text:
MOORE, Okla. - One young girl is so afraid of the wind, she carries headphones to block out the sound. Other kids are traumatized by the memory of their narrow escape from the storm and the friends who died just a few feet away from them.
Nearly three months after a twister blasted through Moore, Okla., and destroyed two elementary schools, students are preparing to go back to class. Although many families are ready to return to a familiar routine, parents and teachers say the town's children have fears that still are fresh and a lot more healing to do.
Both schools - Plaza Towers Elementary and Briarwood Elementary - have been razed to concrete slabs, as have most of the surrounding homes. Students will attend class in temporary buildings starting today.
District officials hope the new school year marks a fresh start in the lives of children who survived the May 20 tornado, which killed 24 people and wrecked scores of homes and businesses along a 17-mile path through the heart of this Oklahoma City suburb.
"I'm not going to act as though those first couple of weeks (after the storm) weren't so terribly difficult, because they were," said Superintendent Robert Romines, a longtime Moore resident who took the district's top post over the summer. "But since that day, we have turned a lot of corners. After our last funeral, we turned a corner."
Parents of some of the children who attended Plaza Towers, where seven third-graders were crushed by a collapsing wall, say their kids frighten easily, especially during severe weather, and often are haunted by thoughts of their friends who died.
"There was screaming and crying," recalled 9-year-old Ruby Macias, who was trapped under the same wall.
Now Ruby gets scared whenever the weather turns bad and remains troubled by the death of her close friend, Sydney Angle, who also was 9.
"She says she dreams about her friend," said Ruby's mother, Veronica Macias. "I don't know what to tell her."
Another Plaza Towers student trapped beneath the wall, 10-year-old Xavier Delgado, said he doesn't like to think or talk about the day of the tornado, but he's not afraid to go back to class.
"I'm not nervous. I'm kind of excited about seeing my friends," said Xavier, who acknowledged heavy weather still disturbs him. "I only get scared when there's loud thunder."
Xavier's 8-year-old sister, Haley, a second-grader at Plaza Towers, often carries a pair of headphones to block out the sound of the wind, which reminds her of the day the twister reduced her school to pile of rubble.
"She remembers the noise," said the children's mother, Athena Delgado. "If it's going to be windy or severe weather outside, she'll carry them with her."
The site where the Plaza Towers school once stood, in the heart of a neighborhood decimated by the tornado, has become a makeshift memorial for the dead and a meeting spot for volunteers. A handful of wind-battered trees are beginning to grow new leaves and branches again.
A chain-link fence that ringed the school property was covered with hundreds of autographed T-shirts from across the country, many from the volunteers who poured into the community to help. The fence has been removed so workers can begin digging out the slab, but seven wooden crosses remain, each adorned with the name of a child who died. An eighth cross, taller than the rest, simply has a black number 7 inside a red heart.
Jennifer Doan, the third-grade teacher of six of the seven kids who died at Plaza Towers, suffered fractures in her spine and sternum when the wall fell in one piece on top of her and her students who had taken cover in a school hallway.
Doan, 30, managed to shield two students who were closest to her from the full weight of the wall, but she said she's still disturbed by memories of the ones she couldn't protect, especially when she reunites with her students who survived.
"I've been told over and over I couldn't have done anything else, and I know I did help save the ones that were right there under me. But, of course, it reminds me of my other ones that I couldn't save," Doan said.
Doan, who was trapped under the wall for about an hour, said she was looking forward to the normalcy of school, but doctors haven't cleared her to return to work.
"I think it is partly healing to be back and to be back with everyone and back with our kids that have gone through the same thing," said Doan, who now is about five months' pregnant. "But for me, in particular, I know obviously I'm not healed."
Brand-new schools are being constructed at the Plaza Towers and Briarwood sites, with plans to include reinforced safe rooms that can withstand the most menacing storms. School officials hope both buildings will be open for the start of the 2014 school year.
This year, Briarwood students will attend classes at a local Baptist church while those from Plaza Towers go to a renovated building on the junior high campus. The transition to new buildings adds extra stress to the start of classes.
"I'm a little nervous about the beginning of school because I want the kids so badly to feel good and comfortable at school," said Plaza Towers Principal Amy Simpson, who took cover from the storm in a 4-by-5-foot bathroom with her office staff and emerged to find a mangled car on a coworker's desk.
Simpson kept in touch with many of her students over the summer and knows they still are healing.
"Last night, it rained, and some of the kids started to cry. They're still trying to process it all," Simpson said. "This summer has been anything but normal, but school is a norm. It's a constant, where they see the same people."


text:
Spectrum, Raffles and Fairmont Makati's all-day dining restaurant, in cooperation with Singapore Airlines, invites you to to Savor Singapore for a limited time only this August 10-14, 2013.
Guest Chef Muhamad Bin Mahfod from the historic Raffles Singapore will prepare authentic Singaporean favorites like Chicken Rice, Chilli Crab, Laksa, Chicken and Lamb Satay, and Prawns Curry.
Traditional desserts like Kueh Dadar (pandan pancake with coconut filling) and Pisang Goreng (banana fritters) will be added to the festive spread.
The lunch buffet is available at Php 1,675 net per person, while the dinner buffet is at Php 1,995 net per person.
The Sunday brunch, which includes endless servings of Singapore Sling is priced at Php 3,888 net per person.
For reservations or inquiries, call 555-9840.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There were several levels of stress as Thaïna Aguiar-Carrier and Caroline Rouleau prepared for their first day of CEGEP at Collège Jean de Brébeuf last week.
First: what to wear. It was the first time the 17-year-olds would not be required to wear a uniform or follow a dress code. The girls had already been in discussions with their friends about that big day's outfit.
"Because first impressions are important," Thaïna said.
"Boys are another level of stress,'' Caroline added. "If we didn't have good hair one day (in high school), it didn't matter." Both had graduated from Pensionnat du Saint Nom de Marie, an all-girls' private school.
And then there are the academics – perhaps not in the forefront on Day 1, but for Caroline quite critical as she is hoping to study medicine. "I have good marks, but I have to be very above average,'' she said.
The girls love to shop, at American Apparel, Forever XXI, American Eagle, H&M, Aldo and other budget-friendly chains. On a whirlwind tour of downtown shops, the girls worked the racks like pros, pointing out the things they liked or disliked.
First stop: Editorial boutique on Stanley St., an outpost of urban cool for the young and the trendy.
Jackie Wong, an owner of the shop, listed some of the top items for fall: shorts (to be worn with tights or knee socks), chubby knits, combat boots, the high waist with a tucked-in shirt – "I think the girls are ready for that" – kimonos, and sheepskin coats and vests for that '70s "trailer-trash look."
Timeless pieces include the denim jacket and leggings. "Leggings are not going anywhere – ever," said Tara Garbarino, who works at the shop and also designs Luv U Always leggings.
Carly Stojsic, market editor for Canada at WGSN, a global trend-forecasting service, says jean leggings remain the standard in denim for girls and young women.
The jean jacket is also de rigueur: Every youth tribe wears a version of the denim jacket, Stojsic said.
Vintage is trending now for teens and young women, she added, with price being the determining factor in whether they buy the look from a vintage store, which can be more expensive, or as reimagined by one of the chains.
Caroline and Thaïna have their own ideas. They love leggings, but say no to bell bottoms, long skirts and combat boots, which have been making it onto the fall trend lists.
Thaïna – who says she likes dresses, skirts and jewellery, and sometimes wears a tiara for fun – quickly amassed a pile of stuff to try on at Editorial: a cut-off plaid shirt, skinny blue jeans, floral tank top, floral flirty skirt, cream crochet sweater, cream crochet dress with a low back.
Caroline – who calls her style preppy – pulled a peach tent dress, striped T, white jeans, blue jeans, oatmeal droopy sweats and a hot pink crochet top.
For both girls, skinny jeans – white J Brands for Caroline, blue Indigos for Thaïna – were winners, but buying time would come later, after more browsing with their mothers.
At Old Navy, jeans – grey for Thaïna, black for Caroline – lace-up shoes, ballet flats and a pleather bomber were on the maybe list, perhaps to be revisited later.
And at Aldo, Thaïna took a liking to glittery lace-ups. "I love to shine,'' she said.
Both girls also fell for high platform wedge booties.
"One day I might wear a chic dress, the next sweats. I really like everything,'' Caroline said, wearing white short-shorts, a pink top and Sperry Top-Siders on our outing.
While there is no specific budget, the sky is not the limit, said Caroline, who has some money of her own from a summer job.
"We try to find things that aren't too expensive, like a sweater for $20,'' she said.
Caroline shops with her mother and her 19-year-old sister. Her mother will buy her essentials and advise on whether the item is worth it or not. Her older sister gives great style advice.
Thaïna, whose mother is a beauty magazine editor and former model, loves shopping with a passion and admits she has to be careful not to buy everything.
"My mother has good opinions,'' she said. "I often follow her advice.'' She wore a black jersey minidress, BCBG gold flat sandals and a mini Marc Jacobs bag, a gift from her mother.
"For sure, she respects what I have to say,'' said Thaïna's mother, Vânia Aguiar, editor of Pure magazine.
Thaïna is also influenced by music, stars, the Internet, magazines and her friends, Aguiar said. "She still sticks to what she likes."
