself in the art world, it is believed that he created this painting to mark an accomplishment in his career, such as being elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy. Despite being relatively young in years, Turner was respected and appreciated as an original artist in his own right and his work was highly popular.
This was a very appropriate image to use for the Turner £20 note, even more so that it was a self-portrait and it now feels like we get two of Turner’s works for the price of one.
Going slightly off topic here, I went and saw the Late Turner exhibition at the beginning of last year, and it’s by far my favourite exhibition I have seen, every piece of work, including the sketches and watercolour studies was a work of awe-inspiring mastery.
This beautifully painted piece is one of Turner’s greatest works, not just for his mastery over his medium, suggesting the sky and the sea in a breathtakingly accomplished manner; but for his skill in story telling and using symbolic methods to give his work ambiguous meanings. The pathos of many of Turner’s paintings is clearly evident and waiting to be explored further, but this particular painting tells a story with far more emotion and sadness than the obvious.
The literal story of this painting shows the end of an era, one of the greatest warships of the British Navy, whose power is shown by this piece to be declining; a hero ship that played a key part in the victory of the Battle of Waterloo being pulled along effortlessly by a small steam tugboat, led away from its former fame and glory to be taken and destroyed, its functional purpose no longer required as the age of steam is speedily taking over.
Another point worth noting is the stark contrast between the wonderfully elegant HMS Temeraire, facing her fate gracefully, with all strength and prowess in comparison to the small dark, evil looking steam tugboat; kicking out a thick billowing smog of black smoke and looking ugly for all intents and purposes.
This piece also speak volumes about Turner, in his 60’s at the time of painting this and steadily getting older in years, his eyesight worsening alongside his ageing. Andrew Wilton said in his book J.M.W. Turner: His Art and Life –
The demise of heroic strength is the subject of the painting, and it has been suggested that the ships stands for the artist himself, with an accomplished and glorious past but now contemplating his mortality.
This masterpiece does evoke a strong sense of loss, but it also shows the power of a strong will and the refusal to face the end fearfully or with self-pity; the thought of giving up being a thought not even worth considering, let alone entertaining.
Time for another quick cup and a quick glance at the quote –
“Light is therefore colour.”
A pretty self-explanatory quote as far as quote analysis goes, there may be people out there who could deduce an entire book from this quote, as for me personally, I’m happy just to read it and accept it for what it says. Admittedly though I would have used a different Turner quote for the £20 note, regardless of its relevance –
“If I could find anything blacker than black, I’d use it.”
Although with that in mind, if alive now he definitely would be in anguish over the current Vantablack uproar and arguments; the blackest black which Anish Kapoor owns the exclusive rights to, a funny business really.
Anyway, that’s it for now and I’ll be back with another Morning Coffee in a fortnight, that way it gives me time to find an interesting topic to write about and get the research done; as opposed to just rambling aimlessly.
Thank you for taking the time to join me for a coffee this morning, I hope you’ve enjoyed it and taken something from the experience, please feel free to leave a comment and subscribe to my blog!

domain: artistic


Columbus is host to the National Hockey League All Star game this week-end. The NHL showcase will bring thousands fans and visitors to the city as well as international media attention.
Building An Environmentally Friendly Home
Listen to the Story
Columbus has the first Platinum LEED certified house in Ohio. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Listen to an interview of WOSU’s Kim Fox with Nate Kredich, vice president of residential market development with the U.S. Green Building Council. They provide the LEED certification.
For more information, visit U.S. Green Building Council


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We have one of the best collections of local and family history for Manly and the Northern Beaches, collated from history sites and personal family albums of our members making it unique in every way. Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches, began in July 2013, as a place to share my family history research and invite others to share theirs also, to gather local history and precious memories before they are lost. I think my love of history first began in my childhood,hearing my mother share memories of her childhood, growing up in North Manly during the war. Mum's grandparents also lived close by and we walked past their old house in Soldiers Avenue Harbord on the way to Freshwater beach.
