text:
Ultra-rich Celebrities Who Didn't Leave Any Fortune to Their Family After Death
Laurence Blake Feb 27, 2020
We spend most of our lives working for money and saving for the future, so it only makes sense that you make a will to have control of the fruits of your labor should you leave this world.
Celebrities, who rake in tons of cash, should all the more pen one to protect their assets, but best believe that there were stars who failed to create this important statement.
The King of Pop's death sent shockwaves everywhere – after all, despite malicious allegations thrown at him, he still was a legend who helped shape the music industry that we've come to love nowadays.
Michael Jackson died at 50 in 2009, and with the many hits he made at the height of his career (that everyone knows generated revenue long after his demise), people scrambled to find his last will.
Vicki L. Miller / Shutterstock
Believing that he didn't make one, his family stormed the court as Katherine Jackson, the singer's mother, sought to be in charge of the estate.
A will that Michael signed seven years before he died surfaced, leaving his mom as a trust beneficiary – but not so fast, there's a tax-related problem that's holding the process back.
At 27, Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning. While it was reported that she had a will, it turned out that she didn't.
Her estate, which was said to be worth $4.6million, was awarded to her parents, Janis and Mitch Winehouse, who put up a foundation in honor of their daughter. Blake Fielder-Civil, her ex-husband, didn't inherit anything from the soulful singer.
Iconic musician Prince passed away in April 2016 at 57 and with the impact he had on the music industry, it's not shocking to know that he was worth $200 million. In the 50 years of his career, the singer earned seven Grammys.
Anthony Correia / Shutterstock
With the eye-popping amount and without a will by the time of his death, claimants appeared. A year later, a judge ruled that Prince's siblings would inherit his money, but because of the appeals from those who say they were previous wives or children, the distribution has yet to push through.
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain took his own life in 1994 and while he wrote a harrowing suicide note, he didn't leave a will. His wife Courtney Love, whom he shares daughter Frances Bean Cobain, benefited from a trust called NMWH.
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock
After a messy drama, Frances gained the rights to Kurt's name and likeness.
Utah-Based Clerical Office Makes Marriage Dream Come True For Thousands Of LDR Couples Worldwide
In a New Vogue Video, Kim Kardashian Shows Off The "Never Ever Before Seen" Beauty Of Her Home
Sven Kramer Feb 22, 2022


text:
Petra Cetkovská era la detentrice del titolo, ma quest'anno non ha partecipato.

Il singolare del torneo di tennis Open Krys de Mont-de-Marsan 2011, facente parte della categoria ITF Women's Circuit, ha avuto come vincitrice Bianca Botto che ha battuto in finale Laura Thorpe 6–2, 6–4.

Teste di serie

  Alizé Lim (quarti di finale)
  Laura Thorpe (finale)
  Conny Perrin (semifinali)
  Anastasia Grymalska (secondo turno, ritiro)

 Andrea Gámiz (primo turno)
 Aleksandrina Najdenova (primo turno)
 Despina Papamichail (quarti di finale)
 Laura-Ioana Andrei (primo turno)

Tabellone

Finali

Parte alta

Parte bassa

Note

Open Krys de Mont-de-Marsan 2011

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


What Happened: British Prime Minister Theresa May has invited several members of her Cabinet to read a draft of the withdrawal agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom, Bloomberg reported Nov. 7. According to inside sources, this draft does not include a clause on the Irish backstop.
Why It Matters: The European Union and the United Kingdom could be close to reaching an agreement, which would avoid a no-deal Brexit and allow the implementation of a transitional period to let businesses and households adapt to the new trade relationship. However, reports suggest that the parties are still struggling to come up with a solution to keep the Irish border open.
Background: The European Union and the United Kingdom did not reach a withdrawal agreement during a European Council meeting in October. Brussels has said it will only call for a special Brexit summit in November if enough progress is made during negotiations. Failure to reach an agreement would lead to a no-deal Brexit in March 2019.


