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The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
The #1 show in late night delivered straight to your ears, every weekday. Keep up with all the whip-smart writing, hilarious monologues, and revealing conversations with celebrity guests, only on The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert.
Introducing The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Brian Cox, Samantha Bee | Kill Bill
American treasure Stevie Wonder urged senators to protect voting rights in a video released yesterday, and a newscaster in Guadalajara sounded off against anti-vaxxers in a fiery rant on live TV. In tonight's Pod Show exclusive, Stephen vents to Jon about covid anxieties and contagious pumas. Meanwhile… Stephen helps the ubiquitous earworm "Baby Shark" song celebrate a milestone, and helps our head writer Opus Moreschi answer a tricky question from his father. Then, "Succession" star and author of the new memoir, "Putting the Rabbit in the Hat," Brian Cox joins Stephen for a two-part interview that kicks off with a look back at his parents, his childhood in Scotland, and the experiences that cemented his desire to become an entertainer. Next, our good friend Samantha Bee stops by to celebrate the 200th episode of her namesake TBS show, "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," and explain to Stephen what she means when she says this season will be "nut-nut." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Senator Elizabeth Warren | Lift Every Vote and Sing
President Biden is no longer confident that he and Senate Democrats will prevail in their push to pass voting rights legislation, and we're learning more about the former president's nefarious efforts to corrupt the 2020 census and the bureaucratic heroes who thwarted him. Up next, a Late Show Pod Show exclusive: Stephen tells Jon Batiste how he really feels about potential future covid variants. And romance is always evolving, and it can be hard to keep up with the latest terminology around dating - our host is here to help with the latest edition of "Stephen Colbert's Romansplaining." Then, Senator Elizabeth Warren returns to The Late Show for a three part interview with Stephen, which kicks off with a frank assessment of the filibuster and the challenges of passing voting rights legislation. Stay tuned to hear Stephen challenge Sen. Warren to justify the very existence of the U.S. Senate in this era of filibuster-fueled gridlock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bradley Cooper Takes The Colbert Questionert, Corey Stoll | The More You Knomicron
Stephen brings you another edition of "Disinformation Station" in an attempt to debunk some of the latest crazy covid cures, and that pillow guy has employed some very fuzzy math in his latest attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Meanwhile… A baseball team mascot recently learned a valuable lesson in how to crop photos for social media. Next, if you don't know his favorite smell, or the most-used app on his phone, do you really know "Nightmare Alley" and "Licorice Pizza" star Bradley Cooper? Then Corey Stoll talks Shakespeare with Stephen, and confesses that he has no interest in joining the 1% despite portraying one of them in "Billions" on Showtime. And every night before the show, Stephen answers a few questions from his live studio audience. This time, he fields hard-hitting inquiries about South Carolina barbecue, what he misses most about his home state, the perfect pizza, his facial hair, and no conversation with Stephen Colbert is complete without a "Lord of The Rings" deep dive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Liev Schreiber | Oath Weepers
Stephen's faith in the Justice Department was restored today when ten so-called Oath Keepers were charged with sedition for their participation in the Jan. 6th attack. In covid news, experts think Omicron has hit its peak in the United States, with case numbers on the East Coast already starting to fall. Next, to celebrate the NFL post-season, we got famous film directors and the NFL to come together For Stephen's Super Bowl Special last year, debuting for the first time in front of his live studio audience. Then "Ray Donovan" himself, Liev Schreiber, returns to The Late Show for a three part interview with Stephen Colbert. Listen as they kick things off with a look at how Liev spent his holidays, playing music on an old Casio keyboard while quarantined on vacation in Chile. Catch Liev in "Ray Donovan: The Movie," available now on Showtime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Keanu Reeves Takes The Colbert Questionert, Caitríona Balfe | Cor-only A Matter Of Time
Dr. Fauci predicts that Omicron will infect "just about everybody" in this country, but there are reasons to be hopeful because scientists announced that cannabis may help the body fight off the coronavirus. Next, Stephen gives an update on small business owner Zack Redmon, whose Redmon's Popcorn shop was temporarily forced to close after the #ColbertSmallBizBump sent scores of hungry customers, and the health department, to his doorstep. Redmon's is back in business and to celebrate, we got them an expensive billboard in Times Square for the rare Double Bump! Then, if you don't know his favorite action movie, or what he thinks happens when we die, do you really know Keanu Reeves? Get to know the man behind "The Matrix" in this edition of The Colbert Questionert. And finally, Caitríona Balfe, star of the film "Belfast," returns to The Late Show to celebrate her SAG Award nomination and to discuss the way the film portrays the human side of the events known as "The Troubles." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Bradley Cooper | God Test America
Dr. Fauci clashed with senators at a hearing, taking Sen. Rand Paul to task over his fundraising tactics and referring to Sen. Roger Marshall as "a moron" in a candid moment caught on tape. Meanwhile… Dolphin science just took a huge leap forward, and human science tells us it's not weird to stare at our own faces during meetings. Next, Bradley Cooper returns to The Late Show to talk to Stephen about the character he plays in the fantastic new film, "Nightmare Alley." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Gayle King, Tig Notaro | Infection Point
While America grapples with a massive surge in Omicron cases, scientists in Cyprus are tracking dozens of infections they attribute to a new variant that combines elements of Delta and Omicron. Elsewhere, Rep. Jim Jordan announced he will not cooperate with the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6th insurrection. And this year's Consumer Electronics Show featured an array of predictably upsetting new gadgets, including a furry robot that nibbles on your fingers. Stephen Colbert reviews all the new gear in the latest edition of his forward-looking technology segment, "Cyborgasm." Gayle King, co-host of 'CBS Mornings,' joins us to mark her 10 year anniversary at CBS and to share a sweet home video of the greeting her grandson received when visiting Oprah's house for the first time. Next, Tig Notaro, who stars in 'Star Trek: Discovery' on Paramount+, still hasn't tried the industrial-sized cotton candy machine Stephen sent her as a gift years ago. Catch Tig's 'Hello Again' comedy tour - dates and ticket information are available at http://www.tignotaro.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tom Hanks Takes The Colbert Questionert | Resign Of The Times
Leaving your crappy job this year? Your boss may be forced to replace you with a robot. Did you storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th? You might see yourself in this edition of The Late Show's 'Seditionist Round Up Roundup.' Meanwhile... In crime news, a Florida man is maintaining his innocence after police found cocaine and methamphetamine wrapped around his penis during a traffic stop. Next up: Tom Hanks and Stephen traded their favorite Dick Cavett moments and dove deep into the psyche of the beloved movie star in the very first Colbert Questionert. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
John Dickerson, Corey Hawkins | Happy Birthday to Coup
One year after a violent mob ransacked the U.S. Capitol, Stephen looks back at The Late Show's spontaneous live episode from that night, and listens as President Biden blames the former president without mentioning him by name. Our good friend John Dickerson, Chief Political Analyst for CBS News, returns to the show to chat about the one year anniversary of the Jan. 6th insurrection. Listen as John tells Stephen about his experiences reporting the news during the riot, and shares why he feels the story of Jan. 6th is far from over. And Corey Hawkins returns to the show to talk about his latest role, acting alongside Denzel Washington in the new film, "The Tragedy of Macbeth," streaming now on Apple TV+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Senator Amy Klobuchar | Coup Year's Eve
It appears that Fox News host Sean Hannity had advance knowledge of the former president's plans for the Jan 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Stephen Colbert has a special song to help everyone understand the CDC's updated Covid-19 quarantine guidelines. Next, young people are falling for online scams at alarming rates, so Stephen invited certified young person and self-described internet safety expert, Eliana Kwartler, to offer some tips on how to surf the web without losing your money. And Senator Amy Klobuchar joins Stephen for a three-part interview to discuss the events of January 6, 2021 and what she has been doing since that day to bring the perpetrators to justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jennifer Lawrence Takes The Colbert Questionert, Ralph Macchio | The Power of Positivity
Florida's surgeon general announced the state's new plan to combat the Omicron wave: stop testing so much. Further north, drivers on Interstate 95 in Virginia were still stuck in their cars on Tuesday evening after a storm left thousands of cars stuck in the snow. Meanwhile… a new study reveals that hamsters are able to hold their liquor better than anyone else in the animal kingdom. Up next, Jennifer Lawrence takes The Colbert Questionert, because if you don't know her favorite sandwich, or which animal she fears most, do you really know the star of "Don't Look Up?" And "Cobra Kai" star Ralph Macchio says his show is so popular because the writers and producers have a deep love and respect for the "Karate Kid" movies and those who have been lifelong fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Utkarsh Ambudkar | Catch 2022
Andy Cohen's tipsy rant about NYC's mayor must have distracted CNN producers on New Year's Eve, when several Twitter pranksters managed to get their NSFW usernames displayed on screen. Elsewhere, more details are coming to light about why the former president stayed silent for over three hours as a mob of his supporters ransacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, makes a special visit to the show to talk Omicron, the science behind the CDC's updated guidance for isolating after a Covid-19 infection, and responds to a recent comment by Dr. Anthony Fauci who suggested Americans may soon be able to test out of isolation after 5 days. And the star of the hit CBS comedy, "Ghosts," Utkarsh Ambudkar tells Stephen about his role on the show and then treats our host to a freestyle rap about our host's favorite topic, the "Lord of the Rings" films. Catch Utkarsh every Thursday in "Ghosts" on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Audience Questions | Colbert Classic
Every night before the show, our host takes a few questions from the audience. This time, he shared some advice for a newlywed couple, and weighed in on an existential question: what's up with Chicago-style pizza? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nick Offerman
The author of "Where the Deer and the Antelope Play: The Pastoral Observations of One Ignorant American Who Loves to Walk Outside," Nick Offerman, texts his famous buddies Jeff Tweedy and George Saunders a video message from Stephen Colbert and our Late Show audience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Issa Rae
The fabulous Issa Rae returned to The Late Show this fall to preview the fifth and final season of "Insecure," now streaming on HBO Max, and tells Stephen how she dealt with the pressure of writing an ending to the popular series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Michael Keaton was thrilled to be back in NYC for his visit to The Late Show, and he confirmed that he can still fit into the Bat Suit he wore in the seminal 1989 film. Keaton describes the real life actions of the Purdue Pharma executives depicted in "Dopesick," the Hulu limited series he stars in and executive produced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kids Pitch: Santa Fight | Colbert Classic
Not unlike Netflix's pitching process, Stephen let a room of children write their own holiday movie in 2018. The result? "Santa Fight: Saving the Holiday from Atnas," starring Bryan Cranston, Laura Linney, Nick Kroll, Rachel Dratch, and John Oliver. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Steve Martin, Martin Short, & Selena Gomez
A trio who give new meaning to the words "triple threat," Selena Gomez, Martin Short and Steve Martin, joined Stephen Colbert earlier this fall to talk about collaborating on their Hulu show, "Only Murders in the Building." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Jingle Jingle (Santa Party)" feat. Run The Jewels | Colbert Classic
Stephen wanted to give his fans a nice, wholesome, family-friendly holiday music video for Christmas in 2017. Killer Mike and El-P from Run The Jewels had other plans. Enjoy this Christmas Colbert Classic and more Pod Show exclusives until The Late Show Pod Show is back with all new episodes in the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Charlamagne Tha God
Lenard McKelvey, AKA Charlamagne Tha God, tells Stephen what he has planned for upcoming episodes of "Tha God's Honest Truth," his new late night show which airs Friday nights at 10/9c on Comedy Central and streams on Paramount+ and is Executive Produced by Stephen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


