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Inside the Minds of Regulators: How Different States Are Dealing With Distributed Energy
Views from the front lines of California, Texas, Minnesota and Arizona
By Julia Pyper
With distributed generation steadily rising and creeping into new states, electricity regulators in each region of the U.S. are dealing with change very differently.
Regulatory officials from California, Texas, Minnesota and Arizona discussed how they're addressing some of the most pressing issues in their service territories this week at the National Town Meeting on Demand Response and Smart Grid in Washington, D.C.
California is the national leader in the deployment of solar PV, plug-in electric vehicles, grid-scale energy storage and home automation technologies. Today, about 20 percent of the state's electricity comes from renewable energy, putting California on track to meet its 33 percent renewable energy target by 2020.
But while the Golden State continues to come up with new ways to promote and integrate advanced energy technologies, the focus will shift from renewables in the coming years, said Michael Picker, president of the California Public Utilities Commission.
"We're moving away from a technology-based discussion to [a discussion of] grid values -- what does the grid need, what do customers need?" he said. "And we will probably move away from a focus on renewables per se as a series of technologies, to a series of metrics on reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
"There's always the challenge that we could continue to increase our penetration of renewables, but actually start to create reliability issues," he said. "Or we start to go the direction the Germans did, where they started to have a lot of peak-demand backup generation."
Picker added that this shift away from individual technologies toward holistic grid solutions will reinforce a convergence between traditional electric utilities, the transportation industry, the natural gas industry and all types of distributed energy resources (DERs).
Not everyone is going to like this trend. Last week, the CPUC voted to approve a 500-megawatt gas plant for San Diego Gas & Electric in Carlsbad, Calif. Picker said the approval was needed to replace the retiring Encina Power gas peaker plant and San Onofre nuclear plant in Southern California. Many stakeholders argued strongly that the aging power plants should have been replaced by renewable energy, efficiency measures, demand response and energy storage.
"As someone who's sited and permitted 18 gigawatts of renewable energy, and spent a lot of time working on facilitating solar and storage, I don't really like voting for natural gas," said Picker in an interview. "But we're still at a point where the grid requires it, especially at this weak spot in the grid."
"The argument that we're abandoning our clean energy goals, I just don't see it," he added. "I think we're just making the pragmatic decisions you've got to make when you're still in mid-stride."
The reality is that California can do a lot with energy efficiency, solar and storage, but the state still needs reactive power, said Picker. The state's electricity system needs to be able to deal with voltage collapse, fast-ramping to accommodate renewables and the ability to come back quickly from a cold start.
"For all of those reliability issues, we're probably going to have to have one more [gas plant]," said the commissioner.
The energy sector in Texas looks drastically different than California's.
Texas has seen very little activity on distributed energy resources (DERs) to date, said Donna Nelson, chairman of the Texas PUC. That's because Texas has some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. It's also because retailers don't have a guaranteed a rate of return in Texas' deregulated market, so the state has never implemented net metering or a feed-in tariff to encourage the adoption of distributed energy resources. Proposals to add incentives have been repeatedly shot down.
Texas also doesn't have a capacity market, and so it does not offer any special payments to electricity providers or demand response participants at times of peak demand. ERCOT, Texas' regional grid operator, does offer demand response through its Emergency Response Service, but the program requirements make it a last-resort option mostly limited to commercial and industrial customers, according to a Brattle Group report.
ERCOT is currently considering changes to its ancillary services market that would increase compensation to faster-responding resources, such as demand response and batteries. Retailers are also leveraging wide penetration of AMI to offer demand response products to residential customers. But while the market is progressing, demand response providers shouldn't expect any special treatment from the PUC, according to Commissioner Nelson.
"Our ultimate goal is to put in place a market, which started with nodal, where any customers -- industrial customers or retailers on behalf of residential customers -- can bid into the market," she said.
"It is my belief that if we made a decision not to move forward with a capacity market, we shouldn't put in place a bunch of small products that are capacity payments beyond what we already have to entice further DR," she added. "DR in Texas needs to learn to play in the same field as generation does, and that is where they bid in to the market."
Also in the name of preserving competition, Nelson said Texas is likely to push back against the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan.
"You can expect to see Texas fighting it," she said. "It would fundamentally change the way the competitive market in ERCOT works."
Minnesota couldn't be more different than Texas. Minnesota's utilities are all fully integrated, there is very little AMI infrastructure, the state has a net metering program and is seeing steadily increasing amounts of distributed solar.