I began researching my family history in the mid 80s. There was no internet back then and all history tracings had to be done at the Archives at the Rocks, using the old microfilm machines, which was fine because I'd learnt how to use them when I worked at the Bank after leaving school. That too has changed, from the Bank of New South Wales, to Westpac...nothing stays the same, except our history! The journey took me back hundreds of years to England, Ireland, Scotland, Norway, Germany and even New Caledonia, but it wasn't until living far from home in Norway that I started searching closer to home that brought me back to Manly, and in doing so, found out that four and five generations of my ancestors were either born n bred in Manly or moved there to be closer to family; some even left for work for decades then came back. Talk about history repeating itself. This was the foundation stone of starting Lost Manly and the Northern Beaches, as the name means so much to me in more ways than I can express.
It's hard to believe that the Northern Beaches was once one of the least desirable places in Sydney to live because it was a long and difficult road trip from Sydney, and few travailed. The Northern Beaches is now one of the most desirable places to live in Sydney, reflected in the inflated housing prices, forcing many families to leave, causing a sense of 'dispossession' or loss, which I hope Lost Manly community can help to ease. This too forms part of the LOST MANLY ethos.
A punt at the Spit run by the Ellery clan who lived close by, was punting passengers and horse and cart, then the automobile, across Middle Harbour, until the Spit Bridge was built in 1924.
Learn about Manly's humble beginnings, the vision of one man, Henry Gilbert Smith, from the 'mother land' of England, who fell in love with the natural beauty of Manly and envisioned an Utopian paradise; a holiday by the sea, an escape from the industrial age life, that Sydney town had embraced with gusto; smoke, smoke, noise, and pollution, crime and poverty, he sought escapism on the peninsular paradise.
A holiday by the sea, where people can forget all their troubles and cares, and bathe in the natural beauty of its surroundings, though swimming was still fifty years away from legalisation. Smith's vision was for a new 'BRIGHTON BY THE SEA' which he first envisioned, naming it 'ELLENSVILLE' after his wife. He also saw its development potential, and quickly claimed much of the surrounding land. Though the land was not uninhabited.
- Manly is situated on the land of the Gayemagal people, the traditional owners of this land.
- The Gayemagal lived in the Manly area and thrived due to the abundance of food resources like fish, shellfish and animals. Evidence of these can be found in the middens all over the coastal area.
- Aboriginal people are part of the oldest surviving continuous culture in the world.
- Early relations between the first colonists and the Gayemagal people quickly soured.
- In 1789 a Smallpox epidemic spread through the local Aboriginal population.
- By the 1830s, only a few Aboriginal people remained in the Manly area.
- Recorded Aboriginal sites included shelter, midden sites, rock engravings, open midden sites, shelter cave art and open camp sites. From manlyaustralia.com.au/info/history. For more historical information, please visit www.aboriginalheritage.org.
Many suburbs were named after Aboriginal names:
- Akuna Bay – 'place of water'
- Allambie - 'to remain a while'
- Barrenjoey – 'young kangaroo'
- Curl Curl - curial curial meaning 'river of life'
- Elanora -'camp by the sea'
- Narraweena - 'a quiet place in the hills' (From northernbeaches.gov.au)
By 1855 his vision of "BRIGHTON BY THE SEA", "ELLENSVILLE", was in full steam ahead, and the first ferry service began, a cargo wharf was built, and the people came. The cargo wharf was soon turned into a passenger wharf and daily ferry were in full swing.
The people needed to be fed, so Manly Pier Family Hotel was built (opposite the wharf) where ferry punters could eat and sleep and be refreshed on their sojourn from the city. The opening day of the hotel saw a huge celebration, Manly's first, as a full brass band played and patrons at the hotel enjoyed the sights and sounds from above. One of the three posters on sale now highlights the history of the Manly Ferries from 1900-1960 designed and illustrated in 1987 by Michael Muter with history and research contributed by John Darroch.
The numbers of ferry passengers grew in search of a day of escapism from the harsh realities of every day life in the city; to soak up the surrounding natural beauty and the health benefits of the fresh sea air. That is how my great grandparents first came to Manly, under doctor's orders for a lung condition.
By the 1920s Manly was in full swing and The Corso became a 'street of dreams', Manly had its own's daily newspaper and a competition was run which saw the creation this winning song, 'MANLY BY THE SEA', in 1924. We're currently working on bringing this song back to life as one of our members' great aunts has an old pianola with this song. We've also got one of our admin, Martin, a retired opera singer, working on an ensemble using the sheet music, so it should be a lot of fun. Martin's been holding 'covid concerts' from his balcony in Munich Germany, while they've been in lockdown in 2020, which have been very popular amongst the neighbours, so we're looking forward to seeing what he produces for us. We'll also print some posters from 1924 (pictured below) to celebrate the occasion.
