VALLEY FORGE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 31, 2013-- AmerisourceBergen Corporation (NYSE:ABC) today reported that in its fiscal year 2013 fourth quarter ended September 30, 2013, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 2.6 percent to $0.79, which excludes LIFO expense and warrant expense (net of related tax impact). Revenue increased 28.3 percent to $24.5 billion in the quarter. For the fiscal year 2013, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased 6.1 percent to $3.14. Revenues increased 12.7 percent to $88.0 billion for the fiscal year. On the basis of U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.22 for the September quarter and $2.10 for fiscal 2013.
In the tables that follow, we present our GAAP results as well as a reconciliation of GAAP income from continuing operations to non-GAAP adjusted income from continuing operations for the September quarter and the fiscal year 2013. Fiscal 2012 results are presented on a GAAP basis only, and include a LIFO credit of $10.7 million in the September quarter, and an expense of $0.7 million for fiscal year 2012. There was no warrant expense in fiscal 2012.
The comments below compare adjusted results from continuing operations for 2013 to GAAP results for 2012.
Revenue: In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, revenue was $24.5 billion, up 28.3 percent compared to the same quarter in the previous fiscal year, reflecting a 34 percent increase in AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation (ABDC) revenue, and a 12 percent increase in AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (ABSG) revenue.
Gross Profit: Gross profit in the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter was $721.5 million, a 1.1 percent increase over the same period in the previous year driven by revenue growth and strong performance in generic pharmaceuticals in ABDC, offset by a substantial increase in lower margin business. Gross profit in the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter also included a $1.1 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements, compared with a $14.8 million gain in the same period a year ago. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue decreased 79 basis points to 2.95 percent.
Operating Expenses: In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, operating expenses were $402.9 million, up 2.0 percent over the same period in the last fiscal year. The increase in operating expenses in the quarter was due primarily to expenses associated with on-boarding the new Walgreens business. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and 2012 included employee severance, litigation and other costs totaling $2.1 million and $27.4, million respectively. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter were 1.65 percent compared with 2.07 percent in the same period in the previous fiscal year.
Operating Income: In the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter, operating income of $318.6 million was flat versus the prior year, as the increase in gross profit was offset by the increase in operating expenses. Operating income as a percentage of revenue decreased 37 basis points to 1.30 percent in the fiscal 2013 fourth quarter compared with the previous year's fourth quarter.
Tax Rate: The adjusted effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 was 38.2 percent, up from 35.8 percent in the previous fiscal year's fourth quarter. Going forward, we expect our annualized adjusted effective tax rate to be in the low 38 percent range.
Earnings Per Share: Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were up 2.6 percent to $0.79 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to $0.77 in the previous fiscal year's fourth quarter, reflecting a reduction in diluted weighted average shares outstanding, and offset in part by a 2.3 percent decline in income from continuing operations.
Shares Outstanding: Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013 were 235.1 million, down 4.6 percent from the previous fiscal year's fourth quarter due primarily to share repurchases, net of option exercises.
The Pharmaceutical Distribution segment includes both AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation and AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group. Other includes AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services (ABCS) and World Courier.
In the fourth fiscal quarter of 2013, Pharmaceutical Distribution revenues were $24.1 billion, an increase of 29 percent compared to the same quarter in the prior year. ABDC revenues increased 34 percent, due primarily to the on-boarding of the new Walgreens branded pharmaceuticals business and increased sales to our large PBM customer. ABSG revenues increased 12 percent, which was driven by strong performance in third party logistics and in our blood products, vaccine and physician office distribution businesses. Intrasegment revenues between ABDC and ABSG have been eliminated in the presentation of total Pharmaceutical Distribution revenue. Total intrasegment revenues were $934.2 million and $684.7 million in the quarters ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Operating income of $298.8 million in the September quarter of 2013 decreased 9 percent compared to the same period in the previous year due to additional expenses associated with on-boarding the new Walgreens branded pharmaceuticals business, a shift in customer mix towards lower margin business in both ABDC and ABSG, a decline in performance in our oncology business, and fewer new generic launches to offset those impacts.
Revenues in Other were $433.6 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, an increase of 3 percent over the same period in the prior year. Operating income increased 24 percent to $21.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, with the majority of the increase provided by the strong performance in our consulting businesses.
In fiscal year 2013, adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $3.14, up 6.1 percent over the prior fiscal year GAAP diluted earnings per share. Revenue of $88.0 billion increased 12.7 percent over the last fiscal year. Operating income decreased 2.9 percent in fiscal 2013, driven primarily by an increase in operating expenses, and a shift in customer mix to lower margin business. Operating income margin decreased 23 basis points to 1.44 percent. Diluted weighted average shares outstanding in fiscal 2013 were 235.3 million, down 8.4 percent from the year-ago same period. The results of operations from AndersonBrecon and AmerisourceBergen Canada Corporation, both of which were divested in the third quarter of fiscal 2013, have been reported as discontinued operations.
Gains from antitrust litigation settlements.
In addition, we will calculate our adjusted earnings per share for each period using a diluted weighted average share count which will exclude the accounting dilution resulting from the impact of the unexercised equity warrants.
On this new basis, the adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations for fiscal 2013 were $3.21, up $0.07 from the reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.14. Employee severance, litigation and other of $23.5 million and intangibles amortization of $24.4 million, offset by gains from antitrust litigation settlements of $22.9 million, collectively, contributed to the $0.07 difference in adjusted earnings per share. There was no accounting dilution to our share count in fiscal 2013 resulting from the unexercised warrants.
approximately $500 million in share repurchases, with the majority occurring in the second half of fiscal 2014, subject to market conditions.
The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 31, 2013.
Replays of the call will be made available via telephone and webcast. A replay of the webcast will be posted on www.amerisourcebergen.com approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will remain available for thirty days. The telephone replay will also be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call and will remain available for seven days. To access the telephone replay from within the US, dial (800) 475-6701. From outside the US, dial (320) 365-3844. The access code for the replay is 304743.
AmerisourceBergen is one of the largest global pharmaceutical services companies, helping both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers ensure patient access to products and better health outcomes. With services ranging from drug distribution and niche premium logistics to reimbursement and pharmaceutical consulting services, AmerisourceBergen delivers innovative programs and solutions across the pharmaceutical supply channel. With nearly $100 billion in annualized revenue, AmerisourceBergen is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and employs approximately 13,000 people. AmerisourceBergen is ranked #32 on the Fortune 500 list. For more information, go to www.amerisourcebergen.com.
Certain of the statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as "expect," "likely," "outlook," "forecast," "would," "could," "should," "can," "will," "project," "intend," "plan," "continue," "sustain," "synergy," "on track," "believe," "seek," "estimate," "anticipate," "may," "possible," "assume," variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and change in circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on assumptions that could prove incorrect or could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied are the following: changes in pharmaceutical market growth rates; the loss of one or more key customer or supplier relationships; the retention of key customer or supplier relationships under less favorable economics; changes in customer mix; customer delinquencies, defaults or insolvencies; supplier defaults or insolvencies; changes in branded and/or generic pharmaceutical manufacturers' pricing and distribution policies or practices; adverse resolution of any contract or other dispute with customers or suppliers; federal and state government enforcement initiatives to detect and prevent suspicious orders of controlled substances and the diversion of controlled substances, federal and state prosecution of alleged violations of related laws and regulations, and any related litigation, including shareholder derivative lawsuits; qui tam litigation for alleged violations of fraud and abuse laws and regulations and/or any other laws and regulations governing the marketing, sale, purchase, and/or dispensing of pharmaceutical products or services and any related litigation, including shareholder derivative lawsuits; changes in federal and state legislation or regulatory action affecting pharmaceutical product pricing or reimbursement policies, including under Medicaid and Medicare, and the effect of such changes on our customers; changes in regulatory or clinical medical guidelines and/or labeling for the pharmaceutical products we distribute, including certain anemia products; price inflation in branded pharmaceuticals and price deflation in generics; greater or less than anticipated benefit from launches of the generic versions of previously patented pharmaceutical products; significant breakdown or interruption of our information technology systems; our inability to realize the anticipated benefits of the implementation of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system; interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; risks associated with international business operations, including non-compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-bribery laws and economic sanctions and import laws and regulations; economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory developments outside of the United States; risks associated with the strategic, long-term relationship among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH and AmerisourceBergen, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination, cross-termination or modification of any of the transaction documents among the parties (including, among others, the distribution agreement or the generics agreement), an impact on our earnings per share resulting from the issuance of the Warrants, an inability to realize anticipated benefits (including benefits resulting from participation in the Walgreens Boots Alliance Development GmbH joint venture), the disruption of AmerisourceBergen's cash flow and ability to return value to its stockholders in accordance with its past practices, disruption of or changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, and the reduction of AmerisourceBergen's operational, strategic or financial flexibility; the acquisition of businesses that do not perform as we expect or that are difficult for us to integrate or control; our inability to successfully complete any other transaction that we may wish to pursue from time to time; changes in tax laws or legislative initiatives that could adversely affect our tax positions and/or our tax liabilities or adverse resolution of challenges to our tax positions; increased costs of maintaining, or reductions in our ability to maintain, adequate liquidity and financing sources; volatility and deterioration of the capital and credit markets; and other economic, business, competitive, legal, tax, regulatory and/or operational factors affecting our business generally. Certain additional factors that management believes could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements are set forth (i) in Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 and elsewhere in that report and (ii) in other reports filed by the Company pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, AmerisourceBergen does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
Includes a $1.1 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $154.0 million LIFO expense charge in the three months ended September 30, 2013. Includes a $14.8 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $10.7 million LIFO credit in the three months ended September 30, 2012.
Expense related to common stock warrants issued to Walgreens and Alliance Boots in connection with the March 2013 transaction.
Includes $1.9 million of employee severance and other restructuring costs and $0.2 million of deal-related transaction costs in the three months ended September 30, 2013. Includes $27.0 million of employee severance and other restructuring costs and $0.4 million of deal-related transaction costs in the three months ended September 30, 2012.
Includes the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units. The Warrants were anti-dilutive in the three months ended September 30, 2013.
Includes a $22.9 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $277.0 million LIFO expense charge in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. Includes a $14.8 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $0.7 million LIFO expense charge in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.
Includes $23.0 million of deal-related transaction costs, primarily related to professional fees with respect to the Walgreens / Alliance Boots transaction, and $0.5 million of employee severance and other restructuring costs in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. Includes $33.0 million of employee severance and other restructuring costs and $11.1 million of deal-related transaction costs in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.
Includes the dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units. The Warrants were anti-dilutive in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013.
Note - No adjustments have been made to prior year GAAP continuing operations for the three and twelve month periods ended September 30, 2012.
Percentage change in comparison to prior year operating results, which do not include any non-GAAP adjustments.
The income tax rate applicable to warrant expense is lower than our normal income tax rate as a portion of the warrant expense is not tax deductible. The income tax rate on warrant expense will vary by quarter depending upon the expected quarterly changes in the fair value of the Warrants.
(1) Other is comprised of the AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services ("ABCS") operating segment and the World Courier Group, Inc. operating segment.
(2) Includes a $1.1 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements in the three months ended September 30, 2013. Includes a $14.8 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $10.7 million LIFO credit in the three months ended September 30, 2012.
(3) Margin percentages in the prior year period do not include any non-GAAP adjustments.
(1) Other for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013 is comprised of the AmerisourceBergen Consulting Services ("ABCS") operating segment and the World Courier Group, Inc. operating segment. Other for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 is comprised of the ABCS operating segment and the World Courier Group, Inc. operating segment (beginning May 1, 2012).
(2) Includes a $22.9 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. Includes a $14.8 million gain from antitrust litigation settlements and a $0.7 million LIFO expense charge in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.