text:
LASC > Blog > Honduras in Revolt
Honduras in Revolt
Filed under Blog, News
CentralAmerica, Honduras, LatinAmerica, Revolt
In June 2009 center-left Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was removed from power in a military coup widely seen as being backed by the US. Ten years later, in June 2019, a massive street revolt against the continued rule of right-wing Juan Orlando Hernandez (JOH) shakes the small Central American nation. Neither event has had much impact on international media headlines.
Elected in 2006 as a liberal from a wealthy logging family, Zelaya shifted to the left over the course of his Presidency, seeking to bring Honduras into ALBA, the Venezuelan-led Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas. When soldiers entered the Presidential residence in June 2009 and put him on a one-way flight to Costa Rica, Zelaya immediately declared he had been the victim of a coup. The two leading Generals involved in the coup were graduates of the notorious School of the Americas, the US' training ground for future Latin American military leaders. The UN immediately denounced the events as a military coup. The US, however, equivocated, refusing to formally declare the ouster of the sitting president a coup, which would have required the US to stop sending aid to Honduras.
In response, Hondurans took to their street. A mass protest movement, dubbed 'la resistencia', protested the undemocratic actions of the military and demanded that Zelaya be reinstated. They were met with armed repression from the forces of the state. TV stations, including CNN en español and TeleSur, were shut down. Amnesty International reported widespread and indiscriminate use of force by police and military against the peaceful protesters, including violence and sexual assault against female protesters. At least two protesters were killed.
A general election, boycotted by Zelaya and the opposition, and not recognized by governments throughout Latin America, elected right-wing politician Pepe Lobo to the Presidency. Over the next number of years the resistance to the government became institutionalized within the Libre party, with Xiomara Zelaya, wife of the ousted President, as the party's figurehead. Under Lobo's Presidency, Human Rights Watch claims that at least ten members of the resistance were killed. However, the opposition movement's shift to electoralism, and the increasing centralization of the movement around the family of the Zelayas, resulted in electoral failure. Although Xiomara Zelaya was leading in the polls in the run-up to the election in 2013, Juan Orlando Hernandez, a right-wing politician from the conservative National Party was elected President.
JOH was returned to power in 2017, amid elections that mirrored disputed elections in Venezuela in 2018 and Nicaragua in 2016. Many in Honduras and in the international community denounced the election as fraudulent. Streets were blocked, vehicles set on fire, shops looted and burnt down. The main highway linking Honduras with Guatemala, and therefore the primary artery for transport moving from US through Central America, was blockaded for days by protestors. Transport and the economy was severely disrupted. However, the regime of JOH responded with the customary brutality, and over the course of the demonstrations over 16 people were killed and many more injured and detained.
Even during the early 2000s, Honduras was a violent country, beset by the side-effects of the US-led War on Drugs, that has spilled beyond the borders of the US and into Central America. The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Calle 18 are international criminal organizations that hold sway throughout much of Central America, and Honduras in particular. . As a result, Honduras consistently sits prominently on lists of the most dangerous and violent countries in the world, and despite the law-and-order rhetoric of JOH and other right-wing politicians, this crime rate has continued to spill out of control.
As a result, most Hondurans, who cannot afford the private security and gated communities available to Honduras' tiny oligarchy, live in fear in their own communities, with almost all families affected by a personal story of the violence of their society. Emigration from Honduras has surged, with many people and families fleeing the violence and heading North to the United States, often paying exorbitant prices to a coyote, a smuggler who promises to sneak them across the border. More recently, a migrant caravan began its journey north in San Pedro Sula in Honduras towards the US-border to seek asylum from the increasing political destabilization and violence in their societies. This forced emigration has become an act of deliberate collective protest against the arbitrary violence of border regimes. In the process it has carved out a rare safe space in deeply conservative societies for LGBT Central Americans who also joined the caravan.
Meanwhile, state repression of civil society and left-wing activists has continued, with environmental activists, many of them indigenous or Garífuna afro-descendent people, who seek to protect Honduras' natural resources from exploitation and extractive industries particularly targeted. In 2013, Tomás Garcia, an indigenous Lencan activist from the Rio Blanco community, was murdered by state forces at a protest against the construction of the massive Agua Zarca dam. The dam is largely backed by Chinese interests, a further instance of the increasing neo-colonial power of Chinese capital in extractive megaprojects throughout Latin America. In 2016, Berta Cáceres, founder of indigenous and environmental rights organization COPINH, was murdered for her activism against the dam. Former military officers have been charged as the 'intellectual authors' of her murder.
Typical of the right-wing 'shock doctrine' playbook, the repression of social movements and civil society in Honduras has gone hand-in-hand with economic deregulation and capitalist expansion. Honduras has become a laboratory for neoliberal, right-libertarian utopian fantasies of completely free markets, with several towns and industrial areas of Honduras declared 'Charter Cities', exempt from corporate taxation and labour rights regulations, free-fire zones for Capital.
However, in May of this year, Honduras once again burst into popular revolt. The neoliberal regime's plans to privatize large sections of the healthcare and education sectors met immediate and widespread protests. On the 28th of May images flew around the world of protesters setting fire to piles of tyres outside the front door of the US embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital city. For many in Honduras there is a clear connection between US interference in their country dating back to the 2009 coup (and before), and the right-wing, neoliberal policies of the current regime. A national general strike was held on the 30th and 31st of May.With tens of thousands of Hondurans once again joining the protests, JOH's government has been forced to withdraw the plans to restructure the education system but Hondurans remain in the street, demanding the fall of the regime.
These mass protests mirror the mobilizations just across the border in neighbouring Nicaragua since April of 2018. Although the Honduran protests are taking place against an openly right-wing regime, and the Nicaraguan protests are against a nominally left President (albeit one that forged an alliance with the Church that has led to the most repressive abortion regime in Latin America), both protests are strikingly similar. Both emerged from the context of highly disputed elections in 2016 and 2017, and both were sparked neoliberal reforms to the economy and social services. In both countries a brutal state crackdown targets feminist, leftist and environmentalist civil society in particular. Solidarity with the people of Latin America demands solidarity with both mass movements of the popular classes for democracy and against state repression.
Honduras was one of few CA countries that hadn't experienced a mass, popular left-wing revolt since 2009. That is now changing. Despite the atmosphere of fear and insecurity caused by US intervention, state repression and the continuing breakdown of society under a wave of gang violence that has forced many Hondurans across borders, Hondurans have built militant grassroots organizations such as the indigenous-led COPINH and OFRANEH, which represents the coastal, afro-indigenous Garífuna people. Karina Flores, a social activist and former comrade of Berta Cáceres from the Plataforma del Movimiento Social, a Honduran 'movement of movements', visited Ireland in 2018 to speak at LASC's Latin America Week, about the threats she has faced . Despite all efforts of Lobo and JOH and the repressive right-wing governments, and the drift into electoralism under the Zelayas, the tradition of mass protest that was born out of the 'resistencia' of 2009 has not been crushed, but has emerged again and again to challenge and force back the regime. The withdrawal of the privatization agenda of the government
To keep up to date with the events in Honduras, follow @hondurassol on Twitter.
Tomás Lynch is an active member of LASC. He lived outside San Pedro Sula in Honduras in 2013-2014.
Irish Media Coverage of Repression in Nicaragua and Irish Solidarity
Cerrejón Mine: Record of advocacy in Ireland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Aguirre orders NBI to probe Rappler
Jan 17, 2018 4:26 PM PHT
Ben Nabong
Solicitor General Jose Calida has said the criminal investigation into Rappler will center around possible violation of the Anti-Dummy Law
MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has formalized his order to investigate Rappler for "possible violation of the Constitution and laws."
Aguirre signed on Wednesday, January 17, Department Order Number 017 authorizing the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a case buildup against Rappler.
"If evidence warrants, (the NBI is granted authority) to file the appropriate cases against those found liable," the order said.
JUST IN: Sec Aguirre signs order for NBI to probe Rappler and conduct case buildup @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/DmpfVCiSap
— Lian Buan (@lianbuan) January 17, 2018
Solicitor General Jose Calida previously said Rappler officials would be subjected to a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice for possible violations of the Anti-Dummy Law.
Commonwealth Act Number 108 or the Anti-Dummy Law penalizes "evasion of the laws on the nationalization of certain rights, franchises or privileges."
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked Rappler's registration over a clause in an agreement with foreign investor Omidyar Network when the former issued the latter Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs).
The SEC en banc said a clause where Rappler should have "prior good faith discussion" with Omidyar Network before it changes its articles of incorporation or by-laws is a violation of the rule that media companies should be under "100% Filipino control."
Media and rights groups, both here and abroad, have slammed the SEC decision as an attack against press freedom. – Rappler.com


text:
Q: Proguard method optimization When using Proguard some methods bodies are replaced by this:
public void someMethod(int paramInt1, int paramInt2, boolean paramBoolean, String paramString){

 // Byte code:
    //   0: aload_1
    //   1: invokeinterface getItemId : ()I
    //   6: istore_2
    //   7: iload_2
    //   8: ldc_w 2131296320
    //   11: if_icmpne -> 31
    //   14: aload_0
    //   15: new android/content/Intent
    //   18: dup
    //   19: aload_0
    //   20: ldc_w com/example/turtle/Activity
    //   23: invokespecial <init> : (Landroid/content/Context;Ljava/lang/Class;)V
    //   26: invokevirtual startActivity : (Landroid/content/Intent;)V
    //   29: iconst_1
    //   30: ireturn
    //   31: iload_2
    //   32: ldc_w 2131296310
    //   35: if_icmpne -> 95
    //   38: aload_0
    //   39: getfield O : Landroid/view/View;
    //   42: ldc_w 'Layout Changed'
    //   ...

