Google officially rolled out a new search algorithm recently that employs a great deal of their progress in semantic search. The update is called "Hummingbird" and while traces of it have been coming in previous updates, this one is significant and lasting.
Search has been heading this way for some time now. So, no SEO is not dead once again, unless you mean quick SEO – SEO that doesn't contain relationship and authority building. Bottom-line though – quality, frequency, depth and authority matter more than ever.
One of the biggest factors baked into search results are signals that search engines can receive about content quality based on social interactions. How many +1s a page has matters greatly as do shares, likes and retweets. My guess is that it's nearly impossible to get most content to rank without it.
Many people still throw out thinly disquised lists as link bait, but nothing gets shared and strongly indexed today like long, in depth narrowly cast articles. Google has even created markup standards for in depth articles as long as 2000-5000 words.
While there is no "kloutlike" scoring system as of yet, understanding whose content is thought of authoritative because that's your relationship building hit list!
Tomorrow I'm going to give you a look into my top 5 recommended action steps for addressing the new realities of SEO today.


text:
Blue straggler
Yoshitaka Nishimura
Blue stragglers (BSS) are main-sequence stars in open or globular clusters that are more luminous and bluer than stars at the main-sequence turn-off point for the cluster. Blue stragglers were first discovered by Allan Sandage in 1953 while performing photometry of the stars in the globular cluster M3. Standard theories of stellar evolution hold that the position of a star on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram should be determined almost entirely by the initial mass of the star and its age. In a cluster, stars all formed at approximately the same time, and thus in an H–R diagram for a cluster, all stars should lie along a clearly defined curve set by the age of the cluster, with the positions of individual stars on that curve determined solely by their initial mass. With masses two to three times that of the rest of the main-sequence cluster stars, blue stragglers seem to be exceptions to this rule. The resolution of this problem is likely related to interactions between two or more stars in the dense confines of the clusters in which blue stragglers are found.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Blue_straggler
Yoshitaka Nishimura (西村宜隆) (born February 9, 1982, Kyushu), better known as DJ YOSHITAKA, is a composer for Konami's line of Bemani games. DJ YOSHITAKA has been making solo songs since the release of Beatmania IIDX 11: IIDX RED, though he has had previous BEMANI involvement as a member of Osamu Migitera's Des-ROW group. He often composes for the Beatmania IIDX and the Pop'n music series, and then began composing for the Guitar Freaks & DrumMania and the Dance Dance Revolution series on 2005 and 2007, respectively. DJ YOSHITAKA still often works with Des-ROW for some Pop'n music songs. In the REFLEC BEAT series, DJ YOSHITAKA regularly appears alongside fellow composer Sota Fujimori as a double act, VENUS.
DJ YOSHITAKA's Bemani Music Foundation artist page reveals that he likes taking trips, fine days, cappuccino, Shibuya, Motorbikes, Vegetable Pancakes and people who are kind. It says that he dislikes rainy seasons and people who are cold.
Along with dj TAKA, L.E.D., Sota Fujimori, Ryu☆, kors k, and 猫叉Master, DJ YOSHITAKA is part of Beatnation Records.
This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Yoshitaka_Nishimura
bluefilms.com
sunblueyoga.com
free3dblue.com
freeindianbluefilm.com
cobaltbluemartini.com
rapnbluesradio.com
3dblue.net
blue-whales.com
3dbluefilm.net
3dbluefilm.org
bluesdaily.com
bluecheesecroissant.com
cobaltblueheels.com
blueoceanviews.com
3dbluecinema.net

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


replacing <nprocs> with the number of processors. This will produce multiple .dat files of the form test_P0.dat, test_P1.dat, test_P2.dat. Similarly the VTK files can be processed in this manner as can the vorticity option. In the case of the vorticity option a directory called test_vort.fld (or the specified output name) will be produced with the standard parallel field files placed within the directory.


On April 5, the 13th OUC Conference of Scientific Research was held under the theme of "Improving teaching, scientific research, and the overall quality of open and distance education". More than 230 teaching and administrative staff attended the meeting.
At the 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva concluded recently, submissions from Nantong Radio and TV University (Nantong RTVU) won a total of three medals—one gold, one silver and one bronze.
The 40th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva opened on April 18, 2012. More than 1000 new technological inventions from 46 countries were on display.
On March 20, 2012, 154 trainees completed the WIDE World online professional development programme named "Teaching for Understanding 1", jointly operated by Beijing Open University (Beijing OU) and Harvard Graduate School of Education.
WIDE World (Wide-scale Interactive Development for Educators) is a programme based at the Harvard Graduate School of Education that converts the results of academic research by Gardner and other experts into web-based training courses for instructors.


text:
Q: PHP-FPM very high processors usage I use a bunch of nginx + php-fpm on a server running Debian Lenny x86_64. Sometimes the PHP-FPM's processes loads all 8 cores at 100% and this load does not fall until to forced restart PHP-FPM. How can I determine what is the problem of such jumps load? In the PHP-FPM's logs is nothing unusual. Version of PHP - 5.3.3.

