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Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) Q2 2020 Earnings Call Transcript
WLKP earnings call for the period ending June 30, 2020.
Aug 7, 2020 at 10:30AM
Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE:WLKP)
Q2 2020 Earnings Call
Aug 6, 2020, 12:00 p.m. ET
Good afternoon. Thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Westlake Chemical Partners Second Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] As a reminder, this conference call is being recorded today, August 6, 2020.
I would now like to turn the call over to today's host, Jeff Holy, Westlake Chemical Partners' Vice President and Treasurer. Sir, you may begin.
Jeff Holy -- Vice President and Treasurer
Thank you, Michelle. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the Westlake Chemical Partners second quarter 2020 conference call. I'm joined today by Albert Chao, our President and CEO; Steve Bender, our Senior Vice President and CFO; and other members of our management team.
During this call, we refer to ourselves as Westlake Partners or the Partnership. References to Westlake or Westlake Chemical refer to our parent company, Westlake Chemical Corporation, and references to OpCo refer to Westlake Chemical OpCo LP, a subsidiary of Westlake Chemical and the Partnership, which owns certain olefins assets. Additionally, when we refer to distributable cash flow, we're referring to Westlake Chemical Partners' MLP distributable cash flow. Definitions of these terms are available on the Partnership's website.
Today, management is going to discuss certain topics that will contain forward-looking information that is based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. These forward-looking statements suggest predictions or expectations and thus are subject to risks or uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially based upon many factors, including operating difficulties, the volume of ethylene that we are able to sell, the price at which we are able to sell ethylene, changes in the prevailing economic conditions, actual and proposed governmental regulatory actions, competitive products and pricing pressures, the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to borrow funds and access capital markets at a reasonable cost, and other risk factors discussed in our SEC filings.
This morning, Westlake Partners issued a press release with details of our second quarter 2020 financial and operating results. This document is available on the Press Release section of our web page at wlkpartners.com. A replay of today's call will be available beginning two hours after the conclusion of this call. The replay may be accessed by dialing the following numbers. Domestic callers should dial 855-859-2056. International callers may access the replay at 404-537-3406. The access code is 3867318. Please note that information reported on this call speaks only as of today, August 6, 2020, and therefore, you're advised that time-sensitive information may no longer be accurate as of the time of any replay.
I would finally advise you that this conference call is being broadcast live through an Internet webcast system that may be accessed on our web page at wlkpartners.com.
Now, I'd like to turn the call over to Albert Chao. Albert?
Albert Chao -- President and Chief Executive Officer
Thank you, Jeff. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and good afternoon to those on the East Coast. Thank you for joining us to discuss our second quarter 2020 results.
These are extraordinary and unprecedented times. Before we discuss the quarter, I would like to acknowledge this has been and continues to be a very challenging time, and our thoughts are with those affected by COVID-19. Our first priority is to ensure the health and safety of our employees, who continue to work diligently to serve our customers to produce essential products in these uncertain times. Although this pandemic is creating short-term turbulence, our long-term fundamentals and thesis remain strong.
Turning to our financials. In this morning's press release, reported consolidated net income, including OpCo's earnings, of $80 million for the second quarter of 2020. Westlake Partners' second quarter net income was $15 million. These solid financial results are a testament to the stability generated from our fixed margin ethylene sales agreement for 95% of our sales and resulting consistency of our cash flow stream. Our ethylene facilities ran well and delivered solid financial performance with slightly lower production in the second quarter. I will note that year-to-date production volumes are only down approximately 2% versus the same period in 2019. The ethylene fuel agreement provides for Westlake Chemical, our investment-grade rated sponsor, to purchase 95% of annual plant production each year at a fixed margin, thus insulates us from commodity price volatility and produces predictable cash flows.
I would now like to turn our call over to Steve to provide more detail on the financial and operating results for the second quarter. Steve?
M. Steven Bender -- Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director
Thank you, Albert, and good day, ladies and gentlemen. In this morning's press release, we reported consolidated net income, including OpCo's earnings, of $80 million on consolidated sales of $239 million for the second quarter of 2020. Westlake Partners' second quarter net income was $15 million or $0.43 per unit. The Partnership had distributable cash flow for the quarter of $17 million or $0.48 per unit.
Second quarter 2020 net income for Westlake Partners of $15 million increased by $1 million compared to second quarter 2019 Partnership net income of $14 million. The increased net income was primarily attributable to the higher earnings on production sold to Westlake. The increase was partially offset by slightly lower production at OpCo.
Distributable cash flow of $17 million for the second quarter of 2020 increased by $1 million compared to second quarter 2019 distributable cash flow. This increase was attributable to higher earnings on production sold to Westlake and reduced maintenance capital expenditures for the quarter, partially offset by lower production and increased turnaround reserve.
The Partnership's second quarter 2020 net income of $15 million decreased by $3 million from the first quarter 2020. Second quarter 2020 distributable cash flow of $17 million decreased $1 million from first quarter 2020 distributable cash flow of $18 million. These decreases were the result of slightly lower production at OpCo. The impact of this lower production was partially offset by earnings on ethylene sold to Westlake.
For the first six months of 2020, net income for the Partnership of $33 million increased $4 million from the first six months of 2019 net income to the Partnership of $29 million. MLP distributable cash flow of $35 million increased $1 million from the first six months of -- from last year MLP distributable cash flow of $34 million. The increases in net income and MLP distributable cash flow were partially due to the earnings on ethylene sold to Westlake and partially offset by a lower production. Distributable cash flow had an additional favorable benefit of reduced maintenance capital expenditures for the period, partially offset by increased turnaround reserves.
Turning our attention to the balance sheet and cash flows. At the end of the second quarter, we had a consolidated cash balance of $24 million in cash invested with Westlake Chemical through our investment management agreement of $171 million. The $171 million in cash invested through the investment management agreement includes cash generated from operations throughout the quarter as well as the reserve for turnaround expenditures. Long-term debt at the end of the quarter was $400 million, of which $377 million was at the Partnership and $23 million was at OpCo. For the second quarter of 2020, OpCo spent $8 million in capital expenditures. For the second quarter of 2020, we maintained strong leverage metrics with a consolidated leverage ratio below 1 times and a net capitalization ratio below 25%.
The turnaround of our Petro 2 ethylene unit was originally scheduled to occur in September 2020. Due to the continued strong performance of Petro 2 and in order to reduce COVID-19 risk to employees and contractors, the turnaround has been deferred until the first half of 2021. We are continuing to finalize our plan for the turnaround, and we will provide further details of the turnaround of Petro 2 cracker later in 2020. The cost of this turnaround has been included in the amount we charge Westlake Chemical for ethylene and is expected to be fully reserved for at the commencement of the turnaround.
The Partnership's predictable fee-based cash flow continues to be an attractive attribute in today's uncertain economic environment. Given the predictability of our earnings and cash flows and continued market dislocation, we have kept our distribution consistent with the prior quarter. Our cash flow will allow the Partnership to continue distributions at the current level while maintaining our targeted 1.1 times distribution coverage, thus eliminating the need to access the equity capital markets. We will continue to evaluate market conditions in future quarters and assess when and how we apply our four growth levers.
On July 31, 2020, we announced distributions of $0.4714 per unit with respect to the second quarter, an increase of approximately 3% over the second quarter of 2019. Since our IPO in 2014, the Partnership has made 24 consecutive quarterly distributions to unitholders, and we have grown distributions 71% since the Partnership's originally -- original quarterly distribution of $0.275 per unit.
For the 12 months ending June 30, 2020, distributable cash flow provided coverage of 1.13 times the declared distributions. The second quarter's Partnership distribution will be paid on August 24, 2020, to unitholders of record on August 10, 2020.
Now, let me turn the call back over to Albert to make some closing comments. Albert?
Thank you, Steve. We are pleased with the Partnership's solid financial performance and ability to continue to deliver strong production volumes. As Steve mentioned, we had slightly lower ethylene production in the second quarter. While production was lower versus the prior year period, we remain confident that 2020 as a whole will be a strong production year, delivering solid financial performance. Outlook for ethylene remains strong, and our parent, Westlake Chemical, has seen improving market conditions that began in May and continues to the present time period.
We believe the predictable fee-based cash flow structure from its take-or-pay contract with our parent, Westlake Chemical, for 95% of OpCo's production provides a stable and predictable cash flow. This predictable cash flow should be an even more attractive investment thesis in today's uncertain economic environment and market volatility caused by COVID-19 as well as the low interest rate environment. As Steve outlined, our predictable cash flows provide an ability to sustain our existing distribution without relying on external sources of capital, thus providing us with greater flexibility in this environment. This also provides us the ability to optimize growth in distribution and financing decisions that will have a beneficial impact to our unitholders. As the market condition recovers, we anticipate these strong financial attributes will be better reflected in the unit price of the Partnership.
We have maintained a strong balance sheet with conservative financial and leverage metrics. As we continue to navigate the evolving market conditions, prepare for return to a normalized market, we'll evaluate opportunities via our four levers of growth, including increases of our ownership interest of OpCo; acquisitions of other qualified income streams, such as Westlake's interest in the LACC ethylene cracker; organic growth opportunities, such as expansions of our current ethylene facilities; and negotiations of a higher fixed margin in our ethylene sales agreement with Westlake. As market dislocations correct and the utilization of the aforementioned four levers, we believe we have the capability to provide continuing value to our unitholders over the long term. As always, we'll continue to operate safely along with being good stewards of the environment and the communities in which we live and work.
Thank you very much for listening to our second quarter 2020 earnings call. Now, I'll turn the call back over to Jeff.