To cope with increasing amounts of customer-generated solar power on the grid, Minnesota recently became the first state to approve a "value-of-solar" tariff. Utilities could use this tariff to compensate solar customers instead of net metering at the applicable retail rate.
"The value-of-solar tariff is really the way of the future," said Nancy Lange, Minnesota PUC commissioner.
But she admitted that utilities don't like that the tariff factors in avoided environmental costs from solar energy. So far, no utility has chosen to use the value of solar tariff as a compensation method. Lange said she hasn't spoken enough to utilities to find out exactly why.
"I haven't given up on it as a tool," she said. "Pricing things at the applicable retail rate is really a proxy for what something is worth. If you can take something apart and say this thing is worth this much in avoided generation, or avoided environmental [damage], or it costs this much to connect it and back up -- that...is going to start replacing the proxy values we're using right now."
Lange said she is eager to get more insight on all new technologies coming onto the distribution grid, not just solar. As a result, she said she plans to open a grid modernization proceeding at the PUC in order to address disruption in a more proactive way.
DERs have the ability to help customers manage their load and reduce their electricity bills. But if DERs don't add value in this way, then there's no reason to deploy them, she said.
"We need to understand the current system better and what it needs to maximize customer and system value," said Lange. "Just because something is distributed doesn't necessarily make it inherently good."
In Arizona, the second-largest solar market in the U.S. after California, there is a heated debate playing out over the true value of solar that is far from being resolved. Rather than offer an alternative to the state's net metering policy, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is considering changes to net metering on a utility-by-utility basis.
Earlier this year, Salt River Project -- a utility that is not regulated by the ACC -- passed policy changes that amount to a fee of roughly $50 per month on new solar customers in SRP territory. "The feedback we have is that that's basically stopped...rooftop solar [installations] in the Salt River Project area," said ACC Commissioner Bob Burns.
The SRP decision prompted other utilities and co-ops regulated by the ACC to propose changes to their net metering policies, he said. The ACC is currently reviewing plans from the three main investor-owned utilities -- Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power and UniSource Energy Services -- all of which are seeking to increase monthly fees on rooftop solar customers.
To allow for more proactive planning going forward, Burns said he's pushing to change Arizona's integrated resource planning process. Arizona's regulated utilities currently determine their own future energy needs, and then bring proposals for meeting that need to the ACC.
"My suggestion is we need to have an independent evaluate the need -- we could do that through an RFP process possibly," he said. "Then, once the need is determined, we need to go through an RFP process to figure out how to fulfill that need, putting the Commission in a leading position instead of following."
Bonus: New York
Many regulators in the U.S. are looking to New York's Reforming the Energy Vision proceeding for possible ways to cope with the changes in the electricity system.
"A key part of what we want to do is create robust competitive markets around customers, because it is around that competition that innovation will come to the market," said Richard Kauffman, chairman of energy and finance for New York state.
As part of this process, utilities will have to transform into distributed service platform providers responsible for managing assets at the grid edge. Third-parties will also have to change, and learn to think about the system as a whole, he said.
Regulators will have to change, too. Policymakers are more comfortable being at the center of decision-making, rather than working in an open market, said Kauffman.
Policymakers also like issuing grants because they can show ratepayers where each dollar went, he continued. It's much harder for them to justify using ratepayer funds to be "an enabler of the market," he said. Playing that role "isn't going to get a photo op for the local official."
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/what-are-the-most-pressing-issues-facing-public-utility-commissioners


This entry was posted in MSI General, Pistol on March 27, 2019 by Tanya Williams.
Our sport, the shooting sport, is one of the safest hobbies because of basic common sense rules supervised by Range Safety Officers. To help more of our members join that elite group Manteca Sportsmen Inc. is sponsoring another official NRA RSO certification class.
The two sessions will be held at the Manteca Sportsmen Inc. range, 30261 Airport Way Manteca on March 10 and 17 from noon to 5:00 PM (must attend both sessions to complete the course).
The cost for club members is $35, for non-members it is $150. The class is normally priced at about $180.
This entry was posted in Black Powder, Cowboy, Events, MSI General, News, Pistol, Rifle, Trap on February 13, 2019 by Tanya Williams.
Our sport, the shooting sport, is one of the safest hobbies because of basic common sense rules supervised by Range Safety Officers. To help more of our members join that elite group Manteca Sportsman Inc. is sponsoring an official NRA RSO certification class.
The two sessions will be held in the Old Clubhouse on February 3rd and 10th from noon to 5:00 PM (must attend both sessions to complete the course).
The cost for club members is $35, for non-members it is $150.
Registration forms are available at the range desk.