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Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard announces debut solo LP & tour, shares song
By Andrew Sacher June 25, 2019 8:49 AM
Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard is embarking on a solo career, and her first solo album is called Jaime and due September 20 via ATO. The first single is "History Repeats," which is part blues rock, part funk, and a little psychedelic too. Brittany says the song "is as much a personal song as it is a song about us as a human species. Our times of success may propel us forward, but our repeating failures hold us back from evolving into harmony." Listen and check out the tracklist below.
The album title is named after Brittany's sister, who died of cancer when they were still teenagers. "The title is in memoriam, and she definitely did shape me as a human being," Brittany says. "But, the record is not about her. It's about me. I'm pretty candid about myself and who I am and what I believe. Which is why I needed to do it on my own."
Brittany also announced a solo tour, including shows at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, two nights at LA's Theatre at Ace Hotel, The Atlanta edition of Afropunk, Austin's ACL Festival, NYC's Beacon Theatre on September 24, and more. Tickets for the NYC show go on sale Friday (6/28) at 10 AM with various presales starting today (6/25) at 10 AM. All dates are listed below.
He Loves Me
Stay High
13th Century Metal
Goat Head
Run To Me
Brittany Howard — 2019 Tour Dates
8/17 | Asheville, NC | Orange Peel *
8/19 | Nashville, TN | Ryman Auditorium
8/23 | Washington, DC | 9:30 Club **
9/18 | Milwaukee, WI | Riverside Theater
9/19 | St. Paul, MN | Palace Theatre
9/20 | Chicago, IL | Riviera Theatre
9/22 | Toronto, ON | Rebel
9/24 | New York, NY | Beacon Theatre
9/25 | Boston, MA | House of Blues
9/27 | Philadelphia, PA | The Fillmore
10/5 | Austin, TX | ACL Festival – tickets on sale now
10/8 | Los Angeles, CA | Theatre at Ace Hotel
10/12 | Austin, TX | ACL Festival– tickets on sale now
10/13 | Atlanta, GA | AfroPunk Festival – tickets on sale now
Tickets go on sale to public Friday, June 28, at 10:00 AM local time, unless otherwise noted.
* Tickets on sale Friday, June 28, at 12:00 PM
** Tickets on sale Thursday, June 27, at 10:00 AM
Filed Under: Alabama Shakes | Brittany Howard Category: Music News | tour dates

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Several alumni have been recipients of George Washington University's prestigious Trachtenberg scholarship. This is a full, four-year scholarship to The George Washington University, valued at $230,000.
Michaela Angela Davis has enjoyed great success as a writer, and served as the executive fashion and beauty editor for Essence magazine, the founding fashion director for Vibe magazine, and the last editor-in-chief of Honey, a magazine for 18-34 year old urban women. Davis has written for many projects such as Everything but the Burden: What White People Are Taking from Black Culture (Broadway Books, 2003) and Beloved Baby: A Baby's Scrapbook and Journal (Pocket Books, 1995).
Kieron Irvine was a 2002 graduate of the Instrumental Music department and a Specialized Instruction student at Ellington for four years. Kieron went on to obtain his Bachelor's and Master's degree from Howard University; teach at Fillmore Arts Center (where he first performed community service as a Teacher's Assistant while in Ms. Winn-Ritzenberg's class) and is now a proud and dedicated teacher in Ellington's Instrumental Music department.
Students of Ellington invariably choose to continue their post-secondary education in their field of art, albeit with some exceptions and among these are two former students of French. They are: Jamila Lee, a dance student, who studies French at Temple University; and Ayanna Reed, a vocal music student, who went to George Mason University to study French. Last year, Jamila received a summer scholarship from Temple's Foreign Languages department to study at the Sorbonne in Paris.
In addition, this year, on June 7, 2012, five Ellington seniors will take the Diplôme d'études en langue française (DELF) examination to assess their level of competency in the French language. They are the only seniors of DCPS high schools to participate in this pilot program to qualify for an official diploma from the French Ministry of Education. The DELF certifies French language competency of non-native speakers to levels that correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages.


