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Events > 2021 Events > Iran: The Role Of Drones In The Quds Force's Incitement Of Regional War And Terrorism
Iran: The Role Of Drones In The Quds Force's Incitement Of Regional War And Terrorism
Oct 6, 2021, 4:00 PM
in2021 Events, Articles, Events, Press Conferences
6th October 2021, Originally published in NCR-Iran.org
On Wednesday, October 6, 2021, the U.S. Representative Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI-US) held a press conference and unveiled previously undisclosed aspects of the Iranian regime's massive UAV program.
Soona Samsami, the representative of the NCRI U.S., opened the conference, and Mr. Alireza Jafarzadeh, NCRI-US office deputy director, presented the report. The conference disclosed the production sites and the program's complete cycle, from production to deployment, and from training to procurement. Satellite imagery, graphs, charts, and other visual details were presented.
The alarming new details on the program, operated by the Qods Force of the IRGC, have been gathered by the network of the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) inside Iran. Over the past two decades, the NCRI has exposed dozens of the most important sites and centers of Tehran's nuclear weapons program, its ambitious missile program, and its terrorism network in the region.
The following is the text of the report by the U.S. Representative Office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran:
Newly disclosed information about UAV
production centers, use, storage, training, and export
The IRGC's resort to drones and missiles to cover up fundamental weaknesses of the Air Force
Drones are one of the primary weapons used by the Iranian regime to export terrorism and warmongering, which is why, over the past decade, Tehran has invested heavily in drone production despite drastic economic challenges.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force is chiefly using various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for its terrorist operations as well as for supplying its proxies in the region. To an extent, the regime is trying to compensate for its outdated and decrepit Air Force with this technology.
Today, for the first time, we are sharing information about production and utilization systems on the basis of information obtained from the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).
UAV production by the Ministry of Defense
and the Aerospace Force of the IRGC
To produce UAVs, the clerical regime smuggles some of the main parts, such as engines and electronic components, from foreign countries; other required components are produced in various industries within Iran.
There are, according to our information, 8 industries in Iran responsible for manufacturing UAVs. Some of these industries operate under the "Aviation Industries Organization" of the Ministry of Defense, including Quds Air Industries, Iran Aircraft Manufacturing (HESA), Fajr Industries, and Basir Industries.
Other sections of these complexes are affiliated with the IRGC Aerospace Force or the regime's various armed forces, or operate under the guise of private institutions.
1 – Ghazanfar Roknabadi Industries
Ghazanfar Roknabadi Industries, affiliated with the IRGC Aerospace Force, is involved in the production of drones. This entity provides support and training for the IRGC Aerospace Force factories. It builds different parts of drones for the IRGC and other industries related to Aerospace.
The Ghazanfar Roknabadi complex includes dozens of sheds and buildings. The workspace for engines and drone cameras is located in the northern part of the complex, which is shown in subsequent aerial photos.
The storage space for various parts related to the Aerospace Force is located in the southern part of the complex.
According to reports obtained, the raw materials for making drone parts, such as fabrics and special fibers, are imported from China.
This center is located at the Old Karaj Road (Fatah Highway), Bilal Boulevard (Sepahe Eslam), eastern side of the boulevard.
Ghazanfar Roknabadi Industries
Building 1 is the security office, Bldg. 2 is the engine and camera workshop, Bldg. 3 is the production hall
2 – The armed forces drone production in Semnan
Beginning in 2019, the regime's armed forces launched a new drone complex, a specialized drone unit headquartered in Semnan. All military institutions, including the IRGC, Bassij, State Security Forces (SSF) and Army defense, are jointly active in this complex. This complex is essentially a specialized working group for the production of UAVs, and works on the design and reproduction of light and quiet UAVs. A number of information technology specialists and engineers are working in this unit. The drones produced are intended to control the western and eastern borders of the country. The specialists transport the parts in separate pieces to the desired location and assemble the final product there.
Drone production facility in Semnan
3 – Quds Air Industries
Quds Air Industries operates under the Aviation Industry Organization of the Ministry of Defense. It changed its name to "Light Aircraft Design and Construction Industries" on December 13, 2019. The headquarters is located at km 4 of the Tehran-Karaj special highway and is adjacent to the IRGC's Ghadr Airbase at Mehrabad Airport.
Quds Air Industries near Mehrabad Airport
Quds Air Industries of the Defense Ministry
1 is a new administrative bldg.; 2 a design section; 3 an assembly hall; 4 a computer section; 5 final testing sections
4 – Fajr Industries
Fajr Aerospace Industries and Composite Materials is one of the factories controlled by the Aviation Industry Organization of the Ministry of Defense. It produces small single-engine aircraft. Some materials and parts related to UAVs are also produced by Fajr. Fajr Industries is located next to Quds Air Industries on the Karaj special road.
Fajr Industries located next to Quds Air Industries
5 – Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HESA)
This company is one of the largest subsidiaries of the Aviation Industry Organization of the Ministry of Defense. It is located in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan. In addition to manufacturing aircraft parts, it is also involved in the construction of UAVs and their components. The so-called Ababil UAV, a smaller type of drone, was first built by this company. The current head of this company is Hamid Reza Nouri.
HESA in Shahin Shar, Isfahan
6 – Basir Industries (in Babol)
Basir Industries is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Organization of the Ministry of Defense. It produces various parts and components for the aerospace and marine industries, including the production of small batteries for UAVs and also diesel engines for IRGC speedboats. This company is located at km 1 of Babol – Amol highway.
Basir Industries located at Km 1 of the Babol – Amol highway.
7 – Bespar Sazeh Composite Company
Bespar Sazeh Composite manufactures UAV body parts. It was established in 2015. The company primarily operates in the areas of design, modeling, molding and production of various composite and metal parts.
The original address of this company in 2015 was near the location of Quds Air Industries on Karaj Road. In 2016, it was moved to the Mallard area in the southwest of Tehran. The new location is near the IRGC missile and UAV barracks, including Falaq Barracks and Sajjad Barracks.
Bespar Sazeh, involved in building Mohajer UAVs
Hall 1, production of composite parts; 2 the administrative office of Bespar Sazeh; 3 the office of Quds Air Industries
Picture taken from outside of Bespar Sazeh company
According to reports obtained from inside Iran, this company produces the fuselage of various types of UAVs, including for the so-called Mohajer drones.
According to these reports, the company procures roughly 50% of its required raw materials from inside Iran. The remaining 50% is smuggled from abroad. At present, other types of raw materials are imported from China, Turkey and South Korea. In the past, the company imported high-quality glass fibers from France and some other materials, such as high-quality resin, from Germany and the United States. However, they are no longer able to do so as a result of sanctions, and instead obtain lower-quality raw materials from China.
8 – Paravar Pars Company and Sepehr Airport
In 1995, the IRGC began setting up an airport and a military-industrial complex east of Imam Hossein University. The Sepehr Airport and the complex operate under the supervision of Paravar Pars Company, which belongs to the Aviation Research Unit of the IRGC's Imam Hossein University. The company copies existing models and builds UAVs, ultralight planes, and drones and also installs cameras and other equipment on drones. The Paravar Pars Company and Sepehr Airport have been placed under the control of the IRGC Aerospace Force since 2005. The Aerospace Force of the IRGC uses this airport for training with drones and light aircraft.
Sepehr Airport used by the IRGC for training with drones
Storage and utilization centers for drones
used by the IRGC Aerospace Force
The IRGC Aerospace Force, which has replaced the Air Force in the IRGC structure, has five commands, one of which is the UAV Command. The UAV Command has several groups that are stationed at various bases in Iran.
IRGC Aerospace Force UAV Command: In addition to UAV command, the IRGC Aerospace Force includes Missile Command, Air Command, Air Defense Command, and Space Command.