As it turned out, the first day of CEGEP was hot and sunny, a perfect summer day. Both girls went super-casual, in short-shorts. Thaïna wore a plaid shirt and sandals, with Longchamp tote; Caroline wore a dove-print top, Converse sneakers and black shoulder bag. It was obvious they were on the same page as most of their classmates: gaggles of girls on and around campus were dressed just like them.


text:
Darryl Rouson shouldn't be happy.
As a Democratic state legislator, he is helplessly in the minority party in Tallahassee with little hope of seeing his bills pass. Even stopping what he considers bad legislation is nearly impossible.
"We can barely slow it down," lamented Rouson, who represents parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties in the Florida Legislature.
Still, Rouson is optimistic in this, his sixth year in the Florida Legislature.
"I'm excited about this session," Rouson said.
Politically he is in the minority, but Rouson says the fact that Democrats have added numbers since he was elected has improved the situation. That, and the fact that Democrats have selected him as minority leader in 2014 gives Rouson a new sense of purpose in recruiting candidates for the goal — admittedly unlikely — of picking up 17 seats from the GOP next year to give Democrats a majority in the Florida House for the first time in 18 years.
The state's budget situation has helped change the focus in Tallahassee for the better, Rouson said. As the state tried to fill budget deficits the last five years, Democrats were on constant defense, seeking to preserve social service programs that were frequently on the chopping block.
"We are no longer bracing for cuts; now we are working to restore the cuts," said Rouson, who is from St. Petersburg.
Rouson is investing his influence in two key areas: fighting drug abuse and helping inmates rebuild their lives. Both reflect Rouson's complicated journey to the Florida Legislature.
About 15 years ago, Rouson was addicted to cocaine and on the precipice of self-destruction. He righted himself and focuses his attention on helping to save others from the same fate.
"Each one of us as legislators are the sum total of our experiences, both good and bad," Rouson said. "I'm not proud over every step of my journey, but I cannot afford to be embarrassed by it."
This year those efforts include one bill to make it a crime to sell drug paraphanalia, including pipes used for smoking crack cocaine. Another bill would expand driving under the influence laws to include synthetic cannabis and other products that can lead to impairment.
Rouson is involved in exploring "smart justice" reforms aimed at rehabilitating inmates so they don't return to prison. Instead of building more prisons, Rouson said Florida is better served by programs that help criminals turn their lives around.
As the ranking member on the Justice Appropriations Committee, Rouson has access to the budget process related to criminal justice issues.
With his growing seniority, Rouson is taking on the bigger issues as well. He was among the first to file legislation pushing Florida to restore early voting days, and hours, to address the 2012 election problems.
His bill is not likely to pass, but by filing early and taking a vocal position Rouson made clear he would be heard on the issue.
Current Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, said Rouson has distinguished himself through strong speaking skills and hard work.
Democrats hold 44 seats in the 120-seat House. But he said it is far better than the 39 they had when he started. It gives them more than one-third of the body, requiring Republicans to get their input at least on some procedural items that require a two-thirds vote.
Rouson said it's a first step, but one that hopefully will lead to Democrats being a more relevant force in Tallahassee.
"They've got to deal with us now," Rouson said.
Rep. Rouson optimistic about Florida Legislature
Darryl Rouson shouldn't be happy.


text:
Orange on Orange
Canon 17-40 lens, ISO 500, 40mm, f/4.5, 1/500, hand held, Virginia
Exif: Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/500 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 500, FocalLength: 40.00 mm, Model: Canon EOS 40D
Uploaded on November 17, 2012
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Lindy G. Hearne. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
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text:
Important: you must join the mailing list for your section. Mail will only be sent to your NYU email address, not to an extra-university address like an AOL address.
For section 001 (Honors Section)(Marateck's 2:00 pm,) it is: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/mailman/listinfo/v22_0102_001_sp09.
For section 002 (Marateck's 2:00 pm,) (A to LEM) it is: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/mailman/listinfo/v22_0102_002a_sp09.
For section 002 (Marateck's 2:00 pm,) (LO to Z) it is: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/mailman/listinfo/v22_0102_002b_sp09.
There are two steps to joining the list; the first is to follow the instructions on the web page (writing your NYU email address, your name (THIS IS COMPULSORY), and picking a password), and the second is to REPLY TO the confirmation message sent to you by the system. Do this without changing the subject line; the message part can contain anything you want, or nothing at all. This list will be used for important announcements.


text:
Do you read the comments that come after Internet news articles? Some commenters (usually anonymous) are extremely mean and abusive! Their attacks seem like the online version of a school yard bully.
Here are a few comments I read at the end of just one Canadian news story this morning:
…You are a fool.
…Hope you idiots are pleased with yourselves.
…You don't have a clue yourself.
…BS… espoused by utter MORONS
…And we still have an idiot at the helm.
…One by one the poor saps who were taken in
…greasy, sleazy, slimy selfie king
…Nuth'n finer than a far left nutter sputtering
…another leftwing(confused) doofus of questionable mental acuity
…The big, stammering idiot with the dumb expression
When we were kids, we would respond to a verbal bully by saying, "Sticks and stones will break our bones, but names will never hurt us." (But the names still hurt…) Or we would taunt back, "It takes one to know one!"
These responses have no effect on the cyberbully. They carry a shield of anonymity: 'you don't know me'; 'you can't see me'; and 'I won't be there to hear what your response is'! Freedom of speech without fear of consequence!
Have you ever had a cyberbully leave comments on your blog?


text:
*Unless of course he was indeed murdered, which means by definition that at least one person knows.
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Nisman: Ghost in the machine
The dramatic and world-headline making press conference held by the ex-wife of killed (murdered?suicide?) public prosecutor Alberto Nisman is already beginning to look shaky. At that highly covered presser last Thursday his ex-wife and Argentine judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado stated that according to the readings of the autopsy report (made by her and her team) Nisman was not killed in-situ or on the Sunday morning/midday that the government insist as time and place of death, but was killed the previous evening and then moved to the bathroom where he was found.
Ms Arroyo Salgado's problem is that she doesn't have all the information to hand. According to records (and before you start with the "yeah but..." interjections, this isn't just the gov't's info, but also telephone company and internet company info), the computer in Nisman's apartment was turned on at 8am Sunday morning and then used to check all the things that Nisman typically checked, including his Yahoo mail account and various newspapers.
Slight aside: IKN isn't going to start covering this story on a blow-by-blow basis, but today's is interesting because things such as facts are much less likely to be covered in the same media blanket as the "He was murdered!" presser we saw last week from Nisman's ex. That's because this case is highly political and as the CFK government has a whole stack of enemies both inside and outside of Argentina, you can guarantee that coverage isn't going to be free and fair. I still don't know whether Nisman committed suicide or was murdered and frankly, at this point nobody does*. I suspect he committed suicide, but one mouthy guy with a blog's opinion is of zero importance and I'd be perfectly okay about being proved wrong on my current suspicions. Plus there's the "cui bono" factor, which offers very little if any 'bono' to the government of Argentina for his death. After all, his two year in the making case filed against the CFK government has already been shown as shaky, to say the least. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to work out that it would have been to the government's benefit to have had the chance to cross-examine Nisman on the facts of his case and shown both him and the world at the same time that his prosecution was built on false facts and statements.
*Unless of course he was indeed murdered, which means by definition that at least one person knows.
*Unless of course he was indeed murdered, which means by definition that at least one person knows.
Another Guerrero Mexico mining company kidnapping, this time Goldcorp (GG)
Here's the link, here's the translation:
March 6th 2015: On Thursday evening a group kidnapped four miners from the Carrizalillo mine, owned by the Goldcorp (GG) company, in the municipality of Eduardo Neri (Zumpango) in Guerrero State.
Police information indicates that the men, armed and travelling in small trucks, including a Suburban and a Hilux, intercepted the men at a pass when they left the mine on the way home from work.
The mine workers were identified as Juan Carlos Merino González, Mauricio Gatica Peña and Juan Carlos Peña, with the fourth unidentified.
The Friday OT: Faith No More; The real thing
The obsessive/compulsive IKN FNM jag continues.
This song wasn't written by people who have smoked marijuana. It was written by people who understand marijuana, who got right to the bottom of it. And when you do you don't need to smoke it any longer because once the channels are open they stay open, no need to go back, no top-up required. In the words of the song, "And once you have bitten the core, you will always know the flavor".
But Angel Dust is still their best music.
But Angel Dust is still their best music.
"If you believe you can do something, then you can"
This, sent to IKN Nerve Centre by A. Person who has also given kind permission to use, is the funniest single thing I've seen for a long, long time. I'm no big fan of these silly Youtubes but this one is different, make time and watch this, you'll never regret it.
The treasure moments begin when you see "bored" appear. They then get better and better and better.
For what it's worth, there's something about this that reminds me of subscribing to Casey Research.
Just in case, original link here.
A Flash update...
...has just been sent to subscribers, a few minutes after the opening bell on this Friday morning. You sellin' today? Good, cos I'm buyin'.
The chart that matters:
And as usual, forget the dross and go to the best independent reader of US macro in the business. Bill McBride and Calculated Risk's take on the US Jerbs nermbers, right here.
Explaining the Luna Gold (LGC.to) forbearance agreement news from yesterday
Good morning ladies and gentlemen readers and visitors of IKN, we hope this Friday is treating you well and this post finds you in good spirits. After receiving a couple of mails already on last night's news release from Luna Gold (LGC.to) with general inquiries to its consequences, IKN has decided to run a short explainer on the subject.
