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Russian Patriot
Russian Oil and Gas Industry: News
Signs of Russian economic recovery
Admin Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:51 am
Gazprom: Russia Gas Demand In Nov Up 8% On Year
MOSCOW (Dow Jones)--Russian domestic demand for natural gas so far in November is 8% higher than in the same period last year, the country's state-controlled gas company OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) said Wednesday.
"We see stable growth in demand in Russia," Gazprom's Chief Executive Alexei Miller said.
Gazprom also expects "significantly higher" European exports in November compared to November last year, Miller said.
Company Web site: www.gazprom.ru
Location : India
Austin Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:28 am
Russia Energy Data - Oil, Gas, Electricity,Coal ( November 2010 )
Re: Russian Oil and Gas Industry: News
GarryB Sun Dec 19, 2010 1:06 am
Ironic really.
After over a century of ensuring international dependency on fossil fuels... because western countries controlled the main sources so it was a cheap energy supply for the west, the fact that Russia has reserves of gas and coal and oil will likely lead the west to suddenly start properly investing in alternative energy technologies.
Ironically China has invested in this area and has been criticised by the US... it seems they want to develop new clean energy technologies and sell them to everyone else... they don't want China to beat them to the goal.
Their likely reasoning for developing alternative energy sources is not because of a shortage, or to reduce pollution, but to prevent Russia from making too much money from energy exports.
Just because I am paranoid it doesn't mean the western world isn't out to get Russia.
Location : California, USA
IronsightSniper Sun Dec 19, 2010 2:17 am
Well with all that land out back (Eastern Siberia), you can do what I always suggest and build Algae plantations or Solar farms and the like. That's probably the only thing Russia has on the rest of the world, large pieces of uninhabited land, because otherwise we'd have to shove Las Vegas out of the way for new Solar farms Either way, Energy is going to be the only thing driving Russia's economy for a few decades, so I'd suggest they start diversifying now when there'll be a time when Fossil fuels are null and void. Rusnano seems quite promising too, but they'll need more than nanotech to expand their Economics. One trivial way for me to see what countries are not at the peak of their economies is their Export/Import ratios. For example, we in the U.S., and they in China, are importing more USD worth of goods than we are exporting. Russia on the other hand, is Exporting almost a $100b USD more than they are Importing.
Austin Fri Apr 08, 2011 6:11 pm
Russias Oil Income to Reach USD 40.37b
Oil price: no panacea for Russia
Austin Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:48 pm
Russia's Ivanov 'Not Happy' With Oil Above $100, Prefers $80
Oil prices above $100 a barrel are discouraging Russia from diversifying its economy, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said.
Ivanov said the current price was unsustainable and that Russia's budget will fall into a deficit when it drops. He would prefer oil and gas prices to be "around maybe $80 per barrel," which is a "more realistic" level.
"When the gold rain is pouring on your head, you are not motivated to diversify," Ivanov said in an interview yesterday in Miami, where he was speaking at the Everest Capital Emerging Markets Forum. "I wouldn't say I hate high oil and gas prices, but I am not happy with them."
Oil today climbed above $111 in New York for the first time in 30 months. Crude for May delivery rose $1.25, or 1.1 percent, to $111.55 a barrel at 11:10 a.m. on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Higher oil prices have helped boost Russia's international reserves to $504.5 billion, the most since 2008. The cost of protecting Russian bonds against default also fell to its lowest level yesterday since August 2008, according to data provider CMA.
Once prices fall, running a long-term budget shortfall is not an option for Russia, Ivanov said. "We can't live for long with a deficit budget. We are not like the" U.S., he said.
Space, Nuclear
He said that even with high oil prices, the country was taking steps to diversify, including investing in technology industries, space and aviation programs, and nuclear energy.
Ivanov stopped in Miami after meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Trade Representative Ron Kirk and several lawmakers to discuss Russia's entrance into the World Trade Organization.
The "political window of opportunity" for Russia to enter the WTO may "start to close down" at the end of the year as the U.S. and Russia enter election years, Ivanov said. He is hopeful an agreement will be reached before then, he said.
Ivanov said Russian arms exports, which doubled to $10 billion in 2010 over the previous five years, may rise to $10.6 billion to $11 billion this year.
Ivanov, 58, was appointed first deputy prime minister in 2007 after serving as the country's defense minister since 2001, according to the Russian government's website. The former KGB officer was regarded as a potential successor to then-President Vladimir Putin before the 2008 election.
Ivanov also said he would resign as chairman of the board of Rosavtodor, a federal toll-road operator, and United Aircraft Corp., an airplane manufacturer, after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for government officials to step down from their posts at state-owned companies and be replaced by independent directors.
"I will leave with a light heart because apart from those two boards I have lots of other fish to fry," he said. Whether the independent directors will improve corporate governance "remains to be seen" he said.
Location : USA- although I am Russian
Russian Patriot Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:02 pm
Austin wrote:
Finally we realize this.. it took 20 years of bad management by the liberals.
GarryB Mon Apr 11, 2011 4:24 am
What a sourpuss that guy is.
They should be taking advantage of the extra revenue to make some things happen quicker.
All the diversification programs should benefit from the extra investment, plus at a time when European countries are being forced to adopt austerity measures Russia should be glad it is getting extra income that can be put into education, and health and infrastructure, and invested in new tooling or new equipment to make diversification easier and quicker.
Don't ignore the silver lining and see clouds.
Austin Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:12 am
Ivanov has not known to be a reformer or some one who can bring in new ideas , no wonder he was not chosen to succeed Putin although he was a very strong candidate and Putin loyalist , I think he still holds the position that he does because he is a Putin Loyalist.
Having said that he is also a system man and knows how the system thinks its strength and weaknesses , he must have seen through his long stay that more money just makes the system go easy and it gets lethargic to reforms , lets hopes thats not the case.
They can use that extra dollar and save it for bad days or use it for health care , reforms , education and infrastructure to improve peoples life , More money is not bad as long as they are wisely used.
I would assume if there is some problem in Saudi , Oil Prices will sky rocket, probably right time for Iran to pay in kind and support movements in saudi
No point in doing anything now while the price of oil is high.
Wait till it starts falling again and then do something.
Having oil 200 dollars a barrel is not good for Russia either.
For the moment while Russia is not part of the WTO it can subsidise the price of energy for its own people and any lackeys that can earn that privilege.
GarryB wrote: No point in doing anything now while the price of oil is high.
I disagree , reforms should go on in a planned manner irrespective if oil prices are high or low , they should push for privatisation and reforms as planned.
The fear that Ivanov is expressing is they may just slow reforms if prices are high there by affecting the plans to reduce budgetary dependency on oil dollars.
Oil prices are manipulated by US and OPEC to keep it low , so if the oil prices rises based on demand and supply no one should complain.
GarryB Mon Apr 11, 2011 6:00 pm
I disagree , reforms should go on in a planned manner irrespective
if oil prices are high or low , they should push for privatisation and
reforms as planned.
Hahahaha... privatisation is the solution is it?
What a freakin joke privatisation is here.
The government used to control the electricity generation and delivery and also the telecommunications network.
Then another government got into power and the economy wasn't so good and the brilliant solution was to privatise stuff.
Telecom was the first thing to get sold and we were told it was OK because ma and pa investors in NZ would buy it and everything would be ok.
What actually happened was that NZers were initially sold shares but eventually foreign companies made offers and bought up majority share holdings and now Telecom is foreign owned.
The initial price was something pathetic... and in their first year of operation they fired all the staff and rehired the 1/3rd that were actually doing the work and made that one third do the work of all the workers laid off.
Prices didn't go down, they went up... because the next thing they did was allow competition and blamed Telecom for having a monopoly because it owned all the lines and infrastructure... not really a surprise... they did have to buy it.
Now competition has pushed prices up, not down.
It is even worse with electricity... here in New Zealand we have a few hydro electric dams and in the far north some dirty coal fired power stations. Way back when it was all government run it was fine... use hydro and only fire up the dirty coal plants when the lake levels were low.
Now that all the power stations and power lines have been sold the coal fired stations run all the time because the company that owns them doesn't own the hydro power stations and only makes money when coal is burning...
Workers are fired and a skeleton staff are rehired for the same or less pay to do the work of all the people fired and their own work.
Money is saved by not doing maintainence and when lines go down they just cut the power.
Trust me... privatisation is only good when it goes so far... the reality is that private companies can fu#$ things up just as easily as any government department, but private companies are not as publicly accountable as a government department is.
Austin Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:12 am
Well privatisation does not mean the Government has to sell the entire stake to private investors but it can part sell and diversify its equity , for eg if the government owns 100 % in Power Trans mission and Distribution , it can sell 49 percent stake to private players and keep the 51 % as majority holders or do it vice or verse.
That would help government raise money and improve its performance in such organisation by bringing in competition , sure people would be fired because they could be over staffed or not working to its full potential.
I can tell you from my experience in India privitisation has done wonders , I remember a time when all banks were government owned and depositing money in a bank or withdrawing it would be half a day job with long queues and poor work ethics.
With the entry of private players in banking sector in the market , they have brought a very welcome relief , although government still owns most of the banks 100 % , there is a big difference in the way bank work these days ,compared to how they used to 15 years back because of competition that private players brought in , it simply made government bank work more efficient and be more responsive to customers.
Another example is power supply , with the coming in of private player prices have gone up but services are much better and then there is more than one player in one city or couple of them in city that brought in competition between them.
The same goes for telecom revolution in my country , I remember we got out first phone after 3 years of applying for it like 20 years back and 3 years was considered quick other wise they would normally take 5 ! these days you could get a phone within a day and get connected. thanks to privatisation that made the change.
Same with out government postal service , they used to very inefficient but with private courier service like DHL and many other things have gone better and today I have a choice.
I can give you many such example how privitisation has done more good than bad to my country and even today the most ineffecient sectors in my country are the government owned one.
Russia too would have its own experience with its drive , as long as its done via competitive bidding process and fair play .Russia and Russian people in general in the long run would gain more from it and loose less.
I always believed Government should do pump in money where it should like infrastructure , education , health care and some strategic sectors for the rest they can be completely privately owned by many players or jointly owned by government and private players.
GarryB Tue Apr 12, 2011 7:09 am
Well privatisation does not mean the Government has to sell the entire
stake to private investors but it can part sell and diversify its equity
, for eg if the government owns 100 % in Power Trans mission and
Distribution , it can sell 49 percent stake to private players and keep
the 51 % as majority holders or do it vice or verse.
Most of the time that merely results in foreign interests owning large portions of your most profitable companies for a reduced return.
Sell off non strategic non infrastructural assets of course, but market forces have proved to be unreliable because the focus is making a profit and most of that profit heads overseas.
In practical terms privatisation means selling off assets for a short term gain... and considering the price of oil at the moment that is not really necessary.
Austin Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:07 pm
Russian Oil A Strategic Alternative Amid Middle-East Turmoil
Well Privatisation is good in some sectors because it induces competition , why do you think India managed to grow its economy so rapidly , how do you think China did , due to reforms and privatisation.
You can have a russian partner and a private player working in tandem for privatisation , ofcourse companies works for profit no body wants to start a business or be in it to make losses , only the government might do so due to ineffeciency and guess what they end up spending more public money to take care of sick unit.
GarryB Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:09 am
Well Privatisation is good in some sectors because it induces
competition , why do you think India managed to grow its economy so
rapidly , how do you think China did , due to reforms and privatisation.
Hahahaha... you really think that?
First of all I would say that privatisation of some things makes a lot of sense... the Government has no business making toothpaste or baking bread.
Controlling a countries power grid however is the business of the Government... and in modern times in many ways is a licence to print money because here in NZ it was taxpayers money that built the huge hydro electric dams that generate power with its main fuel a renewable resource called water.
All they have to do is keep the dam maintained and it is a licence to print money. All the power lines are in place, they don't need to build anything substantial, they don't even need to compensate the people whose land is now under water in the lake they created cause that was all done when the government built the dams.
It is like spending a small fortune on a person training them and teaching them and getting them to the point that they will be a very productive worker for 30-50 years and then selling them for one years wages.
That one years wages is a nice short term cash injection that makes the books for this year look really good, but after two years whomever you sold them to is already making more than what they paid for him each year in earnings.
Most politicians claim they need to be paid what they would be paid if they were in an equivalent business job to keep them happy... how about we make them work the same and also make the performance of their department decide their wage level.
All the advantages of privatisation without selling to overseas interests.
You can have a russian partner and a private player working in tandem