The IRGC Aerospace Force Drone Command Center: The Drone Command Center is one of the subdivisions of the Aerospace Force. The Aerospace Force, headed by IRGC Brig. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, also includes the missiles command, air command, air defense command, and the space command units. There are 7 UAV maintenance and utilization centers, which include:
– The headquarters of the drone command center in Dastvareh (headquarters of the IRGC Aerospace Force) in northwestern Tehran
– Karimi Air Base in Kashan
– Badr Base in Isfahan
– Aerospace Base in Ahvaz
– The UAV unit in Kermanshah
– Sajjad Garrison and Falaq Garrison belonging to the IRGC Aerospace Force in the Mallard region (west of Tehran)
UAV command post in the Aerospace Force (Dastvareh Garrison):
The UAV command post is located in Dastvareh Garrison, which is also the headquarters of the IRGC Aerospace Force located in a separate building. Brigadier General Saeed Aqajani, the current commander of the UAV Command, is stationed at this location.
UAV command is located at Dastvareh Garrison, which is IRGC's Aerospace Force headquarters.
Map of Iran showing 8 UAV manufacturing centers and 7 UAV maintenance and utilization centers
Organizational structure of the Quds Force in relation to UAVs
The IRGC's Quds Force has assigned departments in its headquarters to the drone program in a bid to equip its mercenaries and militias in the region with UAVs.
Quds Force Intelligence Department:
Within the Quds Force Intelligence Department, a division is responsible for ordering and procuring UAVs. This division identifies the quantity and types of UAVs needed in accordance with the particular designs and objectives for each target country. These requests are then submitted to the Ministry of Defense. The requested drones are primarily provided by the main drone production facility, which is a subsidiary of the Aviation Industries Organization in the regime's Ministry of Defense.
Quds Force Training Department:
The Quds Force Training Department is in charge of training the regime's mercenaries and proxies. It brings the mercenaries of militant groups from different countries to Iran and specifically to the headquarters of this department at the Imam Ali Garrison. Subsequently, the agents are sent to various sections based on the kind of UAV training they need in relation to the level and type of their intended missions.
In addition to training on the use of missiles and sabotage operations, the Quds Force Training Department provides systematic training on the use of drones. There are different training groups at the Quds Force Imam Ali Garrison (located at the 20km exit of the Tehran-Karaj highway). One of the groups is the so-called specialized (technical) unit. This group includes three subdivisions: UAV, missiles, and heavy weaponry and its repair.
The missile training section is known as code 340. UAV training is code 330. Heavy weapons and repairs is code 320.
In addition to providing training on the use of missiles, the specialized unit of the Training Department, which is located near the city of Semnan, provides training on the use of drones to the mercenaries of the Quds Force.
Some areas of higher-level training on the use of UAVs are provided by UAV experts of the IRGC Aerospace Force at the Karimi Base in Kashan.
Quds Force Logistics Department:
Within the Quds Force Logistics Department, there is a smuggling office in charge of smuggling weapons and equipment to agents in regional countries.
This office uses various air, land and sea pathways to send weapons and equipment, including UAV parts, to the countries of the region.
Air: Some of the weapons and equipment are routinely sent to target countries through the IRGC base at Mehrabad Airport.
Land: Some of this equipment, hidden in containers, is sent by truck to Iraq, Syria and Lebanon via the land border.
Sea: Other equipment is smuggled on IRGC boats through ports controlled by the IRGC to Yemen and other areas.
In this way, the Quds Force, in conjunction with the Ministry of Defense and the Aerospace Force, transfers UAV weapons and training and other requirements to its mercenary groups.
Quds Force uses various air, land and sea pathways to send weapons and equipment, including UAV parts, to its proxies in the countries of the region.
Terrorist attacks using drones in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and Palestine
After the drones are sent by the Quds Force headquarters in Iran to other countries in the region, they are assembled in military barracks (such as the former Camp Ashraf in Iraq) by trained personnel.
The drones that are subsequently either produced by the IRGC Aerospace Force officers, who operate under the command of the Quds Force branch in that country, or by trained personnel of the Quds Force mercenary groups, are used in reconnaissance or operational missions in the host country.
How the Quds Force uses drones in 5 specific regions:
Syria: Over the course of the Syrian conflict, the IRGC has consistently used UAVs to identify and attack Syrian opposition forces and to shore up the Bashar Assad army. A number of IRGC Aerospace Force personnel are currently stationed in Syria (as of the summer of 2021). One of the airports used to operate UAVs is the Palmyra Airport. The IRGC Aerospace Force personnel go to this airport to carry out missions. The headquarters of the IRGC Aerospace Force is in the city of Palmyra. The drones sent to Syria are sent in pieces, and assembled by the IRGC in its workshops and factories in Syria. Some parts, such as UAV engines, are procured directly from China and shipped to Syria.
Iraq: In the years since the withdrawal of the multi-national coalition forces, the IRGC has made extensive use of drones inside Iraq, making them available to IRGC-affiliated militant groups. An example of this is shown in this photo of the drones delivered to the Al-Nujaba group in Iraq, which acts as one of the mercenaries of the Quds Force.
In a parade organized by the Popular Mobilization Front in June 2021, these groups, including Al-Nujaba, displayed their drones. All the parts of these drones had been sent by the IRGC from Iran.
Drone parts are sent separately by air to Baghdad airport or by land to the Hashad al-Shaabi groups. These parts are assembled in IRGC-affiliated workshops.
Lebanon: In 2003, seven members of the Lebanese Hezbollah received training for the first time on the Mohajer-4 aircraft at the Quds Air Industries, which produces UAVs. Subsequently, the regime sent several of these aircraft to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Due to the importance of using UAVs for terrorist acts, in 2006, Imad Mughniyeh visited Sepehr Airport during a visit to Tehran to see how UAVs were launched from vehicles.
Yemen: The IRGC's Quds Force also provides drones to the Yemeni Ansarollah (Houthis) on a wide scale. The Houthis consistently use drones in their attacks, and their drones are constantly shot down in Saudi territory. According to a report on November 27, 2016, the seizure of six Qasef-1 UAVs being transferred from Oman to Yemen (which is a common smuggling route to Yemen) shows that Qasef-1 was not made in Yemen but transferred from Iran. The Qasef-1 drone is similar to the Ababil-2 drones built by the IRGC.
Kurdish regions: The clerical regime also uses drones to attack the Kurdish regions in order to suppress Iranian Kurdish groups and refugees. In recent weeks, the regime has used such drones to suppress Iranian Kurds in these regions.
A review of the complete cycle of production, use and export of drones and its expansion in recent years reveals the following:
1. Despite and in part due to the concessions made through the nuclear deal and Western countries' decision to turn a blind eye to the clerical regime's destabilizing activities, the export of terrorism and incitement to war in the region remain a pillar for the regime's preservation, and have gained more prominence in the eyes of the regime.
2. The regime is spending billions of dollars on its missiles and UAV programs while 80 percent of the Iranian people live under the poverty line and the budgets for health care, education and other national requirements are abysmally lower than military expenditures. During the coronavirus pandemic, the regime did not assist the Iranian people in any way and the number of victims has reached 450,000 to date, by far outpacing other countries on a per capita basis. Over the past few years, the Iranian people have chanted "No to Gaza, no to Lebanon, my life only for Iran," and "Leave Syria, think about us instead."
3. These activities prove that the billions of dollars that the regime earned from the easing of sanctions in the context of the nuclear deal and plundered from Iran's national wealth are expropriated by the regime to build and produce such weapons in order to export terrorism and warmongering in the region.
4. Any dealings with the regime in Tehran by all Western sides, especially after the ascendance of Raisi, must end. All activities, including production, use, and research on drones and the regime's missile program must be included in demands. Otherwise, because of its severe domestic weaknesses, the clerical regime will place more emphasis on creating regional instability in order to buy time and preserve its rule.
5. None of the sanctions against the regime should be lifted until it has stopped all its rogue behavior and intransigence in the region and its repression of the Iranian people.
Drones, Iran, Iran Terrorism, IRGC, MEK, NCRI
PRESS CONFERENCE: NCRI-US to Unveil New Details of Iran Regime's Destabilizing UAV Program
NCRI's Latest Revelation Underlines Need for an Assertive Policy Toward Iran's Regime