}

while most of them have something like this:
public void anotherMethod(){

    this.W.setColor(i);
    this.X.setTextColor(i);
    this.Y.setColor(i);
    this.Z.setColor(i);
    b.c.a.x0.a a1 = new b.c.a.x0.a();
    a1.setDuration(100);
    a.u.m.a((ViewGroup)this.a0, (a.u.i)a1);
    if (this.U) {
      this.a0.removeView((View)this.h0);
      linearLayout = this.a0;
      a2 = this.g0;
    } else {
      this.a0.removeView((View)this.b0);
      this.a0.removeView((View)this.d0);
      linearLayout = this.a0;
      a2 = this.e0;
    }

}

Why aren't they all like the first sample code? And is there a way to force Proguard to optimize methods like in the the first sample code?
Im using dex2jar to decompile and jd-gui to view it.
Any insight is appreciated...

A: There is no difference in what ProGuard does between these two methods.
The difference is in the tool you're using to read ProGuard's output: what bytecode it can and can't decompile to make it look like normal Java source.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Mariwan R Hama, via CBS8
Popular YouTuber McSkillet, 2 others die in fiery head-on car collision
A 43-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter were also killed.
Josh Katzowitz
Published Aug 25, 2018 Updated May 21, 2021, 7:57 am CDT
An 18-year-old gamer who had hundreds of thousands of YouTube subscribers was killed Thursday after he was involved in a head-on collision at more than 100 mph that also killed two others.
McSkillet, whose real name was Trevor Heitmann, was driving the wrong way on a southern California highway when he crashed into a car driven by a 43-year-old woman, according to BuzzFeed. The collision killed McSkillet, the woman, and her 12-year-old daughter, and the accident caused five other cars to crash in the fiery scene.
On his YouTube channel, where he had 877,000 subscribers, McSkillet mostly posted gaming-related videos. Last December, he vlogged about his new McLaren sports car—the car he was driving when he crashed.
According to the Los Angeles Times, a person who called 911 to report the crash said, "The whole northbound side [of the freeway] is on fire."
As BuzzFeed wrote, "He reportedly made his money selling and trading so-called skins, graphic visual designs for weapons in the online game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that are meant to be aesthetic and don't affect game play. Although the game industry cracked down on his skins, he also made money through his gaming and corporate gaming sponsorships."
His fans expressed their shock and sadness on Twitter.
Genuinely one of the nicest guys I've met since starting youtube, @OG_McSkillet THIS CANT BE REAL MAN ;(
— tEDDy tK (@iCrazyTeddy) August 24, 2018
Just hearing all this shit about @OG_McSkillet and not really sure what to think. I don't have all the details so I won't comment on the specifics but Made a video with him back in the day and he was a nice kid.
— Hova (@JahovasWitniss) August 24, 2018
On Twitter, @RDGayBowser wrote, "This isn't a hoax. He was my best friend in real life and I've been dealing with this pain for the past two hours. Everyone please spread love and support, he was battling an incredible rough time and we need to show support."
Another friend told Polygon that they didn't know how to respond.
"I knew him so well in middle and high school, he was a really good person and we had a lot of great memories together, but now learning about all the tragedy he caused for the people who died, I don't know what to feel," the person said.
According to Fox 5 San Diego, the family of the other victims has created a GoFundMe account for 43-year-old Aileen Pizarro and her daughter Aryana, who was set to begin seventh grade this Monday.
As of this writing, $27,000—more than five times the original $5,000 goal—had been raised by more than 400 people in 15 hours.
*First Published: Aug 25, 2018, 9:15 am CDT
Josh Katzowitz is a staff writer at the Daily Dot specializing in YouTube and boxing. His work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. A longtime sports writer, he's covered the NFL for CBSSports.com and boxing for Forbes. His work has been noted twice in the Best American Sports Writing book series.
This week in streaming: The buzz for 'Yellowjackets'
Four episodes into 'The Book of Boba Fett,' the show seems weirdly uninterested in Boba Fett
'How I Met Your Father' can't escape the shadow of its polarizing predecessor