Thank you, Albert. Before we begin taking questions, I'd like to remind you that a replay of this teleconference will be available starting today at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Michelle, we will now take questions.
[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from Arun Viswanathan of RBC.
Arun Viswanathan -- RBC Capital Markets -- Analyst
Good morning. Thanks for taking my questions. Hope you guys are doing well.
Thank you. You too.
On vinyls, maybe you can just give us your perspective on the caustic market. We had several months of increases and then we saw a downtick here in July. And usually, the caustic market is either going up or down. So, do you expect, I guess, continued declines here as PVC operating rates and vinyl operating rates continue to remain relatively high? Or do you expect operating rates there to come down later in the year on construction and maybe caustic regains some pricing momentum? How are you thinking about that trade-off?
Arun, as you know, the caustic market is not as seasonal as the PVC market. And so certainly, we have seen price announcements and demand strength in PVC. So that does pull on more chlorine, which puts more cost into the market. So while we've seen price combinations starting in February, March and April by the industry, totaling $160 a ton to $195 a ton, a lot of the answer to your question is highly dependent upon how we see the manufacturing and industrial demand recover. And whether it recovers more strongly or not will really drive whether we're able to see further traction in caustic pricing during the course of 2020.
So, as we look forward, we're certainly seeing strength in PVC and, therefore, a stronger pull on chlorine and you're right, puts more caustic in the market. But the real strength in caustic will be very dependent upon how quickly the industrial manufacturing side of the economy picks up and begins to more fully recover.
All right. Great. That's helpful. And then maybe I'll ask the same question on the olefins side. PE, it looks like momentum has remained relatively positive here, again, maybe because the export window is now open and demand is relatively robust on the packaging side. So, A, I guess, do you expect all of those dynamics to continue and thus the olefins chain to continue to get pricing? Or do you see kind of typical destocking in August and December maybe resulting in some price declines?
We've seen continued strength, and that strength really goes back to the earliest parts of the year. And so, as we've seen price traction really beginning in June and coming through July with now price nominations of $0.05 in polyethylene in August, the operating rates reflect that strength in pricing. I think the chain is not -- is fairly tight. There's not a lot of excess inventory in the marketplace. And so, I think there is very good traction in operating rates being elevated and traction in pricing. So, we'll see how the market plays out. It's early August, but we've seen very good strength earlier so far in the quarter in July. So we'll see how the rest of the year plays out.
Our next question comes from Mike Leithead of Barclays. Your line is open.
Mike Leithead -- Barclays -- Analyst
Great. Thanks, guys, and apologies for missing the call the past hour. But I guess, just one question from me today on the distribution. If we look, we've now been steady for the past couple of quarters, and I appreciate you're constantly evaluating it. But just trying to get a sense of when you look at this or when you evaluate keeping it steady versus increasing it or decreasing it, can you give us a better sense of -- are you looking for a better partnership yield right now in the market? Are you looking for a better relative yield versus peers? Kind of how do you frame that internal dialogue around kind of distribution level today?
The market continues to be -- and we've seen this across many of these midstream players in the MLP space -- continues to be fairly dislocated. And I think we're certainly looking to see a better and more normalized market before we kind of assess how we move forward with distributions. So when we think about the four levers of growth that we have, they're all imminently actionable, but we certainly need a value proposition. We've got about a 10% yield, let's say. And certainly, we need a -- I think a valuation that is more reflective of the stability we've been clearly able to demonstrate. The stability of cash flows, the stability of earnings through the last six years and even through this most recent period and the most challenging time for many industries, we've been able to very clearly demonstrate the stability of the business. And I think in a very low interest rate environment and potentially with tax rates likely to rise, that vehicles like this should become very attractive. And so, as we see the markets begin to stabilize and begin to assess how to reward investors, I think those are the kinds of conditions, Mike, that we're looking to see.
Great. Thank you.
Your next question comes from Matthew Blair of Tudor, Pickering, Holt. Your line is open.
Matthew Blair -- Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. -- Analyst
Hey, good morning, Albert and Steve.
Hi, Matthew.
Good morning, Matthew.
So the release mentioned lower ethylene production at OpCo in Q2. I know you said year-to-date production was down about 2%. But can you offer any sort of commentary on op rates in Q2? And as you look into Q3, do you think that higher op rates would be a tailwind to the Partnership?
So, during the quarter, Westlake Chemical did elect to receive fewer pounds of ethylene. But as you know, we've moved the turnaround into 2021. And so, I fully expect that production will be in line with production that we saw for the second half of '20 in line with the second half of '19, because we don't have that planned turnaround now in 2020. And so, as we see and as you know well, Matthew, we have a contractual obligation to receive payment for that ethylene, whether Westlake Chemical takes it or not during the course of the year. So it's an annual nomination, and we're very comfortable that Westlake Chemical will take that ethylene. And having pushed the turnaround into '21, there is no reason why we should see a reduction of pounds over the course of the year.
Sounds good. And then on paper, it looks spot ethane cracking margins have improved so far in Q3. I know it's only 5% of your sales, but would you expect to realize that in Q3? Are there timing lags? Or I guess any other factors we should take into consideration?
No, there are no timing lags per se. We're selling it in the merchant market. And so, as we see the merchant market evolve, that 5% that's sold into the market is realized accordingly.
Great. Thank you very much.
Our next question comes from Eric Petrie of Citi. Your line is open.
Eric Petrie -- Citi -- Analyst
Hi, good afternoon, Albert and Steve.
Are you considering expanding Petro 2 during the upcoming first half '21 downtime? I believe the last time you expanded capacity was roughly 120 million pounds back in 2013.
Yeah. There's no debottleneck or expansion plan for this maintenance that we'll undertake in '21. It's just a maintenance outage.
Okay. And then just in terms of qualitative statements, your earnings in the quarter for Westlake were roughly split between olefins and vinyls. Are you more positive on the vinyl cycle or the olefin cycle in second half and going into 2021?
Well, as you know well, the supply demand balance is quite different in the two chains. And so certainly, we've seen strength in the construction markets beginning earlier this year. And even during the course of the pandemic, we've seen strength in our building materials businesses in pipes, fittings and siding. So we think that given the supply demand balance in the vinyls chain and the strength that we have in our vinyls products business further downstream that we're very well positioned in the vinyl cycle.
On the ethylene -- polyethylene chain, we think we're very well positioned given our specialty orientation, but we certainly have seen a lot of capacity come in over the last several years. And that certainly has weighed on margins as new pounds have come in. And certainly, we've seen, I think, an illustration of the strength given our specialty portfolio that we saw in the second quarter.
Helpful. Thank you, Steve.
[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from Steve Byrne of Bank of America. Your line is open.
Stephen Byrne -- Bank of America -- Analyst
Yes, thank you. Let me also apologize for missing your earlier call. We were relying on Bloomberg for the timing, and they were off an hour. So sorry about that. I'll keep more questions here -- I'll keep my questions more relevant to your crackers. For that new low-take cracker, I just wanted to ask how has it been running? And was it built with an expanded infrastructure and foundation to make it relatively easy to add additional furnaces to increase the capacity over time?
So Steve, the plant's been running very reliably. We're pleased with the operating performance of the unit and so pleased to see that. And certainly, as you have seen in the industry, pre-installation of certain to the plan allow you to have cost-effective debottlenecks should you choose to do that and should the market be indicative of the economics to take those actions. Naturally, you wouldn't do that until you get to a normal time period, where you're going to bring the unit down for maintenance and such. But certainly, there were some opportunities to install a certain piece of equipment that would make it cost-effective, should we choose to in the future debottleneck that unit.
And then just kind of a high-level question about your crackers. Obviously, the target molecule is ethylene, and there are some byproducts, but there's a fair amount of hydrogen that comes off of these crackers. And I'm assuming it uses a combustion fuel for you at $0.20 a kilogram. And I'm sure you're aware of the focus in many, many jurisdictions for a different color of hydrogen than gray. And I just wanted to know whether you had thought through whether there's any alternative use for that hydrogen. And if you generated another revenue stream from crackers, would that encourage you to reflect that potentially as one of the levers you can pull on increasing the value proposition to the Partnership?
So we -- Steve, we certainly do look at times of using hydrogen at a higher value and not just as fuel, but selling that back into the merchant market. But back to your earlier question about green or gray hydrogen, certainly, those are -- tend to be thought of in terms of coming from more green base, be it renewable applications, not necessarily based on gas or other NGLs. And so, it's something that we're looking at and paying attention to, but it's something that we'll just have to see if there's an underlying value stream long term if we want to look at doing anything on that front more broadly.
Steve, if I may also, that we produce hydrogen from our colocalize cells. So we produce not a whole lot of amount because when you do electrolysis on salt brine to make chlorine caustic, there's water in the salt brine, and they turn into hydrogen as well. So we do produce hydrogen from a chlor-alkali plant as well as ethylene plants. So we are all ears, and we want to enter into the hydrogen economy, and we have way to supply with today's production without adding any more capacities.
Very good. It might not be green. It could be a different color, but yes, sounds interesting. Very good. Thank you.
You're welcome. But we could buy renewable power, then we become green from the...
Chlor-alkali plants. Yeah.
Thank you for your interest. Appreciate it.
At this time, the Q&A session is now ended. I will now turn the call back over to Jeff Holy.
Thank you again for participating in today's call. We hope you'll join us for our next conference call to discuss our third quarter 2020 results.
Thank you for participating in today's Westlake Chemical Partners second quarter earnings conference call. As a reminder, this call will be available for replay beginning two hours after the call is ended. The replay can be accessed by calling the following numbers. Domestic callers should dial 855-859-2056. International callers may access the replay at 404-537-3406. The access code is 3867318.
This will now conclude today's call. Goodbye.
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Q: Memory Location of a Pointer Declared Inside a Function If I declare a pointer inside a function, is it located in the function stack or on the heap?
Ex:
typedef  uint32 my_element[16];
void foo()
{
my_element element* CSAAddress = 5;
}