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package com.structed.models.loss;

import java.util.List;

/**
 * Computing Character Error Rate (CER) loss function for the OCR task
 * Created by yossiadi on 7/18/15.
 */
public class TaskLossCER implements ITaskLoss {

    @Override
    public double computeTaskLoss(String predictClass, String actualClass, List<Double> params) {

        // get the minimum length
        int len = ((predictClass.length() < actualClass.length()) ? predictClass.length() : actualClass.length()) - 2;
        double loss = 0.0;

        // compute the character error rate
        for(int i=0 ; i<len ; i++){
            char ch_predict = predictClass.charAt(i+1);
            char ch_actual = actualClass.charAt(i+1);

            if(ch_actual != ch_predict)
                loss ++;
        }
        return loss/len;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Skagaströnd, Iceland–Johnny Cash's low rumble fills the cozy, lacquered log cabin interior. The charred aroma of meat on the grill filters through the air and carved wooden Native American figureheads flanked by cowboy hats bedeck the walls. An elderly white haired man dressed all in black shuffles out of the kitchen, slowly up the staircase. It takes a beat to remember I'm not in some dusty American roadhouse. Or on the set of a David Lynch film for that matter- though not far off.
Instead, swirling winds howl like harpies. Snow drifts pile relentlessly outside the protective walls of Kantry Baer, the only bar / restaurant in Skagaströnd, a tiny fishing village in the North of Iceland. Local legend, Hallbjorn Hjartarson, has just made his way up to the DJ booth for his regular Saturday night set on the all country, all the time radio station he's pioneered on the second floor of his beloved bar, the heart of Skagaströnd.
"They have always say, this guy, Halbjorn is crazy," says Hjartarson of the town's residents, over tea in his little red house, perched at the edge of the North Atlantic.
Crazy or not, perhaps possessed is a better descriptive, Skagaströnd has him to thank for putting the rural outpost on the map. At least as far as notoriety goes. Although it very nearly didn't happen this way; delivered many decades ago, in the neighboring village of Blönduós, Hjartarson came into this cold world as a stillborn.
"I was dead." He says with his heavy Icelandic accent, as two small sharks circle some goldfish casually in the hulking tank nearby.
Inauspicious beginnings for a local boy who'd go on to release a dozen country albums, and tour Iceland numerous times, be recognized by the CMA's in Iceland and be touted as the Country King by his homeland. Ask most any Icelander about Skagaströnd, and they'll tell you about Halbjorn the Icelandic Cowboy, tell you about the Kantry Baer. Most say it's the only reason to make the trip. In fact, when the bar burned to the ground at one point, the whole country pitched in so that he could rebuild it, sending checks from all over.
But how did a kid from rural Iceland come to carry such a torch for these far away songs and culture of which they told? From the moment he was exposed to country music, through records of his older brothers, he fell in love. Asked what it is about the music that really strikes him, it appears ineffable.
From the age of seven he would listen to these records over and over. Watching his brother like a hawk while he played chords on the guitar, he'd memorize his finger placements. Would steal it to play while it's rightful owner was at work.
He formed a dancing band with his brothers in his teens until finally, he had his break.
A man from Reykjavik was looking for new recording artists, so he made a cassette and sent it in. Hopeful. The man liked what he heard, and soon Halbjorn was making his first record, recording twelve country songs to be distributed throughout Iceland. As these things can often go however, the record didn't sell to the man's satisfaction, and so the driven Hjartarson was left to his own devices.
He opened the Kantry Baer, and ran his own HJH Records out of it. Releasing album after album, pursuing his dream, building up a level of notoriety country-wide. The call of the country homeland was strong, and to make his sixth album, he made the pilgrimage to the mecca of twang – Nashville, Tennessee. Though the trip lasted a mere few days—enough to score a lifetime's supply of flashy cowboy duds and hop over to Graceland (this, he did not seem impressed by)—it was the one and only time he'd set foot anywhere in the place that had inspired his life's work.
This imported sound, which he's made his own- can feel otherworldly when you listen in this environment. When slide guitar washes out over a backdrop of black waves and barren, snowy hills, there is something that feels oddly congruent. A white, wild west.
When asked where his music comes from, where the aesthetic—this fully realized version of a place he's only been for fleeting moments—comes from, he answers matter-of-factually.
I ask what he means by that, and he indicates skyward.
He goes on to tell me that he'd had the feeling someone had been speaking through him, for most of his life, bringing him these songs. A psychic came to his home at one point, and affirmed this, saying that he saw he was with him still. Hjartarson said he could see Johnny Wild above him on the ceiling.
I say that it makes sense. And it does, really.
Regardless of the source, one man's obsession and devotion to his home, has left its indelible mark. The town's children come to the Kantry Baer every day for their school lunch. Each Friday, it's a beacon in the night as the only place to imbibe in a place that sells no alcohol. Some Saturday's you can even see a live country band from Reykjavik or some surrounding area, a spark of life imported to the North. They may call him crazy. But the heart of this town in undeniable.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Pytorch Lightning repeats main script for each gpu I have a single machine with two graphic cards. I'd like to use both for training my model. In an attempt to make my life easier, I'm using pytorch lightning.
When I run my script without gpus, everything works fine:
trainer = Trainer(gpus=None)

But I'd like to run it on multiple gpus. Confusingly, the manual, first states that for one machine with multiple gpus you should use the 'dp' accelerator:
trainer = Trainer(gpus=2, accelerator='dp')

This starts the training session, but gives me an BroadcastBackward error that I only get when I try to use the dp accelerator (details below).
However the manual goes on to say that

DP use is discouraged by PyTorch and Lightning. Use DDP which is more
stable and at least 3x faster

Sounds great! So I do:
trainer = Trainer(gpus=2, accelerator='ddp')

But now when I run trainer.fit, the trainer starts a second process (proc = subprocess.Popen(command, env=env_copy, cwd=cwd) in ddp_accelerator.py.
On the one hand this is expected behaviour (one process per gpu), but on the other hand, it really literary reruns my main script (it's not just re-imported, so protecting with if __name__ == "__main__": doesn't help). My script is an optimisation scheme, with the following flow:

*

*generate hyperparameters (based on results of earlier runs)

*build, train, evaluate model: return performance measure

*repeat from 1

This means that the second process gets different hyperparameters than the first, and this obviously throws an error.
Running on 1 gpu works fine by the way (training completes without errors):
trainer = Trainer(gpus=1, accelerator='ddp')

How should I approach this problem? Stick with 'dp' and fix my BroadcastBackward error? Or stick with ddp, but how can I then fix the script duplication error?
dp error details:

In file X, Line X, in forward self.RMr.lerp_(Mr.squeeze(), exponential_average_factor) RuntimeError:
Output 0 of BroadcastBackward is a view and is being modified inplace.
This view is the output of a function that returns multiple views.
Such functions do not allow the output views to be modified inplace.
You should replace the inplace operation by an out-of-place one.

system details:
ubuntu, python: 3.8, pytorch-lightning: 1.0.7, pytorch: 1.6.0

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
O Beretta Stampede é um revólver single-action fabricado pela Beretta que é um clone exato do Colt Single Action Army "Peacemaker".