for privatisation , ofcourse companies works for profit no body wants to
start a business or be in it to make losses , only the government might
do so due to ineffeciency and guess what they end up spending more
public money to take care of sick unit.
Selling food or furnature it makes sense to make a profit, but why would your focus be for profit in education or health?
Efficiency is one thing, but service to the customer in private business is usually to justify the higher costs... it is the reason for first class service and costs and economy service and costs... such things certainly make sense in the private sector so that those that can and want to afford a better service can do so... it makes no sense in Health or Education. Unless you think there are people that deserve better treatment because of their political or economic or social situation.
Admin Thu Apr 14, 2011 2:47 am
China managed to grow rapidly by encouraging sweat shops.
GarryB Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:58 am
Very good point.
The way the US "used" China to get at the Soviet Union... who are we kidding... to get at Russia, you'd think there was no problem at all with communism in the first place.
The real issue was that Russia was a potential rival to US dominance... which is ironic because as a communist state having to carry most of the other soviet republics and eastern europe and most of its client states around the world were generally poor as well... the end of communism and the breakup of the warsaw pact and the soviet union will likely be very good for Russia in the long term.
Without communism it has not ideology to spread... it can just do business.
I will repeat I have no problems in privatisation of some things, but in areas of Russian strategic interests like its mineral and energy wealth and infrastructure I think the government should retain some control.
In areas where profits are good why share it with the private sector?
Austin Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:26 pm
GarryB wrote: In areas where profits are good why share it with the private sector?
The reasons why private sector is invited even when profits exists
1 > New Project or Existing Projects needs vast amount of funding and even there could be potential risk involved for eg you may have an estimate of oil in some area but there is always uncertainity and you may want to involve a private player to risk share it , you may not have all the fund necessary to complete the project.
2 > Technology , government may not have modern technology to do things which big private multinational may have , for eg the new BP-Rosneft deal to drill in the arctic where BP has the technology to obtain maximum oil/gas in deep arctic below the ice , something the Russian controlled companies dont.
3 > Besides Technology and Financial Risk sharing , there is also an issue of market reach , brand value involved that comes into the picture that only big multinational can bring in.
So in many ways privatization does help even if there could be government controlled companies thats running in profit. Hence government tends to part sell its share for the above mentioned reason and its happening in India in many strategic sectors including the profit making
Gazprom to produce 200 bln cu m of gas a year under new offshore program to 2030
Gazprom will produce 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 10 million metric tons of oil in a new hydrocarbon development program for the Russian continental shelf to 2030 approved by the energy giant's board of directors, Gazprom said on Tuesday.
The adjusted program adopted by the Gazprom management committee in early March, projects an increase in Gazprom's offshore deposit reserves by over 11 billion metric tons of fuel equivalent to 2030 and also excludes the energy giant's gas output under the Sakhalin-II oil and gas project off Russia's Pacific Coast.
Total hydrocarbon reserves on Russia's continental shelf are estimated at about 100 billion metric tons of fuel equivalent, of which gas accounts for about 80 percent. The larger part of hydrocarbon reserves (over 80 percent) are concentrated in the Barents, Pechora, Kara and Okhotsk Seas. Offshore deposits in the Barents and Kara Seas abound in gas and gas condensate while the Pechora Sea largely contains oil and the Okhotsk Sea has oil and gas reserves.
The company's plan for the Barents Sea includes development of the infrastructure of the giant Shtokman gas condensate deposit and its satellites. The firm also plans efforts to develop the Prirazlomnoye and Dolginskoye oil fields in the Pechora Sea.
Operations in the Severo-Kamennomysskoye and Kamennomysskoye Sea fields offshore the Ob and Taz Bays will lay the foundation for developing a field cluster. The Sakhalin shelf will see comprehensive development of fields located within Gazprom's licensed areas (Sakhalin III project), the energy giant said.
Austin Wed Jun 01, 2011 8:50 am
Russian Gas Beckons for Germany as Merkel Turns From Nuclear
GarryB Thu Jun 02, 2011 7:06 am
It is funny that Russia gets criticised for being so focused on Energy exports, and of course diversification is a good thing but the basic facts of life are that everyone needs energy and the more sophisticated your country is in many ways the more dependent it is on some form of energy source.
When the Ukraine was stealing gas from european customers the Europeans blamed Russia and when Russia decided to invest billions creating alternative pipelines to prevent it from happening the Europeans jumped up and down about the monopoly Russia has with energy imports into Europe.
The Europeans had the balls to demand Russia sell parts of its energy delivery infrastructure... which it built and maintained... now if a western company buys the pipes cheap and decides to make maximum profit by taking transit fees but not spending money on maintainence when the energy fails to get to the customer you can be sure the Europeans will blame the Russians for not delivering.
Then the Europeans got all high and mighty and decided they would reduce their dependence on Russian energy exports (exports by the way that remained stable throughout the cold war) by looking at more nuclear power generation.
Sounds like the problems in Japan have reminded them that there are worse things that being dependent on natural gas.
The huge irony is that most rubbish dumps around the world generate enormous amounts of methane that simply escapes into the atmosphere.
Personally I think the Russians should build a few oil refineries and produce their own fuel and stop exporting crude, and in gas they should develop and produce liquid natural gas and deliver it by super tanker... the profit margins on refined fuels like LNG and petrol are much higher than for the raw gas and crude oil.
Austin Thu Jun 02, 2011 12:03 pm
Gazprom to boost LNG supplies to India
Russia's state-run energy giant Gazprom is set to increase its liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries to India up to 7.5 million tonnes per year.
The LNG will come from Gazprom`s plant on the Pacific island of Sakhalin.
The sides are expected to sign a respective 25-year contract in the coming months.
China and Russia on the way to energy cooperation
Russian Deputy Prime-Minister Igor Sechin said on Tuesday following the seventh round of the China-Russia energy negotiators' meeting that Russia will finalize a 30-year deal with China by the 10th of June to supply a total of 68 billion cubic meters of gas annually. Commenting on this will be our guest Neal McKinnon, global macrostrategist at VTB Capital in London.
As we know, Russia and China have enjoyed a close economic relationship since the middle of 2000s, so how would you describe the economic cooperation between these two countries at present?
I think there is a significant degree of economic cooperation between China and Russia; both countries have been key leaders in terms of economic growth over the last year or two years, as far as the global economy is concerned, and both countries are key commodity producers and certainly in recent years there has been increase in cooperation in terms of joint ventures, trade relationships, and investment relationships between Russia and China.
Russian Deputy Prime-Minister Igor Sechin who oversees energy issues in the government, says that Gasprom and Chinese national petroleum cooperation will soon prepare a commercial contract, adding that the deal span will be at least 30 years. But as we know so far the bodies have failed to reach a final agreement on gas prices, so what results can be expected?
Certainly I think that it is very positive that there are these negotiations taking place. And certainly the issue with the natural gas prices is an important one, I think that the current discussions can make progress, there are also discussions under way in other countries as well, and certainly with the very large increase in oil prices that we have seen over the past year – that means that natural gas prices, which tend to follow the price of oil, are an important linkage. I am certain at the moment that there are countries' meeting in Egypt, tomorrow one day meeting of the gas exporting countries and these discussions on the relationship between natural gas prices and oil prices are certainly high on the agenda, and it is likely that contract prices will probably rise by around 15% in the next 3 or 6 months. So the price of gas is going up and it is certainly an important consideration for any discussions between the leading gas producing companies.
Russia and China may also reach an agreement by the end of 2011 to build a joint oil refinery and as China's energy chief said the countries planned to extend cooperation in retail oil products sales, so how do you think this cooperation is going to develop?
I think that certainly it is not surprising that there are these discussions. China is an important commodity demander globally, giving the move towards organization and modernization of the Chinese economy. China is certainly a big buyer of oil, it has been increasing its storage capacity because if the very large additions to the power network in China, so it makes commercial sense for Russia to have these discussions, for Russia is an important producer, and certainly I think it is very constructive, I would hope, that before too long we will see some progress that will be to the advantage of the Russian economy.
Some experts believe that Beijing sees its giant neighbor to the west rather as a little more than a source of energy and other commodities to feed China's rapidly growing economy, and the economic relationship between Russia and China is unlikely to change any time soon. Can you comment on it?
I think that it is important to remember that both Russia and China are important economies on the world basis, they both enjoyed fairly significant economic growth and now they play an important role in the production of commodities particularly oil and gas. I think that going forward it makes sense to try to improve the trade relationship; I think both countries will benefit from that. I would hope that certainly over the next 12 months or so we will see important progress on all these discussions.
Russian politicians declare from time to time that the country seeks to totally re-orientate its natural gas exports away from Europe towards China, but this doesn't seem realistic at this point as Gasprom is bound by long-term commitments to western customers. What do you think of that?
Certainly there is no doubt that western European countries like Germany, for example, are important customers for Gasprom and for Russian commodity and energy producers generally, it is highly unlikely that this relationship is going to change, Germany is an important economy, and certainly the strongest manufacturing economy in western Europe, so it makes sense for Russia to maintain its relationship in the same way that it makes sense for Germany to ensure that there is continuing supply. But China is clearly a growing economy, and a very important economy, and it also makes sense for Russian companies like Gasprom to look towards China in order to build commercial relationships. I don't think that these are mutually exclusive considerations, I think it makes perfect business sense to try and expand business generally and look towards the new growing economies like China that will be profitable for Russian companies in the long-term.
Can Russia consider Chinese companies as an alternative to BP as we know that the deal between BP and Rosneft collapsed earlier in May, and now Rosneft has to look for another partner?
This is a very good question. It certainly is a possibility that Chinese partners could step into the breach; certainly there is no particular reason why it is a problem. It is always up to the two parties involved, but in principle my opinion is that there's no particular reason to prevent such a relationship and partnership from taking place.
Thank you very much for your commentary. Thank you for joining us!
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text:
Tiger Woods backs Serena Williams at US Open
Between them, they have won 38 major championships in their respective sports, and like Serena Williams took the field to face the No. 2 player in the world at the US Open on Wednesday, Tiger Woods took his place, joining his family in the stands at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"He's one of the reasons I'm here," Williams told reporters. after defeating Anett Kontaveit in three sets, "one of the main reasons why I still play".
Jenkins: Master of her mind and body, Serena Williams invokes the determination of a champion
Woods was also an enthusiastic supporter, delivering a vintage Tiger fist pump when Williams' victory was complete and later tweeting, "It was a privilege to watch greatness." But he was no ordinary fan.
As their legendary athletic careers drew to a close, Woods, 46, and Williams, 40, struck up a relationship in which she looked to him as a mentor, she recently revealed fashionable.
Williams had played just four games in the past 14 months, winning only once. His last game before the US Open was a lopsided game riddled with errors loss to 19-year-old Emma Raducanu on August 16 which only lasted 65 minutes. His trip to Wimbledon this summer ended in a loss in the first round and an injury when she slipped on wet grass.
She was beginning to mentally prepare for what she calls her next evolution – business ventures and perhaps adding to a family that includes his 5-year-old daughter, Olympia – but wasn't quite ready to leave the sport in which she turned professional at 14. Enter the woods.
"I was talking to Tiger Woods, who is a friend, and I told him that I needed his advice on my tennis career. I said, 'I don't know what to do: I think I I'm done, but maybe I'm not done [tennis]" Williams told Rob Haskell in Vogue. "It's Tiger, and he was adamant that I was a beast the same way he was!
"He said, 'Serena, how about you just give her two weeks? You don't have to commit to anything. You just go out there every day for two weeks and give it your all and see what happens. I said, 'All right, I think I can do it.' "
Serena Williams fans celebrated the tennis stars' victory at the US Open against second seed Anett Kontaveit in New York on August 31. (Video: Reuters)
The question now for Serena Williams is how far can she go at the US Open?
Williams said she waited a month before returning to the court, where "it seemed like magic to pick up a racquet again."
At that time, she said she "was good. I was really good. I went back and forth about whether I should play Wimbledon and then the US Open. Like I said, this whole evolution thing hasn't been easy for me.
For now, its development is on hold. Next up at the US Open is the Thursday night doubles with her sister Venus. She will face unseeded Ajla Tomljanovic on Friday and knows that with the No. 2 player ruled out, the draw favors her for some time as she tries to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 singles titles of the Grand Slam.
"I know there is a fan fantasy that I could have linked Margaret that day in London [at Wimbledon], then maybe break her record in New York, and then at the trophy ceremony say, 'See you!' Williams told Vogue. "…But I'm not looking for a final ceremonial moment on the pitch. I suck at goodbyes, the worst in the world. But please know that I am more grateful to you than I can ever express in words. You have carried me to so many victories and so many trophies. I will miss this version of me, this girl who played tennis. And I will miss you.
NASA will pay Boeing more than twice SpaceX for crew seats
Children return to Ukrainian school ransacked by Russian occupying forces | Ukraine