"Presidential Indiscretions" will be the topic of a program to be presented by Pembroke teacher Greg Kinal at the June 12, 2013, meeting of the Ellicottville Historical Society. Presidents have been known to make decisions in their private lives that have not gone all that well. Pictures and political cartoons will be shown at what will likely be a very entertaining evening.
The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Ellicottville Memorial Library on Maples Road. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served.


Primestay Fitzrovia Apartments in London is an apartment building.
Set in London within 1.1 km of Dominion Theatre, Primestay Fitzrovia Apartments offers accommodation with seating area and a kitchen. Complimentary Wi...Fi is available. Each unit is equipped with an oven, microwave, a coffee machine, as well as a toaster and kettle. Some units include a terrace and/or balcony. Carnaby Street is 1.5 km from the apartment. London City Airport is 16 km from the property.
When would you like to stay at Primestay Fitzrovia Apartments?
Please inform Primestay Fitzrovia Apartments in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation. Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. A damage deposit of GBP 250 is required on arrival. You should be reimbursed within 7 days of check-out. This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties. Please note that check-in is by pre-arranged appointment only as the property does not have a 24 -hour reception. Once the reservation has been made Primestay Fitzrovia Apartments will contact you with information regarding check-in. Check-in after 20:30 up to 00:00 is possible at extra cost of GBP 35, subject to availability and by prior arrangement. Any check in after 00:00 is possible at extra cost of GBP 70, subject to availability and by prior arrangement. Please supply the name of all guests to be accommodated. Only named guests may stay at the property. Kindly note that this property cannot accommodate hen and stag, or similar parties. Please note the payment must be from the original card, and the cardholder must be present. A fee of GBP 250 is charged if guests smoke in the apartment. Please note that for the reservations for 7 or less days the linens and towels are not changed. Linen and towels can be changed within 7 days for a fee of GBP 40.


#ProdChat – 06-09-16 – What's Killing Your Productivity and Why?
On June 9, 2016, #ProdChat discussed the topic, What's Killing Your Productivity and Why? We asked the productivity enthusiasts of #ProdChat, the weekly #productivity Twitter chat, what they needed help with, and then we tackled those issues. See what they asked, and how we answered in this week's conversation! Watch the slideshow to see what the productivity enthusiasts on #ProdChat had to say about "What's Killing Your Productivity and Why?" Enjoy!
Q1: How do you find time to tackle "big projects"?
Q2: How do you "[stay] motivated when doing boring tasks"?
Q3: How can you maximize your mornings and early afternoons better now that the weather is nice out?
Q4: How do you really focus and spend time doing "Deep Work" a la Cal Newport?
Q5: Is it really possible to compartmentalize your mind to work multiple tasks?


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Q: What are the advantages of EJB 3.x over EJB 2.1 in testing apsect I know that there are lots of advantages of EJB3.x over EJB 2.1.
What i need is the testing aspect.

What re the advantages of EJB3.x in testing aspect??

A: e.g. EJB 3.1 specifies an embeddable EJBContainer you can use in unit tests:
http://docs.oracle.com/javaee/6/api/javax/ejb/embeddable/EJBContainer.html

A: Note OpenEJB supports testing EJB 2.x components using the EJB 3.1 Embedded EJBContainer API.
This example shows an EJB 3.0 bean that has EJB 2.x interfaces and is unit tested with JUnit and the javax.ejb.embeddable.EJBContainer API:

*

*http://openejb.apache.org/examples-trunk/component-interfaces
That basic setup still works if all EJB 2.x features are used.  The nice thing about that example, is it can show you how to maintain your EJB 2.x views while still having an EJB 3 style bean.
This can be nice as it sounds like you might be doing some migrating from EJB 2.x to 3.x and typically the hardest thing is not deleting the xml and converting to annotations, but maintain all the code that uses the EJBHome/EJBObject interfaces (or the local versions).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


On February 2, we watch for the groundhog to emerge for reasons that originate from ancient Celtic tradition. Groundhog Day was known as lmbolog, or sheep's milk, a time for nurturing young sheep and planting spring crops. The belief arose that if lmbolog were to be sunny and clear, then winter's effects would endure, foreshadowing a long winter. However, if skies were overcast, then the warmer days of spring would arrive early. To farmers then and today, an early spring means early spring planting and a subsequent early harvest. Often fires were lit to commemorate the event as fires were a sign of warmth and light, both of which increased as days lengthened.
than that Candlemas Day should be sunny and clear.
Year after year, since 1898, crowds have gathered in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2 to wait for a certain groundhog to emerge from its burrow. Today the belief in this as a predictor of weather is not nearly as consequential as it appears despite all the hoopla created by the news media. Yet, there is some scientific rationale to this ritual, albeit not in the accuracy of the forecast. When the skies are clear, temperatures tend to be cold as the ground radiates heat absorbed during the day back into the atmosphere; and when skies are overcast temperatures tend to moderate as clouds trap heat nearer the ground.
To other cultures in the Northern Hemisphere Candlemas Day was celebrated as the midpoint, or cross quarter day, between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Cross-quarter days occur midway between the astronomical events that mark the beginning of each of the four seasons, the solstices and the equinoxes. The second cross-quarter day of the year, as it is calculated mathematically, occurs on May 6, although it is often associated with May Day, on May 1. The third cross quarter day of the year is August 7, the only one of the four without a significant event associated with it. Mid-autumn, the fourth cross-quarter day, occurs on the last day of October, Hallowmas Eve, or as we now know it, Halloween.
Interestingly this system of equinox, solstice, and cross-quarter days has led to some confusion as to when the seasonal midpoints and endpoints occur. For example, June 21-22 is the official date for the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is sometimes referred to as midsummer's day. This would suggest that summer actually begins on May Day and ends in early August. In a similar manner, December 21, the start of winter for the Northern Hemisphere, is sometimes referred to as midwinter's day. This would imply winter actually begins at the end of October, and concludes (assuming no shadow is seen) on Groundhog Day.
So will we have a long winter, or will it be short, and our spring be an early spring? No one can predict this, at least not based on seeing one's shadow. However, come this February 2, rest assured that crowds will once again gather to watch Punxsutawney Phil emerge from his hole.
Adapted from "Watch that Woodchuck" Scope on the Skies. Science Scope Magazine. February 1993.
Monday November 28th is the winter solstice on the planet Mars as the planet transitions from autumn to winter during its 684 Earth day orbit around the Sun. Seasons on Mars are marked by the planet's heliocentric longitude coordinates using the position of Mars along its orbit around the Sun. Each seasonal start/ending point is 90 degrees apart, but because of its elliptical-shaped orbit each Martian season is of varying lengths.
I'm not exactly sure why this particular date is used but by international agreement astronomers have selected 11 April, 1955 as 0 degrees for year 1 of this Martian calendar. What this means is that on Monday November 28th, Earth time, it is the start of winter for year 33 using the aforementioned calendar system.
On the evening of Monday November 28th the planet Mars will be over the southwestern horizon at sunset and Mars will set a couple of hours later. Mars is within the constellation of Capricornus the Sea Goat.
Learn a little (or a lot) more about the exploration of Mars at the NASA Journey to Mars web site.
Here is approximately 3 minutes worth of Mars from the Orbit performance.
This past week was an EarthKam week. During the week participants are able to view the daytime orbital path for the International Space Station and request a picture to be taken of whatever the ISS happens to be passing over. This could be your hometown if the ISS happens to have an orbit that passes over where you live. The one time, so far, that there was an orbit over where I live we had completely overcast skies and rain. Nonetheless as you can see from these pictures, there is a lot of the Earth to see from the perspective of the International Space Station.
Click on any picture to see it, or any of the rest of the pictures larger. The picture may also be viewed at its full size, which for some pictures will show an amazing amount of detail. If you are familiar with Tucson Arizona look at the picture labeled 'tanque verde and speedway'.
4 Planets – No Clouds!
Following a couple of days with off and on clouds interfering with seeing the planets and waning crescent Moon we had a cold front pass through and now on the 'backside' we have higher pressure and accompanying cooler, drier, and somewhat less humid. So this morning I was able to not only see what I wanted to see but as an added bonus the innermost planet, Mercury, was also visible.
This is a 180o panorama of one of my viewing sites. It is near US Highway 50 and toward the eastern edge of Lee's Summit Missouri where I live, thus the business lights and vehicle traffic.
Friday March 20th is an equinox day. This means that for those in the northern hemisphere winter is ending and spring has 'sprung' (starts). For our counterparts south of the equator summer is ending and fall is beginning. From a geographical perspective we would describe the Sun as being over the Earth's equator, and as this graphic shows there would be an equal amount of daylight and night on our planet as a result.
At mid-day on the equator the sun is directly overhead and from that latitude you have no shadow, just a 'blob-like' shadow at your feet as this picture of my feet taken at mid-day in Quito Ecuador shows.
Northern hemisphere spring officially (well at least astronomically) begins at 22:45 UT (4:45 pm CST) on the 20th when the Sun reaches the celestial coordinates of 0 hours and 0 degrees as it moves northward along the ecliptic crossing the celestial equator. At this location the Sun is within the constellation of Pisces the Fishes and not just entering Aries the Ram as the pseudoscience of astrology would have you believe.
The time of this equinox is about 13 hours after a new Moon phase and a solar eclipse. This picture shows the shadow of the Moon cast on the Earth during a solar eclipse as seen from the International Space Station.
Click here to go to the NASA Sun-Earth Days web site.
Interestingly this system of equinox, solstice, and cross-quarter days has led to some confusion as to when the seasonal midpoints and endpoints occur. For example, June 21 is the official date for the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is sometimes referred to as midsummer's day. This would suggest that summer actually begins on May Day and ends in early August. In a similar manner, December 21, the start of winter for the Northern Hemisphere, is sometimes referred to as midwinter's day. This would imply winter actually begins at the end of October, and concludes (assuming no shadow is seen) on Groundhog Day.