This entry was posted in MSI General, News, Pistol, Rifle, Training on January 1, 2019 by Tanya Williams.
Current hours are 8:00 am to 7:00 pm Wed through Mon.
This entry was posted in MSI General, Pistol, Rifle on April 20, 2017 by MSI.
Manteca Sportsmen currently has ammunition for sale!
Limited quantities available so please inquire in the club house.
This entry was posted in Cowboy, MSI General, Pistol, Rifle, Trap on November 29, 2016 by MSI.
Come out and join us for a day of shooting in honor of our veterans!
This entry was posted in Events, Fun Shoots, Pistol, Rifle, Trap on October 27, 2016 by MSI.
This entry was posted in Pistol, September on August 23, 2013 by MSI.
This entry was posted in Pistol on August 18, 2013 by MSI.


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Georgina, Stories
Because my friend invited me
This blog was initially published on 31 March 2017, and subsequently edited with an update on 7 September 2017.
I was visiting with a family of Syrian refugees who had come to the UK on the government's Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme from refugee camps in the Middle East.
They were one of the first refugee families in our area, helping those who came after them to settle. In the process, they've become central figures in the resettled community.
Many local Mahabba members have helped them along the way with driving lessons, English lessons and furniture.
I'm trying to learn Arabic from them.
Last week, the husband and son were on their way out when the mum, my Arabic teacher, said I should practise my new vocabulary and ask them where they're going.
The response was,
"ila l-kanisa,"
which means, 'to the church'.
"To the church?"
I asked surprised,
"Why are you going to church?"
"Because my friend invited me,"
was the simple response.
Dad picked up the keys and off they went, just like any other parent ferrying children to activities.
I was struck by the familiarity and simplicity of the scene – this Muslim boy is going to church because he had been invited.
So often we are hamstrung by questions about the proper way to introduce our Muslim friends to Christ:
"What if I say the wrong thing? What if we serve the wrong food? What if…"
Whoever this boy's friend is, he gave me a valuable lesson that night.
And as it happens, a few month's later at the first Mahabba group meeting of the new academic year I heard an amazing development.
This boy had asked one of our other Christian friends, who knows the family, whether he can be a Muslim who follows Jesus.
So be encouraged - just do it and see what God does!
... we have recently planted another local Mahabba group in the UK - awesome news!
Tagged: syrian refugee, government, Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, refugee camp, Middle East, Arabic, church
What is the Best Arabic translation of the bible for refugees?
Image: Mr Cup / Fabien Barral, Unsplash
Jay asked us about recommended Bible translations in Arabic the other day:
"Can you recommend a good Arabic translation of the Bible for a refugee?"
I know the YouVersion Holy Bible app is very good in terms of its range of other languages available. Could you give me some pointers on which of the Arabic translations would be best to use with which Arabic speakers when sharing with Muslims I meet? E.g., for Iraqis and especially Syrians. P.S. it was good to see that there is now a Dari audio version!
Thanks to the help of some specialists on The City, we an relay the following advice.
Sharif Arabic Bible (SAB)
For Arabic speakers of Muslim background the Sharif Arabic Bible comes recommended.
The Sharif is written using Muslim vocabulary, e.g. isa, not yasua, and so is good as it is more accessible to Muslim seekers.
Conversely, it is not popular with Middle Eastern Christians because of its use of majority Arabic not Christian Arabic.
Incidentally, it also has a good (but maybe not widely known) reputation, being a set textbook for the Christianity subject in one or two Islamic universities.
Van Dyke translation
The van Dyke translation is written in 19th century vocabulary, but is considered to be the best by the long-established Christian Arab community in the Middle East (similar to the love of white British church-goers for the 1662 prayer book and KJV).
Kitab al Hayah (NAV)
The al Hayah translation is written in clear, modern Arabic, similar to the Good News Bible. You can buy a hard copy on Amazon etc. with parallel English/Arabic text (the English is the NIV). This is advantageous if you want to do a one-on-one Bible study, reading along with your Arabic-literate friend.
Audio in local Arabic dialects
Look out for audio materials in local Arabic dialects such as from Global Recordings - with over 100 in Arabic alone.
Some of the recordings were made decades ago for the old 78 rpm records, so quality may be poor! As such, have a little listen before you pass it on to your friends.
http://globalrecordings.net/en/search/language?search=arabic&filter=contains#fndtn-panel2
If you're looking for languages other than Arabic, or audio-visual etc, start here: http://globalrecordings.net/en/resources
Chapter Two Books https://www.chaptertwobooks.org.uk/foreign.html (use the pull-down menu on the right-hand side to select the language)
No Frontiers https://nofrontiers.org (N.B. the website is currently unavailable 25/04/17 because of a rebuild, but check back).
