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Great people? Steve Jobs, the Occupy movement, and us
by Bill Gunderson
Steve Jobs was a Great Man. Not always a Nice Guy. That is the secret the Occupy Wall Street crowd does not know.
Apparently, the greatest industrialist in American history would yell at people. He insisted they do it his way. He fired them if they did not. Sometimes he fired them if they did.
Steve Jobs set out to change the world though one simple goal: perfection. Although he had to settle for excellence, he inspired a lot of people along the way.
Jobs would not have been welcome at the Occupy Wall Street protests. He was not a "wave your fingers in the air if you want to let me talk" kind of fellow.
Nor did he care a darn about creating jobs. Steve Jobs was all about creating excellent goods and services for people. The jobs were a side effect, not a driving force.
From what anyone can tell, members of the Occupy Wall Street crowd think that talking about creating jobs by waving your fingers is the same as actually creating jobs. Of course it is not. And if the Occupy Wall Street crowd would put down their iPads and iPhones for a moment, they could learn why by looking at a tale of two companies:
Twenty miles apart in Silicon Valley sit two buildings: One is empty, funded by $535 million of guaranteed government loans. The other is a bustling campus that belongs to the largest publicly-traded enterprise in the world– started by two guys in their mom's garage. As for government guarantees, they were not even guaranteed their moms would let them work there.
One is thriving. The other is dead. One changed the world. The other may change an election. One is Apple. The other Solyndra.
Solyndra touted its solar panels as unique. Scientists, however, saw little that was revolutionary. But the marketing people did not want to hear that. Neither did a bedazzled Department of Energy before it cut them a check for half a billion.
A Livermore movie theater was one of the first to install the government-funded solar panels. They were not as effective as advertised. But few knew. Or wanted to know.
Construction of Solyndra's state-of-the art plant continued. Somehow, it is human nature to be more lavish with other people's money, something Jobs and Steve Wozniak never experienced.
Solyndra opened its Taj Mahal of plants in September 2010 with much fanfare. It was nothing like Steve Jobs' garage. But it did have alternative energy A-listers such as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vice President Joe Biden.
For $535 million, Solyndra created 3,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent jobs– that lasted one year. The new plant was shuttered on August 31, 2011. It was never close to breaking even.
Many knew that before Solyndra admitted it. In May of 2010, Solyndra's own auditors issued as "going concern" letter– issued only when auditors believe that serious doubt exists that the company will survive beyond twelve months.
Mysteriously, this did not stop President Obama from showing up in Silicon Valley in May to hail Solyndra as a model for a bright new future in our economy.
He had the right idea. Just the wrong building.
Bill Gunderson is a San Diego financial radio talk show host, author, and frequent guest in national financial news outlets; his commentaries have appeared in over 100 newspapers.Read more on: solyndra
9 comments
Most of the Apple jobs are overseas and the iPod etc are just
expensive toys not really necessary. So what is his legacy?
I think Thomas Watson was a greater industrialist by far among
Jobs was a salesman- and he did a great job of selling not only his devices, but also himself and his company.
mer- you are correct, TJW, Sr was one of the greatest industrialist- honest too. And TJW Jr carried that legacy on as well.
Aaron Feuerstein is an exemplary citizen. Maybe this is the "secret" industrialist that few know about.
Jobs was among the greatest of American innovators, but there is no shortage of public awareness recently.
Steve Jobs did not further technology, he just motivated people at his company to dress up existing technologies to look prettier. Steve Wozniak, Lee Felsenstein, the Xerox PARC team, and hundreds of other unsung innovators deserve the credit that Steve Jobs receives. Perhaps if journalists took the time to (a) learn their history and (b) learn about their computers we would not see so much Jobs/Apple worship.
B- and your point is?
Jobs couldn't tell you why the screen lit up (that is what Woz could do), but he could make it an experience for everyone else.
His vision was "sell the sizzle".....and he sold a lot of sizzle.
HarryD --
How did Steve Jobs make "it" an "experience for everyone else?" Neither Steve Jobs nor Apple brought computers into everyone's homes. Neither Steve Jobs nor Apple ushered in the age of global computer networks or any of the popular applications of the Internet (e.g. the world wide web). It was not Steve Jobs nor anyone at Apple who figured out how to make easy-to-understand software interfaces.
Steve Jobs was good at building markets for certain innovative products. How does that make him worthy of the praise that the media has heaped upon him? Why does Steve Wozniak receive only secondary mention? Why does nobody bother to mention Lee Felsenstein or Ed Roberts? If the CEOs of companies that changed the world deserve to have praise piled upon them, why not Bill Gates, whose company's products have done far more in making computers available to "everyday people" than Apple ever did? Why not the CEOs of other successful corporations?
So go ahead, explain why Steve Jobs deserves our adoration and praise. I am not interested in euphemisms about "sizzle," I want to know what great thing he did that overshadowed the work of all the people who ushered in the computer age.
The great moments in history photo op: "I'm pushing for Great Jobs in Green Technology/ the stimulus spending is working" and Obama. "Mission Accomplished" and Bush. "president hugging someone he does know but he did" and Clinton. "No new taxes" and Bush 1. "Cut taxes for the wealthy and good times are coming" Reagan. "I pardoned him to get past it" Ford
I'm thinking that you felt like you made a point here. You didn't. But you did offer the easy smack-down example that gets used in Rhetoric 101 courses, so all was not in vain.
B- jealous, huh? HE DIED! That's why.
Adoration and praise? Your words not mine. Jobs was but one person who "ushered in" the computer age. When people die, they become cult heroes to many
He was a good sales person who was able to revolutionize the world with his products and convince people to buy them when they were outrageously expensive compared to todays market and technology.
If that is not good enough, why don't you come up with someone who deserves "adoration and praise". Dead or alive...........
Woz was not in front of the people and he is not dead yet...........he will get a lot of praise when he passes I am sure.


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Will Smith Freesyles On Stage While Doug E. Fresh Beat Boxes!
"At Gabrielle Union's 40th birthday party" - Video by Julia Beverly
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Hours after his ex-wife's funeral in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, Bobby Brown will be on stage in Connecticut, performing with New Edition, E Online reported.
New Edition's agent announced that Brown has rejoined the group's 30 anniversary tour after deaparting temporarily to be with his daughter in the wake of Whitney Houston's death.
Brown was on tour in Mississippi with his former band when he learned that Houston died on Saturday in Beverly Hills. He took the stage that night, occasionally weeping and at one point shouting "I love you, Whitney!" and blowing a kiss to the sky. He later flew out to Los Angeles to be with the couple's daughter, Bobbi Kristina, who was briefly hospitalized for anxiety.
U.S. & World
New Edition resumed its tour without Brown, but he will perform on Thursday night in Maryland, in Connecticut on Saturday and then in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday, according to spokespeople for the Mohegan Sun.
The Connecuticut show begins at 8 p.m. and does not conflict with Houston's funeral, though it remains unclear whether he will be attending.


