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Category Archives: Moody's
Kenya Eurobond 2018
Kenya's National Treasury has just announced a new $2 billion Eurobond which was seven times oversubscribed amid concerns about the country's debt levels and intrigues about the availability of an IMF financing line.
The official Kenya Government statement reads: The fact that we got $14billion in investor appetite reflected the continued support the country receives. We now have a dollar yield curve stretching out to 30 years, making Kenya one of only a handful of government's in Africa to achieve this.
The funds are earmarked for development initiatives, liquidity management, and ambitious infrastructure programs. It goes further to add that the Eurobond issue will be listed on the London Stock Exchange and that the joint Mandated arrangers were Citi, J.P. Morgan, Standard Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.
The @KeTreasury is pleased to announce the successful pricing of a new $2billion Eurobond issue at the @LSEplc following a successful roadshow conducted with international investors which resulted in a significant level of interest expressed in the issue. #EconomyKE pic.twitter.com/U5kK8Eg1JR
— CS Henry K. Rotich (@HKRotich) February 22, 2018
There was little awareness about the bond, no prospectus was publicly released, and there was no indication on which investors the Eurobond was being pitched to, but it appears that the successful issue will be dated February 28, 2018.
Eurobond selling. Opened today. Value dated 28 Feb. If you have loose $200,000 rush! Selling like hot cake!
— Mohamed Wehliye (@WehliyeMohamed) February 21, 2018
The Eurobond breakdown is for a mix of two equal halves of 10-year and 30-year bonds, priced at 7.25% and 8.25% respectively.
#Kenya is in the #Eurobond market today. It is selling 10-year dollar debt with initial price talk of around 7.625% and 30-year debt with initial price talk of ~8.625%. @markets
— Paul Wallace (@PaulWallace123) February 21, 2018
The announcement comes after some potentially embarrassing news reports that the International Monetary Fund had cut off a line of funding, a statement which was later retracted, and others that Moody's had downgraded Kenya's ratings, a claim which the government also disputed.
IMF Statement on February 20, 2018, clarifying status of Kenya's Precautionary Arrangements: https://t.co/jtynjYG3O5 pic.twitter.com/NaCX02TPas
— Central Bank of Kenya (@CBKKenya) February 21, 2018
But the ratings cut, and the mysterious IMF news (and retraction) did not appear to have an impact on the pitch to investors.
So far order book at $13.3bn. GoK only wants $2bn. So much for Moody's and imf's interference 😎
This is the second Eurobond after another set of bond issues in 2014.
$1 = Kshs 101.4
This entry was posted in IMF, Kenya taxation, london, Moody's, NSE bonds and tagged Eurobond on February 22, 2018 by bankelele.
Moody's places Kenya's B1 rating on review for downgrade
Moody's Investors Service has placed the B1 long-term issuer rating of the government of Kenya on review for downgrade.
Persistent high primary deficit & high borrowing costs. Debt. Debt. Plus GoK Liquidity pressures. Political risk just means no attention 👆👆 https://t.co/n9iEwliJJZ
— Mohamed Wehliye (@WehliyeMohamed) October 3, 2017
The decision to place the rating on review for downgrade was prompted by the following key drivers:
Persistent, large, primary deficits and high borrowing costs continue to drive government indebtedness higher
Government liquidity pressures risk rising in the face of increasingly large financing needs
Uncertainties weigh over the future direction of economic and fiscal policy, in part due to evolving political dynamics
Moody's expects that Kenya's government debt burden, which has risen to 56.4% of GDP in June 2017, up from 40.5% five years ago, will continue to rise due to persistently high primary deficits and borrowing costs. Pressures on the government primary balance, which posted a deficit of 5.3% of GDP in the latest fiscal year ending June 2017, come from elevated development spending and weak revenue performance. Unless a decisive policy response is introduced, the upward trajectory in government debt will see debt-to-GDP surpass the 60% mark by June 2018.
Due to the erosion in government revenue intake in the last five years and increased recourse to debt from private sources on commercial terms, government debt affordability has deteriorated. In the latest fiscal year, the government spent 19.0% of its revenues on interest payments, up from 10.7% five years ago.
A key focus of the review will be to assess the capacity and willingness of the government to address these budgetary challenges in a comprehensive, effective and timely manner.
2. Downgrade at a time when we are using debt to pay off debt is a nightmare scenario. Investors charge more. We borrow more. Tipping point
Moody's would downgrade the rating if the review were to conclude that Kenya's government debt and financing needs, and hence its fiscal strength and liquidity position, have eroded to levels no longer consistent with B1 rated peers. In particular, the rating agency would downgrade the rating in the absence of an effective policy response to these challenges.
Moody's would confirm the rating at B1 if the review were to conclude that the policy response offers the prospect for tempering the currently-anticipated upward trend in government debt and that liquidity risks are being effectively managed.
This entry was posted in Debt ratings, Kenya taxation, Moody's, NSE bonds on October 6, 2017 by bankelele.


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LETTER LEAK: Why Did Dianne Feinstein Blame Christine Blasey Ford?
Patrick Howley |
Dianne Feinstein's attempt to blame accuser Christine Blasey Ford for the leak of her story does not hold water.
Feinstein said that Blasey Ford was responsible for leaking the "story" before the letter came out, by talking about the story with her friends. Why is Feinstein blaming the accuser?
Feinstein never alleged that Christine Blasey Ford actually leaked the LETTER itself, so her office is still the prime suspect for Republicans.
"I thought only the member of the House, and Senator Feinstein, and her lawyers had the letter," Texas Republican senator John Cornyn said.
Feinstein eventually says "I don't think the letter was ever leaked" and said that Blasey Ford "talked to friends about it."
(4:00 Minute Mark In This Very Interesting Part of the Hearing)
But here's the problem for Democrats…
The official story has always been that the letter was "leaked," which forced Blasey Ford out of hiding and into the public spotlight against her will. CNN and The Washington Post were the first two outlets to see the accuser's name.
Don't believe it? Just check the Wayback machine.
The Washington Examiner reported:
The contents of the letter Christine Blasey Ford wrote to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., in July detailing the night in 1982 she alleges Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her were leaked to the media Sunday evening.
Ford, a 51-year-old professor at Palo Alto University, revealed her identity to the Washington Post and described in detail the night she claims Kavanaugh drunkenly forced himself on her in a Maryland bedroom during a gathering of his Georgetown Preparatory School classmates. Kavanaugh vehemently denies the allegation and the White House is standing by the nominee.
Hours after the Post report, CNN reported Sunday evening that it did not obtain an actual copy of the letter, but rather was read its contents by a source. The news outlet read the text of the letter on air and published its contents in text form online with some names redacted.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The world is getting fatter. But now a study by researchers from Imperial College London suggests we've reached a new milestone, with more people in the world being classified as obese than underweight for the first time.
The finding is based on the study of BMI data from nearly 20 million people in 186 different countries, recorded between 1975 to 2014. Extrapolating obesity rates from their data, the researchers claim that the number of obese people has risen from 105 million in 1975 to 641 million in 2014. Meanwhile, the number of underweight people has grown from 330 million to 462 million.
The result show that 10.8 percent of men and 14.9 percent of women were classified as obese in 2014—up from 3.2 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, in 1975. In contrast, the percentages of those being reported as underweight have dropped, from 14 percent to 9 percent among men and from 15 percent to 10 percent for women, over the the same time period. In total, the study claims that there are 41.7 million obese men and 46.1 million obese women in the US. The findings are published in The Lancet.
Of course, BMI isn't a perfect measure to assess whether someone is overweight or not, but for now it's what the medical profession uses, so it's the best we have. And at any rate, we shouldn't necessarily be taking this study personally, but instead hoping that it changes national health policies.
The World Health Organization aims to ensure that obesity levels are no higher in 2025 than they were in 2010. This study, the researchers claim, suggests that will be virtually impossible.


A great way to dive into a partnership is to propose a cross-blogging relationship. It's as easy as swapping guest blog posts once a month – you write an article for them, they write an article for you, and the both of you get to expose your brands to a new audience that might not have normally read your article were you not partners. As their articles go live on your blog, be sure to post them on your social sites saying something like, "Check out this article on ______ written by our friends at _____" making sure to tag them in the post. If you've built up a reputable social presence, a place where your readers can come to learn about the field you're in in an informative and interesting way, they'll take your recommendation seriously and read your partner's article. Ideally, your partner will do the same for you.
Everybody likes the chance to win something. If your partner is hosting a contest that most of your customers could easily participate in, let your audience know about it. Even if your partner doesn't straight out ask you to promote the contest, they'll absolutely appreciate the gesture. The whole point of hosting a contest is to spread awareness of your brand in some way – whether you're trying to highlight a new product, or you're just trying to get more likes on Facebook. Imagine if all your business partners helped to spread the word about your contests – that'd help a ton, right? It's little things like this that make you stand out as an excellent partner to do business with.
The best social environment you can provide for your customers is somewhere they can go to keep informed and entertained with the 'ins' and 'outs' of your industry. No reader wants to be fed spam all day every day – it's a good way to lose a lot of followers really quickly. You can't solely post about your company's deals just as you can't post about your partner's deals on a regular basis. However, just as with the contests, if they're having a big promotion, by all means, share it with your customers – but if, and only if, it's a product or service your customers would be interested in. Though, being that you're partners, you'd hope that your products and services overlap. Again, if you're helping them out when they have big promotions, they should be happy to help you out as well.