Veja também
 Beretta Laramie
 Colt Peacemaker

Ligações externas
Site oficial da Beretta EUA, página Stampede
Dados de teste Balisticos Pelo Inch para o Stampede Beretta

Stampede
Revólveres da Itália
Revólveres

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Imperial Gaming earmarks N9bn for prospective winners
Imperial Gaming Limited, an online gaming company, has launched what it calls 'Super Lotto' with a promise to ensure that players win N9bn every year.
The gaming company operates primarily in Lagos State under the supervision and control of the Lagos State Lotteries Board, with the trading name Super Lotto.
The launch event took place in Lagos, the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement read in part, "Super Lotto is a new, groundbreaking lotto company offering exciting online, mobile and retail gaming with much better odds than other lotto operators.
The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director of the company, Femi Umar-Lawal, was quoted as saying, "Super Lotto is the first of its kind in the lottery gaming platform for many reasons. First, Super Lotto boasts of e-gaming as well as live gaming portals, which no other lottery brand in Nigeria possesses.
Small businesses can't grow with funding challenges -SMEDAN DG
South-West states have no business being poor, says Oyetola
Accountants critical to business, economic growth – ICAN
I can still do business with Brymo –Former manager, Lanre Lawal
Expert to train entrepreneurs in business branding
Passion for business made me start working at 13 –Joycee Awosika


text:
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DEDFEST
'The Lion King' Is 'Planet Earth' Minus David Attenborough Directed by Jon Favreau
The Lion King is about an impressionable youth who runs away from home, joins a squat, experiments with nihilism, becomes radicalized and th...
'Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am' Finally Gives a More Complete Picture of an Amazing Life Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
After reading Toni Morrison's groundbreaking 1987 novel Beloved, Oprah Winfrey was so fixated on locating the author to discuss it, she conv...
'The Last Black Man in San Francisco' Is a Gentle Meditation on Gentrification Directed by Joe Talbot
Gentrification is a topic that doesn't get nearly enough play in the film industry, perhaps because it's a world populated by gentrifiers. E...
'Midsommar' Lays Humanity Bare at a Swedish Hippie Festival Directed by Ari Aster
There's a scene early on in Midsommar where our central cast of blissfully unaware tourists are driving to a once-in-a-century Scandanavian...
'Stranger Things' Comes of Age in Its Horrifying, Heartbreaking Third Season
Stranger Things has always been a show about growing up. Focusing on a ragtag group of outcasts in small-town Indiana as they deal with supe...
'Spider-Man: Far From Home' Eventually Finds Its Tingle Directed by Jon Watts
Homecoming, Tom Holland's first spin around the block as Spider-Man, was a surprising delight. After all, in a cluttered superhero film land...
'Annabelle Comes Home' Has Fun with Its Closet of Horrors Directed by Gary Dauberman
Annabelle Comes Home isn't much more than spooky funhouse nonsense, but that's all it needs to be — and for the third film in a spinoff fran...
'Yesterday' Is a Charming Beatles Rom-Com That Even Ed Sheeran Can't Ruin Directed by Danny Boyle
Imagine if the Beatles never existed, and you could pass off all of their songs as your own. Anyone who has attempted to write pop songs has...
'Men in Black: International' Will Make You Want to Have Your Memory Erased Directed by F. Gary Gray
If you take the "intergalactic buddy cop comedy" premise of the original Men in Black, but strip it of its humour, you'll get Men in Black:...
'Toy Story 4' Is a Sporking Good and Worthy Finale Directed by Josh Cooley
Toy Story 3 beautifully wrapped up the saga of Andy and his collection of sentient toys, so it's easy to be a little sceptical about the pro...
'The Dead Don't Die' Scores Climate Crisis Points via Zombie Calamity Comedy Directed by Jim Jarmusch
About three-quarters in to the satiric farce that is Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die, characters played by Danny Glover and Caleb Landry J...


The Mt. Tabor United Church of Christ Churchmen's Fellowship is selling pine straw. Interested buyers may call the church at 249-1660 or 248-5404 to place an order. The price per bale is $4.50; orders can be delivered. Group members will be selling at Todco Inc., 1123 Roy Lopp Road, on Saturday mornings starting at 8:30 a.m.
The Thomasville Woman's Club is having a fashion show and luncheon on May 4 at 15 Elliott Drive in Thomasville. Some ladies will be playing cards beginning at 9:30. Others will come at 11 am. for the fashion show and luncheon. The public is cordially invited to attend. Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased by calling Judy Smith 475-6597. The fashion show is being sponsored by Belk in High Point and the theme is"Southern Girls And Pearls" and all attendees are encouraged to wear pearls. Hats and gloves are optional. There will be a bake sale and vintage costume jewelry sale. This is a fundraiser for the club.


Making a list of problems in a mausncript is a great idea I think it would often turn to explaining one item on the list because you're excited about it, and having to shift to the computer to keep writing.My favorite list to make is plot complications, with a switch-up to your advice. When a character has to overcome something, don't settle for one of the first three solutions you think of. List ten, and choose one towards the end. The first solutions you think of are the easy ones, and the last are the more unexpected, creating a more original story.


text:
Kenyan LGBT activist Edwin Chiloba's body found in metal box
NAIROBI, Kenya — Police in Kenya are investigating the death of an LGBT activist whose body was found stuffed in a metal box.
The body of Edwin Chiloba was found on Wednesday on a road in Uasin Gishu County, in the west of the country.
Police say a motorcycle taxi operator reported seeing the box being dumped by a vehicle with no license plates.
The rider reported the incident to police officers who were manning a nearby roadblock.
Officers who opened the box found the decomposing body of a man, whom they described as wearing women's clothes.
The deceased was identified as Chiloba and his body was taken to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to establish the cause of death.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango said the motive was not yet known.
"We don't know for now why he was killed that way. Experts are handling the matter," she said.
A motorcycle taxi operator reported seeing a box, with Chiloba's body in it, being dumped by a vehicle.
Chiloba has been attacked and assaulted in the past for his activism, according to a close friend.
Chiloba is a known LGBT activist and has in the past been attacked and assaulted for his activism, his friend Denis Nzioka tweeted on Wednesday.
LGBT people living in Kenya have often decried discrimination and attacks in a country where sex between men is illegal.
Kenya is largely a conservative society and the president has in past said that gay rights are a non-issue in the east African country.
US warship travels through Taiwan Strait angering China
West Virginia officials find suspected human remains two hours from where Gretchen Fleming last seen
President Biden to end COVID-19 emergencies on May 11 January 31, 2023
10 wounded, 2 critical, in drive-by shooting in central Florida January 31, 2023