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2017 Dubai Darts Masters Draw!
Defending champion Gary Anderson will kick off the defence of his Dubai Darts Masters title with a tie against 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, whilst Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld will contest a thrilling all-Dutch showdown when the World Series opener gets underway on Wednesday evening.
The fifth staging of the Dubai Darts Masters will take place on May 24th-25th at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, in the opening World Series event of 2017. Michael van Gerwen won the first three stagings of this event, but Anderson claimed the spoils last year; defeating 'The Green Machine' in a dramatic final.
'The Flying Scotsman' will begin his title defence with a showdown against Phil Taylor, who is embarking on his final World Series campaign ahead of his impending retirement. The Scot defeated Taylor in the semi-finals of last year's competition, and the second seed will be aiming to repeat that feat this time around.
Anderson claimed: "It's a tough game. Phil's beaten me the last two times we've played in the Premier League so it will be hard game, and he'll be trying his damnedest because this is his last year. It's nice to get over to Dubai and be back here. Winning the event last year was a great memory and I'd love to do it again."
World number one Michael van Gerwen kicks off his assault for a fourth Dubai Darts Masters crown against his fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld. Van Gerwen defeated Barney in the final of the tournament's inaugural staging back in 2013, whilst he also edged out his legendary compatriot in the first-round of the 2015 event.
Nevertheless, Van Barneveld has enjoyed a number of memorable televised victories over the world number one in recent years, most notably their famous last 16 clash at the 2016 World Championship. In addition, Van Barneveld was also the man to end MvG's unprecedented 44-match televised unbeaten run, less than two months ago.
The five-time world champion is aware of the task facing him, but is relishing the challenge. "There were no easy draws and you know what you've got to do – play your best. To beat Michael, the Premier League champion and World Champion, is going to be tough so I hope I play well tomorrow.
"Mike is a machine but someone has to stop him and why not me? If there is one player in darts that can beat him it's me, I've shown that for the last two or three years," Van Barneveld insisted.
Van Gerwen retained his Premier League crown with a dramatic deciding-leg victory over Peter Wright last Thursday, recovering from 7-2 down and surviving six match darts to edge out Snakebite. However, the world champion is now turning his attention to reclaiming the Dubai title.
The world champion said: "I'm looking forward to it. It's always a fantastic tournament for me and I've always played well over here. Last year I let Gary Anderson walk away with the trophy, unfortunately I made a few mistakes, but I'm here to try to get it back again.
"That's what you need to aim for, keep your confidence high and make sure you perform well and also prepare well because you need to get used to the heat again. I feel comfortable about it," 'The Green Machine' added.
Premier League runner-up Peter Wright, a former finalist in Dubai, will take on an in-form Dave Chisnall in another exciting quarter-final tie. Snakebite defeated Chisnall en route to claiming his first major title at March's UK Open, but Chisnall, who will make his World Cup debut for England next week, will provide a stern test for the Scot.
Chisnall has reached the semi-finals in his two previous Dubai appearances and enters this tournament in fantastic form, having enjoyed a stunning seven-match unbeaten in the second half of the Premier League season. Wright, who has won eight ranking titles already this year, is well aware of the challenge facing him in the desert.
"My plan is to come here and win. I want to make up for losing out in the Premier League so I'm going to try and win this one. I think Chizzy is probably playing the best darts of anyone else and you just have to look at the end of the Premier League, when he was unbeaten in seven games, so I've got a very hard game," the world number three admitted.
Wright is renowned for constantly tinkering with his darting set-up and admitted that he would take two sets on stage, as the players aim to combat the open-air elements. "You're not sure how the darts are going to fly up there so I'm going to take two sets of darts with me on stage. If one doesn't go, and the others don't go, then I'm in real trouble!"
The final quarter-final sees eight-time major winner James Wade take on World Series debutant Gerwyn Price. Wade is seeded fourth for this event in the absence of two-time world champion Adrian Lewis, whilst Price is making his World Series debut; having secured selection after reaching his first major TV final at this year's UK Open.
Wade has suffered three successive first-round defeats in this event since reaching the semi-finals in 2013, but he's looking forward to taking on the Welsh number one. 'The Machine' claimed: "I don't think anyone enjoys the heat and the conditions but everyone has to do the same thing. It's the same for every player and I can't wait."
Price is entering unknown territory in Dubai, although 'The Iceman' has been backed to adapt in his open-air debut by Peter Wright, the man who defeated him in the UK Open Final. "It's Gerwyn's first time and it will be interesting to see how he deals with the heat on stage, but he's a professional sportsman so he should be alright," added Snakebite.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
2017 Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters
Draw Bracket
Michael van Gerwen (1) v Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade (4) v Gerwyn Price
Gary Anderson (2) v Phil Taylor
Peter Wright (3) v Dave Chisnall
Schedule of Play
Wednesday May 24
James Wade v Gerwyn Price
Peter Wright v Dave Chisnall
Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Best of 19 legs
Thursday May 25
Published by joshuagorton
View all posts by joshuagorton
Dave Chisnall, Dubai, Dubai Darts Masters, Gary Anderson, Gerwyn Price, James Wade, Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld
World Cup of Darts Teams Announced!
2017 World Cup of Darts: Draw & Schedule Confirmed!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The rosters put out at our Team Reveal on March 9th are available in the Word document below. We are currently reviewing all known requests for team/division changes and appreciate your patience as we work through those! For any additional requests please contact our AAA-Majors-Seniors softball player agent, Heather Kramer, at UpperSBPlayerAgent@nkll.com.


SCADA systems are built around data. As the complexity of plant automation processes increase, so have a SCADA's ability to process increasingly larger amounts of data. Unfortunately this usually results in a cluttered HMI, causing operators to be overwhelmed with data.
Most of the cutting-edge innovation in HMI design in recent times have come from, unsurprisingly, smartphone operating systems; and there's a lot we can learn from them when designing an HMI for SCADA systems. Here are five simple tips in designing a killer HMI.
It's easy for a system integrator to design an HMI that simply mirrors the behaviour of hardware controls on a shiny, high-res touch screen. Early smartphone OSes have in fact adopted a so-called skeuomorphic design (graphical user interface objects that emulates the aesthetics of physical objects), but have quickly dropped that in favour of a flat design, reducing three dimensional design cues to a minimum.
While sometimes it may be the only option when presenting a set of controls, mimicking hardware is definitely a missed opportunity to rethink the way the operator interacts with the plant.
Overview screens on an HMI are like car speedometers; it is essential to get the information you need in a glance. Use subtle nuances to highlight abnormal conditions that require manual intervention. Only display the main KPIs of the plant on the main view, i.e. production output, downtime, and safety. For example, for a railway network, you might want to display the voltage of the tracks, the speed and location of each train in the network, number of passengers, or even the punctuality of each train in terms of delay in seconds.
Do not neglect the additional data that are not displayed on the main screen. They may not be critical to the KPIs, but turning those data into actionable information would definitely present a significant increase in productivity and response time.
What makes a good HMI? No one can say for sure, since each one is tailored to a specific use; but an HMI designed with the users in mind would definitely deliver a better outcome than one developed without user involvement. Be clear about the design direction with your users from the early stages. Reuse the back-end controller logic if it has been relatively stable for many years. Let users try new builds out, listen to what they want.
What if it's too difficult to use? Identify whether it's a problem with ergonomics, or just a habitual issue that users will adapt to after some time. User feedback prevents designing an HMI that only the designer understands, but take them with a pinch of salt. A quote allegedly associated to Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company states that, "If I asked people what they wanted, they would say 'a faster horse',". Ultimately, you should make the final call.
When was the last time your smartphone came with an operating manual? It does come with some literature on warranty and safety warnings in the box, but generally you intuitively hit the large button on the side and know how everything works.
An HMI should be designed with a similar concept in mind. Replacing words with simple graphical icons may even eliminate the need for translation. Also consider the screen size of the device running the HMI; using graphics means users do not need to squint to read text. Beware though, try not to overwhelm the user with information just because there is existing screen real estate. Employ the use of layers to organise detailed information; though it's best practice to nest fewer than three layers.
We can't argue that HMIs for a SCADA systems wouldn't hurt if they were more aesthetically pleasing, but adding a splash of colour or having a futuristic jet black interface would probably not be the best practice in designing for process controllers.
Use subtle colours to pull the user's attention to actionable processes, consider implementing a dark mode for users working in environments without proper lighting, design larger buttons for users that wear gloves. There's no one-size-fit-all interface, so be creative and come up with original ideas; if you can't, you can always copy someone else's homework…?
Once more we turn to our friends, the smartphone OSes. Since literally everyone uses one, it would make sense to design a similar interface; one that users are familiar with and would immediately feel at home. Moreover, these companies, i.e. Google and Apple, have invested billions in this and even published guidelines on their findings. This makes even more sense when you consider that web SCADAs like Ecava IntegraXor are designed to run on smartphones anyway.
There is no perfect HMI though. There's not even a perfect HMI for a specific use case since each operator has a different mental model. The only thing we can do as designers is to craft an HMI that fits around the majority of users, rather than convince users to work around it; the robot overlords do not rule the earth. Yet.