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CricketCricket
SeriesSeries
ICC RankingsICC Rankings
Alia Zafar: 'My presence in PCB will create a sense of empowerment for women cricketers'
53dUmar Farooq
18mMohammad Isam
59mPTI
Where and when to watch Australia vs India 4th Test Day 3 live match at 5:00 AM IST on January 17, 2021
3hAlex Malcolm
How a call from Brian Lara helped spark Andre Fletcher to life in the BBL
Overseas specialist Hanuma Vihari is about the steel and the purpose, not numbers alone
3dShashank Kishore
'He was crawling on the floor. He couldn't get up or bend down' - Ashwin's wife on his battle with pain in third Test
Nathan Lyon's tale a triumph over conditions and perceptions
2dDaniel Brettig
Nathan Lyon keeps the flag flying high for non-Asian spinners
2dS Rajesh
Nathan Lyon: From groundsman to 100 Tests for Australia
3dAndrew McGlashan
13mAlex Malcolm
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In Case You Missed It: Insults, injuries and incendiary Tests
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Alia Zafar is PCB's first female director Alia Zafar
Umar FarooqPakistan correspondent, ESPNcricinfo
Alia Zafar, the PCB's first-ever female director, believes her presence in the male-dominated board will provide a sense of empowerment to women cricketers in the country. Her inclusion, she says, will also bring diversity to the table.
The PCB rewrote its constitution, revamping every aspect for the governance of the cricket affairs in the country. They reduced the number of associations from eight to three in a bid to offset their influence and also brought in four independent members, including one female member in Zafar, who is presently working as a Group Head Human Resource of the Bank of Punjab.
"Having a female in the board is absolutely great," Zafar told ESPNcricinfo. "There were no women earlier in the board and when you bring women to the table, the conversation becomes more diverse. When you are approaching any area, the balance comes naturally and that will certainly help. The biggest over-arching factor is that I am an independent member, which allows me to contribute with a free mind without any hesitation.
"It's not an employment relationship, so my contribution to the table will come with a focus to providing advice and a framework without any kind of pressure. This whole scenario changes if you are taking a pay, so for me it is a just a nationalistic element and I will bring my 26 years of working experience in every possible way to make a difference."
During her career, Zafar has also been involved as a lead HR expert with Crown Agents America and as a consultant with the United Nations apart from being an avid cricket fan. She formally took charge as a PCB director earlier this month and was named to lead the PCB's Human Resource and Remuneration Committee at the PCB. Her desire though, is to strengthen the structure of women's cricket in the country and help it grow.
"Women's cricket hasn't developed [as much] in Pakistan but it has a lot of potential," Zafar said. "My presence within the PCB for itself will create a sense of empowerment for women cricketers and that is essential for us going forward, creating a pathway for females. My working background is based on my expertise around Human Resource and it's about the performance of the team and creating momentum within the team so that we can achieve our goal and excellence.
"There are a number of components put in place right now and the PCB has done a lot in term of compensation and benefits. That will help in the short term. In the long term, they are looking at the structure the women's cricket is standing on. I understand we don't have the presence like men's cricket but if you want to be at the same level, then you need to have the same structure, support and approach in every area. If that's put in place, that's where you start growing. But at the same time, the major challenge is the culture, do women get their space in sports? It's not just cricket, it's in general."
The Pakistan Cricket Board members pose for a photo PCB
Besides Zafar, the other three independent members are Javed Qureshi, a former first-class cricketer, Asim Wajid Jawad, an expert in economics and Arif Saeed, an economist and corporate executive. Qureshi and Saeed are appointed for three years, and Wajid and Zafar for two.
That the four independent members are part of the board is the result of Ehsan Mani reviewing the governance structure of the PCB. The new structure has been put in place to offset the influence of the regions and the departments on the board and to make it more independent, transparent and accountable.
Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan and pulls a major chunk of commercial revenue from the market. Pakistan cricket has a big following in and outside the country. Every decision the board makes goes through extra scrutiny in the media and from fans. Every little detail becomes a talking point. But Zafar is ready to deal with all that.
"You cannot make decisions under pressure," Zafar said. "Decisions have to be made based on facts, strategy, skills, and discussions around it, and with an aim to have the best results. We cannot keep thinking about the potential backlash and people out there putting up slogans against us to influence our decisions. Being independent members of the board, we should be making decisions purely in the interest of Pakistan and Pakistan team.
"Integrity is an important part of how you make decisions. So this stress about extra scrutiny and criticism isn't a worry. The focus on our decisions is okay but if you are afraid of that, then you are definitely going to make wrong decisions. It's the way it is, and we shouldn't be influenced and we won't be."


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They are committed to providing the best quality at the right price.
All of Kebe's products are assembled in the factory at Hornslet and are subjected to a comprehensive quality control before being released to the customer.


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Q: insert an element into container without changing its original adress in C++ I have 2 classes. The class Covid has a list of Deviant.
I need to add an Deviant to the list .
class Deviant : public Individu{
    public:
        Deviant();
        Deviant(const Personne& );
        Deviant(const Personne&, const std::string& );
        ~Deviant();
        const std::string& getObs() const;
        void setObs(const std::string&);
    std::vector<Personne> p;
    std::string obs;

};
class Covid{
    public:
        Covid();
        ~Covid();
        void push(const Deviant&);
        const Deviant& top() const;
    std::list<Deviant > d;
};

I need to implement methods push() that pushes a Deviant into list d and top() that returns the first element in the list d.
I need to pass this test
TEST_CASE("COVID") {
  Deviant  zz[] = { Deviant(Personne("bruno") , "19980930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("alexis"), "20160930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("loic")  , "19990930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("jeremy"), "20210930")
                   };

  Covid c;
  for (int i=0; i< 4; ++i)
     c.push(zz[i]);
  std::cout << c.top().getObs() << std::endl;
  std::cout << zz[3].getObs() << std::endl;
   CHECK(&c.top() == &zz[3]);
   /*c.pop();
   CHECK(&c.top() == &zz[1]);
   c.pop();
   CHECK(&c.top() == &zz[2]);
   c.pop();
   CHECK(&c.top() == &zz[0]);*/
}

but the first check does pass
tests.cpp:225: FAILED:
  CHECK( &c.top() == &zz[3] )
with expansion:
  0x000055bded197be0 == 0x00007fffad1896a8

what is the best container to store objects without changing their original addresses ?

A: Your test will always fail, because std::list makes a copy of whatever is pushed into it.  You are testing the copy's address against the original's address, which will never match. The only way to push an object into a container without copying/moving it is to push a pointer to the object instead. IOW, use std::list<Deviant*> and c.push(&zz[i]);, and then adjust  top() and your tests accordingly, eg:
class Covid{
    public:
        Covid();
        ~Covid();
        void push(Deviant*);
        const Deviant* top() const;
    std::list<Deviant*> d;
};

TEST_CASE("COVID") {
  Deviant  zz[] = { Deviant(Personne("bruno") , "19980930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("alexis"), "20160930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("loic")  , "19990930"),
                    Deviant(Personne("jeremy"), "20210930")
                   };

  Covid c;
  for (int i=0; i< 4; ++i)
     c.push(&zz[i]);
  std::cout << c.top()->getObs() << std::endl;
  std::cout << zz[3].getObs() << std::endl;
   CHECK(c.top() == &zz[3]);
   /*c.pop();
   CHECK(c.top() == &zz[1]);
   c.pop();
   CHECK(c.top() == &zz[2]);
   c.pop();
   CHECK(c.top() == &zz[0]);*/
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Trump Chronicles, Volume 84: Can Someone Teach This Guy How to Lead?
Let's begin with the obvious: leadership is difficult. Leading others requires abilities to inspire, encourage, persuade, cajole, and well, you get the point. Our nation was built on the belief that our leaders govern with the consent of the governed.
Since 1776 much of the world has chosen democracy over the absolute rule of dictatorship (by a King or Queen, or a military leader, some other absolute ruler). Dictators ruled without needing to care about those they ruled and didn't need leadership skills. If you doubt this, you need look only as far as North Korea.
We now find ourselves with a President who simply does not know how to lead. I've spoken about this several times before, but a good leader commands respect while a poor leader craves approval.
On August 17th President Trump claimed that some of the White Nationalists were very fine people. He clearly sought the approval of those who came to Charlottesville to "Unite the Right." And it worked: Former KKK member David Duke praised the President.
As a Democrat I applaud this, but on September 6th President Trump met with leaders of Congress over the issue of raising the debt ceiling for three months. Republican leadership came to this Oval Office meeting insisting that the debt ceiling be raised until after the 2018 elections. They gasped when the President pulled the rug out from under them and sided with the Democratic leadership. This came less than a month after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) suggested Mr. Trump had "excessive expectations" about the ability of the Senate to repeal and replace Obamacare. In other words, if craving Mr. McConnell's approval didn't work, he would crave the approval of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Finally, and most strikingly, he has shifted his views on President Obama's executive order protecting the Dreamers several times. They are people who were brought here from other nations as children. They grew up as Americans, went to our schools, and thought of themselves as Americans. Many of them speak only English. From the day President Trump announced his candidacy he described Mexicans as rapists and murderers. When asked about these dreamers he has said many things. Two weeks ago he ordered his Attorney General to announce the end of DACA. But on the same day he announced that he has great love for Dreamers. He's craving the approval of both sides and thinks that mixed messages will make this happen.
In the midst of all this, many of us Americans find ourselves perplexed over how he is leading us. Simply put, he isn't. He doesn't want to. He doesn't want us to respect his leadership, he wants us to approve of him. On June 12th we learned just how much.
Many of us look at the investigation of Russian meddling and think this may end with his impeachment and removal from office. But I don't think he will be impeached or convicted because I believe that his need for approval will force him to resign before the investigation ends. Sometime in the next six months he will declare that he was never given a chance and that "nobody was treated worse than me." He will attempt to make the case that "everyone was against me" and nobody could have done this job.
Speaking only for myself I'll celebrate his surrender. He never treated the Presidential election as a mandate to lead all of us. Instead he treated his office as a reality television show that he led. Now he's found he has a hard job and he expects us to sympathize.
He was born into a wealthy family and was given more than most of us. The fact that he turned a small fortune into a large fortune doesn't make me think of him as a leader. It makes me look at him as a toddler who craves approval.
In 1924 the United States first began to restrict immigration by placing quotas on the number of people from each country can come here. I have no desire to wade into the complexities of our immigration system, but suffice it to say that more people want to come here than legally can.
And we continue to struggle to create a policy that respects our laws while at the same time recognizes that we are a nation of immigrants. Our pride for the Statue of Liberty shows this.
Our complicated history of "we are a nation of immigrants" vs. "we don't trust people who don't look like us" frames our frustration today.
And in the middle of this debate we find a group of young men and women we call "Dreamers." They were brought to the United States as children. Their parents came here without going through the process of immigrating; simply put, they snuck in. But they did this because the process of legal immigration made legal entry essentially impossible.
However you feel about the adults, clearly their children cannot be held as lawbreakers. They came here and enrolled in school. By and large they did well and think of themselves as Americans; many speak only English and if deported they have no place to go.
In 2012 President Barack Obama ordered that they be protected and allowed to stay. As long as they came here before their 16th birthday, stayed in school, and did not break any laws, they could stay here and work legally. He called this order DACA or the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
But here's where it gets even more complicated: President Trump promised on the campaign trail to end the DACA program but also, on other occasions appeared to support the Dreamers.
He's never been known for his consistency but here he's playing with the lives of real people. Last week he announced he would decide tomorrow, September 5th.
As I write this, it appears he will delay ending it by six months in the hopes that Congress will create legislation that will protect the dreamers. I imagine this gives the dreamers no relief as Congress appears to show no more compassion or maturity than the President.
Simply put, protecting the Dreamers benefits them, but also benefits us. Their conviction rate is 0% and they are educated. In other words, they are exactly what we are looking for. We gain nothing by deporting them because their parents came here to make a better lives for them.