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Let's Color Together brings a new level of engagement to the coloring book craze by featuring beautiful spreads specifically designed for two people to color and enjoy at once, and is the perfect opportunity to sit down, connect, and share some fun with your kids!
Margaret Peot is an artist, writer, and costume painter. Her books include Inkblot: Drip, Splat and Squish Your Way to Creativity, which was awarded the Eureka! silver Medal for non-fiction children's books, Alternative Art Journals, and Make Your Mark. Visit her at http://www.margaretpeot.com/.


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text:
Fefu And Her Friends
Wednesday, 21 November 2018 to Saturday, 1 December 2018
"An extraordinary play of uncommon insight and wit" - Los Angeles Herald Examiner
Joh Hartog Productions
Fefu and Her Friends is an Off-Broadway favourite, winning the writer Maria Irene Fornes one of her six Obie Awards.
With true appreciation of this innovative writing, Director Joh Hartog gives it an equally extraordinary airing at the Bakehouse Theatre. He has decided to use every single one of the rooms at the Bakehouse. You will be guided through the Mainstage Theatre, Studio Theatre, two foyers and even our kitchen, variously representing Fefu's lounge room, garden, kitchen, bedroom and library. This is the Bakehouse behind the scenes as you have never seen it before! (and probably won't see it again)
Join the tour to watch - "One of the most powerful plays written about the mysteries and shared hallucinations of the female experience" – LA Weekly
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the extraordinary use of different rooms at the Bakehouse, the capacity for this show is 50 only. So you WILL need to book to get a seat!
ABOUT THE SHOW:-
It is around 1935 in South Australia. Women have long since been given the vote and they are allowed to sit in parliament. But it takes more than that to enable women to inhabit an emancipated position in the world.
In Fefu and her Friends eight women meet in Fefu's house to make final arrangements for a fundraiser about education. They talk about their lives and examine their limited development in a world largely ruled by men.
This sensitive, wise, but above all sparkling and life affirming play portrays a time between the first suffragettes and the fully fledged feminism of the seventies. It gives us eight fairly ordinary, but fascinating women who are all trying to develop an enhanced place in the world for themselves beyond what is regarded as the norm.
Fefu in particular is ready to break some boundaries, but is fearful of the consequences. What is she willing to lose to achieve a change?
Wheelchair users please NOTE: While the main stages are wheelchair accessible, one of the rooms used in this show is NOT. Unfortunately persons in a wheelchair will have their experience compromised.
"Eight very fine women actors take to the stages of the Bakehouse, bringing an excellent ensemble to an enigmatic and mesmerising play.....this not a drawing room comedy of explicit intent, but another and magical encounter....richness and subtlety make this an impressive and memorable evening in Fefu's house."
Ewart Shaw - Broadway World
"For those who enjoy innovative and thought provoking theatre that celebrates powerful and strong women, then "Fefu and Her Friends" is definitely an evening of theatre that you will remember for some time."
Luke Wagner - Adelaide Theatre Guide
"If you seek a theatrical journey that is unusual and ambitious, then this is the show to choose... you're unlikely to forget the experience in a hurry., this makes Fefu a production that the adventurous will want to prioritise"
Anthony Vawser - Stage Whispers
Adults $30, Conc $25, Fringe Members $25, Groups (6+) $25, Previews $20
1 hour 45 mins including interval
Written by: Maria Irene Fornes
Directed by: Joh Hartog
Featuring: Krystal Brock,Stefanie Rossi, Lisa K Lanzi, Carol Lawton, Mikayla Lynch, Josephine Pugh, Rahimah Russell, Amanda Phillips.
Lighting and Audio Designer : Stephen Dean
Costumes: Stephanie Clapp, Christopher James.
Set design: Tammy Boden
Dramaturgy: Maggie Ivanova
Production and Stage Manager: Lauren Taylor
BWW review by Ewart Shaw.pdf
FEFU review ATG.pdf
Fefu Glam Adelaide review.pdf
Stage Whispers review Fefu and Her Friends.pdf
Wednesday, 21 November 2018 - 8:00pm
Thursday, 22 November 2018 - 8:00pm
Friday, 23 November 2018 - 8:00pm
Saturday, 24 November 2018 - 8:00pm
Saturday, 1 December 2018 - 8:00pm