Don't forget to try Word of Life http://www.word-of-life.org, which has lots of foreign language resources, including Arabic.
Check out other FAQs from Mahabba
You might find the following helpful in relation to asylum seekers and refugees:
Do you have any info on new Testaments and Gospels in other languages suitable for refugees and asylum seekers?
Bibles for refugees
Tagged: Arabic, Translation, Bible, refugees, Sharif, Shareef, Al Hayah, alHayaa, van Dyke, Sharif Arabic Bible (SAB), Kitaab al Hayaa (NAV), Arabic dialect, What is the Best Arabic translation of the bible for refugees
What English translation of the Qur'an and introduction do you recommend?
John asked about a good English translation of the Qur'an and a helpful introduction or commentary:
Can you recommend a good translation of the Qur'an and introduction?
"What English language translation of the Qur'an would Muslims considered the most reliable? Would that be the best version for a novice like me to read? What English language introduction to Islam and the Qur'an would you recommend? I would like to understand how to bridge from the Qur'an to the Bible. And an introduction that is not too simple."
The easiest to come by is most probably Yusuf Ali which also contains the Arabic script but the translation is archaic.
AJ Arberry tries to give a sense of the rhyme and rhythm in English and is a sensitive translation (available on subscription to Oxford Islamic Studies online).
There is a Qur'an website on the Internet that contains several translations with which to compare whenever available quran.com.
Neal Robinson's Discovering the Qur`an (2004) is a sympathetic introduction to the Qur'an by a non-Muslim while Muhammad Abdel Haleem's Understanding the Qur`an: Themes and Style (2001) is a Muslim's introduction to the Qur'an.
It will be difficult to find one source that both introduces Islam as well as bridging Qur'an to Bible.
I've always found P.K. Hitti's History of the Arabs (10th repr. 1991) a comprehensive overview of Islamic history that has a scholarly take on Islam before relations were so extremely polarised as now.
Kenneth Cragg's The Weight in the Word – Prophethood: Biblical and Quranic (1999) compares and contrasts Muhammad with biblical prophets and, broadly stated, shows how the Qur'an applies biblical ideas for its own purposes.
See how you get on with these for the moment – there is so much out there to choose from!
Do let me know how you get on and whether you can get hold of resources.
Tagged: translation, Qur'an, introduction, commentary, Yusuf Ali, Arabic, AJ Arberry, Neal Robinson, Muhammad Abdel Haleem, Bible, Islam, PK Hitti, Kenneth Cragg, novice

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Unilever ditches London for Rotterdam
In a major setback for the UK government, Unilever plc (UL) said it is planning to consolidate its headquarters in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands instead of London. The consumer goods giant currently has two operating companies in the Netherlands and the UK with the two boards following different regulations in each country. Unilever said its decision to base its headquarters in Rotterdam instead of London is not related in any way to Brexit although this move is likely to impact the UK in terms of investment.
Unilever said it had chosen Rotterdam plainly due to the fact that the Netherlands entity was larger than the British one. The Dutch company holds about 55% of the combined share capital and has more trading liquidity than its UK counterpart.
(Image Courtesy: M.Minderhoud, Wikimedia Commons)
Unilever plans to restructure its operations more broadly into three divisions, each with its own headquarters. The company plans to base its beauty and personal care division as well as its home care division in the UK. The foods and refreshment unit will be based in Rotterdam.
Meanwhile, the company plans to continue investing in the UK on research and development. There will be no significant impact on jobs in both countries due to the latest decision.
The new structure is expected to provide Unilever with greater flexibility in making changes to its portfolio and in taking major decisions related to mergers and acquisitions.
Shares saw a slight drop in both London and Netherlands.
Although Unilever has denied that its decision has any connection to Brexit, one of the problems facing the UK is the likelihood of many large companies shifting base to the European Union for simplicity of doing business. This will have a negative impact on the UK economy.
Published in EARNINGS, MERGERS & DEALS, FOOD & RETAIL, INTERNATIONAL GIANTS, LATEST and MARKET & ECONOMY
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The Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's wing in Syria, has killed a captive Lebanese policeman and vowed to kill more in retaliation for the arrests by Lebanese authorities of women identified as wives of the groups' fighters.
In a video posted online on Friday by an account affiliated with the group, a Nusra commander said the group killed policeman, Ali Bazzal, after Ola Mithqal al-Oqaily, the wife of Nusra Front commander Anas Sharkas, and their children were not released.