Good property management requires leadership. If you have a property factor/manager, they will undertake a lot of the management tasks for you. But the more organised owners are, with an owners association, the more owners will get out of their property manager.
Stair cleaning and lighting, gardening.


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All Events at Disney's Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom or Resorts in Walt Disney World during January, April and August of 2021
2021/11/18 - 2021/12/31 EPCOT : Walt Disney World 2021 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays
2022-01-07 - 2022-02-22 EPCOT : Walt Disney World 2022 Epcot International Festival of the Arts
Under Construction - Mar 1, 2022 Star Wars: Galactic Starcuiser : Disney Resorts Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, more simply known to some as the Star Wars hotel, is a two-night, fully-immersive "cruise" adventure located adjacent to Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is the most highly-themed Resort that Disney has ever built, and it promises to transport guests into the world of Star Wars for an experience like no other. The hotel's GRAND OPENING is set for March 1st, 2022.
Under Construction - TBD EPCOT : Walt Disney World PLAY! Pavilion Part of the EPCOT Transformation, the PLAY! Pavilion will be an interactive metropolis and you will find a city filled with games, activities, and experiences that connect you with friends, family, and beloved Disney characters like never before.
2021-02-26 - 2021-07-05 EPCOT : Walt Disney World 2021 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Jul. 15 - Nov. 20 EPCOT : Walt Disney World EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
2021-07-06 - 2021-11-21 EPCOT : Walt Disney World 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival
2021-08-10 - 2021-11-01 Magic Kingdom : Walt Disney World 2021 Disney After Hours Boo Bash
Aug. 10 - Oct. 31 Magic Kingdom : Walt Disney World Disney After Hours BOO BASH On select nights only
Aug. 26 Disney Resorts : Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Reopen
Aug. 26 Disney Resorts : Walt Disney World Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House Reopening


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THE LAP-BAND PROGRAM
A SAFE AND MINIMALLY-INVASIVE SOLUTION TO LASTING WEIGHT LOSS
"I was able to taper off the insulin and then ultimately taper off almost all of the other diabetes medication I was on."
– Lisa, LAP-BAND® System
Achieve Sustained Weight Loss with the LAP-BAND®
At SmartShape™, we have successfully helped thousands of Canadians achieve significant and sustained weight loss with modern weight loss procedures, such as the LAP-BAND® procedure. The team at SmartShape specializes in obesity and welcomes the opportunity to help you make a life-changing commitment.
Before you make a decision to have LAP-BAND® surgery, it is important to understand how the LAP-BAND® works to help you achieve sustained weight loss.
For more information about SmartShape Weight Loss Centre and revision weight loss surgery, visit our FAQs page. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to make a confident decision.
We encourage you to connect with us for a free consultation so we can address any further questions you may have and to discuss whether LAP-BAND® surgery is right for you.
The LAP-BAND® Procedure
The LAP-BAND® procedure is performed laparoscopically which is a surgical technique where only small incisions are made. The LAP-BAND® consists of three parts: One, the band. Two, the tubing. Three, the port.
The band is placed around the top of the stomach. This leaves about an inch of stomach above the band that we call "the pouch". The pouch is unique because it is richly supplied with sensors and receptors that send signals to the brain that when this part of the stomach fills with food… it's full.
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Each time you take a bite of food, it gets temporarily held up by the LAP-BAND®. The pouch at the top of the stomach fills and you feel full from eating smaller portions of food. SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre uses only the premium Apollo LAP-BAND® and includes a five year AfterCare Program.
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Most patients are ready to return to work and normal daily activities a week after LAP-BAND® surgery. Most gradually resume strenuous activities in approximately 3 to 4 weeks. After an overnight stay in the hospital, patients are allowed to return home to recover. If needed, 24/7 after-hours support and a follow-up consultation with your surgeon are available. Learn more about post-op care.
LAP-BAND® Adjustments
LAP-BAND® adjustments (called fills, or de-fills) are an important part of the program to ensure the band is working effectively. Adjustments are made by adding or removing saline via the adjustment port, making the band a little tighter or looser, as needed.
It is important to work with the team at SmartShape to decide when adjustments are required. Together we will monitor your weight loss and hunger to help decide when it's time for an adjustment. Our nurse specialist will adjust the band in our clinic — a simple, relatively painless procedure that usually takes only minutes. The goal is to reach the "sweet spot", and that's different for every person.
The frequency of band adjustments varies from person to person and is customized to your individual progress. Although each person is different, in the first year, you can expect anywhere from four to six adjustments, but some people have as few as one. Approximately 10 percent of people are able to lose weight at the desired pace without any adjustment at all. LAP-BAND® adjustments are much less common once you have achieved your weight loss goals.
For clients that do not live close to our clinics, there are over 40 affiliated healthcare professionals across Canada that can work with our team to ensure you are getting your Lap-Band adjustments as needed.
Is the LAP-BAND® right for you?
The SmartShape Weight Loss Centre is happy to offer free consultations about our advanced weight loss procedures with a surgeon for patients from across Canada.
Learn About the LAP-BAND® System Fast Facts
Success with the LAP-BAND® System
Do You Qualify for the LAP-BAND® System?
Are you ready to take an active part in reducing your weight permanently? Find out if you meet the criteria and see if this may be an ideal treatment option for you.
It may be the right solution if:
You are at least 16 years of age
You have a BMI of 30 and above
You are prepared to make changes in your eating habits and lifestyle
You have made serious attempts to lose weight and had only short-term success
You do not drink alcohol in excess and do not have illegal drug dependence
Where is the LAP-BAND® System Available?
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The 21st FIFA World Cup will take place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. There will be 32 teams from 5 different confederations competing for the World Cup title.
The whole process how Russia became a host is now a few years away. Bidding to be a host started in 2009 and on December 2, 2010 hosts for 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar) were selected. Both of these tournaments will include 32 teams from 5 or 6 confederations. Of course, we know that teams for the 2018 tournament come from 5 confederations.
Copyright© 2015 Russian Post (Почта России). All Rights Reserved.
UEFA (Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Iceland, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland).
Some of these teams are well-known and we can expect to see them (almost) on each competition. The current world champion is Germany, which has a total of 4 titles so far, Brazil has 5, Italy 4, Argentina and Uruguay 2, France, England and Spain 1. All of them are football superpowers but that doesn't mean that any other country doesn't have the right to hope for the title.
H – Poland, Senegal, Columbia, Japan.
Some groups are obviously harder than others, but still, everything depends on teams. The only sure thing is that first 2 teams from each group will continue to the next round (Round of 16).
Copyright© 2016 Russian Post (Почта России). All Rights Reserved.
The competitions will take place in 11 towns across Russia: Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk, Rostov-on-Don, Kaliningrad, Sochi.
Matches will be played on: Ekaterinburg Arena, Kaliningrad Stadium, Kazan Arena, Luzhniki Stadium, Spartak Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Rostov Arena, St Petersburg Stadium, Samara Arena, Mordovia Arena, Fisht Stadium, Volgograd Arena.
The finals will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow) on July 15, 2018.
I guess that each nation expects the most from their team. Some will go with the almost completely new team while others will take experienced squads. Maybe the biggest question that requires an answer is if the best one (sorry Ronaldo, but Leo Messi) can take the World Cup title with Argentina.
Copyright© 2017 Russian Post (Почта России). All Rights Reserved.
This article is the first in the series of articles we'll dedicate to 2018 World Cup.
My country isn´t participates in World Cup since 36 years ago, i wrote an article about that and how philately reflects it. I expect you like.