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Real Estate|Insert a Gym, Then a Lounge: Older Buildings Add Amenities
Insert a Gym, Then a Lounge: Older Buildings Add Amenities
Donal Burke and his wife, Monica Goel, in the new bike room at the Carlton Regency, a 1966 co-op on East 36th Street.CreditCreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
By Joanne Kaufman
When Donal Burke and his wife, Monica Goel, decided to leave their rental and buy an apartment a few years ago, they knew what they wanted: a newly built condominium.
"We like modern design, big windows and plenty of light, and new buildings tend to have those and they mostly have better amenities," said Mr. Burke, 54, a computer consultant.
But after considering shiny new possibilities across Manhattan and in Brooklyn, the couple grabbed a one-bedroom co-op at the Carlton Regency, an apartment house on East 36th Street that was built in 1966.
Major lures were the brand-new bike room and brand-new workout room, which the couple deemed equal to fitness areas in many of the just-born condos they had toured. "And the building had the bonus of having a roof deck," Mr. Burke said. An even bigger bonus: The apartment was more spacious than its condo counterparts and about 25 percent cheaper, as co-ops tend to be.
Score one for the old kid on the block.
The Carlton Regency is one of many residential buildings in New York rethinking, refurbishing or increasing their offerings in an effort to compete with the thousands of square feet in amenities indigenous to newly constructed buildings.
For years, co-ops and a subset of older rentals were able to get by on their good looks, old world charm, pedigree and, maybe, a discreet gym or children's playroom in the basement. But the rich menu of amenities at the city's many freshly built condos and rentals — swimming pools, game rooms, massage rooms, yoga rooms, music rooms, party rooms, conference rooms and pet spas — has been a wake-up call and a call to arms for limestone dowagers.
The Chelsea Landmark, a rental on West 25th Street, got an updated gym, although it is less than a decade old.CreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
According to the Census Bureau, since 2014, almost 650 building permits have been issued in New York for privately owned residences of more than five units. Of course, the new condos and rentals have their own rivals for best and brightest amenities: every other new condo and rental.
Which explains why some co-ops that want to hold their value, and some rentals that want to hold on to their tenants, are busy adding offerings, or subtracting them, as fads and changing demographics demand.
"Everyone is trying to keep up," said Stan Olan, the president of the co-op board at Two East End Avenue, a century-old factory converted into apartments in 1979. "I drive around the city every day, and I'm constantly seeing new buildings coming up with great amenities."
Sometimes, Mr. Olan doesn't have to drive far. Completing construction just up the street from him at 20 East End Avenue is a condo designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects whose amenities will include a wine cellar, a fitness center, a sauna, a children's lounge, a billiards room and a library.
It's probably no coincidence, then, that Mr. Olan and his fellow board members are giving serious thought to updating the two fitness rooms in the basement at Two East End — last refreshed in 2013 — and adding a rooftop deck in order to take full advantage of the building's water views. "Residents will enjoy it," Mr. Olan said. "But the other consideration is that we understand about amenities, and by spending some money, we'll increase our value."
When condos started going up in New York in the 1970s, "they weren't the most upscale buildings and they weren't in the most desirable locations," said Eva C. Talel, a partner in the law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, and the head of its co-op and condominium practice. "They weren't seen as threats to classic co-ops."
But the definition of desirable location has become quite elastic, and at the same time, "many condos being built are top of the line — with anything you could ask for in terms of amenities," Ms. Talel said. "So, wisely, co-ops are now doing what they can do to maintain value and to attract the right kind of purchasers."
Residents of the Chelsea Landmark asked for and received an updated gym.CreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
Ms. Talel gave an example of an Upper East Side co-op that bought a doctor's office off the lobby to convert into a gym, and of another co-op that shrank a generously proportioned laundry room to accommodate floor-to-ceiling bike storage racks.
At Trump Plaza, a co-op building on Third Avenue and 61st Street that was built in 1984, the basement workout facility is being turned into a children's playroom, and the fitness room, complete with new equipment, will relocate to what was the super's duplex apartment on the first and second floor of the building.
"We thought about a wine cellar and more storage space," said Marc Cooper, the president of the building's co-op board. "And we thought about keeping the gym downstairs, but at the end of the day, we thought a gym with natural light would be value-enhancing." The budget, he added, is "a healthy six figures."
Mr. Cooper said it was "incumbent on the building to maintain its competitive standing with new construction the best it can."
Five years ago, Julie S. Perlin, an associate broker at Stribling & Associates, the real estate firm, and a resident of the Carlton Regency, advised her co-op board that if the building had some amenities — at the time, there were none — it could more effectively hold its own with new construction. After a questionnaire revealed that a majority of the shareholders wanted a gym, a package room, a roof deck and a bike room, a capital campaign raised the necessary funds, between $4 million and $5 million. Included in the tab were a new roof and conversion from steam to gas. The amenities portion of the project was completed last summer.
Before, apartments in the building "were selling for $800 a square foot," Ms. Perlin said. "Now, it's about $1,200 a square foot. Part of that is the rising market. But the amenities are playing a major role in getting people to come and look at the building."
Granted, the Carlton Regency is celebrating the big 5-0 this year. But when it comes to New York real estate, developments don't have to be old to be considered, well, old. A residential building is an ingénue for maybe three years. By the age of 8 or 9, some decide it's time to have some work done.
The Chelsea Landmark's new party room.CreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
A case in point: One Morton Square, a West Village condo completed in 2004, recently expanded and refreshed its ground-floor fitness space and replaced all the equipment "so it's state of the art and beautiful," said Darren Sukenik, an associate broker at Douglas Elliman Real Estate and a resident of the building. The children's playroom was renovated at the same time. The approximate cost of the upgrades: $500,000.
"We had to do it to keep up with 150 Charles Street and 160 Leroy," Mr. Sukenik said, referring to a pair of new high-end condos in the neighborhood. "It's definitely kept us competitive. We're fetching north of $2,500 a square foot, and new construction is just under $3,000 a square foot."
Jonathan J. Miller, the president of the real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, agrees that amenities add value, but precisely how much is hard to say. "The perception," Mr. Miller said, "is that it's an à la carte thing: 'If I have a gym and I add a community room it adds X percent to the value, and if I add a sauna it adds Y percent.' But it doesn't work that way. It's more of a package."
But not all older buildings feel the need to play catch-up, Mr. Miller said. Some think they're plenty fine just the way they are, thank you very much. There are mid-block prewar co-ops on the Upper West Side and Upper East Side, for example, that "have nothing more than the structural needs that make them a building," he said. "They barely have a lobby, let alone a gym, and it may not be to their detriment. Layering on amenities like a wedding cake doesn't necessarily make any difference in how a building is received by the market."
As for rental buildings, some are feeling the same pressure and imperatives as older co-ops and condos. "As much as people are looking for location and looking for a certain apartment layout and certain finishes, they want to know what else a building has to offer," said Mitch Gelberg, a senior managing director of the real estate firm Rose Associates.
Until recently, London Terrace Gardens in the West 20s, a 1930 property in Rose's portfolio, had little to offer on the amenities scale, "and all of our competition had amenities," said Amy Rose, a company president. In response, storage space and a warren of old offices were redeployed, and are now a glass-walled workout facility and a lounge with a Joe coffee outpost.
"You can learn from all the newer buildings," Ms. Rose added. "We love to visit our colleagues' buildings and see what they're doing. But sometimes you're limited by the space you have, so you have to be creative." For example, at 21 West Street, a 1931 building converted to apartments from offices in 1998, the children's playroom was created in an area previously given over to a staff locker room, Ms. Rose said.
The Chelsea Landmark added grills on the roof.CreditTony Cenicola/The New York Times
Chelsea Landmark on West 25th Street, another Rose property, is only nine years old, but residents recently asked for — and received — an updated gym, barbecues for the terrace and a room that can be rented for parties. Because few tenants showed interest in the sauna and whirlpool, these were replaced by a full-size kitchen for cooking classes and demonstrations.
"We've started putting fitness centers into our older buildings, because people really do expect it," said Laurie Zucker, the vice chairwoman of Manhattan Skyline, which owns and manages several thousand apartments. The company was able to capture space for the upgrade when the conversion from oil to gas heating freed up rooms that had housed mechanicals.
Manhattan Skyline is accepting no excuses for residents to be out of shape at its Manhattan East, a cluster of late 1920s buildings on East 66th Street; and two 1970s buildings, the Habitat, on East 29th Street, and the Left Bank, on West 15th Street. A workout room and a tenants' lounge are in the planning stages at the Murray Hill, an early 1980s building on East 34th Street.
Manhattan Skyline has also tweaked the offerings at West River House on West End Avenue at 81st Street, a 1983 apartment house where the "amenities floor" included three racquetball courts and a fitness center. Both to address the changing demographics of the building — there has been an influx of families — and to compete with new properties, two of the racquetball courts were sacrificed to expand the workout facility and to build a playroom for younger children as well as a multipurpose room with a Ping-Pong table for teenagers.
"These days people are more flexible about location with rentals," said Clifford Finn, an executive vice president of new development at Douglas Elliman. "It's much more about the product, about the style of the building, about the vibe, and that includes the amenities. That's why the amenities matter."
They really matter, Mr. Finn said, with buildings that are considered contemporary but might look dated, like a structure from the 1980s.
"The design standards in those buildings were low," he said, "so if you have a one-bedroom in a Yorkville building renting for $3,000 without amenities, a customer can go farther uptown and get the same product for less in a brand-new building, or go to Long Island City and pay just a little more for an amenities-rich new building."
In the end, the "to thine own self be true" rule applies. "You have to look at it in the context of what your building is and maximize the assets you have," Mr. Miller said. "If your building is 10 stories high and people want a high view, they're not going to come to you even if you do have a gym."
As Kathy Braddock, a managing director of William Raveis New York City, put it, "The focus shouldn't be on competing with the new building across the street. It should be on competing in your own market segment. It should be about competing in your own weight class."
Because of an editing error, a caption this weekend for two pictures with a cover article about older apartment buildings in New York that are adding amenities to stay competitive omits the description of the top photograph. It shows Monica Goel and her husband, Donal Burke, in the new bike room of the Carlton Regency, a co-op on East 36th Street.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section RE, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Insert a Gym. Add a Lounge.. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe


Dave Berry and Lisa Snowdon, who are used to entertaining listeners in the early hours of the morning, took their Capital Breakfast show to new heights when they presented live on the Coca-Cola London Eye. For Snowdon, it was her first time on the city's iconic tourist attraction, describing it as a "massive life-box tick".
The pair reminisce about their happiest memories presenting together, and what they like about living and working in London. The outdoor broadcast was part of a wider activity to raise the mood of the capital with the Coca-Cola happiness meter.


"Plants, animals, human beings, they're all one. All of us are part of nature...if we can protect all of that, it will be so good for our country."
A boy, slight and quick on his feet, runs up a hill close to his house in the jagged Karoo landscape. The hill is steep, and the days are hot, but he does this every morning. His daily routine: running, tracking, and looking for the caracals that prey on sheep. He is Karel Benadie.
A boy, slight and quick on his feet, runs up a hill close to his house in the jagged Karoo landscape. The hill is steep, and the days are hot, but he does this every morning. His daily routine: running, tracking, and looking for the caracals that prey on sheep. He is Karel Benadie, and today, forty years after those morning runs up the hill, that young boy has become a master tracker – an uncommon distinction.
Rhinos are enormous, and capable of serious destruction when threatened and moved to anger. Benadie, while with two students, once stood up to one as it charged towards him; using only twigs and leaves, he created enough confusion to allow himself and the students to get away.
"After that I was so scared. I was shaking – not outside, but inside I was shaking.
A large part of this art is abstraction, and takes place in his mind – Benadie prides himself on being able to think like the animals he follows, to anticipate their movements when physical evidence is lacking. When he talks about this, his hands are as animated as his face, mimicking the soft, light padding of a leopard or the sharp hooves of a kudu. He struggles to express himself when speaking in English – it is his second language– but comes into his own when talking about his craft or pointing out the signs of a trail. This is where it becomes obvious why he has earned the title 'master tracker': his mind is fast, certain, and filled with knowledge of the bush.
As a part of this, Benadie spent fifteen years following black rhino after they were reintroduced to the Karoo National Park, recording their movements every day in order to better understand their needs for the purposes of conservation. Benadie would spend long stretches of time travelling across very difficult terrain on foot, tracing the movements of the rhino. Together with another tracker, James Minye – one of the only other master trackers in the country – Benadie's data was published in the scientific journal Pachyderm, going a long way towards proving the value of his work as scientific endeavour.
Karel Benadie has worked for years with very little recognition outside of the tracking community, acquiring knowledge that is growing increasingly rare as the years pass. His ability to acquire and retain information is up there with the world's most celebrated intellects, but because of its unusual nature his work receives minimal attention. Another factor in Benadie's lack of acclaim is his own personality: his skill as a tracker is matched by the depths of his humility. His value to South Africa and the world is unquestionable, and his contributions as a tracker and an educator to the field of conservation have been enormous. He has never asked to be celebrated, and prefers to let his work speak for him, but that doesn't mean he should be overlooked: his story is one that everyone should hear.
Photographer and filmmaker Adrian Steirn travels to the Karoo National Park to meet Karel Benadie, master tracker. Benadie reveals his knowledge of the bush and gives his insight into the hard work of conservation, to which trackers make a vital and often unsung contribution.
The portrait shows master tracker Karel Benadie in a leopard-crawl position in the veld of his beloved Karoo. This is the terrain that he has walked his whole life and on which he reads stories hidden from the untrained eye. Benadie lies flat against the earth, close to the ground that he knows so well.


text:
Macrocera simbhanjangana är en tvåvingeart som beskrevs av Coher 1963. Macrocera simbhanjangana ingår i släktet Macrocera och familjen platthornsmyggor.

Artens utbredningsområde är Nepal. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Platthornsmyggor
simbhanjangana

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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MÜV CRÜ HIP HOP COMPANYadmin_mdf20182023-01-02T06:22:41-06:00
Müv Crü is an award-winning commercial dance hip hop company powered by Muv Dance and Fitness, located in Cedar Park, TX. They are a dedicated group of dancers who are passionate about hip-hop dance and have a desire to perform both professionally and within their community. Müv Crü's intention is to inspire and educate dancers, providing a creative outlet to grow. Under the leadership of Gaebri Kelley and assisted by Grace Saia, these dancers train from choreographers in the industry, participate in performances in the Austin area, compete throughout Texas, and train for professional jobs. Our company strives to help all dancers reach their fullest potential and acquire the work ethic it takes to achieve their goals.
2022-2023 COMPANY MEMBERS
COMPANY MEMBERS
MUNCHKINS
Brynlie B.
Levi T.
Braylen F.
Alex M.
Leela K.
Mikah B.
Bro B.
Hadley H.
Savannah S.
Kylee C.
Kinsley M.
Abigail G.
Evelyn O.
Shea H.
Adelynne P.
Saniya A.
Liam H.
Autumn Z.
Annabelle A.
DP H.
Alexa P.
Emma C.
Claire B.
Jacie K.
Saya S.
Sadie D.
Chandler B.
Katelyn L.
Bella W.
Presleigh T.
Londyn B.
Madison C.
Parker P.
Rianna L.
Rowan B.
Esther P.
Kailyn L.
Addison H.
Lauren J.
Amarah M.
Kiki L.
Aniya S.
JT K.
Isabel N.
Aidan C.
Gabi A.
Abby G.
Bella S.
Raven N.
Jocelyn G.
Jayna L.
Xavier S.
Ava H.
Gracie H.
Jada M.
Malcolm L.
Josilynn T.
TEAM PHOTOS • VIDEOS
Gaebri Anderson Kelley
Müv Dance Instructor • Müv Crü Director
Grace Saia
Müv Dance Instructor • Müv Crü Assistant Director
Trevor Parmentier
Müv Crü Choreographer
COMPANY INFORMATION FLYER
Gaebri Anderson Kelley was born and raised as an Austin, TX gal and has been studio trained since she was 5 years old. In addition to her studio training, Gaebri had the privilege and honor of serving as a 2-year captain of the Leander High School Blue Belles Dance Team, where she won many accolades for both her solos and choreography for her team and local schools. At 18, Gaebri headed off to Los Angeles after being selected as 1 of 10 girls to join the prestigious EDGE Scholarship program. Upon completion, Gaebri signed with BLOC talent agency and is actively pursuing a dance career. Some of her jobs include GAP commercial, XFINITY 1989 commercial, Ashton Kutcher Truth or drop, Mattel Industrial, MAC cosmetics industrial, Sunny D commercial, and many more! She achieved one of her childhood dreams and cheered for the NFL as a LA Charger Girl. Over the last 7 years, she has found a deep love for fitness. She is a certified personal trainer, as well as a sign with Naturally Fit agency. This past year she moved to New York City after receiving the Richard Ellner scholarship for the Professional Semester at the Broadway Dance Center. She believes that incredible things come when you step out of your comfort zone! Her goal as a teacher is to bring an innovative and fresh angle to all of her classes and choreography as she inspires dancers to reach their full potential and to Never Give Up!
Grace Saia has been dancing her whole life, training at different studios such as Dance Institute, Dancer's Workshop, and Müv Dance and Fitness. She started her training as a competitive ballroom and Latin dancer for five years under the instruction of Sabrina Truscott, Denis Generalov, and Curtis Prevost. Once joining a drill team in middle school and high school, her love for dance changed more towards jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop and high kick styles. She began training at Dancer's Workshop where she was able to learn from special guest choreographers such as Sabrina Phillip and Abby Lett, Micheal Burfield, and many more. She was a member of the Vandegrift Legacies Dance Team all throughout high school which led to her start in choreography after being asked to teach for the Acrotex Legacies Dance Team in Cedar Park as well as setting a piece for her high school team her senior year. With her high school dance team, she had the opportunity to train and perform all over, including a special performance at the Pearl Harbor memorial in Hawaii during her junior year. Her senior year she joined the Müv Crü Hip Hop Company, which she continues to serve as an assistant on post-graduation, where she was able to train under dancers such as Alexander Chung, Max Pham, Ashleigh Frost, Trevor Parmentier and many more. Her goal is to always inspire young dancers to work hard and never lose their passion for dance!
Instructor, Müv Dance & Fitness Studio
Trevor Parmentier is a southern California native. While living in California, Trevor worked with several dance organizations and companies individually, including Culture Shock Dance Company, Velocity Dance Troupe, and Surreal Crew, blessing him with the opportunity to teach and perform up and down the California coast. Now living in Austin Texas, Trevor shares his passion for life and dance by teaching all around the United States. He is currently on staff with Dupree Dance and Dance Revolution touring the country. He has danced and choreographed for local Hip Hop & RNB artists and with crews around Texas, including ILLovation crew who placed 1st overall at the World of Dance competition in 2010. He has taught in over 20 states around America and continues to expand.
Recently, Trevor starred as lead actor and dancer in Fryar's new music video "CoolLike Me". Whether it is teaching at conventions, or teaching a small class for kids after school, Trevor always has the same goal in mind, and that is to spread a positive light and influence in the dance industry where it is typically hard to find. His goal is to not only teach students how to move but to love dance and to let it be a part of who they are.