The group also cited Saja al-Dulaimi, the ex-wife of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who is held by Lebanese authorities.
"If the sisters that were unjustly arrested are not released, then after a short period of time the death sentence will be executed against another prisoner we hold," Anas Sharkas, who used the nom de guerre Abu Ali al-Shishani and is a senior Nusra Front commander, said.
"We will not accept anything but the release of all our women and children… one of my children is 4 years old, the second is less than 6 months old. How dare you arrest them with their mother?" he added.
Al Jazeera's Mysa Khalaf, reporting from Beirut, said Bazzal's family and supporters blocked several roads in the Bekaa Valley to protest the killing, as the army deployed in numbers to the area.
The army had confirmed the arrest of Shishani's wife and her brother on December 3, in what could be seen as an attempt by the government to obtain leverage in ongoing negotiations over the release of 29 army soldiers held by the Nusra Front and ISIL since August.
Syria's civil war has ignited sectarian tensions between Lebanon's Sunnis and Shia Muslims, with regular battles between ISIL-linked groups and the army.


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Home Articles Education Is Not A Business
Education Is Not A Business
educationist
Haroon-ur-Rasheed, one of the most powerful caliphs of Abbasid dynasty, once saw his young son holding the shoes of his teacher while they both were entering a mosque. The caliph was extremely fearful to the young prince. The teacher too got very afraid and feared the ruler's wrath. However, the caliph enquired from his son, why was he not helping his teacher in walking since the prince was holding the teacher's shoes only in one hand and the other hand was free. From this incident we can imagine how great the respect of a teacher was in those days.
Since the days of yore, teacher has been a professional who has enjoyed respect more than anyone else. However, the teachers in those times were also selfless – a fact which contradicts the behavior of teachers today. Today, the profession of teaching has lost its due respect and the reason is that the corporate culture has taken over this noble profession, and turned it into a profitable business.
In this country hardly any field can be found which is making real progress. Education too is not much different from other walks of life. This department is deprived off the state patronage. Since there was a lot of vacuum in education sector, right from primary level to university level the private sector jumped in the field of education to fill the vacuum. Public schools with good repute deteriorated in their standards and middle class of the country was left with no option but to send their children to private schools.
Education has become a business today. These private schools which also include networks of grammar schools charge such enormous amounts of fee which a common man cannot even think of. A guess can be made by a fact which I came to know a few days ago that a renowned private school in Lahore charges a student of primary section twenty six thousand rupees a month! Whereas, in government universities the fee of one semester is usually lesser, especially in arts subjects. In private colleges and universities too, gigantic fee-structures are in place which students, mostly from middle class and lower middle class have to pay in order to secure their future.
This is an unfortunate fact that only 2% of the total national budget is allocated for education sector. The results are very obvious that only 54% of the total population of Pakistan is literate. Sometimes even the standards of this literacy come under criticism. We can well understand that even after seventy years of independence why are we in so pathetic a situation. Only 1.6 % of the total population of Pakistan, according to a research, seeks university education. Those who are in control of the reins of this field, exploit it to the best of their own interests. The reason is that in the absence of government's umbrella only a very few can seek higher education.
Owners of private universities, colleges and schools treat education as business not as a service to the nation; although, some exceptions are also there.
Among these there are also tuition centers or academies which are another form of education-cum-business. All such tuition centers are privately owned and all attract enough number of students in their institutions which are enough to be called a handsome business.
The state of Pakistan, which was established in the name of Islam, should prioritize education as its foremost goal. It is because the first revelation to our Noble Prophet (PBUH) was 'iqra' that is 'read!' our religion emphasizes on education more than any single thing. Therefore, Islamic Republic of Pakistan ought to strive to make the population of Pakistan an educated populace not mere a herd of cattle!
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What the $1 Billion Google-HTC Deal Means for Your Next Phone
By Don Reisinger 21 September 2017
Google has acquired the HTC division tasked with competing in smartphones, which should mean much tighter integration between hardware and software.
In a move that clearly demonstrates its design to change up the way it operates in the smartphone market, Google on Thursday (Sept. 21) announced a $1.1 billion acquisition of HTC's smartphone design and engineering arm.
In a statement on Thursday, Google's senior vice president of hardware, Rick Osterloh, said that he has made it his mission at Google to develop "compelling hardware products." He pointed to Google's efforts in the home with Nest and in the smartphone space with Pixel. But now with HTC, Osterloh said, Google's "big bet on hardware" will take another step forward.