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Tag Archives: Louis Sanford Wait
April 23, 2022 AviationAG345, Allison Engineering Co., Allison V-1710-39, Allison V-1710-F3R, Browning .303 Mark II, Browning Machine Gun Caliber .50 AN-M2, c/n 73-3098, Fighter, First Flight, Louis Sanford Wait, Mustang Mk.I, North American Aviation Inc., North American Aviation Mustang Mk.I, Test Pilot, World War IIBryan Swopes
North American Aviation Mustang Mk.I AG345, c/n 73-3098, prior to camouflage paint. Note the short carburetor air intake compared to the photograph of the camouflaged airplane, below. The RAF serial number, barely visible, is stenciled on the rudder just beneath the trim tab. (North American Aviation Inc. 73-0-6)
23 April 1941: At North American Aviation's Inglewood, California factory, test pilot Louis Sanford Wait takes the very first production Mustang Mk.I, AG345, (c/n 73-3098) for its first flight.
The Royal Air Force had contracted with NAA to design and build a new fighter with a 1,200 horsepower Allison V-1710 supercharged 12-cylinder engine. The first order from the British Purchasing Commission was for 320 airplanes, and a second order for another 300 soon followed.
Mustang Mk.I AG345. (North American Aviation, Inc. 73-0-5)
The Mustang Mk.I (NAA Model NA-73) was a single-place, single-engine fighter primarily of metal construction with fabric control surfaces. It was 32 feet, 3 inches (9.830 meters) long with a wingspan of 37 feet, 5/16-inches (11.373 meters) and height of 12 feet, 2½ inches (3.721 meters). The airplane's empty weight was 6,280 pounds (2,849 kilograms) and loaded weight was 8,400 pounds (3,810 kilograms).
North American Aviation Mustang Mk.I AG345 (North American Aviation Inc.)
The Mustang Mk.I was powered by a liquid-cooled, supercharged 1,710.597-cubic-inch-displacement (28.032 liter) Allison Engineering Company V-1710-F3R (V-1710-39) single overhead cam (SOHC) 60° V-12 engine with a compression ratio of 6.65:1. The -F3R had a Maximum Continuous Power rating of 880 horsepower at 2,600 r.p.m. at Sea level, and 1,000 horsepower at 11,000 feet (3,353 meters). It was rated at 1,150 horsepower at 3,000 r.p.m. for Take Off and Military Power. The Allison V-12 drove a 10 foot, 9 inch (3.277 meter) diameter, three-bladed Curtiss Electric constant-speed propeller through a 2.00:1 gear reduction. The V-1710-F3R was 7 feet, 4.38 inches (2.245 meters) long, 3 feet, 0.54 inches (0.928 meters) high, and 2 feet, 5.29 inches (0.734 meters) wide. It weighed 1,310 pounds (594 kilograms).
The Mustang Mk.I had a cruise speed of 311 miles per hour (500.5 kilometers per hour) at 75% power, and a maximum speed of 384 miles per hour (618 kilometers per hour) at 19,000 feet (5,791 meters). The airplane could reach 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) in 8.80 minutes. The service ceiling was 32,000 feet (9,754 meters) and its range was 640 miles (1,030 kilometers).
The Mk.I was equipped with four Browning AN-M2 .50-caliber machine guns, with one in each wing and two mounted in the nose under the engine. Four Browning .303 Mk.II machine guns were also installed, with two in each wing.
North American Aviation Mustang Mk.I AG345 (c/n 73-3098), front. (North American Aviation Inc.)
The Mk.I was 30 m.p.h. (48 kilometers per hour) faster than its contemporary, the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, though both used the same engine. Below 15,000 feet (4,572 meters), the Mustang was also 30–35 m.p.h (48–56 kilometers per hour) faster than a Supermarine Spitfire, which had the more powerful Roll-Royce Merlin V-12.
Two Mustang Mk.Is were taken from the first RAF production order and sent to Wright Field for testing by the U.S. Army Air Force. These airplanes, assigned serial numbers 41-038 and 41-039, were designated XP-51. They would be developed into the legendary P-51 Mustang. In production from 1941 to 1945, a total of 16,766 Mustangs of all variants were built.
The first production Mustang Mk.I, AG345, first flight, 23 April 1941. (North American Aviation, Inc.)
Louis Sanford Wait was born 28 June 1908 at Superior, Nebraska. He was the first of two children of Dr. James Enos Wait, a dentist, and Alice Caroline Harrington Wait.
Wait enlisted in the Air Corps, United States Army, as an aviation cadet, in 1929. He trained as a pilot at March Field, near Riverside, California, and at Kelly Field, Bexar, Texas. Wait graduated 27 June 1930 and received his pilot's wings and a commission as a second lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve. (O274973) Lieutenant Wait trained as an attack pilot and was assigned to Fort Crockett, Galveston, Texas.
From 1932 to 1935, Wait, having been released from active duty, was employed as a test pilot for the Boeing Airplane Company, Seattle, Washington.
By 1937, Lieutenant Wait was assigned to Headquarters Squadron, 2nd Bombardment Group at Langley Field, Virginia, under the command of Brigadier General Robert Olds. While on 18 days leave, on 3 December 1937, Second Lieutenant Wait married Mrs. Elsie O. Callow (née Elsie Oliver) at Amityville, New York.
Wait married Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Croxen (née Mary Elizabeth Musser), 2 November 1944, in Los Angeles, California.
In August 1946, Louis Wait entered a P-51C Mustang, NX28388, in the Bendix Trophy Race. The airplane had been purchased by Jackie Cochran. She flew it in the race and finished in second place behind Paul Mantz.
In 1951, Wait was appointed general administrator of a new North American Aviation plant at the Fresno Air Terminal, Fresno, California. The plant, which employed about 400 people, manufactured and repaired parts for the T-6/SNJ Texan flight trainers, and performed modifications to F-86 Sabre jet fighters.
Louis Sanford Wait died 3 July 1963, at the age of 55 years.


This season's homeware guide is divided into four styles, namely Traditional, Al Fresco, Contemporary and Luxe.
For Luxe, a celebration is all about the enjoyment of life's luxuries and entertaining with impeccable style. Choose wood with metal accents (think the Bruno drinks cabinet, seen above), crystal candle holders and refined glassware, including clear glass dinner plates, platinum dipped wine glasses and silver hammered champagne tubs.
Make time to savour some holiday moments alone. Celebrate the down time with a beautifully curated sleep sanctuary, perfect for lazy lie-ins. Think scatters, faux fur and quilted throws and Egyptian cotton duvet sets.
For more information and to browse the collections online, visit home.co.za.


A new study says that allergies may start before birth and be directly affected by the mother's food intake during pregnancy.
The study was conducted by Murdoch Children's Research Institute in Melbourne, Australia. It looked at key differences in blood samples of babies who have food allergies and those who do not.
Studying the molecular pathways which control how genes are expressed, the researchers found that children with allergies have distinct differences from those who do not. Examining blood samples taken at birth showed that those children diagnosed with food allergies had those markers at the time of birth, indicating that the molecular changes happen in the womb.
This lends credence to the theory that food allergies are, at least in part, based on genetic predisposition and, more importantly, to what mothers eat during pregnancy. Lead author Dr. David Martino of MCRI says these findings give direction for future research into the role a mother's diet plays in her baby's allergies. The authors are now embarking on a wider-scale study to reinforce their findings.