A: This might actually be a problem with your application, not php-fpm itself, so you may want to look there first, as well as double check your current config files for php-fpm, and make sure you don't have high I/O wait on your system.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Join / Lead
Contact/Request info
Susan Schai
CEO - Founder
As one of the original founders of Scholastic Expeditions, Susan has been passionate about student travel her entire life. She spent her junior year of high school abroad as a Rotary Foreign Exchange student-- a time that she now reflects back on as one of the most defining periods of her life. She discovered a gift for languages and a love of culture that continues unabated to this day. Subsequent expeditions doing field research in Mexico during her college years and exploring over twenty other countries in the course of her travels have led seamlessly into Susan's career, seeding it with a rich history of hands-on world studies. In college, her subjects were Political Science and Biology, both of which have made themselves useful in her current role with Scholastic Expeditions.
You will find Susan wearing many hats within the organization, as she is interested in all aspects of educational travel. She is exceptionally proud of what Scholastic Expeditions has become, and loves seeing the looks on kid's faces when they are experiencing the amazing flora and fauna of Costa Rica. To her, there is nothing better than hearing from a teacher that yet another student has been influenced to continue in the life sciences or has been inspired to activism as a result of their experience on their program. She looks forward to developing more programs involving hands-on science in thrilling destinations that promote conservation and eco-economies as a force of global conservation.
Susan Edgar-Lee
Director of Curriculum Development
Susan has broad experience in education, science and travel. Wanderlust, combined with decades of literacy and language learning advocacy, fueled her journey to Scholastic Expeditions (SE). Her areas of focus ensure SE customer satisfaction. A BS in Biochemistry from UC Davis enabled an early stint as scientist at a biotech startup.
(1) Susan went on to become a high school science teacher. Improving materials and lab opportunities was at the center of her classrooms. Earning an MS in Education from Cal State East Bay, Susan mentored many colleagues along the way. Teaching AP Biology, she tripled the number and success rate of students' rigorous learning as measured by the College Board. Empowered by innovative curriculum (2), Susan led a successful drive for wider access to college preparatory pathways in the Livermore, CA school district.
An outdoor enthusiast, Susan believes collaborative learning and experiential education are building blocks to produce accomplished citizen scientists. Her students pioneered SE's popular exploration trip to the Channel Islands. This unique coastal site was chosen because it offers many chances for discovery learning in a richly diverse Pacific marine ecosystem. Susan also led students on a comparative SE journey through Costa Rica and Panama, where anthropology collides with ecology in two beautiful but very different rain-forested countries. After a successful career in public education, Susan has the opportunity as SE Curriculum Development Director to dive deeper into her particular passions. She is committed to both protecting our natural legacy and exposing future generations to educational experiences inside and outside the classroom, as SE offers a world of opportunities to shape 21st century learners.
1 R.E. Smith, J.W. Talhouk, E.E. Brown, S.E. Edgar, "The Significance of Hypersialylation of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (CD26) in the Inhibition of Its Activity by Tat and Other Cationic Peptides." AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, vol. 14, no. 10, pp. 851-868, 1 July, 1998.
2 Dr. Angelica Stacy, UC Berkeley chemistry professor, in association with the Lawrence Berkeley Hall of Science, Living By Chemistry, W.H.Freeman &Co., 2012.
Heather Sikes
Heather began working for Scholastic Expeditions after an amazing experience accompanying her daughter on the Costa Rica Program. Education and travel have always been passions for Heather. She's traveled to 28 countries and lived in England, Guatemala, and Mexico. Her Political Science degree from University of San Diego concentrated on International Relations, and she studied abroad with programs in Oxford, England and Cuernavaca, Mexico. Heather also interned at the World Affairs Council during college and worked in the International Study Abroad Center as the Student Coordinator for the Oxford Program. Heather later spent her career in social work with the American Red Cross and County Health & Human Services.
While continuing her education in community and international services at the Red Cross and Sacramento State University, Heather also pursued opportunities to engage in her kids education in and out of school. She's volunteered in classrooms, taught art to students, organized school international festivals, and remains a parent lead and advisory council member for a local youth-driven community service organization.
With her position at Scholastic Expeditions she sees an exciting return to combining her passions of education and travel. She finds great opportunity in helping teachers, kids, and parents explore the unique and life changing experiences that Scholastic Expeditions enrichment programs offer.
Nate Mori
Nate had his first student travel experience in high school when he embarked on a life-changing month-long expedition through the Rocky Mountains. Ever since, Nate has been on a mission to bring travel and experiential education opportunities to others.
Nate earned a degree in Recreation and Outdoor Education, which involved a semester long program training under a master educator of the Wilderness Education Association. He then returned to his home town to work at the Channel Islands National Park, where he led trips and managed sales for a local tourism and outdoor education company.
Now representing Scholastic Expeditions, Nate helps connect students and teachers with the expeditions that best fit their goals, always with the mission to bring their studies to life and to expand their horizons beyond what they knew was possible.
Ignacio (Nacho) Escorriola
Director of Costa Rica Operations
Nacho is a born and raised Costa Rican who has been interested and involved in the natural sciences since he was a child. Even though he grew up in San Jose, the capital city located in the Central Valley, his access to two oceans provided the perfect inspiration to become the marine biologist he is today. Nacho comes to Scholastic Expeditions with a vast and varied background in outdoor science education. He has worked for over 20 years as an Environmental Consultant and Environmental Educator. He has performed numerous services in both tourism and with rural communities doing Community Development Projects. Nacho has led and continues to lead students on programs throughout his country's many ecosystems. He loves his job as it unites his dual passions for teaching ecology and his beloved Costa Rica!
Nacho creates and develops all Scholastic Expeditions hands-on curriculum and trains our guides on any necessary methodologies.
In his spare time, he enjoys photography and being outdoors with his family hiking, mountain biking, and participating in water sports. Education:
1982-1988 – Bachelor of Science - Marine Biology from Universidad Nacional, Heredia, Costa Rica
1987-1988 – Student Exchange Program with East Carolina University
1988-1991 – Masters of Science -Marine Biology from University of North Carolina
1991-1992 – International Development Policies Graduate Program, Duke University, North Carolina
1999-2001 – Masters of Science - Interdisciplinary Ecology from University of Florida through a Fulbright Scholarship
2001-present – Ph. D in progress: "Freshwater Wetlands"
Kira Akka-Seidel
Program Outreach Coordinator
Kira has always been drawn to the outdoors. She grew up at the base of Mt. Tamalpais, just a short drive from Muir Woods in Northern California. Her oldest memories are of her running through the forest, staring up at the trees. With every outdoor education experience Kira's schools provided, her love for nature and passion for environmentalism grew. As a result, Kira attended a 4 month Marine Biology program on Cape Eleuthera, Bahamas during her junior year of High School. While there, Kira lived on a self-sustainable, community-based campus and worked with shark biologists at the neighboring research institute. She returned from her semester inspired and motivated to influence positive change in the world.
Kira graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz with a double major in Environmental Studies and Legal Studies with a focus in Environmental Policy. Eager to fuel conservation efforts through legislation, Kira interned for the Santa Cruz City Council and subsequently, the California State Senate. During her college tenure, Kira also worked for the university as the undergraduate tutor for three prerequisite Environmental Studies courses: Ecology & Evolution, Environmental Policy & Economics, and The Physical & Chemical Environment. Through tutoring, she discovered her enthusiasm for working with students.
Kira joined Scholastic Expeditions in January, 2018. She spent her first 7 months with SE promoting our inbound programs in Chennai, India. Since her return, she has been supporting outbound business development efforts while maintaining her work growing markets in India and Sri Lanka. Kira enjoys trekking, camping, exploring new terrains, and learning about different cultures. But there is nothing that makes Kira happier than swimming in the ocean.
Gabriel Hiroshi Tsuruta
Instructor for SE's Channel Islands Marine Program
Gabriel (Gabe, for short) has had a lifelong passion for travel, science, and learning at every opportunity. His grandfather took him and his brother traveling all around the world, always visiting new places with the intent to learn everything they could from the experience. He grew up in Los Angeles, and in high school he exceled at biology and writing. He went on to receive a BS in Aquatic Biology from UC Santa Barbara. As a college student, he worked at the school's REEF aquarium, where he fell in love with bringing the magic of the ocean to the next generation of scientists and informed citizens. Gabe was also the REEF's Abalone Aquarist, working to help two endangered species of marine snails, the Black and White Abalone, to recover from dangerously low populations due to overfishing, disease, and climate change. He has interned at the Aquarium of the Pacific, and conducted research at both UCSB's Parasitology Lab, and at the Crocodile Research Coalition in Placencia, Belize.
Gabe has been an instructor for Scholastic Expeditions since 2016. As a lover of all things invertebrate, he helps connect students with the creepy-crawly, sometimes alien-looking, but always amazing animals lying just below the water's surface. Gabe has also joined the marketing team to help bring the amazing experiences offered by Scholastic Expeditions to schools and students who haven't yet been on our one-of-a-kind trips before. He enjoys reading, tide-pooling, playing tennis, diving, and listening to metal music. His favorite phylum is Arthropoda, and he thinks pandas are overrated. In addition to SE, Gabe currently works at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife collecting data for recreational fishery management purposes. He also volunteers at the Aquarium of the Bay as a diver, and at the Steinhart Aquarium in the Cal Academy of Sciences in the husbandry department.
Scholastic Expeditions-Beyond the Classroom
Join a Program Lead a Program
SE is an experiential education company that designs and provides exceptional learning opportunities for students of all ages.
Scholastic Expeditions
5610 Scotts Valley Drive,
Suite 313 Scotts Valley, CA 95066
Email : info@scholasticexpeditions.org
© 2022 Scholastic Expeditions. All rights reserved.