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Shawna Cooper-Gibson Appointed Vice President of Student Services at Seton Hall University
Shawna Cooper-Gibson, Ed.D., a national leader in academic, co-curricular and multicultural student development, has been appointed Vice President of Student Services at Seton Hall University.
Cooper-Gibson currently serves as the Assistant Provost for Student Academic Services at Loyola University Chicago and will officially begin her new position on October 14, 2019.
"Dr. Cooper-Gibson's impressive academic credentials, extensive professional experience and unwavering commitment to student success make her the ideal candidate for this position," said Seton Hall University President Joseph E. Nyre. "She will play a key leadership role in furthering the University's mission of providing exceptional opportunities for student learning, growth, reflection and service in our global society."
The Vice President for Student Services serves as a member of the Executive Cabinet and provides critical leadership and guidance to facilitate decision making in all matters relating to student welfare. At Seton Hall, Cooper-Gibson will oversee a wide array of student support and academic programs including the Academic Resource Center, Career Center, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Freshman Studies, Health Services, Housing and Residence Life, and Public Safety and Security.
+"I look forward to joining the Seton Hall community and building upon the rich tradition of Catholic education that exists here," said Cooper-Gibson. "All of the people I met while visiting campus were extremely welcoming and I could not have asked for a better experience. I firmly believe that for today's college students to be successful, it requires close collaboration between divisions, offices and all members of the University community. I am excited to strengthen and expand upon those collaborations."
As Assistant Provost at Loyola University Chicago, Cooper-Gibson oversees academic support services including First and Second Year Advising, the Career Development Center, TRiO Student Support Services and academic assistance programs. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Council for Student Success and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Education as well as assisting the university in reaching its retention and student success goals.
She previously served as the Dean of Students of the School of Social Services Administration at the University of Chicago, Director of African American Student Affairs at Northwestern University, Assistant Director of the Student Activities Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Assistant Dean of the School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago.
Cooper-Gibson earned a doctoral degree of education from Boston University, master of education degree from National Louis University and bachelor of science degree from University of Illinois.
Cooper-Gibson was selected following a national search led by a committee that included representatives from the student body, priest community, faculty and administration. Vice President for Enrollment Management Alyssa McCloud served as chair of the search committee.
Robin Cunningham, Associate Vice President and Dean of Freshman Studies, will continue to serve as Interim Vice President for Student Services until Cooper-Gibson's arrival.
"Dr. Cooper-Gibson is an exceptional leader at this exceptional time in Seton Hall's history," noted President Nyre. "As her proven track record and vast experience demonstrates, she is a student-focused leader and will surely advance the Seton Hall mission. We look forward to welcoming her to our university community."
Labels: African Americans in higher education, education, higher education, Seton Hall University, Shawna Cooper-Gibson, Shawna Cooper-Gibson Seton Hall University
VP-Elect Kamala Harris to resign from Senate seat on Monday


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Gov't to partner private sector to cultivate 110,000 acres to beat down food prices
Acres of farmland
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said the current high food prices and pressures on the local currency validates the current focus of the GhanaCARES Programme to bolster the productive and export capacity of the private sector.
To this end, he said an economic enclave project with focus on providing support for the cultivation of up to 110,000 acres of land in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Savanna and Oti regions, is being pursued.
The initiative, Mr Ofori-Atta explained in his 2023 budget presentation to parliament on Thursday, 24 November 2022, "seeks to expand our production and productivity in rice, tomato, maize, vegetables and poultry" sectors.
It is being led and coordinated by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) in collaboration with other government institutions such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Energy, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) under the Ministry of Defence, the National Entrepreneurial and Innovation Programme (NEIP) and the National Service Secretariat (NSS).
Mr Ofori-Atta said "consistent with the private sector-led approach, the programme will engage interested private sector actors to expand agricultural production and processing in the Asutuare-Tsopoli economic enclave area based on a partnership framework".
The same approach, he noted, "will be adopted for the lands secured in the Ashanti, Central, Savanna and Oti regions".
In addition to the enclave project, Mr Ofori-Atta said the GhanaCARES programme, in 2023, will continue to offer catalytic support by working with DBG to provide funding to interested and targeted farmers; supporting MoFA to adopt and deploy the farmer registration database for the farmer input subsidy programme to enhance efficiency; supporting the Ministry of Communication and Digitalisation (MoCD) to establish a tech hub to improve knowledge in technology and innovation by the youth, in collaboration with the University of Ghana; ensuring the operationalisation of the foundry under a sustainable private sector management framework; and providing interest rate subsidies and direct financing, including supporting prioritised sectors in the rural economy through the ARB Apex Bank and its network of banks, as agreed under the AfDB-supported Post-COVID Skills and Productivity Enhancement Project.
"In the unity of our nations rests the glorious future of our peoples."
What has resulted in unprecedented global crises ravaging all currencies and historic living and inflation levels.
14. Mr. Speaker, our inability to access the International Capital Markets meant that, for the first time in our administration, we did not have the needed foreign currency to complement our forex earnings.
33. To better assess the macroeconomic developments for the first three quarters of the year, permit me to restate the macroeconomic targets set for 2022 as presented in the 2022 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review:
Overall Real GDP growth of 3.7 percent;
42. Mr. Speaker, Total Expenditure (including arrears clearance and discrepancy) for the period amounted to GH¢109,421 million (18.5 percent of GDP), above the target of GH¢103,992 million (17.6 percent of GDP) by 5.2 percent. Compensation of Employees amounted to GH¢27,146 million (4.6 percent of GDP), 2.9 percent below the budgetary provision of GH¢27,947 million (4.7 percent of GDP).
63. Mr. Speaker, Government has consistently indicated its intention to improve the revenue collection effort by leveraging technology to enhance tax administration, identify and register taxable persons and improve tax compliance.
64. Mr. Speaker, Government has received several proposals for review of the Electronic Transfer Levy and is working closely with all stakeholders to evaluate the impact of the Levy in order to decide on the next line of action which will include revision of the various exclusions.
On average, Ghana's import bill exceeds US$10 billion annually and is accounted for by a diverse range of items that include iron, steel, aluminum, sugar, rice, fish, poultry, palm oil, cement, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, toilet roll, toothpick, fruit juices, etc.
73. Mr. Speaker, the high food prices and pressures on the local currency validates the current focus of the GhanaCARES Programme to bolster the productive and export capacity of the private sector.
To this end, an Economic Enclave project with focus on providing support for the cultivation of up to 110,000 acres of land in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central, Savanna and Oti Regions is being pursued.
The same approach will be adopted for the lands secured in the Ashanti, Central, Savanna and Oti regions.
Source: Classfmonline.com
National Cathedral Board says 'we're ready for parliamentary, CHRAJ probe'
W/R: NPP to hold elections in Jomoro next month
Minority caucus reshuffle: Muslims'll support Bawumia as they're not welcome in NDC – Anyidoho
Minority leadership shake-up: 'Together, we shall succeed' – Ato Forson assures NDC, asks for calm
Minority leadership shake-up election winning strategy – Asiedu Nketia explains Ato Forson-Haruna Iddrisu swap
Win GHS1k on Class Morning Show, classfmonline.com every day
Kumasi: Car crashes into traders at Suame; one dead
Constituents mass up at Tamale NDC office to protest Haruna Iddrisu's removal as Minority leader
Ghana's first-ever Tax Appeals Board inaugurated