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Angela Gooden of Texas Children's Heart Center is the latest Texas Children's Super Star leader. "In order to provide quality family-centered care, we all have to commit to taking the lead and finding new and innovative ways to be the best at what we do," Gooden said. Read more of her interview below and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.
Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Angela Gooden, certified pediatric nurse practitioner and manager of Advanced Practice Providers in Cardiology. I started my career at Texas Children's Hospital as a graduate registered nurse in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit 17 years ago and transitioned into a nurse practitioner role 8 years ago.
What month are you Super Star for?
Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My team members planned a surprise reception that included my family and other members of the Cardiology department that I work closely with on a daily basis.
What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
I'm really very honored and honestly a little bit embarrassed. However, this recognition lets me know that I am doing something right and that's a great feeling.
How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
I've been the recipient of great leadership during my time at Texas Children's. The encouragement and feedback I have received along the way gave me confidence to explore new opportunities. One of the things I love about Texas Children's Hospital is professional development is expected.
What do you think makes someone at Texas Children's a super star?
One of the comments submitted from my team referred to me as a servant leader. I was extremely honored by this statement because it's exactly what I aim to achieve on a daily basis. I believe actions speak louder than words and we work better side by side.
What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
I truly enjoy the work that I do and the people I get to do it with. The experience and knowledge I've gained as a nurse practitioner in the Cardiology department has been priceless. I enjoy the people, patients, and families that I work with on a daily basis and care about their quality of life.
What is the best thing about working at Texas Children's?
Definitely the people! I have made so many great friends with whom I've shared countless experiences over the years. I've grown (and continue to grow) up here and more days than not I leave knowing that I made a difference.
What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children's is considered a leader? What is your leadership definition?
We're tasked as Texas Children's employees with providing quality family-centered care. In order to do this we all have to commit to taking the lead and finding new and innovative ways to be the best at what we do.
Anything else you want to share?
I'm grateful to my team for the recognition and happy to be working with people I genuinely like.
Texas Children's Hospital's congenital heart surgery program recently earned a three star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the highest possible distinction.
Star ratings are based on the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database (CHSD) mortality risk model. One hundred and seventeen congenital heart surgery programs nationwide participated in the Spring 2016 STS CHSD Feedback Report. Texas Children's is among only eight hospitals in the U.S. to earn a three star rating.
"We are honored to be recognized for our outcomes, which are among the best in the nation," said Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr., surgeon-in-chief and chief of congenital heart surgery. "Since 1995, our congenital heart surgery program has carefully tracked patient outcomes and continues to be committed to transparency. Information about our performance is a driver of innovation and critical to elevating the quality of care we provide to our patients every day."
Texas Children's Heart Center is comprised of an expert team of congenital heart surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiovascular anesthesiologists and pediatric critical care physicians, among others. In 2015, Texas Children's congenital heart surgery program's overall risk-adjusted mortality rate was 1.6 percent, well below the STS national benchmark of 2.9 percent. Outcomes for atrial septal defect repairs, ventricular septal defect repairs, atrioventricular canal repairs, tetralogy of Fallot repairs and arterial switch operations were also below STS national benchmarks last year.
Texas Children's is ranked No. 2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about Texas Children's Heart Center outcomes visit the website. For more information about STS Congenital Heart Surgery Public Reporting click here.
Wayne Franklin, MD, director and founder of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, was recently selected to participate in The Aspen Institute Fellowship, a two-year fellowship focused on strengthening the leadership of innovators across the U.S. health care ecosystem.
Called the Health Innovators Partnership and in conjunction with South Carolina's largest non-profit healthcare system, Greenville Health System, the Aspen Institute's primary objective for the fellowship is to create meaningful change in health care with the help of 21 newly appointed fellows, including Franklin.
Franklin and his associate fellows were selected to innovate change and improve the health and well-being of all Americans. The team – made up of experts in pharmaceuticals, public health, biotechnology, insurance, mental health and government – will collaborate to institute the advancements of America's health.
Rima Cohen, the managing director of the fellowship, described her excitement about the fellow's various backgrounds, energy, and expertise as being united to "tackle our nation's most pressing health care challenges."
It's one of parents' worst fears – their child has a complex or life-threatening illness. How do they decide where to go for the comprehensive care their child needs?
Over the years, the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals rankings have helped thousands of parents identify top sources of care for children with the most difficult medical problems. And Texas Children's Hospital has consistently been among them.
On the 2015–16 Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll, which recognizes pediatric centers that are highly ranked in multiple specialties, Texas Children's, working closely with academic partner Baylor College of Medicine, ranked no. 4 in the nation for the fifth consecutive year. It is the only children's hospital in Texas on the Honor Roll.
"We're rightfully proud of the great work that Texas Children's does day in and day out on behalf of sick children and their families, but we know we have room for improvement," said Texas Children's Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline. "To the degree that the U.S. News survey can help us develop a blueprint for being the world's best and highest quality pediatric health care institution, we are pursuing that."
In a process that has become increasingly rigorous and data driven, the U.S. News rankings enable hospitals to look in the mirror and scrutinize themselves.
"Do we like the reflection? Are we as good as we think we are?" asked Dr. Angelo P. Giardino, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Texas Children's. "In many cases, we are, and we're thrilled because we are a really great children's hospital. But there are opportunities where we look in the mirror and we say, 'We could really do that better.'"
Rankings evolve
Beginning in 1990, as part of the Best Hospitals list, the pediatric rankings were 100 percent reputational for more than 15 years, based entirely on a survey of pediatricians and pediatric specialists across the country, asking them to identify the best children's hospitals.
When U.S. News decided to rank pediatric hospitals separately from adult hospitals, the publication faced a challenging absence of data. While adult hospital rankings were drawn from Medicare data, no comparable source of information about children's hospitals was available. As a result, U.S. News enlisted RTI International, a nonprofit research and consulting firm that was already the contractor for the Best Hospitals rankings, to develop a methodology for obtaining data directly from the hospitals and to analyze the results.
The first rankings incorporating such data were published in 2007 as General Pediatrics. Texas Children's Hospital was listed among the top 30 children's centers.
In 2008, rankings in six specialties, including cancer and neonatal care, were added to the children's hospital rankings. In 2009, a newly created Honor Roll listed the 10 children's hospitals out of 160 surveyed that were ranked in all the specialties, which had been increased from six to 10.
The 2015-16 Honor Roll required a hospital to rank in the top 10 percent in three or more specialties. Only 12 pediatric hospitals qualified among 184 surveyed nationwide. Texas Children's has appeared on every Honor Roll.
In 2015, Texas Children's ranked no. 2 in three specialties: cardiology/heart surgery, neurology/neurosurgery and pulmonology. Texas Children's ranked among the top five hospitals in six specialties and in the top 30 hospitals in all 10 specialties.
"The original purpose of the Best Hospitals rankings was to inform patients and families and help them make decisions," said Health Rankings Editor Avery Comarow, who has directed the Best Hospitals projects since their beginnings. "I now recognize that we don't necessarily have to just reflect performance. We can also drive it by incorporating metrics that reflect that goal. Every year, our contractor, RTI International, meets with medical experts to evolve the methodology in ways that not only reflect what children's hospitals are doing, but ways in which they could and should be doing better."
Quality framework
Today, the U.S. News Best Children's Hospitals rankings use a well-accepted framework for evaluating the quality of health care:
Structure: hospital resources related to patient care, such as the ratio of nurses to patients, specialized clinics and programs, and certification by external organizations.
Process: compliance with best practices in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and patient education. As a part of the process, reputation now counts as 16.7 percent of the overall score, down from the original 100 percent.
Outcomes: factors such as rates of survival, infection, mobility and cure.
The increasing emphasis on quality measures had strong support from the late Dr. Bernadine Healy, a former director of the National Institutes of Health, who was health editor of U.S. News before her death in 2011.
"Her expertise and perspective were invaluable," Comarow said. "She had such a strong sense of the things that were important to patients and families. She brought that same perspective to some of the choices that we made in trying to decide which measures to highlight, what sort of weight to give them, how many hospitals we should assign rankings to, and where we would run out of meaningful data as opposed to numbers that looked OK but were not terribly reliable statistically."
As U.S. News shifted the emphasis toward quality measures, Texas Children's shifted coordination of the survey response from its Marketing/PR Department to its Quality and Safety Department.
The evolution into quality led us to bring all the chiefs of medical and surgical services to the table," said Mary Jo Andre, senior vice president and chief nursing officer and former senior vice president of Quality and Safety. "The more that quality and best practices were built into the survey, the more accountability of the survey shifted from an administrative standpoint to the medical staff."
To help build physician engagement, Giardino and Thomas Luerssen, chief quality officer – surgery, were appointed quality officers for Pediatrics and Surgery, respectively, in 2013. The next year, Giardino was named to his present position as chief quality officer of Texas Children's, and Eric Williams, succeeded him as quality officer for Pediatrics. They work closely with teams of physician section chiefs, practice administrators and data specialists.
Although only 10 clinical areas are ranked, a total of about 20 different services contribute to the survey, such as Radiology, Emergency Services, Intensive Care, Social Work and Nutrition. For example, nursing certification, attention to safe practices and increasing specialty roles of nurses appear in each section of the survey. Texas Children's receives points for safety because of the hospital's Magnet certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
"Any outcome is a partnership of nursing and physicians," Andre said. "The question directly related to nursing is about staffing. Seeing how we compared to the rest of the country has been a good thing for nursing, because it's driven us to have higher standards as well."
More than 100 people at Texas Children's contribute to the survey each year, submitting more than 1,500 survey elements in all. Texas Children's also is represented in four of the working groups that RTI consults each year in continuing to refine the methodology. Involvement in quality improvement at Texas Children's is even more far-reaching. More than 400 staff members have been trained in Advanced Quality Improvement.
"Quality improvement, which Texas Children's is passionate about, extends everywhere," said Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., chief of Congenital Heart Surgery and surgeon-in-chief at Texas Children's. "Quality starts immediately when the patient or family arrives here. Everyone is important, whether you're in housekeeping or food services, the cardiac intensive care unit or are an administrative executive. Everyone is responsible for quality."
Texas Children's analytics team provides data to each section chief with a detailed analysis of the gaps between the section and comparable data from top-ranked peer institutions in the Best Children's Hospitals rankings. The service chiefs and their clinical and administrative teams review the data closely and objectively, identifying gaps and opportunities to improve quality, access or outcomes.
For example, in Texas Children's Diabetes and Endocrinology section, gap analysis revealed several opportunities for improvement that are being addressed. To help deal with limited patient access, four new pediatric endocrinologists have been hired. To reduce disease complications, timely alerts now appear on physicians' computers, reminding them to schedule their patients for tests for thyroid problems, kidney complications and early signs of diabetic retinopathy, which is associated with blindness.
"The U.S. News rankings are a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on potential problem areas and to allow us to make the care that we deliver better, more effective and more patient centered," said Dr. Jake Kushner, chief of Diabetes and Endocrinology at Texas Children's.
The rankings not only help identify gaps where improvements are needed, but also provide data to build the case for needed changes.
"Many of the service chiefs and practitioners have said, 'We've been wanting this – this process, this equipment, this type of clinic – for years, and here it is in the survey,'" said Terri Brown, assistant director of Clinical Outcomes and Data. "So they are able to leverage the survey to help achieve what they already know to be good ideas."
As the Best Children's Hospitals survey focuses more and more on ways to improve outcomes, the transparency and accountability of the published rankings are helping to improve children's health care nationally.
"If you look at the hospitals on the Honor Roll, we're all delivering great care to children and families," Giardino said. "Everybody's working hard to get better. So the bar keeps moving higher. And that's the whole point."
When 8-year-old Texas Children's patient Jeston Adams woke up June 12, he could barely contain his excitement. It was the moment he had been waiting for; the day he was going to meet his hero – J.J. Watt.
Jeston, whose wide smile and personality light up a room, spent more than three hours having lunch, sharing stories, playing video games and talking about his road to a heart transplant with the larger-than-life Houston Texans defensive end.
In January, congenital heart surgeon Dr. Iki Adachi and his team implanted the HeartWare® HVAD® into Jeston's small chest, connecting the device to his heart. A red pack filled with the VAD's controller and battery is now a fixture on Jeston's back, allowing him to enjoy his childhood as he awaits a much-needed transplant. He is closely monitored by pediatric cardiologist Dr. Aamir Jeewa, VAD coordinator Barb Elias, and the Heart Center's heart failure team.
"Giving patients like Jeston an opportunity to meet a hero and be inspired by someone like J.J. is really uplifting," said Dr. Jeff Dreyer, medical director of the Heart Transplant Program. "His positive attitude and moments like this keep him going on the long road ahead."
After the visit, Watt had one more surprise for Jeston before they said goodbye – an Xbox. Jeston was thrilled, and without hesitation wrapped his arms around Watt's waist for a big hug. The starstruck patient now calls Watt his brother and hopes this is just the beginning of their friendship.
"Thank you for everything!," Jeston said grinning from ear to ear. "I hope I see you again one day."
Jeston and his mom weren't the only ones who had a memorable day. Watt posted a photo and video of his time with Jeston on social media and received an overwhelming, supportive response.
"He is one of the nicest, kindest, funniest kids that I have ever met. He has an old soul combined with the energy and enthusiasm of a child," Watt wrote about Jeston. "He spoke openly about his condition and the pain that he endures, but he never complained about it or used it as an excuse. He never stopped smiling the entire day and he, without question, has inspired me to attack each day with a smile and a positive mentality."
Click here to watch highlights from Jeston's special day.
The 2016-17 edition of Best Children's Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report ranked Texas Children's Hospital fourth in the country out of nearly 200 pediatric institutions. For the eighth straight year, Texas Children's Hospital was placed on the Best Children's Hospital Honor Roll, and for the first time Texas Children's has a no. 1 ranked service – Pulmonology.
Texas Children's national rankings for each subspecialty area are:
#1 Pulmonology
#2 Cancer
#2 Cardiology and Heart Surgery
#2 Neurology and Neurosurgery
#3 Nephrology (kidney disorders)
#5 Urology
#6 Gastroenterology & GI Surgery
#11 Diabetes and Endocrinology
#14 Neonatology
#21 Orthopedics
Five services are ranked in the top 5 percent, and two services are in the top 10 percent. Also, based on last year's rankings, eight services made gains or maintained their current top rankings.
"These rankings continue to reflect the steadfast commitment Texas Children's has to providing the highest-quality patient care and outcomes possible for the families we serve," said President and CEO Mark A. Wallace. "The diligent efforts and enthusiasm our staff and employees display every day for Texas Children's mission, along with our outstanding results in this survey, proves we are unquestionably the best in Texas."
To be considered for the honor roll distinction, a hospital must have high rankings in at least three specialties. Texas Children's Hospital is 1 of only 11 hospitals on the Honor Roll this year. We are also the only pediatric hospital in Texas – and the Southwest region – to make the Honor Roll all eight times since the specialty-specific rankings began in the 2009 – 2010 survey year.
In addition to ranking children's hospitals overall, U.S. News & World Report also ranks the top 50 pediatric hospitals in 10 major subspecialty areas.
"From a measurement perspective, our survey results demonstrate how hard we're working as an organization to deliver high quality care to our patients," Wallace said. "The more consistently we deliver high quality care and the safer we deliver that care to our patients, the better their outcomes are, and the better our overall numbers are."
The results also reflect the diligent efforts of a solid structure focused on the U.S. News survey. The process of compiling and refining our data is an ongoing challenge, which will continue to improve under the leadership of Texas Children's USNWR Operations team, including Dr. Angelo Giardino, Trudy Leidich, Paola Alvarez-Malo, Elizabeth Pham, Roula Smith.
"These rankings continue to reflect what we all already know, that the trajectory of Texas Children's is absolutely incredible," Wallace said.
For more information about the U.S. News rankings, visit:
Mark Wallace's On the Mark blog: Strive for the outcomes, not the recognition
The Journal of Texas Children's Hospital's in-depth feature: Improve care and the rankings follow
Texas Children's blog post: Texas Children's Hospital and the U.S. News & World Report ranking survey – What's it all about?
The U.S. News website: Best Children's Hospitals 2016-17: Honor roll and overview
U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll 2016-2017
Rank Hospital
1 Boston Children's Hospital
2 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
3 Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
4 Texas Children's Hospital, Houston
5 Seattle Children's Hospital
6 Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
7** Children's Hospital Los Angeles
7** Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
9 Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora
10** Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, Palo Alto, Calif.
10** Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
*2 points per specialty for ranking in highest 5 percent of hospitals; 1 point if in next 5 percent.
**Tie.
Watch ABC-13's story about how a multidisciplinary team at Texas Children's Hospital gives a young boy a chance at life.