text:
'Jon Glaser Loves Gear,' Has Complicated Feelings About Everything Else
The comic actor stars in truTV's new postmodern 'reality' show
By Drew Grant • 10/26/16 9:00am
Jon Glaser on the set of his new truTV show, Jon Glaser Loves Gear. Photo by Kaitlyn Flannagan for Observer
Jon Glaser, 48, is a serious man. Though best known for his comedic roles on Parks and Recreation (as Councilman Jeremy Jamm), GIRLS (as recovering junkie-turned-new dad Laird) and Amy Schumer vehicles (both on her Comedy Central show and in her movie, Trainwreck), the scruffily bearded Glaser sitting across from me on the West Village set of his new truTV show is playing our interview pretty straight.
"I'm probably going to start crying," he warns me when I ask about his background as a Second City actor. He had been a University of Michigan senior with one semester left in college when he first took the train from Ann Arbor to Chicago to audition for the famed comedy school/theater/club in the early '90s.
"I was so intimidated, sitting there in the lobby," he recalls. "I was surrounded by all these people who looked like cool actors. They had funny characters they were doing. I just tucked in my shirt to look presentable. I even remember what I was wearing: I had these Gap mustard-color jeans, and a Gap denim shirt, tucked in. Light blue denim. I did O.K. in my audition. Afterward, I was walking out, and this woman came out of the theater. I had no idea who she was. I was putting on my Cinelli baseball hat…you know, that bicycle parts company? I had a long, green Army coat, Quadrophenia-style."
The woman turned out to be legendary Chicago producer Joyce Sloane. "She was there during the heyday, with the big names…Belushi, Bill Murray, all those people," says Glaser, misty-eyed. (Sloane passed away in 2011.) "She said, 'You know, you're really funny. You need training, but stay in school, finish school, don't break your mom's heart. Here's my card, call me when you graduate.' "
"She changed my life," Glaser insists. "I couldn't even believe this was happening. I saved this card. I still have it. I've been wanting to get it framed for years."
It's a beautiful story, and one obviously close to Glaser's heart. The fact that he can remember exactly what he was wearing—the color of the jeans, the coat, the brand of hat—reveals the dry, oddball humor that is the crux of his new, faux (or possibly just semi-faux,) reality show, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, which premieres this week.
The premise is…exactly that. Every week, Glaser takes on a different subculture of "gear"—camping in the pilot, an episode devoted to bike equipment, etc.—and dives in with the pornographic enthusiasm of Guy Fieri at a pig roast. In that way, Gear is a reality show: Glaser interviews and consults with experts in each episode's unscripted portions, several of whom were found in attendance during last week's screening of Gear at Metrograph on the Lower East Side, rubbing elbows with the likes of John Hodgman, Julie Klausner and Scott Adsit.
The show developed from a bit Glaser used to perform in New York, where he'd go onstage and talk about his love for his high-end raincoat, Arc'teryx. "It is way more jacket than I need for the city. It's like a technical jacket that, if you're going climbing, it's got a ton of pull-tabs, it comes up pretty high, it's really waterproof, but it's breathable. It's got pit zips." (Pit zips seem to hold a fetishtic fascination for Glaser.)
"Basically, I'm going to stand onstage, and there will be no jokes. I will just dryly describe all the features of the jacket, and what I love about it so much. For whatever reason, this bit did really well. The set rides this ebb and flow of people kind of laughing, and then not."
"It's just fun to do," Glaser says, shrugging, because one thing comedians love to do is explain to interviewers how, exactly, they are funny.
But of course, it's not that simple. Glaser got his first writing gig on The Dana Carvey Show, after producer Robert Smigel (aka Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) saw the young comedian's Saturday Night Live audition tape. With Louis C.K. as the head writer of a room that included Dino Stamatopoulos, Charlie Kaufman, Robert Carlock, Bob Odenkirk, David Cross and Glaser, it was a mind-melting amount of talent. (The cast also included a young Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell). While his enthusiasm for gear might be earnest, Glaser's sincerity belies a subversively zany streak, as any fan of his Adult Swim shows, DeLocated and Neon Joe, Werewolf Hunter is aware.
Jon Glaser. Kaitlyn Flannagan for Observer
"I like when the comedy comes from the drama and pathos," says Glaser. "We play everything seriously, and that's why it's funny."
And like DeLocated, the tension (and humor) of the show is drawn from the inability of Glaser to separate himself as the "star" of something from the man whose personal life is falling apart on camera. When his "wife" on Gear refuses to be on camera, Glaser hires a Nordic model to play her stand-in, only to find out, while on a camping trip to test out all his new doodads, that even his fake wife prefers the company of…well, just about anyone besides Glaser.
Despite having his name in the title, Glaser has a hard time considering himself a celebrity in the comedy world. "I wouldn't describe myself as a celebrity," he demures. O.K., but could he describe himself as a jacket?
Glaser perks up. "High-end," he nods. "And with pit zips."
Jon Glaser Loves Gear premieres October 26, 10 p.m. ET.
Filed Under: Entertainment, TV, Video, Comedy, Stephen Colbert, Louis CK, Steve Carell, Celebrity profiles, Bob Odenkirk
SEE ALSO: Ulay Remembers the Crime of a Lifetime 40 Years Later