text:
NaAC & ATB present: The Window Project with Carla Salter
Carla Salter
To me, art is a great escape from daily things. It makes me feel like I've had an emotional release. A lot of emotions went into making this work, and it feels good! To me, this piece is my pathway of colourful hope, but honestly, I just want to know what other people see in it.
I've mostly focused on using colouring books and markers, but NaAC introduces so many new ways of working! I'm so excited to try any of the new techniques the NaAC staff throw at me. It keeps me motivated to make more.
When we talked about how different combinations of shapes and colours can make you feel different things, it was like a whole other art dimension for me. I didn't really think about art that way.
Artist quote
"The tape painting came from my online lesson. It's kind of my thing now!"
How to support an artist like Carla
To support an artist Carla, click here.
Artwork Location - ATB Entrepreneur Centre
Pathways by Carla Salter


Shopping locally helps Violet Township businesses, employees, and residents - and the entire community - survive and thrive! Next time you need to buy something, want to go out to eat, or are looking for something fun to do, think first about where you can go in Violet Township to satisfy your interests. Opportunities abound for Violet Township residents and employees to shop locally to meet their needs - and support the local community at the same time.
National, regional, and independent local businesses all call the Violet Township marketplace home. Some of the areas largest retail stores include Kohls, Target, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, hhGregg, Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, Giant Eagle and Staples. However, the vast majority of retailers in Violet Township are smaller regional or local businesses that provide an invaluable range of services and products. The Shoppes at Olde Village Pickerington are a collective of businesses dedicated to bringing shoppers and visitors to the original "center of town" for a unique shopping experience.
Collectively, Violet Township's retail businesses employ thousands of individuals and add millions of dollars to the local economy.
Embrace Violet Township's diverse locally-owned and managed businesses.
Help independent Violet Township businesses compete more effectively, thereby maintaining a broader range of products and services in the marketplace.
Our local Chambers of Commerce are robust and thriving groups that are the baseline support agency for all our businesses, no matter their size. Canal Winchester, Reynoldsburg, and the Pickerington Area Chambers of Commerce are valuable assets for any business locating to this area.


text:
Reflections on COP 18, Doha
by Rashmi Mistry, Oxfam
In the deserts of Doha we saw a drought of climate action with developed countries coming to COP18 with no intention of agreeing to what developing countries needed from a deal. They offered no new emissions cuts, only keeping open the possibility of cutting them later, and – with only a couple of exceptions – no guarantees of new scaled-up finance in the next years. They also refused to commit to a new international mechanism to address loss and damage from climate impacts to which it is not possible to adapt.
After the fanfare of COP17 in Durban and the launch of yet another track of negotiations that will bring all countries under an international agreement called the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), Doha was expected to be a "transitional" COP. This was the one where the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol would be sealed and processes would be agreed with small but progressive steps towards averting the climate crisis.
The new Kyoto deal only covers 18% of global emissions and there was no sign in the Doha outcome of the level of emission cuts needed to keep temperature increases below 1.5C. So, when we are hurtling towards a 5 degree world, threatening to push millions more people into poverty and hunger, adaptation is ever more urgent. Rich countries, being historically responsible for most of the green house gases causing climate change, promised $100bn per year by 2020 to support developing countries adapt and develop along a low carbon pathway. The Fast Start Finance period, which was supposed to deliver $30bn by 2012, ended at the end of December, making COP18 the last chance for developed countries to commit to scale up climate finance from the new year.
But we came out of Doha with no commitments within the COP to increase finance beyond 2012 – just an announcements from individual countries. In fact Oxfam's research suggests total climate finance could drop this year. The Africa Group, Oxfam and a number of NGOs asked for a mere $60billion (or double Fast Start Finance levels) to be committed to begin the vital work of adaptation and low carbon development, but we got pushed back with lamentations of austerity measures and fiscal squeezes in the north. Yet at the very same time in the United States, President Obama raised $60 billion to put New York back on its feet after hurricane Sandy, to the dismay of developing countries, not least the Philippines who during COP18 experience another onset of extreme flooding killing over 30 people.
"There's nothing for us here, we have no voice" was the sad reflection from an African finance negotiator as he left the Doha conference room to catch his flight, exhausted and deflated after days of round the clock negotiations that once again ran into overtime and were seemingly stalled in the final plenary.
Despite holding out for a commitment on scaled up finance, emission cuts and a mechanism for addressing loss and damage, in the extended hours of the negotiations, when most African Ministers and negotiators had left it was clear that they had been pushed into accepting an outcome that had only had weak references to any of these. As we left Doha, the emotional call of the Philippines lead negotiator that was chanted by activists around the corridors of COP18 will echo on: "If not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?"
Overview of COP22, Marrakech
COP21: the final game begins
South Africa and Zimbabwe speak at COP 21 opening
Parys People's Climate Camp parallel to COP21
March against destructive coal parallel to COP 21
Reflections on Interfaith Dialogue at COP 21
Reflections on COP 20, Lima
Reflections on COP 19, Warsaw
Outcomes and shortcomings of COP 18, Doha
Events at COP 17, Durban