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PFAS Crisis Expands As Millions Of Americans In 43 States Are Exposed To Toxic Chemicals
In Support Of Judy Shelton's Nomination To The Fed
Does J. Wright Remember the Zebra Killings?
Posted on April 28, 2008 by el nuko
Rev J. Wright has been all over the news for the past few days, and the following was just one of many very revealing comments. His defense of the Nation of Islam, and Louis Farrakhan, at the National Press Club was vintage left-wing "victim politics"…. (HotAir has the clip)
"Louis Farrakhan is not my enemy. He did not put me in chains, he did not put me in slavery …"
Chains? Slavery? No, Farrakhan is not guilty of these crimes. Nor is anyone else, for that matter.
But, just in case anyone needs a reminder of some of the things which do qualify Farrakhan and the NOI as an enemy of liberty, here is something which is much more dangerous than Louis' notorious hate-speech.
Remembering the Zebra Killings
The Zebra Killings occurred in the San Francisco bay area between 1972 and 1974 and left 71 people dead. They were dubbed the Zebra Killings because of the radio channel used by the police investigating the case (channel Z). The name would take on a more sinister meaning as it became apparent that a group of blacks was systematically stalking and killing whites simply because of the color of their skin….
The majority of the attacks were carried out by five members of a group within Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam called the "Death Angels." Jesse Lee Cooks, J.C. Simon, Larry Green, Manuel Moore and Anthony Harris were part of this group which believed that whites were created 3,000 years ago by a black mad scientist named Yacub who wanted a race of inferiors to rule over. Death Angels believed they could earn "points" towards going to heaven when they died if they killed whites. For them, whites were not human beings but "grafted snakes," "blue-eyed devils" and "white motherf—–s."
Is there political strategery by the Obama campaign involved in Wright's looney-tunes rant?
Probably. The more Wright speaks, the more he makes it all about himself, and his ego. His speaking tour puts everything in the present tense, quite possibly making it easier for Obama to distance himself from him.
The interesting part of all of this is seeing how many on the left, and in the media, actually agree with, or are sympathetic to Wright's lunatic ravings.
See also: MM–Wright's security provided by NOI
Filed under: Election 2008, Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder, muslim, News and politics, obama, Senator Gravitas | Tagged: Barack Obama, death angels, ed morrisey, Election 2008, jeremiah wright, Liberalism Is A Mental Disorder, louis farrakhan, michelle malkin, multiculturalism and political correctness, muslim, nation of islam, national press club, News and politics, obama, san francisco, Senator Gravitas, victim politics, zebra killings |	20 Comments »
Black Conservatism
Ta-Nehisi Coates, writing in the Atlantic, has penned an article that will leave me in a reflective mood for some time.
It's about race. It's about culture. It's about America. And, it is an honest appraisal of our unfinished business as a uniquely American culture — a frank and unflinching glimpse into the inner ticking of an African-American writer who takes a close look at Bill Cosby and the message (and the messengers) of black self-reliance.
I've written several times about growing up in the 60's Deep South, believing that this experience gives a unique perspective on the subject of racism. But, as I mentioned previously, growing up on the white side of the divide, I really have no idea of what it was like for the blacks, and I want to thank Mr. Coates for granting some much needed perspective.
Here are a three excerpts:
the liberal notion that blacks are still, after a century of struggle, victims of pervasive discrimination is the ultimate collective buzz-kill. It effectively means that African Americans must, on some level, accept that their children will be "less than" until some point in the future when white racism miraculously abates. That's not the sort of future that any black person eagerly awaits […]
Part of what drives Cosby's activism, and reinforces his message, is the rage that lives in all African Americans, a collective feeling of disgrace that borders on self-hatred. As the comedian Chris Rock put it in one of his infamous routines, "Everything white people don't like about black people, black people really don't like about black people …
the "organic" black conservative tradition: conservatives who favor hard work and moral reform over protests and government intervention, but whose black-nationalist leanings make them anathema to the Heritage Foundation and Rush Limbaugh. When political strategists argue that the Republican Party is missing a huge chance to court the black community, they are thinking of this mostly male bloc—the old guy in the barbershop, the grizzled Pop Warner coach, the retired Vietnam vet, the drunk uncle at the family reunion. He votes Democratic, not out of any love for abortion rights or progressive taxation, but because he feels—in fact, he knows—that the modern-day GOP draws on the support of people who hate him. This is the audience that flocks to Cosby: culturally conservative black Americans who are convinced that integration, and to some extent the entire liberal dream, robbed them of their natural defenses.
A couple of points: First, the statement that conservative black men "know" that the GOP draws on the support of people who hate them is a straw man argument. Who are these haters and bigots? Being labeled a racist, bigot, homophobe by liberal writers does not make one a racist, bigot, or homophobe. There is no shortage of liberal bloggers and reporters who love nothing more than the opportunity to label a Republican as a racist. Of course, "gotcha" journalism is not the exclusive arena of liberal writers, but this is one area that truly deserves some introspection.
Because, in the end, it's not so much a matter of the lack of respect, as Mr. Coates asserts, but rather, a lack of trust. Embracing the likes of Farrakhan and the NOI does nothing to build trust. Nor does the embrace of Black Liberation Theology. I do not trust these particular people, or these particular institutions, nor do I have any use for many of the words and ideas they promote.
The excerpts really don't do justice to this fine essay. Please read it all. Also, in the vodpod sidebar, please take a look at the video featuring Coates and Bill Cosby.
This is the World Famous Friday Open Thread: a Free Speech Zone.
Comments, questions, linkage, trackbacks, are all welcome.
WFFOT: Be the thread.
Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, Maggie's Notebook, Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Cao's Blog, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, D equals S, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, McCain Blogs, The World According to Carl, Pirate's Cove, The Pink Flamingo, , Right Voices, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
Filed under: conservatism, linkfests, News and politics, Open thread, open trackbacks, racism, WFFOT | Tagged: Bill Cosby, black conservatism, conservatism, Jell-o pops, linkfests, louis farrakhan, nation of islam, News and politics, Open thread, open trackbacks, racism, Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic, WFFOT |	22 Comments »
FBI's spreadsheet puts a stake through the heart of Steele's dossier
The Royals: Royal Family Secrets Revealed [Full Documentary]
[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Müller Exposes Amazon-Party Ideology
Pete Buttigieg has raised more money from NYC residents than de Blasio got nationwide (New York Post)
Why Does Trump Want to Be Unpopular? (John Podhoretz/Commentary)
John Paul Stevens, longtime leader of Supreme Court's liberal wing, dies at 99 (Charles Lane/Washington Post)
Another Mississippi Gov. Candidate Refuses To Be Alone With Woman Other Than Wife (Alanna Vagianos/HuffPost)
APNewsBreak: NRC looking at reducing inspections at reactors (Ellen Knickmeyer/Associated Press)


text:
Q: Pandas update row value in column B based on row value in column A Below is an example of my data frame. I have created column B where the value for each row is NaN
      Column A    Column B

1        Xo          NaN
2       Es-Ab        NaN
3       Pr-Ab        NaN
4       Pr-Bs        NaN
5       Tr-Ab        NaN
6        Ab          NaN
7        Es          NaN
8       Es-Bs        NaN

I need to insert values in Column B based on the string value in Column A. Need to write a case-statement, i.e. if/elif/else function in python perhaps. Need help with the logic/syntax in python as before inserting values I also need to check if the row value in Column B is NaN.
The pseudo code block i'm envisioning is as follows:
if (column A contains X) and (column B = NaN) then ABC
if (column A contains Ab or Pr) and (column B = NaN) then DEF
if (column A contains Es) and (column B = Nan) then GHI
else Other

And I need to evaluate this for each row of my data frame and assign the row value in Column B as per the above logic. Thus, my final outcome would look like:
      Column A    Column B

1        Xo          ABC
2       Es-Ab        DEF
3       Pr-Ab        DEF
4       Pr-Bs        DEF
5       Tr-Ab        DEF
6        Ab          DEF
7        Es          GHI
8       Es-Bs        GHI