You don't really know what will happen when you place kids together. A kid who's troublesome in one group may be a valuable addition to another. Last year, I had one kid moved from my AM class to my PM class, and I knew it would be a disaster. He was kind of the last straw. The PM class was on the edge and I was absolutely sure his presence would push it over. Surely enough, it did just that.
There are only so many trouble spots you can keep your eye on at one time. That's why so many people will tell me, "I don't know what to do with my 6th period class," or something like that. I'm sure John King would simply conclude they were ineffective and move to have them fired. After all, he taught one full year of public school before his two years in charters, and he knows everything. Surely he could control anyone. Except an audience of parents and teachers with real questions. And they're special interests anyway. If they weren't, they'd send their kids to Montessori schools just like Reformy John.
On the other hand, these teachers are doing just fine with their other four or five classes. So maybe they aren't so ineffective after all. If they were, wouldn't all their classes be bedlam? How do you know where the tipping point is? It really depends on who the kids are. Last year I was in the trailer and I placed the seats in a U shape to encourage communication. After they moved that last kid in, I moved the seats back into rows to discourage communication. It was a lot of work teaching that class.
There's really only one solution to the problem of class chemistry, and no, it isn't Common Core. Kids will be kids no matter how awful you make the curriculum. In fact, if you make them analyze things to death until you squeeze any and all potential enjoyment out of it, you'll likely make things even worse. Teenagers have all sorts of things running through their bodies and minds and that 17th reading may be just the thing to push them over the edge.
But you know how to avoid the dreaded miserable chemistry, don't you? I'm not Bill Gates so I can't promise you a silver bullet, and none of his actually work very well anyway. So what we're left with is lower class sizes, which seriously reduce the possibility that you will be stuck with that dreaded chemistry issue. The fewer kids you have, the more each one can express him or herself, and the less likely it is said expression will be a problem.
Of course it's much easier to vilify teachers and say they all need to be replaced. As long as you're firing teachers and pretending to improve things, you don't have to bother hiring more of them. Regular readers of this blog know I was just a little bit disappointed in the latest contract. Things like two-tier due process and waiting ten years for the raises everyone else got in 2009 don't make me jump up and down.
But another thing that neither I nor anyone squawked a whole lot about was the failure to negotiate reasonable class sizes. I've been teaching since 1984 and they haven't changed at all. It's funny, because we hear a lot about how we have to evolve, how we have to accept this or that, of course it's true, and some changes aren't even insane. This notwithstanding, parents have been saying for years in the city survey that their number one issue was class size.
If parents want it, and teachers want it, what on earth is keeping New York City government from moving on it?
It's pretty fun to watch Mona Davids and Campbell Brown bicker over who is best to curtail the right of working teachers to due process. Who wins the prize for hating working teachers more? I read that Mona was passing out fake money with Campbell Brown's face on it. After all, how dare Campbell Brown be more famous, have more money, and get more attention than Mona? Who the hell does she think she is?
It's amusing to see someone like Mona fighting money and influence. After all, causes she espouses would not even exist without it. There is no teacher crisis. There is no need for insane and incomprehensible rating systems to fire teachers. And the fact is, even if the handful of examples Campbell Brown walks around reciting like a studious fourth-grader were true the remedy would not be curtailing the rights and academic freedom of all.
In fact, it's a pretty well-established practice in bigotry to use examples of the few to tar the many. Let's not even focus on an ethnic or religious group and rather look at actual criminals. It's a fact that they exist. Were we to extrapolate the Davids-Brown philosophy, we'd eliminate the court system altogether because the guilty are sometimes acquitted. Let's stop coddling the accused with trials and lawyers. If some cop says you're guilty, that's good enough for us. That's pretty much what the teacher-bashers advocate when they say you should be left at the tender mercies of a tool like Dennis Walcott. And the more I see of Carmen Farina the more I wonder whether she's much of a step up.
If you really hate teachers, isn't it enough that you make them sit through 80 minutes of faculty meetings every Monday? If there's a hell, Mona and Campbell will sit through them for all eternity. But that's little practical consolation as they drag us through the press in their quest to make us chattel.
At a recent chapter leader meeting Mulgrew asked whether the PD was like a faculty meeting, and the CLs agreed it was. He stated it ought not to be that way, and spoke of committees, and asserting what's written in the contract. But here's the thing--he can spin the 80 minutes of teacher torture as a victory. When it crashes and burns and they find some other way to waste the extra time they inserted into the day, he'll spin that as a victory too. After all, it was a victory when every aspect of Danielson was included in evaluation, and another victory when it was cut down.
It's so tiring to wonder whether or not the people we pay to represent us will be standing with us or those who'd destroy us. I know that Mulgrew wants to punch me in the face because I oppose Common Core. For now, he's defending our due process. But he seriously weakened it when he helped write the APPR law that can place the burden of proof on us rather than administration.
I sometimes think Cuomo is a better governor than Astorino would be because he has to at least pretend to be a Democrat sometimes. On that basis, I'll have to grant that Mulgrew is a better union president than Campbell Brown would be.
This notwithstanding, I see room for improvement.


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We strive to be the most technically and commercially sophisticated PVC team.
Carly Seidewand Eppley
Mrs. Seidewand Eppley has been with ResinTech since 2006 and built the export department to include consistent sales to over 30 countries worldwide of US-made petrochemical products.
Prior to joining ResinTech, Carly worked in technical sales & marketing in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry and in investment banking.
She is also a strong advocate for US Exports and testified in front of the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee in 2015 at the Subcommittee Hearing: Trade Promotion Agencies and US Foreign Policy. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Boston College and an MBA from Babson College in Global Business & Entrepreneurship.
Sophie Henry
Global Supply Chain Manager
Sophie has been with ResinTech for the past 13 years. As the Global Supply Chain Manager for the Emeraude Group, and the Regional Operations Manager in Groton, MA, Sophie's responsibilities include the management of the Customer Care, Procurement in Groton, MA and the Supply Chain Coordinators around the Globe.
The responsibilities in the Supply chain team include the handling of the entire flow of goods sold including the bagging, warehousing, negotiation of ocean freight rates & Tendering. Prior to working for ResinTech, Sophie was an Export Manager for 19 years in the Frozen Seafood business. She has a bachelor's in international business and Economics from Wheaton College, MA.
Dean Adams
Sales Director - North America
Dean joined ResinTech in March 2020 and has worked closely within the PVC and plastics additives industry during his career. He is currently responsible for Resin Technology LLC's overall PVC and specialty PVC compounding business in North America.
Dean acquired his bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering with specialization in polymers from École Polytechnique de Montréal (University of Montreal) . He also holds an MBA from the State University of New York
Kyle Choi
Area Sales Manager, Asia
Kyle is the Area Sales Manager covering the Asia market (NEA/ SEA/ ISC/ Oceania). His key responsibilities include sourcing asian materials. Prior to joining ResinTech, Kyle worked as a Principal Analyst in IHS Market and as a Sales Manager in Hanwha Solution.
Find out more about our parent company.
http://www.emeraude-international.com


Claire Rowland is an independent product and UX strategy consultant specialising in connected products and the internet of things. She is the lead author of the book "Designing Connected Products: UX for the Consumer Internet of Things". She has a particular interest in the use of technology in mundane, everyday activities and particular expertise with connected home and energy management applications.
Previously, she worked on energy management and home automation services as the service design manager for AlertMe, a connected home platform provider. Prior to this, she was Head of Research for the London studio of design consultancy Fjord, where she led Fjord's involvement in the Smarcos EU consortium researching the interusability of interconnected embedded devices and services. She has worked in UX design and research for mobile, multiplatform and web services since 1997.


Excellent income potential with high traffic count. Open your own small business and be your own landlord. Located conveniently downtown Greeneville. Building currently houses seven rental units including an apartment. LA has rental history.


I am from Vancouver and have lived here in the Comox Valley for two years. In Vancouver I worked as a draftsperson for 30 years for major engineering firms and loved the idea of drawing all day long.
I love to travel and paint my travels; I often do not take a camera and paint what I see. I plan on painting again in Mexico this fall/winter without a camera.
I have had several shows in Vancouver, solo and with other artist's.
The Grand Canyon was painted on location, Margarita Bar was painted on my patio in Porta Vallarta, and Bella Coola was again painted on location while on a "paint out". I have painted in Europe and 5 weeks in the British Virgin Islands which I would like to publish in a "paint your travels" book.
I have studied art at Emily Carr and also the program at Langera.
I will do painting on consignment and also plan on a workshop this summer at Hornby Island. Join my outdoor painting group if you like painting outdoors with other men and women. My plan is to paint the valley and beyond, the gardens in Vancouver to name one of the places.