text:
Tom Fuerst ~ The Real Problem with Once Saved, Always Saved
December 2, 2015 by Tom Fuerst
I just finished reading the New York Times article about Robert L. Dear, Jr, the shooter in the recent Planned Parenthood attack in Colorado Springs. In the article, Dear is described as a serial philanderer, gambler, an abusive husband/boyfriend, and a Christian.
A Christian?
Well, yes, of course. Why not?
I mean, once saved always saved*, right? That's what Dear believed, anyway: "He says that as long as he believes he will be saved, he can do whatever he pleases."
And herein lies my biggest problem with not only Robert Dear, but all persons who espouse some doctrine of unchecked "Once Saved, Always Saved." How are you going to tell me that a person can claim to be a follower of the crucified messiah, claim to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and yet live a life that is in complete and utter contradiction with everything that God stands for?
How can you have, as the article contends, "a man of religious conviction who sinned openly, a man who craved solitude and near-constant female company, a man who successfully wooed women but, some of them say, also abused them. [A man who] frequented marijuana websites, then argued with other posters, often through heated religious screeds" who is also a Christian?
This kind of thing, where a man can live in complete contradiction to the character of the gospel and yet still believe himself to be a Christian, is only possible because of a doctrine that is downright false. There is absolutely no point in all of scripture where mere confession of belief warrants a free ticket to heaven no matter what one does in this life. You can ask Jesus into your heart 8 million times, but if you live the kind of life described above, you need to know that you are not a Christian.
This is what I find so problematic about the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved." It throws the entire gospel under the bus of the human need for security, however false that security may be. It offer certitude where none should be offered. It allows us to live how we want to live without demanding any conformity to the image of Christ, any growth in holiness, any perseverance.
And if you want me to be more exegetical about it, more biblical in my reference, then let me point out that this article about Robert Dear describes a man who lives entirely contrary to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. A man who "constantly criticizes everyone around him and is very hard to please" falls outside the bounds of Jesus' call to "judge not" in Matthew 7. A man who "spends a lot of time planning revenge" hardly seems like the kind of person who could "turn the other cheek" or fulfill Jesus call to "love your enemies" in reflection of God's love for his enemies in Matthew 6. A man who "erupts into fury in seconds" could hardly claim to follow the Jesus who warns us sternly in Matthew 6 about the relationship between anger and murder. A man who is divorced multiple times (because of his abuse of women) would also stand in violation of Matthew 6's injunctions against divorce that is driven by a dehumanization of women. A man who cheats on multiple wives, even likely rapes a woman, can hardly be within the bounds of Jesus' ethic of refusing lust so as to avoid adultery.
And to tie it all together, let me finally say that it was Jesus, himself, who said that there will be many who say to him, "Lord, Lord" and he will say, "Depart from me, I never knew you." And the difference between those who knew him and those who did not was simply a matter, not of faith or confession or creed, but of fruit and character. Mr. Dear argues in his cannabis forums that, "Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS IS LORD," but he uses this as a threat to others instead of facing the truth that such texts ought to first highlight the massive plank in his own eye.
Clearly, I have taken an extreme example to point out what I believe to be an extreme problem with a faulty Christian doctrine. "Once Saved Always Saved" is a danger to the Christian faith because it offers all the greatness of the gospel without any of the discipline, sacrifice, holiness, perseverance, or love required of those who claim to be disciples of Jesus. Mr. Dear may be an extreme example, but his arrogant assurance reveals an extreme problem.
This is why I'm Wesleyan (not that we are always consistent in our application of our theology): because Wesleyan theology teaches that the pursuit of holiness is not an add-on to the gospel, but the very gospel, itself. There can be no gospel without holiness. There can be no salvation from sin in the next life without a desire for and a work toward being saved from sin in this life. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who works in us to will and to do according to his good pleasure. When we assume we can have salvation without the fear and trembling, without the word, and without obedience to the will of God, we give ourselves false assurance that ultimately leads to our destruction, and, in the case of Robert Dear, the destruction of others around him. Robert Dear is not just a deranged individual (he is certainly that), but his is also the product of a half-gospel that demands no life-change, no genuine repentance, no social holiness, and no personal holiness.
*I want to be clear here that while I'm a Wesleyan, my issue here is not with people who believe differently than I do regarding merely whether or not it is possible to be a Christian and walk away from it. Wesleyans and (good) Calvinists disagree on this issue. But I can at least respect that the Calvinist calls for perseverance in holiness for any kind of assurance. They do not believe salvation, once received, can be forfeited like we Wesleyans do, but my point is that my argument in this post is not with those who hold to a position that says "holiness matters," but with those who have a view of Once Saved Always Saved that says, as Robert Dear does, "I can now do whatever I want because I'm saved."
Tags: AnalysisArticleCalvinismCurrent EventsHolinessTheologyWesleyan Methodist
Tom Fuerst
Rev. Tom Fuerst is Lead Pastor at Bluff City Church in Memphis, TN. He is author of Underdogs and Outcasts: A Bible Study on the Untold Stories of Advent. Tom received a Master of Arts from the University of Missouri and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary. A teacher and a pastor, Tom has a passion for helping others understand the Bible. Tom is a family man who loves Jesus, his wife, and their four children.
Timothy Tennent ~ Marriage, Human Sexuality, & the Body: The Meaning of Our Original Nakedness
Elizabeth Glass Turner ~ Nine Resources for a Meaningful Advent


Utah has joined California as the only states to allow motorcyclists to split between lanes of slow traffic. Photo by Kevin Wing, courtesy of AMA.
The full AMA position statement on lane splitting can be found at www.americanmotorcyclist.com/About-The-AMA/lane-splitting-1.


Elegant, fun, and unique our varied selection of picks and skewers are guaranteed to add some class to any event. Perfect for kabobs, sandwiches, appetizers, or beverages they will make any dish look delicious.
Made from only premium quality plastic, wood, and bamboo materials, these disposable products are sturdy, splinter-free (in the case of wood and bamboo products) and multifunctional.
Ideal for any restaurant, cafe, diner, catering event, or other food service locations or occasions, these products will satisfy your customers and keep them coming back for more.
CiboWares food picks and skewers are designed to add both fun and functionality to your dishes! Add a splash of color with our many styles of food and drink picks, or make serving fruits and cheeses a breeze with our bamboo display picks. Grilling meats and vegetables is fast and convenient with our eco-friendly bamboo and wooden skewers.
Whether you want add fun and whimsy to your drinks and dishes, or add a look of natural elegance to a tray of appetizers, CiboWares has a wide variety of food and display picks to help you meet your presentation needs. Our products are available in high quality plastic, bamboo, and wood.
Grill meat, vegetables, and seafood with ease, or artfully display colorful fruit kebobs with CiboWares' bamboo or wooden skewers. Skewers should be soaked in water prior to use on a grill or in an oven. Both wooden and bamboo are strong, eco-friendly, and provide convenience in the kitchen and at the grill.
All skewers are available in a variety of sizes.


Wonder is about a 10-year-old boy named August "Auggie", who was born with a rare medical facial deformity and had undergone 27 different surgeries. Auggie was home-schooled mainly by his mother until she decided that it is time for him to join elementary school. Directed by Stephen Chbosky and starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and a cast of amazing actors including Jacob Tremblay. The movie Wonder, released in 2017, was inspired by the bestselling novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio 2012.
As parents, we all hope at some point in our life if we could shield our kids from cruelty of the world specifically if our kids happen to be "different" in any form. Despite fear of the unknown, Auggie's mother pushes her kid out of its warm nest, because there is so much more that he can learn from the world out there. Roberts plays her role outstandingly well, in a way that you cannot help but sympathize with her. Moreover, the world does not always revolve around us. Auggie, the science geek, space obsessed boy had to literally take off his astronaut toy helmet and step out of his comfort zone.
This raises a critical question on the significance of home schooling compared to mainstream schools. Many parents opt for homeschooling for their kids with physical, emotional, developmental, intellectual and sensory disabilities because these kids often get lost in the traditional class room setting additionally, parents fear their kids will be bulled and/or rejected because of their differences. Unless the school is capable to accommodate these kids and help them reach their full potential, the only safe option for parents is homeschooling.
Supported by his family, Auggie embarks on his journey to the world of schools including teachers, friends, bullies, enemies & frenemies (those whom are your friends one day and your enemies the next, you can find a couple of these in your adult life as well!). The movie does not sugarcoat the truth; on the contrary it sends a strong message about bullying at schools. We see how Auggie is welcomed by staring, name calling and abandonment for being different, because his mere appearance in a class photo is not so 'cool' for these kids or their parents (yes, parents can be so mean!).
In refreshing twist, the movie sheds light on the life of 'Via' the teenage sister of the central character Auggie, like many families who've had a kid with a special condition, the rest of the kids have to adapt to having their parents attention directed to that kid. Via personality provides a vibrant addition to the image of a perfect family.
How often do parents struggle to instill important values in their children, it might not be a bad idea to suggest watching a movie that inspires empathy, perseverance and kindness. Wonder has an abundance of positive emotions; it leaves you feeling like spreading kindness all over. I watched this one with my mother and my kids, we all left the movies with red noses yet smiles on our faces.


text:
Réunion is an island located near the eastern coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Its coral reef covers a concentrated part of the western littoral. The coral reef is located between St Leu and St Gilles. It is more than  long and ranges in width from  in its northern part at St. Gilles to  in the south. Since the island is distant from the continental shelf, the sea becomes deep not far from the coast. The presence of nearby deeper ocean currents supports a rich biodiversity fauna and flora in the reef environment.