text:
Aluminum Market: Global Demand, Growth Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2020-2024 | Technavio
The global aluminum market size is expected to grow by 13.66 million tons during 2020-2024, progressing at a CAGR of almost 3% during the forecast period.
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Aluminum Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire).
Click & get FREE sample Report in MINUTES
The use of aluminum cans in the beverage sector is one of the major factors propelling market growth. However, factors such as high volatility in London Metal Exchange (LME) prices of aluminum will hamper the market growth.
The lightweight and recyclable properties of aluminum cans make it a popular choice in the beverage industry for packaging sodas, energy drinks, beers, and sparkling water. Apart from being easily recyclable and air resistant, these cans can also be rapidly chilled and provide a superior metal surface for printing. This helps in enhancing the aesthetics of the packaging and retain the original taste of the packaged food. With the increasing demand for these cans in the beverage industry, the demand for aluminum is also bound to grow.
More details: www.technavio.com/report/aluminum-market-industry-analysis
Global Aluminum Market: End-user Landscape
The aerospace, automotive, rail transportation, and marine industries, all use aluminum extensively. The aerospace industry uses aluminum to make almost all aircraft for overall weight reduction and to make them fuel-efficient and capable of carrying the maximum load. Aluminum is used in vehicle parts such as wheels, bumpers, engine cylinder blocks, and the main body that includes the hood, doors, and frame. The marine industry uses aluminum-magnesium alloys in shipbuilding as they are corrosion-resistant to both freshwater and seawater. The growth of the overall transportation industry is, thus, expected to drive the demand for aluminum during the forecast period. However, market growth in this segment will be slower than the growth of the market in the packaging and electrical engineering segment.
Global Aluminum Market: Geographic Landscape
APAC was the largest aluminum market in 2019, and the region will offer several growth opportunities to market vendors during the forecast period. The strong consumption of aluminum from the construction, automotive, and packaging industries in China and India will significantly drive aluminum market growth in this region over the forecast period. 74% of the market's growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. China, India, and Japan are the key markets for aluminum in APAC. Market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions.
Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free.
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Related Reports on Materials Include:
Global Aluminum Casting Market: The aluminum casting market size has the potential to grow by 6.81 million MT during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate during the forecast period. To get extensive research insights: Click and Get FREE Sample Report in Minutes!
Global Aluminum Pigment Market: The aluminum pigment market size has the potential to grow by $177.59 million during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate during the forecast period because of the steady increase in year-over-year growth. To get extensive research insights: Click and Get FREE Sample Report in Minutes!
Alcoa Corp.
Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd.
China Hongqiao Group Ltd.
Emirates Global Aluminium PJSC
Kaiser Aluminum Corp.
National Aluminium Co. Ltd.
Rio Tinto Ltd.
United Company Rusal Plc
Xinfa Group Co. Ltd.
What our reports offer:
Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
Covers market data for 2019, 2020, till 2024
Market trends (drivers, opportunities, threats, challenges, investment opportunities, and recommendations)
Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements
Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavio's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform
Aluminum Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights
CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024
Detailed information on factors that will assist in aluminum market growth during the next five years
Estimation of the aluminum market size and its contribution to the parent market
Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior
The growth of the aluminum market
Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors
Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of aluminum market, vendors
Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 - 2024
Market Segmentation by End-user by Volume
Comparison by End-user by volume
Transportation - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Construction - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Packaging - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Electrical engineering - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Others - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Market opportunity by End-user by volume
Market Segmentation by Production Process by Volume
Comparison by production process by volume
Primary aluminum - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Secondary aluminum - Market size and forecast 2019-2024 (million tons)
Market opportunity by production process by volume
Geographic Landscape
Geographic segmentation
Geographic comparison
APAC - Market size and forecast 2019-2024
Europe - Market size and forecast 2019-2024
North America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024
MEA - Market size and forecast 2019-2024
South America - Market size and forecast 2019-2024
Key leading countries
Market opportunity by geography
Scope of the report
Currency conversion rates for US$
Non-photo Personalized Gifts Market to accelerate at a CAGR of 10% during 2021-2025 | Technavio
Daily Fantasy Football: Conference Championships cheat sheet
Mydecine Innovations Group Files Preliminary Prospectus in Connection with Bought Deal Offering of Units
INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm
The Non-photo Personalized Gifts Market will grow by $ 8.75 bn during 2021-2025
Our five experts deliver their most optimal lineups for daily fantasy in time for the NFL Conference Championships.
Mydecine Innovations Group (CSE: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) (FSE: 0NFA) ("Mydecine" or the "Company'), an emerging biopharma and life sciences company committed to the research, development, and acceptance of alternative nature-sourced medicine for mainstream use, is pleased to announce that, in connection with its bought deal offering (the "Offering") previously announced on January 14, 2021, it has filed a preliminary short form prospectus (the "Preliminary Prospectus") with the securities commissions or similar authorities in each province of Canada, other than Quebéc, and entered into an underwriting agreement with Canaccord Genuity Corp. (the "Underwriter") dated January 20, 2021 (the "Underwriting Agreement").
Megan Thee Stallion wants everyone to know: Her story isn't changing.
INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc.
National Storage Affiliates Trust Announces Tax Treatment of 2020 Distributions
What 'mission-driven' buying means for grocers like Amazon's Whole Foods, Kroger, and more
Here's why the momentum behind the grocery sector will continue into 2021, except for Whole Foods.
Tesla bears suffer record short-sale loss in 2020 -S3 Partners
Short bets on Tesla Inc were the most unprofitable trade in 2020, as the electric automaker saw its shares surge over 740% en route to becoming the world's most valuable automaker. In a note to clients, Ihor Dusaniwsky, managing director of predictive analytics at S3 Partners, said mark-to-market short losses for Tesla totaled over $40 billion, as it was "far and away the most unprofitable trade in 2020 and had the largest yearly loss we have seen historically." Overall, shorts were down $245 billion, net of financing, in 2020 as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq rallied back from pandemic selling early in the year to near record highs as 2020 was closed out.
Aussie presenter's baffling dress sparks debate
Viewers couldn't agree on whether the frock was blue or white.
This is the most comfortable sweater on Nordstrom — and it's less than $40
Nothing beats a comfortable sweater with a bit of flair.
UDR Reports Tax Status of 2020 Distributions
UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR), a leading multifamily real estate investment trust, reported today the tax status of its 2020 distributions paid to shareholders. Details on the classifications of the distributions are included in the table below:
PPG Reports Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Financial Results
PPG (NYSE:PPG) today reported fourth quarter 2020 net sales of approximately $3.8 billion, more than 2% higher versus the prior year. Selling prices increased by about 1.5%. Sales volumes decreased approximately 1.5% versus the prior year, which reflects the ongoing, negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in certain end-use markets. Favorable foreign currency translation impacted net sales by about 1.5%, or about $60 million, and acquisition-related sales, added less than 1% to sales growth.
EDMONTON, Alberta, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora" or the "Company") has announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets and ATB Capital Markets, under which the underwriters have agreed to buy on bought deal basis 12,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units"), at a price of US$10.45 per Unit for gross proceeds of approximately US$125 million (the "Offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each full common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the Offering at an exercise price of US$12.60 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment in certain events. The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable at the offering price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 10% of the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any. This option may be exercised by the Underwriters for additional Units, Common Shares, Warrants or any combination of such securities. The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include opportunistically reducing debt. The Company believes that the Offering fits with its broader strategy to have a strong balance sheet while maintaining maximum flexibility to invest and build towards being a leader in global cannabinoids. The closing of the Offering is expected to take place on or about January 26, 2021 and will be subject to customary conditions, including approvals of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated October 28, 2020 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") will be filed with the securities commissions or securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as part of the Company's registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") under the U.S./Canada Multijurisdictional Disclosure System. The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement contain important detailed information about the Company and the proposed Offering. Prospective investors should read the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement and the other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and this Offering before making an investment decision. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, following filing thereof, and the Base Shelf Prospectus will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and copies of the Prospectus Supplement and the Registration Statement will be available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, following filing thereof, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement may also be obtained from BMO Capital Markets by contacting BMO Capital Markets, Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2 or by telephone at (905) 791-3151 Ext 431 or by email at torbramwarehouse@datagroup.ca or from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (Attn: Equity Syndicate), or by telephone at (800) 414-3627 or by email at bmoprospectus@bmo.com. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from ATB Capital Markets Inc., Attn: Gail O'Connor, 410-585 8th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 1G1, (403) 539-8629 or by email from atbcm_dealflow@atb.com. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Aurora Aurora is a global leader in the cannabis industry serving both the medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in global cannabis dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Company's brand portfolio includes Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael '71, Daily Special, AltaVie, MedReleaf, CanniMed, Whistler, and Reliva CBD. Providing customers with innovative, high-quality cannabis products, Aurora's brands continue to break through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness and recreational markets wherever they are launched. For more information, please visit our website at www.auroramj.com. Aurora's common shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "ACB", and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Further Information For Media:For Investors: Michelle LeflerICR, Inc.VP, Communications & PRInvestor Relationsmedia@auroramj.comaurora@icrinc.com Forward Looking Statements This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include statements regarding: the timing and completion of the Offering and the expected use of proceeds of the Offering. These forward-looking statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions, estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected developments at the date the statements are made, such as current and future market conditions, the ability to maintain SG&A costs in line with current expectations, the ability to achieve high margin revenues in the Canadian consumer market, the current and future regulatory environment and future approvals and permits. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances could cause actual events, results, level of activity, performance, prospects, opportunities or achievements to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks associated with: entering the U.S. market, the ability to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the acquisition of Reliva, achievement of Aurora's business transformation plan, general business and economic conditions, changes in laws and regulations, product demand, changes in prices of required commodities, competition, the effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks, uncertainties and factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated September 24, 2020 (the "AIF") and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and filed with and available on the SEC's website at www.edgar.gov. The Company cautions that the list of risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.