In this case, where is the element my_element located in memory?

A: Your example is syntactically invalid.
For:
#include <stdint.h>
typedef  uint32_t my_element[16];
void foo(void) { my_element *element = 0; }

element will have automatic storage duration.
Whether an implementation will use a stack, a register, completely optimize the variable out (these three are most likely) or something different the C standard does not specify.
The C standard describes semantics, not implementation details.
For
#include <stdint.h>
typedef  uint32_t my_element[16];
void bar(void) { my_element *element = (my_element*)5; }

(the cast is required to satisfy constraints) the behavior would most likely be undefined because producing a pointer that's not sufficiently aligned for its target type results in undefined behavior (http://port70.net/~nsz/c/c11/n1570.html#6.3.2.3p7).
Moreover, even if you created a valid pointer pointing to address 5 (e.g., char *p5 = (char*)5; (chars have minimal alignment requirements) it would not be very useful (dereferencable) because operating systems generally don't allow you to map things to that address (on Linux, you need root privileges to map the first memory page)).

A: Your pointer will be stored in the stack, but if you are allocating a memory dynamically, then the allocated space is assigned on the heap.
Also, do note that you are pointing to random memory space by using my_element element* = 5; Do note that your expression - my_element element* CSAAddress = 5; is a syntax error.
NOTE: The following is referred to list the main point related to the question from link provided below

Stack segment is used to store variables which are created inside
  functions (function could be main function or user-defined function),
  variable like -

*

*Local variables of the function (including pointer variables)

*Arguments passed to function

*Return address

To answer your question, the my_element is a pointer which will be stored on stack. You should also refer this to get a better understanding of where your variables are stored.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Page 1 of 8 results.
Grants continue to support Black Saturday recovery
More than $580,000 in grants awarded 22 July 2020: The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $584,971 in gra...
School and Beyond Grant Recipients
Young people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires emerged as some of the most vulnerable and at-risk in affected communities. In ...
Kinglake Ranges to receive boost from Grants for Resilience & Wellness
More than $1.5M earmarked to support ongoing recovery across the Kinglake Ranges following the 2009 bushfires has begun to roll-out t...
Grants continue to support regrowth in the wake of Black Saturday fires
Bendigo, 8 January 2019: Thirty-six community projects that will assist the continued recovery of communities impacted by the Black S...
Grants support ongoing recovery of communities affected by Black Saturday
Bendigo, 12 July 2018: Thirty community groups impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires have received grants to support the ongoing l...
Eight years on, grants still supporting recovery from Black Saturday
Bendigo, 23 February 2017: Today 24 community groups impacted by the 2009 Victorian bushfires received funding to support the communi...
Resilience & Wellness grants open soon for Kinglake Ranges communities
Black Saturday funding for community-led initiatives FRRR today announced that the final round of grants to assist Kinglake Ranges co...
Grants for Resilience & Wellness for Kinglake Ranges communities
Final round of Black Saturday funding for community-led initiatives The final round of the Grants for Resilience & Wellness (GR&a...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Our Kate comes in a 3 or 4 post version. You can also purchase them with the additional 10" pins for your longer bobbins.
The Paradise Fibers Lazy Kate is a very nice piece of equipment. It was designed to work perfectly with the Paradise Fibers "Revolution" Spinning Wheel but will work with most makes of bobbins including Ashford, Lendrum, Schacht and Kromski. The 6 inch bobbin spindle will handle all bobbins up to 5-1/2" long with bearings of 1/4" or bigger, and end flanges up to 4-1/2". The Bearing Rods slide smoothly into the opposite side and hold with slight pressure to keep them in place while plying. Enjoy this handy and well made tensioned "not so lazy" Kate.
The new updated version of our Lazy Kate has removed the eyelet hooks and replaced them holes for better yarn guiding. The addition of these tapered holes allows your yarn to pull from your bobbin at an angle ideal for plying, significantly decreasing the chance of your yarn becoming tangled before you ply, and provides less drag and unwanted tension. The holes are more than large enough for most art yarn plying and because they are sanded smooth you'll notice that your art yarn does not catch on any sharp edges.
Anybody who "knows" Paradise Fibers Fiber tools, will tell you they are beautifully built, paying attention to details and durability.


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Janus: Twin Spacecraft to Study Binary Asteroids
by Paul Gilster on September 11, 2020
When we looked earlier this week at the Solaris mission, a concept designed to study the Sun's polar regions, I commented on another early concept called the Auroral Reconstruction CubeSwarm (ARCS). The mission intrigued me because it consisted of CubeSats in swarm formation, working together with numerous ground observatories, to study the Earth's auroras. The paradigm of miniaturization, low cost and creative design surfaces yet again in Janus, a proposal out of the University of Colorado at Boulder and Lockheed Martin that would involve twin spacecraft studying twin targets, the binary asteroids 1996 FG3 and 1991 VH.
Daniel Scheeres (CU-Boulder) is principal investigator for Janus, the plan being for the university to handle the analysis of data and images from the mission, with Lockheed Martin building and operating the two spacecraft. It should be a familiar role for both entities, as Lockheed Martin supports operations for OSIRIS-REx at asteroid Bennu, while Scheeres leads the radio science team for that mission. Each Janus spacecraft is roughly the size of a suitcase, a carry-on at that, echoing the theme of keeping spacecraft small and straightforward.
Lockheed Martin's Josh Wood is project manager for Janus:
"We see an advantage to be able to shrink our spacecraft. With technology advancements, we can now explore our solar system and address important science questions with smaller spacecraft… We see this evolution to smaller and more capable spacecraft being a key market in the future for scientific missions. Now, we want to execute and show that we can do it."
Lowering costs and preparation time by using off-the-shelf components is all part of the same parameter space that supports the movement toward CubeSats and so-called SmallSats. The mission will be part of NASA's SIMPLEx program, which focuses on small spacecraft and satellites, and is projected to cost less than $55 million.
The twin Janus spacecraft have a long journey ahead, with a gravity assist at Earth following an initial solar orbit and a subsequent trajectory that takes them beyond the orbit of Mars. The craft are to use VACCO MiPS (Micro-Propulsion System), a low-cost, cold gas propulsion option designed for CubeSats consisting of five thrusters for pitch, yaw, roll and delta-v.
Malin Space Science Systems is to provide the instrument suite including visible and infrared cameras, with power delivered by three deployable solar arrays and batteries. Launch is to be in 2022, with the twin craft lofted as secondary payloads on a Falcon-Heavy (Block 5) in the same launch that will carry the Psyche and EscaPADE missions.
From a short summary presented at the 51st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (2020):
Janus science will combine flyby observations of the target binary asteroids with ground-based observations, enabling the high resolution imaging and thermal data to be placed into a global context and leveraging all available data to construct an accurate topographical and morphological model of these bodies. Based on these measurements, the formation and evolutionary implications for small rubble pile asteroids will be studied.
Image: Rendering of the orbital pattern of the binary asteroid 1999 KW4. We have much to learn about binary asteroids. (Credit: NASA/JPL).
Binary asteroids have yet to be studied up close, but this is a configuration that represents about 15 percent of the asteroids in the Solar System. Says Scheeres:
"We think that binary asteroids form when you have a single asteroid that gets spun up so fast that the whole thing splits in two and goes through this crazy dance… Once we see them up close, there will be a lot of questions we can answer, but these will raise new questions as well. We think Janus will motivate additional missions to binary asteroids."
Alex Tolley September 11, 2020, 17:19
"We think that binary asteroids form when you have a single asteroid that gets spun up so fast that the whole thing splits in two and goes through this crazy dance…"
When the split happens, doesn't the primary lose angular velocity? Then gravitational attraction can pull the ejected piece back, and the whole process can repeat?
When we saw the Kuiper belt object Arrokoth, it looked like 2 pieces joined, with circular marks perhaps suggesting previous joins. Could they indicate the multiple ejection and rejoining of a binary?
It makes one wonder that had conditions been very different, that the Earth-Moon system could possibly have become such a contact binary, periodically separating and joining. Has anyone ever seen such a thing in computer simulations of planetary formation? If nothing else, it would make an interesting and novel scenario for a scifi plot background.
Bruce D Mayfield September 12, 2020, 11:39
A solid contact binary can only form if there is insufficient mass for both bodies to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium. The Earth would have pulled the Moon into itself if they had ever come in contact with each other, since the Earth's crust and mantle couldn't have supported the Moon's weight. The same would be the case even for the much less massive "double planet" pair of Pluto-Charon.
Thanks Bruce. I did try to come up with a condition that would allow the Earth and Moon to be a contact binary, literarlly gently kissing each each other, but you are quite right, it cannot be done. Glad to be corrected on that speculation.
Geoffrey Hillend September 12, 2020, 16:26
Your correct about the angular momentum and torque increasing causing a single asteroid to separate due to the heat from sunshine, and the moon of the asteroid could in potential crash back onto the larger body and the process could start over. The same thing doesn't apply to larger bodies and certainly not as large as the Moon and Earth because the gravity holds these to together, but bodies smaller than asteroids and maybe planetesimals have low gravity compared to the torque and centrifugal force during spinning.
Jeff Wright September 13, 2020, 1:04
Binaries might allow artificial gravity if they are wrapped and cable bound one to another and the tether tightened, right?
I think you will need this for mining
charlie September 13, 2020, 21:05
Now I'm not positively, absolutely certain about this following statement – but I believe that if two bodies fracture in which there is a rotational angular momentum associated with the initial primary, upon separation the larger spinning body will actually LOSE angular momentum when the smaller secondary body fractures away from it.
Wouldn't that be correct for the simple reason that the secondary body would carry away some of the angular momentum from the original un-fractured primary?
Wojciech J September 12, 2020, 21:41
Heads up. There is a lot of chatter about supposedly significant astrobiology related discovery being announced this Monday by Royal Astronomical Society. The press release is embargoed, but I managed to dig out that it is not Mars related, and most likely concerns possible microbial life in clouds of Venus. We will see.
https://mobile.twitter.com/paulsanderson/status/1304489804202033153
Michael September 14, 2020, 9:46
I don't really buy the spin up theory, could it not be micro meteors impacting the main body ejecting material that forms a stable object in orbit over time instead.
Next post: Exploring Tidal Heating in Large Moons
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В окото на бурята е външнополитическо обзорно предаване на телевизия АЛФА, с автор и водещ: Магдалена Ташева. Излъчва се в периода от юли 2012 до февруари 2022 г.