Imagine, if you would, a conversation between Luna Gold management and the group of financiers that lent them money:
Lenders of the $30m revolving credit facility: "According to the terms of the contract we signed in early 2013, you are now in non-compliance. Do you agree?
Management of Luna Gold: "Yes, we agree."
Lenders: "We therefore have the right to fuck you up the ass at this point, if we so desire. Agreed?"
Luna: "Yes, that's true."
Lenders: "Therefore we come to the central question: Would you like to be fucked up the ass today?"
Luna: "No, we would not like to be fucked up the ass today."
Lenders: "Are you sure?"
Luna: "Yes, quite sure."
Lenders: "Indeed, we thought as much. In that case, pay us $100,000 and we won't fuck you up the ass today."
Luna: "OK, we'll do that."
Lenders: "And the cash you have in escrow for the contract hedging program, give us that now."
Luna: "That's $6m dollars!"
Lenders: "It is. But we're not asking for that for free like the $100,000 legalized extortion you've already agreed upon, you can count that against the money you owe us."
Luna: "Oh, OK. In that case yes we agree."
Lenders: "However, this won't stop us from fucking you up the ass at any point in the future if we feel like it, our agreement today is to stop us fucking you up the ass right now. We hope that's clear."
Luna: "Yes, that's clear."
Lenders: "Right, all settled then. Have a nice day."
Luna: "Thank you, have a nice day you too."
We hope this sheds light on the issue. Please have a nice day.
Lead (Pb): After great pain, a formal feeling comes
When Emily Dickinson wrote the words This is the Hour of Lead, she probably wasn't thinking about the metals market in 2015.
Alberto Nisman: Down the rabbit hole we go
This will run and run. Today the ex-wife of killed (murdered?/suicide?) public prosecutor Alberto Nisman, herself a judge in Argentina, held a press conference in which she stated that after examining the forensic evidence available she was certain that her ex-husband was murdered. She cited evidence from the gun shot that killed him (including the lack of residue found on Nisman's hand, the trajectory of the bullet) as well as stating that the body had been moved after death and that the government's conclusion about the time of death were wrong. Uki Goñi, about the best English language reporter covering the country, has filed this report on today's happenings, which gives the facts as seen in the presser but does little to capture the commotion in Argentina today after the event.
IKN repeats: It's an election year in Argentina.
LME copper warehouse inventories broke the 300,000 metric tonnes barrier yesterday...
...and then it really broke it today:
That's 318,375mt over there on the right, it's up from 177k at the beginning of this year and notably, the big recent move is in its European warehouses as well as the Asian ones. Data from the excellent Chilean metals site Cochilco
Must-read research on community and political risk in Peru
Now, this humble corner of cyberspace has occasionally been known to lapse into snark and irony in order to make a point or two, but there are also times when we get to pass along solid and fundamentally important research into LatAm mining issues, the type that professionals in the sector need to read. This post is one of those moments.
The paper linked here is entitled "Getting it Right? Challenges to Prior Consultation in Peru", and is written by two internationally respected social science academics. It goes into well-researched detail on the "Consulta Previa" (prior consultation) law in Peru that is supposed to give local populations a voice and legally binding opinion on large civil works projects that may affect them. This, of course, includes mining projects in Peru. What you don't get is a mouthy op-ed piece, what you do get is a thorough 33 page paper that goes into specific examples of how the law is (and is not) being applied in Peru, the problems arising, plus potential improvements in the current situation.
This cannot be stressed enough: It's a must-read for anyone connected with or concerned about the mining industry in Peru. You read this paper, you'll know what there is to know. Here's the link again, it's a free download, go use it.
And Endeavour Silver's (EXK) (EDR.to) 4q14 numbers underscore just how bad Great Panther Silver (GPR.to) (GPL) is
Because you look at the EDR.to numbers, guffaw at yet another loss, wince at the pain the shareholders of this stock must be feeling, laugh at how inept Brad Cooke is as a CEO....and then you think "Well, at least it wasn't as bad at GPR's quarter".
Yup, That's how bad Great Panther Silver is.
Great Panther Silver (GPR.to) (GPL): It's not just the operating results that suck these days
The balance sheet is also clearly degrading now.
It's actually depressing to cover Great Panther Silver (GPL) (GPR.to). It used to be perversely funny, but we're now at the point where the company hasn't returned a quarterly net profit since 1q13 and your author's total mystery as to how this abysmally run silver mining company can command the share price that it does (even after the big drop it's seen) has transformed into resigned headshaking and wonderment that there are retail investment people out there stupid enough to own this stock still. Anyway, GPR reported another set of trainwreck financials last night (amazingly they waited until PDAC was over) and here are a few charts of the balance sheet items only, because even the dumbass ne'er say die brigade will be able to work out that a $26.9m net loss isn't good.
Assets have taken their write-down (all the following in Canadian dollars):
Debt is rising:
And though working cap seems to be holding up...
...a lot of that is a mysterious line item "trade payables" that looks overstuffed, never seems to drop much from quarter to quarter and the footnote details on this line item are very vague. Got a bad debt there that you're not disclosing, Mister Archer?
The cash treasury of which GPR is so proud is now under CAD$18m, or if you prefer that's less than 13c per share. We can guarantee that cash position will drop further in 2015 at any silver price under U$18/oz (and even then that's probably being generous). Meanwhile, book value is CAD$0.42 per share, which means its current CAD$0.74 share price is still in the clouds compared to what it can do under current silver prices. No wonder this company is keen on buying assets using all-share deals (and even then ripping off the target company's shareholders).
Finally, and to highlight just how much of a zero-sum game this company is, consider that its book value (i.e. all the assets minus all the liabilities) is $58.73m and its deficit since inception is $75m. Quite literally nothing has come from this company since it was started, apart of course from the way it's made a small handful of directors rich.
PDAC attendance, down again
Here's the chart:
Here's the NR, here's how it kicks off:
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - March 04, 2015) - The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) welcomed 23,578 attendees from over 100 countries to its annual convention. The crowd included investors, analysts, mining executives, geologists, government officials and students who made the annual pilgrimage to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) for the largest exploration and mining event in the world.
"We consider this a very successful year, attendee feedback has been extremely positive and the number of attendees is similar to last year," says PDAC President Rod Thomas.
To be accurate, PDAC 2014 had 25,122 attendees so this year's is down by 6.1%. Obviously the word "similar" means something different in the Canadian dictionary.
UPDATE: Yes, I've noticed as well. It'd be difficult not to, in fact:
Not a perfect fit, but waaaaay more than close enough. Spooky, huh?
UPDATE: Yes, I've noticed as well. It'd be difficult not to, in fact:
Not a perfect fit, but waaaaay more than close enough. Spooky, huh?
Wednesday wondermusic: Faith No More; Best
Three hours of music from FNM and not one single weak track. Amazing.
Stick it on, go about your day, I guarantee they'll be at least a dozen moments of "Oh yeah this one!" and catching youself singing along. Impossible to pick out a highlight, but I will say that when Stripsearch ran into From Out Of Nowhere (around the two hour mark) the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. Full playlist for your consideration and eventual enjoyment:
Ricochet, Underwater Love, We Care A Lot, Kindergarten, The Cowboy Song, Absolute Zero, Digging The Grave, Helpless, Zombie Eaters, Be Aggresive, Faster Disco, Caffeine, Evidence, Last Cup Of Sorrow, Falling To Pieces, Everything's Ruined, King For A Day, The Real Thing, The Perfect Crime, Land Of Sunshine, Just A Man, Pristina, Introduce Yourself, The Morning After, The Gentle Art Of Making Enemies, Easy, What A Day, Stripsearch, From Out Of Nowhere, RV, Chinese Arithmetic, Get Out, Midlife Crisis, Surprise! You're Dead!, As The Worm Turns, Collision, I Started A Joke, A Small Victory, Caralho Voador, Edge Of The World, Ashes To Ashes, Epic
PS: Aiee caramba! The earworm I've picked up today for the chorus of Underwater Love is so bad it's almost a medical condition. Damnation, that slap bass is good.
Labels: video
Barrick (ABX), Newmont (NEM) and vampire squids
This is a chart of Barrick (ABX), Newmont (NEM) and the gold bullion ETF (GLD) over the last ten days, which starts at Thursday Feb 19th when both stocks popped on their Q4 results. The squiggly lines run to today and clearly, Newmont's doing better:
Here's a piece from IKN 302 dated Sunday Feb 22nd, the weekend following the Q4 numbers from both companies.
There were many 4q14 results filed by the big mining companies last week, including NEM, GG, most other large name you'd care to mention along with several of the wannabe large names you can mention. NEM's numbers were good and the stock rightly rallied, but when Barrick (ABX) reported its 4q14 and year-end numbers on Wednesday evening (9) it caught much of the limelight, to the point where little old IKN bothered to make mention of the NR (10). There was a lot of talk in the NR and subsequently in the mining chattersphere about the NR, with all its promises and that Back To The Future motif. You'll also note that ABX rallied on the news and, like NEM, bucked the sector trend to finish positive on the week. On discussing the results with a couple of trusted mailpals in this crazy business I wrote the mail below at one point and one of my pals told me it deserved a bigger audience, that I should stick it in the Weekly. So for what it's worth, here it is (grammar slightly scrubbed, but it's the same):
My read from the ABX NR (and reaction) is the Goldman Sachs angle. The narrative is that Thornton is adopting a strategy more akin to "real business", i.e. more transparent, clear goals and deeply concerned with the things anal ysts like, your balance and your debt and your positive free cash flow and the love and deep respect for the shareholder.