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UIS Programs: China Language Culture
COM 480 – Global Media & Culture in China
Summer 2010
University of Illinois-Springfield
Dr. Kathy Petitte Jamison
Credit hours 4
Professor Contact Info: UHB 3012. Phone: 206-8032; email@example.com
Travel abroad presents abundant opportunities to not only learn about other people and their culture, but also to find insight into one's own people, culture, and self. This course will introduce students to the study of global media, culture and contemporary critiques of globalization. Texts include a variety of media topics, including world television, cross cultural communication, Internet and self-regulation, advertising and cinema.
The goals of this course are to discover the media and culture of China first-hand; to become acquainted with the study of global communication; and to have a safe, successful, happy trip.
The course will evolve in three phases:
I. Pre-trip — orientation, readings/discussions, guest speaker; develop research proposal for the analysis of media texts and culture while in China (through observing, questioning and journaling from student's choice of a media genre, i.e., TV, newspaper, film, advertising).
II. Trip — students will be paired with their Heilongjiang University counterparts who will assist as media and cultural guides and interpreters; in return, UIS students will assist HU students with their English and their questions about American culture.
III. Post-trip — write final paper, meet to discuss experiences, conclude the course and turn in final work.
Students will play key roles in the successful execution of the course by respecting and watching out for other members of the group; and by striving to achieve the most positive experience for all.
Selected chapters:
Straubhaar, J. (2007). World Television: From Global to Local. Calif. : Sage. ISBN: 978-0-8039-5463-2.
Reading only: Ch. 1, A Multilayered World of Television; Ch. 6, Producing National Television, Glocal and Local.
Gannon, M.J. and Pillai, R. (2009). Understanding Global Cultures: Metaphorical Journeys Through 29 Nations, Clusters of Nations, Continents, and Diversity, Fourth Edition. Calif. : SAGE. Paperback ISBN: 9781412957892.
Reading only: Ch. 25, China's Great Wall and Cross-Cultural Paradox; Ch. 26, The Chinese Family Altar.
Li, C.N. (2008). The Bitter Sea: Coming of Age in a China Before Mao. New York : Harper. Paperback ISBN: 978-0-06-170954-8
Journal articles:
Weber, I. and Jia, L. (2007) Internet and self-regulation in China: the cultural logic of controlled commodification. Media Culture Society, 29, 772.
Nelson, M. and Paek, H.J. (2005, Sept.). Cross-Cultural Differences in Sexual Advertising Content in a Transnational Women's Magazine. Sex Roles, 53(5/6).
Curtin, M. (2005). Murdoch's dilemma, or 'What's the price of TV in China?'
Media Culture Society, 27, 155.
Pang, L. (2004). Piracy/Privacy: The Despair of Cinema and Collectivity in China. 31(3),101-124.
Keane, M. (2006). Once were peripheral: creating media capacity in East Asia. Media Culture Society, 28, 835.
Cheng'en, W. (2003). Journey to the West. W.J.F. Jenner (Translator). Foreign Languages Press. ISBN-13: 978-7119016634.
Chin, T.H., Tsao H.C. and K. Ngo. (1999). A Dream of Red Mansions [ABRIDGED] Yang Hsien Yi (Translator). Cheng & Tsui. Abridged edition. ISBN-13: 978-0887271786.
Phase I Pre-trip: This phase will include all pre-trip orientation, readings/discussions, guest lectures and research planning. Research planning will culminate in writing a research question, a literature review, and a proposed methodology for gathering data during the travel experience. This phase constitutes 25% of your grade and will be based on the work you do in preparation for the study abroad experience.
Phase II Trip: Then you will go to China where you will conduct systematic observations, interviews and/or collect data according to the plan you have identified as your methodology. This will be your primary objective while at Heilongjiang University in Harbin. This portion of the course, the actual study abroad experience, constitutes 50% of your grade.
Phase III Post-trip: Here you will complete your final paper, attend a post-trip discussion and turn in the final research paper, all of which constitutes 25% of your grade.
Note to Graduate Students: Graduate standing means that you are expected to produce graduate-level work and you have an additional course requirement. See me about the additional requirement shortly after our first class meeting.
Participation: Please be aware that as a participant of this course you share in the responsibility of ensuring a comfortable, meaningful, and beneficial experience for all.
Writing Standards:
Use the APA style book for content and formatting. All writing should be formal, precise, spell-checked and proofread.
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
To quote from the UIS academic handbook: "To plagiarize is to present as one's own a thought, writing, or invention belonging to another."
Plagiarism usually takes one of the following three forms:
1. It is the inclusion of another person's writing in one's own essay, without proper acknowledgment of the author
2. It involves the paraphrasing of another person's work, without proper acknowledgment of the author
3. It is the presentation of another person's original theories, views, opinions, etc., without proper acknowledgment of the author.
Do your own work and cite the work of others whom you refer to and you won't have any problems. See the UIS Center for Teaching and Learning web address at https://www.uis.edu/ctl/writinghandouts.htm#documentation for information on how to avoid plagiarism.
Plagiarism or academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating on an exam) will result in at minimum a zero for the assignment in question with a possible F for the entire course. As well, the incident will be reported to the Communication Department faculty and to the Chancellor of Student Affairs.
Disabilities: Reasonable accommodations will be made for students who have a documented disability. Please notify me early in the semester of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. All accommodations must be approved through the Office of Disability Services (ODS) in the Human Resources Building (HRB), Room 80, (217) 206-6666.
TBA specific meeting dates per group collaboration of schedules
March — Orientation, setting goals, guidelines, get to know each other, discuss research plan; letters of invitation, visa, tickets.
April — Speaker, China Visiting Scholar, former scholar from UIS to China, update research plan, readings
May — trip checklist, plan for duration, discuss readings
Tentatively: Leave last week of May (begin Monday, May 24 or as early as the Wednesday before, May 20) and stay through second week of June, around Monday, June 7.
Total 12-14 days. Including or plus 1-2 days in Beijing (Tianamen Square, Temple, Great Wall).
NOTE: These dates will not be finalized until the required number of students sign up for and buy tickets for this study abroad course.
Reading schedule: TBA
Final post-trip meeting: TBA (make within 3-5 days after trip)


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In the famous poem "Guest House" (below), by Jellaludin Rumi, we are reminded to welcome all the guests in our house, whether they might be thought of as "bad" or "good". I apply this philosophy to uncomfortable images as well as uncomfortable feelings. If there is a person that I believe is thinking badly of … Continue reading Welcoming All Our Guests
Tag: depression


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December 19, 2014 by Sarah Couri Leave a Comment
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About Sarah Couri
Sarah Couri is a librarian at Grace Church School's High School Division, and has served on a number of YALSA committees, including Quick Picks, Great Graphic Novels, and (most pertinently!) the 2011 Printz Committee. Her opinions do not reflect the attitudes or opinions of SLJ, GCS, YALSA, or any other institutions with which she is affiliated. Find her on Twitter @scouri or e-mail her at scouri35 at gmail dot com.


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Local reaction split on Scouts lifting gay ban
Boy Scouts of America could approve change next week
Facing diverse and ceaseless protests, the Boy Scouts of America is signaling its readiness to end the nationwide exclusion of gays as scouts or leaders and give the sponsors of local troops the freedom to decide the matter for themselves.
The Scouts' national executive board could approve the measure possibly as soon as next week.
Locally, Massachusetts troop leaders said they support the policy change.
"(We're) pleased change is coming. The council voted to work with the national office to try and encourage them to drop the ban," said Brian Bingman, board member and spokesman for the Framingham-based Knox Trail Council.
The proposed change was outlined Monday by the Scouts. Under it, the different religious and civic groups that sponsor Scout units would be able to decide for themselves whether to maintain an exclusion of gays or to open up their membership.
Calling the possible change "very tragic," said Brian Camenker, of Mass Resistance, a pro-family lobby organization, opposes lifting the ban.
"There's a reason the Boy Scouts have always fought this -- besides the obvious moral degradation. I guess they'll have to change their motto now," he said.
Protests over the no-gays policy gained momentum in 2000, when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the BSA's right to exclude gays. Scout units lost sponsorships by public schools and other entities that adhered to nondiscrimination policies, and several local Scout councils made public their displeasure with the policy.
More recently, pressure surfaced on the Scouts' own national executive board. Two high-powered members -- Ernst & Young CEO James Turley and AT&T Inc. CEO Randall Stephenson -- indicated they would try to work from within to change the membership policy, which stood in contrast to their own companies' non-discrimination policies.
Amid petition campaigns by Change.org, shipping giant UPS Inc. and drug-manufacturer Merck & Co. announced that they were halting donations from their charitable foundations to the Boy Scouts as long as the no-gays policy was in force.
"It's unquestionably the wrong move. And time will show, the Boys Scouts already have serious problems with sexual abuse in their ranks. This is going to make it a lot worse," Camenker said.
The change would be another momentous milestone for America's gay-rights movement, following a surge of support for same-sex marriage and the ending of the ban on gays serving opening in military.
"Our board and membership is diverse. (We) don't have a unanimous, monolithic point of view," Bingham said. "It is good policy change is coming."


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President Obama narrowly leads Mitt Romney in three battleground states less than a week before the election, according to new NBC News/Wall Street Journal polls.
In Iowa, the heartland launchpad for every presidential bid, the Democratic incumbent draws 50% to 44% for his Republican challenger.
(Read More: Obama Tours NJ Storm Damage as Campaign Resumes.)
In Wisconsin, homestate of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, Mr. Obama draws 49% to 46% for Mr. Romney.
And in New Hampshire, the lone Northeastern state Mr. Romney could win, he trails the president by 49% to 47%.
(Read More: Romney Pulls Even in Colorado, Trails in Nevada: Polls.)
All three telephone surveys of likely voters were conducted for NBC and the Journal on Oct. 28-29 by the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. The margins of error are 2.9 percentage points in Iowa, 3 percentage points in Wisconsin, and 3.1 percentage points in New Hampshire.
The three states, among the nine swing states most closely contested by both parties, were all carried by Mr. Obama four years ago. To attain the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency, Mr. Romney needs to carry most of those nine on Election Day.
(Read More: Pivotal Jobs Data to be Released on Friday.)
Mr. Romney has been counting on holding the upper hand on the economy. But in Iowa, Wisconsin and New Hamphire, Mr. Obama stands either even with Mr. Romney on that issue or within the margin for error.
Mr. Obama has been counting on his superior personal ratings. But Mr.Romney's ratings have improved during the campaign; only in Iowa among the three swing states do more voters view him negatively than positively.
And both candidates have been counting on a gender gap in their favor.
(Read More: Boomer Women Struggle in Recession's Wake.)
In all three states, Mr. Obama enjoys a double digit lead among women — larger than Mr. Romney's lead among men.
—By CNBC's John Harwood