Environment and threats

Coral reefs are among the most densely populated marine environments. The coral reef fringing Réunion is a rich habitat for soft and hard corals that provide food and habitat for an abundance of fish and shellfish. The corals feed on a diet of plankton and algae which they catch with their tentacles. The growth cycle of corals is relatively slow, with growth of about  per year. Male corals disseminate sperm cells into the water, which fertilize free-floating eggs released by the female corals. Reproduction is limited due to the proportionately small number of male corals.

The integrity of Réunion's reef has recently become threatened by an increase in pollution and human exploitation of the ecologically-sensitive marine life. Ocean water quality and the health of coral species are both symbiotic and reflexive; polluted water negatively impacts the health of coral reefs, and unhealthy reefs add to the degradation of ocean water quality. Studies show that ocean pollution inhibits coral growth and therefore contributes to algal blooms, which result in hypoxic conditions for coral reefs.

Coral is very sensitive to variations in water temperature. The effects of global warming on oceans have a direct impact on the health of coral reefs. The optimal water temperature for coral at Réunion is between 23 °C and 28 °C. Increased surface water temperature related to global warming can contribute to disease and bleaching of coral reefs, as is apparent on Réunion.

Natural cyclones and anthropogenic disturbances such as urban development of catchment areas affect the reefs of Réunion. These ecological disturbances have led to an increase in coral reef nutrient levels via submarine groundwater discharge. Increased nutrient levels have resulted in the modification of flora and fauna in the benthic zone. The coral reef is a natural barrier that protects the coast from typhoons.

Management

The least vulnerable sectors of the reef are in St Paul and l'Etang-Salé (in the north), due to the absence of a reef ecosystem and the stability of the shoreline. Due to pressures from the nearby urban areas, the sector in Grande Anse and Boucan Canot is moderately vulnerable, but there are few severe impacts. The highly vulnerable points are located at la Pointe des Aigrettes, la Pointe au Sel, la Ravine Blanche, St-Pierre and Grand Bois (in the south). The main factors causing vulnerability include beach erosion, a poor recovery rate of coral reef flats, hydrodynamic conditions, and urbanisation, which puts pressure on the soil and aggravates coastal erosion, degrades the landscape, and generates pollution. The reef areas near the dock at Pirogue and St-Pierre Ville are suffering irreversible deterioration due to increasing development.

The Marine Nature Reserve, created in 2007, plays a role in protecting the reef. By educating visitors, instilling respect and awareness of protective regulations, and working to decrease poaching, the Marine Nature Reserve has already made some progress in returning the reef to health.

One way to assess the degeneration is to measure the carrying capacity, one of the key indicators for coast management. Carrying capacity refers to the limit at which risk of irreparable degradation of the environment and the social climate are high. It is evaluated using 45 criteria, including anarchic development (unplanned construction), unmanaged use of land, and a lack of regard for the local architecture. Anarchic development compromises the environmental health of the water and the reef, and leads to visual degradation of the coast, increased atmospheric pollution due to car and boat emissions, increased release of waste (waste water and solid waste) due to the absence of appropriate infrastructure to treat it, saturates service infrastructures during the high season, increases loss of habitat and biodiversity, leads to overconsumption of natural resources by a growing population with demands for facilities such as golf courses, causes an abandonment of traditional, conservation-friendly activity, and leads to the modification of socio-cultural identities due to the change in lifestyle.

Economic impact
The coral barrier is an important resource for Réunion. It sustains the standards of living of these parts of the island due to increased tourism profits and its influence on real estate prices.

Many activities are organized around the coral reef, making it an essential part of the island's economy. Activities include scuba diving, snorkelling, boat trips, fishing, helicopter flights, and paragliding. Many diving schools suggest training sessions and first dives at reef sites. Local businesses, organizations, and government localities organize photography contests and other events to boost tourism around the reef.

In a recent study, specialists estimated the benefits of leisure activities such as scuba diving to be above  €2,076,150, water sports above €118,018, and diving boats and submarines above €1,851,614. The coral reef influences the price of local housing; homes close to a beach protected by corals enjoy lower real estate prices.

See also
 List of reefs

References

Further reading
 Chabanet, P.; L. Bigot, Naim, O.; Garnier, R.; Tessier E.; Moyne-Picard, M. Coral reef monitoring at Reunion island (Western Indian Ocean) using the GCRMN method, Oct. 2000., Proceedings 9th International Coral Reef Symposium, Bali, Indonesia
 Holland, J.S., 2011, 'Une fragile muraille', National Geographic France, 27 September 2011, p. 2.
 Lison, C., 2011, 'Rencontre sous la mer', National Geographic France, 27 September 2011, p. 24.
 Montaggioni, L., 2007, Coraux et Récifs, archives du climat., société géologique de France Vuibert,
 Saffache, P., Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Campus de Schoelcher, Département de Géographie, From Degradation to Environmental Management: Case in Point: The Reunion Island Sea Bed, Martinique

External links
http://www.reunion.fr/modules/rechercher/rechercher-dans-les-services-touristiques.html
http://coraux.univ-reunion.fr/
http://www.liledelareunion.com/Fr/economie/index.php
http://www.aquaportail.com/modules/news/index.php?storytopic=12&start=586
http://coraux.univ-reunion.fr/spip.php?article5
http://www.liledelareunion.com/
http://www.reunion.fr/modules/rechercher/rechercher-dans-les-services-touristiques.html
http://en.ird.fr/the-media-library/scientific-news-sheets/354-reunion-island-coral-reefs-in-poor-health
http://vieoceane.free.fr/paf/ficheb3.html
http://www.liledelareunion.com/Fr/economie/index.php