Discover the lasting legacy left by the now historic Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company (PJ&MSSCo), who started the first Manly Ferry Service from Circular Quay to Manly in 1855. Learn how they coined the phrase, 'Seven miles from Sydney a Thousand miles from care' that has been seen by many generations of Manly Ferry punters as you arrive at Manly Wharf. The PJ&MSSCo. held a newspaper competition, in the 1930s to caption a slogan for their ferry campaign and the winner was a local Manly girl from Manly. Say Hi to her granddaughter in our facebook group!
The slogan was later added to the classic Fred Elliott painting of the SS-Barrenjoey, as she glided past the Heads in April 1927 and we’ve embraced that as our image as it captures everything Lost Manly is about. https://www.lostmanly.com.au
We've captured the phenomenon of the SYDNEY STREET PHOTOGRAPHER of the 1930s and 40s, and gathered quite a collection from Lost Manly members. We might even print a few street photography prints as posters on demand. Contact us to request a print!
Our ever-growing collection captures generations of locals and tourists as they strolled from the ferry wharf to the beach, along The Corso (named after il Corso in Italy), passing St Matthews Church which is a favoured backdrop for many of the street photographs. Other favoured locations for these 1930s and 40s phenomenon was at Manly Wharf, as punters arrived by Ferry and headed towards the Harbour Pool, Promenade, and Pavilion. We have, perhaps, the largest Manly street photography collection around. Pictured here is my great Uncle LAC Bede Bernard Sutton RAAF, and his fiancé Mary Morgan. After researching Bede's story I was able to pinpoint the date this picture was taken and it proved to be a significant moment captured in time, of their last goodbye, because the day after this picture was taken, he left for war and never came home.
We have built up an extensive Picture collection with hundreds of albums capturing life as it was on the Northern Beaches from 1855 to the present (these albums are currently accessible on the Lost Manly & the Northern Beaches Facebook group and are in the process of transferring them to the website. To experience the essence of Manly is to be seven miles from Sydney a thousand miles from care.
Posters will be packaged and shipped in a protective postal cylinder with a tracking number to ensure delivery within 5 business days. All Three Posters for $20
Join our engaging facebook group where it all began:

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Wow, I'm so excited and thankful. I won the Christmas giveaway from Sweet Sassy Sadie Lee. I love her blog and am so honored that I am going to receive the beautiful garland and tags from her posting dated November 10.
Please go over and visit her too. Her blog is such a joy to plunder through with a hot cup of coffee or cocoa.
Look below at what I will be receiving in the mail soon. I can't wait to decorate with the garland and of course the tags are so adorable I think maybe I'll put them in a pretty bowl and just stare at them. I'll certainly take pictures for everyone.
I'm slowly but surely getting this ole' farmhouse on Lillie Mae Acres all decked out for Christmas. As I decorate, I'm also doing some deep cleaning. If you're like me, you don't deep clean near as much as your ancestors did. Besides, when you decorate like I do in a primitive style, a little dust and dirt sort of blends in, unnoticed for a while.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Monday, the start of a blessed week.

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Michigan Football: 10 Prospects the Wolverines Must Land in 2014
With the class of 2013 officially in the books, the Michigan football program will now turn its attention toward the 2014 crop of recruits, and there are 10 prospects the Wolverines need to land to finish atop the team recruiting rankings come next February.
As of now, the Maize and Blue have room for only 14 prospects, which means the Wolverines cannot afford to misjudge any of the recruits they will be bringing in for next season.
Michigan brought in the No. 5 ranked recruiting class this year, and it is in good standing with some of the nation's elite prospects, so there is no reason to believe the Wolverines could not finish higher than that if the class swells to 18-20 prospects after natural attrition.
Who do the Wolverines have to land in 2014? Click ahead to find out!
Note: The players on this list are all considered to be "must-have" prospects either out of Michigan's need at the position, or their overall abilities on the field. All player and team rankings are courtesy of Rivals.com.