Yes, of course it's BS. But it's the type of BS perfected in and by the Vampire Squid. The delivery of the message is also key because the company that wants to project this cannot say it out loud, but instead plays to the egos of its audience by stating its case and leaving them to "discover" the subtext, which is then relayed to the paying audience (i.e. we insto/retail chumps who buy shares) as their considered analysis of the situation. Hence we get "ABX turning a corner". We get "the giant is awakening". We get "time to be on". Pure style over substance, pure neoliberal playbook. What could possibly go wrong?
Suffice to say that I was less impressed by Barrick than with Newmont last week. To ABX I say "Where's the beef?".
ABX CEO Thornton, who came to the company after a stint as president of a finance company called Goldman Sachs, is a product of his background. Squid is what squid does.
Adjusting Barry Ritholtz for inflation and hypocrisy
Today in "Please Stop Talking About Inflation Adjusted Nasdaq", Barry Ritholtz begins his purple prose with:
"The last refuge of scoundrels is their blind insistence that all data points must be adjusted for inflation."
In October 2009 in "Gold (inflation adjusted)", Barry Ritholtz told us:
"While everyone seems to be all abuzz over Gold's new highs, you should be aware that these are nominal, not real highs.
"Adjusted for Inflation, Gold is nowhere near its all time peak — in real terms, its only about half its prior highs"This one's for you, Baz:
UPDATE: Ritholtz replies:
There's a lesson for the mouthbreather goldbugs here: When you're wrong, admit it. That's (one of the reasons) why Barry Ritholtz is rich and successful and you're not.
Jemi Fibre (JFI.v) runs a bought deal
There is so much to love about this news that I don't even know where to start. So let's start with the term sheet:
And here's a price chart:
And while you read the terms of the deal, make special note of the way GMP et al have insisted that JFI insiders have to keep hold of their shares for a year instead of doing the classic Bobby G trick. Plus Mike Jenks has to exercise all his 32c warrants at the same time.
But in the end I can't hide the fact that I admire Bobby Genovese for being able to do this sort of thing. Even after having a track record of ripping off the market like few others and scumbag morals of the complete sociopath, he's able to convince banks and brokerages to raise capital for his next scheme. That shows an understanding of how corrupt and greedy the suited people are that's far deeper and more insightful than mine will ever be. IKN salutes you, Bobby G.
Chart of the day is...
...Copper, last week and a half that includes the pop to over $2.70/lb on the return from the China New Year holiday, plus the disappointing follow-through since then:
Here's part of what was written on copper in IKN303, out last Sunday; holding up quite well so far this week:
There was a lot of "BUY COPPER NOW!" screaming and shouting from the brokerages last week on the back of the Chinese-induced price pop, but frankly I'm still leery, was leery when I saw the move over U$2.70 and stayed leery during the Friday pullback. The reasoning is simple enough:
1) According to what we know to a decent level of confidence now, the waterfall drop in copper prices early January was run by a group of high-powered (and very well funded) Chinese financial entities.
2) I highly doubt they would have run a successful short attack in the way they did without the approval (overt or tacit, I don't care) of the Chinese government and State.
3) Which means they're not going to go away at the first apparent reversal, plus...
4) ...if I were a Chinese shorter of copper playing a longer and altogether more lucrative game, allowing copper to pop the way it did on the day back after Chinese New Year is exactly what I'd let the price do.
So I'm not jumping to conclusions on the back of one single price move and I'm not moving away from a wholly neutral stance on copper yet. It is, however, time to watch the copper price moves very carefully.
Mickeyman does PDAC, part deux
Following on from Mickeyman's first post on his jolly japes and jaunts and haunts around PDAC 2015, here's the link ot the second part in the series. The usual activities noted; mining people, alcohol and dancing.
Brent Cook does BNN's Market Call on Wednesday March 4th
You can mail in or phone in or Twitter in or whatever in your questions, too. So it'd be great if you ask him about Continental Gold (CNL.to), Gran Colombia Gold (GCM.to), Barkerville Gold (BGM.v), International Tower Hill (ITH.to), Corvus Gold (KOR.v), Exeter Resources (XRC.to) or Pretium Resources (PVG.to) , but he'll probably end up talking about Mirasol and Almaden as usual.
No worries, whatever he comes up with is worth watching. Cook's a rare thing in the mining sector; he's honest. Which still confuses the hell out of most people when they hear him talking.
UPDATE: you can watch the video, starts here.
UPDATE: you can watch the video, starts here.
Troll Hunters
This looks particularly promising. Excerpt here:
Public humiliation is never more entertaining than when it's justified. That probably explains the success of Swedish TV showTrolljägarna, or Troll Hunters. It follows journalist Robert Aschberg as he tracks down so-called "trolls" who have posted hate speech in social forums or abused individuals online and then confronts them on-camera.
The entertainment value is evident from the show's first episode (and in its spread to neighboring Norway, Denmark, and Holland with a similar production being considered in the UK, according to Henrik Stenlund, former CEO of production company Strix Television). When Alexander, 20, walks across a parking lot in Sweden to greet Aschberg and his TV crew, the young man thinks they're about to discuss a potential new show.
But Aschberg is there to confront Alexander with a self-posted Facebook video in which he aggressively rants against a young woman who has openly talked about being raped. In the video, which provoked a storm of abusive comments directed at the young woman, he calls her a liar, along with various other words that would have likely been bleeped on American TV. All of it is documented in the printed transcript that Aschberg pulls out and starts reading.
Alexander, appearing baffled and confused, looks from the transcript to the camera, denying that those words were his. But Aschberg keeps pressing, and Alexander's reactions start shifting between denial and justification. "Well, calling an innocent person a whore is over the line… But if she is a whore, then I guess it's okay," says Alexander, whose Facebook page, Hult Hatar, or Hult hates, is dedicated to videos in which he spews vitriol against anyone with whom he disagrees. The page had about 30,000 likes when the show was recorded.
By the end of the encounter, Aschberg hands the man a note stating that he is legally bound to pay approximately $1,200 in damages to the woman within three weeks.
Oh good, it's Fraud Prevention Month in Canada
Which may mean the other eleven are Fraud Encouragement Months.
Cynical? Moi?
Anyway, quips aside this deserves a few more eyeballs so here's the BCSC on Fraud Prevention Month link and here's a paste-out of the presser:
Be an informed investor: Check before you invest
March 2, 2015
Calgary – March is Fraud Prevention Month and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are encouraging Canadian investors to take the time to research investments before making important investing decisions. Before investing, the CSA recommends that investors follow these four easy steps:
The CSA would also like to remind investors to participate in Check Registration Day on Wednesday March 18 2015. Checking registration is easy and a great first step to becoming an informed investor. Investors who access the National Registration Search for the first time will be asked to complete a brief survey to help us make future improvements to this tool.
During Fraud Prevention Month, investors can follow tweets from @CSA_News for additional helpful tips and information on being a smart investor and fraud prevention.
The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories,
co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.
March 2, 2015
Calgary – March is Fraud Prevention Month and the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) are encouraging Canadian investors to take the time to research investments before making important investing decisions. Before investing, the CSA recommends that investors follow these four easy steps:
- Check registration of the person or company selling or advising about securities. The CSA National Registration Search is a simple and free tool for investors to use to check registration.
- Check disciplinary history to find out if the person or company has broken regulatory rules in the past. It's easy to do through the CSA cease trade orders database and the disciplined persons list.
- Check available tools and resources that the CSA has to offer to assist investors in learning how to protect themselves and their investments.
- Check the news and search online to see if there are any news releases or online information about the company or person.
The CSA would also like to remind investors to participate in Check Registration Day on Wednesday March 18 2015. Checking registration is easy and a great first step to becoming an informed investor. Investors who access the National Registration Search for the first time will be asked to complete a brief survey to help us make future improvements to this tool.
During Fraud Prevention Month, investors can follow tweets from @CSA_News for additional helpful tips and information on being a smart investor and fraud prevention.
The CSA, the council of securities regulators of Canada's provinces and territories,
co-ordinates and harmonizes regulation for the Canadian capital markets.
Mickeyman does PDAC, part one
Mickeyman over at The World Complex is somebody actually worth listening to (which separates him from the author of IKN, for just one example of the detritus that clutters up the mining chatt-o-world). Here's his first post on PDAC 2015, with photos and words and stuff.
I'll link up any future posts of his on PDAC 2015 as and when.
Columbus Exploration (CLX.v): A guy called Giustra scams retail investors
La plus ça change...
This NR from yesterday evening made me laugh out loud. In it we hear that Columbus Gold (CGT.v) is getting the Mogollon silver property from Columbus Exploration (CLX.v) in lieu of a near $450k debt owed. Follow the bouncing ball, people:
- Back in 2007 CGT.v loaned some cash to CLX.v. The principle on the loan was paid back, but the interest wasn't. That was about $300k at the time.
- Meanwhile, CGT does general accounting and book-keeping work for CLX.v and charges the smaller company $10k/month for the privilege. Nice work if you can get it.
- All this time, the Mogollon property is valued at a tad over $2m. At this time it was under an option deal to a company called Santa Fe Silver.