Good English Skill. Always smiling.
Be able to lifting and moving items; Requires the ability to move around the store selling fudge and ice cream.
*Standing on your feet for up to length of an 8 hours shift* and always Smiling.
A professional image required. No facial piercing are permitted. Tattoos must be covered with a bandage if they are visible while in uniform. Men are not permitted to wear earrings. Men must be clean shave daily.


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Facets names new executive director
This article shared 1443 times since Sat Feb 8, 2020
Facets—a nonprofit that connects people to independent ideas through film experiences—has announced Karen Cardarelli as its new executive director.
She succeeds founder and longtime executive director Milos Stehlik, who passed away last July after a six-month battle with lung cancer. Facets opened in 1975.
Cardarelli is the co-founder and former executive director of Emerald City Theatre. During her time as the theater's executive director, she partnered with Broadway in Chicago, KPMG and Chicago Public Schools to create the company's projects.
Facets stated on its website, "With Karen's leadership, the immense dedication of our board and staff, and the generations of audience members, program participants, and Facets Members who have helped sustain us, we will continue to make the world a better place through the power of film."
Indiana to open first home for LGBTQ+ homeless youths
Indiana's first dedicated residential facility for LGBTQ+ young adults experiencing homelessness is slated to open this year in Indianapolis, according to WLFI.com. This home was years in the making. Trinity ...
Lighthouse Foundation looks ahead to 2021 survey
Lincoln Park-based Lighthouse Foundation, an advocacy that primarily uplifts Black LGBTQ Chicagoans and has its roots in Lincoln Park-based Lighthouse Church of Chicago, will survey five prominent LGBTQ-focused local organizations ...
CRS pays tribute to Rustin's legacy
Community Renewal Society (CRS) highlighted a new partnership with the Washington, D.C.-based Bayard Rustin Liberation Initiative (BRLI) as part of a virtual Martin Luther King Day observance on Jan. 18. The event paid tribute to the ...
Disability Culture Leadership Initiative launches online hub with Chicago artists
--From a 3Arts press release - CHICAGO, IL (Jan. 15, 2021)— 3Arts, the Chicago-based nonprofit grantmaking organization, announced today the launch of the Disability Culture Leadership Initiative (DCLI), featuring a new online platform created to elevate ...
--From a Wrightwood 659 press release - (CHICAGO, IL— Jan. 15, 2021) Wrightwood 659 congratulates our friend, curator, and collaborator, Jonathan David Katz on the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's announcement of a $5,000,000 award for the proposal"Dispossessions ...
Tribute event to honor Chicago's first Cultural Historian Jan. 28
--From a City of Chicago press release - CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced a tribute event to honor Chicago's first Cultural Historian, Tim Samuelson. Samuelson recently retired after 3 ...
Howard Brown developing new center in Northalsted area
Howard Brown Health has chosen Inland National Development Company, LLC to develop its newest healthcare center in Chicago's Northalsted neighborhood (formerly known as Boystown), according to REJournals. There are plans ...
Two-Spirit/LGBTQAI Native American Powwow plans a week of virtual events
--From a press release - Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS) exists to restore and recover the role of Two-Spirit people within the American Indian/First Nations community by creating a forum for the spiritual, cultural ...
GLSEN executive director stepping down
After a dozen years leading the national organization GLSEN—which aims to create a better world for LGBTQ+ students—Executive Director Eliza Byard is stepping down March 1. Deputy Executive Director Melanie ...
Mayor Lightfoot, DCASE announce $2.5M in arts grants
--From a press release - CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced $2.5 million in funding opportunities for Chicago artists and arts organizations. A new "Artist Response Program," ...


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Volkswagen Golf loses its crown as the top-selling car in Europe in February
March 25, 2020 by Felipe Munoz
Registrations continued to fall in February, posting the lowest results for the month since 2015
Market share for electrified vehicles increased to almost 13%
Midsize cars and vans only to record growth during the month
The decline of the European new car market has continued throughout February. According to JATO Dynamics data, 1,063,264 units were registered last month, compared to 1,143,852 in February 2019. This equates to a decline of 7.0%, as last month saw the lowest number of registrations since 2015 – when only 955,113 units were registered. This aligns to the negative results seen in January when volume fell by 7.6%. Thus, the first two months of this year, have already seen a cumulative fall in registrations of 7.3% to 2,194,706 units.
Felipe Munoz, global analyst at JATO Dynamics, commented: "The situation is rapidly deteriorating in Europe due to complex regulation, lack of available homologated cars, and increasing pressure on the economy. All of these factors are having a detrimental impact on consumer confidence." As of February 29th, 2020, our data has shown that the impact of Covid-19 has yet to hit the European automotive market. As although registrations only increased in 6 markets, this made up just 4% of total volume for the month.
Against this negative backdrop, electrified vehicles were once again the outlier in the industry. Their registrations jumped from 75,400 units in February 2019 to 135,500 units last month. The increase of over 80% came at the expense of diesel and petrol cars who saw significantly fewer registrations. Munoz added: "So far this year, electrified vehicles have been the only lifeline for manufacturers operating in Europe. This is good news, as the industry's electrification plans have finally seen a positive response from consumers."
Furthermore, the volume of EVs more than doubled in Germany and France – their biggest markets. In terms of market share, EVs represented 75% of all passenger cars registrations in Norway, 33% in Sweden, 31% in Finland, 22% in Netherlands and 17% in Hungary. France leads among the big 5 markets, with an EV penetration of 14%, against 13% in the UK, 11% in Germany, 10% in Spain, and 8.6% in Italy.
As EVs have increasingly become a viable alternative to gasoline and diesel cars, SUVs are now struggling in the competitive environment. Registrations for SUVs fell by 1.7% to 415,300 units, taking the year-to-date total to 865,500 units, down by 1.4% from last year. The fall in registrations was due to the compact SUVs, declining by 3.7% in contrast to the strong growth experienced by large SUVs, who saw an increase of 17%. Although there was a decrease in SUV registrations their market share did in fact increase due to the overall downturn of the market.
Perhaps surprisingly, midsize cars posted the highest growth among all segments. Thanks to the BMW 3-Series, boosted by the new generation, and the Volkswagen Passat. Their combined registrations made up 31% of the whole midsize segment volume. Unlike last year, the positive results for midsize cars were not thanks to the Tesla Model 3, whose volume actually fell by 6%. Last year, the sedans or saloons were the second most preferred body type among consumers of passenger cars. Their global sales totaled 18.85 million units, equating to one in four of the units sold for passenger cars. However, their volume fell by 6.8%.
Vans also saw an increased in registrations, coming very close to beating the market share of MPVs, who experienced a decrease of 27%.
The negative landscape also affected the model ranking. The Volkswagen Golf was dethroned by the Renault Clio as the top-selling car in Europe, as the new generation hit the dealers. This was due to Renault Clio's new model having been available to the market for a longer period of time. Other changes within the top 10 included the Fiat Panda moving into the 5th position, and SUVs falling from the rankings entirely.
Big improvers for the month included the Fiat 500, BMW 3-Series, Volkswagen Passat, Hyundai Kona, BMW 1-Series, Audi A4, Volvo XC40, Citroen C5 Aircross. Among the latest launches, it is important to mention the 13,600 units registered by the Toyota Corolla, 11,600 for the Volkswagen T-Cross, 7,500 units of the Ford Puma, 6,700 units for Skoda Kamiq, 5,100 units for Skoda Scala, and 4,600 units of the Mazda CX-30. Finally, the Audi Q3 Sportback registered 3,900 units, Kia Xceed 3,700 units, and both the Audi E-Tron and DS 3 Crossback registered 2,300 units each.
Download file: February 2020 Europe Reg Release - Final.pdf
Strong European car market performance continued in July, with highest monthly volume recorded since July 2009
European Car Registrations up by 7.1% – the best September monthly Sales performance for a decade
Europe's Top 5 Markets see Strongest H1 Performance since 2008
Brexit begins to impact Europe as registrations for the region decrease by 2.2% in September
Are automotive market researchers missing the bigger picture? Ensure your strategy is underpinned by data that gi… https://t.co/bInRPWvTqY


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Elżbieta Sikora (* 20. Oktober 1943 in Lemberg) ist eine polnische Komponistin.