Landforms of Réunion
Reefs of France
Coral reefs


text:
NewsOK
Oklahoma CityCustomize
PoliticsCustomize
EducationCustomize
HealthCustomize
Religion & FaithCustomize
Ongoing Coverage
Oklahoma History
Contributor Stories
Watches & Warnings
Local BusinessCustomize
Energy IndustryCustomize
Drilling Reports
OKC ThunderCustomize
OU SoonersCustomize
OSU CowboysCustomize
High SchoolCustomize
Energy FC
Big 12 & NCAA
Local A&ECustomize
Food & RestaurantsCustomize
BooksCustomize
Weddings/Anniversaries
The OK Magazine
Local A&E
Parties Extra
BRANDINSIGHT
The Oklahoman & NewsOK
--°Log inLog out13
Live updates: OU vs. BaylorFive takeaways from the Thunder's 112-107 win at Houston
NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment
No. 6 Oklahoma beats No. 8 Baylor 30-23 in OT for B12 title
Published: Sat, December 7, 2019 7:33 PM Updated: Sat, December 7, 2019 7:34 PM
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) hugs wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (2) after the Sooners 30-23 overtime win over Baylor in an NCAA college football game for the Big 12 Conference championship, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, in Arlington, Texas. (Ian Maule/Tulsa World via AP)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — No. 6 Oklahoma has done all it can, winning a fifth Big 12 title in a row with another close win over No. 8 Baylor.
Now the Sooners wait to see if they are going to get in back in the College Football Playoff. That is up to the selection committee, though it will be virtually impossible to keep Oklahoma from being one of those four teams.
"I hope they see the Big 12 champions. They've got a job to do, I get that," coach Lincoln Riley said after Oklahoma's 30-23 overtime win Saturday.
"We've had a job to do as a team ... and ultimately win the Big 12 championship," he said. "We've done that.''
Rhamondre Stevenson had a 5-yard touchdown run in overtime, and then true freshman Jacob Zeno — whose two long passes in the fourth quarter helped tie the game — was under constant pressure when Baylor got its last chance.
A day after No. 5 Utah lost in the Pac-12 championship game, and before No. 4 Georgia fell 37-10 to No. 1 LSU in the SEC title game, Oklahoma (12-1, No. 6 CFP) became the first team in any league to win 10 conference championship games. It was the 13th Big 12 title overall for the Sooners, who went to the playoff three of the past four seasons.
It was the second time in four games that Oklahoma beat the Bears (11-2, No. 7 CFP), who in coach Matt Rhule's debut season two years ago lost 11 games with a depleted roster in the aftermath of a scandal that led to the firing of two-time Big 12 champion coach Art Briles.
Rhule said Oklahoma should be in the playoff regardless of any other results.
As for his team, Rhule told them to "feel that pain" of watching the Sooners celebrate.
"Let that drive you in the offseason," he said. "But at the same time, also understand what we've done."
The Bears tied the game after Zeno came in during the fourth quarter, the second quarterback used after starter Charlie Brewer left the game in the second quarter following a big hit he delivered on a defender.
There was an 81-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Trestan Ebner with 9:41 left in regulation and a 78-yarder to Chris Platt that set up John Mayers' 27-yarder with 3:25 left to make it 23-all.
"It's not supposed to be easy," Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts said.
After Oklahoma scored on three plays to start overtime, the Sooners put the heat on Zeno. He was sacked for a 10-yard loss, and then he was under duress again when he flung a game-ending pass that fell to the turf harmlessly.
The Bears had only 105 total yards before the 81-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter by Zeno, who had played in only one game and was the scout team quarterback imitating Hurts in practice this week. They finished with 265.
Hurts, who last year led Alabama's comeback win over Georgia in the SEC title game, was 17-of-24 passing for 278 yards and a touchdown. CeeDee Lamb had eight catches for 173 yards after missing the previous game against the Bears.
(Story continued below...)
Brewer was taken out of the game not long after bulling over a defender at the end of a 7-yard run early in the second quarter. He finished that series and played one more, apparently hitting his head on the ground when being sacked by Kenneth Murray, before Gerry Bohanon took over.
Referee Mike Defee went to the sideline and asked Rhule to get Brewer checked out, because the ref said the quarterback "just seems a little bit out of it."
Bohanon directed Baylor on scoring drives on its last two possessions before halftime. He threw a 33-yard touchdown to Tyquan Thornton before a 28-yard field goal by Mayers put the Bears up 13-10 at halftime — even with only 98 total yards.
Three weeks after their biggest comeback ever, a 34-31 win at Baylor after a 25-point deficit, the Sooners jumped ahead 10-0 on the Bears.
Lamb turned a short catch into a 71-yard gain to the 7 on Oklahoma's second drive, setting up Kennedy Brooks' 6-yard TD run. On the next drive, Lamb's 26-yard catch came before Gabe Brkic kicked the first of his three field goals — he has made a school-record 17 in a row this season without a miss.
Oklahoma: The Sooners are 10-1 in Big 12 championship games. They became the first Power Five team since Alabama from 1971-75 to win five consecutive outright conference titles. (Clemson had the chance to match that in the ACC on Saturday night). The 36-year-old Riley is 36-5 as head coach, with Big 12 titles in all three seasons since being promoted from offensive coordinator after Bob Stoops suddenly retired in the summer after winning his 10th Big 12 championship. Oklahoma has a 27-3 series advantage over the Bears, though this was the first game between them with both ranked in the Top 10.
Baylor: The 11 wins matched a school record, and Baylor still has a chance to break that in their bowl game. Rhule said while his Bears are disappointed with the loss, he knows they will be ready for their bowl.
Oklahoma waits for the selection committee's decision Sunday.
Baylor would go to the Sugar Bowl against an SEC team if the Sooners make the playoff, and could still be in a New Year's Six game if they don't.
News from The Associated Press, and a taste of the great journalism produced by AP members and customers. Managed 24/7 by these editors: apne.ws/APSocial Read more ›
CommentsNo. 6 Oklahoma beats No. 8 Baylor 30-23 in OT for B12 title
Commenting on NewsOK requires a NewsOK Pro or Oklahoman subscription.
Log in or subscribe to read and leave comments.
© 2006-2020 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved


text:
How to avoid the 'badgering' of your neighbours
The new owners of an apartment complex in the neighbourhood are worried about the smell and noise emanating from the apartments.
"There's a lot of negative comments," said a neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous.
It's a concern that residents in the complex, located in the Queen Elizabeth II Park area of downtown Halifax, have been complaining about for some time. "
They're very, very loud."
It's a concern that residents in the complex, located in the Queen Elizabeth II Park area of downtown Halifax, have been complaining about for some time.
The residents of the Queen Anne unit say they've noticed a "creepy" smell emanating from several apartments and are concerned about what that could mean for their own safety.
"I've seen people on the balconies and in the windows, people just walking around, walking around the whole time," said the neighbour, whose name is being withheld.
"We're very conscious of what's going on in the community.
We're also aware of what our neighbours are saying."
The resident said there's also a constant flow of noise coming from the apartment complex.
"It's a constant stream of people," he said.
"The apartment complex is like a small village in the woods.
There are lots of little buildings, a lot more people than you'd expect."
One resident told CBC News she has heard the noise for months and has only recently started noticing it.
"For me, it's like a nuisance," she said.
"(It) really bothers me, and I'm really bothered by it."
One of the residents said she's not happy about the noise emanating in the apartment building.
"All the residents are upset.
It's just a very bad neighbourhood," she told CBC.
"This is a community that is a bit of a ghost town right now."
Tags:the gardens apartments