A: You can do it with apply.
This should work:
def get_columnB(row):
    a = row["Column A"]
    b = row["Column B"]
    if b != np.NaN:
        return "Other"
    elif "X" in a:
        return "ABC"
    elif "Ab" in a or "Pr" in a:
        return "DEF"
    elif "Es" in a:
        return "GHI"
    return "Other"

df["Column B"] = df.apply(get_columnB,axis=1)

Be careful I don't know if it's important that it's case sensitive. So if it's not case sensitive use lower()
a = row["Column A"].lower()
b = row["Column B"].lower()

and change "X", "AB"... to "x", "ab"

A: You can apply the conditions in 3 lines and fill the rest with other
df.loc[df['column A'].str.contains('X'), 'B'] = ABC
df.loc[df['column A'].str.contains('Ab|Pr'), 'B'] = DEF
df.loc[df['column A'].str.contains('Es'), 'B'] = GHI
df['B'] = df['B'].fillna('Other')

A: Using numpy :
import numpy as np
col_a = 'Column A'
col_b = 'Column B'

conditions = [
            (df[col_a].str.contains('X')) & (df[col_b].isnull()),
             (df[col_a].str.contains('Ab|Pr')) & (df[col_b].isnull()),
            (df[col_a].str.contains('Es')) & (df[col_b].isnull())
             ]

outputs = ['ABC','DEF','GHI']

df[col_b] = np.select(conditions,outputs,default='Other')

print(df)
  Column A Column B
0     1 Xo      ABC
1  2 Es-Ab      DEF
2  3 Pr-Ab      DEF
3  4 Pr-Bs      DEF
4  5 Tr-Ab      DEF
5    6  Ab      DEF
6    7  Es      GHI
7  8 Es-Bs      GHI


text:
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Pre-Race We forgot to ask Peter what kind of Starbucks Espresso Drink he enjoys the most.
Aug 18, 2013 Aspen, Colorado
#usaprochallenge2013
Field Report | Stage 01
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 01 Inside the Starbucks we located a TV and photographed it as penance.
Aug 19, 2013 Aspen - Snowmass
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 02 Colorado Highway Patrol is, let's call it, overzealous.
Aug 20, 2013 Aspen - Breckenridge
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 03 The race does not recognize MFS as a legitimate race news and coverage supplier/publisher.
Aug 21, 2013 Breckenridge - Steamboat Springs
Photoset | Stage 03
Typology: Feed Zone Vans Motionless, in wait. In motion, burning their way across Rabbit Ears Pass.
#typologies
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 04 4:45 PM: The Beaver Creek Starbucks is the most expensive Starbucks in America.
Aug 22, 2013 Steamboat Springs - Beaver Creek
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 05 Venti, sugarfree, vanilla, one-pump, classic soy, double-blended, extra-matcha, no whip.
Aug 23, 2013 Vail - Vail
Typology: Stage 05 Bicycles Vroom Vroom
#typology
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 06 I'm exceptionally sunburned and dehydrated after day six of a seven day stage race.
Aug 24, 2013 Loveland - Fort Collins
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 07 🍗 "I don't care about the race. I'm here for the Turkey Leg." 🍗
Aug 25, 2013 Denver - Denver
Phil Gaimon on the World Tour It all started when I was a fat kid in Atlanta.
2013 USA Pro Challenge: Stage 06
Click to view whole series
A CHRONOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN OF THE DAY'S EVENTS
7:15 AM: Packing up, we (Emiliano and I) notice that Klaus has brought a copy of Billy Ray Cyrus' Hillbilly Heart with him to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. We ask him why, he says, "So that I could read you passages from it during the longer transfers."
7:59 AM: By way of commencing my second Starbucks event of the morning I ask the barista how many shots she/they/Starbucks can put in a venti. "We can put up to 18 shots in a venti. The most I've ever done is 16. It's not a good idea though. Also it's expensive."
8:08 AM-10:25 AM (approx.): A Story and a List by Klaus Booya, excerpts from our two-plus hour Transfer/Road-trip from Beaver Creek, Colorado to Loveland, Colorado.
"Fat Hands"
"So like eight years ago or so I was in LA. I was walking around with my friend who lived there at the time, and a guy standing in front of a GAP gave us free tickets for the Jimmy Kimmel Show, which he said were "very hard to come by", even though they were being given away to anyone that walked by the GAP. Anyway, we went to the taping, and after the show, they had a band, the musical guest for the night, play in this sort of club/bar space that is connected to the theater where they taped. So they make all the audience from the taping go in there, and we're standing around waiting for this awful band to play. It was Taproot, or Static-Xor something. I have no idea what the band was. So I'm standing there, and on the other side of a velvet rope maybe a foot away from me, are Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman. They are at arm's reach. The two of them were dating at the time. Sarah Silverman was standing in front of him, and he had his arms wrapped around her, like two high schoolers at a concert. The band hadn't started yet, so it was really quiet in the room. The moment I saw them there, doing this weird hug thing, my reaction was to say the following thing, which I actually said out loud as a reflex.
Jimmy, get your fat hands off of her.
"I have no idea where it came from. It was like flinching if someone goes to punch you in the face or something, you can't help it. It just came out. Jimmy kind of looked at me, and his face looked really squinty, like it usually does, sort of like a rotten plum that has been stepped on, and Sarah Silverman didn't even look at me, which makes sense. I mean, I'm sure celebrities get stupid people saying stupid crap to them all the time, but this was just a weird outburst, like an instinct that I couldn't help, and it surprised even me. I'm not particularly proud of it, but it happened. What can you do?"
A List of Some Songs and Music in General That Drummers Listen to Because of the Drumming, Moreso Than Because of the Songs Themselves
Steely Dan – Aja: Seemingly simple, but actually complex while remaining very tasteful.
Steely Dan – Home At Last: Perhaps the greatest example of the "Purdie Shuffle", as invented and played by Bernard Purdie, perhaps the most recorded drummer in history.
Toto – Rosanna: An interesting variation on the Purdie Shuffle, which actually contains the primary bass drum pattern from Led Zeppelin's "Fool In The Rain". The song features Jeff Porcaro on drums, who sadly died of a cocaine overdose while spraying insecticide on his back yard.
Any Miles Davis recording with Tony Williams, because he was amazing, but also because he was like 12 years old at the time, and he was half the size of his own drumset.
May God and the heavens above forgive me for saying this next one, but it's true. And I know that this band has so many awful things about it, that it's not worth even going into, but Dave Matthews Band – Tripping Billies. The song is an amazing example of an almost exclusive use of linear drumming, which is basically the percussive equivalent of pointillism. By that I mean that he doesn't usually hit more than one thing at a time, it's linear drumming. By the way, Carter Beauford, the drummer, often wears Specialized base layers when he plays drums. I don't really know why. I've noticed this, because I own his instructional drumming video, which is called Under the Table and Drumming. It's quality stuff. I have several instructional videos like that one on my iPad. Right now, on my video playlist are two different videos by Dave Weckl, who is amazingly talented, but is mostly known for playing music that sounds like something you'd hear in the background of a diaper commercial. But yeah, Dave Matthews Band? As a band, and their fans… Good God. They make you want to die for even knowing their music. There are so many awful aspects to their music, like when Dave Matthews goes, "Buda' babyyy" in a high pitched voice. Ugh. But Carter Beauford's drumming, man. You have to put aside the parts of the music you don't like, and you focus on the drumming. It's like enjoying a painting, but hating the subject matter or something. Like, you enjoy the way it looks, but it's a painting of a butthole next to a bowl of popcorn. Just something that makes no sense to you at all.
Best Young Drummer: Tony Royster Jr, who won the Guitar Center drum-off a few years ago. He plays with Jay-Z and En Vogue now. He's superbly talented, and has the ability to play grooves, just play "in the pocket", but can also handle complex time signatures, and can really go off too.
Most Courageous Drummer: Maybe "courageous" is overselling it, but John Longstreth from the band Origin did some really amazing stuff on the band's first record. In a way, he incorporated some subtleties and dynamics of fusion and jazz drumming in one of the fastest, densest death metal records ever, which oddly enough is completely devoid of dynamics. Look, by drumming standards, the stuff is somewhat simple, but at those speeds, it was a breath of fresh air.
Funkiest Drumming Moment: Clearly, the obvious choice here would be anything that Clyde Stubblefield recorded with James Brown. But I'll take a different and perhaps controversial approach here, and pick an unusual one. For me, it would have to be the drum introduction to the Kiss song "Torpedo Girl", from the album Unmasked. The drummer on the record was Anton Figg, who now plays with David Letterman's band. He's from South Africa. Anyway, Peter Criss is listed as the drummer, and his face is on the cover, but it's actually Anton Figg who plays that drum beat.
10:59 AM: We are looking for the Arena Circle START of Stage Six of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge somewhere in The Ranch – Larimer Country Fairgrounds. We drive to where we think Media Parking and the Big Bicycle Tournament (BBT) are and but they aren't. Something else is; a parking attendant explains. "See the guys in the kilts? That's the Strongman Contest. Beyond that, where the tents are, that's the Weight Lifting Competition I think the bicycle race parking is way over there [the attendant points, roughly, to the other side of the Fairgrounds] but you can park in this overflow parking lot if you want. It'll be little bit of walkin' for you if you do. Otherwise go to the end of this street, do a U-ball and drive to the other side of the Fairgrounds."
10:59:30 AM: The start of the BBT is basically less than thirty minutes from now, which means we have barely enough time to do something/anything right over there and but if we skip the START, a variation of which START we've photographed the last five mornings, we have all kinds of time to do Something Right right here, right where we are.
The Scottish Highland Games
11:15 AM: "This event is called Scottish Highland Games (aka 'Strongman Contest'). Right now we are throwing the Heavy Weight, it's 56 pounds. Next we're going to throw the Light Weight, which is 28 pounds. That over there is the Sheaf Toss. Caber toss is the one where we toss the wooden pole [dude points to a stack of Telephone Poles]. In total we'll do seven events. Right now, Brian Staggs is leading."
11:25 AM: "This is the Warrior Fit Challenge (aka 'Weight Lifting Competition'). There are three disciplines 1) Dead-lifts, 2) Box-jumps and 3) Push-ups. Competitors have to do as many rounds as possible in ten minutes. There are four competitors per team—two women and two men. There is also an Individual Competition once The Team Competition is done."
11:37 AM: I'm not sure, this might be ironic. In order to properly photograph a competitor doing push-ups in the WFC I had to bend at the knees and squat-down and in the process I cramped-up and pulled my hamstring because I'm exceptionally sunburned and dehydrated after day six of a seven day UCI 2.HC Stage Race. Now it hurts to walk and my range of motion is considerably reduced.
12:15 PM: We stop at One Love Smoke Shop in Loveland, Colorado to purchase tye-dye t-shirts because from the side of the road it looked like One Love was the kind of place that would sell tye-dye t-shirts, and in fact they did, an entire rack's worth. The aforementioned rack was not organized or separated by size or gender. Emiliano finds the color and size he wants which is totally irie for him but before I can, I start to feel nauseous due to, I think, a combination of the elevation of Loveland, CO and the Patchouli x Nag Champa situation with which situation I am reaching my limit, plus we were in the middle of a BBT, and double-plus we were hungry for burritos (Ted, who just started working at One Love a week ago, recommends Daddy-O's Green Onion Sandwiches across the street between the Safeway and El Cielo II Mexican Restaurant), and thirdly all the patterns/colors I like are dyed on maternity t-shirts, which I was mostly cool with but cap-sleeves are a no-no-no-no-no for men.
12:30 PM: At the base of Big Thompson Canyon on the way up to the top of Devil's Gulch, the last MOM of the 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, we pass a barn on the side of which is written: GOD'S Country Cowboy Church (http://godscountrycowboychurch-loveland.com/); later that night, as in right now, we go to the internet and find this: "Fran Goss, a woman who became a believer as a result of the Holy Spirit working through the ministry of Round Up in Glory, spoke of Deal [Greg Deal is the GCCC Pastor] and how the Gospel was communicated to her. 'Greg, the pastor, totally talks into a language that I get and that I understand. It's the cowboy way. It's relaxing, and not cramming religion down your throat. They talk about God and what it is to believe Him in here,' Goss said as she pointed to her heart. The gatherings in the Deals' backyard became bigger and bigger. Then in 2009, about a year after they began, Stiner Caerlson generously allowed Round Up in Glory Cowboy Church to meet on his property in what used to be Caerlson's dairy barn. Caerlson is but one of the individuals who was lead to Christ through his relationship with Deal. The space has been an immense blessing and a genuine refuge for fellowship in the valley of Horsetooth Mountain."
3:30 PM: After Devil's Gulch MOM and fifteen-maybe-twenty minutes of tedious traffic on our way off the mountain, and thirty minutes of open road in the direction, finally, we think, of Fort Collins and the finish, we accidentally enter Rocky Mountain National Park. We strongly consider Elk and alpine views and whatnot, but our Soul is experiencing transmissional indigestion, shifting abruptly and at odd times, and we know we need to get with the BBT in earnest on account of missing the start and stuff.
3:37 PM: Racing, windows down, through beyond-rural alpine cattle country when from a hollywood-looking ranch house way off the road and sat on a hill near the edge of a forest we hear Jimmy Hendrix's Star Spangled Banner (the live version?!), loud and clear.
3:42 PM: Colorado Highway Patrol – "Listen friend, you absolutely can't drive on the eastbound 34, it's closed to ALL traffic." Manual for Speed – "Yeah we can friend, we have media credentials and the world's smallest Media Sticker on our windshield so um, yeah."
4:37 PM: While walking back to our vehicle following the end of Stage 6 we ran into Mary Rumiano, The Volunteer. We said hello, she said hello, we happily stood there in uncomfortable silence waiting for what would happen next, she started to walk off, we followed and asked if we could interview her, she said no, however she did say that she would talk but "off the record," and so we did. It was tense but cordial enough, parlay considering. She apologized for publicly shit-talking. We allowed that yes her job is thankless and difficult, and that whenever possible it makes sense for those of us even tangentially associated with the race to give Course Marshals the benefit of the doubt. We fist-bumped.
4:45 PM: An interview at the Podium following the finish with Manual for Speed Race Correspondents and 2013 USA Pro Challenge Podium Girls, Candice & Courtney:
Courtney, "We are in Fort Collins, Colorado, my home town. I'm not telling you where I live, that's creepy—we're friends but I don't want my address published! There is lots to do here. You can go on Brewery Tours, you can go hiking, you can go to the reservoir for boating, fishing and swimming. Today my highlight is being back home and seeing all my friends come out."
Candice, "My highlight is being in Fort Collins because it's where Courtney is from; she's going to show me all the cool spots. I'll meet some of her friends. Today, Tejay won the overall, Sagan won the stage. He's been doing really well. And Matt Cooke is still in the MOM jersey, he's holding on to that title. We chatted with him yesterday. We heard that he might bring his dog today, along with his wife. The fans today were great, and I'm sad about tomorrow being the last day. I've had the most fun I've had in a long time, and I got to see the best places in Colorado. For tomorrow, I'm excited about the champagne to be sprayed on stage. But if riders read this, please don't spray us!!!!! We'll celebrate with you, but don't spray our hair!"
5:30 PM: "No thanks I'm fine, I'll just make my bed underneath the TV cabinet." – Klaus Booya.
8:00 PM: In a semi-crowded Ball Room in a Marriott in Fort Collins, Colorado, Andy Schleck sits at a round table, alone except for six other place settings, slowly eating a tiny pile of potato wedges one at a time off a large white plate.
9:20 PM: The dent is in the center of the right quarter panel over the right front tire, the dent occurred when Emiliano casually leaned against the car to send a text in the early morning high-mountain sunlight somewhere in Routt County, Colorado. When the dent occurred, Emiliano maintains at least 86% of his body weight was 100% supported by conventional means, i.e. his feet were on the ground and though he was turn-out chillaxing, he was still essentially perpendicular to the ground.
12:15 AM: In the middle of our third hour of Race Coverage Publishing Klaus offers, on my behalf, to open a bottle of Mexican Coca-Cola, purchased at a 7-11, along with five miniature bottles of Perrier sparkling water and two packages HARIBO Gold-Bears gummi candy, on the way home from Team Dinner earlier this evening, using the hole of the strike plate on the bathroom door door jamb of room 222 in the Comfort Inns Loveland, Colorado. Which bottle-action results in a loud sticky pop, which pop covers Klaus and myself in a luke warm soda pop mist.
STAGE 06, FROM START TO FINISH
Minus the Start, Because We Skipped It
"The race was awesome, we rode like 115 miles or something like that." Wait, was it awesome, like really? "That was sarcasm. Like, sometimes you say something, but you mean the opposite. It's called sarcasm." Can you let us know when you're sarcasm-ing? "Yeah, but that's the nature of sarcasm, I'm not supposed to tell you. It was good today. We had two guys in the break, which was a part of our goal for the day. It was a hard-but-cool run into Fort Collins. Things split up, there were some crashes and I was in one of those back groups, which is fine, I'm not out there for the GC. You know, I guess you notice costumes, but then after you pass them you forget. It's crazy how close we got to Boulder. Like we went right by it." But not into Boulder, which is weird. Like, you guys could have gone in, gotten a burrito, and gone back out. "Right, because that's what Boulder is known for. I mean, I don't even like Boulder but it just seemed weird."—Phil Gaimon
Hey Tom, is it weird when you crash, like you did today, and people come up to you at the finish, and start fetishizing over your blood, like taking pictures of it? Does that seem weird to you? "Nah, they want drama. I'm not too irritated right now, it's fine."
"We've been interviewing the Podium Girls every day, they're our USA Pro Cycling Challenge Race Correspondents, we really like working with them, how about you? ""You want me to analyze the podium girls? Ummmm, [there is a long uncomfortable silence, awkward smiles are exchanged] yeah they've been awesome."—Tejay van Garderen
Reed McCalvin: An Introduction Reed McCalvin: An Introduction
#bontrager