- Then in 2014 the deal with Santa Fe was changed and under the new deal, Santa Fe could buy Mogollon outright for a total of $1m cash ($50k down, then $950k cash by November 2014)
- Over at CLX.v, the people...errrr....doing the books in the company (see above) decide to write down Mogollon to $450k value in the September 2014 financials, giving their specific reason as the new deal with Santa Fe.
- (Did you get that? Agree to sell something for $1m and because of that state in your filings that it's only worth $450,000? No, I have no idea either, must be the wonders of science or something).
- Then the Santa Fe option/purchase deal lapsed definitively.
- And now CLX.v swaps the property that was valued at over $2m less than a year ago for a sub-$450k debt that was accrued on loan interest and services provided by the very company that's the new owner of the property.
And you may be shocked, shocked ah say!, to find out that the people running CGT.v are the same people who run CLX.v. Headed by a guy called Giustra. Now, where have I heard that name before? Darnit....where...tip of my tongue...just can't seem to....
Another round of retail shareholder back passage love process and subsequent bleeding complete. Enjoy your Tuesday.
In which the Wall Street Journal asks Otto Rock for advice on the Apple iWatch
You people out there are mad. A little story of how things snowball coming up.
So last week Ralph Rushton of Focus Ventures (FCV.v) mails me to show me a link to a very, very stupid story about how Apple will apparently need one third of the world's mined gold per year for its new gold iWatch. It was total BS and by way of reply (which took about five minutes of searching for the numbers, part of which you see below) I did a bit of calculation to get to just over 9 tonnes instead of the incredibly stupid 746 tonnes estimate being made by morons who like hits on their articles more than facts.
As it happens Ralph sent our mail exchange thoughts to a friend of his who works at a shop called Ambrian in London UK. Fair enough. And Ambrian used the exchange and mentioned my name in the piece sent to clients as part of their own debunking. Also not a problem.
Here's the point---> This morning i have the freakin' Wall Street Journal on my ass, wanting to know all about the iWatch! Here below is the mail from the WSJ reporter:
Hi – I'm a reporter with The Wall Street Journal in London and we're taking a look at the furore over Apple's gold watch, and how much gold it will actually use. Apparently you've had some interesting comments on this topic, and I was wondering if you might be able to send me your thoughts.
Specifically the questions we're addressing:
- Will Apple need 746 tons of gold per year?
- Will Apple be able to sell 1 million gold watches a month?
- Do you envisage any impact on the gold market from the Apple watch?
Any help would be much appreciated!
The world's obsession with AAPL writ large...seriously, don't these people have anything better to do? Anyway, here's what I sent as a reply:
If by "interesting" you mean to sadsack Apple worshippers with nothing better to do than obsess over the gold mkt for the first time in their acne-strewn lives because Tim Cook has decided that shiny is the new future then yes, it's interesting.
- Will Apple need 746 tons of gold per year?
No. See below.
- Will Apple be able to sell 1 million gold watches a month?
My opinion is no, nowhere near. The price point differential between a "normal" steel case ring and a gold one is going to be enormous, while the difference in functionality is zero. This isn't the market. We already see how gold iPhones/gold plated Samsungs etc etc designed for the rich in mind are ignored. The thing with phone tech /handheld tech etc is that once you have the top thing (let's say for argument's sake the best iPhone) very very few people are interested in an enhanced status symbol, even the megarich (who have their Ferrari parked outside, something that will make a better statement any day).
The act of status here will not be to wear gold Apple, it will be to wear Apple. There's no need to waste money on the superficial appearance.
My best guess on gold iWatch...and i mean most optimistic guess, is 50,000 units a month if AAPL does meet its market guesses and shifts 5m/month in total. It may well be less for the gold version, but I stress that I have no idea for overall sales figures apart from "Apple will sell oodles".
- Do you envisage any impact on the gold market from the Apple watch?
No, none The Rolex President Gold has:
No. See below.
- Will Apple be able to sell 1 million gold watches a month?
My opinion is no, nowhere near. The price point differential between a "normal" steel case ring and a gold one is going to be enormous, while the difference in functionality is zero. This isn't the market. We already see how gold iPhones/gold plated Samsungs etc etc designed for the rich in mind are ignored. The thing with phone tech /handheld tech etc is that once you have the top thing (let's say for argument's sake the best iPhone) very very few people are interested in an enhanced status symbol, even the megarich (who have their Ferrari parked outside, something that will make a better statement any day).
The act of status here will not be to wear gold Apple, it will be to wear Apple. There's no need to waste money on the superficial appearance.
My best guess on gold iWatch...and i mean most optimistic guess, is 50,000 units a month if AAPL does meet its market guesses and shifts 5m/month in total. It may well be less for the gold version, but I stress that I have no idea for overall sales figures apart from "Apple will sell oodles".
- Do you envisage any impact on the gold market from the Apple watch?
No, none The Rolex President Gold has:
- Case ring 18.5 grams. Contains 13.875 grams of pure gold.
- Case back 7.21 grams. Contains 5.41 grams of pure gold.
- Bezel 5.3 grams. Contains 3.98 grams of pure gold
- The bracelet 68.85 grams. Contains 51.64 grams of pure gold.
- Total weight: 99.86 grams. Contains 74.905 grams of pure gold
That's a touch over* 2 1/2 ounces of gold. Have you seen one recently? You can see somebody wearing one of these things from two blocks away. If the Apple Gold gets to 15 g 24KT Au I'll be surprised. It's only going to be the case ring, perhaps the bezel. So, let's call it half an ounce and be generous. (note: one Troy ounce of gold has 31.1 grams).
Then "reports" have Apple estimating 20% of sales to be for the gold watch. On 5m units per month. Are these people out of their freakin brains? A million a month? If they shift 50k gold watches a month i'll be impressed (see above) but again to be generous, let's go for my 50k/month guess.
So, 293,000 ounces of gold a year. Or just over 9.1 metric tonnes. That's one medium sized gold mine's output in a year. Zero issues.
Best, O
*I now see my mistake, as that's a touch under, not over. Bite me
UPDATE: Iwnattos over at Market Narrative adds his tuppence worth on the subject because...well, because he's quite good at doing that. Read that slice of fruity prose right here.
Iwnattos does Rick Rule does BNN Market Call
Via a headsup from Iwnattos over at Market Narrative, your humble scribe notes that Rick Rule did BNN Market Call from PDAC this afternoon and you can watch the video too.
And hey wow, check out around minute 01:30 behind Rule's shoulder on the down escalator. That sure looks like Brent Legend Cook to me.
UPDATE: Not a bad Q&A in fact. Rule makes a particularly good point about how AISC and write-downs combine these days. Plus we get to see how well (ahem) his PDAC 2014 picks did over the year. You liked it at 3? Well you'll love it at 1.5!
UPDATE: Not a bad Q&A in fact. Rule makes a particularly good point about how AISC and write-downs combine these days. Plus we get to see how well (ahem) his PDAC 2014 picks did over the year. You liked it at 3? Well you'll love it at 1.5!
Lies, damn lies and ____________", Chile/Peru mining edition (from IKN303)
Here's one and a bit pages from this week's edition of The IKN Weekly:
PS: Ugh, just noticed I used "i.e." when it should have been "e.g." Hate that mistake.
And so farewell, La Nación
I've been a reader of Argentina's national daily 'La Nación' for something like
16 years 17 years (come to think of it) and even though it's moved from a neutral stance to the current Kirchnerist government to a very hostile and anti-Kirchnerist editorial line in the last few years, it's always been more palatable and readable than the arch-haters of CFK over at Clarín. But today it's goodbye forever, La Nación, because you've just adopted the world's most stupid rules for viewing your reports and articles.
1) In a perfect world, a media channel on the web remains free of charge (e.g. The Guardian).
2) In a perfectly acceptable world you sign up your e-mail address and that lets you read the things, while your chosen media occasionally sends you a blurb in the mail (e.g FT Alphaville).
3) In an OK-I-Suppose world,the media channel runs a soft paywall, you get to read a limited number of pages per week or month, if you're a big enough fan of the site you can then pay up for full access (e.g. The New York Times), or you can search for the workarounds (not too hard).
But what you do not do is what the numbskulls at La Nación now require of you. Because since late last week, if you go to the front page and if you click on a report the site prompts you to either sign in with Facebook or with Google. But it wants you to give your Facebook or Google password while signing up, too. Seriously. Are these people mad?
Therefore, as of today IKN has decided to offer two choices in the Argentina media links. You now have Clarín as an anti-government/CFK option, or you have Pagina 12 as the pro-govt/CFK choice. Neither is a great read (Clarín has gone more sensationalist over the years and its utter hatred of the CFK govt drips off the page, while Pagina 12 can be a dust-dry read and is rarely critical of a government that's neither angel nor devil), but put the two together and you get a balanced window.
And they're both free access. And neither is plug dumb stupid enough to ask for your sensitive online passwords. La Nación committed 21st century media suicide last week, the question is how long it'll take before they realize this.
Your PDAC 2015 program, highlight from day one
Good old Eldorado Gold (EGO) (ELD.to), making your PDAC Monday morning that much funnier
Eldorado Gold (EGO) (ELD.to) started its NR today with this...
VANCOUVER , March 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Eldorado Gold ("Eldorado" or the "Company") hereby informs that on Friday February 27, 2015 , its Greek subsidiary, Hellas Gold S.A ., received a formal notice from Greece's Ministry of Productive Reconstruction, Energy and Environment (the "Ministry" or "Ministry of Energy") revoking the approval required to complete final construction of the processing plant at the Skouries Project.