text:
Home › GTR 225
Let the versatile GTR 225 Comm radio reduce the amount of work you do in the cockpit. Not only does the GTR 225 meet the basic needs of most pilots – including adhering to new airspace requirements in Europe – but features a number of advanced features that save you time and effort.
Choose Your Installation
The GTR 225 is available in 3 versions to fit your needs. Two of these models are available with 25 kHz frequency channel spacing and 8.33 kHz channel spacing to meet the impending Single European Sky mandate that all aircraft in Europe will need to operate with by 2018. It's also available with either 10 W or 16 W of transmitter output, letting you find the right balance of power and price. All 3 versions include a 2-place intercom that's ideal for 2-seat aircraft; no additional hardware is required to communicate with your passenger. Plus, remote frequency flip-flop capability can help in demanding operating environments like helicopters, letting pilots keep their hands on the controls.
Reduce Your Workload
In addition to traditional Comm features, the GTR 225 incorporates a number of functions that can save you time and effort. Provide the GTR 225 with an airport identifier and it will automatically find its frequency (and vice versa) thanks to a built-in, updateable database. When installed with a compatible GPS source like our GTN or GNS series avionics, you can also view facility name and type when tuned to a valid station. You'll gain the confidence of knowing you're talking to the right controller every time. The Comm's database technology also allows you to store and recall commonly used or recently used frequencies by an assigned name. All information is displayed prominently on the device's large sunlight-readable LCD display so you can read it at a glance.
Never Miss a Transmission
With its standby frequency-monitoring feature, the GTR 225 gives you the ability to listen to ATIS while monitoring ATC. Swapping your active and standby frequencies is done with a single touch of a button. No longer will you have to worry about missing an ATC call or other critical transmission. You can also use the built-in timer to assist with approaches, holds and other assigned maneuvers.
Need night vision?
For pilots flying patrol aircraft or helicopters while using night vision goggles (NVGs) to aid visual surveillance, the GNC 255 series NAV/COMM radios are available in versions that offer NVG-compatible displays. Featuring readouts and lighting designed to suppress light waves in the red to near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, these radios screen out distracting light interference for NVG operations – while providing crisp, vivid display readability under all lighting conditions, from nighttime to bright daylight.


text:
Home » Western District Denies Summary Judgment
Western District Denies Summary Judgment
By Thomas J. Crane on June 10, 2021
Posted in Discrimination
In a small town police force, one officer is going through some serious emotional issues. His former girlfriend and mother of their child is seeing a senior officer on the same small police force. In March, 2018, the chief of the police force referred Office Michael Grelle to a clinical psychologist for an evaluation. The chief mentioned that Officer Grelle had said he could not control his emotions. The young officer had handled various calls in a haphazard way, said the chief. The officer had cried during a meeting with his supervisors. On March 21, 2018, the psychologist found that Grelle could continue to perform his duties, if he obtained counseling. Yet, on April 3, the chief started an investigation concerning a remark made by Grelle in 2017. On April 17, 2018, the chief submitted Officer Grelle for termination.
In the case of Grelle v. City of Windcrest, No. SA-19-CV-00125-XR, 2021 WL 1910783 (W.D. Tex. May 12, 2021), Officer Grelle sued for discrimination based on his ethnic origin (white) and for ADA "regarded as" discrimination. The City moved for summary judgment. The Western District denied the motion. Regarding the ethnic origins claim, the court noted that the city claimed it fired Grelle solely because during an arrest, he asked to remove a bandage from a suspect before taking him to jail. Officer Grelle did not want the Magistrate to become alarmed at seeing a bandaged prisoner. The request to remove the bandage was approved by three supervisors at the scene of the arrest.
Yet, the City claimed Officer Grelle violated requirements of honesty in removing the bandage. It did not help the City's case that a lieutenant claimed he withdrew his permission to remove the bandage after that discussion at the scene of the arrest. The body cam video from Officer Grelle clearly showed the three supervisors approving the bandage removal. Yet, the lieutenant claimed later after that discussion, he withdrew his permission. The court did not accuse the lieutenant of lying, but that change in his testimony had to hurt his credibility. Too, noted the court, in the termination documents, little mention is made of this supposed breach of honesty by Officer Grelle.
The City claimed Officer Grelle's depression and emotional issues was not a factor in his termination. The City argued there was no evidence that the City viewed the officer as disabled. But, as the Court noted, the chief specifically referred Officer Grelle to a psychological evaluation. The chief noted at the time that Grelle had been suffering from depression for about a year. The Court noted that the timing was suspicious. The police department initiated an investigation into Officer Grelle regarding taking the bandaged prisoner to jail . That investigation started the day after the psychologists report was issued, and six weeks after the ride to jail. As the court noted, a reasonable jury could conclude that after the psychological evaluation did not remove Officer Grelle from the force, the investigation was initiated. See the decision here.
Tags: Americans with Disabilities Act, depression, disability, Grelle v. City of Windcrest, San Antonio employment law, summary judgment, Western District of Texas


Does your son want to learn the finer points of the lay-up, free throw, pull-up jumper, and 3-pointer? In the Basketball Shot Builder camp, boys learn Northridge's "Simplified Shooting Method," as taught by Northridge Head Coach Will Rey (a former NCAA Division 1 coach with 41 years experience). Coach Rey's proven method is behind many team and individual shooting records at both the High School and College level. Basketball Shot Builder is the companion of other camps by Coach Rey like: Basketball Skill Builder (June 17-20) and Jr. Motor Skills (July 8-12).
Coach Rey has been the Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach at Northridge since 2004. Drawing on his 41-year career as a NCAA Division 1 and High School coach, the Northridge varsity team has accumulated a 206-108 (.660) overall record and a 94-28 (.771) mark in conference games. In addition, Northridge teams have captured 5 IHSA Class AA Regional Championships, advanced to the state's "Sweet 16" in 2009 and 2015, won 2 conference championships and 4 conference 2nd place finishes. Questions about the camp? You can contact Coach Rey at wrey@northridgeprep.org.