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LEPs seek to inspire more women leaders
As International Women's Day was marked across the country and the world on Friday (8 March) Local Enterprise Partnerships have been speaking about the importance of the day for them and how the LEP Women Leaders event in June is part of that message.
The LEP Women Leaders event will see over 160 senior women business leaders and entrepreneurs from the private, public, education and third sectors gather in London to inspire more women leaders to get involved in the work of their Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).
Our headline sponsor of that event is Goldman Sachs, and their Head of the Office of Corporate Engagement, Charlotte Keenan, gives her insight on what International Women's Day is all about, and the role it plays in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme.
Anja Skvortsova, Associate Director of Audeliss, who is also attending the event, gives her views on the challenge LEP Boards have in recruiting more women leaders onto their boards.
LEP women Leaders, and men, have also been giving their views on the importance of International Women's Day and what it means for their LEP Boards, these include:
Coast to Capital who celebrate its outstanding women leaders.
Ruth Carver, Director of Greater Lincolnshire LEP sets out several compelling reasons for women to join their LEP Boards.
Sonia Roberts, a Board member at The Marches LEP says LEP Boards need more women's voices. They are currently recruiting for new board members.
Marion Plant, a Board Member of the Coventry & Warwickshire LEP, says why full gender equality has not yet been achieved.
Leona Watson, an Apprenticeship Ambassador at Oxfordshire LEP (OxLEP) reveals the impact she has had on her LEP.
Kathy Slack, Chief Executive at Enterprise M3 explains why she is so passionate about helping women get ahead.
Helen Golightly, Chief Executive of the North East LEP and awarded 'Champion of the North East' highlights the work of "remarkable women" across the region.
Gloucestershire LEP's Chair, Dr Diane Savory OBE, says there's never been a better time for women to engage with LEPs.
Leicester & Leicestershire LEP Board Members explain what International Women's Day means to them.
Amanda Lyne, a Board Member of Liverpool City Region LEP, says boards, whether LEPs or otherwise, are losing out on talent by not having more women represented.
Anne-Marie Mountfield, Chief Executive at Solent LEP, encourages women to take up career opportunities in STEM subjects.
Hertfordshire LEP shows how it is working to get the balance right.
David A. Kerfoot MBE, Chair of the York, North Yorkshire, East Riding LEP says we can' empower women without engaging men.
10th July, 2019 The Marches LEP is on the hunt for a new business leader
10th July, 2019 New energy strategy for The Marches will create 1,000 low carbon jobs
8th July, 2019 LEPs join call for £2 billion rail upgrade for the East Midlands


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American Revolution And French Revolution Essay
Compare and contrast of The French Revolution and The American Revolution The American revolution and the French Revolution are two major incidents happened in the 1700s, which had intense social impacts on both French and American societies. In general, the American Revolution was more successful than the French revolution. The similarity between them is that the citizens in both countries, both faced the block of common economical development of the government. However, there is a difference that makes the American revolution succeeded while the French revolution doesn't. The American Revolution turned the American society into a republic, as the French Revolution eventually led the French society into dictatorship and more chaos in the…show more content…
The results of them were distinct that the American revolution eventually extricated America prom the led the American society into a republic. Those colonial leaders who were influenced by the Enlightenment were unsatisfied with the monarchical government. Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson argued for the rights of the colonists and doubted the right of imposing on the colonists.After the fight against the British, the colonist leader had drafted Declaration of Independence, which suggested liberty of completely subverted the British domination and suggested the common liberality among all the citizens of America, and had led America to a republic. There were no major political conflicts in America in tens of years after that. However, the French revolution had led France to dictatorship and tens of years' chaos after that. There was endless struggles between the left wing and the right wing during the French revolution. Although the left has published the Declaration of the rights of man, since the political environment was so unstable, that didn 't really changed the society into a republic. After "The Terror" which killed 40,000 people, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned as an Emperor, a dictator of France. Then, after Napoleon died, monarchy and republic appeared alternately. These features suggested the French revolution changed France into dictatorship and was in chaos in tens of years, as the American revolution changed America into a republic, suggested the American revolution was successful while the French revolution was
How Did The Enlightenment Influence The American Revolution
Then how could American Revolution accomplished more than French revolution? This is because, unlike French, Americans fought against the Great Britain to defend, preserve and return their natural (traditional) rights, which were originally theirs before the Great Britain colonized the land. On the other hand, French tried to change their already stabled government into government based on equality, liberty and fraternity, which is not existed at first (also called abstraction). Therefore it might be not as easy as change not stabled government into stabled
Compare And Contrast The French Revolution And The American Revolution
When revolution happen in history they often go through several stages before they are put to an end. Almost all revolutions in history have these stages but the details are almost always different. A good example would be the American revolution and the French Revolution. Because both of these revolutions had a similar cause and effect, means they will have very similar stages. The american revolution's main purpose was to become independent from the British and create their own country. The French revolutions purpose was to abolish the oppressive french government and create a new France (Britannica). Although what they wanted were not related the stages that occurred during the revolutions were similar. The American revolution and the French revolution were both revolutions that were similar by having similar stages of a normal stage, widespread dissatisfaction, and the transfer of power and change.
Compare And Contrast The American Revolution Vs French Revolution
The American and French Revolution are both remembered in history as two major changes that would shape what we know today. Every child learns of the American Revolution at least once in their lives. Both these revolutions had the similar cause, effects, and stages that resulted or started them. Just like in every warring country, it is inevitable that there will be some change that occurs whether it be for the better or for worse. Although the American and French revolutions were very similar in the actions, there were many differences leading them into ultimately different paths and states of rest.
Absolutism And Revolution Portfolio: Similarities And Differences Between The French And French Revolutions
In your unit study, you explored the causes and effects, characteristics, as well as the consequences, of each of these revolutions. What did they have in common? How did they differ? For this portfolio, you will complete this document as you explore the similarities and differences between the French and American Revolutions.
DBQ Essay: How Revolutionary Was The American Revolution
There was tension, blood, and tears with the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain. This was due to the American Revolution that started in 1765 and ended in 1783. So how revolutionary was the American revolutionary war? Well, first what does revolutionary mean? Revolutionary means that things have changed dramatically. In that case, the American Revolution was very revolutionary because there were political, social, and economic changes. Wealthy people lost their money, there was a new government, it made citizens question slavery, and certainly more freedom for the Americans.
American Revolution Vs French Revolution
The American and French revolutions are similar in some ways but different in others. Both of the revolutions were liberating, but the French revolution was more violent and bloodier than the American. As to the American revolution was more conservative and federal.
Compare And Contrast French Revolution And Latin American Revolution
The French Revolution and Latin American Revolution both followed the pattern of: citizens became dissatisfied with government, moderates gaining more power, radicals taking over, and then entering a period of acceptance. France was divided into three estates. The third estate
Similarities Between French Revolution And American Revolution
There were two Revolutions that are connected, The French Revolution and the American Revolution. The American Revolution came first, and the French Revolution was inspired by the American Revolution. George Washington was one of the main leaders in the American revolution. He led the colonies and future United States to a victory over the British government. The leader of the French Revolution was Napoleon Bonaparte. He was a great leader and has a good strategy when it comes to war.
Haitian Revolution: The Haitian And The French Revolution
Overall, the Haitian Revolution is a contrast to the French Revolution because the main reasons and goals of the people were different. In Haiti, the news of American Independence motivated slaves to unite and fight for equality from European nations. Meanwhile in France, the radicals hoped that by overthrowing the monarchy, a new assembly would be created and France would become a republic. Enlightenment philosophies played a role in both revolutions, yet the main reasons for the events differed from one
DBQ: How The American Revolution Changed American Society
American Revolution DBQ The American Revolution changed American society politically, socially, and economically, as the American colonists overcame their differences and broke away from British rule. During the American revolution, Americans began to develop different political views than that of their European counterparts. Following the Revolution, the Americans created a new type of national government, a republic.
Essay On The Causes Of The Mexican Revolution
The American, Mexican, and French revolutions were similar and different in their own ways. There was a common cause, goal, and effect of each of these three revolutions in addition to the unique causes, goals, and effects. All of these revolutions were caused by political instability, had the common goal of political reformation that was met through revolutionary events, that resulted in the formation and adoption of a new constitution and form of government. There were many causes that led up to these three revolutions, some are shared by all three, some only by two, and some are unique causes. All three of these revolutions were caused by political instability in the country these revolutions took place in.
How Was The American Revolution Successful
The American Revolution was successful because it resulted in the creation of a new nation in America. On the other hand, British failed and this resulted in the loss of a part of its empire, and the sovereign land was granted to the Americans . These were some of the immediate effects of the revolution. The economy of America experienced instability and the position of the Native Americans, African Americans and women changed in the society. The freedom of the people was granted.
The American Revolution: Radical Or Radical?
The American Revolution ignited democratic rule in nations and spread through the whole world. The American Revolution was definitely different from other revolutions in many ways. It was radical in that the causes of it were for new ideas like their ideas on equality, that all men are created equal, and are given the right to live and pursuit of happiness. Although the American Revolution was radical than any other revolution that had occurred previously. it was more conservative than it was radical.
Was The French Revolution Preventable?
These questions will be answered by the time you have finished reading this paper. The French Revolution was from 1789 to 1799. Many governmental changes were made in that short time period. From the monarchy being overthrown and the royal family's execution to Maximilien Robespierre and Napoleon taking over.
The Successes And Failures Of The French Revolution
Firstly, the French Revolution was a
More about American Revolution And French Revolution Essay