Sikora studierte von 1951 bis 1963 Klavier an der Musikschule ihrer Heimatstadt. Es schloss sich bis 1968 ein Studium als Tontechniker an der Musikakademie in Warschau an. Von 1968 bis 1970 schloss sich ein Studium der elektronischen Musik bei François Bayle und Pierre Schaeffer bei der Groupe de recherches musicales in Paris an. Danach kehrte sie nach Warschau zurück, um Komposition bei Tadeusz Baird und Zbigniew Rudziński zu studieren (Masterabschluss 1977). Von 1981 bis 1984 nahm sie privaten Kompositionsunterricht bei Betsy Jolas und studierte Computermusik am IRCAM und bei John Chowning an der Stanford University. 1973 gründete sie mit Krzysztof Knittel und Wojciech Michniewski die Komponistengruppe KEW:

Beim Komponistenwettbewerb 1978 in Dresden gewann Sikora mit der Oper Ariadna den zweiten Preis. Beim Wettbewerb für experimentelle Musik in Bourges wurde sie mit ehrenden Erwähnungen und 2000 mit dem Prix Magisterium ausgezeichnet. Beim Wettbewerb für Komponistinnen in Mannheim 1981 erhielt sie für Guernica den Ersten Preis. Die SACEM zeichnete sie 1994 mit dem Prix Pedagogique und dem Prix Stephane Chapelier-Clergue-Gabriel-Marie aus. 1997 erhielt sie den Verdienstorden der Republik Polen.

Werke
 Interventions pour tuba, 2 percussions et bande, 1969
 Prénom für Tonband, 1970
 Widok z okna für Tonband, 1971
 L'incertitude de l'été, 1973
 Pieśni rozweselające serce für Sopran und Instrumente, 1973
 Kwartet smyczkowy nr 1, 1975
 Podróż pierwsza für Kontrabass oder Tuba, 1975
 Cercles für Orchester, 1975
 Guernica – Hommage à Pablo Picasso für gemischten Chor, 1975–79
 Podróż druga für Tonband, 1976
 Stworzenie świata, Oratorium für zwei Vokalensemble und Kammerorchester, 1976
 … selon Pascal für Trompete, Harfe, Cembalo und Cello, 1976–78
 Ariadna, Kammeroper, 1977
 Nocą twarzą ku niebu für Tonband, 1978
 Najemnicy für Posaune und Perkussion, 1978
 Powiększenie, Ballettmusik, 1979
 Ziemia jałowa für Tonband, 1979
 Trzy interludia für Flöte und Harfe, 1979
 Rapsodia na śmierć republiki für Tonband, 1979
 Mały Książę für Flöte und Perkussion, 1979
 Blow-up, Ballett, 1980
 Lettres à M., 1980
 Kwartet smyczkowy nr 2, 1980
 Interludes für Flöte und Harfe, 1980
 Prélude für Klavier, 1981
 Podróż trzecia für Flöte, 1981
 Salve Regina für Kinderchor und Orgel, 1981
 La tête d'Orphée, pour bande, 1981
 La tête d'Orphée II, pour flûte et bande, 1982
 Janek Wiśniewski-grudzień-Polska für Tonband, 1982–83
 Waste Land, Ballett, 1983
 Derrière son double, Radiooper, 1983
 Eine kleine Tagmusik für sieben Instrumente, 1983
 Pieśni rozweselające serce für Sopran, Flöte und Cembalo, 1983
 Solo für Violine, 1983–84
 Wyrywacz serc, Kammeroper nach Boris Vian, 1984–86, 1992
 Symfonia nr 1 "Cienie", 1984–90
 Genêse, Oratorium für Sopran, Sprecher, gemischten Chor, Kammerorchester und elektronische Klänge, 1986
 La clef de verre, Ballett, 1986
 Loreley für Sopran oder Mezzosopran und Instrumentalensemble, 1987
 Rappel II für Orchester und Zither, 1987–88
 A peine le temps que dure une vision, pour soprano, ensemble instrumental et bande ou récitante et bande, 1987–89
 Suite pour violoncelle et bande, 1987–89
 Géométries variables pour bande, 1991
 Les enfants du vent für Orchester, 1991
 Suite II pour clavecin, bande et transformations, 1992
 Le chant de Salomon für Sopran und Ensemble, 1992
 On the Line für Sopran und Tonband, 1992
 Les enfants terribles, pour bande, 1992
 Sekstet smyczkowy – Hommage à Witold Lutosławski, 1993
 Chant d'Europe für drei Kinderchöre und Kammerorchester, 1993
 Cinéma, cinéma für Kinderchor und Kammerorchester, 1994
 Canzona für Viola da gamba und Instrumentalensemble, 1995
 Flashback – Hommage à Pierre Schaeffer, für Tonband, 1996
 Suite III (Baroque) für Orchester, 1997
 Omnia tempus habent, Oratorium für Altstimme, Kinderchor, gemischten Chor, Orgel und Orchester, 1997
 Fragments pour soprano et bande, 1997
 On est toujours für Bariton und Klavier oder Bariton, zwei Soprane, Saxophon, Bandoneon, Klavier und Kontrabass, 1997
 Kwartet smyczkowy nr 1 (Thinking of Brahms), 1997
 Suite II pour clavecin et bande, 1998
 Aquamarina für Tonband, 1998
 Lisboa, tramway 28, hommage à Fernando Pessoa für Saxophon und Tonband, 1999
 Kwartet smyczkowy nr 3 (Ursula in memoriam), 1999
 Maître Renard et maître Corbeau – Le laboreur et ses enfants für Kinderchor und Ensemble, 1999
 Ecce Homo für Orchester, 1999
 Eine Rose als Stütze für Sopran und Klavier, 2000
 Koncert fortepianowy nr 1 "Hommage à Frederic Chopin", 2000
 … selon Pascal II für Trompete, Harfe, Cembalo und Cello, 2000
 Trois innocenties für gemischten Chor, 2001
 Short Stories für Orgel, 2001
 Grain de sable für Tonband, 2002
 Rouge d'été für Tonband, 2002
 Eine Rose als Stütze – Hörspiel für Tonband, 2002
 Axe rouge für Saxophon, Kontrabass und Tonband, 2004
 Koncert na saksofon i orkiestre – Michelangelo, 2005
 Cadenza für Cello, 2005
 Tytane für Kontrabass, 2005
 Reflets irisés für Klavier und elektronische Instrumente, 2006
 Alla breve für Klavier, 2006
 Koncert Oliwski für Orgel und Orchester, 2007
 Axe rouge II für Saxophon, Perkussion und Tonband, 2007
 Madame Curie, Oper über Marie Curie, 2011

Weblinks
 Homepage von Elżbieta Sikora

Quellen
 Polish Music Center - Elżbieta Sikora
 Kultura polska - Elżbieta Sikora
 The Living Composers Projekt - Elżbieta Sikora

Komponist klassischer Musik (20. Jahrhundert)
Träger des Verdienstordens der Republik Polen (Ritter)
Träger des Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Ritter)
Pole
Geboren 1943
Frau