Война в Сирия
В предаването водещата коментира войната в Сирия. Според нея преминаващите нелегално в България и представящи се за бежанци от Сирия не са такива а терористи, които са опасни за националната сигурност. Тя използва срещу тях различни епитети, заради което срещу нея завеждат дело група сирийци и Български хелзинкски комитет.

Източници

Външни препратки

 Архиф  в сайта на телевизия АЛФА

Телевизионни предавания в България

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Ligue 1 Messi warned: Respect your coach
Messi warned: Respect your coach
Truth be told, Lionel Messi's move to Paris Saint-Germain has looked an awkward mess so far.
News out of France claims that Messi has been accused of showing no respect to the club and his coach Mauricio Pochettino.
After catching the COVID-19, it has been reported that Pochettino only discovered the news through a third party. Additionally, Messi has hardly updated the club on his health before flying home to Argentina to quarantine.
Former PSG midfielder Jérôme Rothen has expressed shock and concern over Messi's behaviour.
"You must always respect your coach, this is what I was taught in Clairefontaine," Rothen told Radio Montecarlo.
"The coach must be above everyone else, it does not matter if it is a star or a youth player – the boss must be the head of the time.
"Pochettino was not updated as to where Messi was, and that explains a lot of things.
"This is not a good thing and I think it is very shocking from Messi," he concluded.
Meanwhile, PSG are set to take on Brest in Ligue 1 this weekend.


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Harry Styles One Direction Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Harry Styles Stalker Avoids Jail
by Music-News.com on October 22, 2019
The homeless man who stalked Harry Styles and menaced him at his London home has avoided jail.
Pablo Tarazaga-Orero, 26, was found guilty of stalking the star last week, but was spared incarceration at a sentencing hearing at Hendon Magistrates' Court in London on Monday.
Instead, he has been handed a restraining order, banning him from entering Harry's postcode, going within 250 metres of him, attending any of his gigs, and sending him messages on social media. Tarazaga-Orero has also been ordered to complete a 12-month community order, a 30-day rehabilitation requirement, and pay $435 (£335) in total including $325 (£250) costs.
If he breaks the strict conditions, he faces jail.
According to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper, District Judge Nigel Dean said during sentencing: "Failing to comply with a restraining order is a criminal offence and that offence carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.
"Firstly I am making a restraining order in any case it's going to be for an indefinite period and will include the following prohibit you from entering the following area highlighted in red.
"It centres on the home address of Harry Styles and some of the adjacent lanes to keep you well away from his address. You're not to contact directly or indirectly Harry Styles including posting any messages on any social media platforms."
It was also revealed he breached his bail conditions by going into Style's postcode in August while awaiting trial.
Styles previously recalled how he had offered the homeless man money then bought Tarazaga-Orero food from a vegan cafe the following day.
After trying to cut contact, the popstar received notes and money in his letterbox, leaving the 25-year-old fearing for his safety.
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Tagged as: 10s, Harry Styles, One Direction, pop, UK
Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey Debut 360 'Bass Extremes' Video
Five-time Grammy winner Victor Wooten and virtuoso bass player Steve Bailey have created a new Bass Extremes video at the Power Station in New York.
David Lee Roth Solo Shows Open To Pretty Shitty Reviews
David Lee Roth has opened his solo show in Las Vegas and the reviews have been pretty average.
Australian Charts: Selena Gomez Debuts At No 1 With 'Rare' Album
The third solo album (6th overall LP) for singer Selena Gomez called "Rare" becomes the first No.1 album of the 2020's, plus the first new No.1 of the year, and also her first chart-topping album for ARIA.
New Wiggles Step In For Old Wiggle At Second Wiggles Gig
Emma Wiggle and Simon Wiggle of the current Wiggles line-up stepped in for original Wiggle Greg Page at the second Wiggles gig in Sydney this weekend.
Andrew W.K.'s Air Drumming Napalm Death Cardio Workout Is Exactly As Awesome As It Sounds
Professional energetic dude Andrew W.K. has released a 43-minute film of him air drumming to Napalm Death's 1990 grindcore masterpiece Harmony Corruption.
REVIEW: The Amity Affliction, Frankston, 17 January 2020
With almost seven studio albums under their belt, The Amity Affliction have set out on a regional tour of Australia. Last night the boys from Gympie made their way down to Frankston to play an intimate sell out show at the Pier Bandroom. And they didn't let anyone down with an outstanding line up of songs to fill an hour-long set.
Greg Page of The Wiggles Suffers Cardiac Arrest During Reunion Show
Original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page is recovering in Westmead Hospital in Sydney after suffering a cardiac arrest at the end of The Wiggles performance at a bushfire benefit last night.