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PARIS, Feb. 2 — In a grim and powerful assessment of the future of the planet, the leading international network of climate scientists has concluded for the first time that global warming is "unequivocal" and that human activity is the main driver, "very likely" causing most of the rise in temperatures since 1950.
They said the world was in for centuries of climbing temperatures, rising seas and shifting weather patterns — unavoidable results of the buildup of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.
But their report, released here on Friday by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said warming and its harmful consequences could be substantially blunted by prompt action.
While the report provided scant new evidence of a climate apocalypse now, and while it expressly avoided recommending courses of action, officials from the United Nations agencies that created the panel in 1988 said it spoke of the urgent need to limit looming and momentous risks.
"In our daily lives we all respond urgently to dangers that are much less likely than climate change to affect the future of our children," said Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, which administers the panel along with the World Meteorological Organization.
"Feb. 2 will be remembered as the date when uncertainty was removed as to whether humans had anything to do with climate change on this planet," he went on. "The evidence is on the table."
The report is the panel's fourth assessment since 1990 on the causes and consequences of climate change, but it is the first in which the group asserts with near certainty — more than 90 percent confidence — that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities have been the main causes of warming in the past half century.
In its last report, in 2001, the panel, consisting of hundreds of scientists and reviewers, said the confidence level for its projections was "likely," or 66 to 90 percent. That level has now been raised to "very likely," better than 90 percent. Both reports are online at www.ipcc.ch.
The Bush administration, which until recently avoided directly accepting that humans were warming the planet in potentially harmful ways, embraced the findings, which had been approved by representatives from the United States and 112 other countries on Thursday night.
Administration officials asserted Friday that the United States had played a leading role in studying and combating climate change, in part by an investment of an average of almost $5 billion a year for the past six years in research and tax incentives for new technologies.
At the same time, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman rejected the idea of unilateral limits on emissions. "We are a small contributor to the overall, when you look at the rest of the world, so it's really got to be a global solution," he said.
The United States, with about 5 percent of the world's population, contributes about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, more than any other country.
Democratic lawmakers quickly fired off a round of news releases using the report to bolster a fresh flock of proposed bills aimed at cutting emissions of greenhouse gases. Senator James M. Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who has called the idea of dangerous human-driven warming a hoax, issued a news release headed "Corruption of Science" that rejected the report as "a political document."
The new report says the global climate is likely to warm 3.5 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit if carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere reach twice the levels of 1750, before the Industrial Revolution.
Many energy and environment experts see such a doubling, or worse, as a foregone conclusion after 2050 unless there is a prompt and sustained shift away from the 20th-century pattern of unfettered burning of coal and oil, the main sources of carbon dioxide, and an aggressive expansion of nonpolluting sources of energy.
And the report says there is a more than a 1-in-10 chance of much greater warming, a risk that many experts say is far too high to ignore.
Even a level of warming that falls in the middle of the group's range of projections would be likely to cause significant stress to ecosystems, according to many climate experts and biologists. And it would alter longstanding climate patterns that shape water supplies and agricultural production.
Moreover, the warming has set in motion a rise in global sea levels, the report says. It forecasts a rise of 7 to 23 inches by 2100 and concludes that seas will continue to rise for at least 1,000 years to come. By comparison, seas rose about 6 to 9 inches in the 20th century.
John P. Holdren, an energy and climate expert at Harvard, said the report "powerfully underscores the need for a massive effort to slow the pace of global climatic disruption before intolerable consequences become inevitable."
"Since 2001, there has been a torrent of new scientific evidence on the magnitude, human origins and growing impacts of the climatic changes that are under way," said Mr. Holdren, who is the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. "In overwhelming proportions, this evidence has been in the direction of showing faster change, more danger and greater confidence about the dominant role of fossil-fuel burning and tropical deforestation in causing the changes that are being observed."
The conclusions came after a three-year review of hundreds of studies of past climate shifts; observations of retreating ice, warming and rising seas, and other changes around the planet; and a greatly expanded suite of supercomputer simulations used to test how the earth will respond to a growing blanket of gases that hold heat in the atmosphere.
The section released Friday was a 20-page summary for policymakers, which was approved early in the morning by teams of officials from more than 100 countries after three days and nights of wrangling over wording with the lead authors, all of whom are scientists.
It described far-flung ramifications for both humans and nature.
"It is very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent," said the summary.
Generally, the scientists said, more precipitation will fall at higher latitudes, which are also likely to see lengthened growing seasons. Semi-arid subtropical regions, already chronically plagued by drought, could have a further 20 percent drop in rainfall under the panel's midrange outlook for increases in the greenhouse gases.
The summary added a new chemical consequence of the buildup of carbon dioxide to the list of mainly climatic and biological effects foreseen in its previous reports: a drop in the pH of seawater as oceans absorb billions of tons of carbon dioxide, which forms carbonic acid when partly dissolved. The ocean would stay alkaline, but marine biologists have said that a change in the direction of acidity could imperil some kinds of corals and plankton.
The report essentially caps a half-century-long effort to discern whether humans, through the buildup of carbon dioxide and other gases released mainly by burning fuels and forests, could influence the earth's climate system in potentially momentous ways.
The group operates under the aegis of the United Nations and was chartered in 1988 — a year of record heat, burning forests and the first big headlines about global warming — to provide regular reviews of climate science to governments to inform policy choices.
Government officials are involved in shaping the summary of each report, but the scientist-authors, who are unpaid, have the final say over the thousands of pages in four underlying technical reports that will be completed and published later this year.
Big questions remain about the speed and extent of some impending changes, both because of uncertainty about future population and pollution trends and the complex interrelationships of the greenhouse emissions, clouds, dusty kinds of pollution, the oceans and earth's veneer of life, which both emits and soaks up carbon dioxide and other such gases.
But a broad array of scientists, including authors of the report and independent experts, said the latest analysis was the most sobering view yet of a century of transition — after thousands of years of relatively stable climate conditions — to a new norm of continual change.
Should greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere at even a moderate pace, average temperatures by the end of the century could match those last seen 125,000 years ago, in the previous warm spell between ice ages, the report said.
At that time, the panel said, sea levels were 12 to 20 feet higher than they are now. Much of that extra water is now trapped in the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, which are eroding in some places.
The panel said there was no solid scientific understanding of how rapidly the vast stores of ice in polar regions will melt, so their estimates on new sea levels were based mainly on how much the warmed oceans will expand, and not on contributions from the melting of ice now on land.
Other scientists have recently reported evidence that the glaciers and ice sheets in the Arctic and Antarctic could flow seaward far more quickly than estimated in the past, and they have proposed that the risks to coastal areas could be much more imminent. But the climate change panel is forbidden by its charter to enter into speculation, and so could not include such possible instabilities in its assessment.
Michel Jarraud, the secretary general of the United Nations World Meteorological Organization, said the lack of clarity should offer no one comfort. "The speed with which melting ice sheets are raising sea levels is uncertain, but the report makes clear that sea levels will rise inexorably over the coming centuries," he said. "It is a question of when and how much, and not if."
The warming and other climate changes will be highly variable around the world, with the Arctic in particular seeing much higher temperatures, said Susan Solomon, the co-leader of the team writing the summary and the section of the panel's report on basic science. She is an atmospheric scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The kinds of vulnerabilities are very much dependent on where you are, Dr. Solomon said in a telephone interview. "If you're living in parts of the tropics and they're getting drier and you're a farmer, there are some very acute issues associated with even small changes in rainfall — changes we're already seeing are significant," she said. "If you are an Inuit and you're seeing your sea ice retreating already, that's affecting your life style and culture."
The 20-page summary is a sketch of the findings that are most germane to the public and world leaders.
The full report, thousands of pages of technical background, will be released in four sections through the year — the first on basic science, then sections on impacts and options for limiting emissions and limiting inevitable harms, and finally a synthesis of all of the findings near year's end.
In a news conference in Paris, Dr. Solomon declined to provide her own views on how society should respond to the momentous changes projected in the study.
"I honestly believe that it would be a much better service for me to keep my personal opinions separate than what I can actually offer the world as a scientist," she said. "My stepson, who is 29, has an utterly different view of risks than I do. People are going to have to make their own judgments."
Some authors of the report said that no one could honestly point to any remaining uncertainties as justification for further delay.
"Policy makers paid us to do good science, and now we have very high scientific confidence in this work — this is real, this is real, this is real," said Richard B. Alley, one of the lead authors and a professor at Pennsylvania State University. "So now act, the ball's back in your court."


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We're not surprised to see a car manufacturer using 3D-printing technology, but we think this may be the first time we've heard of 3D-prints going into production vehicles. You've likely heard of Christian von Koenigsegg's cars if you're a fan of BBC's Top Gear, where the hypercar screams its way into the leading lap times.
Now it seems the Swedish car manufacturer has integrated 3D printing and scanning into the design process. Christian himself explains the benefits of both for iterative design: they roughed out a chair, adjusting it as they went until it was about the right shape and was comfortable. They then used a laser scanner to bring it into a CAD file, which significantly accelerated the production process. He's also got some examples of brake pedals printed from ABS—they normally machine them out of aluminum—to test the fits and the feeling. They make adjustments as necessary to the prints, sometimes carving them up by hand, then break out the laser scanner again to capture any modifications, bring it back to CAD, and reprint the model.
Interestingly, they've been printing some bits and pieces for production cars out of ABS for a few years. Considering the low volume they are working with, it makes sense. Videos and more info after the jump.
Continue reading "Koenigsegg 3D-Printing For Production Vehicles"


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Case-Mate Barely There Case for the Bold 9900/9930 in our forums (make sure to check it out) and we're adding another one to the mix. If you own a BlackBerry Torch 9800 or a Torch 2 9810 you will definitely want to jump in for this Otterbox Commuter Case giveaway thanks to our friends at Otterbox.
- Purchase an Otterbox Commuter Case for the BlackBerry Torch 9800/Torch 2 9810
- Contest: Simply leave a comment below explaining why you want/need this case for your Torch and you'll be entered to win. Contest ends November 22nd at midnight EST.