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home Hoboken Ramos & Giattino say Bhalla admin tried to horse trade for Hoboken...
Ramos & Giattino say Bhalla admin tried to horse trade for Hoboken municipal complex votes
Hoboken 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos and 6th Ward Councilwoman Jen Giattino accused the Mayor Ravi Bhalla administration of trying to horse trade for votes on a critical bond ordinance necessary to move forward on the proposed municipal complex.
"What is particularly disturbing is that instead of … listening to council members who are not in agreement with the project, we the public are hearing an offer was made for the administration not to run a council candidate against a council person in the 2024 [sic] election in exchange for support of this project," resident Paul Presinzano said during the public portion of the meeting (the ward council races are in 2023, not 2024).
"Think about that for a moment: I'm praying this is not the case. If certain people are willing to compromise our local democracy to get support for a once-in-a-lifetime municipal complex instead of finding an acceptable compromise, we have bigger problems in Hoboken."
The municipal complex, which has a projected cost between $152.5 million and $192.5 million depending on which amenities are added, has initial estimates of a $28.5 to $38.5 million to be covered by taxpayers over a 30-year period.
Initially touted as a public safety complex, the proposal, pegged for 1501 Adams St., has evolved to also include council chambers, a court house, rooftop park, library, community center, and parking lot.
While two public meetings and surveys have been held, the city still does not own the Poggi Press site they hope to use.
While the city council approved the ability to use eminent domain in February, a related $44 million bond ordinance has been carried on the past two agendas. The measure passed 5-4 on first reading and would require six votes for final approval.
During new business, Ramos, who announced in February that he wanted to hire a planner to get a new rec center project started, said he was offered for that to be included in the municipal complex plan in exchange for an affirmative vote.
"I gave a multi-service center update earlier: the administration has taken the position that we're $300,000 short in the budget this year, but they did offer me if I vote in favor of the bond issuance for the DPW garage that this could be included in that bond ordinance and I'm rejecting that on it's merits," he said.
Between the four council members who voted no on first reading, Ramos has been the most vocal, telling HCV last month that the project "might be the worst urban planning in the history of urban planning."
A few minutes later, Giattino said "the multi-service center was your trade, I was offered Castle Point Terrace," questioning how all of these projects could be in the budget, which has not been introduced yet for this year.
When asked if she had any proof to corroborate her claims, Giattino forwarded a March 29th email from Business Administrator Jason Freeman where he says that "probably the most efficient way" to get the Castle Point renovations moving is to include it in a second reading of the bond ordinance.
"Councilman Ramos, Councilman DeFusco, and yourself have all come to the Administration to explain the urgency of three projects that are all inline with the Administration's priorities of no longer putting band-aids on major projects around town. This would be a holistic approach to accomplishing many shared outcomes," he wrote.
"In an effort to work together and solve many shared priorities, what are your thoughts on the inclusion of: The Rehabilitation of Castle Point Terrace, The Rehabilitation of Court Street, and the soft costs related to the redevelopment of the Multi-Service Center, in the bond ordinance to acquire the property for a new DPW Garage?"
Freeman continued that he made the suggestion after Giattino suggested at a subcommittee meeting that the administration take a "holistic" approach to the city's needs, further stating that the "omnibus bond package" would be a win across the board.
She replied that the bonds should be separate so the council "can vote on the merits and the projects need to be done."
City spokeswoman Marilyn Baer remained optimistic that Ramos and Giattino would reconsider supporting the project.
"The city hopes Council members Ramos and Giattino take the time to review the merits of the project as described in the Mayor's memo and previous communications," she began.
"The majority of the Hoboken City Council supports the Hoboken Municipal Complex, which will support our Public Safety Department and Department of Public Works, deliver a long-sought-after municipal pool, provide indoor and outdoor recreation space, and create an uptown branch of the Hoboken Public Library. This project is an opportunity for elected officials to work together for the betterment of Hoboken to provide more efficient city services and increase residents' quality of life."
hoboken city council
hoboken municipal complex
jen giattino
ravi bhalla
ruben ramos
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Angry taxpayer April 7, 2022 6:12 pm at 6:12 pm
Speaking of horse trading, I'll bet Bhalla could get the votes if he agreed to resign as Mayor. Now that would be a true once in a lifetime opportunity for Hoboken.
Ravi-Russo Alliance April 8, 2022 9:04 am at 9:04 am
Ravi is getting cheap. He went from giving a city job to have a council seat vacated to piling on spending with, "I'll add your project to my gargantuan spending bill."
Hey, at least no Terror Flier dropped this time.
Chris Z. April 7, 2022 6:38 pm at 6:38 pm
John: so freeman offered Giattino a path to work together instead of fighting and she's crying foul? I'm trying to figure out the issue here
Roland schwartz April 7, 2022 9:32 pm at 9:32 pm
Great spin. I guess that's what Bhalla was doing when he offered Stick Romano a brand new made up $50k per year do nothing job too. Anyone want to guess what Ravi and Stick worked together on?
A very good year April 8, 2022 12:12 pm at 12:12 pm
Something in 2017?
Behen Patel April 7, 2022 7:13 pm at 7:13 pm
Can we build a headquarters for the new Republican Party in the new Megabhallaplex?
DeSantis 2024
Ramos shepherded Academy's massive 4th ward proposal April 8, 2022 9:48 am at 9:48 am
In the 4th ward. Ramos was having backdoor discussions to get City approval for the giant mixed-used development and coincidentally got large political donations from Academy principals. So did Giattino's pal DeFusco. Apparently, there's no path for Ramos to line his pockets with this project… plus has personal animus toward Ferrante (Ramos was the only Council member to vote no on hiring him).
Amusing how backroom wheeler-dealers like Ramos and Giattino are decrying "horse trading" — which is in practice how branches of government work cooperatively together.
Rema April 8, 2022 2:15 pm at 2:15 pm
The big difference is that Mayor Bhalla controls what projects the City will fund the other City Council members do not have that kind of power.
Bhall's actions are sleazy but he has the votes on the City Council most of the time to get away with it.
Why why why do all of the services need to be under one roof? April 8, 2022 2:42 pm at 2:42 pm
The council members that support this complex are simply the same council members that support everything as Ravi directs them. They are not independent…they literally always vote for whatever he puts forth and this is no exception. Stealing the Poggi land makes zero sense. Build a new Police HG on the parking lot beside the current HQ. Renovate the current Community Center. Put the library in the YMCA space that sits empty. And the pool! The pool has been added to try and convince the public that this gross misuse of tax dollars is being done for their benefit. How about renovating the pool already at the YMCA? There are so many options using existing city properties. It makes one wonder why the city is so bent on stealing land and spending more money.
Tax Tax Tax April 8, 2022 7:52 pm at 7:52 pm
They will up zone the property under what is now the police station to say 12 or 14 stories and sell it to a developer. The same with the old fire stations. The antique pool at YMCA way too small and in would be very expensive to fix.
Mayor Bhalla backed himself into a bad corner with his real estate deals Municipal garage and Tea Building pier and all the added bells a whistles to the project to try to get the public to go along with it. Like the school boondoggle when the see the tax increase they will be get stuck with they will be pissed but their will be no public vote, just a City Council and Bhalla already has most of the votes locked down.
Concerned Citizen April 8, 2022 3:56 pm at 3:56 pm
Great post — Why, Why? To your points, I would add that there are many commercial footprints in some of our newer buildings that are currently empty — let's use some of those for these projects, classrooms etc. The upshot here is that using existing facilities more wisely does not put enough money in the pockets of the developers who have supported the Mayor and his allies – the projects need to be new and on a large scale.
The good news is that the $241M school board debacle has opened many people's eyes to what has been going on for some time; big decisions are made behind closed doors, the public gets very little information and when we do it is often incomplete or too late to change things – eg. Cannabis mess.
The elected or appointed officials in the Mayor's inner circle frequently benefit, or are appeased, in some way – -often with the best intentions in mind; eg. Rebuild by Design and Vision Zero. The flip side is that we also keep giving folks newly created jobs and doing things like changing our campaign finance laws to accommodate those with different interests. While I realize that this may just be politics – -there was a time not long ago when it felt like this was all in the past….
It appears the public has not "moved on" from the school fiasco and, if anything, it feels like greater attention is being paid to what is going on around the City. The upcoming budget talks are of particular interest and while we have been told we are in good shape, we were also told that the municipal complex project would cost $50m — now it is 3 times that. Unless the state and feds are preparing to throw a lot of money our way, I don't see how that math works over the long haul – but we can hope. Onward.
The school board will push for the same $300,000,000 plan if not even more expensive high school complex.
They are working the voters in the HHA and tax exempt buildings who pay nothing.
Some Hoboken bar owners angry over new task force, likely regulation...
Hoboken mayoral hopeful DeFusco's council slate submits 1,584 petitions