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Journal of Eurasian Affairs
issued by International Eurasian Movement
Magazines (PDF)
The Journal of Eurasian Affairs is new international journal founded by Russian NGO International Social Movement "Eurasian Movement". It is dedicated to different issues such as eurasianism in it's different aspects (from philosophy to integration process on post-Soviet space), geopolitics, international relations, war and peace studies, globalization, multipolarity and new emerging theories in fields of politics and humanitarian sciences.
Because of its title covered themes are about processes in Eurasia, but not limited by continental boundaries. Eurasia as an idea and eurasianism as outlook are international by it's essence.
In some sense Journal of Eurasian Affairs is a interdisciplinary one where crossed ideas from different schools, trends and sets that makes it as broadly platform for discussion and forum for meetings of academic researchers, political activists, philosophers, independent scholars, experts and decision makers.
Red line of Journal of Eurasian Affairs is critical approach to (neo)liberalism and its derivatives manifested in realpolitik as well as in large scale of activities dealing with human being itself. The need to develop alternative is the second task, which puts the founders of the Journal and core thinkers of the "Eurasian Movement".
We believe that writers from over the globe will join us for the development (and revival) of such kind ideas that will promote to establish newest model of global affairs and political systems with respect of all nations, peoples, groups, beliefs, cultures and traditions.
The Journal of Eurasian Affairs invites contributors to send articles, essays and reviews.
Journal of Eurasian Affairs, vol.1, Num.1, 2013
Counterhegemony and multipolarity
Coaching War and realpolitik
From Pax Americana to Pan Americana
Russian Security Concerns in Afghanistan and Central Asia within a Geopolitical Framework
India's Central Asia Policy: An Overview of the Challenges and Options
Eurasianaffairs


It's technically Friday as I'm writing this but for all intents and purposes still Thursday since I haven't gone to sleep, yet. This guy named Abel Tesfaye, or rather his stage name The Weeknd [sic] is trending all over the place. His "Thursday Mixtape" dropped on (you guessed it, smarty pantz) Thursday. Thought I'd take a listen–Drake seems to like him (maybe because Canadian birds of a feather flock together). Anyway, I couldn't find too much on him except a wikipedia page. His site is unfortunately down at the moment…unfortunate for him, too as I'm sure this is the best time for site hits. I found a bit below, but it's kind of dated. Alright, well I'm about to listen to the rest of this mixtape and then report back on my thoughts on a day other than Thursday.
Who: The 20-year-old singer-songwriter (real name: Abel Tesfaye) from Toronto is on the forefront of an idiosyncratic new cut of R&B. Thanks in part to support from fellow Toronto native Drake, he's been in heavy rotation since the March 21st release of his mixtape debut House of Balloons.
Sounds Like: The Weeknd layers House of Balloons with samples (Siouxsie and the Banshees's 1980 "Happy House," Beach House's 2006 "Master of None"), electronic synths and hip-hop references, accompanied by Frank Ocean from Odd Future and How To Dress Well. There are also traces of The-Dream, Drake and Aaliyah throughout.


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Vpn configuration for iphone 6 in USA and United Kingdom!
When I try to set Google Chrome s proxy settings (on chrome linux-proxy-config I get the following message: When running Google Chrome under a supported desktop environment, the system proxy settings will be used. However, either your system is not supported or there was a problem launching your system configuration).
Basically, you just dont have nearly as many options w/ location (different countries) in the free service vs. as the paid VIP. However, you still get probably 3-4 USA locations, Canada, I believe Holland England in the free one. MaterializeWhatUVisualize, Easy, Fast, not terribly expensive.
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After five studio albums and fifteen years since her debut, Chantal Kreviazuk has finally taken her discography out of the studio and in front of an audience for her first live compilation album. A seasoned performer who is often entertaining, quite blunt but has the ability to show off her awesome musical abilities at the piano while wailing her intensely strong vocals, it's about time. The compilation, however, unimaginatively called In This Life, recalls too much of what is to be expected from Chantal while leaving out the best.
In This Life, as you may recall, is the title of one of her bigger hits from ten years ago. Using the same title for an HBO Canada recording feels a bit stale, as if she's unable to move on from that period of heightened success that she hasn't been able to attain since, even though her most ambitious and arguably best record came in the time since with 2006's Ghost Stories – though none of those tracks are included on this collection.
Some of the songs on this compilation include her familiar classics like her early hit Surrounded and her Randy Newman-penned cover Feels Like Home, both of which suffer under Chantal's attempts at changing them up ever-so-slightly, wavering the melodies and lyrics as if to make them differ from their original recordings. This results in awkwardly performed lines that are sometimes hard to follow. Unnecessary considering the songs are performed with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra who, more often than not, add a pleasant touch that would have fit with the songs in their original form.
Of the remaining tracks on the album, there are some surprises in the set list with the appearance of several songs from earlier in her career including the touching Eve and one of her original love songs to Raine Maida, Until We Die. The latter, of course, isn't too unexpected since Chantal has evolved from an edgy piano rocker to a safe adult contemporary singer/songwriter who uses any opportunity to bring up her husband during performances. In the case of this album, a whole track is dedicated to talking about her husband before introducing 5000 Days, which is about… her husband. While her fan-base might be mostly middle-aged women at this point, all of the family talk doesn't give much welcome to anyone else who might be attendance. If The View needed a singing co-host, Chantal could be the woman for the job.
In This Life doesn't quite hit the spot as a collection of songs from one of Canada's best singer/songwriters during the turn of the century. While she was never incredibly adventurous with her music, Chantal Kreviazuk was always reliable to provide impressive melodies, great piano hooks and strong vocals. In This Life is a case of been there, done that, so what?
It's pretty much just 21 minutes of footage consisting of interviews of friends and a few performances from the HBO show. No old interviews or videos.
I'm very curious of how lengthy and informative the hbo documentary special (included in the cd) is. Does it contain a lot of interviews/performance clips of her back in 1996?


Why We Chose Singapore's Public Schools In this essay I discuss my journey from fearing to embracing the idea of sending my daughters to Singapore's public schools instead of choosing an international school or homeschooling.
Primary 1 Registration I discuss the one thing every parent of a student in Singapore's public schools has in common–the dreaded Primary 1 Registration. Specifically I discuss how expats and permanent residents can navigate this often confusing process.
Experiencing Culture Shock in Primary 1 The shift from Kindergarten to Primary 1 involves a lot of culture shock, whether you're an expat or a local parent. In this article I discuss some of our stumbling blocks.
Mummy, not Mommy; Reflecting on the first half of Primary 1 In this personal essay, I discuss our experiences as foreign parents trying to navigate a school system radically different from the one we attended/I taught in during the first half of Elanor's Primary 1 year.
Exams at an Early Age–How an Expat Kid Navigates Local Schools. In P2 Elanor encountered her first "big" exams, ones that count for 50% of her grade for the year. I reflect on how these exams have complicated my relationship with local schools.
The Little Gym Singapore After over five years of classes at The Little Gym, I was thrilled to spotlight them for other parents in Singapore.
Tried and Tested: Art Classes at the Drawing Mint. My girls tried art classes with Teacher Mae and I recommend her highly.
Girls and Technology Why are girls underrepresented in technology and what can we do about it? I spoke to nineteen women on three continents for this story between the ages of 17 and retirement to get their input on this piece.
Tech Classes in Singapore Where can you little one learn to code or play with robots?
Tokyo Disney Resort (Disneyland and DisneySea) My tips and tricks for taking the family to Tokyo Disney.
Hawaii With Kids My suggestions for family fun on the Big Island, Maui, and O'ahu.
While blogging for White as Milk, I wrote in excess of 100 columns. Below is a sampling of posts I am proud of.
Hi, random question but I am thinking of travelling to Singapore this summer. As someone who is obese, a westerner and a single bisexual woman I know I am facing some issues!! Do you think it is a good idea overall?? Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I'll reply more at length via email, but the short answer is yes. Don't plan to buy clothes here, and I don't know what it's like to date here, but Singapore is a wonderful city to visit. It is a photographer's paradise. We have everything from artificially constructed wonders like Gardens by the Bay to amazing natural environments like Sungei Buloh Nature Preserve. Don't let any potential anxiety get in the way.


This is the meaning of the italian word Rubacuori.
Heart stealers live stealing: stealing glances, thoughts, attention, and after this, the heart and soul of those who desire them.
To reach their aim they don't hesitate to use the sharpest weapons. Perfume included.
Perfume is a sneaky weapon: it creates attraction, awakens hidden impulses, and raises the flame of desire.
Rubacuori is a ravenous scent, in whose notes burn vanity, lust and the uncontrollable power of love.