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Flakka: What You Need To Know
Cautionary Note: Flakka is a relatively new drug that can cause extreme behavioral reactions during intoxication and immediately after using. There are also reports of long-lasting neurological effects. It is definitely a dangerous drug that is rapidly entering the drug-using culture.
It is important to be cautious not to exaggerate the incident rate (number of people using it) or the type and severity of symptoms (stripping down naked and chasing people down like a fast-moving zombie).
The information in this blog is summarized by usually reliable news reporting sources on the Internet and corresponds with real incidents reported to me by colleagues and clients. It is important, however, to be cautious about extreme reports of new designer drugs.
According to Jacob Sullim in his blog on reason.com, there are three designer-drugs that are closely-related to Flakka that are recently entering the United States. These are — meow-meow, krokodil, and Jenkem.
Meow meow, is a nickname for mephedrone, another synthetic cathinone sold as "bath salts." and
Krokodil, is a homemade version of the narcotic painkiller desomorphine, which was first synthesized in 1932 and marketed under the brand name Permoid. Krokodil caught on in Russia as a cheap substitute for heroin because it could be made from codeine, which was available there without a prescription.
Jenkem is fermented human waste that supposedly generates intoxicating fumes when inhaled.
When doing internet research on any new drug or controversial issue, I strongly recommend you do a Google Search on the topic and the another on the topic plus the word "hoax." This will give your review more balance.
To get a balanced mind-set about Flakka it may be helpful to read this blog from Reason.com: http://reason.com/blog/2015/06/17/flakka-turns-people-into-zombies-just-li
With these cautions in mind, I hope this blog will summarize some information about Flakka that will help you to better understand the epidemic of Flakka as it emerges in the USA.
Starting in the Spring of 2015 a new drug of abuse called Flakka or Gravel was smuggled into South Florida and rapidly made it's way up to Northern Florida and beyond. Its use is rapidly spreading across other states leaving a trail of victims behind.
Flakka, a variation of synthetic substances known as bath salts, is an illicit drug concocted in labs overseas and shipped into North America.
Flakka delivers a cheap, powerful high while acting as an amphetamine, according to officials. The drug can be snorted, smoked or taken by mouth and can cause violent behavior.
Flakka induces paranoia, psychosis and extreme aggression. Users high on this dangerous drug have attacked authorities, caused disruptions on the streets and in emergency rooms, engaged in self-injurious behavior, including in one case, and in one case, a man impaled himself on a spiked fence.
Detailed Information about Flakka.
What is flakka?
Flakka, which is also called gravel because its crystals resemble small pebbles, is a stimulate drug with a chemical composition similar to bath salts. The active ingredient in Flakk is alpha-PVP, a synthetic version of cathinone, the active ingredient in the stimulant shrub qat, which is also the active ingredient in bath salts.
What Is Flakka-induced Excited Delerium?
In high doses, Flakka induces "excited delirium" in which users' body temperature can rise to up to 42 C, which might explain why so many users end up naked while hallucinating. People report stripping off their clothing because they feel like they are on fir or burning up.
How is Flakka ingested?
Flakka can be taken in different ways:
injected,
swallowed,
smoked or
snorted.
Can people overdose on Flakka?
Yes! Especially when it is smoked. Vaporizing and the smoking Flakka allows the drug to very quickly enter the bloodstream and may make it particularly easy to overdose.
What is the chemical composition of Flakka?
Since Flakka in manufactured in illegal labs overseas and can be cut by other chemicals before sale in the USA, there are differences in each batch of Flakka analyzed.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Flakka is essentially a stimulant hallucinogenic. The main ingredient in all batches of Flakka is alpha-PVP, which is linked to cathinone, the drug found in bath salts.
Flakka is a stimulant drug and users often mix it methamphetamine to increase the intensity of the stimulant high.
In July 2012, the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act made it illegal to possess, use, or distribute many of the chemicals used to make bath salts, including Mephedrone and MDPV. Methylone, another such chemical, remains under a DEA regulatory ban. Alpha-PVP, the active ingredient in Flakka, has not yet been banned.
What are the behavioral effects of Flakka?
Alpha-PVP is a stimulant, so its users encounter:
alertness,
wakefulness,
tremors,
agitation,
irrational rage,
Flakka, when taken in high doses, induces "excited delirium" in which the users' body temperature can rise to up to 42 C, which might explain why so many users end up naked while hallucinating and panicking because they feel like they are on fire or "burning up."
What does Flakka look like?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Flakka "takes the form of a white or pink, foul-smelling crystal,"
Dr. James N. Hall, an epidemiologist and co-director of the U.S. Center for the Study and Prevention of Substance Abuse at Nova Southeastern University, told NBC News.
"Some [users] get high, some get very sick, and many become addicted. Some go crazy and even a few die. But they don't know what they are taking or what's going to happen to them," he said.
Some people experience heart problems, muscle breakdown or even kidney failure. The NIH says Flakka has been linked to deaths by suicide and heart attack.
Hall says flakka's name has Spanish origins. "Flaco" means thin, while "la flaca" in rough translation is a party term for pretty, thin girl.
"They give [synthetic drugs] names that are hip and cool and making it great for sales," he told NBC.
What is the street value of Flakka?
Flakka is relatively cheap. A single dose is about a tenth of a gram which has a street value of about $5.
What are common complications of Flakka?
1. Flakka can make the drug user acutely agitated, making them irrational and vetberbally aggressive This puts the Flakka patient at high risk of injuring self or others.
2. These patients are a threat to themselves, the people around them, and the first responders (police, EMS) who are there to help them. It is common to hear reports that it takes multiple people to restrain and sedate these patients.
3. Rescue crews and emergency department staff need to give sedatives to these patients as soon as possible to calm them and make them safe.
4. If police interventional be required to control an acutely aitate Flalka. This can result in officers using a Taser or other methods to restrain the patient that have the potential to harm the individual. Officers need to rember that in these severe states of agitation, panic and adrenalin increase the patient's strength while diminishing their perception of pain. Their paranoi is often focused on the first responders.
5. Medically, the severe consequences of the agitation caused by the drug appear later. Patients who are agitated can go into a state called "excited delirium," which is a medical emergency.
6. In the excited delirium state, restrained patients struggle to free themselves, scream, flail, and can even have seizures.
7. This struggling causes a high core body temperature called hyperthermia.
8. The combination of a high body temperature and the extreme muscle overactivity can cause other metabolic problems to happen in the body.
9. Muscle tissue begins to break down, releasing proteins and other cellular products into the bloodstream, in a process called rhabdomyolysis.
10. The extreme struggling can also cause dehydration.
11. The end result of the cellular products and proteins released during rhabdomyolysis and dehydration can impair the filtering function of the kidneys, leading to renal failure and death.
Gorski Books: www.cenaps.com
The Drudge Report Archives contains articles which historically track the introduction and growth in the use of Flakka: http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/dsp/search.htm?searchFor=flakka
Here is an article from Fusion.net that described the impact of Flakka from an "on-the-street" point of view: http://fusion.net/story/117767/a-complete-guide-to-flakka-the-horrible-street-drug-terrorizing-south-florida/
Flakka: Special Obstscles in Treatment: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-flakka-treatment-issues-20150813-story.html
This blog describes the major complications that can occur when treating Flakka patients: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/mobileart.asp?articlekey=188097
"'Bath Salts' Intoxication." N Engl J Med 365 Sept. 8, 2011: 967-968. <http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1107097>
Kaizaki, A., S. Tanaka, and S. Numazawa. "New recreational drug 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-pentanone (alpha-PVP) activates central nervous system via dopaminergic neuron." J Toxicol Sci 39.1 Feb. 2014: 1-6. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24418703>.
"The Science of Alpha-PVP ('Gravel'), a Second-Generation Bath Salt." The Poison Review. Mar. 14, 2014. <http://www.thepoisonreview.com/2014/03/14/the-science-of-alpha-pvp-gravel-a-second-generation-bath-salt/>.
"Violent, Impaired and/or Excited Delirium (ExDS) Patient." Greater Broward EMS Medical Director's Association. <http://www.gbemda.org/adult-2/2-5-adult-neurologic-emergencies/2-5-2-violent-andor-impaired-patient>.
2 Comments	| Dementia, Drugs of Abuse, Fact Sheets	| Tagged: Addiction Blog, flakka, flakka epidemic, flakka psychosis, flakka what you need to know, Terry Gorski Blog	| Permalink
Kava and Relapse
This information on Kava is reproduced from a Medline Article http://m.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/872.html
Kava is mind altering and mood altering substance that produces an effect on the brain similar to sedative drugs such as Librium or Valium. They are cross addictive with other mood altering drugs. Many people use Kava as they move into relapse process thinking that it will be a free high with no adverse consequence.
Many treatment programs use drug testing regimes that will detect and report Kava use. Lava impairs judgment and impulse control and generally does not produce the desired high or the desired mood altering effect of the drug of choice.
As a result of impaired judgment or impulse control it is easier to rationalize going back to the use of their drug of choice. Using Kava is the start of active drug use episode. It is usually preceded by many early relapse warning signs.
You can do an evaluation of your relapse risk using The Aware Questionnaire
Midline Article On Kava
Scientific name: Piper methysticum
Higher classification: Piper
Kava or kava-kava is a crop of the western Pacific. The name kava is from Tongan and Marquesan; other names for kava include ʻawa, ava, yaqona, and sakau. The roots of the plant are used to produce a drink with sedative and anesthetic properties.
What is kava?
Kava—or kava kava—is a root found on South Pacific islands. Islanders have used kava as medicine and in ceremonies for centuries.
Kava has a calming effect, producing brain wave changes similar to changes that occur with calming medicines such as diazepam (Valium, for example). Kava also can prevent convulsions and relax muscles. Although kava is not addictive, its effect may decrease with use.
Traditionally prepared as a tea, kava root is also available as a dietary supplement in powder and tincture (extract in alcohol) forms.
What is kava used for?
Kava's calming effect may relieve anxiety, restlessness, sleeplessness, and stress-related symptoms such as muscle tension or spasm. Kava may also relieve pain.
When taken for anxiety or stress, kava does not interfere with mental sharpness. When taken for sleep problems, kava promotes deep sleep without affecting restful REM sleep.
Kava may be used instead of prescription antianxiety drugs, such as benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants. Kava should never be taken with these prescription drugs. Avoid using alcohol when taking kava.
Is kava safe?
Kava may have severe side effects and should not be used by everyone. Kava has caused liver failure in previously healthy people. You should not use kava for longer than 3 months without consulting your doctor.
Before you use kava, consider that it:
Should not be combined with alcohol or psychotropic medicines. Psychotropic medicines are used to treat psychiatric disorders or illnesses and include antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Alcohol exaggerates kava's sedating effect.
Can affect how fast you react, making it unsafe to drive or use heavy machinery.
May gradually be less powerful as you use it.
Eventually may cause temporary yellowing of skin, hair, and nails.
Can cause an allergic skin reaction (rare).
Long-term kava use may result in:
Liver problems.
Shortness of breath (reversible).
Scaly rash (reversible).
Facial puffiness or swelling (reversible).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has investigated whether using dietary supplements containing kava is associated with liver illness. Reports from Germany and Switzerland about kava causing serious liver problems have led to the recent removal of these products from shelves in Britain. Other countries have advised consumers to avoid using kava until further information is available.
In the United States, the FDA advises people who have liver disease or liver problems, or people who are taking medicines that can affect the liver, to consult a doctor or pharmacist before using products that contain kava. People who use a dietary supplement that contains kava and experience signs of illness should consult a doctor. Symptoms of serious liver disease include brown urine as well as yellowing of the skin or of the whites of the eyes. Other symptoms of liver disease may include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, and loss of appetite.