text:
Intelligence leaders and courts unite in renewed offensive against press freedoms
Current and former intelligence community leaders made their case for imprisoning journalists to the public through compliant corporate media outlets today while a federal judge gutted a historic court ruling protecting journalists and their sources. The court ruling could lead to the indefinite jailing of Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times journalist James Risen.
General Michael Hayden's comments leave little doubt that some in the Obama administration are strongly considering espionage charges against Glenn Greenwald who has been leading the journalistic investigations of NSA violations of US and international law through its bulk interception of virtually every phone call and email on planet Earth. Taken together with the mysterious death of investigative journalist Michael Hastings, the government's control of the press seems to tighten daily.
In a written op-ed for CNN, the former head of both the CIA and the NSA, Hayden, castigated both whistle-blower Edward Snowden, whom he likened to Benedict Arnold, and Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. His comments, proffered in his current role as "CNN Terrorism Analyst" openly called for Attorney General Eric Holder to prosecute Greenwald saying that he is "far more deserving of the Justice Department's characterization of a co-conspirator than Fox's James Rosen ever was."
If charged and convicted as an espionage co-conspirator as General Hayden seems to demand, Greenwald would face a life behind bars, possibly in solitary confinement. Greenwald lives in Brazil, a nation whose citizens were recently revealed to have been the target of wholesale spying by the NSA.
The current Director of National Intelligence, General Alexander, also appeared in public today to bolster support for NSA spying in a friendly venue, the Aspen Security Forum, a business friendly conference that is the subject of a special series by CNN. At the conference Alexander fielded softball questions in a town hall style interview where he used a mixture of patriotism and fear to make his case "We came together as a country and said never again," he said. "We don't want another 9/11."
Meanwhile, a court ruling could force James Risen to testify against his alleged source in the court case against Jeffery Sterling, a CIA agent fired after his equal employment suit against the agency was dismissed in 2004. The government argued that the racial and ethnic composition of the CIA was classified and thus there was no way Sterling could present his case.
Sterling was arrested and charged with mishandling classified information in 2010 after Risen refused to testify against him at grand jury proceedings in 2008. Sterling is alleged to have provided information for Risen's book State of War, which concerns covert CIA operations against the Iranian nuclear program. The communications between Sterling and Risen were intercepted via wiretap and the government later purloined Risen's credit and bank records.
A court is now free to jail Risen for refusing to testify against Sterling. The subpoena is an end run around a recent policy change at the Department of Justice, where the Attorney General has claimed he will no longer consider journalists to be co-conspirators in cases involving state secrets. This apparently means that media professionals that meet with the administrations approval will be required to testify against their sources, effectively turning the press into an arm of the intelligence community through coercion.
In other news, the First Amendment was pronounced dead today during a routine surgery. The cause of death will remain classified until 2113 but sources close to Dr. Obama's surgical team reveal that it happened during a botched lobotomy. Other portions of the Bill of Rights are scheduled for similar surgeries during the fall legislative session.
http://freepress.org/article/intelligence-leaders-and-courts-unite-renewed-offen...


text:
package org.sirix.access;

import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.NonNull;
import org.sirix.api.NodeReadOnlyTrx;
import org.sirix.api.NodeTrx;
import org.sirix.api.ResourceSession;
import org.sirix.cache.BufferManager;

import java.nio.file.Path;

public interface ResourceStore<R extends ResourceSession<? extends NodeReadOnlyTrx, ? extends NodeTrx>>
    extends AutoCloseable {

  /**
   * Open a resource, that is get an instance of a {@link ResourceSession} in order to read/write from
   * the resource.
   *
   * @param resourceConfig The resource configuration.
   * @param bufferManager  The buffer manager.
   * @param resourcePath   The resource to open.
   * @return A resource manager.
   * @throws NullPointerException if one if the arguments is {@code null}
   */
  R beginResourceSession(@NonNull ResourceConfiguration resourceConfig, @NonNull BufferManager bufferManager,
      @NonNull Path resourcePath);

  boolean hasOpenResourceSession(Path resourcePath);

  R getOpenResourceSession(Path resourcePath);

  @Override
  void close();

  boolean closeResourceSession(Path resourceFile);

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Jon R. Holt
Chairman and Principal Owner, Super Radiator Coils; Chairman and Principal Owner, Mead Metal Products
Bio: Jon R. Holt is a chairman and principal owner of Super Radiator Coils and Mead Metal Products. Super Radiator is a producer and recognized leader in the design and manufacture of original equipment and replacement fin/tube heat transfer products for air conditioning, heating refrigeration and industrial process applications. The Company has operations in Richmond, Virginia; Minneapolis; and Phoenix. Mead Metal Products, located in Shoreview, Minnesota, is a slitting and rolling distributor servicing local stamping businesses.
Prior to ownership of Super Radiator and Mead, Mr. Holt was vice president of manufacturing for the Lighting Systems Division of Sterner Lighting Systems, Inc. Preceding that, he served as executive vice president and general manager of Devac, Inc. a producer of high-performance aluminum windows. In addition, Mr. Holt held positions in the management at Wagner Spray Tech, Inc., Litton Microwave Cooking, Smith Systems Manufacturing and Alcoa Aluminum.
Mr. Holt earned his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan. His grandfather, father, wife, son, daughter and daughter-in-law are also University alumni. In 2002, he received the Alumni Society Distinguished Service Award from the College.
Mr. Holt earned his master's degree from the Purdue University Krannert School of Industrial Administration.


North York's Shoreham Walkway is a diverse neighbourhood where Halloween just isn't a "thing." It's a diverse community where everyone respects everyone else's holidays. Some celebrate Dwali, others Easter, but very few celebrate Halloween. Clara Stewart Robertson, from Toronto's Green Change, a Jane/Finch Centre satellite space that connects people to places and nature, brought a Pumpkin Parade to her neighbourhood. And in her neighbourhood Pumpkin Parades thrived, even without Halloween.
Many of the newcomers in North York neighbourhood where Stewart Robertson works aren't really "into" Halloween. The tradition of spending discretionary income on store bought costumes and buying candy, not to mention the holiday's associations with witchcraft, get in the way of it really taking off in the low income community.
But, regardless of people's feelings about Halloween, Stewart Robertson knew that pumpkin carving would be irresistible to kids in the neighbourhood, and could be used as a good tactic to lure parents into the park to build a relationship to their green space.
All of the pumpkins for the community carving session were donated by a local farm. The donation helped offset the costs and having them delivered directly to the park made transportation a non-issue. Many people in the neighbourhood rely on public transit and walking to get around. This makes purchasing a pumpkin highly impractical. "Can you imagine walking home from the grocery store with a pumpkin?" asks Stewart Robertson. Good point.
In addition to having a very busy pumpkin carving station where kids could work on their pumpkin carving, the organizers set up two other game stations to keep kids busy while they excitedly waited for their turn to carve. Also, they served up hot chocolate and pizza to keep people's spirits up.
"The kids particularly love getting messy because it's not something they get to do often," says Stewart Robertson, who notes that many of the kids showed up in their school uniforms. Of course, some kids cower at the idea of sticking their hands inside a dank, messy pumpkin the first time, but if you put kids in pairs, not everyone needs to go elbow deep in the pumpkin guts.
Even if Halloween isn't popular in your community, there are often harvest festivals that happen in the fall when other key goodies like tomatoes and corn are at their peak. Don't worry about skipping the whole Halloween "spooky" tradition and going straight to the joyful pumpkins. After all, any holiday can be a reason to celebrate.


text:
Henri Boucharon (August 15, 1917- April 13, 2006), better known by his adopted Lao name Keo Viphakone, was a Laotian diplomat, nationalist and public servant who demonstrated exemplary performance in his various government posts. For his achievements, he garnered several awards including Commander grade of the Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (1953), and Ramon Magsaysay Award for government service in 1967.