...which means of course that the company is deep in the doo-doo as regards Greece (but frankly, those of us paying attention knew that already). However ELD saved the best til last with this unintentional hilarity at the end
"...the recent decision of the Ministry of Energy - if not reversed in a timely manner - may force Eldorado to reconsider its investment plans for Greece."
Translation: "Now look here you small brown chappies! If you don't allow us to mine in your country we may consider stopping our mining activities. So there."
Moral: Never underestimate the quantity of utter dumbasses running any given mining company.
Orignale Resources (MOOS.v) has great news today
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - March 2, 2015) - Orignale Resources (TSX VENTURE:MOOS.v) ("Orignale" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has amazingly managed to time one single semi-crappy drill hole assay from the 12,000m worth of complete dusters it drilled in late 2014 to coincide with the Monday morning of PDAC in Toronto.
Initial assay results from the ongoing BS-North drilling program located on the Company's 100%-owned Moose Pasture Project in somewhere very cold indeed have returned 1.0g/t gold over 100m, including an intersect of 100g/t gold over 0.9m at 900m depth. The Company is conducting a blah blah blah just buy the stock will you, we need to run a placement.
The IKN Weekly, out now
Chile's gift to modern society
IKN303 has just been sent to subscribers. Thirty-four pages, over 16,000 words, most of them spelled correctly. Not covered in chocolate-flavoured coating. Yum.
Labels: otto, the IKN weekly
And now, the great PDAC comic strip debate
This afternoon your humble scribe received this Calvin & Hobbes strip in the mail, along with a pleasant word or three from reader 'CM'. Well worth adding to the mix:
"...as I am an interested reader (aka freeloader) of your blog I've seen there is a discussion about the right tune for the PDAC, I thought maybe there is a PDAC comic strip needed as well."For me the one attached is the perfect description of the junior resource market when having conversations with company promoters, which I finally understood after having paid a nice new car into this market as apprentice's premium."
Well played, CM. Well played indeed.
Ireland's try against England
For your viewing pleasure, here's two minutes' worth of excellent rugby action from today with the finest ending possible: Ireland sticking it to England where the sun doesn't shine:
Ireland won 19-9 and this is the moment that broke England. Great teamwork, with top skills to finish it off.
PS: Gotta love the review process, with the whole crowd deathly silent as they watch. Then they see what Robbie Henshaw did (beat England defence, catch, control, ground ball cleanly) and as one, the enormous roar.
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text:
One of the more intriguing moves in the Afghanistan endgame was the joint announcement by the U.S. and Afghan Presidents that office space had been made available for the Taliban in Doha, Qatar. The office, formally announced during Hamid Karzai's recent trip to Washington, will provide a physical space for face-to-face talks with the Taliban.
The hope is that providing a place to operate above ground (plus the mediation of the Qataris) will lure the Taliban — who officially refuse to speak to the Karzai government — into serious talks with the Kabul regime. Still, a senior government official aware of discussions between Karzai and Obama says the opening of the Doha office is conditional: it cannot be used as a Taliban diplomatic post — one that would give them a sense of international recognition and legitimacy; nor can it be used as a fundraising platform. "It can be closed down anytime if the conditions are not met by the Taliban," he says.
The status of the office would be reviewed in six months. If the Taliban continue to refuse to talk to the Afghan government by then, the office will be closed, two senior officials tell TIME. One also suggests that slapping further sanctions — in the form of reactivating the U.N. blacklist that defines Taliban leaders as terrorists — would not be off the table.
(MORE: The Afghan Endgame … and Where It Will Lead)
Critics of the Karzai regime's overtures for peace say it is a one-way road, with the Taliban responding with a campaign of high-profile assassinations. A rigid timeline for Taliban cooperation around the Doha office is the first time the Afghan government has presented serious conditions to the insurgency. Some interpret it as an attempt by the government to show that there is a limit to their patience for Taliban intransigence.
A series of developments in recent months have breathed some fresh air into the otherwise stagnant peace process. Several high-level Taliban prisoners from Pakistani jails have been released after Salahuddin Rabbani, the chief of the High Peace Council appointed by Karzai, held talks with Pakistani officials in Islamabad; and Pakistan's foreign secretary also announced on Friday that his government would release all the remaining Taliban prisoners in their custody, including their former No. 2 Mullah Ghani Baradar, soon. But, perhaps, a more dynamic development has been the participation of official Taliban envoys in informal talks in Chantilly, near Paris, in late December.
What was supposed to be a closely guarded discussion away from the media turned out to be a showcase for the Afghan Taliban and a telling glimpse into how the various factions in the Afghanistan debacle "play" with one another. For the first time, their official representatives were meeting members of President Karzai's government, the political opposition as well as civil society in a formally announced gathering. But, breaking previously negotiated ground rules for these so-called private and "informal" talks, the Taliban quickly leaked their talking points to the media, broke into long diatribes about the "puppet government." They also offered no hints for reconciliation or compromise.
(MORE: Official: Pakistan to Free More Afghan Detainees)
According to participants at the Chantilly talks, the Taliban had two representatives at the meeting, which was hosted by a French think tank. Shahabuddin Delawar, who is emerging as their new chief negotiator, did most of the talking. Their second envoy, Mohamad Naim, simply took notes. On the vital issues — like the status of the constitution or the presence of foreign troops — they read their position from prepared statements rather than engaging in open discussions. They rejected the constitution because it was drafted "in the shadows of invader B-52 fighting jets." They also called the Islamic Emirate, their form of government, "a reality on this earth … a system in power in the country" and went on to list their achievements. The envoys seemed to have little authority other than presenting predetermined positions and taking notes to report back. At least two participants suggested the envoys were in constant e-mail touch with central leadership and would emerge with new papers in each session.
Many fear that, in its desperation to seek a deal with the Taliban, the Afghan government — and the U.S. as it seeks an exit from the 11-year war — might not stand firmly on what has been achieved in the past decade in furthering basic rights in Afghanistan. The U.S., recently, has stopped mentioning the Taliban along with al-Qaeda.
"The aim of the peace process is not to bring back the Islamic Emirate of the Taliban — it's very clear, we have certain redlines," says Rabbani of the High Peace Council, speaking from his home in Kabul, where his father and predecessor as head of the council was assassinated by a Taliban turban bomber last year. "We will stand firmly on the achievement of the last 10 years."
(MORE: Obama, Karzai Meeting to Discuss Ending Afghan War)
But at Chantilly, according to two participants, representatives of the High Peace Council and President Karzai's advisers were soft in their defense of those basic human rights, out of fear they might offend the Taliban representatives. "With great confidence, the Taliban would call the Afghan government a puppet and the Afghan police and army an enslaved force," recalls one participant. "There was no one to take ownership for the achievements of the last 10 years."
"The government was in a defensive position, but it couldn't defend well," says Ahmad Zia Massoud, a former Karzai Vice President and current head of the opposition coalition, the National Front. The one "comprehensive defense of the last decade's achievements" came from Nader Nadery, a former human-rights commissioner representing the civil society. "On the second day, the government representatives became more vocal in their defense. But initially, they seemed fearful of the Taliban," Massoud says.
Members of the opposition, on the other hand, used the Chantilly opportunity to politic, furthering their own electoral agendas. One opposition participant even went as far as telling the representatives of the Taliban, against which he fought throughout the 1990s, that it was the government that had widened the gap between them. The opposition also called for an interim government before the next elections, when Karzai's last constitutional term ends. That was met with the approval of one of the insurgent groups — the Hizb-e-Islami. Karzai's national-security team reacted harshly to the statements. Even before opposition members landed back in Kabul, Rangin Dadfar Spanta, the national-security adviser, speaking at a security council meeting had called for trying the opposition members for national treason, according to members of the opposition as well as an independent source privy to details of the meeting. Spanta did not respond to requests for comment.
(MORE: The Loneliness of the Afghan President: Karzai on His Own)
"The government has talked a lot about the peace process so far, but in Paris the Taliban clearly said they neither want to talk to the government nor that they recognize them formally," opposition leader Massoud says. "We got the impression that there had been no contact whatsoever between the government and the Taliban before the conference."
One of the ideas put forward by Mullah Sallam Zaeef, a former Taliban official who has played a facilitating role, was for abandoning the Karzai-appointed High Peace Council for a neutral commission. The political opposition, as well as the Hizb-e-Islami, was in favor of the idea. The Taliban envoys said they would take the idea to their central leadership.
Rabbani downplays the relevance of Chantilly and says the main track for talks is bringing optimism. His trip to Pakistan in November resulted in getting the Pakistani government and military onboard with the Peace Council's road map. The Pakistanis promised safe passage for the Taliban leaders willing to engage in talks, help in delisting members of the Taliban who are in favor of peace from a U.N. blacklist and the release of high-profile prisoners. Two of the four prisoners whose release Rabbani demanded from Pakistan were let go last month, coinciding with freeing of hundreds of other, low-ranking Taliban, from detentions inside Afghanistan. Anwar ul Haq Mujahid, one of the two released by Pakistan, will be based out of Saudi Arbia, but will join the Peace Council in its efforts of reaching out to the Taliban. But media reports suggest Mujahid is already "pledging renewed violence against the Kabul government," furthering the fear that some of the released might return to the frontlines.
"We are in touch with the families of those released, and before their release we made sure they will not join the Taliban and go to the frontline again," Rabbani says.