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The FDA regulates the pharmaceutical industry according to a host of regulations, including the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) outlined in 21 CFR Parts 210 and 211.
Validation of manufacturing processes, handling of deviations, and laboratory operations are the top three areas that FDA investigators scrutinize during GMP inspections, according to a senior regulatory operations officer with the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
Select all the resources you're interested in downloading
In this question-and-answer article, MasterControl Inc. interviewed a CDER official who discussed:
The MasterControl integrated quality management suite is a configurable, easy-to-use solution that helps companies attain and sustain compliance. MasterControl connects different departments with each other and with data and processes under a secure and centralized Web-based system. This connectivity helps promote quality throughout the enterprise by allowing management to continuously monitor and proactively improve the quality processes. MasterControl helps pharmaceutical companies meet key CGMP requirements and ISO quality standards, and at the same time increase efficiency and keep compliance costs down.
Contact MasterControl representative for more details about pharmaceutical compliance tips.


text: Sky Eats Airplane is a metalcore band from Texas whose style of music incorporates touches of electronica. Founded in 2005 in Fort Worth, TX, the band was originally comprised of vocalist Brack Cantrell and guitarist Lee Duck, who were both formerly of the band Our First Fall. Billing themselves as Sky Eats Airplane, Cantrell and Duck self-produced the full-length debut album Everything Perfect on the Wrong Day (2006), performing all the music themselves and programming whatever they couldn't perform. Originally released independently, the album was re-released in 2007 by Raleigh, NC-based indie label Tragic Hero Records. Shortly after the original release of Everything Perfect on the Wrong Day, Cantrell split from the band to start his own, Balance Problems, in which he sings and plays guitar. In the wake of his departure, Duck recruited a full-band lineup for Sky Eats Airplane -- Jerry Roush (vocals), Zack Ordway (guitar), Johno Erickson (bass), and Kenny Schick (drums) -- while at the same time retaining the touches of electronica that had characterized the band's music to date. The new full-band lineup proceeded to record the full-length album Sky Eats Airplane (2008). Released in association with Equal Vision Records, the self-titled album proved popular on the metalcore scene, breaking into the Billboard 200 albums chart upon its release. ~ Jason Birchmeier


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The late David Bowie will be honored by one of his biggest fans at the 2016 Grammy Awards: Lady Gaga.
The Recording Academy released a statement announcing that Mother Monster will perform an "experiential" tribute for the late rock star, who will also be receiving a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award.
"We had already booked Lady Gaga on this year's show, but when David passed – almost in a single moment – we knew we had to change direction," said executive producer of the Grammys, Ken Ehrlich. "We immediately spoke and agreed that she should be the one to honor David. She's perfect for it. So I reached out to Nile [Rodgers] and, before long, we were on our way to creating what we believe will not only make a great Grammy moment, but one befitting of David."
U.S. & World
Rodgers, whose relationship with Bowie dates back more than 30 years, will work as the musical director for Gaga's performance. He worked with Bowie on the 1983 hit "Let's Dance," which marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two.
In an interview with the New York Times, Ehrlich explained the performance will not open the show, but it will last six or seven minutes and cover "at least three or four" of Bowie's songs.
He added, that it "is going to be a true homage to who David was, particularly musically, but not ignoring his influence on fashion and pop culture in a broader way."
Gaga has always proclaimed her infatuation with Bowie, often finding inspiration for her own music and artwork through him.
In fact, in a recent interview conducted before Bowie's passing, Gaga told The Hollywood Reporter: "When I fell in love with David Bowie, when I was living on the Lower East Side, I always felt that his glamour was something he was using to express a message to people that was very healing for their souls."
Bowie passed away on Jan. 10, just two days after his 69th birthday, after losing his battle against cancer.
His family released a statement on his Facebook page to notify fans: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief."
Bowie is survived by his two children, Duncan Jones and Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones, as well as his wife Iman, whom he married in 1992.
The Grammy Awards will air live on CBS Feb. 15.
PHOTOS: David Bowie's Life in Pictures
CLICK: 10 Artists Who Borrowed a Page From David Bowie's Truly Original Playbook


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be crazy about (someone or something)(redirected from am crazy about someone)
be crazy about (someone or something)
To be very enthusiastically fond of someone or something. Teri is just crazy about her new boyfriend and won't stop talking about him. Ever since she started taking lessons as a kid, Amy has been crazy about tennis. I'm not crazy about that place, so can we go somewhere else for dinner?
See also: crazy
crazy about, be
Also, be mad about. Be immoderately fond of or infatuated with, as in I'm crazy about lobster, or George is mad about his new saxophone. The first expression dates from the early 1900s. The second, with mad, is much older; Shakespeare had it as mad for in All's Well That Ends Well (5:3): "madde for her"; and mad about was common by the mid-1700s.
See also: crazy


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For a fan, it's a dream scenario: You travel to a ballpark hoping to get into a World Series game involving the Chicago Cubs, and you get handed a ticket by a complete stranger that allows you to witness an historic moment.
For lifelong Cubs fan Karen Michel, that dream not only became a reality on Tuesday night during Game 6 of the World Series, but the random fan that gave her the ticket just so happened to be legendary comedian Bill Murray, according to MLB.com.
Murray, who is also a diehard Cubs fan and has been a ubiquitous presence at games during the postseason, happened to have an extra ticket to Tuesday's game in Cleveland. When Michel struck out while searching for a ticket at the box office, she ended up being the lucky recipient of a seat next to the actor.
Chicago Baseball
"He turns around and says, 'here, here's a ticket,'" she told MLB.com. "And he kind of shuttled me into the door. I thought it was just a ticket to get in. But it was a ticket to sit right here."
When asked what she and Murray talked about during the game, Michel said that they mostly talked about family and growing up going to games at Wrigley Field.
"I asked, 'When you went to the Cubs game, who did you go with?'" she told the site. "He said his brother and his father. I have all sisters, and me and my dad would go to the baseball games. We talked about stuff like that."
Murray is known for doing some pretty cool stuff, including crashing weddings and White House press conferences, but giving a random fan a dream experience at a World Series game ranks pretty highly in the pantheon of fan interactions for the star.


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The Department of Justice suing Florida because our state is putting children who need round the clock health care in nursing homes. Local 6 investigates how many nursing homes are housing children, what conditions they must live in, and why this is such a problem the federal government is now filing suit against Florida.
Click here for several responses and Fact Sheets from the Florida Agency For Health Care Administration.
Read the Department of Justice lawsuit against the State of Florida, a letter to Pam Bondi detailing the findings and civil lawsuits
Click here to search for nursing home reports.


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Game Six: Damon Hurt; Booing The Cheerable
Passing by almost without notice here in the Stadium that Johnny Damon just exited after a not-so-vigorous race from second to score the Yankees fourth run. There was no delay or dither about this; Joe Girardi bounded out of the dugout at innings end to tell Joe West about the change, apparently the result of a calf strain. One wonders if one of the Series previous hurts keyed the New York rally: Shane Victorino not only badly misread Derek Jeters fly, but seemed a little hesitant to dive for it (although obviously he was not leading with the hand hurt by the Burnett Hit By Pitch on Monday). And to prove not everybody gets it, even at Game Six of the World Series, when Pedro Martinez plunked Mark Teixeira to load the bases ahead of Rodriguez and Matsui, much of the crowd here booed. The way Teixeira hasnt hit in this Series, if he doesnt hurt him, Girardi would be happy to carry him to first base on his back if Martinez will keep hitting Teixeira all night.
3 Comments
I don't blame the crowd for booing Martinez. I don't normally advocate violence, but just once, one of the batters he hits should shove the baseball down that guy's throat. Seriously, if he isn't trying to hit these batters, then he should be sent back down to the minors.
Three guesses as to which of these theories I think is correct.
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Royal Check Wool Cotton Vest
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We custom-make each garment to your unique measurements and specifications. We've mastered the details, so you can feel confident to master life's challenges.
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Indochino garments are made-to-order and delivered within 2 weeks via DHL. We offer free shipping on orders over $150. On orders under $150, we charge a flat rate of $20. Gift cards, tailor's kits, and tape measures ship for free, but are not counted toward the $150 free shipping threshold.
We do not ship to Austria, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Faroe Islands, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Mexico, North Korea, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea, Uganda, and Uruguay and cannot ship to P.O Boxes, APO, FPO, and DPO addresses.
Copyright 2006- Indochino Inc. All rights reserved. Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Accessibility


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In its decison revoking the opposed patent, the Opposition Division (OD) found the main request (patent as granted) as well as the three auxiliary requests on file to lack inventive step.
The Board did not agree and maintained the patent as granted. It also considered the question of whether the appeal fee should be reimbursed:
*** Translation of the French original ***
[9] Pursuant to R 111(2) the decisions of the EPO which are open to appeal shall be reasoned.
According to the established case law a lack of reasoning of a decision constitutes a substantial procedural violation within the meaning of A 113(1) (cf. inter alia T 763/04; T 1182/05; T 246/08).
In the present case the impugned decision comprises a blank paragraph (paragraph 6.2.3).
|The opposition division is of the opinion that ***********************
It is obvious that the OD intended to give the reasons justifying its dismissal of the second auxiliary request, but it did not do so, whereby it kept the appellant in the dark as to the reasons for the dismissal.
Therefore, the impugned decision is affected by a substantial prodedural violation. As the appeal is granted, it is necessary to order the refund of the appeal fee pursuant to R 103(1)(a).
Should you wish to download the whole decision (in French), just click here.
The file wrapper can be found here.