text:
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Abp.Application.Navigation;
using Abp.Runtime.Session;

namespace Acme.MySqlDemo.Web.Views.Shared.Components.SideBarNav
{
    public class SideBarNavViewComponent : MySqlDemoViewComponent
    {
        private readonly IUserNavigationManager _userNavigationManager;
        private readonly IAbpSession _abpSession;

        public SideBarNavViewComponent(
            IUserNavigationManager userNavigationManager,
            IAbpSession abpSession)
        {
            _userNavigationManager = userNavigationManager;
            _abpSession = abpSession;
        }

        public async Task<IViewComponentResult> InvokeAsync(string activeMenu = "")
        {
            var model = new SideBarNavViewModel
            {
                MainMenu = await _userNavigationManager.GetMenuAsync("MainMenu", _abpSession.ToUserIdentifier()),
                ActiveMenuItemName = activeMenu
            };

            return View(model);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


22 posts tagged with relationships.
Best way to search archives?
This Neat Flowchart from over at Wired didn't seem like enough for a FPP but it's really interesting to see what all the Pyra Labs people have done since 1998, including starting things like Metafilter. "At the close of 1998, there were 23 known weblogs on the Internet. A year later there were tens of thousands. What changed? Pyra Labs launched Blogger, the online tool that gave push-button publishing to the people. It was a revolutionary web product made by a revolutionary web of people who went on to build much of the modern net. Here's how Pyra propagated."
Lead me to my people.
"A while back there was a thread in which people described their awkward obliviousness to social or sexual advances. There were accounts like "She said "Would you like me to take my shirt off?" and I replied "No, I think it looks nice."" "
Anyone able to identify the post?
Trying to locate a comment on "settling" in relationships.
Has there ever been a relationship thread that didn't overwhelmingly swing "DTMFA?"
This AskMe question had all the hallmarks of a frustrating unresolved drama in-the-making ... but it's suddenly got a happy ending!
Is it time for freetherapy.metafilter.com? Nothing against this poster or their particular situation, but it's perhaps the most egregious example I've seen of the "I just want someone to talk to" style of non-question that seems to increasingly pollute AskMe.
I tried to add the ever-sparkling Sidhedevil as a crush with the "Add Contact" thingy, however after submitting the form no relationship type was mentioned in the list. All the other relationship types work, but crush just won't stick. I appreciate the way this plagiarises Real Life, but still think this constitutes a bug.