"With this agreement, a team of HTC talent will join Google as part of the hardware organization," Osterloh said in a statement. "These future fellow Googlers are amazing folks we've already been working with closely on the Pixel smartphone line, and we're excited to see what we can do together as one team."
Perhaps not wanting to tip off what Google might have planned with its HTC deal, Osterloh didn't provide many hints at what the company might have in the works. At this point, it's clear Google has spent more than $1 billion for one reason, and one reason alone: to become a more important force in a smartphone market that has helped Apple generate billions of dollars each quarter. And perhaps most importantly, Google wants you to buy its products, like the upcoming Pixel 2, instead of others.
Google Wants to Be More Apple-Like
But in a statement, Forrester Research VP and principal analyst Thomas Husson said that the acquisition might also be about Google bolstering a hardware division that "has not yet been successful at selling consumer devices." He added that Google's move will provide the company with "the hardware technology expertise, the design skills and the experience in smartphone retail distribution" it needs.
For consumers, it could also translate to a better overall Google smartphone experience, IDC analyst Ramon Llamas told Tom's Guide in an interview. By acquiring HTC's smartphone expertise, Google can now control the hardware and software continuum that has made Apple so successful.
"It works towards Google's advantage to have a hand in software and hardware at the same time," Llamas said. "This way you can marry the capabilities to each and potentially accelerate all of your features and functionality to market that much sooner."
It's a sentiment that Husson shares. He said that the move illustrates that "Google is finally serious in developing a more tightly controlled device ecosystem." The result is the ability for Google to deliver "new technologies" like augmented reality and others that need that link between hardware and software, Husson said.
"This is kind of like what Apple does and you can see what's happened as a result," Llamas added.
Fragmentation Killer?
Google's move might also be an attempt by the company to handle what has become known as its Android "fragmentation" problem, a scenario in which people around the globe are using different devices and running different versions of its Android software, ultimately creating headaches and security woes.
For its part, Google has said that it's working on the fragmentation and its industry partners are helping. But Husson believes it's still a problem and Google has decided nearly a decade after going to market with Android that it "needs to control the distribution of its services." Ultimately, it's possible consumers will get a better product by Google having its arms around the problem instead of relying on its industry partners to address it.
But not everyone might feel the impact of Google's move in the same way. While there may be broader macro market benefits, Llamas believes the true, "hardcore" Android fan will see the most benefit here.
"If you want an unadulterated version of what Android intends on a device and a smartphone, now you're going to get it," he told Tom's Guide. "And if you're a hardcore Android fanboy, then this is something you can look forward to."
However, Llamas also noted that those who prefer devices from Samsung, LG, and other vendors that make their own devices and create their own skins for Android, might find the HTC buy to be rather ho-hum.
"If you don't fall into that power Android user, this won't impact you that much," he said.
So, ultimately, the Google-HTC deal might affect you in varying ways and to a varying degree depending on the kind of Android user you are. But at least for Google's Osterloh, the real value in this acquisition might be felt not tomorrow or even next year, but over the span of decades.
"We're excited about the 2017 lineup, but even more inspired by what's in store over the next five, 10, even 20 years," Osterloh said. "Creating beautiful products that people rely on every single day is a journey, and we are investing for the long run."
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Ball-shaped octopus doughnuts made with wheat flour, topped with takoyaki sauce and mayonnaise.
Order online for delivery and takeout: 13. Tako Yaki (6 pcs) from Naruto Sushi - Vancouver. Serving the best Japanese in Vancouver, BC.


Professor Julian Downward's group is unravelling the molecular mechanisms by which oncogenes drive tumour formation, growth and spread, with particular focus on the RAS oncogenes and on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Professor Julian Downward has a joint post between The Institute of Cancer Research and The Francis Crick Institute. At the ICR he leads the Lung Cancer Group within the Division of Molecular Pathology. He is Associate Research Director of the Francis Crick Institute and heads a research group working on oncogenic RAS signalling in malignant transformation.


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The Daily Biotech Pulse: Seattle Genetics' Bladder Cancer Drug Gets FDA Nod, Paratek Wins Contract For Antibiotic
Shanthi Rexaline , Benzinga Staff Writer
Here's a roundup of top developments in the biotech space over the last 24 hours.