Alex Bars, Offensive Tackle
This name will undoubtedly sound familiar to the Maize and Blue faithful, and it should considering that 4-star offensive tackle prospect Alex Bars (Nashville, Tenn.) is the younger brother of rising redshirt freshman lineman Blake Bars.
Although the Michigan Wolverines may have a leg up on some of the other schools pursuing the nation's No. 55 overall prospect, so do the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Another one of Bars' older brothers, Brad, is a redshirt sophomore for the Nittany Lions and his father, Mike, played for Notre Dame.
Michigan has already done an excellent job of rebuilding its offensive line over the past two recruiting classes, but adding a talent like Bars would provide more competition and depth.
The 6'6", 290-pounder told Tim Sullivan of TheWolverine.com last June he would "probably" make his decision going into his senior season at Montgomery Bell Academy.
Bars currently has offers from the likes of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Florida State Seminoles, Florida Gators and South Carolina Gamecocks to name a few.
The race is wide open for Bars' services at the moment, but the picture should be much clearer come spring.
Mason Cole, Offensive Tackle
Another offensive lineman might be a stretch for a prospect the Michigan Wolverines need to land, however, if the Maize and Blue are able to bring in 4-star tackle Mason Cole (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) it would significantly increase their chances of reeling in 4-star wide receiver Artavis Scott (Tarpon Springs, Fla.).
The 6'5", 275-pounder may be able to move inside as well if the Wolverines are not able to lure any offensive guards to Ann Arbor, which only adds to the reasons Michigan would love to have him.
Cole will need a year or two to fill out his frame like most offensive linemen do when they transition from high school to college football. Once the East Lake High School standout does though, he has the athleticism to be an all-conference performer.
The Wolverines are the early leaders for Cole, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide are not too far behind.
In the midst of all this, Scott is one of Cole's teammates at East Lake and is the No. 93 overall prospect and has the skill set to be an excellent slot receiver in Michigan's offense.
Given that the Wolverines are the early leaders for Cole, and could land a package deal with Scott It is fairly important to secure a commitment from the nation's No. 107 ranked prospect.
Jabrill Peppers, Cornerback
The Paramus Catholic High School star has a large frame (6'1", 210 lbs), outstanding speed and has no hesitancy when it comes to helping out in run defense. Peppers also disguises his blitzes well and could make a number of impact plays similar to those of former LSU Tigers standout Tyrann Mathieu.
The Maize and Blue made Peppers' first cut and found out they will be competing against the Stanford Cardinal, Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Stanford and Ohio State are the early leaders in this race, but the Wolverines were apparently hindered early in the recruiting process by something that will be addressed swiftly in the coming weeks.
"I grew up a Michigan fan," Peppers told Adam Friedman of Rivals.com. "The only thing that hurts Michigan at the moment is the coaching stability. I heard Coach (Brady) Hoke has a lot of offers from the NFL on the table."
The No. 2 ranked prospect does not want to go to a school in the midst of a coaching change, though there is no reason to believe Hoke is leaving Ann Arbor anytime soon.
Michigan could very well be atop Peppers' list in the coming weeks and will be in a battle with its biggest rivals to secure his signature.
Malik McDowell, Defensive End
Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes have already poached one of the top prospects in the Great Lakes State, which makes it even more critical for the Michigan Wolverines to land 4-star defensive end Malik McDowell (Detroit, Mich.).
The No. 21 ranked high school prospect in America is a terror off the edge because of his rare combination of speed and size.
The 6'6", 292-pounder has already visited Ann Arbor, the Michigan State Spartans, Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and wants to use one of his five official trips to check out the Oregon Ducks.
The fight for McDowell is not going to end anytime soon either. It appears for the time being, the midwest schools have a slight lead in McDowell's recruitment, though that will not mean anything until he takes some visits outside of the region and begins to evaluate all of his options.
This is arguably the most important recruiting battle Michigan will have for the class of 2014 considering McDowell is the highest ranked prospect in the state.
Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback
If the Michigan Wolverines are unable to land Jabrill Peppers, the next best option for a cornerback in the class of 2014 may very well be 4-star athlete Marshon Lattimore (Cleveland, Ohio).