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How to get help with your down payment
Did you know there are programs out there that can help homebuyers with their down payments?
Consumers in San Diego County and throughout California can see if they're eligible for any of them through a new web tool that scours for public and private aid.
A down payment is the amount of money consumers have to provide when they're making a big-ticket purchase such as a home. It's a percentage of the price tag. Generally, lenders ask for 20 percent, but there are certain loans that require much less.
Still, some potential homebuyers view coming up with the down payment, which can be tens of thousands of dollars, as a challenge. More than 20 percent of Better Home and Garden readers said it's an obstacle to homeownership, according to a January survey.
Enter down-payment assistance programs. They're not new but few consumers know about them. And those who are aware of them may have had trouble finding and navigating them.
The California Association of Realtors, a real estate trade group, this week introduced a new tool that aims to make that process easier.
To access the down-payment tool, visit mortgage.car.org, put in some basic information -- such as where you want to buy and the estimated sale price -- and it spits out programs that may help.
If one of them piques your interest, click the "Next Step" button to find out more information.
"Millions of dollars go unused every year because home buyers are unaware of the various buyer assistance programs available to them," said Don Faught, president of the Realtors' association, in a statement.
"With California Mortgage Resource Directory," he added. "Realtors and buyers can quickly connect with any number of home buyer resources without having to search within each municipality individually."
Roughly 20 programs are available for San Diego County residents, according to Atlanta-based Workforce Resource, which created the web tool presented by the Realtors' group. Some programs are offered through non-profits and local governments, including La Mesa and National City.
The tool, called Down Payment Resource, is also used by other Realtors' association in the nation.
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Real estate news, current interest rates, hot properties, buying and selling tips, sent to your inbox every other Saturday morning.
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Altrincham Grammar School for Girls
- Continue to support ALL students in our respective schools and colleges to participate in high-quality social action, where each one can develop the character and skills needed for life, whilst leading positive societal change.
- Share best practice and encourage other education leaders and partners to prioritise youth social action within their work by opening our doors for visits; spreading the word through our networks and encouraging more schools and colleges to make an #iwill pledge.
We're still working on our pledge to the #iwill campaign. Next progress update is coming soon, so watch this space!
Quote from Charlotte Hill, CEO at Step Up To Serve
"The #iwill campaign is driven by leaders from across society who are committed to making youth social action a normal part of growing up in the UK.
We know that young people want to play an active part in improving their communities, and that in doing so, they develop their own skills for work and life.
Over 350 cross-sector organisations so far have pledged to support youth social action, and say #iwill. What will you do?"


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You wake up one morning to find the roads blanketed in a thick carpet of snow. It's still too early for the snowplows to have gotten around to your small neighborhood, but you have to get to work on time this morning. You're a little nervous about the commute, but you get in your car and begin your drive anyway.
After a little while with no mishaps, you grow more confident and inch back up to your usual speed. The radio is playing your favorite song, and the traffic conditions have you convinced that you won't be late. But now you're traveling down a hill toward a stoplight, and when you apply the brakes, you can feel that something's wrong. You're not coming to a smooth stop. Instead, you're slipping, and now the bumper of the car in front of you is alarmingly close -- right before you crash into it.
You've just become another of the more than 1.5 million annual car crashes associated with poor driving conditions caused by weather. These lousy driving conditions lead to an estimated 7,000 people being killed each year and 800,000 more injured [source: Eisenberg].
To avoid becoming another statistic, there are some common errors you should know so you can steer clear of them. In this article, we'll go over the top mistakes people make while driving in the snow.
Thinking Your Four-wheel Drive Makes You Invincible
While vehicles with four-wheel drive typically do perform better in snowy and icy driving conditions, the technology can backfire by giving drivers a false sense of safety.
Four-wheel drive is used to send the specific amount of needed torque to each of your car's four tires to give it added traction to move forward through snowy roads. That doesn't mean, however, that you can race down the road at top speed in the snow and bring yourself to a quick stop. Four-wheel or all-wheel drive isn't going to give you the traction you need to brake. It can help you get through some difficult conditions, but it doesn't make you SuperSUV.
Not Being Prepared
Many drivers find themselves caught off guard during the winter's first snow. In fact, the most dangerous day to be on the roads is the day after the first snowstorm [source: Elliott]. Drivers haven't prepared their cars for the wintry weather, and they've probably forgotten their snow driving techniques from last year.
To ready your car for the winter, check that each of your tires has at least a 6/32-inch (4.8-millimeter) deep tread. All-weather tires can handle most driving conditions, but if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you should consider purchasing snow tires. Check your antifreeze levels and battery power and make sure that your defroster and rear window defogger work.
As far as the inside of your car goes, purchase a snow shovel and kitty litter or sand for digging yourself out of a jam and giving your vehicle traction. Flares, a flashlight and a snow scraper should also be kept in your car. Finally, consider signing up for a winter driving class in your area.
Following Too Closely
Many people inexperienced with driving in the snow make a bad habit out of tailing the vehicle in front of them too closely. Like driving too fast, this lessens your reaction time if there's a problem with the vehicle ahead of you and you need to slow down suddenly.
It's recommended that you double (or if you want to be really cautious -- triple) your normal distance between cars, giving yourself a minimum braking distance of six seconds. Put another way, for every 10 mph (16 kph) you're traveling, you should give yourself four car lengths of space. So if you're traveling at 30 mph (48 kph), you should have 12 car lengths between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
You should also be looking ahead for stoplights, stop signs and curves in the road so you can give yourself adequate time to brake or steer around them.
Slamming on the Brakes
When you feel your tires start to slip, it's easy to panic and slam on the brakes. Don't do it -- this removes traction from your tires, taking away your ability to control your vehicle.
Once you've lost traction and your wheels are locked up, slamming your brakes won't change the situation. What you should do when you feel yourself begin to skid is ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down on its own. A moving tire means that there is still some traction, which is what you need to steer yourself out of a collision.
If braking is required and your vehicle comes with an anti-lock brake system, brake with steady, even pressure. If your car doesn't have ABS, then you should pump the brakes by quickly braking again and again.
When handling snow-covered corners, you should begin a steady braking as you approach the turn. Once in the corner, ease off the brakes and use the car's remaining traction to steer through the turn.
Driving Too Fast
Driving too fast is the biggest snow driving error [source: Dunlop]. Drivers have a bad habit of thinking that once they've reached the highway they're fine to drive at their usual high speed. Wrong.
When your car starts to slip and you're heading for a crash, every second counts. Driving too fast reduces the amount of time you have to react and increases the severity of any collision. It also takes four to 10 times longer to brake on icy or snowy pavement than it does on dry asphalt [source: De Paula].
You should slow your speed when the temperature is close to freezing and sleet and snow have begun to fall. Remember that there's no right speed zone to be traveling in when it's snowing, so you need to pay close attention to the road conditions and how your car is handling to gauge a safe speed.
For more great tips on driving in difficult conditions and handling snow, click on to the next page.
Do Bikes Slow Down Car Traffic? Actually, No
If you're a motorist you may be silently cursing the bicyclist in front of you for making you late. But a study showed the speed difference was negligible.
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
- Top 5 Driving & Safety Videos
- 5 Ridiculously Heavy Towing Jobs
- 10 Tips for Easy Towing
- Top 10 Towing Risks to Keep in Mind
- Top 10 Everyday Car Technologies that Came from Racing
- Curiosity Project: Can snow be harmful?
- Aaltonen Motorsport. "Our ideas of driving." (accessed on 1/7/10)http://www.aaltonenmotorsport.com/our_ideas_of_driving
- DeMere, Mac. "Driving on Snow and Ice: 10 Safety Tips." Edmunds.com. (accessed on 1/7/10)http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/124638/article.html
- De Paula, Matthew. "Surviving Winter Driving." Msn.com. (accessed on 1/7/10)http://editorial.autos.msn.com/listarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=1111217
- Dunlop, Neil. "How to Drive in the Snow." Edmunds.com. (accessed on 1/7/10)http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/45193/article.html
- Eisenberg, Daniel, Kenneth E. Warner. "Effects of Snowfall on Motor Vehicle Collisions, Injuries, and Fatalities." American Journal of Public Health. Vo. 95. no. 1 January 2005. (accessed on 1/14/10)http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/95/1/120.pdf
- Elliott, Hannah. "Ten Deadly Mistakes of Winter Driving." Forbes. Jan. 9, 2009. (accessed on 1/7/10)http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/09/winter-driving-tips-forbeslife-cx_he_0109cars.html
- National Safety Council. "Winter Driving Hints." May 2005. (accessed on 1/14/10)http://www.nsc.org/members_get_more/MemberResources/Documents/Winter%20Driving%20Hints.pdf
- New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. "Drivers Manual and Study Guide." 2010. (accessed on 1/14/10)http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/DMANUAL/DEFAULT.HTML
- Road and Travel Magazine. "All-Weather Driving Tips." (accessed on 1/14/10)http://www.roadandtravel.com/safetyandsecurity/2005/all-weather.htm