The FDA does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medicine. A dietary supplement can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works.
Always tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement. This is especially important for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
When using dietary supplements, keep in mind the following:
Like conventional medicines, dietary supplements may cause side effects, trigger allergic reactions, or interact with prescription and nonprescription medicines or other supplements you might be taking. A side effect or interaction with another medicine or supplement may make other health conditions worse.
The way dietary supplements are manufactured may not be standardized. Because of this, how well they work or any side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of the same brand. The form of supplement that you buy in health food or grocery stores may not be the same as the form used in research.
Other than for vitamins and minerals, the long-term effects of most dietary supplements are not known.
1. http://m.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/872.html
2. http://www.thefix.com/content/mood-and-mind-altering-substances00417?page=all
1 Comment	| Drugs of Abuse, Uncategorized	| Tagged: Addiction Blog, drugs, drugs of abuse, Gorski, gorski blog, kava, lava kava, polydrug addiction, Relapse, Relapse prevention, relapse warning signs, substance abuse, Terence T Gorski	| Permalink
The Matrix Model – Stages of Recovery
By Terence T.Gorski, Author
www.relapse.org
The Matrix Model for Cocaine Addiction was originally developed by Richard Rawson. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/074054729400080B
I believe the recovery chart depicted her is modified from the framework of the Matrix Recovery Model.
The model is developmental in nature (i.e. their are a series of developmental steps and stages of recovery). The idea of Post Acute Withdrawal is built into the model by intruding the the concept of "hitting the wall" which is a severe episode of PAW. PAW however, was not specifically mentioned in early versions of the model.
The Matrix Model was popular during the years of "The Cocaine Epidemic" in the 1980"s and 1990's. It was an empirical model growing out of treatment experience and I clinical practice.
As with many other models it was expanded to include all addictive substances without any real evidence it was valid. It implies progressive recovery, with relapse as a treatment recovery failure.
There is no specific relapse prevention plan or emergency plan to stop relapse quickly should it occur. As a result the model, toy knowledge, has not adapted to integrate the chronic life-style related disease model and the need for relapse prevention and management of the course of the entire lifespan.
The model has been used in many programs and helped many people to recover.
The Matrix Model has been recognized as an evidence-based program and practice by NREPP – http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=87
I cannot locate the specific diagram and it is not referenced. The idea that neurological symptoms of recovery (PAW) can be predicted by days abstinent is controversial. Stage of addiction, type and amount of drug(s) used, age and health status of the patient, type of treatment, nutrition and stress management effect the progression of recovery.
5 Comments	| Drugs of Abuse, Recovery, Uncategorized	| Tagged: Addiction, CENAPS, CENAPS Model, cicaine, Gorski, hitting the wall, Matrix Model, PAW, Post Acute Withdrawal, Rawson, recovery, recovery model, relapse prebtion, Terence T Gorski	| Permalink
Molly – The Street Drug
A street drug named Molly is becoming a common drug of abuse that is ripping apart the lives of young people and their families. It is important to learn about it. The depression or dysphoria which is part of the withdrawal process can be severe and contribute to suicide. Since the drug is most widely abused by teenagers, the risk of suicide during Molly withdrawal, coupled with the normal tendencies of adolescents to experience bouts of depression, can contribute to an elevated risk of suicide.
See the CNN Report on Molly:
(CNN) — The drug called Molly isn't what most of its users think it is. If you Google "Molly," many articles say the drug is "pure" MDMA, the active ingredient in Ecstasy.
Users often talk about the "purity" of taking Molly, as if it's somehow better; after all, MDMA was originally developed as a medication to treat depression. But today's Molly is most often not MDMA — in the last few years, the drug has become a toxic mixture of lab-created chemicals, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Here are nine things everyone should know about this rapidly changing party drug:
1. What is Molly?
'2C-P' and 'Molly' involved in overdoses Drug deaths spur fear of bad batch Hot party drug has deadly consequences Patient: Ecstasy eased my PTSD
Someone who buys or takes Molly now is probably ingesting dangerous synthetic drugs that have not been tested and are produced in widely varying strengths. The DEA says only 13% of the Molly seized in New York state the last four years actually contained any MDMA, and even then it often was mixed with other drugs. The drugs frequently found in Molly are Methylone, MDPV, 4-MEC, 4-MMC, Pentedrone and MePP.
2. What does Molly do?
The lab-created chemicals mimic the effects of MDMA; most of them are central nervous system stimulants that cause euphoric highs. They can also cause a rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, blood vessel constriction and sweating, and can prevent the body from regulating temperature. Some of the chemicals have been reported to cause intense, prolonged panic attacks, psychosis and seizures. After they wear off, the chemicals can cause devastating depression. Several of these compounds have caused deaths.
3. Who is using Molly?
Molly is being marketed to young first-time drug abusers between the ages of 12 and 17, as well as traditional rave, electronic dance music fans who may think they're getting MDMA. "Our kids are being used as guinea pigs by drug traffickers," says Al Santos, associate deputy administrator for the DEA.
4. What does Molly look like?
Molly can take many different forms, although it's most often found in a capsule or powder. The DEA has also seen Molly applied to blotting paper, like LSD, and in injectable form.
5. What makes Molly so dangerous?
Molly is dangerous because of the toxic mix of unknown chemicals; users have no idea what they're taking or at what dose. Unlike MDMA and other illegal drugs that have known effects on the body, the formulas for these synthetic drugs keep changing, and they're manufactured with no regard to how they affect the user.
"You're playing Russian roulette if you take these compounds because we're seeing significant batch-to-batch variances," Santos says.
For example, officials have found completely different ingredients in drugs sold in the same packaging. Santos also says the amount of active ingredients can be dangerously different, because "the dosing for these sorts of drugs are in the micrograms. The room for error is tremendous, and we've seen a lot of deaths with some of these compounds."
The DEA has developed its own reference materials for state and local law enforcement because they were encountering so many different drug compounds they'd never seen before. At the DEA testing lab, technicians are constantly trying to unravel the chemical makeup of newly discovered drug compounds that have been seized.
What you need to know about synthetic drugs
6. Where do the chemicals come from?
Almost all the chemicals in Molly and other synthetic drugs come from laboratories in China. Chinese chemists sell the drugs online, and middlemen in the United States and around the world cut it with other substances, and either place it in capsules or sell it as powder. Other kinds of synthetic drugs can be sprayed onto plant material and smoked, such as synthetic marijuana.
But it's difficult for law enforcement to keep track of all the chemicals. The DEA says it's seen about 200 individual chemical compounds since 2009 and 80 new compounds since 2012. As soon as a compound is discovered and banned, another one is created to take its place.
Interestingly enough, the formulas for these drugs were discovered by legitimate scientists working on new medications. The formulas couldn't be used as medicine because of the stimulant or hallucinogenic effects they had users, but the "recipes" for the drugs still remain.
Clandestine chemists have used the scientific literature to create hundreds of new chemical compounds for the sole purpose of getting people high. There is no known legitimate purpose for any of these chemicals.
Music festival canceled after 2 deaths blamed on drugs
7. How widespread is the problem?
Huge. The fastest-emerging drug problem in the United States is the synthetic drug market, which now includes Molly. The chemicals in Molly have been found in nearly every state in the U.S.
And it's a multibillion-dollar business. In two days, the DEA seized $95 million off drug traffickers during a crackdown. It is a growing problem in Australia, New Zealand and Europe as well.
8. What's being done about it? Why can't the government just make it illegal?
Congress passed the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act in July 2012, which controlled 26 compounds by name. But there are hundreds of compounds, and every time the government makes one illegal, chemists alter the formula slightly to make it a substance that is no longer controlled.
U.S. officials say they are discussing the issue with the Chinese government, but most of these chemicals are legal in China.
There's something (potentially dangerous) about molly
9. How can I tell if someone is using or has used Molly?
The effects can vary widely, depending on the chemical, but while users are under the influence, they may exhibit the following symptoms: sweating, jaw clenching, violent or bizarre behavior and psychosis.
After the drug has worn off, a user may show signs of depression or may not be able to get out of bed for an extended period of time.
Molly, MDMA, Ecstasy Withdrawal
4 Comments	| Addiction, Drugs of Abuse	| Tagged: Addiction, Drug Abuse, Ecstacy, Gorski, MDMA, Molly, Street Drugs, Terence Gorski, Terry Gorski	| Permalink
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text:
Ethic Policy
Fact Check Policy
Nicki Minaj appearance on The Real Housewives season 6
Leave a Comment / Netflix, Entertainment / By Vivek Attri / October 11, 2021 October 11, 2021
Nicki Minaj, the rapper, has joined the Bravo group as a new addition. 'Real Housewives of Potomac' will be reuniting for its sixth season, she announced.
Grammy-winning rap singer Nicki Minaj is officially joining Bravo. Amidst much controversy over the possibility of Nicki Minaj hosting a reunion of Real Housewives of Potomac, the 38-year-old has confirmed she will appear at the reunion.
A photo of Nicki with Andy Cohen using the hashtag #Andiconda was shared by Nicki, who sang in Anaconda on 7th October. Rapper Gigi Hadid expressed her interest in hosting the reunion season of season six long before it happened.
"Moment 4 Life" played in the background as Nicki posted an agglomeration of clips from the series to her Instagram account, adding the caption "I'll be hosting the reunion.". Let me know what you want me to ask Chile.
Under the post of Nicki, Andy Cohen, the host of the reunions, commented that this was something he had always wanted. She was also endorsed by the other cast members who commented on her post.
What Nicki Minaj Shared About The Real Housewives season 6
The rapper posted a screenshot of a text exchange between herself and her publicist on her Instagram account.
Her publicist texted that Andy Cohen offered to give up his seat for her to host the Potomac reunion. During the text exchange, Nicki listed all-caps that displayed "OMFG," and her publicist replied that it "would be a funny fucking moment."
Karen said in the August interview with Hollywood Life that she was looking forward to Nicki taking part. Karen stated: "I hope Nicki covers!".
Also, Read | WHAT IF ENDING EXPLAINED: How the Finale Sets Up Season 2
In addition to her honesty, Karen remarks on how Nicki is different than the others because she is a straight shooter. However, she is very excited to have her join the team. Fans and audiences can catch The Real Housewives of Potomac every Sunday at 8 pm by watching Bravo.
Outer Banks Season 3 Netflix Release Date Status Revealed
Leave a Comment / Entertainment / By Vivek Attri
Nailed It Season 6: Finally Got A Release Date Status
Leave a Comment / Netflix / By Vivek Attri
Vivek Attri
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Transborder radio interference affects 5G network in Oman
The fifth generation (5G) networks affiliated with Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) and Oman Qatar Telecom (Ooredoo) have been significantly affected by transborder radio interference in some parts of the sultanate.
Eng Yousef bin Abdullah al Balushi, vice president for Spectrum Affairs, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), stated that the authority issued a notice to inform users in the sultanate that the 5G networks of mobile operators in the sultanate (Omantel and Ooredoo) are affected due to external radio interference.
He assured, "TRA has undertaken necessary measures to find the source of interference. It has made several field measurements in cooperation with Omantel and Ooredoo. The licensed companies have also taken additional measures which are in direct coordination with companies licensed in countries of the region."
Eng Balushi said that TRA works continuously in coordination with the competent authorities in the region to resolve and end the damage to the fifth generation networks in the sultanate.
He added, "TRA will discuss the latest developments related with this matter at the videoconferencing meet of the Technical Committee of the Technical Office of Communications of the GCC General Secretariat, to be held between June 23-24.
"There are other countries in the region that have also suffered from the radio interference on 5G networks of its operators. The solution to these interference requires a concerted effort and coordination to quickly find the source of the interference," he said.