Scaling The Peaks
(Biotech stocks hitting 52-week highs on Dec. 18)
10X Genomics Inc (NASDAQ: TXG)
Acceleron Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: XLRN)
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN)
Aptose Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: APTO)
Axsome Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: AXSM)
Clearside Biomedical Inc (NASDAQ: CLSD)
Editas Medicine Inc (NASDAQ: EDIT)
Epizyme Inc (NASDAQ: EPZM)( reacted to a positive verdict for its therapy to treat epithelioid sarcoma)
Exagen Inc (NASDAQ: XGN)
Globus Medical Inc (NYSE: GMED)
Horizon Therapeutics PLC (NASDAQ: HZNP)
IGM Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: IGMS)
Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISRG)
Iovance Biotherapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: IOVA)
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: IRWD)
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK)(snagged positive verdict for Keytruda in bladder cancer)
Mirati Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: MRTX)
Mirum Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: MIRM)
Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNTA)
NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEO)
Neoleukin Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: NLTX)(announced a common stock offering)
NGM Biopharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: NGM)
Repro-Med Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRMD)
ResMed Inc. (NYSE: RMD)
SpringWorks Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: SWTX)
(Biotech stocks hitting 52-week lows on Dec. 18)
Akorn, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKRX)(announced that it is exploring a possible bankruptcy filing)
Alterity Therapeutics Ltd (NASDAQ: ATHE)
Anixa Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: ANIX)
Aridis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ARDS)
Athersys, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHX)
Biocept Inc (NASDAQ: BIOC)
Brickell Biotech Inc (NASDAQ: BBI)
Cocrystal Pharma Inc (NASDAQ: COCP)
Correvio Pharma Corp (NASDAQ: CORV)
Endologix, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELGX)
Evelo Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ: EVLO)
Milestone Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: MIST)
Nemaura Medical Inc (NASDAQ: NMRD)
Phathom Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: PHAT)
Regulus Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: RGLS)
Ritter Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: RTTR)
Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: TTPH)
Therapix Biosciences Ltd – ADR (NASDAQ: TRPX)
Tocagen Inc (NASDAQ: TOCA)
TRACON Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: TCON)
Wave Life Sciences Ltd (NASDAQ: WVE)
Zafgen Inc (NASDAQ: ZFGN)(announced merger with Chondrial Therapeutics)
Stocks In Focus
Paratek Wins BARDA Contract Valued Up To $285M For Developing Antibiotic For Pulmonary Anthrax
Paratek Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: PRTK) said the Department of Human Health, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, has awarded it a five-year contract, with an option to extend it to 10 years, to support the development of its Nuzyra for the treatment of pulmonary anthrax.
The contract also includes support to post-marketing requirements related to the initial Nuzyra approval and the option to procure up to 10,000 treatment courses of Nuzyra for the the Strategic National Stockpile for use against potential biothreats.
The stock skyrocketed 69.49% to $5 in after-hours trading.
See Also: 8 Biotech Stocks Morgan Stanley Recommends For 2020
Seattle Genetics-Astellas' Antibody-Drug Conjugate Approved For Bladder Cancer
Seattle Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (OTC: ALPMY) said the FDA has granted accelerated approval for Padcev for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a PD-1/L1 inhibitor and a platinum-containing chemotherapy before or after surgery or in a locally advanced or metastatic setting.
Padcev is a antibody-drug conjugate, or ADC, that is directed against Nectin-4, a protein highly expressed in bladder cancer.
Seattle Genetics shares rose 8.21% to $122 in after-hours trading.
Roche Gets Regulatory Approval For Breast Cancer Drug In Europe
Roche Holdings AG Basel ADR (OTC: RHHBY) said the European Commission has approved its Kadcyla for the adjuvant treatment adult patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. These patients had residual invasive disease in the breast and/or lymph nodes after neoadjuvant taxane-based and HER2- targeted therapy.
Minerva Depression Drug Flunks Mid-Stage Trial, To Shelve Study
Minerva Neurosciences Inc (NASDAQ: NERV) said the Phase 2b study that evaluated MIN-117 in adult patients with moderate to severe major depressive disorder, or MDD, failed to meet its primary and key secondary endpoints.
The company said it has no plans for further clinical development of the molecule in MDD.
The stock plunged 27.43% to $5 in after-hours trading.
Novartis Opts Not To License Akcea's Cardiovascular Investigational Therapy
Akcea Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: AKCA), an affiliate of Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: IONS), said Novartis AG (NYSE: NVS) has decided not to exercise its option to license Akcea's antisense oligonucleotide AKCEA-APOCIII-LRx.
Akcea said it has retained rights to develop and commercialize the therapy for familial chylomicronemia syndrome, plus other indications. The company said it expects to release results from the Phase 2 study early in 2020.
89Bio Q3 Loss Widens
89bio Inc (NASDAQ: ETNB) reported a wider-than-expected loss for its September quarter.