2019 Toyota Avalon Interior Consumer Reviews & Engine Sound Enhancement – The 2019 Toyota Avalon interior be regarded as for being the celebrity in its classification. This hybrid goes to own sculpted contours and suitable from its engine to its interior anything goes to exude model and charisma. It is perfect for not merely city cruise but additionally for likely for long rides around the highways.
The brand new and enhanced engine will give fantastic fuel economy, and all of this will occur in a very hugely modernised and excellent seeking offer. Sure all of this plus much more make the 2019 Toyota Avalon interior motor vehicle to view out for.
The 2019 Toyota Avalon interior will be offered in several trim amounts, but there'll be some options that may be prevalent to all trims. To the outdoors, the vehicle goes to seem like it usually has; breathtaking sedan. The wheelbase will probably be close to 111 inches although the entire size of your car might be all over 195 inches.
The width of the 2019 Toyota Avalon interior would be 72 inches excluding the aspect mirrors. The whole peak could be 57.5 inches. The Avalon would feature rear defrost home windows even though many of the home windows are going to be electricity home windows. This sedan can have daytime functioning LED lights when the taillights will also be LED. There'll be considered a compact spare tire offered while using the Avalon.
On top of that, the design with the entrance grill will nearly be similar as being the prior model although the complete of your paint will probably be adjusted and it'll be far more shiny and opulent. The wheelbase is going to be of aluminum, and a few trims will include an optional wheel lock. Sunroof will probably be readily available in certain styles along with the choice of sliding sunroof may also be accessible. The grille could have the shiny brand of Toyota within the centre as well as in general silhouette may also be modified for making the Avalon aerodynamically quieter. There'll even be seven colours to decide on from.
The 2019 Toyota Avalon interior will have got a 3,5-liter V-6 engine that should use unleaded and conventional gasoline. The horsepower output at 6200 rpm is going to be 268 hp even though the online torque output at 4700 rpm is going to be 248 lb. – Ft. The fuel economy inside the city is going to be 21 mpg though out about the highways 30 mpg.
The potential in the gas tank is going to be about 17 gallons. The engine may have an automated transmission by using a handbook manner. It will likely be coupled with 6 velocities electronic transmission. The 2nd just one possibility is usually a 2.5-liter inline-4 hybrid that provides 200 horsepower. Its EPA city/highway fuel economy is 40/39 mpg.
The price from the 2019 Toyota Avalon interior would rely upon the trim version and will be among $34,000 to $42,000. The special and ultimate price in the Toyota Avalon would rely on the colour and includes a purchaser chooses to obtain.
The automobile must be out there during the very last number of months from the following calendar year but Toyota may shock the keen loyalists and will start it a bit quicker.


White River Division: Revisiting Jim Sloan's JSSX Shortline Railroad.
The small inner-city diesel shop can handle most maintenance required by JSSX locomotives.
Quite some time ago George did a post on this blog about our friend Jim Sloan's model railroad. Jim lives here in Sarnia so I have the good fortune to be able to drop in to Jim's place from time to time and see what progress he is making on his layout. My last visit was in early January, just before heading to Arizona.
Jim models the modern era based on the industrialized parts of the larger intercity and includes some empty and run-down factories that were victims of the free trade era when much of the countries industrial base was moved to countries like Mexico and China. This left behind a lot of empty rotting structures which Jim has done a great job of representing. At the same time he has included many industries that are still very productive and require rail service to bring in and ship out goods and materials.
The JSSX short line does a bulk of the switching but the layout also features a Grand Trunk Western mainline. The JSSX interchanges with the GTW on a regular basis. While the GTW tends to run mostly modern home road power the JSSX depends on older, used power that is no longer needed by their original owner. There also several leased units that show up from time to time.
I think what impresses me most about Jim's layout is how he has really captured the feel of modern era, industrial based railroading. His large factories, gritty, weathered equipment and general overall look of what we see in today's industrial areas bring this layout to life. Jim is a master at weathering equipment and structures which is another factor that makes this layout so realistic. Check out the photos and you will see what I mean. I know Jim's layout inspires me to improve my modeling and strive for more realistic looking equipment and structures.
This long, curved concrete block factory features windows and doors created from photographs that were sized to fit the structure then cut out and glued to the walls. Very realistic.
This photo is a great example of Jim's attention to detail. Check out the dilapidated chain link fence, well weathered freight cars and broken windows in the factory to name a few of the excellent details in this scene.
Here is another example of Jim's weathering skill.
This well worn GP-38 is a great example of weathering. The photo doesn't do this model justice.
The JSSX uses this old abandoned factory siding to store their M of W equipment.
One of the newer additions to Jim's layout is this oil storage facility. Again, note all the great looking weathering in the scene.
This large abandoned factory has lots of broken windows, each one done separately.