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Press Release: HELM Group – 2016 Results
HELM reports fall in revenues due to low oil prices. Losses at associated companies burden results.
Hamburg, 11 May 2017
Full financial year results 2016:
- Revenues: EUR 6.9 billion (minus 18%)
- Losses at production participations in Trinidad and Tobago
- Slight increase in traded volumes (plus 4%)
- Investment in North America's largest methanol production facility
- Total investment for 2016-2018: EUR 500 million
- Equity: EUR 763 million
The very low crude oil price was once again a defining factor for the HELM Group in the 2016 financial year. As the year began, the price of a barrel was less than US $30 – around 40% lower than at the start of 2015. The fall in the crude oil price led to low prices for petrochemical products, which in turn caused revenues at the HELM Group to fall. Distribution volumes increased by 4% in comparison with the previous year. Thanks to a slight rise in the trading margin, the Company held gross profit on products steady despite the drop in revenues. The HELM Group's result was affected by losses at associated companies. A small pre-tax profit of EUR 2.8 million (2015: EUR 57 million) was achieved. However, the consolidated annual financial statements show a loss after tax.
Hans-Christian Sievers, Chairman of the Executive Board of HELM AG, sums up the past year: "In our operative business we were able to hold our own in a challenging environment characterised by low prices and increasing political uncertainty. Nevertheless, we have to report a negative operating result for the previous financial year. Our minority participation in Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Ltd. (MHTL) in Trinidad and Tobago reported losses. A difficult combination of very low methanol prices, limited gas supply for the operation of our production facilities, and major maintenance works restricted capacity and resulted in a loss. Since then, the methanol price has recovered and the gas supply has improved."
Global revenues before consolidation and including agency sales revenues declined due to generalised price falls by 18% to EUR 6.935 billion (2015: EUR 8.498 billion).
External revenues fell by 15% to EUR 3.867 billion (2015: EUR 4.540 billion).
EBITDA dropped by EUR 50.4 million in 2016 to EUR 20.2 million (2015: EUR 70.6 million).
The consolidated result before tax was EUR 2.8 million (2015: EUR 57 million).
The consolidated result after tax was EUR -15.6 million (2015: EUR 35.5 million).
The HELM Group's main sales market in 2016 was Europe with a share of 57%, followed by America with 29% and Asia with 13%.
In 2016, HELM took a number of strategic decisions for the future direction of the Group:
Investment in North America's largest methanol production facility in Beaumont, Texas
Together with our long-term partner PROMAN, HELM invested US $680 million (HELM share: US $170 million) in the largest methanol production facility in North America, Natgasoline LLC. The production facility is currently under construction and will be completed by the end of 2017. The new plant will have a capacity of 1.75 million mt per year, further enhancing the HELM Group's leading position as a methanol distributor.
Final step towards marketing authorisation for osteoporosis medication
The Richter-Helm BioTec GmbH & Co. KG joint venture gained the European Commission's recommendation for the approval of a new teriparatide-based medicinal product, Terrosa. It is used for the treatment of osteoporosis, reducing the risk of bone fractures in certain patient groups. The medication was granted final marketing authorisation in early 2017.
Successful acquisition of thyroid medication
HELM Pharma focuses on strategically appropriate acquisitions. The thyroid medication we purchased in 2016 has been used to treat thyroid disorders for more than 100 years. What is new is the patented liquid dosage form, which facilitates an accurate, low dose of the active ingredients and makes delivery of the medication easier for the patient.
Hans-Christian Sievers: "These investments show that at HELM we act for the long term and with an eye to the future. Being a family company enables us to act over longer time frames. By making the most of the opportunities this presents, we have positioned ourselves well in 2016 to safeguard the business for the years ahead. In total, we have earmarked around EUR 500 million for the period 2016 – 2018 to drive forward the expansion of our Chemicals, Fertilizer, Crop Protection and Pharma businesses."
Consolidated result: business development key figures
|- All figures in million EUR -
|- Global revenues
|- External revenues
|- Earnings before taxes
|- Consolidated net income
Overview of developments in the business areas
Chemicals: Feedstocks and Derivatives
The Chemicals business segment, which comprises the Feedstocks and Derivatives business units, markets base industrial chemicals. As in 2015, the halving of the crude-oil price compared versus its long-term level of around US $100 per barrel adversely affected business performance in the 2016 financial year. In addition, pressure on margins rose due to overcapacity. Despite a modest rise in volumes of 7%, the business segment recorded a decline in revenues of 14.6%. Overall, the Chemicals business segment achieved external revenues of EUR 2,313.5 million.
In an environment of falling energy prices, world market prices for fertilizer also took a downturn. Fertilizer prices fell due to the impact of the crude oil price, compounded by a surplus in nitrogen products and phosphates. A record harvest in the US exacerbated the price situation. HELM succeeded in keeping distributed volumes at the previous year's level. The Fertilizer business area achieved external revenues of EUR 972.8 million, a decline of 21.5% in comparison with the previous year. This drop can largely be attributed to the overall price situation.
2016 saw investment in the expansion of the distribution business. New terminals were leased in Bilbao and Barcelona, Spain, as well as in Koper, Slovenia, while in the USA we enlarged our terminals in Memphis, Tennessee, and Helena, Arkansas.
Crop Protection:
Commodity prices remained low throughout 2016, therefore farm incomes were poor. High stocks of crop-protection products for all important crops worldwide led to heavy pressure on prices, and the market contracted slightly as a result. Despite this difficult market environment, the business area succeeded in increasing revenue by 11.2% in comparison with the previous year, to reach EUR 260 million. The main sales market for the Crop Protection business area's products is Latin America, followed by North America and Europe.
The Pharma business area's product portfolio, which is geared towards individual target markets and customers, was expanded further in 2016. In addition to the focus on the therapy areas oncology, hormones, anti-infectives, central nervous system (CNS) and cardiovascular, HELM now also provides development and laboratory activities in the individual markets. This ensures that finished products are manufactured efficiently and to high quality standards. The Pharma area unit achieved external revenues of EUR 205.7 million.
HELM International:
With over 100 subsidiaries in more than 30 countries, HELM is internationally structured. In the past financial year, the subsidiaries managed by the HELM International business unit generated excellent, stable income. A further subsidiary, HELM Suisse, was established in 2016 in Zurich, Switzerland, while in early 2017 we opened a new Sales Office in Busan, Korea.
Human Resources:
In 2016, the total number of employees in the global HELM organisation remained virtually unchanged. As at 31 December 2016, HELM employed 623 (631) staff in Hamburg, 684 (694) in Germany and 1,495 (1,489) in total worldwide, including participations.
Outlook for 2017:
HELM has made a good start to the 2017 financial year. In the first quarter, the price of crude oil appears to have recovered, while gas prices are also rising. Since the beginning of 2017 chemical products have increased in price, with several product prices rising significantly.
Hans-Christian Sievers: "We look forward to a good first half-year and anticipate an increase in revenue of 14% in comparison with the same period last year."
About HELM:
HELM AG is a family-owned company based in Hamburg, Germany, with a business tradition over 116 years old. As a multifunctional sales and distribution organisation, HELM is active in the chemicals industry through its Feedstocks and Derivatives business units, in the crop protection industry, in active pharmaceutical ingredients, pharmaceuticals and medical products, and in the fertilizer industry. HELM is one of the world's largest chemicals marketing companies and secures access to the world's key markets through its specific regional knowledge and over 100 branches, Sales Offices and participations in over 30 countries.


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Forgot Password?
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Your certified mentor will have the training, experience, wisdom and discernment to help you build a roadmap to financial freedom
by overcoming your financial challenges/fears. The Crown MoneyLife Mentoring mentors are all volunteers that have a heart to serve people like you.
They are committed to work with you as a mentor, a coach and an accountability partner to help you reach the true contentment and peace that only
the Lord can give you when it comes to money. To serve you additionally, Crown has partnered with Christian Credit Counselors. Together we work hand in hand to help you get out of debt faster and onto the road of financial freedom. It's about empowering you to be all that God has created you to be in life.
Or if you wish, you may elect to use MoneyLife Mentoring without the assistance of a mentor, by using our self-paced tools. Click below to start sleeping better!
"Our mentor helped us customize a spending plan, saving us from possible bankruptcy.
And with discipline, the resources in the Toolbox will help us stay on track for years to come." -Thomas L, Little Rock, AR
"Seeing my financial situation in black-and-white allowed me to take a hard look at my spending habits.
Now I'm working on eliminating credit card debt with an end goal of being debt free." -Brian R, Kansas City, MO
"Thankful and happy...those are the words that first come to mind when thinking about Crown's MoneyLife Mentoring program.
We've learned a lot since September (2012) and have achieved meaningful results." -Lori B, Cincinnati, OH
"Deciding which bills to pay on time and which ones to pay late was keeping me up at night. Our mentor helped us customize a budget, allowing us to eliminate some of our debt.
Now we are living within our means finally have financial peace of mind." -Susan D, Bakersfield, CA
Mentoring.crown.org | 8331 E Walker Springs Lane, Suite 301 | Knoxville, TN 37923 | firstname.lastname@example.com


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Commission Education & Culture
25 February 2007 – Issue : 718
Since its launch in January 2005, the proportion of European schools participating in the European Commission's eTwinning programme more than doubled in 2006, from four percent to over eight percent according to commission reports last week.
Welcoming the growth and success, Jan Figel, Commissioner in charge of Education & Training, said in a statement: "the eTwinning scheme can bring all corners of Europe to our children's classrooms. By participating in eTwinning, school children get to appreciate other cultures and other languages, while sharpening their computer skills. In this way, eTwinning not only brings Europeans from all over the continent closer, it helps develop the kinds of skills that our increasingly ICT-dominated economy needs." (leer más…)
Fuente: [neurope]
tags: e-learning, aprendizaje, web2.0, social software, e-twinning