Personal life and education
The eldest of seven children, Keo belonged to an upper-middle-class family in Luang Prabang. His father was a French soldier and for this, he could have been a French citizen. When Keo's father returned to France after suffering an illness, he had attempted to take Keo with him but Keo's grandmother refused to let her favorite grandson go. The same grandmother almost succeeded in keeping Keo away from school until a teacher found him playing by a Mekong River tributary and brought him back to school.

While his school records show that his birth date was April 15, 1920 making it seem that he was eight years old at the time of his school admission, Keo was actually already eleven years old when he started his primary education.

Finishing at the top of his class at the Lycee in Vientiane where he learned French and English, he went on to enroll in Sisawat College in 1939. At the onset of the Japanese occupation of Cambodia, Keo entered the Training Center for Indochina Inspectors of Water and Forests of Phnom Penh where he graduated with distinction in 1941.

Career
After his studies in Cambodia, Keo returned to Laos to work at the Water and Forest Service. With Japan's defeat in World War II, Keo's nationalistic sentiments grew and he joined the Lao Issara movement. It was at this point in time when he decided to stop using his birth name.

Keo was appointed as chief of Cabinet by Prince Phetsarath Ratanavongsa when the latter established his government in October 1945. In 1946, French troops entered Laos and Lao Issara leaders including Keo were forced to flee to Thailand. While exiled, Keo started a charcoal-making and marketing project in order to raise funds for the Issara government. In 1949, Keo returned to Laos following the establishment of the Royal Lao Government and was named chief of the Forest and Land Division in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

From 1951 to 1958, Keo lived as a diplomat, first at the French High Commission as representative of Laos. He was posted in Paris as First Secretary of the Lao Embassy in 1953 where he was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for promoting friendship and understanding between Laos and France. At that time, he also served as Secretary General of the High Council of the French Union. He then served as counselor of the Royal Lao Embassy in Washington, D.C. From 195 to 1958 he was part of the Permanent Mission of Laos to the United Nations.

Keo returned to Laos in 1958 and took on the responsibility of improving the rural areas in Laos as administrator of the Rural Development Program. Challenges faced during those days were insufficient roads and bridges, schools, teachers, wells, sanitary facilities, dispensaries, and health workers. On the other hand, the ongoing fight between the government and the communists became a hindrance to development efforts. Obtaining foreign aid, Keo was able to pull off the Rural Development Plan with the construction of 701 schools; 153 dispensaries, markets, training centers, crematories and warehouses; 203.5 kilometers of roads; 72 bridges and 10 air strips; 14 irrigation systems, 44 water storage and flood control dams; and 15 fishponds. In addition, villagers and soldiers were trained in rural development techniques.

Under the 11th Royal Lao Government, Keo served as Minister of Economics and Rural Development Affairs from April 5, 1960 to August 9, 1960. From March 23, 1962 to June 1974, under the 14th Lao Three-Party Government, he was Vice-Minister of Social Welfare. He kept this post even after the government reshuffle under Souvanna Phouma's 14th government.

As Laotian ambassador to France from December 1974, Keo sought political asylum in France with the ongoing war between the government and the Communists. He lived with his relatives while in Paris.

Later on as Secretary of State for Social Welfare, Keo gained the support of Filipino organization Operation Brotherhood to train workers needed in the programs that he developed. As Laos's demand for skilled labor increased, Keo initiated studies on labor laws in Laos which led to the creation of the Labor Department which shall focus on developing skilled manpower.

Throughout his career as public servant, Keo lived in integrity and simplicity, having a simple house and without even a car of his own.

Honors
 Chevalier of the Legion of Honour (1953)
 Order of the Million Elephants and the White Parasol, Grand Cross with Collar and Commander grades
Order of the Reign of Laos
Order of Civic Merit of Laos
 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service (1967)
Combat Veteran's Medal of Laos
 Medal of the Kingdom of Laos in Gold
 Medal of the Lao Veterans Legion

References

External links
 Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation
 Unforgettable Laos

Ramon Magsaysay Award winners
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
Ambassadors of Laos to France
1917 births
2006 deaths
People from Luang Prabang
Laotian people of French descent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Can't find Python executable "python2.7.9", you can set the PYTHON env variable I'm running below command to setup Hyperledger Composer development tools.
I'm using below command:
npm install -g composer-cli

But each time I'm getting below error message:
gyp ERR! configure error
gyp ERR! stack Error: **Can't find Python executable "python2.7.9", you can set the PYTHON env variable.**
gyp ERR! stack     at PythonFinder.failNoPython (/Users/vikasbanage/.nvm/versions/node/v8.11.1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/configure.js:483:19)
gyp ERR! stack     at PythonFinder.<anonymous> (/Users/vikasbanage/.nvm/versions/node/v8.11.1/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/node-gyp/lib/configure.js:397:16)