The nation's No. 41 overall prospect is an explosive player on both sides of the ball, but the Maize and Blue would like to bring him in as a cornerback.
Lattimore has good size for a corner at 6'0", 185 pounds, and his leaping abilities make it tough for opposing quarterbacks to throw over him. The Glenville Academic Campus standout also has great hands, which are frequently on display when he lines up at wide receiver on the offensive side of the ball.
At this stage of the recruiting process, Lattimore is still considering all of his options and wants to visit Ann Arbor.
The Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan are getting the most attention from Lattimore right now, but there is still plenty of time for other programs to enter the fray.
In addition to being an outstanding two-way athlete, Lattimore is the No. 1 prospect in the state of Ohio, according to BuckeyeGrove.com.
Landing Lattimore would give Michigan two of the top three recruits from the Buckeye State, which would definitely send a message to Urban Meyer and Ohio State.
Joe Mixon, Running Back
Landing 5-star running back Derrick Green in the class of 2013 makes the Michigan Wolverines' backfield one of the best in the Big Ten Conference, and adding 4-star prospect Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif.) would add even more depth and athleticism at the position.
Mixon has a large frame at 6'2", 210 pounds that would allow him to withstand the physical style of play in the Big Ten. The nation's No. 82 overall recruit also has outstanding speed, is elusive in the open field and displays great hands when catching screen passes.
The Freedom High School standout picked up an offer from Michigan last December, and Mixon expressed interest in visiting Ann Arbor.
This recruiting battle will drag out through the summer months and into the winter since Mixon wants to take all five of his official visits.
Michigan will find out where it stands once Mixon narrows down his list in a couple of months and decides which schools he would like to visit.
Adding Mixon to the 2014 recruiting haul would give the Wolverines a dynamic duo of running backs for the next three or four years.
Kallen Ballage, Athlete
One of the most versatile prospects in the country flying under the radar right now is Kalen Ballage (Falcon, Colo.), who has lined up at linebacker, running back, wide receiver, safety and even did some punting for his high school team.
The 6'2", 212-pounder has great speed (4.40 40-yard dash) and could play just about all of the aforementioned positions for the Michigan Wolverines.
When Michigan offered Ballage, the coaches did not inform him what position they were recruiting him as, so the staff is clearly impressed with his athleticism enough to leave the door open for the time being.
Ballage's recruitment has yet to heat up, however, the Falcon High School standout should add to his current list of six offers very soon.
The Wolverines are in a great position to land the dynamic athlete and that may be enough to hold off any of the larger programs recruiting Ballage down the road.
Lawrence Marshall, Defensive End
In one of the most shocking turn of events on the recruiting trail this year, in-state defensive end Lawrence Marshall (Southfield, Mich.) de-committed from the Ohio State Buckeyes and has flung the door wide open for the Michigan Wolverines to swoop in and steal him from their arch-rival.
Marshall was on an unofficial visit to Michigan when he made the announcement.
The Southfield High School star will be a project player at the college level. Marshall needs to add a lot of muscle to his lanky 6'4", 205-pound frame, though, his speed will enable him to make an impact coming off of the edge even if he is not one of the strongest defensive linemen in the country.
Michigan, Ohio State and the Michigan State Spartans appear to be the three schools out in front for Marshall at the moment. This one is far from over, though.
The Wolverines have completely rebuilt their offensive line and have made strides to do the same on the opposite side of the ball.
Adding Marshall would help expedite the process and it never hurts to win a battle against two of your biggest rivals.
Da'Shawn Hand, Defensive End
There is no defensive lineman in the class of 2014 more dominant and physically imposing than 5-star prospect Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, Va.), and if the Michigan Wolverines want to continue to be considered an elite program on the recruiting trail, they need to win this battle.
The scariest part is: Hand could stand to add some more weight to his already massive 6'4", 245-pound frame and become an even stronger force in the trenches.
Hand has an unmatched combination of athleticism, agility and quickness at the point of attack. Basically, Hand is a prototypical SEC defensive lineman and would be a huge pick up for Michigan.
The nation's No. 1 ranked prospect recently narrowed down his long list of schools to just five finalists. Michigan is still in the mix along with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Virginia Tech Hokies and South Carolina Gamecocks.