MORE: Taliban Attack on Kabul Police HQ Kills Three Officers


text:
Judy Moy
- Yield
- Makes 8 servings
- For cream puffs
- 1 recipe pâte à chou
- For filling
- About 1 cup pastry cream
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- For assembly
- 1 recipe chocolate sauce
- Assorted candy decorations such as M&M's, Red Hots, licorice balls, and silver dragées
- Special Equipment
- Large pastry bag with 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch plain tips, clear tape, 18-inch-tall Styrofoam cone (available at floral shops and craft stores), parchment paper, cake-decorating turntable (optional), about 70 toothpicks, thimble, cloth leaves (available at floral shops and craft stores)
- Make cream puffs
- Preheat oven to 425°F. and butter and flour 2 baking sheets. Spoon pâte à chou into a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip and pipe about 55 mounds onto baking sheets, each about 1 1/2 inches in diameter, leaving 1 1/2 inches between mounds. With a finger dipped in water gently smooth pointed tip of each mound to round puffs. Bake puffs in upper third of oven 10 minutes, switching position of sheets in oven halfway through baking if necessary. Reduce temperature to 400°F. and bake puffs 20 minutes more, or until puffed and golden. Let puffs stand in turned-off oven 30 minutes. Transfer puffs to racks to cool. With a skewer poke a 1/4-inch hole in bottom of each puff. Puffs may be made 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container. Recrisp puffs in 400°F. oven 5 minutes and cool before filling.
- Make filling
- In bowl of a standing electric mixer beat pastry cream until just smooth and soft enough to fold in heavy cream (do not overbeat). In a chilled bowl with cleaned beaters beat heavy cream until it holds soft peaks. Fold whipped cream into pastry cream. Chill filling, covered, about 1 hour, or until cold.
- Fill cream puffs
- Transfer filling to a large pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain top and barely fill each puff (do not overfill), putting filled puffs in a shallow baking pan.
- Assemble croquembouche
- Using tape, cover cone with parchment paper. Place cone on turntable if using.
- Line a tray with wax paper. Working with 1 cream puff at a time, dip bottom in chocolate sauce, leaving top 1/3 inch uncoated and letting excess drip off, then arrange 1 ring of puffs around base of cone, placing as closely together as possible. Insert toothpick through each puff into cone to attach puff to cone, leaving end of toothpick sticking out (you'll push it in later with thimble).
- Attach second ring of puffs above first, again packing tightly and staggering so puffs in second ring are not directly above puffs in first ring. Continue in same manner to dip and attach remaining puffs. Finish covering cone with 1 puff attached to top of cone.
- Using thimble, push in toothpicks until not visible.
- Decorate by pushing candies and leaves into gaps between doughnut holes.
- To serve croquembouche, dismantle, 1 puff at a time.


text:
|Federal Registers
|2013 - 10/02/2013 - Kiewit Power Constructors Co. et al. [Avalotis Corp., Bowen Engineering Corporation, Commonwealth Dynamics, Inc., Gibraltar Chimney International, LLC, Hamon Custodis, Inc., Hoffmann, Inc., International Chimney Corporation, Karrena International Chimney, Matrix SME, Inc., NAES Power Contractors, Pullman Power, LLC, R and P Industrial Chimney Co., Inc., T. E. Ibberson Company, TIC--The Industrial Company]; Grant of a Permanent Variance - 78: 60900-60918
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text: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 CMS Issues Proposed Coverage Decision for TENS Yesterday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed decision memo on electrical nerve stimulation for chronic low back pain. APTA is analyzing the proposal and will post a summary of the memo on its Web site next week. In October 2011, APTA submitted comments to CMS outlining the association's concerns with a national policy limiting local Medicare contractors' ability to assess the medical necessity of TENS. APTA included evidence in its comments to support TENS efficacy for chronic low back pain when used appropriately. Comments Please help support TENS Coverage for low back pain. Visit TENScoverage.com to sign the petition and show your support. Posted by Jerry Correia on 3/15/2012 10:15 PM I can not believe that CMS used this 3 page systematic review, which was largely based on only 5 articles, to propose this policy change! The review was largely based on individuals with Chronic LBP with impaired neurological systems. In the only two studies which showed TENS had no effect the participants also had MS! Is this really any surprise? Another fault with this review is that CMS then used this data to generalize that TENS has no effect on all people, including those without MS or other neurological conditions. Sure seems like faulty logic to me. Anybody else see it this way? Any other insights? Posted by Joseph M. Eschman PT,GCS on 3/16/2012 12:16 AM I haven't read the details but I have not used a TENS unit in about 25 years, and I will not dispense them. I believe most chronic low back pain patients have been disabled and made chronic by misinformed providers who offer bad advice and passive modalities to treat a condition that has no proven anatomical or physiological basis (a "disease" or "pathology"). In my experience psychosocial issues are the mitigating factor in achieving some sense of normalcy. Fear avoidance beliefs and just basic beliefs systems are the root of the problem in many if not most cases. Depression plays a big role also, but I feel this is iatrogenic often. Posted by Ed Scott PT, DPT, OCS on 3/17/2012 5:57 AM TENS can be extremely effective for any condition if used properly. Just placing electrodes on painful sites is the least effective. By using movable sponge spotting electrodes and finding appropriate sites, especially acupuncture points, the efficiency and relief is over 80%. The spasms and pain are both relieved. The government should stay out of the treatment mode and the therapists should learn to use this effective device. Posted by Ken Lamm PT on 3/17/2012 10:03 AM My first lumbar fracture occured in 1977, and the next in 1995. My right hip has also been fractured 3 times and all the ribs on my right side fractured. I speak from personal as well as clinical experience after 15 years on the right side of therapy. There are times when I have seen relief from lumbar pain through use of E-stim, in myself and my patients. It's effect is increased with daily adherence to a very specific exercise program. No amount of E-stim works as a stand alone unit. And despite our best efforts, I still sometimes require meds to be able to stand up without grunting. Is E-stim effective? Yes. Should it be paid for by insurance? Yes. Will it save money in the long run? Yes, if coupled with other proven therapies. Posted by patrick tierney PTA on 3/17/2012 10:02 PM There is always bias when examining treatment modalities such as this. CMS has an obvious bias of wanting to reduce expenses. All responses including mine have a biased point of view. The real question to be asked is whether or not there are patients who benefit from TENS as either a primary or adjunct form of treatment for chronic low back pain. Some believe that there is no physiologic basis for its use. That, I fear, is a very near sighted point of view and does not take into account the very real bio-molecular neurophysiology of pain itself. Yes, thought processes including depression have both an affective and an effective impact on neurophysiology. To view the patient as simply a musculoskeletal and simple neurophysiological entity is to discount the wonder of who we essentially are. To do so, in the interest of saving money, is borderline criminal. Yes I have used TENS with chronic pain patients with very positive benefits and I have also used it with no impact whatsoever. This is yet another attempt to apply so called "evidence based treatment" principles in a way that discounts the foundation of Evidence Based practice...the clinician. Posted by Paul Hockett PT on 3/19/2012 10:12 AM I think that transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation when used properly and educated to clients and patients can be a viable treatment intervention and option. I think that it can also be helpful with pre-treatment for individuals who may have pharmacological compromise or for those who prefer not to utilize surgical interventions. Clinically, I have seen positive results for returning individuals to functional daily skills and managing symptoms independently. Just a professional opinion. Posted by Heidi Harris on 3/19/2012 11:48 AM We have to make our voices heard regarding the use of GOOD evidence being used to make policy--we can't stand for shoddy evidence being used by CMS, Anthem, or other payors. We will always be biased in our opinions and experiences AND we can be better and better, as improved evidence becomes available, at making informed evidence-based clinical decisions and informing policy makers at every level...WE are the creators of the answer to this issue but we have to have some science to back us up and WE have to help contribute to that as well!!! Posted by Beth (Rini) Scott, PT, DPT, GCFP on 3/25/2012 2:26 PM Please continue the medicare coverage for the tens unit.I would not be able to function each day and do my chores with out my tens unit. I am 73 years old and have severe low back pain, without the tens unit I would be on pain pills all the time. Posted by Mary Ann Johnson on 5/20/2012 9:50 AM I don't use my tens unit every day,but when I need it, it is the only thing that helps. Posted by W. A.Taylor on 5/21/2012 11:05 AM I use it for lower bqack anf mostly for neck area. I think it helps a lot of people so why discontinue coverage, some peopple really need it. Posted by Maureen Fish on 5/26/2012 5:59 PM without it I would be in worse pain than I am now. After I am using TENS it relieves the pain in my back . I have 3 dices out and the pain is worse than I have ever had. Even child birth. So without it I would be an invalid in a Nursing home . . The need is great. Posted by Sheila Bailey on 6/6/2012 12:37 PM Dear Sir's, I have been using the TENS since my first car accident, 1993. I have been in four accidents, as a passenger, & we were never at fault. I use the TENS for all over body pain,as I have to go to England to have my forth neck surgery(not availble in the US)When a person turns 60, to be denied treatment of any type is so un American!!!!!! Congress needs to live with the type of insurance that we do, after working all the years we have.So I am begging all of you to STOP, THINK, & LISTEN to we the TAXPAYER'S, not the illeagels who receive any & every thing.Also our insuance is not Medicare, it is Anthem Bue Cross,which we receive after my husbandworked over 33 years to have this benifits. Posted by Carole I Blalock on 6/11/2012 5:31 PM I use my tens every day, most of the day. It's not only for chronic low back pain, it's also for my severe nerve pain in legs,iliac joints, upper back with muskulo skeletal, radial nerve damage, neuropathy.If I didn't have that,it would be alot harder to walk.It has helped me decrease my pain meds drastically, refused another surgery from 1986 & 1987, with no results & was rented for me to try tens. It would save the states millions of dollars. There needs to be more people writing in on this with their results on the internet. It also helps with the tens belts, as alot of us are unable to reach certain places to get the electrodes on. Posted by Cher Heidecker on 6/23/2012 1:08 PM My tens I use every day I have chronic lower back pain also upper and middle back pain also in my neck.Without my tens I wouldn't be able to get around.My tens helps me so much.Its a blessing or I would have to be on pain pills all the time.... Posted by Barbara Geyer on 6/25/2012 9:00 PM I use my tens machine every day for my lower back pain and for my neck pain (for degenerative discs) It helps to relieve my pain. Without it I will always have to be on pain meds. Posted by Anna R Celeste on 8/5/2012 12:00 AM I use my tens machine everyday for lower and mid back pain.It helps me more than you will ever know. Posted by Wanda Black on 9/5/2012 6:58 PM I have arthritis in the spine and use a tens unit to reduce or change the emphasis of the pain in my back, and legs. Posted by Nancy Steward on 1/13/2013 5:45 PM I have a Empi Slect unit and knee unit also the belt one I have a disc bulg and nerve damage and osteoarthritis My neck is bad too my whole spine is out of alignment I hurt in my back, arms, knees, back of legs, goin area My Empi allows me to walk and sleep keep off of Very bad drugs. I just found out Medicare will not allow for back pain, also just two patches a month. It takes four for knee device alone, I use the butterfly one to put different areas from neck to back then two on hip. The patches do not last a whole month if you use 24 hrs a day. Medicare you are being just out right mean to let a person suffer like a wonded animal Shame on you Posted by Renee Jensen on 2/25/2013 7:00 PM I had problems in back. Tens unit really helped me Posted by klara on 10/10/2016 4:37 AM


text:
NASA / JPL-Caltech / SSI
Saturn and its rings glow in a backlit, enhanced-color image from the Cassini orbiter. The picture combines images that were acquired using infrared, red and violet filters on Oct. 17. Two of Saturn's moons, Enceladus and Tethys, sparkle on the left side of the planet.