Australia Post's purpose is: Helping our people, customers and communities deliver a better future. Everyone, everywhere, everyday.
Being safe everywhere: There's nothing more important than our safety, health and wellbeing.
Respecting everyone: We care about people and value diversity.
Delighting our customers: A great customer experience creates a better future.
Helping each other: We're at our best when we work together.
Australia Post has a rich history dating back to 1809 when a former convict, Isaac Nichols, was appointed to the role of Postmaster for New South Wales – using his own home to sort mail that was collected from sailing ships arriving in Sydney Harbour. The first Post Office, opened by Nichols soon after, was in George Street, Sydney.
In 2008, after 200 years of growth, Australian letter volumes reached an all-time peak. In the eight years since, addressed letter volumes have declined by 43 per cent per letterbox.
This shows how rapidly our traditional core business has shifted due to the emergence of digital communication and transactions.
operating a monopoly – the domestic letters business – to competing in the global parcels and trusted eCommerce solutions markets.
Headquartered in Melbourne, Australian Postal Corporation largely operates in Australia, with offices across the country. The Australia Post Group is one of the most trusted brands in Australia, employing more than 36,000 people across our integrated delivery, logistics, retail and eCommerce network.
A self-funded government business enterprise, Australia Post has the Australian Government as its sole shareholder. The corporation does not receive any taxpayer funding and pays dividends to the Australian Government – more than $1.7 billion over the past decade.
As required under the Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989, we continue to balance our commercial objectives with delivering our community service obligations. Any profit we earn is either used to pay a dividend to our shareholder or is reinvested in our assets and services so that we are equipped to meet the changing needs of our customers and the community.
• The red highlights on this map, denote the location of our 11.5 million delivery points.
This is the sixth year that we have incorporated sustainability reporting in our annual report. Prepared in accordance with legislative requirements, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines, Integrated Reporting <IR> and the principles set out in the United Nations Global Compact, our annual report includes our financial, social and environmental activities each year.
Integrated reporting is aimed at facilitating integrated thinking into mainstream business practices. It is more forward-looking than traditional annual reporting, while not as specifically detailed as comprehensive sustainability reports. In actively considering the relationships between our enterprise and how we create value in our areas of impact – organised as 'capitals' – we can move towards publicly reporting the way we integrate our thinking and decision-making.
The International Integrated Reporting <IR> Council Framework provides guiding principles that align with the GRI, the well-established global best practice sustainability framework. The content of this report has been guided by the annual report Steering Committee. The approach was endorsed by the Executive General Manager, Group Services, with final approval of the annual report by the Board.
The information in this report applies to Australia Post within the reporting period, unless otherwise stated. Australia Post did not issue restatements of information provided in previous reports and there are no significant changes in the boundary or scope of this report in 2015/16.
To determine the content and ensure we are reporting on what matters most to our stakeholders, we conduct an annual materiality assessment. This process is explained further in the report.
As the world changes through the growth of digital technology, the way we live, learn and work has transformed. In looking to the long-term sustainability of our business, our future clearly depends on reshaping our business and continuing to create leading customer solutions.
Satisfying our customers and anticipating what people need and expect from Australia Post will ensure that our business continues to grow and remain relevant and "Part of Tomorrow".
Our purpose is to help our people, customers and communities to deliver a better future. We know we achieve this most effectively when we have happy and engaged people working to design and deliver innovative solutions.
We've worked hard to reform our letters services and to keep pace with everyone's increasingly digital lives and the outlook is for an increase in social, mobile and online transformation. Our future, alongside our customers, is a story of growth and opportunity.
maintaining our track record as a trusted service provider and responding to customer needs for identity, verification, banking, passport and payment services.
Australia Post's operations and our Part of Tomorrow strategy, in particular, create value for our customers and diverse stakeholders by drawing on all the six capitals outlined above and discussed throughout this report. Ultimately, being proudly Australian owned, we contribute to Australia's economic growth and reinvest into the community to advance our enterprise purpose: Helping our people, customers, and communities deliver a better future.
Our people: Working with over 50,000 employees, licensees and contractors nationally, empowering a skilled, diverse and engaged workforce.
Our Part of Tomorrow strategy outlines how we advance our purpose, act and grow to deliver eCommerce experiences that customers value, differentiate ourselves from competitors, and make customers our greatest advocates. We know that global megatrends are impacting our operating environment: globalisation, digitisation, changing customer behaviours, changing expectations of the community and employees, and the effects of climate change to list a few.
Increasingly, our value is founded on creating eCommerce solutions that meet the varying needs of customers. But we recognise the importance of measuring and monitoring our impacts in more than financial terms and of our role in creating social and environmental value. That's why, in 2016, we refreshed our approach to Corporate Responsibility and launched our new strategy, "Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday". Our approach is inspired by the notion of Creating Shared Value.
"Everyone, Everywhere, Everyday" is all about being true to our enterprise purpose, and bringing it to life. It is Australia Post's roadmap to increase social and economic inclusion and wellbeing by connecting all Australians physically and digitally, to minimise our environmental impact throughout our value chain and to transform our own organisation so we meet the changing expectations of our customers and communities and help them prosper in a digital world.
We implemented important reforms to the letters service in 2015/16, while continuing the transformation of Australia Post into a customer-led eCommerce company.
With the Australian community continuing to shift to using digital channels for communicating and transacting, the amount of addressed letters posted this year was down 9.7 per cent on the previous year.
This means that the volume of letters sent in Australia, annually, is now 43 per cent below our all-time "peak-mail" year, back in 2007/08.
Given this rapid rate of digital disruption, one of our primary responsibilities involves managing the decline of letters carefully, while maintaining reliable, community-wide access to our services. To this end, we reached a landmark moment with the introduction of letter service reforms at the mid-point of this financial year.
I would like to acknowledge the Federal Government for supporting the regulatory changes that were required to implement these vital reforms.
The importance of those reforms to the long-term sustainability of our services cannot be under-estimated.
In the short-term, letters reform was an important factor in our return to profitability this financial year. But, the reforms also give us the ability to maintain our nationwide services; the freedom to implement ongoing operational change; and the resources required to invest in our future as an eCommerce delivery company.
As a service-based company that earns all of its profit from operating in fully competitive markets, our entire business is mobilising to put customers at the centre of everything we do. This was a particularly prominent theme in the second half of this year, as we established the role of a Chief Customer Officer with the responsibility of advocating for the customer, creating customer-led services and instilling a more customer-centric culture at Australia Post.
As we seek to cement our position as Australia's leading provider of eCommerce deliveries and services, our strategic initiatives are now all focused on supporting the specific needs of our customer segments. That involves creating safe and easy online shopping experiences for consumers; helping small business to go online and grow; powering eCommerce for all businesses; and helping corporations and government to digitise to improve their customer service.
We continued to adapt our networks, develop new capabilities and offer new services to support the growth of online shopping and eCommerce.
In June, we announced a strategic alliance with the global express delivery and logistics company, Aramex. We expect that this alliance will develop into a global business partnership that enables us to offer seamless cross-border logistics and delivery support for Australian businesses and consumers.
Finally, I'd like to acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by my fellow directors, our CEO Ahmed Fahour, the management team, our employees, licensees and contractors. It's a pleasure to lead this motivated, nationwide team, because they are so committed to delighting our customers – everyone, everywhere and everyday.
John Stanhope AM – Chairman.
This was an important turn-around year at Australia Post, as we reformed the letters service, continued to build our eCommerce offering for our customers – and returned to profit.
This time last year, it was my grim duty to report that Australia Post had recorded its first full-year loss in more than 30 years. Therefore, I am delighted to report that the Australia Post Group returned to the black in 2015/16 – earning a modest profit before tax of $41 million.
Total Group-wide revenue for the year was $6.56 billion (up 3.0 per cent on last year). The improvement in our financial position in 2015/16 was achieved on the back of two key factors: (1) the reform of the letters service and (2) growth in our business-to-consumer parcel deliveries.
Our commitment to maintaining accessible and reliable services, nationwide, is evident in that we again met, or exceeded, all of the performance standards related to our community service obligations. Most significantly, we maintained 4,392 Post Offices across Australia (against a target of 4,000 access points) and we delivered 96.2 per cent of letters on time or early (well ahead of our 94 per cent target).
Another pleasing aspect of this year's performance was that we reduced our lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) to 6.6, which equals our previous record low for the incidence of injuries in our workplaces. The reduction in injuries (our LTIFR is down 43 per cent over the past four years), is the result of our sustained focus on safety culture at all levels of the business.
The ongoing and accelerating decline in the community's use of letters meant that we had to reform the service to ensure it remained sustainable – and to prevent it from undermining the financial viability of the whole Group.
We responded to this significant challenge by consulting widely with our many stakeholders and, then, we implemented a carefully crafted package of reforms on 4 January 2016.
The reforms include the introduction of a two-speed letters service for consumers and an increase to the basic postage rate. But the broader reform package also involves discounted 60-cent stamps for the 5.7 million Australians with a concession card; commitments to maintain 4,000-plus Post Offices and five-day-a-week delivery; as well as job transition opportunities for our people, with no forced redundancies for anyone affected by the operational changes associated with letters service reforms.
With these reforms in place, it means by next year we will have boosted total annual payments to licensed Post Office operators by $125 million in the space of four years.
For a number of years now, Australia Post has been transforming into a parcel delivery and trusted service provider that enables all Australians to participate in eCommerce.
That transition continued this year, as we expanded the capacity of our major parcel facilities and developed new solutions that make it easier for businesses to lodge with us – and for consumers to control final delivery.
We also established a new business unit this year, called Trusted eCommerce Solutions, which is partnering with government agencies and corporations to co-create solutions for the secure, omni-channel delivery of services.
There are now 4.1 million Australians registered on the MyPost platform. We added important new functionality to MyPost this year, including the ability for parcel recipients to direct us to "safe drop" their deliveries.
The operational, cultural and service changes that we implemented this year will prove to be vital in setting up this great brand to be part of tomorrow.
Those changes have involved a genuine commitment from everyone in our business – from my fellow directors and the senior executive team, through to our operational and customer-facing staff. I'd like to thank you all, and commend you on an incredible team effort.
John Stanhope was appointed chairman of Australia Post in November 2012 (current term expires in November 2019), and has extensive experience in finance, treasury, risk management and assurance, investor relations and corporate security and investigations. Mr Stanhope is currently chairman of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival and the Bionics Institute, a director of AGL Energy Limited and Our Neighbourhood and Chancellor of Deakin University. He was previously chief financial officer and group managing director, finance of Telstra and an executive director of Telstra.
Ahmed Fahour was appointed managing director and group chief executive officer of Australia Post in February 2010. He has held a number of senior executive positions within the finance and banking industries in Australia and overseas and was previously CEO of Citigroup (Australia and New Zealand) and National Australia Bank (Australia) and is the former chairman of Rip Curl Group. Mr Fahour is currently chairman of LaunchVic, Pro-Pac Packaging and Our Neighbourhood.
Brendan Fleiter has been a member of the Australia Post board since October 2011, and was appointed deputy chairman in May 2013 (current term expires May 2017).
Mr Fleiter is a former CEO of Crazy John's Group and is a qualified lawyer with extensive retail and telecommunications business experience. Mr Fleiter is currently the chairman of Kennards Hire and Walnut Melbourne, deputy chair of Methodist Ladies' College and chair of its Foundation and is a director of Volleyball Victoria, Our Neighbourhood, Australian Food Allergy Foundation, Godfreys Group and Interactive.
Dominique Fisher was appointed to the Australia Post board in November 2014 (current term expires in November 2017), and has extensive business experience in the corporate area, including the commercialisation of new technologies. Ms Fisher is principal of EC Strategies, executive chairman of CareerLounge Pty Ltd and a non-executive director of LaunchVic. She has previously served as a director of Pacific Brands, Insurance Australia Group, NRMA, Opera House Trust and Prostate Cancer Foundation, as well as chairman of Sky Technologies and Circadian Technologies.
Michael Byrne was appointed to the Australia Post board in October 2015 (current term expires in October 2018). Mr Byrne has extensive chief executive experience both in Australia and internationally, including in the areas of logistics and supply chains. He is the former CEO of Coates Hire, Linfox Australia and its Asian Subsidiaries and Westgate Holdings. Mr Byrne is also a foundation and current member of the Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics, Industry Advisory Board of Victoria University, and was previously a director of BevChain, Westgate Holdings and OzHarvest.
Holly Kramer was appointed to the Australia Post board in October 2015 (current term expires in October 2018). Ms Kramer has more than 20 years' experience in general management, marketing and sales for customer-focused organisations. Most recently she was CEO of apparel retailer Best & Less. Holly has also held senior executive and marketing roles with Pacific Brands, Telstra, eCorp and the Ford Motor Company. Ms Kramer is currently a director of Woolworths, AMP Limited, Nine Entertainment, Southern Phones, and the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.
Bruce McIver was appointed to the Australia Post board in December 2015 (current term expires in December 2018). Mr McIver has strong business experience with expertise in transport and logistics in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region. He was most recently the president of the Liberal National Party of Queensland and was also a foundation director of the Australian Trucking Association and chairman of the Board of Asia Pacific Shipping Enterprises.
Michael Ronaldson was appointed to the Australia Post board in May 2016 (current term expires in May 2019) and is a former member of the Australian Parliament, representing the Liberal Party. Mr Ronaldson was a Senator for the state of Victoria from July 2005 to February 2016, and previously served in the House of Representatives as the member for Ballarat from 1990 to 2001. He served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, and the Special Minister of State. He was previously a director of Snowy Hydro Ltd and Berklee Pty Ltd, and was the CEO/Founder of Madison Public Affairs.
Jan West was appointed to the Australia Post board in May 2016 (current term expires in May 2019) and has a very strong background in finance and audit across Australian and international listed and private companies, government agencies and community organisations. Mrs West is currently a director of Australian Red Cross, Dairy Australia, Neurosciences Victoria and Melbourne Forum. She has been president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a member of the Financial Reporting Council and a non-executive director of a number of commercial and not-for-profit entities, as well as being an audit partner of Deloitte.
Susan Bitter was appointed to the Australia Post board in August 2012 and retired in August 2015.
Peter Carne was appointed to the Australia Post board in December 2009 and retired in December 2015.
Michael D'Ascenzo was appointed to the Australia Post board in May 2013 and retired in May 2016.
Talal Yassine was appointed to the Australia Post board in August 2012 and retired in August 2015.