"With our strengthened capital position, we look forward to continuing to advance BIO89-100 through clinical development in NASH and initiating development of BIO89-100 in our planned Phase 2 study in severe hypertriglyceridemia (SHTG) in 2020," said Rohan Palekar, CEO of 89Bio.
The stock rose 6.68% to $30.50 in after-hours trading.
Axsome, which recently reported positive late-stage results for its depression drug, said it intends to offer shares, subject to market and other conditions, in an underwritten public offering.
After closing at a 52-week high of $89.57 in the regular trading session, Axsome added 4.93% to $93.99 in after-hours trading.
Exicure Inc (NASDAQ: XCUR) said it intends to offer shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. All the shares earmarked for the offering are being sold by the company. The company said it intends to use the net proceeds primarily for funding its clinical programs.
The stock fell 5.41% to $2.80 in after-hours trading.
Monopar Therapeutics priced its IPO of 1.11 million shares at $8 per share. The shares are expected to commence trading on the Nasdaq Wednesday under the ticker symbol "MNPR."
Related Articles (SRPT + PRTK)
50 Stocks Moving in Monday's Pre-Market Session
82 Biggest Movers From Friday
The Week Ahead In Biotech (Jan 10-16): Expect Stocks To Move As J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference Kicks Off
Posted-In: Biotech Earnings News Offerings FDA IPOs Top Stories Pre-Market Outlook
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Il Bravìo
Contrade
Gracciano
Some of the exquisite artistic and architectural beauties of Montepulciano are part of the incredibly rich heritage of this district.
Gracciano's territory starts from the magnificent "Porta al Prato", formerly known as "Porta di Gracciano", restored by the legendary architect Antonio da Sangallo the elder. Sangallo, famous for building the bastions of the Medici Fortress in Florence, also built "Palazzo Boddi", the "Colonna del Marzocco" – which replaced the typical Siena's wolf in 1511. "Palazzo Avignonesi", whose main entrance is decorated with two lions' heads, is instead attributed to Vignola, whereas "Palazzo Tarugi Bernabei" seems to be another of Sangallo's works. It is also believed that Antonio da Sangallo may be responsible for the building of "Palazzo Cocconi Del Pecora" as well.
Wondering around the district we also find "Palazzo Bucelli", which deserves particular attention as the base of its facade is adorned by Etruscan urns and travertine slabs with Roman and Etruscan inscriptions. These ancient findings were collected by Pietro Bucelli, a man of culture of the eighteenth century. According to some, the most photographed public clock in Tuscany is that of "Pulcinella", which stands out among the battlements of the sixteenth-century tower in "Piazza Michelozzo". On the other side of the street we finally find the church of Sant'Agostino, internally renovated during the eighteenth century and enriched by a lunette by the Florentine sculptor Michelozzo.
The district of Gracciano has won 7 editions of Bravìo delle Botti: 1974, 1981, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2010 and 2011.
Gracciano's territory starts from the magnificent "Porta al Prato", formerly known as "Porta di Gracciano", restored by the legendary architect Antonio da Sangallo the elder. Sangallo, famous for building the bastions of the Medici Fortress in Florence, also built "Palazzo Boddi", the "Colonna del Marzocco" – which replaced the typical Siena's wolf in 1511. "Palazzo Avignonesi", whose main entrance is decorated with two lions' heads, is instead attributed to Vignola, whereas "Palazzo Tarugi Bernabei" seems to be another of Sangallo's works. It is also believed that Antonio da Sangallo may be responsible for the building of "Palazzo Cocconi Del Pecora" as well. Wondering around the district we also find "Palazzo Bucelli", which deserves particular attention as the base of its facade is adorned by Etruscan urns and travertine slabs with Roman and Etruscan inscriptions. These ancient findings were collected by Pietro Bucelli, a man of culture of the eighteenth century. According to some, the most photographed public clock in Tuscany is that of "Pulcinella", which stands out among the battlements of the sixteenth-century tower in "Piazza Michelozzo". On the other side of the street we finally find the church of Sant'Agostino, internally renovated during the eighteenth century and enriched by a lunette by the Florentine sculptor Michelozzo.
←Collazzi
Le Coste→
Il Bravìo delle Botti
The "Bravìo delle Botti" is a competition between the eight districts of the town, located along the historical city centre.
The districts fight over a painted cloth – namely "Il Panno" – by rolling empty wine barrels, weighing about 80 kg each.
Via dell'Opio Nel Corso 1
53045 Montepulciano SI
info@braviodellebotti.com
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2021 Magistrato delle Contrade di Montepulciano P.I. 00751190521