The holiday season is bringing beautiful baubles from outer space, including an unconventional view of Saturn from the Cassini orbiter, a gaudy nebula from the Hubble Space Telescope and a loopy picture of a supernova's leftovers. You can even send your own celestial season's greetings.
The Saturn picture, released today, marks the first time Cassini captured a backlit view of the ringed planet since 2006. That earlier photo made a huge splash, in part because the planet Earth could just barely be seen as a pale blue dot off to the side. This time, Earth is hidden behind Saturn, but you can spot two moons just to the left and below the planet: The closer speck is Enceladus, and Tethys is farther down and to the left.
This isn't the view that human eyes would see: Cassini's wide-angle camera snagged this picture in infrared, red and violet wavelengths from a distance of 500,000 miles (800,000 kilometers) behind Saturn on Oct. 17. The various views were assigned different colors in the visible-light spectrum to produce this eerie, otherworldly picture. Here's what Carolyn Porco, leader of the Cassini imaging team at the Colorado-based Space Science Institute, says about the image in today's "Captain's Log":
"Of all the many glorious images we have received from Saturn, none are more strikingly unusual than those we have taken from Saturn's shadow. They unveil a rare splendor seldom seen anywhere else in our solar system.
"This one is our special gift to you, the people of the world, in this holiday season that brings to a close the year 2012. We fervently hope it serves as a reminder that we humans, though troubled and warlike, are also the dreamers, thinkers, and explorers inhabiting one achingly beautiful planet, yearning for the sublime, and capable of the magnificent. We hope it reminds you to protect our planet with all your might and cherish the life it so naturally sustains.
"From all of us on Cassini, the happiest of holidays to everyone."
The Hubble Space Telescope's science team is also rolling out the holiday goodies, with a twisty planetary nebula known as NGC 5189 serving as the centerpiece. "The intricate structure of this bright gaseous nebula resembles a glass-blown holiday ornament with a glowing ribbon entwined," the Hubble team says in today's photo advisory.
NASA / ESA / Hubble Heritage
A holiday image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the planetary nebula NGC 5189. The image was captured by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 on Oct. 8.
Planetary nebulae like NGC 5189 are formed when a medium-sized star like our sun enters the last stages of its life, and puffs away its outer shells of glowing gas. This nebula's swirly structure is thought to be due to the influence of an unseen companion star that's stirring the pot, gravitationally speaking.
The picture was taken by Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3, one of the instruments that was installed during the telescope's final servicing mission in 2009. The camera's filters were tuned to the specific wavelengths of fluorescing sulfur, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, plus broad filters in visible and near-infrared wavelengths to capture the star colors.
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory and WIYN Consortium are also putting out a glittery end-of-the-year picture of the Cygnus Loop, a giant supernova remnant that glows 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. The observations were made in 2003 by astronomer Richard Cool, using the NOAO Mosaic 1 camera on the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope on Kitt Peak, Ariz.
The Cygnus Loop shines in a picture released by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory and the WIYN Consortium.
Back then, the computing power wasn't sufficient to process the picture's 600 million pixels into a single, full-resolution color image. Now the telescope observations have been re-reduced and reprocessed by Travis Rector at the University of Alaska at Anchorage to produce the version released today. "Images like this are amazing, because they can remind you of the big picture and beauty that surrounds us," Cool said in NOAO's image advisory.
These pictures are cool enough for Christmas cards, but if you need a little inspiration for your last-minute mailing list, the teams behind NASA's Great Observatories can help: The Space Telescope Science Institute's Hubble Web site offers printable holiday cards. The team behind the Chandra X-Ray Observatory has e-cards suitable for a variety of occasions. You can turn to Zazzle or CafePress to order greeting cards featuring imagery from the Spitzer Space Telescope.
The European Space Agency, meanwhile is offering a selection of space-themed e-cards as well as a printable 2013 Hubble calendar.
More holiday treats:
- 2012 Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar
- Stocking stuffers for stargazers
- The Atlantic: 2012 Hubble Advent Calendar
- 2012 Zooniverse Advent Calendar
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


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A yellow cap left on during the manufacturing process can cover one of the two smoke sensors and compromise the smoke alarm's ability to detect smoke, posing a risk of consumers not being alerted to a fire in their home.
Kidde toll-free at 833-551-7739 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information.
Recall Details
This recall involves models PI2010 and PI9010 of Kidde dual sensor (photoelectric and ionization) smoke alarms. "KIDDE" is printed on the front center of the smoke alarm. The model number and date code are printed on the back of the alarm.
Date Code
PI9010 (DC/battery powered)
2016 Sep. 10 through 2017 Oct. 13
PI2010 (AC/hardwired)
2016 Sep. 10 through 2017 Oct. 13
Consumers should remove the alarm from the wall/ceiling and visually inspect it through the opening on the side of the alarm for the presence of a yellow cap. Consumers should not attempt to take apart the alarm, open the casing, or otherwise remove the yellow cap themselves. If a yellow cap is present, the consumer should immediately contact Kidde to receive instructions and request a free replacement smoke alarm. They should remove and discard the recalled smoke alarm only after they receive and install the replacement alarm. If no yellow cap is present, consumers should reinstall the smoke alarm and no further action is needed.
The firm has received one report of the yellow protective cap being present on a smoke alarm before it was installed in a consumer's home. No reports of incidents or injuries as a result of a yellow cap being present have been reported.
Menards, The Home Depot, Walmart and other department, home and hardware stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com, ShopKidde.com and other websites from September 2016 through January 2018 for between $20 and $40.
Fyrnetics Limited, of Hong Kong
Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company Inc., of Mebane, N.C.
Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Company Inc., of Mebane, N.C.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to help ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals -– contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 or teletypewriter at 301-595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @USCPSC or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.
Please use the below phone number for all media requests.
Phone: (301) 504-7908
Spanish: (301) 504-7800


text:
The Eurail Sweden Pass is the most comprehensive way to explore Sweden, the country where the Northern Lights dance across the sky! When one thinks of Sweden, invariably, attention falls to meatballs and do-it-yourself furnishings. But Sweden is more than that. Take a Eurail Sweden Pass and discover all the amazing facets of this avant-garde country. Malmö is home to incredible art galleries and progressive design whereas in Northern Lapland, you'll get to meet the Sami people.
The Eurail Sweden Pass allows you unlimited travel with the freedom to hit the tracks whenever and wherever you want! You can take as many trains as you like and there is no limit on the distance you can travel within a travel day. All of this at a fixed price.
Hop on and off trains at any time according to your desires and encounters. Just show up at the nearest train station and get ready to go and explore a new destination. (See 'Things to know' for more information about seat reservations).
The Eurail Sweden Pass is packed with bonuses to make your trip even more enjoyable. Hotel discounts, reduced museum fares and more are included in your pass.
It also comes with a Eurail travel pack (Travel map and user guide).
Whether you are the adventurous traveller or the avid planner the Eurail Sweden Pass is your pass to freedom and the key to an unforgettable trip!