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Intel® RAID SSD Cache Controller RCS25ZB Family
PCIe* Gen3 RAID with Embedded High-performance Flash*
Key features
- LSI SAS 2208* RAID-on-chip (ROC) controller providing SAS 2.0 compliance, including 6 Gb/s data transfer
- Up to 1 TB of enterprise multi-level cell (eMLC) NAND flash to significantly enhance the read and write performance of many server applications
- Embedded 1-GB 1333-MHz cache ECC DDR3 memory for further performance enhancement
- One SFF-8087 SAS/SATA connector for up to four internal ports and up to 128 hard disk drives (HDD) via expanders
- Speaker to deliver audible alerts
- Eight PCI Express* Gen 3 interfaces for fast communication with the server board
- Optional: Intel® RAID maintenance-free backup to protect data in the embedded DDR3 in the event of power loss or system failure
- Optional: Cable kit AXXCBL650MSMS includes 2 x 650 mm cables with mini-SAS (8087) to mini-SAS (8087) connectors (AXXCBL740MS7P with mini-SAS to 7-pin connectors also available)
Target applications
The Intel® RAID SSD Cache Controller RCS25ZB family uses intelligent caching algorithms to help identify frequently accessed data—or "hot spots"—and to promote them to the fast onboard flash memory. Solid-state drive (SSD) caching RAID acceleration can be more cost effective than direct-attach SSD-only arrays or short-stroked hard disk drive (HDD) environments.
Key Advantages
|System design flexibility
|1U-capable system board connects to the I/O expansion slot on Intel's rack-optimized server boards. This module can be used in Intel and third party chassis without the need for a riser card or low-profile chassis cutout.
|Exceptional data protection
|Supports data redundancy using SAS or SATA hard disk drives through mirroring, parity, and double parity (RAID levels 1, 5, and 6), plus striping capability for spans (RAID levels 10, 50, and 60).
|Excellent performance
|LSI SAS 2208* RAID-on-chip (ROC) technology, PCI Express* x4 host interface, and 667-MHz cache enhance the performance of mainstream applications.
|Outstanding availability
|Delivers proactive drive monitoring and automatic error correction. An optional battery backup maintains data without the need for an uninterruptible power supply.
|Increased IT productivity
|Includes a suite of tools that are common across all Intel's SAS/SATA RAID solutions, for easy installation and advanced management.
Product Specifications and Compatibility
|SKU Order Code
|Supported Devices
|RAID Level Supported
|# Internal of Ports
|Embedded Memory
|Compatible Products
|0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
|1 GB DDR3 and 256 GB Flash
|Click for detailed lists of Intel® products
|0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, 60
|1 GB DDR3 and 1 TB Flash
|Click for detailed lists of Intel® products


text:
President Barack Obama called on Congress Monday to create an $8 billion fund to train community college students for high-growth industries, giving a financial incentive to schools whose graduates are getting jobs.
The fund was part of Obama's proposed budget for 2013. The overall package aims to achieve $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade by restraining government spending and raising taxes on the wealthy, while boosting spending in some areas, including education.
Obama warned Congress that blocking investments in education and other proposals in his budget would be standing in the way of "America's comeback."
"By reducing our deficit in the long term, what that allows us to do is to invest in the things that will help grow our economy right now," Obama said during remarks at Northern Virginia Community College.
The White House says the "Community College to Career Fund" would train 2 million workers for jobs in potential growth areas such as electronic medical records and cyber security within sectors such as health care, transportation and advanced manufacturing.
A key component of the community college plan would institute "pay for performance" in job training, meaning there would be financial incentives to ensure that trainees find permanent jobs — particularly for programs that place individuals facing the greatest hurdles getting work. It also would promote training of entrepreneurs, provide grants for state and local government to recruit companies, and support paid internships for low-income community college students.
Obama said community colleges needs resources to become community career centers where students can learn skills that local businesses need immediately.
"This should be an engine of job growth all across the country, these community colleges, and that's why we've got to support them," Obama said.
Obama pointed to programs in Louisville, Ky., Charlotte, N.C., and Orlando, Fla., as good examples.
UPS overnight workers in Louisville get a tuition-and-book benefit at the University of Louisville or Jefferson Community and Technical College as part of a program designed to help the company recruit and retain workers. Central Piedmont Technical College in Charlotte created a two-year degree in mechatronics, which combines skills in mechanical, electrical and computer fields. In Orlando, Northrop Grumman has aggressively hired laser technicians who completed a program developed by Valencia College because of demand.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters on a conference call that the specifics of the pay-for-performance aspect of the plan are still being hammered out, but it's possible that about $500 million would go toward rewarding programs that successfully place workers.
Even as the United States struggles to emerge from the economic downturn, there are high-tech industries with a shortage of workers. And it is anticipated there will be 2 million job openings in manufacturing nationally through 2018, mostly due to baby boomer retirement, according to the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University. The catch is that these types of jobs frequently require the ability to operate complicated machinery and follow detailed instructions, as well as some expertise in subjects like math and statistics.
As costs at four-year colleges have soared, enrollments at community colleges have increased by 25 percent during the last decade and now top more than 6 million students, according to the American Institutes for Research. People with a one-year certificate or two-year degree in certain career fields can earn higher salaries than those with a traditional college degree, said Anthony Carnevale, director of the center at Georgetown University.
Mark Schneider, the former U.S. commissioner of education statistics who now serves as vice president at the American Institutes for Research, said there's no doubt that high-tech companies need skilled workers. But he said there are challenges with leaning heavily on community colleges. Many students enter community colleges lacking math skills. The sophisticated equipment needed for training is expensive, and there's little known about the effectiveness of individual community colleges programs across the country, he said.
"We need measures of how well they are training their students, how well their students are being placed in the job market, and ... are they making money?" Schneider said. "We need to track that really, really carefully. And, we need to make all that information available to students before they sign on ... and before taxpayers subsidize all of this."


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Shane Black's fantastic 2005 directorial debut, "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," went a long way toward relaunching Robert Downey Jr.'s career. Now he's finally ready to direct again.
Black will helm an adaptation of the bestselling magna tale "Death Note," about a kid who finds himself in possession of a notebook with the power to kill.
Here's the synopsis from the comic's official site:
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects -- and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power to rid the world of evil. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to track down the killer. With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight f his noble goal... or his life?
"It's my favorite manga, I was just struck by its unique and brilliant sensibility," Black told Deadline. "What we want to do is take it back to that manga, and make it closer to what is so complex and truthful about the spirituality of the story, versus taking the concept and trying to copy it as an American thriller."
Black will oversee script development with Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, the same team with who hes's working on the upcoming "Doc Savage."


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With the U.S. elections in high gear, it's time to channel your pre-election day passion and energy into Smash Vote, a new game from Mighty Bits built with Adobe Gaming technology. Mighty Bits is a mobile development shop in Las Vegas that focuses on mobile games, utilities and entertainment apps for iOS and Android. In their latest creation, you can choose your representative and get ready for some arcade style fighting action in this mobile app.
Built using Flare 3D and AIR 3.4, Mighty Bits' tongue-in-cheek take on politics gives players a chance to debate the old fashioned way – a bi-partisan chance to learn who can really rumble – much like last night's debate. Featuring crisp graphics, six playable politicos straight from Washington D.C., and a global 'exit poll' tracking system to compare against other players, there's lots of fun to be had. To find out more about games with Adobe Gaming technology visit gaming.adobe.com.