Dana E. Ripley Joins AIG as Global Head of Media & External Communications
American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) today announced that Dana E. Ripley has joined the company as Vice President, Global Head of Media & External Communications. Based in New York, Mr. Ripley reports to Lucy Fato, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Global Head of Communications and Government Affairs.
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 earnings results.
AEW's Kenny Omega is hoping to change the world of pro wrestling
When Kenny Omega signed with AEW in 2018, he was looking for more than just a new promotion. Two years later, he's seeking to overhaul the entire industry.
Conformis, Inc. and SITES Medical Announce Development & Supply Agreement
BILLERICA, Mass. and COLUMBIA CITY, Ind., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conformis, Inc. (NASDAQ:CFMS) and SITES Medical, a firm dedicated to inventing and de-risking new orthopedic medical device technologies, today announced they have entered into a non-exclusive development and supply agreement. The companies will work together to incorporate SITES Medical's proprietary OsteoSync Ti Technology into future Conformis' cementless total knee replacement products. "We are excited to be partnering with Conformis, a company that has brought a high degree of innovation to the joint replacement field," said Greg Stalcup, President/CEO of SITES Medical. "We look forward to working with the Conformis team to combine our respective technologies to deliver new generations of high performance, cost effective, and OR-efficient products to the market." OsteoSync™ Ti technology is a highly porous titanium bone ingrowth material designed to meet the needs of today's health stakeholders from both clinical and economic standpoints. Its high friction coefficient promotes high initial implant stability and its open pore geometry, combined with micro and nano-texturing, facilitate superior bone ingrowth. Preclinical testing has demonstrated bone attachment strength nearly twice that of titanium plasma spray or beads, and between 2 and 5 times that of titanium 3D printed materials, a performance differential that can impact clinical outcomes, especially in cementless joint replacement patients. OsteoSync™ Ti technology has been used in over 50,000 procedures since it was first introduced for clinical use in 2014. The material is manufactured using highly innovative methods and offers substantial value for outpatient and inpatient facilities alike. "We are pleased to have entered into this agreement and are looking forward to working with SITES Medical to apply their technology to our future cementless total knee offering," said John Slamin, Senior Vice President, Product Development, of Conformis. About SITES MedicalOrtho Technology Invented Here. At SITES Medical, we develop meaningful orthopedic innovations so our OEM partners can deliver improved clinical outcomes and greater value to all stakeholders. Our inventions emanate from our deep industry knowledge and a problem-solving mindset, and they come in the form of new product technologies and advanced manufacturing processes. Examples include OsteoSync Ti, OsteoSync Rx and High Velocity, Single-Piece Flow manufacturing. Our technologies and our integrity have made us a trusted partner since 2008. Additional information about the company can be found at www.sitesmedical.com. About Conformis, Inc.Conformis is a medical technology company that uses its proprietary iFit® Image-to-Implant® technology platform to develop, manufacture, and sell joint replacement implants and instruments that are individually sized and shaped, which it refers to as personalized, individualized, or sometimes as customized, to fit each patient's unique anatomy. Conformis offers a broad line of sterile, personalized knee and hip implants and single-use instruments delivered to hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. In clinical studies, the Conformis iTotal® CR knee replacement system demonstrated superior clinical outcomes, including better function and greater patient satisfaction, compared to traditional, off-the-shelf implants. Conformis owns or exclusively in-licenses issued patents and pending patent applications that cover personalized implants and patient-specific instrumentation for all major joints. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsStatements in this press release about Conformis' future expectations, plans and prospects, including statements about the anticipated timing of product launches, operations and growth, as well as other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," or "would" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may not actually achieve the forecasts disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from the projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements we make as a result of a variety of risks and uncertainties, including risks related to our estimates and expectations regarding revenue, gross margin, expenses, revenue growth and other results of operations, and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" sections of Conformis' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date hereof. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. CONTACT: Company Contact Conformis Investor Relations ir@conformis.com (781) 374-5598 Company Contact SITES Medical Greg Stalcup gstalcup@sitesmedical.com www.sitesmedical.com
CarLotz, Inc. Closes Business Combination and Will Trade on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange Under the Ticker LOTZ
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CarLotz, Inc. ("CarLotz" or the "Company"), a leading consignment-to-retail used vehicle marketplace, today announced that it has completed its business combination (the "Business Combination") with Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. ("Acamar Partners") (Nasdaq: ACAM), a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company. The Business Combination was approved on January 20, 2021 by Acamar Partners' stockholders. Beginning January 22, 2021, CarLotz' shares will trade on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol "LOTZ." Michael Bor, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarLotz, said, "Today marks another major milestone for CarLotz as we begin this next chapter as a public company. I couldn't be more proud of the CarLotz team today, including all our CarLotz alumni, who put their hearts and souls into growing this business. We would not be where we are today without our team's grit, determination, focus on the guest experience, and adherence to our core values. With our differentiated business model, including the only Consignment-to-Retail Sales Platform, and the continued execution of our growth strategies, we are well positioned to advance our vision of transforming the used vehicle industry. We look forward to building on the success we have driven to-date, and delivering value for all of our stakeholders." Luis Solorzano, Chief Executive Officer of Acamar Partners, commented, "We are excited to announce the closing of our business combination with CarLotz. Michael and his team have established a proven platform for growth that will be further enhanced by this combination. We look forward to seeing the CarLotz team capitalize on the near and long-term growth opportunities, as they continue to disrupt the used vehicle industry, and supporting them in this new chapter." "We are thrilled to see CarLotz gain the financial support needed to roll out its unique retail automotive experience nationally," said Steve Carrel, Managing Director of TRP Capital Partners. "The Company's technology, omni-channel marketing and asset-light inventory sourcing model provide a best-in-class experience for consumers to buy, sell, trade or consign vehicles, creating a differentiated model to grow its market share over the long term." The Business Combination was funded by a combination of Acamar Partners' $311 million cash-in-trust and $125 million of PIPE proceeds, which was fully committed by a pool of institutional and strategic investors. For CarLotz, Deutsche Bank Securities served as lead financial and capital markets advisor, Barclays served as financial and capital markets co-advisor, William Blair served as capital markets co-advisor and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer served as legal counsel. Acamar Partners' advisors included Goldman Sachs as sole financial advisor and placement agent for the PIPE, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett served as legal counsel. About CarLotz, Inc. CarLotz is a used vehicle consignment and Retail Remarketing™ business that provides our corporate vehicle sourcing partners and retail sellers of used vehicles with the ability to access the previously unavailable retail sales channel, while simultaneously providing buyers with prices that are, on average, below those of traditional dealerships. Our mission is to create the world's greatest vehicle buying and selling experience. We operate a technology-enabled buying, sourcing and selling model that offers a seamless omni-channel experience and comprehensive selection of vehicles, while allowing for a fully contactless end-to-end e-commerce interface that enables no hassle buying and selling. Our proprietary Retail Remarketing™ technology provides our corporate vehicle sourcing partners with real-time performance metrics and data analytics, along with custom business intelligence reporting that enables price and vehicle triage optimization between the wholesale and retail channel. Through our marketplace model, we generate significant value for both sellers and buyers through price, selection and experience. About Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Acamar Partners Acquisition Corp. raised $305.6 million in its initial public offering in February 2019 (and subsequent exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option). Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, forward-looking statements include statements that are not historical facts, such as statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events or results of operations, including statements regarding Acamar Partners' and CarLotz' expectations or predictions of future financial or business performance or conditions. Forward-looking statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "plans," "scheduled," "anticipates" or "intends" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. Certain of these risks are identified and discussed in Acamar Partners' Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A and in Acamar Partners' Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2020 and Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020 under "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A. These risk factors will be important to consider in determining future results and should be reviewed in their entirety. In addition to risks previously disclosed in Acamar Partners' reports filed with the SEC and those identified elsewhere in this communication, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: failure to realize the benefits expected from the transaction; the effects of pending and future legislation; risks related to management's focus on the transaction rather than on the ongoing business operations of CarLotz; business disruption following the transaction; risks related to Acamar Partners' or CarLotz' indebtedness; other consequences associated with mergers, acquisitions and legislative and regulatory actions and reforms; risks of the automotive and used vehicle industries; the potential impact of COVID-19 on the used vehicle industry and on the CarLotz business; litigation, complaints, product liability claims or adverse publicity; the impact of changes in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences, local, regional and national economic conditions, crime, weather, demographic trends and employee availability; new entrants in the consignment-to-retail used vehicle business; technological disruptions, privacy or data breaches, the loss of data or cyberattacks; and the ability to compete successfully with new and existing market participants. Any financial projections in this communication are forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Acamar Partners' and CarLotz' control. While all projections are necessarily speculative, Acamar Partners and CarLotz believe that the preparation of prospective financial information involves increasingly higher levels of uncertainty the further out the projection extends from the date of preparation. The assumptions and estimates underlying the projected results are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections. The inclusion of projections in this communication should not be regarded as an indication that Acamar Partners and CarLotz, or their representatives, considered or consider the projections to be a reliable prediction of future events. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Acamar Partners and CarLotz are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports that Acamar Partners has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith, and Acamar Partners and CarLotz believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that the events, results or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results. This communication is not intended to be all-inclusive or to contain all the information that a person may desire in considering an investment in CarLotz and is not intended to form the basis of an investment decision in CarLotz. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning Acamar Partners and CarLotz, the transaction or other matters and attributable to Acamar Partners and CarLotz or any person acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. Investor Contact: CarLotzIR@icrinc.com Media: CarLotzPR@icrinc.com
Columbia Property Trust Invests in Air Purification Technology Across Portfolio
Columbia Property Trust invests in air purification technology across its portfolio as part of ongoing commitment to providing healthy office spaces.
Moog Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Earnings Webcast on January 29, 2021
Moog Announces Earnings Webcast for January 29, 2021