text:
Systems and Freedom
Foundations of System TheorySystems and CriticismSystems and AnxietySystems and Freedom
more>>Systems and BoundariesIdentity of a SystemSystems and IntegrationSystems and CouplingSystems and DisruptionsSystems and EnvironmentEigenvalue (Inherent Value) and DecisionEigenvalue (Inherent Value) and LiabilityInherent Time StructureInherent Time of SystemsIntrinsic Time of OrganisationsSystem DynamicsSystemic MethodSystemic OrientationBasic Concepts of System Theory IIIBasic Concepts of System Theory IIBasic Concepts of System Theory ISystem Theory
Systems force themselves into freedom. What do we mean by this paradoxical statement?
Freedom is created when a system has to find its own (!) rules in order to choose between unavoidable alternatives. This immediately raises the question of what, then, such unavoidable alternatives are, which apply to all types of system, i.e. not only for the psyche, team and organisation, which is of particular interest to us here! Every system has three references: to a world, in which it is situated, to other systems for which it provides services and to itself, in order to maintain its identity.
For example, a person must firstly take part in the world through communication, nourishment, living space etc. (nobody can isolate themselves completely). Secondly, he must, for example, accomplish certain things as a family member (care), and as a citizen (pay taxes), as an employee (achieve goals), as a club member (organise the sporting event). Thirdly, he must reflect upon what is important to him, how does he want to distinguish himself and how can he recognise himself and feel well when he makes his decisions.
For example, a team must firstly adhere to the premises of its organisation, secondly, it must provide services for other teams, and thirdly, it must focus on how it organises itself and achieves its goals. An organisation must firstly deal with the realities of the economic system, secondly, utilise other organisations and provide to them its own utility and thirdly, it must intensively engage with its own dynamics.
None of the three references can be completely disregarded, and no system can attend to everything at the same time and to equal measure. Thus, it is free and pays for this autonomy by having to carry the consequences of that which it disregards.