Providing food and drink services to guests in hotels and restaurants, showing attentiveness and understanding of their needs and expectations.
The restaurant service practitioner provides food and drink service to guests in a very broad variety of settings, and most likely great numbers of us have enjoyed the skill, knowledge, and welcoming attitude of the best in this field.
The food service practitioner is likely to work in a hotel or restaurant where the size, nature and quality of establishments can vary enormously.
Restaurant service also offers the opportunity to gain employment in internationally renowned hotels and hotel chains, to smaller, privately-owned, more intimate restaurants.
High quality food and drink service requires an extensive knowledge of international cuisine, beverages and wines. The restaurant service practitioner must have a complete command of specialist tools and materials, accepted serving rules and must know and understand the preparation of speciality dishes and drinks at the guests' table or in the bar. The food server is often the key to guests' appreciation of the meal experience, so positive attitude, resourcefulness, assurance, smart appearance, and practical skill and ability are all essential.
Most important to providing the memorable experience and the likelihood of return business is safeguarding the health and wellbeing of both guests and colleagues through scrupulous attention to personal hygiene and safe and hygienic working practices.
Competitors will be judged on their preparation of service.
Each Competitor is studied on their professional service of food and beverages.
Food service practitioners should also be able to identify drinks and mix and present cocktails.
Marks will also be awarded for dishes prepared at the guests' table.


Your best boots and shoes, for all occasions, the latest fashion, or the best in hiking, cycling, footwear of all types. Whatever your need, shoes for work or cosy, comfortable leisure, holidays or sport.
Thousands of us love shoes, shoes, shoes!!!! We have collections for all occasions. One day I was in someone's house. In her bedroom the whole of one wall was taken up by a beautiful ceiling to floor glass cabinet, with a black rose all over design. The cabinet was the showplace for all her collection of lovely shoes of every hue and design. Stunning!!!! Brilliant idea.
Perhaps you want to add to your collection, or just need a new pair. Have a special date or may be an event to go to. Taking up a new sport or need some more shoes or boots for your hobby.
Are you a hiker, a cyclist, an athlete, etc you need footwear that adds to your performance and comfort.
A comfortable fit is essential, not only for performance, but foot health. Feet are our under standings, they must give us years of wear and we must look after them.
Are you going for an interview? A new pair of shoes gives confidence and can look good. Make sure they fit properly though. A hurting shoe shows in the face, hard to hide!!!! Goes for all occasions!!!
Holiday or short break? Shopping for footwear to add to your pleasure. (We do not need an excuse!!) Have fun.
On the right you will find good vendors with shoes of all types. Browse the stores, there is little doubt you will find what you need.
Are the shoes right for you? Fashion is important true but should not be everything unless of course you have pots of money! Do they enhance your feet? Do they meet performance criteria for your sport? Are they right for the environment you require them for? There are boots and shoes for all occasions and the best boots and shoes for you are the ones that meet the criteria and above all fit perfectly and are comfortable.
The shoes and boots must be the right size. You should be able to fit your finger from the end of your biggest toe to the end of the shoe. The width should be comfortable with no pinchy places.
Are the arches of your feet, low, intermediate or high? It is important to buy walking or cycling shoes that fit the arch of your foot as well as the right length and width. Stability and balance are the aim after all and without the correct fitting in the middle of the shoe the potential and comfort of the wearer is impeded. Even more important for children.
What sort of socks/stockings do you intend to wear with the footwear? Put them on to try the boots or shoes, they are after all the lining between your feet and the shoes and it can make a difference to the fit. Actually the right socks/stockings are as important to comfort as the shoes themselves.
What other clothing do you intend to wear with the footwear? That might sound a little silly, but the ladies will understand! Do they go with what you are wearing? Are they the right height for your clothes?
How high are the heels? With fashion shoes this is important and ladies don't high heels look good!!?? We must however temper this with practicality!! This little article "Heels, heels, heels", is good on the topic of high heels!
Are the shoes flexible? The shoe or boot must bend at the right place where your foot bends. Feels awkward if it does not and the footwear is not efficient. Flex your feet up and down, first separately then together.
Do you have one foot larger than the other? Buy the larger size.
Are you an athlete, perhaps a walker or a cyclist? Go to a good store that understands your needs. Your feet are an important part of your performance and the right footwear is an investment. Recognise that the footwear does not last forever even if you have paid a lot for it. You would replace the tyres on your bike when they wear down. It is the same for your footwear.
Are you many years young? Like you your feet change as the years go by. Re check the size and shape of your feet again, they will not be the same as they used to be! Balance is important. Make sure that the shoes are supportive and fit well. Check the forward motion, do they feel comfortable or could you trip?
Buy footwear at the end of the day. Feet may be as much as half a size larger then! Often the cause of the wail "My feet are killing me".
Or perhaps click the back button to go to your previous page.
Or may be if you want to browse somewhere else on the site please use the navigation buttons on the left.
Quality footwear from the home of footwear, Northampton. Tredders are a small, independent manufacturer with a reputation second to none. David Appleton, the owner of the business can often be found at country shows all over the country, you might like to pay him a visit!
A Shoe shop for everyone with a trusted name you all know. Amazon Yes, they sell footwear too - all types. Have a great browse. However if you are a shoe fanatic, allow time!


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Old-fashioned radio dramas are making a comeback in Marshfield this summer
Marshfield – The Talking Information Center, a non-profit reading service that broadcasts readings of newspapers, magazines and books to visually impaired listeners, will air three new live radio dramas this summer. Listeners can tune in at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, for the first of the series, a live broadcast of "Sorry, Wrong Number."
"Sorry, Wrong Number" follows the story of a woman who accidentally overhears a murder plot. It originally is also a 1948 thriller film starring Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster.
TIC Radio and Podcast Players, made up of of 45 Talking Information Center volunteers who auditioned for the parts, perform the plays before a live studio audience at the Talking Information Center. The center is located at 130 Enterprise Dr, Marshfield.
The cast includes locals like Loretta Patterson of Duxbury, Joanne Salines of Hanover, and Richard Bodurtha of Plymouth. Another actress, Susan Romboldi, is blind and will be reading the script in Braille.
Talking Information Center's producer John Shea and executive director of the Bay Colony Shakespeare Company Eric Joseph will lead the productions. No tickets will be sold but donations can be made in support of the Talking Information Center.
Listen to our conversation with Cindy Campbell, Communications Director for AARP Massachusetts
Listen to last night's show with guests Anna Dunbar, Dianne Legro, and Eric Joseph


It took three days for a search team to find Casey Hathaway alive. Police reported that Casey is in good spirits and has been reunited with his family.
3 year old Casey Hathaway went missing about 1pm on Tuesday afternoon from his grandmother's backyard and today the search continues.
Officials said Casey was playing with two children he is related to in the backyard of his grandmother's house in Ernul, when the two children went back inside, but Casey was not with them.
A search for him began roughly 50 minutes later and around 600 volunteers came out to help search for the boy on Wednesday; however, their search was challenged by cold temperatures and rugged terrain.
Casey is 2'4″, weighs 25 pounds, has strawberry blonde hair, and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a blue coat and dark-colored pants.
Anyone with information should call (252) 633-0498 or the NC State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 662-4500.