This will be the one of the toughest prospects for Michigan to land, but it has put itself in great position to secure a commitment from Hand next February.
Drake Harris, Wide Receiver
Now that 4-star wide receiver Drake Harris (Grand Rapids, Mich) has decided to play only college football and not attempt to play basketball at the next level as well, his recruitment is wide open.
Despite the fact Harris is still committed to the Michigan State Spartans, the Grand Rapids Christian High School star wants to visit other schools.
Harris is a dynamic playmaker as a receiver. The No. 56 ranked high school junior stands 6'4" and tips the scales at 180 pounds, which makes him all the more dangerous once his ability to make catches in traffic is factored into the equation.
The Wolverines are going to be in a heated battle with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Michigan State for Harris' signature.
Since Michigan failed to land a marquee wide receiver in its 2013 recruiting haul, the need to bring in Harris is critical to the future success of the Wolverines' passing attack.
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Missouri Measles Outbreak Reaches 10 Reported Cases
Health officials say there are now 10 reported cases of measles in Missouri, including three students.
The Kansas City Star reports that the Kansas City Health Department plans to announce seven more exposure sites in the Kansas City area.
Department spokesman Bill Snook says the three students with the virus attend Liberty Public Schools. Two students pose no risk, but a third student may have exposed others at South Valley Middle School.
A district spokesman says children who aren’t immunized are being held out of school.
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service official Kerri Tesreau says the cases may have come from an international traveler living in Missouri.
Health officials in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa are warning that a Missouri traveler may have exposed their residents to the virus.


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A popular Birmingham restaurant has closed down - less than a year after being fined for a mice problem.
The Victorian Restaurant in Great Western Arcade was fined £4,000 at Birmingham Magistrates Court in January.
Now it has been revealed it closed its doors in November.
A letter from law firm CMS to the tenant and secured to the door said their 10 year lease ended on November 10 and all goods "must be removed."
BirminghamLive previously reported how Environmental health officers discovered mice droppings, built-up dirt and out-of-date cheese at the Victorian Restaurant n December 2016.
Aum Gurudev Ltd, the company behind the restaurant, pleaded guilty to four food safety and hygiene offences.
The restaurant was closed for two days while improvements were carried out.
At the time of the court case in January, the restaurant boasted a five star food hygiene rating.
On TripAdvisor The Victorian Restaurant has a rating of 3.
One of the last reviews was published in November.
Louisejohnson0 said: "Booked a table via Groupon for Afternoon Tea for my friend's birthday, on arrival today place has closed down, although they had my contact details no one informed me.
"Very disappointing and spoiled was was meant to be a lovely day out. Just a warning if anyone else has booked, contact Groupon Customer Services."
But the restaurant had also enjoyed positive reviews before the closure.
Harvey207, posting in October, said: "It's a family run business which made us feel very welcome. The food was very nice, vegetarian and meat dishes alike."
Regular TripAdvisor user Mike R said: "The staff here are very welcoming, we stumbled on the place while looking for a lunch stop.
"The location, in the Great Western Avenue, is a bonus and the shops are up market and mostly independent.
"The restaurant has character and lives up to its name. Small area downstairs but use the stairs to access the larger eating area upstairs, we thought the prices very competitive and would return. The arcade has been thoughtfully restored and is well worth a look."
A spokeswoman for Great Western Arcade declined to comment on the closure.
Other recent restaurant closures include Al Frash on Ladypool Road - one of the few authentic balti restaurants left in the city.


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Trump’s administration rolled back federal guidelines that guaranteed the right for transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity instead of their biological sex.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court was notified by officials from the federal Education and Justice departments that schools should disregard previously issued memos from the Obama administration about transgender student rights. Those memos stated that forcing transgender students to use the bathroom of their biological sex was a violation of the federal anti-discrimination laws.
The two-page letter, titled “Dear Colleague” states that the administration wants to “further and more completely consider the legal issues involved,” but provides no guidelines for transgender students.
LGBT right activists immediately condemned the decision, accusing the Trump administration of breaking past promises to protect gay and transgender rights.
Following the decision, protests were organised in front of the White House and a series of LGBT rights advocates spoke out, including Ellen DeGeneres, and also singer Jackie Evancho who performed at Trump’s inauguration.

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