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Q: Getting Token Information I have the following program written in C:
#include "stdafx.h"
#include <Windows.h>

void main()
{
    char buffer[1000];
    int size = sizeof(buffer);
    PDWORD required_size;

    printf("----Application Privileges----\n\n");
    printf("In this program, we are going to obtain information about the application privileges\n\n");

    HANDLE process = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, FALSE, GetCurrentProcessId()); //Opening the current process
    HANDLE token; //Creating a handle for the token
    OpenProcessToken(process, TOKEN_ADJUST_PRIVILEGES, &token); //Opening the process token

    GetTokenInformation(token, TokenPrivileges, buffer, size, required_size); //Obtaining the token information
    printf("The following information was obtained with regards to the token privileges: \n\n");
    printf("%s\n\n", buffer);

    printf("Press enter to exit the program");
    getchar();

}

Now, I am relatively new to the use of tokens.  When I try to execute the program, the following error comes up:

Run-Time Check Failure #3 - The variable 'required_size' is being used without being initialized.

How can I solve this problem please?  What I want to do is to display information about the token privileges of the current process to the user.
I don't know exactly what the last variable (ReturnLength [out]) in the GetTokenInformation method does.  I tried reading the msdn documentation but did not understand its use.

A: The required_size parameter is an "out" parameter, meaning that it returns information to you from the function (i.e. an extra return value).  You're supposed to pass it the address of an existing DWORD variable, and it fills in the data there, but you're passing it an uninitialized pointer which it tries to write through.
Your code should look like this:
DWORD required_size;
GetTokenInformation(..., &required_size);  // Pass address of required_size
// required_size now contains the required size of the data buffer

A: Check the example and detailed explanation I gave you again. You need to find the length of the buffer first. Then initialize your buffer to exactly the size of the TOKEN_PRIVILEGES structure that you get. Here's the line that does initialization:
BYTE* pBuffer = new BYTE[dwLen];


Discussion in 'Scientology-related Videos' started by Leland, Jul 16, 2018.
Came across this video. Its about 1 1/2 years old. At first I thought it was based in LA....but it is actually based in Florida.
It would be interesting to find out what magazine this job offer was for.
Doesn't seem like it would have been a scientology magazine....but some other venture.
Thought that crossed my mind was that this could be some kind of FSM selectee grooming operation.
I guess there are lots of Cult Members around the Clearwater area.....that have small businesses. How would one know that they were affiliated with Scientology....unless one started work there....and then found out? ( for a never in ) Of course for an ex....I guess one would find out pretty fast.
OMG! I could only stand a minute of girl chatter before I gave up.
But, this video....is done by a young woman, a recent College Grad....and being offered to Interview for the position of Marketing Director of a Magazine.
She didn't fall for it....as many of us did...and spend years continuing to fall for it...as many of us did.
My guess is most of those robotic office workers who ignored her during the interview were lured in the same way as she narrowly avoided. They just couldn't cut it as 'Director' with a capital 'D' at the huge 'salary' of $10 dollars per-hour-wage so were demoted to sales and put on strict commission at 2% - 3% selling overpriced advertising space and ad copy in that mysterious and wonderful mystery sandwich "Magazine" with a capitol 'M' but no name. The rest of those robotic office workers who ignored her were likely staff clams with a financial PTP.
She didn't even have to tell us this was a Scientologist-run operation. Did she ?