text:
the shape of tomorrow
4 fashion insiders reveal how COVID-19 is altering the industry
Designer Prabal Gurung, Farfetch CEO José Neves, CFDA's Steven Kolb, and Vestiaire Collective's Clara Chappaz offer a preview of upcoming seasons.
[Source Image: markOfshell/iStock, Peshkova/iStock]
By Elizabeth Segran 9 minute Read
For Fast Company's Shape of Tomorrow series, we're asking business leaders to share their inside perspective on how the COVID-19 era is transforming their industries. Here's what's been lost—and what could be gained—in the new world order.
Every September for the past 10 years, designer Prabal Gurung has unveiled his latest creations at New York Fashion Week. "A fashion show is rather magical," he says. "For six months, we go through the arduous and exciting process of creating. And for 10 minutes, we share that energy and emotion with the world. "
But not this year. As the pandemic raged across the United States, Gurung—like many other designers—made the painful decision to cancel his show. The few designers who pushed forward—such as Jason Wu and Rebecca Minkoff—showed their collections in cavernous, sparsely filled spaces. "It was unlike any fashion week before, with the exception of September 11th," says Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).
It wasn't just that the glamour, celebrity, and theater of NYFW had disappeared. Kolb points out that there were also financial consequences: no buyers to place orders, or magazine editors to drum up excitement about upcoming trends. Over the last six months, COVID-19 has pummeled the $2.5 trillion global fashion industry. With nowhere to go and unemployment on the rise, consumers have lost interest in buying clothes and shoes. McKinsey predicts that the sector will contract by up to 30% this year compared to last; the luxury market will be hit even harder, contracting by up to 39%. Many across the global fashion supply chain have already been hurt, from the garment workers who have been laid off to designers stuck with piles of unsold inventory.
At the same time, however, many industry insiders believe that the pandemic could be a rare opportunity for the industry to reset itself. Designers are using this moment to start selling products online and connect with customers more directly. They're thinking about how to rebuild the supply chain in a more ethical, sustainable way, to end the cycle of overconsumption and overproduction. "The rules were set in the industry a century ago, and we're still following them," Gurung says. "This pandemic has allowed us to reimagine everything."
The Digital Imperative
The pandemic has forced designers to rethink how they reach customers. Since the beginning of American fashion, labels have sold their clothes through department stores and boutiques. But over the past decade, as brick-and-mortar retail has been on the decline, this has been an increasingly losing strategy. When pandemic-related lockdowns went into effect in March, these retailers were dealt yet another blow. With little revenue coming in, many were driven to the verge of collapse. Iconic brands such as Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus have declared bankruptcy. This affected designers, who were stuck with piles of unsold inventory at the end of the season. "American designers aren't part of big conglomerates like LVMH or Kering," says Kolb. "We're an industry of small brands that don't have access to big resources or teams. This contributed to a lack of preparedness for a crisis like this."
At the end of the day, the consumer is the one we need to talk to."
designer Prabal Gurung
Many brands have chosen to cultivate a more direct relationship with their customers digitally, selling them products directly through their own online stores and maintaining the flexibility to decide what inventory to highlight. Another solution, Kolb says, has been to partner with online retailers. Amazon had been courting American designers for a long time, and during the pandemic, several finally decided to partner with the world's largest e-commerce marketplace. In September, Amazon launched a Luxury Stores experience on its website and mobile app, exclusively for Prime members. Oscar de la Renta was the first designer to hop on board, quickly followed by Joseph Altuzzara and Roland Mouret. "Designers began turning to things they had previously turned their back on, like Amazon, because they may have seemed too mass [-market]," Kolb says. "But Amazon could help move inventory that would otherwise be stuck or sent back."
Gurung has been pursuing both avenues. He began his career with a traditional wholesale business, selling to high-end department stores such as Saks and Barneys, along with a private client business. But over the last few years, he's invested in reaching consumers directly on social media and has begun selling collections directly from his website. Recently, he's been leaning into these channels, which may pay off after the pandemic. And in a big move, Gurung launched a new, affordably priced brand called Impower that is sold exclusively on Walmart.com. The line has a philanthropic component, with a portion of sales donated to social justice initiatives, and it's also a new channel for Gurung to reach customers online. "At the end of the day, the consumer is the one we need to talk to," he says.
[Photo: courtesy Prabal Gurung]
The Fate of the Boutique
But José Neves, founder and CEO of luxury fashion marketplace Farfetch, says that not all designers can build this direct-to-consumer relationship overnight. It takes years, and millions of marketing dollars, to build an online following. Small, emerging designers depend on retailers to get in front of customers. And customers, for their part, rely on these retailers to surface new brands and carefully curate products. That's why Neves believes that retailers—particularly small, independent boutiques—will continue to have a place in our future. "Curation will continue to be essential," he says. "These boutiques are a crucial part of the fashion ecosystem. People often see the fashion industry as a very competitive landscape, but I disagree: We all need each other."
Farfetch is familiar with the global landscape of small fashion and luxury boutiques. Neves launched the company in 2007 to connect customers to more than 800 boutiques around the world, which collectively sell products from more than 3,500 designers. The pandemic devastated these small boutiques, which don't have the same access to capital as the bigger department stores to get them through months of diminished sales. For many retailers within Farfetch's directory, sales on the platform were the only revenue that came in during the lockdowns. Fortunately for them, many customers turned to Farfetch over the last six months: Half a million new customers joined the site, driving up site traffic by 60% and resulting in a 48% surge in second-quarter revenue, year over year.
Neves believes that once the crisis is over, people will return to physical stores. But one lesson from the crisis is that it is important for all the players in the fashion industry, from designers to boutiques, to invest in digital channels. "I don't think there is any scenario in the future in which fashion will exist online only," Neves says. "Fashion is a physical object: We'll never be able to entirely digitize it, the way Spotify did with music or Netflix did with movies. But fashion needs to embrace digital if it is to survive."
The fashion industry will, eventually, make a comeback. McKinsey believes that positive growth will return as soon as 2021, though it will be a modest increase of no more than 4%. But one big question is whether our fashion sensibilities will have permanently changed, after years of being stuck at home wearing sweats and pajamas. During the pandemic, many designers have started creating loungewear for the first time. All of the experts I spoke with believe that this focus on casual, comfortable clothes is short-lived. Designer and CFDA president Tom Ford pointed out to WWD that after the austere years of the 1918 Spanish flu, fashion came back in a big way with the Roaring 20s. "Fashion is a pendulum," says Kolb. "It shifts from one extreme to another, and that will happen again here."
Fashion is a pendulum. It shifts from one extreme to another, and that will happen again here."
CFDA CEO Steven Kolb
Still, Kolb thinks that the crisis may have shifted our values more permanently. Over the last few years, there has been a growing awareness among consumers that the fashion industry has a disastrous impact on the planet, accelerating climate change and polluting the oceans. This happens, in part, because consumers buy more clothes than they need (partially because clothing is too cheap) and companies produce more clothes than they will sell. But Kolb believes that if the pandemic has taught us anything, it's that we don't need to be constantly chasing the latest trend. And this means that consumers may finally cure themselves of their addiction to fast fashion. "As we get away from casual clothing, we will focus on craftsmanship, quality, and longevity," Kolb predicts. "It will be a slower-fashion approach, which is a good thing because it lends itself to a more sustainable industry, which is something we've been talking about for a long time."
[Photo: courtesy Vestiaire Collective]
Clara Chappaz, the chief business officer of the global secondhand marketplace Vestiaire Collective, agrees. "The crisis has put sustainability—and the human touch on the planet—even more in the spotlight," she says. According to a newly released Boston Consulting Group (BCG) survey of 7,000 global consumers commissioned by Vestiaire, 70% of secondhand shoppers in 2020 are motivated to buy used goods because it is more sustainable, while only 62% said the same in 2018. Chappaz believes that secondhand goods are not only more sustainable; they are also cheaper than buying new products. This is important to consumers who might be tightening their belts. (Others are selling their luxury goods to generate some money during this time.) BCG's research suggests that secondhand fashion could grow from occupying 21% to 27% of closets over the next three years, thanks in part to the fact that consumers have leaned so heavily into resale sites during this period.
Gurung says that designers are also pondering their environmental footprint. He was recently selected to be part of a CFDA residency focused on rebuilding his supply chain to make it more eco-friendly. But over the last six months, he's been thinking about his impact in deeper ways. For years, people have talked about fashion as superficial, focused on helping people escape reality through beautiful, expensive garments. But Gurung believes the role of the fashion designer has shifted. "Fashion doesn't exist in a vacuum—we're part of culture," Gurung says. "Designers are storytellers: The only time any of us should design a collection is if we have something substantial to say."
More from Fast Company's Shape of Tomorrow series:
Why performance reviews may be a thing of the past
Is advertising really dead? Here's how the leaders of Droga5, TBWA, Wieden+Kennedy, and more are inching forward
The retail Armageddon may have finally arrived. Here's what top executives at Nike, Athleta, and more believe it will take for stores and brands to make it through
Insiders at LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Jobcase tell us which companies will be hiring, what skills will be important, and how the workplace of the future will change
How COVID-19 has changed investing, according to VCs at Sequoia, Insight, Forerunner, 500 Startups, and more
Architects and urban planners from Gensler, Harvard, and Bloomberg Associates explain the changes coming to our shared spaces
Insiders at Burning Man, Broadway, Meow Wolf, and more describe how the live events industry will emerge onto a new stage
Planned Parenthood's president on surviving the pandemic and bracing for battle with the Supreme Court
Watch out Amazon: Walmart could be the comeback story of the COVID-19 era. Here's how brand perception is changing
Insiders at ad agencies BBDO New York, McCann Worldgroup, and more on how client relationships, production, and hiring may never be the same
Elizabeth Segran, Ph.D., is a senior staff writer at Fast Company. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts
What if all our buildings were sucking carbon from the air?
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What's happening with GameStop? Stock jumps on news of NFT pivot
The 2022 IPO market is already revving up with 3 stock listings from Boston-area biotechs
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Try these 5 free LinkedIn features if you need to hire
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Paclitaxel is designed to block cancer cells from dividing, which may cause them to die.
effects, in which case doses of the drugs will be decreased by your doctor.
more detail, and you will be required to sign a separate consent form.
of fluid containing oxaliplatin into the abdomen through the catheter over 15 minutes.
through the catheter over 15 minutes.
Every 21 days is called a study "cycle."
eligible to receive study drugs.
hospitalization and then once a week as an outpatient.
- A urine sample will be collected once each cycle for routine tests.
scans with you, and you may be asked to sign a separate consent form.
- Blood (about 1 tablespoon) and urine will be collected for routine tests.
these scans with you, and you may be asked to sign a separate consent form.
this study. All will be enrolled at MD Anderson.
long as their diseases have progressed.
normal; Creatinine < or = 2.0 mg/dL or creatinine clearance > or = 40mL/min/1.73m2.
Review Board (IRB)-approved written informed consent document.
computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
be made based on documented clinical, imaging or laboratory assessment.
medication is permitted prior to study entry.
2. History of allergic reactions to the study drugs or their analogs.
3. Failure to recover from any prior surgery within 4 weeks of study entry.
participation and for at least 3 months after the last treatment.
recover from the toxic effect of any therapy prior to study entry.
abdominal surgeries that contraindicates this protocol therapy.
significantly increase risks of intracranial bleeding.


MTN Bundle4U is a bundle offer that gives you airtime for national calls, international calls to some selected countries, national SMS and volume of data for browsing.
It is divided into two Xtravoice and Xtradata. XtraVoice is the Bundle4U that gives you more airtime than data, while XtraData is a Bundle4U that gives you more data than airtime.
Someone tried the XtraVoice package and was given N9,750 after recharging N2000. See proof below.
Simply send the appropriate keyword to 131 e.g V300 to 131 if you want to subscribe for the 300naira plan, V500 if you want to subscribe for the 500 Naira plan respectively.
This offer is not for BetaTalk tariff plan. To purchase any of the Bundle4U, simply migrate to any of the other Prepaid tariff plans.
Anyway, this is for those that love talking on phone for hours. This is cool though.
Pls is d credit transferable?????????
I don't think so, but you can try it.
You can give it a shot bro.
Wow that was strange. I just wrte an incredibly long comment but after I clicked submit myy commwnt didn't show up.