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Ian Muir photo
How Do I Become an Eagle?
It's the type of question that appears easy to answer but isn't. Qualify for the USA by World Rugby's eligibility standards and be really good would seem sufficient, but plenty can build a case they did that and were never rewarded with a cap.
Some will point to the age-grade national teams as stepping stones on a pathway, and though they may be, it's a path many have skipped entirely. The true answer on the men's side is long, paradoxical and spelled out below.
The women's answer is largely similar. Subsitute Women's D1 Elite for D1A, and WPL for MLR, knowing WPL is full of amateur organizations with far less resources and bandwith for player identification and recruitment than their professional MLR counterparts.
That's generally true of most of the women's equivalents; the WJAAs play fewer games and provide less opportunities than the MJAAs, there are fewer high-powered women's touring teams actively trying to develop and identify young players, freak athletes are still cutting the line on the women's side a little easier than on the men's, etc.
For the beginners, let's lay out the basics. You need to be American. How American? That's defined by World Rugby as having been born in America, having a parent or grandparent born in America, or having resided in the United States for three consecutive years.
The first two are pretty straightforward, but that last one is a little more convoluted. You can't leave the country for more than 30 days in a given year during those three years, and now World Rugby is starting to scrutinize why you're in a foreign country for so long and how you afforded to be there. Also, that three-year requirement becomes five for anyone who doesn't qualify by the end of 2019, as the rule is changing.
The Pathway
To actually get selected, you have to not just be both eligible and good, but known. The age-grade pathway is the most obvious opportunity to become a known commodity. It gets you into USA Rugby's master database, so whenever coaches and managers are looking for players to invite to camps, they'll have to at least scroll past your name. Now, how do you get on one of those teams?
Regional Cup Tournaments are designed to be the vehicle to the High School All-American team. There are regional and state-based all-star teams nearly nationwide that compete in these USA Rugby-anointed tournaments. So after your high school season comes to an end, join one of the regional all-star teams and show well at an RCT.
Like with every pathway, there are the exceptions. There have been plenty of HSAA selections who've circumvented the RCT pathway by being exceptional on the pitch or exceptionally connected off it. Companies like Eagle Impact and Atavus have sprouted in recent years to provide additional opportunities for exposure and development, and they can help quality players from poorer home clubs or far-flung places find a foothold.
If you miss out on the HSAAs, your next age-grade opportunity is the Junior All-Americans, also known as the U20s or MJAAs. Mostly, though, that team is sourced by former HSAAs and underclassmen from a select group of esteemed college programs. Well-connected standouts in the club game also occasionally find their way to this team.
Then it's the College All-Americans, or MCAAs. Traditionally, you need to be a known commodity before getting to school, or you'll need to attend a school that plays in one of the competitions national team coaches and staff pay attention to, D1A and the Penn Mutual Collegiate Rugby Championship, to make the MCAAs. Of course, there are exceptions.
Last year, Major League Rugby teams treated the MCAA camp as their combine, pro day and senior bowl all rolled into one. So if you want to get to the MLR, which can help you get to the national team, being an All-American is really helpful.
MLR is the latest, and potentially greatest, pathway. It, above all others, has the ability to democratize the national team. In high school rugby, teams with the most means get greater exposure, and kids with the most means generally have better development opportunities. The MJAAs largely pluck from either the HSAAs or colleges, and the MCAAs insert an educational and financial barrier. Really good college-aged rugby players who aren't students miss out on the MCAAs.
Major League Rugby's only barriers to entry should be opportunity and ability. If you can get to a combine or get your film to the inbox of a coach, general manager or director of rugby, you can be found. If you're found and you're good enough, you can get into the MLR. And if you're in the MLR and good enough, the national team staff will find you.
How to get to the MLR is a question grassroots coaches like me are fielding more and more these days. Since the league is so new, there are fewer success stories to point to as models. And the way teams are populated has already radically changed in two years, and likely will again going forward.
Right now, teams are committing varying degrees of resources to player identification. Some have hired general managers to take care of player personnel, and others are relying on coaches, CEOs and owners to multitask. No scouts have been hired, or if they have, those moves haven't been announced.
International recruiting, like in the college game, largely boils down to a personal connection to someone from the old country or simply responding to endless emails from interested players, coaches and their handlers or agencies. Domestically, teams are largely relying on the age-grade pathway, open tryouts and combines, hoping talented players will find them instead of the other way around.
If the league sustains, this will likely change. It's not too much to expect that within a couple of years MLR teams will be pouring more resources into talent identification than USA Rugby ever has.
But right now, if you want to make it to the MLR, your best bet is either a traditional pathway, like the MCAAs, or shoving yourself in front of teams as often as possible via combines and participating in high-profile competitions, like the CRC or D1A. For club players, the options are more limited; select 7s clubs, be it for the summer season or one-off tours, Pacific Rugby Premiership, and the best clubs in MLR cities.
In Houston, Glendale and Seattle, the connections are formal or overt. If you play for the West Houston Lions, you have the eyes of the Sabercats on you. If you're in Seattle with professional aspirations, you play for the Saracens. In Denver, plenty of really good players are still playing for the Barbarians, but the Merlins are the official farm team of the Raptors.
In other cities, connections may be less obvious, but they're there. If RUNY runs out of flankers, before he goes to the grocery store that is free agency, general manager James English will look in his own cupboard of Old Blue and NYAC. San Diego will look locally, too, as will New Orleans and Toronto.
If you want to play in the MLR, your best bet is to get into the age-grade pathway, which if you're trying to be an Eagle, you're already working on. If you miss any of the age-grade entry points, you can still make the MLR by going to a combine and performing really well. If that doesn't work, your best and last bet is to pack up and move to an MLR city to stay in front of the team's decision makers. If you're not willing to relocate, hopefully you can sink your teeth into playing 7s for a team that makes it to club nationals or Rugbytown 7s.
Extreme Exceptions
Some really talented athletes get to skip the line. There are generally two types of line cutters in American rugby – foreigners and freak crossovers.
The foreigners are usually American-qualified all the while they're living abroad. Marcel Brache, for example, grew up in South Africa and played professionally there and in Australia, but he was born in Los Angeles. So, despite the fact he never participated in any kind of pathway, he got to skip the line.
The crossovers are extreme examples. They didn't used to be. College football players pretty much zipped to the front of the line for at least a tryout with the national team, sometimes earning cheap caps, like in the cases of Bennie Brazell, Tommy Saunders and Brian Howard.
Carlin Isles basically did the same thing. He played one summer with Aspen before getting a crack with the Falcons in Vancouver. Four tournaments into his rugby career, Isles had a full-time contract with the Eagles.
Travion Clark, a former track All-American at the University of Arkansas – Little Rock, has followed in Isles' footsteps right up through scoring 13 tries for the Falcons at the Las Vegas Invitational. He is objectively the second-fastest man in world rugby, and he hasn't been extended a full-time contract like Isles was, signaling cutting the line isn't as easy as it used to be, even for freak athletes.
People like empirical data. It helps us make sense of things. Quarterbacks should be 6'3" and able to throw the ball x-amount of yards at y-trajectory, releasing it in under z-seconds. If you're 6'9", you're probably not a point guard or a running back.
Rugby is no different. Being objectively bigger, faster and stronger is generally helpful. So, yes, 6'8" second rows are going to be given more opportunities than their 6'3" counterparts, even if the shorter man is better in every way.
Isles' height is an issue for him. It causes him trouble in defense routinely. Nonetheless, he leads the world in tries and is the best scoring threat on the best team. Still, there's no denying that if he were taller and his limbs longer, he'd be better.
The lesson is that physically fitting the ideal profile of your best position certainly helps in becoming an Eagle, but not fitting that profile isn't an automatic disqualifier. What you have to do is mitigate that disadvantage as much as humanly possible – while Isles can't get taller, he can get stronger and make his tackle technique sharper. You also have to supersize your advantage. If Isles were only just as fast as the taller players, he would never be selected; he has to be significantly faster.
So if a coach tells you you're too short to be a flanker and you should instead shift focus to hooker, that doesn't mean you can't be a flanker. Ask James Denise of 6-1 Rugby United New York or Australia's Michael Hooper. You may never be a lineout option at the level to which you aspire, but if you're that much better than the taller options at everything else, you can overcome the physical disadvantage.
Then again, moving to hooker might actually be the right advice, too. And all too often, coaches don't give that advice when they should. American rugby is filled with sawed-off loose forwards and outside backs who should have been steered towards scrumhalf but weren't so their clubs could yield more immediate results. It's also filled with tubby No. 8s who belong in the front row at the next level.
Really Though
It's imperfect, but there is a pathway to the national teams. There are many different entry points, varying barriers to entry, and extreme exceptions who get to cut the line. The eligibility requirements are fairly plainly spelled out, though there are nuances. We've established being exceptionally big, fast and strong is helpful, as is aligning with certain well-connected programs and people across all levels along the way. But those things aren't requisite, and they're not sure bets.
The reality is, you can be big, fast, strong, skillful and eligible, plan out your entire career from high school through the pros giving yourself every opportunity to be developed or discovered, and still not make it. You can do everything in your power the right way and still miss out.
For most of us, it's because we're not good enough for one reason or another. Being an Eagle is special because Eagles are special. The very nature of being special is that we can't all be. For fewer, it's because of timing. Maybe you're a zig specialist, and just as you're coming into your prime, the USMNT hires a coach who prefers to zag. Injuries. Personality conflicts. Mental blocks. Life gets in the way.
There are some who are just going to be overlooked; for one reason or another, coaches kept finding reasons not to pick someone who was good enough. Look at Brodie Orth, who got his first cap at 31. Just as easily, he could have never gotten one at all. How many Brodie Orths never did?
A Bit of Advice
I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or the players younger, but it seems more and more, they have to know the end of the story before they decide to read the book. Does it end with me being an Eagle or a professional? If yes, okay let's go back to chapter one and figure out how I did/do it. If not, no thanks, beer league softball sounds nice.
Whatever happened to, I want to become the best rugby player I possibly can and enjoy playing the game while I can, and if that ends me in an Eagle jersey, hooray!?
If you want to be an Eagle, get process oriented. It's basic. It's commonly stated. It's not my idea. But there is only one right way to coach, and that's from a process-oriented perspective in lieu of a results-oriented perspective. If improving is the only thing that matters, you strive for daily improvement, and if you achieve it more often than not, results will eventually come. If results are all that matter, improvement is no guarantee.
The same is true for players. If the only thing that matters is making the national team, then everything you do your entire career is a failure until that happens. That kind of binary thinking is what quitters employ to justify not even trying in the first place.
If the only thing that matters is constantly improving, success is attainable every day. And as long as you're improving, you're doing what it takes to reach your potential. Unless you're a freak, (And if you are, why are you still reading this? Just cut the line already.) you're going to have to maximize your potential to become an Eagle anyway. So why not just start there?
The crossovers or newcomers who say they only want to play rugby if it means drawing a paycheck and playing in the Olympics never make it. They go back to their hometowns and become personal trainers. The ones who obsess over and embrace the process of getting better everyday give themselves the best chance of making it.
They also tend to enjoy the journey. Forget which mindset will best deliver your desires, process- or -results-oriented, you'll just be happier if you covet improvement over results. You have maximum control over your individual improvement, and minimum control over results, considering yours is but one of 31 hearts beating between the lines.
If there's one thing I've taken away from the hours and dollars I've sunk into listening to coaches and achievers speak about their success to people hoping to find the silver bullet to their own, it's that winning the championship isn't as gratifying as you think it is. At the end of everyone's career, what matters most is the journey. Time spent with other people working hard toward a common dream. Same is true for those with full trophy cabinets and those without. If that journey and those moments are only validated by an end result, did you really enjoy the ride?
You want to know what it takes to become an Eagle? Well, I just laid it all out for you. Now quit asking people how to do it and whether they think you can do it. Just get busy doing it, already.
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