I have set up env variable but no luck.
Please help


text:
"We cannot tolerate this loss of life & destruction of property" – Ramaphosa on truck attacks
Home » News » South African News » "We cannot tolerate this loss of life & destruction of property" – Ramaphosa on truck attacks
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the violence and vandalism that is affecting the road freight industry and has commended the police for the arrests made in Gauteng
News24 reported that five trucks were set alight on the R59, between Parys and Sasolburg, just before 21:00 on Saturday. Last week, nine trucks with trailers were torched in Heidelberg.
"The president offers his sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of drivers who have lost their lives through the intimidation and violence perpetrated by criminals," Presidency spokesperson Tyrone Seale said in a statement on Tuesday.
"The president also offers his wishes for a speedy recovery to drivers who have sustained physical injuries and psychological trauma during these incidents."
Seale said Ramaphosa was deeply concerned about the effect of the violence on owners and employees of the affected trucking companies, as well as the economic disruption caused by the acts at a time when the country is focused on rebuilding the economy.
5 Things you need to have if you're trying to lose weight
"As South Africans, we cannot possibly tolerate the mindless and bloody lawlessness with which the road freight industry is being targeted. We cannot tolerate this loss of life and destruction of property," Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa welcomed arrests made in Gauteng.
He said he was confident that perpetrators in all parts of the country would be brought to book.
The president has directed Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi and the ministers of transport, home affairs and police to submit a report on the matter to him.
Kids 'beaten' by teachers: Moms head to court
The teachers admitted to beating the kids.
Watch: Gang robs jewellery store in CT mall
Brackenfell police are investigating a case of robbery after jewellery was stolen from a mall in Cape Town on Sunday.
Man with gunshot wound crashes into woman's fence
A man with a gunshot wound drove his car through a palisade fence in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon.
7 000 People arrested for not wearing faces masks will have criminal record – Cele
Police Minister Bheki Cele has warned that those arrested for not wearing face masks in public will face the prospect of life with criminal records.
"I thought he was dead!" – Mom reunited with baby delivered while she was unconscious
A mom has finally been reunited with her son after spending Christmas at home thinking that he had died. #Coronavirus #Pregnancy
Winde worried about 52,1% increase in Covid-19 cases in WC


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text:
Demo page for the
[shift-forth](https://github.com/drom/shift-forth)
->
[online](http://drom.github.io/shift-forth/editor.html)


Hope all is good. We are right around the corner from flip-flops and beach towels, or mountain hikes and hammocks. Well… I'm hoping that you've got some plans in the works anyway. Somehow in Cambodia it's always flip-flops, whether for the heat or wading through the flooded streets. And hammocks are like a Swiss Army knife accessory, they just sort of unfold out of your pocket whenever necessary.
May was filled with volume and variety. We had a family reunion and memorial, smoking sewing machines, a big bag sell out, campaigning caravans, and a national election.
Naome's uncle, aunt, cousin and 'cousin-in-law' were here from New Zealand for a month-long visit. Naome hadn't seen her uncle and aunt for four years and she'd never met her cousin. So, it was fun getting to know them. We had four days together in Kampong Thom, Naome's hometown, where they held a memorial service for the third anniversary of her grandfather's passing. By the way, there is no easy read on a family tree in Cambodia because every one of the 400 plus people I was introduced to was a cousin of sorts. Anyway, it was the best kind of family reunion/memorial. There were a few tears, but it was mostly smiles, laughs, old stories, good food, and lots of dancing. Speaking of food; have you ever tried duck tongue? Now, I have. Not bad, definitely a finger food and not a main-course, something like a french fry with a little cartilage.
Just for reference, most families in Phnom Penh or other larger Cambodian cities have three to five kids while families in the countryside average ten to twelve. So, it's more of a family forest than a family tree.
Off to the races; May saw a very busy sewing room. Charvy, Theary, Channy, Lida, and Karona completed more than sixty bags in three weeks, which included learning two new styles, creating patterns, cutting, sewing, and putting on the final touches. We were filling an order for our friends at Foursquare Missions Press who wanted to bring them to the national conference. Their concept is that for every bag they sell, they will give away a bag packed full of education and daily essentials to a child in need. We're happy to say they sold out of all the bags, and we're working on a follow up order. Thank you Sarah and Phil. And, thank you Sam for being our sherpa, and muscling all our bags to Phoenix.
May 18th was Naome's birthday so the month gave us another reason to celebrate. We had a little day out and also a spring roll party on our balcony with some close friends. I think seeing the cake gave Eli a little excitement for September, and her first birthday.
The month wrapped up with parades here, there and everywhere; up this street and down that one. Trucks were packed with drums, dancers, loud speakers, and general hoopla. The CPP (Cambodian People's Party) was the main show in town, and whether people are even aware of other 20 plus political parties it seems the CPP carries the 'go-with-the-flow vote'. So last weekend, the very smooth, and well-organized elections were completed. Each person showing they had made their vote by sporting their vibrant purple index finger.
I think Eli is learning her alphabet by sleeping in the shape of each letter. It's not so bad when she's working on 'I' and 'L'. But, she seems to practice a lot with 'X' and 'K'. Then she uses Naome and me for the sides on her capital 'H' as she plays the perpendicular piece between us. I know there are debated pros and cons for having your baby sleep in bed with you, but right now I have to say it's 99% pro. I work with the alphabet everyday too.
Naome is done with school and passed her last finals with flying colors getting A's and B's in all her classes from virology and immunopathology to hematology clinical bacteriology as well as a few other 'ologies'. Now, she will go on to spend some time in an internship and work on a thesis. Wooo hooo….
So, the flip-flops are moving along, and God's doing good things. Thank you for your friendship, emails, and prayers.


« Can I trust Mr. Heisler with my sensitive invention information?
It is a violation of federal law to use the phrase "patent pending" or similar language improperly. Some forms of patent applications are very easy to file and can even be filed without the assistance of an attorney, or with limited attorney assistance so that you can be legitimately "patent pending" quickly, easily and inexpensively. Patent applications filed informally can be upgraded later to a higher quality form when planned correctly. If this strategy is of interest for you, ask Mr. Heisler about filing "provisional" patent applications.
This entry was posted in F.A.Q.. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.