Random Flaneur is an experimental graduation project which was completed in Istanbul Technical University, in 2016. It was created via use of all digital resources such as Google Earth, Google Images, personal blogs and Instagram accounts, and also some detailed websites about Manhattan without physically being there. It is a long distance challenge for the architectural design process.
The story is based on both physical and digital strolling of a random New Yorker through different points of view.The project "Random Flaneur" stands at the end of the Highline. In the entire story, Highline promenade depicts the curated path for the users/citizens/New Yorkers, however the "Random Flaneur" always reminds quickness and randomness of the social media.
(Above) Fake The New Yorker cover refers to the monotony and everyday routine of a New Yorker. Via that analogue and curated publication, he/she reads oneself in a printed material, but this time, in the Random Flaneur, the citizen reads oneself on movable facade which was covered with digital surfaces.
(Above) Here is the main view of Hudson Yards; Convention Center, a pier, end of the West Side Rail Road, ongoing Hudson Yards projects, '34 Station of the NY Subway, etc.
Midtown Manhattan, especially Highline Park and Hudson Yards region are in a state of change because of the gentrification in Chelsea District. Both New Yorkers and the tourists influx to area to comsume art, different events or just their times, but they aren't actual habitants. When someone new comes to the Highline, and starts to experience Manhattan from upper level, finds oneself in a "curated" path that is surrounded by famous buildings, ongoing big projects, Hudson River in some parts or just the sun, and gets excited by that designed nature.
A close look to the Random Flaneur and final part of the Highline can be seen below with the images from Neighborhood.
Meanwhile some curious New Yorkers act as a Flaneur, and still discover new places via old railways, sewage systems of the city and buildings, subway tunnels, parks, etc. We know the term Flaneur which depicts a stroller or a person who walks the city in order to experience it. In this context, flaneur is owner of the city and daily user of it, so it is an ordinary New Yorker, not only specific type of an observer.
How Manhattan is seen by daily users inside the imperative route of the Highline?
(Above). The Book of the Random Flaneur, pages 1-6: First collages with some images that was collected via Google Earth application as a digital journey or Flânerie / act of strolling.
Text from page 1 & 2: When a flaneur starts to explore Manhattan, he / she realizes the openings of the buildings, some old and known buildings (Empire State, Westyard Contribution Center etc.), under construction buildings and green or touristic places as High Line. People are scribbled with yellow markers beacuse in the first experience, the flaneur doesn't know their identity, and probably he will not know lots of them. The sky is also drawn by flaneur, because he can't focus on all buildings or objects. In this collage, the flaneur sees post-industrial buildings, the trees, entrance of the Convention Center, street lambs, Highline, cars and traffic.
Text from page 3 & 4: Extruded buildings depict the density of the solid objects on the sky, above HighLine. The next step is related with this montage, they are in a race, and they have to pass the max. heights of the surrounding buildings too see the environment. By the way, the buildings turns to the "walls" and tourists can only see these buildings, so their "acting flaneur" is not same with the observation of the real flaneur.
Text from page 5 & 6: Proposal for the site : as the flaneur, the place acts as "bridge" and brings different materials together.
(Above) Day and Night external views of the Random Flaneur.
As Walter Benjamin says, Flaneur can be a bridge between the modern city and the people. This 20th century expression overlaps with [place] and [bridge] concepts of Heiddeger, and also these terms are familiar with multilayered core of Manhattan. That mentioned core includes all New Yorkers without the need of gentrification.
So, how can we find or create a bridge to identify a location as a place, and also is it possible to get rid of curated Manhattan visions of Highline?
The answer hides inside the social media, and its randomness.
"Timeline" of any social media application which dominates our age, expose us to non-stop random views. We are always in that digital media even we don't think of any sharing issue, and city can still need it to get rid of designed environment. But how?
If we turn social media to a physical structure, and strollers start to send images to Random Flaneur from all over Manhattan, the building acts as a web blog or a live broadcast service. When an image, a place, a video or just a writing or feeling status shared by both New Yorker and a tourist, it appears on facade of the building, and every post flows in "timeline" of Manhattan. Besides, each image holds an information and creates a bridge between city, building and other New Yorkers. With accumulating the data of city, Random Flanuer becomes a [ place ], and continues to improve itself.
When someone gets closer to the end of Highline, starts to see shiny screens of Random Flaneur (RF) that are filled with a live broadcast, stage of performative area, daily sharings of social media and even exhibition passages, but user can decide to enter this brain washing place or not.
Through location of W34 Street and project site, Random Flaneur is an exact [bridge] role in Manhattan. It is an intersection area between Hudson River Line, new opened subway station, Highline Phase 3, Javits Convention Center and some of the underground railways like New Jersey Transit. Also Times Square and Central Park is in the aura of Random Flaneur while it's acting as a mental bridge with every digital post.
(Above) The Book of the Random Flaneur, pages 7 – 12. Every number and sketch is the first idea of each part of the building. Detailed model and explanations can be seen in the next two images.
(Above) Diagrams and explanations of each machine part of the R.F..
Next three pages are the Comic Book sub-parts of "The Book of the Random Flaneur" that was mentioned above, and each dual-image depicts the most crucial parts of the R.F..
(Below) 3d plans of the R.F. can be seen as 2 main parts; Center Part, and Center Part + Housing Area.
(Below) Section and elevation of the R.F.
Theoretical research part of the Random Flaneur showed me a specific conflict between expectations of the designer from the users and behaviours of the user on that designed space. The project is questioning the limits of the architect because the land was impossible to reach. Moreover, i'm not sure the capability of the architect even if they can reach to the project site At this moment, Manhattan and gentrified promenade of the High Line Park show us how can a long distance design practice destroy the daily and perfectly working system of New York, and also this practice is questioned the position of the architect again. The research phase progressed via investigating social media applications which is a crucial part of the daily life. Generally Flaneur's eye, quick drawings and notes on the sketchbook, and falling into the madness of digitalism and social media are just not a narration, it is a criticism of daily life and the designed environment.
What dictated the use of the New Yorker/book format? What is the effect and purpose for this?
This is the story of a flaneur as is also understood from its name, but particularly a digital wanderer. The word "digital" is not related with the research tools (some websites is filled with accessible data, personal blogs, Google Images and especially Google Street View etc.), it's about the opportunity of following the daily life via some interfaces ( Instagram, Facebook etc.) quickly. In contrast with use of the mentioned tools, representation of the design phase is definitely analog. "The Book of the Random Flaneur" is full of hand made collages, quick conceptual drawings and even handwritten notes. This is a self discovery storage of an explorer New Yorker, besides The New Yorker magazine depicts the slow version of this self stores or any social media interface. It's still a printed and analog material which a New Yorker reads oneself in it.
How important was the drawing as tool through which to develop and reveal the speculation?
A personal and unique storytelling was needed, because research part progressed via a wanderer's eye and his/her diary. So the project can be followed via quick notes of the random straggler, and also they can be read as they belongs to the reader of the sketchbook. They can feel that Random Flaneur is their own adventure in a city they have never been. This is about how I interpreted the long distance design challenge. Drawing series gave the project flexibility a lot, so some of them evolved to design, and some of them did not.
How and to what extent do you think tools as the ones explored by you (google maps, earth & images) have effect the profession of the architect?
It's commonly clear that tools can increase the ability of the designer, but sometimes they can start to be dangerous for all if that tool give the architect an opportunity to interfere from a distance as well. On the other hand, if the variations of these tools will be increased, an argument can start that we need the architects or not, and Random Flaneur already criticises this topic. I personally try to use analog methods as an active tool in order not to get lost in all digital and even online world.
How do you see these mediums developing? How and to what extent will we continuously engage even more?
If i repeat the previous answer, i believe that developments in digital mediums will question the necessity or need of architects. Besides i'm not even sure that a designer respects the space where he/she design or not in this profession. Maybe these digital mediums will improve so much, and the user can find an unique content for oneself in any interface. Some commercials which are related to our interests in any social media applications can be a starting point of this problem. Maybe we will be fascinated by these presenstings, and we will start to live in that fake digital delight.
What is your take on the contemporary relationship between social media and the portrayal of architecture?
Social media already got ahead of the projected environment. Infinitiness and randomness of that fake nature promote the designer to produce the same thing over and over again instead of helping he/she to think beyond. Because, if a designer see an image which is already produced version of the concept, they can start to move away from design practice.
After architecture education in ITU, Emirhan found himself designing exhibitions. He is curious about everything with material and every experiment related with it, and likes to use analog and digital techniques together. When he has time to do other things than researching architectural representation, he is dreaming about shooting more short films and finishing his ink paintings. He can continue rest of his life with his plants and 0.1 Rapidograph pen.
Emirhan assisted several undergraduate Architecture studios in filmmaking, besides he was a member of "Çık'Art" team that focused on all student works of Basic Design and Visual Arts lecture via short films. He is also co-founder of Gumwörk collective which was construted around interdisciplinary design.