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Home>>Middle East Maps>>Qatar Maps
Qatar Maps Collection
Qatar also known as the country or State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qatar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. A strait of the Persian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island state of Bahrain.
Qatar National Flag
Qatar has been ruled as an absolute monarchy by Al Thani family since the mid-19th century. Formerly a British protectorate noted mainly for pearling, it became independent in 1971, and has become one of the region's wealthiest states due to its enormous oil and natural gas revenues. In 1995, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani became Emir when he seized power from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a peaceful coup d'¨¦tat.[7] The most important positions in Qatar are held by the members of the Al Thani family, or close confidants of the al-Thani family. Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States, and is now the location of U.S. Central CommandˇŻs Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center.
Qatar Emblem
Qatar has the world's highest GDP per capita and proven reserves of oil and natural gas. Qatar tops the list of the world's richest countries by Forbes. In 2010, Qatar had the world's highest GDP per capita, while the economy grew by 19%, the fastest in the world. The main drivers for this rapid growth are attributed to ongoing increases in production and exports of liquefied natural gas, oil, petrochemicals, and related industries. Qatar has the second-highest human development in the Arab World after the United Arab Emirates. In 2009 Qatar was the United State' fifth-largest export market in the Middle East, trailing behind the U.A.E., Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
With a small citizen population of less than 300,000 people, the Qatar workforce comprises expatriates from other Arab nations (20% of population), the Indian subcontinent (India 20%, Nepal 13%, Pakistan 7%, Sri Lanka 5%), Southeast Asia (Philippines 10%), and other countries (5%). Qatar has attracted an estimated $100 billion in investment, with approximately $60 to $70 billion coming from the United States in the energy sector. It is estimated that Qatar will invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next ten years.
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Opinion: U.S. Renews Aid to Undemocratic El Salvador
WSJ's Americas columnist Mary Anastasia O'Grady examines the decision to renew U.S. aid to El Salvador. Photo: Associated Press
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... I ... believers getting your tax dollars are tells about is Mary Anastasia O'Grady are America's columnist Mary the iam ... it's fashionable among media people in this town too well ... denigrate those conservatives out in the middle of America get infuriated about foreign aid the ... it's such a small part of the budget ... were engaging with the world but ... I'd I grabbed this particular of a grant does not make ... any American just absolutely incensed the tell us about this latest of funding from of the Millennium challenge Corporation ... yet while James the Millennium challenge Corporation was set up basically as an acknowledgment that foreign aid doesn't work we're giving money to countries that waste the money so with the NCC a fair conclusion to pray with the NCC we were suppose to have a new ... aam mechanism by which governments would have to show that they were ... practicing the government's ... governance and actually trying ... to you know run a civilized country ... and now Salvadoran after four years being ruled by the former guerrilla group known as CFN now and ... is failing in every single category related to corruption rule of law ... transparency ... and no respect for independent institutions ... the alfalfa now ... and out we've already given them over four hundred million dollars and now they're applying for a second what they call compact ... and on our last week by the MCC board which is headed by Secretary of State John Kerry ... approved ... the new ... gout compact of almost three million dollars and then another of John Kerry foreign policy ... it's a good chance to underline the ethanol and ... other viewers may remember back in the nineteen eighties really bad guys these were the communist guerrillas trying to overthrow the ... democratically elected government there are a believer and pray I don't know if they've improved since then but ... generally not a good test the characters well you know the best rate during the civil war which is twelve years and on El Salvador ... they were killing civilians I'm you know they were planning bonds around utility pole so that when workers when down to fix electrical lines they were blown up ... in really started ... gladly let them ... bloodthirsty gang of people ... aam ... and you know then they signed a peace agreement but on now and they have a candidate for next year's presidential election by the name of Salvadoran sun just that and ... any very famous Enel Salvador because he was the leader of that correlate group ... II in two thousand won when Cockle Friday's was president of the country he's the center right president ... on the sun just Iran was in the streets with the mob burning an American flag planned B I and World Trade Center now ... so this guy ... is now nine eleven he was demonstrating against America burning an American flag and celebrating the nine eleven attacks exactly ... and now he's the candidate for the presidency he's in the same party is the current ... president ... and out with this um about voting in favor of this new aid package on that is seen an ounce on the door and started the seal of approval of the way the FDML and has been governing the country ... in spite of the fact that as they say all these indices that manager whether ... there actually pursuing the covenants are declining and the situation for investors ... and persistence has been to carriers that would mean John Kerry explained this this is just ... the unbelievable Economist Carrillo who are affiliated with onions guerrillas ... celebrating nine eleven burning and learned slide and now he's getting our money ... the arrows John Kerry is of ... no cast a deciding vote among those voting for a ... penny if you wanna look to the future ... aam basically what the FM Alan's been trying to do it for the last four years is consolidate power by destroying the independence of the Supreme Court there still add that this is been going on for to two years ... and in fact the U S ambassador ... many can end up on a in El Salvador has complained publicly that Al Sabah door is not measuring up to the standards of the MCC and when she did that the president came out humiliated her battered are down and said ... that's her personal opinion ... I've been told or Guinea get the money and sure enough they're going to get the money for two main problems is that ... the foreign aid community in Washington one still and money that's what they do for a living ... if their customers their clients ... don't meet the standards and they can win money ... they owe and John said they had the an interest in what is come become a cliche of pushing money out the door ... regardless of who was calling camp and by the way Senator Patrick Leahy has also complained about this and he's not exactly you know Annie and right wing extremist well let let's opossum or senators and Congressman start ... doing what they should be doing which is the ... only getting an explanation of the chair in a reversal of this and it is incompetence in assessing the situation you know the setting a high bar there but in terms of just appalling ... it completely indefensible behavior this might ... go even further they are unbelievable I know it thanks very invaluable to falling so we can know ... incurred some of the stand of amazing things ...


text:
Attorneys for creditors of a pharmacy linked to a nationwide meningitis outbreak said Monday they have reached a preliminary settlement that would set up a victim compensation fund worth more than $100 million.
Attorney William Baldiga said the agreement was reached among creditors, bankruptcy trustee Paul D. Moore and the owners and insurers of the New England Compounding Center. The deal needs approval from a bankruptcy judge and likely will be filed in the next few weeks.
The company, based in Framingham, just west of Boston, gave up its license and filed for bankruptcy protection after it was flooded with hundreds of lawsuits from people who received tainted steroid injections.
U.S. & World
Baldiga represents the creditors' committee set up by the bankruptcy court. Most of the creditors are victims who have filed lawsuits.
About 750 people in 20 states have developed fungal meningitis, an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, or other infections; 64 have died. Michigan, Tennessee and Indiana were hit the hardest.
A federal investigation of the company started more than a year ago but hasn't resulted in any criminal charges. The company's owners said in a press release announcing the settlement that they deny any liability or wrongdoing but want to play a major role in establishing a fund for people who died or suffered.
Victims have until Jan. 15 to file claims.
Baldiga said he expects the fund to grow significantly with contributions from others who may have been sued. He said the settlement was reached over the weekend and those involved wanted to announce it as soon as possible so victims who are considering claims know that there is substantial money available.
The initial $100 million will come from cash contributions by the owners of NECC and proceeds from insurance, tax refunds and the sale of a related business.
Baldiga called it "an important step, but a first step only."
"We expect the fund to grow considerably as we proceed in the weeks and months to come," he said.


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Welcome to Goal Setting Guide
Motivation Goal Setting Sport Article
For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Six Key Steps To Achieving Your Goalsfrom: Jim Holden - Staff writer
People have their basic ideas of how they see themselves maybe 2 or 10 years from now. These might be quick promotion, 6-digit salary or several established business in their names. The thing is, everybody wants to achieve something in their life. And so, the next thing they should do is to set goals in order to achieve them.
But the question is, "if everybody wants to achieve something and everybody sets their own goals, why are there other people who are unable to achieve what they want?
The single answer to this is that they haven't set clear goals. Everyone may have set their own personal goals but few may have clear and SMART goals. In order to be successful, therefore, goals must be set in such a way that the person who set them knows how to achieve them.
The following goal setting steps will help people achieve positive results:
1. Set a specific goal you want to achieve. Set goals that are definite yet flexible so that you would be able to adjust easily to specific circumstances and situations. Choose what you want to do in your life and stand by to it. Establish your priorities and manage your time, you do it for a specific goal to achieve the results you expect.
2. Make a timeframe for the set goal. Every goal should have a timeframe so that it will be easy to assess. Moreover, through a timeframe it is easy for you to know when to end. It should have a target ending date. This will enable you to motivate yourself to meet the deadline. If you do not set a date for your goal, you might end up dreaming for that goal to realize for the rest of your life.
3. Make sure that the goal you set is realistic. You must know how to attain your goal and make it real. You may even say that it will take different tests and circumstances to do it, but if those things happen you have to be ready to surpass them all. It is not bad to aim for high goals but just be realistic and make your move to make it happen. If you happen to realize that you "might not be able to achieve what you have set, then modify it into a realizable one.
4. Update yourself with every short-term goal you have achieved. Always determine your exact position on the current goal you are working out.
5. Be ready with the obstacles so that you are ready whatever happens during the process. Don't get frustrated if you did not achieve your goal for the first time, take it as a challenge for your next goal. This doesn't mean that you failed, work harder and don't give up.
6. Always bear in mind that every goal you set should give you benefits. Write down all the benefits that you can get with each goal you have set. The principle is, if have more benefits with your goals, you will be motivated to set bigger goals. Picture yourself accomplishing those goals. This will help you see the benefits you can get.
Follow these simple goal-setting steps properly and they can give you the drive to achieve your purpose in life. These goal-setting steps are important in achieving success in everything you do.


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Transformation of office building into apartments
|Rijsterborgh Vastgoed
|Benjamin Robichon
|project team:
|Naud Schoeder, Eraldo Brandimarte
|Stationsstraat, Apeldoorn
|plot size:
|2.300 m²
|floor area:
|4.030 m²
|start design:
|March 2016
The starting point for the design was to transform the existing office from 1990 into a contemporary apartment building with a modern identity and look. Verticality has been brought to the façade in order to give the building a really urban character.
The decision was made to include a variety of residential unit typologies within the housing programme. The apartments vary from 63 m2 to 132 m2 GFA. At the rear, there are 6 three-storey houses (110-127 m2). The plans include apartments with a gallery entrance, of approximately 85 m2, in the existing building. The existing top floor has been replaced by a two-storey roof structure, with a contrasting façade material, housing Penthouses (123 m2 GFA) with a spacious terrace.
The houses form a continuation of the urban mass. They introduce a small scale to the area at the rear which opens onto Griftstraat on the one hand and bring urbanisation to the heart of the city on the other. The houses have a brick plinth wall 1 storey high while the material used for the penthouses is also used for the other two floors of the houses. This design feature makes the complex into a single whole. The terraces of the apartments hide parked cars from sight.
The location is close to the town hall and centre of Apeldoorn and is within walking distance of the railway station.