text:
Public Relations Manager Salary in Vermont
How much does a Public Relations Manager make in Vermont? The average Public Relations Manager salary in Vermont is $107,131 as of December 28, 2020, but the range typically falls between $93,804 and $123,002. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on the city and many other important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.
Public Relations Manager Salaries by Percentile
10th Percentile Public Relations Manager Salary $81,669 VT December 28, 2020
50th Percentile Public Relations Manager Salary $107,131 VT December 28, 2020
25% $93,804 10% $81,669 90% $137,451 75% $123,002 $107,131 50%(Median)
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Job Description for Public Relations Manager
Public Relations Manager develops and implements policies and procedures for the public relations department. Maintains favorable public image for employer or client by communicating programs, accomplishments, and/or points of view. Being a Public Relations Manager evaluates all forms of communications before release to ensure accuracy and appropriateness of message and authorizes release. Prepares and distributes news releases, fact sheets, scripts, etc. to media outlets. Additionally, Public Relations Manager requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a head of a unit/department. The Public Relations Manager manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Extensive knowledge of department processes. To be a Public Relations Manager typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 to 3 years supervisory experience may be required. (Copyright 2021 Salary.com)...View full job description
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Public Relations Manager's Average Annual Base Salary
Location Barre, VT Avg. Salary $108,543 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Bennington, VT Avg. Salary $112,432 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Essex, VT Avg. Salary $109,544 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Williston, VT Avg. Salary $109,544 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Adamant, VT Avg. Salary $108,543 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Albany, VT Avg. Salary $108,543 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Alburgh, VT Avg. Salary $108,543 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Arlington, VT Avg. Salary $112,388 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Ascutney, VT Avg. Salary $114,029 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Location Averill, VT Avg. Salary $108,543 Date Updated December 28, 2020
Career Path for Public Relations Manager
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What does a Public Relations Manager do?
Public Relations Manager in Albany, NY
Requires a high level of creative, original and independent thinking.
Public Relations Manager in Alpharetta, GA
Supports senior leaders to be inspiring communicators and leads the planning and delivery of timely and engaging employee engagement activities.
Designs, develops and delivers engaging campaigns and content that support internal and external communication plans and business objectives.
About Vermont
Vermont is located in the New England region of the Northeastern United States and comprises 9,614 square miles (24,900 km2), making it the 45th-largest state. It is the only state that does not have any buildings taller than 124 feet (38 m). Land comprises 9,250 square miles (24,000 km2) and water comprises 365 square miles (950 km2), making it the 43rd-largest in land area and the 47th in water area. In total area, it is larger than El Salvador and smaller than Haiti. It is the only landlocked state in New England, and it is also the easternmost and the smallest in area of all landlocked sta...
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About Vermont Vermont is located in the New England region of the Northeastern United States and comprises 9,614 square miles (24,900 km2), making it the 45th-large....More
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Salary estimation for Public Relations Manager at companies like : FONAR CORP, INTERPACE BIOSCIENCES INC, PRECIPIO INC
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text:
Untapped potential: what's behind Georgia's hydropower slowdown?
December 12, 2021 Josef Gassmann 0
Georgia has become increasingly reliant on energy imports in recent years, yet state support for domestic hydropower development has waned over fears of mounting fiscal risks. How justified are these concerns, and what are the potential consequences of failing to build out the country's green energy resources?
The number of hydropower plants being built in Georgia has slowed to a trickle in recent years. Shovel-ready projects have found it hard to move forward. The latest example is the $800 million Namakhvani HPP project, canceled after Turkish industrial conglomerate Enka terminated its contract with the Georgian government in late September following months of conflict and obstacles in moving forward.
Renewable energy sources have even lost ground in the total share of Georgia's total power consumption. Data from the Georgian electricity market operator ESCO show that in 2016, thermal power plants and imports accounted for just 22.9% of all electricity consumed in Georgia, while by 2020, the share of non-renewables and imports had increased to 34%, with the share of hydro sinking from 81% to 65% over the span of 2016-2020.
The hydropower slowdown is a problem not only because of the country's obligations to the EU to move in step with the bloc's plans to reach a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. 5% average annual growth in domestic energy consumption and the blossoming of a crypto-banana republic in Russian-occupied, breakaway Abkhazia have made Georgia a net energy importer since 2017, obliging the country to purchase between 11-13% of its annual electricity volume. Considerable dependence on natural gas imports from Azerbaijan and Russia to run the country's thermal power plants further exacerbates the looming energy security problem.
Put entirely to use, Georgia's annual hydropower generation potential is between 30-56 TWh per year, Norwegian Water Resources estimates in a recent report. At the high end, this is more than four times the volume of electricity the country currently consumes. Yet just a fraction of these resources are being used. Why?
An incentive mechanism called a power purchasing agreement (PPA) was on offer to investors up until 2017 and drove much investment until that point. The incentive has since been taken off the table due to fiscal concerns. Now the question is whether the government and the private sector will be able to find a solution that works for both parties.
Power purchasing agreements for all
Georgia was brimming with opportunities in hydropower in 2008 when the state launched a support program to promote investment in renewable energy projects, the main offering of which were power purchasing agreements (PPA) on attractive terms.
A power purchasing agreement is a long-term electricity supply agreement between two parties – a power producer and a customer, often the state. The agreement obliges the customer to purchase a certain volume of electricity at a defined price over a set period of time. The agreement also stipulates when commercial operation is supposed to begin, and covers termination and other contractual issues.
Activity in Georgian hydro picked up around 2012, when the sector began attracting what some industry experts say was the wrong kind of interest: speculators looking to secure, sit on and pawn off PPAs when market prices would rise.
Speculation itself isn't always a problem, and can foster competitive market growth. But as of January 2020, the Ministry of Economy had a portfolio of outstanding agreements with approximately 60 HPP projects (currently at various stages of development) which had been awarded PPAs and which are now the focal point of a discussion about how – and whether – to push the country's green energy agenda forward.
Can't live with 'em
The IMF penned a letter to the Georgian government in 2017 advising the latter to determine whether it could weather the storm of financial vulnerability to which it would be exposed during a period of cyclical economic downturn due to its obligations taken on under the dozens of PPAs signed since 2008.
The Georgian Ministry of Finance calculated that the risk was indeed too high, and placed a moratorium on new PPAs that same year, claiming the state could face nearly 1 billion GEL (approx. $320 million) in exposure during the downturn of an 8-10 year economic boom-bust cycle, when it would have to purchase excess energy uncleared by the market due to the downturn in economic activity.
The calculation's methodology assumes the construction and exploitation of all of the country's outstanding hydropower projects that have been awarded PPAs (including the now-cancelled Namakhvani project, which alone would have accounted for a hefty percentage of the figure cited above), and a future market price of 6 cents per KWh, extrapolated from current import prices.
The ministry has since been nearly unwavering in its decision to put a pause on PPAs, and doubled down on its stance when Covid-19 sent the Georgian economy plummeting, which was "[a moment that] highlighted the importance of mitigating such contingent liabilities … and we used this opportunity to announce a more complete moratorium on PPAs", the ministry's Head of Fiscal Responsibility Department, Shota Gunia, told Investor.ge.