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Soros, Wallace Help Bankroll Dark Money Fund Aimed at Midwestern Voters
Liberal billionaires push money to initiative as Dems ramp up 2020 efforts in region
George Soros, Scott Wallace / Getty Images, Facebook
Joe Schoffstall - May 31, 2019 3:00 PM
Liberal billionaires George Soros and Scott Wallace are helping bankroll a new fund hosted by an intricate dark money organization and focused on helping Democrats make inroads with midwestern voters for the 2020 elections.
The deep-pocketed donors moved the money from the Open Society Foundations, Soros's foundation, and the Wallace Global Fund, Wallace's foundation, to the newly launched Heartland Fund, a collaborative effort focused on building "power across the divides of the American heartland" as overall Democratic efforts have veered towards the region.
The Heartland Fund recently disbursed $500,000 in its first round of grants to nine left-wing groups and will begin its efforts with organizing and issue advocacy. The initiative is housed at the Windward Fund, which falls under the auspices of Arabella Advisors, a major dark money "fiscal sponsor" network founded by Eric Kessler, a former Bill Clinton appointee.
"For a growing number of donors, the 2016 election was a wake-up call, clearly indicating that we need to re-engage with these communities and their concerns to achieve philanthropic priorities related to health care, immigration, education, economic development, climate and environmental justice, civil and voting rights, and more," Arabella's website states. "Even among these donors, however, discussions about how best to engage often fall prey to assumptions and narratives that pit rural communities against urban ones, communities of color against the white working class, and progressive organizing and movement building against efforts to bridge a broader portion of the political and ideological spectrum."
The Heartland Fund is also aided by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and two anonymous backers, according to Inside Philanthropy. Soros's Open Society Foundations, however, is not mentioned in a Heartland Fund release on the collaborative, and the total amounts given by the groups are not known.
"The Open Society Foundations contributed $200,000 to the Heartland Fund for a one-year grant in 2019 to elevate the concerns and issues in Midwestern states that are sometimes overlooked in the national political conversation," said Jonathan Kaplan, the communications officer for the Open Society Foundations. "Our support will allow several nonpartisan, community based organizations to add capacity as they work to support racial and economic justice efforts in Michigan and Missouri."
Arabella, which also contains the Sixteen Thirty Fund and New Venture Fund, acts as a "fiscal sponsor" for liberal groups and as a pass-through entity for donors. This arrangement makes it virtually impossible to trace donations to groups that are "sponsored" by Arabella. Individuals who contribute to a certain group or initiative at Arabella do not have to mark their donations as going to that group, but rather can make it out to the arm at Arabella that hosts the group, such as the Windward Fund, Sixteen Thirty Fund, or New Venture Fund. Those funds then disburse the donations to the intended groups.
Arabella has facilitated more than $1.6 billion in stealth contributions from donors to liberal groups in recent years.
Soros and Wallace, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Pennsylvania's toss-up 1st district during the 2018 elections, are both members of the Democracy Alliance, the left's most powerful dark money donor network. Democracy Alliance members have pushed $1.83 billion into progressive infrastructure since its inception but have, at least temporarily, shifted their focus to state-based initiatives, including targeting rural areas. The alliance is planning to spend at least $275 million for the 2020 elections, confidential memos on its upcoming efforts show.
The Heartland Fund is not alone in renewed Democratic attempts to target the Midwest following Hillary Clinton's 2016 blunder in the region, which included neglecting Wisconsin entirely.
Future Majority, a Washington, D.C.-based Democratic strategy center, was also founded to focus on midwestern states in an effort to help "rebrand" the party and provide support to liberal organizations. The group is a registered 501(c)4 "social welfare" nonprofit and also does not have to disclose its donors.
Future Majority is planning to spend at least $60 million during the 2020 election cycle and is receiving help from megadonors Philip Munger, son of Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger, and Dan Tierney, who was the managing director of KGB Holdings, a global financial services company, before it sold in 2017. Munger and Tierney co-chair Future Majority's board.
The group tapped advisers from President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whom it quietly briefed during the 2018 elections before taking the organization public.
While the group claims it does not favor any particular candidate, the Washington Free Beacon previously found that Matt Tompkins, a Democratic fundraiser who was not publicly linked to the group, was listed as a governor of Future Majority's in its D.C. records and later launched a political action committee that planned to spend millions backing Joe Biden's presidential bid.
Mark Riddle, the executive director of Future Majority, told Real Clear Politics that Tompkins's involvement with the PAC was "an interesting coincidence" when asked about the arrangement, despite the PAC's intended name matching that of a plan posted on Future Majority's website. The PAC was ultimately shut down around that time.
Liberal operative David Brock, the Clinton loyalist and founder of Media Matters, additionally has mapped out a $50 million plan to "weaken" Trump in midwestern states using American Bridge.
"Our research, tracking, and rapid response capabilities are unparalleled in all of American politics," Bradley Beychok, president of American Bridge, said in a press release on the effort. "We're now set to leverage our expertise to launch the largest persuasion media effort we've ever undertaken with the goal of making Trump a one-term president. Donald Trump turned his back on the voters who gave him a lifeline in 2016. We plan to cut it."
Priorities USA, the largest liberal super PAC, has plans to pour $100 million into immediate efforts. These will focus on a handful of states, including Michigan and Wisconsin.
UPDATE 4:25 P.M.: This post has been updated to reflect comment from Jonathan Kaplan, the communications officer for Soros's Open Society Foundations.
This entry was posted in Politics and tagged 2020 Election, David Brock, Democracy Alliance, Democratic Donors, George Soros, Media Matters for America, Scott Wallace. Bookmark the permalink.
Joe Schoffstall is a staff writer for the Washington Free Beacon. Previously, he spent three years with the Media Research Center and was most recently with the Capitol City Project. He can be reached at Schoffstall@freebeacon.com. His Twitter handle is @JoeSchoffstall.


The verse of your time given that September 11, 2001, possesses definitely not diminished the particular distrust most of us think surrounding that official story with the way 9/11 occurred and, extra specifically, whom financed along with helped it. After eleven years, plenty of time provides come with the individuals from the victims, this survivors in addition to just about all Americans to have the complete story lurking behind 9/11.
Yet the story of and also require caused this 19 hijackers and the facilities which established that episodes an essential portion of the actual narrative has not been told. The pieces all of us do have underscore exactly how far more continues to be unknown.
Did that hijackers execute that piece alone, or have they need the actual support associated with forces rather than the particular recognized frontrunners connected with al-Qaeda a community actually of which supplied funds, assistance, and cover?
It is not really only a query in the must complete the beautiful record. It can be a matter with country's safety today.
If your help support system was designed to the actual terrorists before 9/11, why ought to most people consider there are currently disbanded or perhaps also been rolled up? It might nevertheless become throughout place, capable of helping al-Qaeda or even other extremist categories that don't like America that you will find many.
This can be with regards to justice. Thousands associated with Americans, who seem to sustained unimaginable loss, are actually denied his or her day time in judge simply because proof assist ended up being both certainly not gathered by law enforcement or even is still locked away, covered because "Classified."
From your starting point from the Congressional Joint Inquiry towards 9/11 , the idea felt implausible that the hijackers many of whom talked no English and also have never visited that U.S. may have performed the particular heinous display upon their own. The question turned out to be individuals suspicions justified, and a 28-page chapter in it's article based on sources regarding foreign help for many with that September 11 hijackers though they were being inside United States. That section continues to be censored, dissmissed off to the American people.
Sadly, people 28 internet pages symbolize merely a tiny proportion in the regarding Saudi complicity that will our federal continues in order to prevent from the actual public, within a new flawed distinction plan which will looks part of a new organized effort to protect Saudi Arabia coming from any kind of real accountability to get their actions. For example, after a close to eight 12 months delay, the particular CIA not too long ago responded in order to Freedom involving Information Act (FOIA) requests sent in on behalf in the 9/11 individuals around 2004, pertaining to reports along with papers cited in the notes of the 9/11 Commission's Final Report. Unfortunately, as soon as that followed for you to papers just like a 16-page CIA review named "Saudi Based Financial Support regarding Terrorist Organizations," our very own authorities redacted every word connected with substantive text.


Very early, store display tin for Advance Agent cigars. Has nicely stenciled advertising on three sides, w/ lift-up glass display lid.
SKU: 68-67. Categories: Antique Tins, Antique Tobacco, Antique Tobacco Tins. Company/Brand: Advance Agent Cigars.
Pittsburgh Stogie Display Tin: Very early, store display tin for Advance Agent cigars. Has nicely stenciled advertising on three sides, w/ lift-up glass display lid. Very nice overall, w/ only minor wear (C. 8).


"Just two cinnamon rolls." Said Harry.
Tateana turned, still on the verge of laughing from excitement, and Harry lead me to the counter where he grabbed a paper cup. "Cute, isn't it?" He said, smirking.
"Yeah, totally." I was still breathing unevenly from all the ancient emotions. We poured ourselves some hot chocolates.
Harry snagged some napkins, then towed me over to the cash.
There'd been three people in line when we came in, now we were second, and one man had sat down a table.
"Thank you, have a nice day. Next?"
"Two cinnamon rolls." Tateana said, grinning and placing the white box on the counter. She leaned against the shelves behind her and just stood there. Staring. Beaming.
"Two hot chocolates?" The lady added. Her name tag said, 'Dorothy'.
Harry nodded, and winked at the girl.
Harry and I were in line here. He'd looked so good. He wore a blazer and tan chinos, but still. He payed for our pastries and turned, I couldn't resist...I'd kissed him. Just once, quick but full. He'd pulled back smiling.
But no. I shook my head and rubbed my eyes to return to reality. Stuff like that didn't happen now...I shuffled around him so I wouldn't see him the same way as I did so long ago.
"7.24. Credit?" Dorothy took his card.
Harry glanced back at me. "You all right Lou?"
"Yeah, of course." The forced smile was even tougher to muster than in the car.
He poked his fingers into the machine a few times, and handed it back to Dorothy.
"Thank you, have a nice day."
Harry smiled at her. "Thanks, you too." He slipped the box and his drink off the counter, leaving me to grab my own cup.
I caught his second wink to the girl.
He slid into a chair next to the wall. I plopped down in front of him, smiling, battling emotions that made my heart contract unheathily.
"Anything from Liam?" Harry sipped his hot chocolate.
I froze remembering our sick friend for the first time since we left the apartment. "Um...oh..." I fumbled my phone out of my pocket and dropped it on the table. The screen sprang to life.
"Nothing." I answered dismally, as Harry flipped open the box and unwrapped the wax paper.
"Same." He tasted the cinnamon roll, and closed his eyes with delight.
"A-MAZ-ing." He chuckled, eyes widening.
I laughed softly, taking my own out and trying it.
Harry was right. They were amazing. "Oh my gosh. This..is like heaven in pastry form or something."
Harry smiled and took another sip.
"There must be carrots in the recipe."
And that's when he choked.
He'd laughed, and now I was laughing, and he was sputtering and shaking and still laughing. "That...was very...very good my friend."
I chuckled and held my arms out, as if bowing. "I try. I really do."
Harry balled up his napkin and threw it at me.


We are very excited to be partnering with the Polo Festival to bring you the Colorado Open Fantasy Polo Competition. This is a brand new tournament that will see some of the best in the world compete on the fantastic grounds of Denver Polo Club. Some familiar Fantasy faces will be returning to the fray with Adolfo Cambiaso, Diego Cavanagh and plenty of the USA season players coming back for more Fantasy fun. While we will also be joined by some new players, ready to surprise you with their Fantasy prowess.
You can pick your four man line up now from the roster and you'll have unlimited transfers until the start of the tournament on Wednesday 9th August so you can mix your team up and make as many changes you like right up until the first match. After that you will have 7 transfers to use throughout the tournament.
Keep an eye out on the Research Center as we will be posting lots of updates and in depth player analysis based on past statistics, match ups and team line ups so this is the place to go to keep on top of all the news and to get the best advice on who to pick and who to leave out.