A few clips of Adam Carolla during a qualifying round at the 2015 Monterey Historics. He is driving a 1990 Newman-Sharp Peerless Oldsmobile. The final clip shows him having trouble with the transmission.
As heard on The Adam Carolla Show – August 18th, 2015.
This entry was posted in Racing, Videos on August 18, 2015 by Chris Laxamana.


text:
Fraudulent claims increase by 27% in 2018
By Scott McGee2019-03-20T16:29:00+00:00
According to Cifas, household and motor claims saw the largest increases
False insurance claims in the UK increased by 27% in the past year, new research has found.
According to Cifas, the fraud prevention service, its 450 members have identified household and motor insurance fraud as the two biggest causes of false claims – with a 52% and 45% increase respectively.
Fronting going back
However, fronting, where a parent claims they are the main user of a vehicle that is actually driven by a young driver or other high-risk motorist in order to receive lower premiums, has been on the decrease.
Cifas members reported over 300 cases of fronting in 2018. The data did however show an 18% increase in the proportion of 21-30 year olds conducting this type of fraudulent activity.
Faces of Fraud
The findings has prompted Cifas to launch its 'Faces of Fraud' campaign, urging people to consider the temptations which may lead to consumers committing fraud. Temptations such as the lies, exaggerations, deceptions and "seemingly" harmless opportunities to make some quick cash or get a better deal that are actually criminal acts.
Cifas also wants people to consider the consequences of committing fraudulent activity, and how those consequences are often much more severe than they first anticipated.
Consequences can include non-payment of claims; cancellation of the insurance policy; individuals having to pay costs that arise from an accident; a record with Cifas and the Insurance Fraud Register (IFR), making it more difficult to obtain insurance and other financial services. The case could also be reported to the police for investigation: potentially leading to a criminal conviction and a prison sentence.
"People are unaware of the risks"
Chief executive officer of Cifas, Mike Haley, said: "False insurance claim fraud and fronting insurance policies fraud are often seen as an easy way to make a bit of money without hurting anyone. Yet the idea that fraud is a victimless crime is completely false.
"First, false insurance claims and fronting insurance policies are illegal. They can impact your life and career, making it near-impossible to buy insurance in the future and can even lead to a criminal record.
"Second, committing fraud hurts everyone: your neighbours, your friends, people in the area, and the UK as a whole. Insurers have to spend longer reviewing insurance claims and policy requests, premiums go up, and everyone loses out."
"As the rise of false claims in household and motor insurance shows, many people are seemingly unaware of the risks they're running and the consequences it can have by committing everyday fraud.
"While the overall downturn in fronting insurance policies is a positive sign, the fact that young people are increasingly more likely to commit that type of fraud highlights the need for continuing education. More needs to be done to raise awareness about the harm of fraud and financial crime."
Subscribers read more
Sedgwick sees increased cyber activity as it announces fraud savings
Woman accused of chopping off own hand to defraud insurer
The 21-year old used a circular saw in an attempt to sever her arm so she could claim £340,000 from her insurance company
Manchester Arena bombing fraudster ordered to pay back £139,000
Susan Pain abused her position as the director of an insurance broker to make false claims
Small businesses the key to fighting cyber fraud, report claims
Small businesses represent 99.3% of all private businesses in the UK, and a report says they have a responsibility to their customers and communities
Luxembourg regulator 'not eager' on allowing more UK firms to set up
So far, 12 insurers have set up an office in the country amid Brexit fears
Hastings puts figure on Ogden rate change impact
Hastings had been expecting a rate of 0-1%
FCA proposes forcing insurers into signposting customers with pre-existing medical conditions
Proposals - which are out for consultation until September - drew criticism from the ABI


We have had several warm sunny days in a row and the fishing is starting to respond. The wind is backing off a bit also, so more fishermen should be getting out. As more fishermen head out exploring the waters, the reports can be more precise and more frequent.
I have gotten my first report of Gray trout from Wallace Channel, near Ocracoke. The fish are large enough to keep, but not in big numbers yet. It is still a bit early and the numbers should improve over the next few weeks.
There are still scattered reports of speckled trout, puppy drum, and flounder along the entire NC Coast. Your favorite local tackle shop should be able to give you preferred locations.
If you want to go well inland, the stripers are biting in the Roanoke river near Weldon. The river is high and fishing is a bit hard, especially for the flycasters, but there are good numbers of fish.
The best southern report has been bluefish off Carolina Beach and Fort Fisher.
There have been several runs of large drum at Cape Point at Buxton. Nighttime has been the best.
Scattered reports of sea mullet, small blues, spots, and croakers along entire coast.
Can you say Spanish Mackerel? Good numbers in the southern and central NC Coast. Many fish between 1 and 2 pounds, with some larger. Bluefish are also well represented. Gold Hook Got-Cha jigs are the hot lure---Red head and yellow or white body.
Scattered sea mullet, spots, croakers, and small flounder, when fishermen tire of the spanish.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish along southern and central coast. Troll with 0 and 00 Clarkspoons.
Bonito mixed in occasionally-----especially off Wrightsville Beach.
Hot king mackerel bite at about 100 feet of water. This should be moving in some with the warmer weather. All sorts of lures, frozen, and live baits are working.
Still some good numbers of yellowfin tuna, with some larger individuals mixing in. Wahoo and dolphin are biting too. A few billfish encounters are also being reported.


11 Feb – Wong Cho Lam recently admitted that he took a big gamble when he decided to helm a musical as his first project as a movie director.
As reported on Singtao Daily, the comedy actor, who spoke about his directorial debut, "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!", shared that while he understands the risk of introducing a concept that is unfamiliar to Hong Kong movies, it was also the kind of genre that he has always loved.
"I really believed that I have do a subject that I like and a project that will satisfy my investors. They gave me a lot of suggestions, so in the end, the movie got a Lunar New Year release," he said.
Wong stated that while his is not the first musical film in the Chinese film industry, he is glad to make a musical comedy that is purely Hong Kong.
"The last Hong Kong musical would be back in the black and white era. We also have "Perhaps Love" in recent years, but that movie wasn't purely musical," he said.
At the same time, the first-time director admitted that the audiences' reception of the movie will determine whether he will continue to direct more movie projects in the future or just stick with acting.


text:
Ceramic chemistry  studies the relationship between the physical properties of fired ceramics and ceramic glazes and their chemistry. Although ceramic technicians have long understood many of these relationships, the advent of computer software to automate the conversion from batch to formula and analysis has brought this science within the reach of many more people. Physical properties of glazes in fired products (like thermal expansion, hardness, index of refraction, color and melting temperature or range) are directly (but not solely) related to the chemistry. Properties of glass melts like viscosity and surface tension are also principally products of chemistry.

Technicians in the ceramic tableware, artware, sanitaryware, glass, fiberglass, bottle glass, optical and related industries all use this science.

In ceramic chemistry, fired glazes are viewed as composed of oxides (examples are SiO2, Al2O3, B2O3, Na2O, K2O, CaO, Li2O, MgO, ZnO, MnO, Fe2O3, CoO). Each oxide is known to contribute specific properties to the fired glass. Many materials suppliers publish chemical analyses of their products that cite percentages of these oxides as well as volatile components (components that burn away during firing giving off gases and fumes such as H2O, CO2, SO3).

For example, in traditional ceramics here are some examples of what the application of ceramic chemistry can accomplish.

 Fix glaze defects like crazing, blistering, pin-holing, settling, clouding, leaching, crawling, marking, scratching, powdering
 Substitute frits, incorporate better, cheaper materials, or replace no-longer-available ones
 Adjust glaze melting temperature, gloss, surface character and color (in ceramics color is a matter of chemistry)
 Identify weaknesses (e.g. proximity to volatile firing zones, use of unreliable materials) in glazes to avoid problems
 Creating and optimizing base glazes to work with difficult colors or stains and for special effects dependent on opacification, crystallization or variegation
 Create glazes from scratch and use native materials in the highest possible percentage

In ceramic bodies the physical properties of the final fired product are often more related to the firing curve, the physical properties (e.g. particle size and shape, decomposition history) of the ingredient materials and the mineralogy and interaction between the different particle types.

References

 Ceramic chemistry - H. H. Stephenson - Google Books

Pottery
Inorganic chemistry