The ministry's goal is not to interrupt investments, Gunia stresses. "The MoF is responsible for ensuring sustainability. Our interest here is not in the quantity of investments, a phenomenon we have seen in the past, but in their quality. We see PPAs as a serious contingent liability, and we believe there are alternatives that will be acceptable to both the state and the private sector."
The Ministry of Finance concedes that the calculation methodology could be construed as contentious, but notes that the important takeaway is that the exposure is 'very large' and that both the IMF and the World Bank allegedly 'share our opinion and feeling of alarm about the situation.'
Other reasons the MoF remains skeptical of PPAs pertain to budgetary concerns: "When you disclose information in the state budget, the parliament doesn't know that this [PPA] liability exists because it's contingent, which doesn't exactly go into the balance sheet. It's in the annex. So it is a kind of tool, a conduit, that can be used for financial misconduct. We want to ensure this doesn't happen."
In place of PPAs, the Ministry of Finance has offered developers the incentive of feed-in premiums (FIPs) – a guarantee of up to an additional 1.5 cents on the kWh, with the final price not exceeding 5.5 cents.
The offer has not gone entirely shunned. The ministry claims more than 25 projects with a potential total installed capacity of 525 MW, that's about one-ninth of Georgia's current generation capacity, have either agreed to sign up for FIP agreements or transitioned from PPAs to FIPs since the introduction of the mechanism in July 2020. However, many of these projects already had expiring PPA agreements, and decided to proceed with FIP agreements to avoid walking away entirely empty handed. Whether these long-standing projects will continue on into development is another question.
FIPs address the MoF's budgetary concerns, says Gunia: "The FIP system reduces liabilities enormously. And here, they're not really contingent liabilities: we can budget for this. It becomes a line item approved by Parliament. This solves the transparency issue for us."
Can't live without 'em
But FIPs don't address the concerns of the private sector, which remains largely unconvinced.
Georgian Renewable Energy Development Association (GREDA) CEO Giorgi Abramishvili says that the Georgian market is too small and the future price of electricity on the upcoming competitive energy market, due to launch in March 2022, too unpredictable to justify investing in new projects at this time without the provision of incentives more substantial than feed-in premiums.
"PPAs can cover the financial risks of operating on a market with as many unknowns as Georgia, at least for a time until the competitive power markets are operational. It is unimaginable that investors will come without the restoration of PPAs," Abramishvili says.
FIPs do not appear attractive to either investors or financial institutions, the GREDA chair notes, and may even pose two serious risks to project profitability in the face of the new market: "State-owned HPPs such as the Enguri HPP [ed. which accounts for more than 35% of energy consumed in Georgia, not including Abkhazia] have too much clout in setting the market rate because of their large production volume and low tariffs. Power plants that come online with FIPs too early could end up exposed to the downward price pressure. What investor wants to take on that risk?"
Similar potential pressure lurks outside Georgia's borders as well: aggressively predisposed neighbors could strike a serious blow against Georgia's energy sector by taking advantage of the country's liquid-market-to-be through dumping, rendering FIPs unsustainable.
Therefore, Abramishvili argues, PPAs must be retained, if only for their value as price floors, and provide security for banks, investors and the grid as a whole.
Many in the private sector say feed-in premiums may be a great target for the future, several years after the power sector has settled following competitive market reforms. This will allow for the generation of real market prices, and only then will the offerings of an FIP system be worth assessing.
But energy security advocates insist Georgia doesn't have the luxury of being able to wait years before continuing the pursuit of a green future. Focusing exclusively on current power needs means the country could end up more dependent on dirty power: fossil fuels and gas-fired thermal generation from its neighbors.
This trend is already observable on the market in the absence of state support for clean energy. The Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission's (GNERC) annual report shows that generation capacity grew 5.6% (253 MW) in 2020, of which 230 MW (91%) was accounted for by the installation of a thermal power station in Gardabani (read – gas from Azerbaijan). The six remaining HPPs added just .5% generation capacity in 2020.
Private sector investors have objected to the position taken by the Ministry of Finance on other grounds as well, one of the first and foremost being that some level of risk is unavoidable when building an energy portfolio for the future, if only because of the rate at which power plants' operability declines (approximately 5% yearly over the long term).
The nearly 1 billion GEL ($320 million) exposure has to be further measured against the fact that the country's consumers are already spending $50 million a year on imports to cover shortfalls in domestic energy production, which would outweigh the
expected shock of an 8-10-year economic cycle downturn. Moreover, there is an argument to be made that the potential loss of 1 billion GEL spread out over nearly a decade in an economy with a gross annual GDP of nearly $16 billion is stomachable to keep the lights on and ensure energy security.
To boot, the billions of dollars in investments (the Namakhvani HPP alone had a projected investment size of $800 million) behind hydropower plant projects offer substantial tax revenue streams, developers argue, both at the initial construction stage and once in operation. Furthermore: one kilowatt hour produced in Georgia has a different economic value than one KWh that has been imported. Energy produced in Georgia means jobs and taxes, in addition to improved energy security, all of which would have to be weighed against the risk of facing a large theoretical payout in the future.
A final point made by private sector stakeholders: mechanisms are in place on both the current and coming markets to prevent arbitrary energy production and subsequent unjustified claims to payment from state coffers. Grid operator GSE currently has a dispatch license and can control production levels; power plants are unable to generate power in situations where it is not needed. On the coming markets, however, power plants will have more freedom to schedule production, and will be rewarded for correctly forecasting additional needed resources, but will also be penalized for oversaturating.
Hope for compromise?
Whether or not PPAs present serious fiscal risks to the state budget is debatable, and there are a number of other issues facing the sector.
A spokesperson for the 5-year USAID Securing Georgia's Energy Future program told Investor.ge that the implementation of the competitive energy market mentioned earlier is absolutely critical, as it will provide potential investors with access to real data about local market conditions and prices.
Energy pundits in the country often say that political resolve to push the country's energy sector forward also seems lacking, particularly in light of Enka's recent decision to terminate its contract with the state, which may have repercussions for the energy field for years to come.
"Regardless of the myriad of issues, taking a long-term approach is necessary to ensure stable growth in Georgia's energy sector," says the USAID Securing Georgia's Energy Future program spokesperson. "Demand has grown steadily in the past decade, faster than generation has been able to keep pace with, even with the addition of gas-fired power plants. PPAs may have their associated issues, but they are critical for the bankability of projects that the country so very needs."
But there's a caveat here: PPAs only have to remain a part of the local investment ecosystem for a limited period of time. Indeed, Georgia's power market is scheduled to 'go liquid' in 2022, and long-term PPAs could distort market prices:
"So, what we really need is a 'transition solution'", the spokesperson notes. "Just one of the potential compromises we'll be promoting will be agreements based on mixed use of both PPAs and FIPs."
There are yet other compromises the program says warrant discussion. Stalled HPP projects with PPAs could be reworked, or their license rescinded to make room for other potential plants which have a chance of meeting with less public resistance and running up against less red tape and technical barriers. Yet another interesting proposal: a mechanism that would adjust PPA payments against project IRRs, addressing concerns that PPAs could pose large fiscal risks to the budget, while assuring investors that returns would be guaranteed to a certain extent.
In response to the issues mentioned above, the Ministry of Finance notes that its "existing PPA portfolio highlights that [it] has an appetite for risk," but how that will manifest in a more secure and eco-friendly future for the country's power sector remains to be seen.
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Rachel Kyte is included in the POLITICO Morning Energy newsletter as the new dean of The Fletcher School.
Rachel Kyte has been added as the new dean of Tufts' Fletcher School, starting in October. Kyte is a special representative of the U.N. secretary-general and CEO of Sustainability for All. She is also the former vice president of sustainable development at the World Bank.