text:
Use the following links to quickly navigate to sections of the website
Independent private hospital, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Main menu Search
Patients information
GP Information
Dr Katia Cikurel
Headaches / migraine
Training & Background
Qualifications: BSc, MBBS, MD, FRCP
Year first qualified : 1990
GMC number: 3482924
Main NHS base: King's College Hospital, London
Dr Katia Cikurel is a renowned and highly experienced Consultant Neurologist with extensive expertise in general neurology for over 20 years. Her areas of specialisation include neuro-oncology, epilepsy, brain tumour, headache, migraine and neurological disorders. She practices at King's College Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic in London, as well as now seeing patients at The New Foscote Hospital.
Dr Cikurel graduated from Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in 1990. Over her career, she has held various posts in many major teaching hospitals, including The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Royal London Hospital, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Guy's Hospital and also spent a two-year sabbatical at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
She has been a Neurology Consultant at King's College Hospital for 20 years, since 2001, and at the Harley Street Clinic for over 10 years and forms part of the neuro-oncology multidisciplinary teams at both hospitals.
Dr Cikurel trained in General Medicine and Neurology. She had further specialist training in Neuro-Oncology and spent a two-year sabbatical period at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She holds a Doctorate from the University of London. She continues clinical research and has developed the first Neurology Neuro-Oncology Specialist Fellowship post in the country, which she oversees and is responsible for the training of the incumbent as well as rotating specialist Neurology Registrars.
Fellow at the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP)
Member of Association of British Neurologists (ABN)
Neuro-Oncology Advisory Sub-committee of the Association of British Neurologists
Member of the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS)
Member of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO)
Clinic Times
2 Foscote Rise
OX16 9XP
01295 252281 reception@foscote.hospital
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
PHIN Information
Published Formulary
See CQC Report
The New Foscote Hospital Limited is Registered in England No.11742951
Registered address: The Foscote Hospital, 2 Foscote Rise, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 9XP
© 2019 The New Foscote Hospital Limited
Revoke Cookie Consent
Web Design Manchester: Design By Day


PureCircle Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the production, marketing, and distribution of natural sweeteners and flavors. The company offers natural ingredients based on stevia for the food and beverage industry. It is also involved in the development and supply of stevia agronomy. The company markets its products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. PureCircle Limited was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
Sign-up to receive the latest news and ratings for PURE and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter.
What is PureCircle's stock symbol?
PureCircle trades on the London Stock Exchange (LON) under the ticker symbol "PURE."
What price target have analysts set for PURE?
3 brokers have issued 12-month price targets for PureCircle's stock. Their predictions range from GBX 325 to GBX 500. On average, they expect PureCircle's share price to reach GBX 416.67 in the next twelve months. This suggests a possible upside of 39.8% from the stock's current price. View Analyst Price Targets for PureCircle.
What is the consensus analysts' recommendation for PureCircle?
3 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for PureCircle in the last year. There are currently 1 hold rating and 2 buy ratings for the stock, resulting in a consensus recommendation of "Buy." View Analyst Ratings for PureCircle.
Has PureCircle been receiving favorable news coverage?
Media stories about PURE stock have trended negative this week, InfoTrie Sentiment Analysis reports. The research group identifies negative and positive media coverage by analyzing more than six thousand blog and news sources in real time. The firm ranks coverage of publicly-traded companies on a scale of -5 to 5, with scores nearest to five being the most favorable. PureCircle earned a media sentiment score of -2.2 on InfoTrie's scale. They also gave news stories about the company a news buzz of 10.0 out of 10, meaning that recent media coverage is extremely likely to have an impact on the company's share price in the near future.
Who are some of PureCircle's key competitors?
Some companies that are related to PureCircle include Freedom Foods Group (FNP), Bega Cheese (BGA), Greencore Group (GNC), Dairy Crest Group (DCG), Hilton Food Group (HFG), Bakkavor Group (BAKK), Jamieson Wellness (JWEL), zooplus (ZO1), SunOpta (SOY), Clearwater Seafoods (CLR), High Liner Foods (HLF), Kerry Group (KYGA), Eagle Health (EHH), Beston Global Food (BFC) and Food Revolution Group (FOD).
What other stocks do shareholders of PureCircle own?
Based on aggregate information from My MarketBeat watchlists, some companies that other PureCircle investors own include Energy Transfer LP Unit (ET), Visa (V), Sierra Wireless (SW), Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB), QuickLogic (QUIK), Haydale Graphene Industries (HAYD), Materialise (MTLS), Pacific Biosciences of California (PACB), Canopy Growth (CGC) and Agenus (AGEN).
Who are PureCircle's key executives?
How do I buy shares of PureCircle?
Shares of PURE and other U.K. stocks can be purchased through online brokerage accounts that support trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSX). Some U.K. companies can be purchased through major U.S. brokerages in the form of American Depository Receipts (ADRs), which are placeholder equities held in a trust by a bank that represent shares of a foreign stock.
What is PureCircle's stock price today?
One share of PURE stock can currently be purchased for approximately GBX 298.
How big of a company is PureCircle?
PureCircle has a market capitalization of £521.03 million and generates £128.30 million in revenue each year. PureCircle employs 1,135 workers across the globe.
What is PureCircle's official website?
The official website for PureCircle is http://purecircle.com/.
How can I contact PureCircle?
PureCircle's mailing address is Level 12, West Wing Rohas PureCircle, No. 9 Jalan P. Ramlee, KUALA LUMPUR, 50250, Malaysia. The company can be reached via phone at +60-32-1662206.
MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about PureCircle and other stocks. Vote "Outperform" if you believe PURE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote "Underperform" if you believe PURE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days.


text:
Malaysia's AET to expand fleet with $500m investment
Malaysian-owned global shipping company AET Petroleum Tankers, a wholly owned subsidiary of MISC, has invested $500m to purchase eight new vessels, in a bid to expand its current fleet.
AET has selected Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) and Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to deliver the vessels.
Under the terms of the contract, SHI will deliver four new 113,000 deadweight tonne (dwt) Aframax vessels to AET.
"The MISC Group has previously contracted newbuilds from both Samsung and Hyundai and we are confident that both yards will deliver world-beating, state-of-the-art vessels for us."
HHI will deliver two 114,000dwt LR2 product along with two Suezmax vessels of 158,000dwt in 2017.
AET board director Captain Rajalingam Subramaniam said: "As a leading operator of petroleum tankers, it is important that our fleet remains young and agile so that we retain the capability to react to the evolving requirements of our customers.
"Part of that commitment is ensuring our new vessels are the best in class, providing a sustainable level of service to our customers.
"They incorporate a range of latest eco-innovations to help minimise the carbon footprint of AET and that of our customers.
The Aframax vessels are slated to be delivered in 2018.
The two LR2 product vessels have been assigned to strategic oil major client of AET.
The new vessels will feature a wide range of latest eco-innovations such as IMO compliant ballast water management systems to minimise the impact on the natural environment.
Additionally, six other new builds will replace older tonnage in the AET fleet ensuring optimal solutions for the AET customers.
In 2010, AET contracted Samsung Heavy Industries to deliver four Suezmax tankers for $271m.
The petroleum tanker owner currently operates a fleet of 83 vessels.
Dellner Brakes
Marine Brakes, Clutches, Stopping, Turning, and Locking Systems
NAMJet
Advanced Marine Water Jet Propulsion
Integrated Electric Propulsion Systems for Ships
North America is seeing a hiring boom in ship industry big data roles
Why Covid-19 didn't hurt tech brands' appetite for Asian investment
Challenging the UK to deliver green ports in Scotland


text:
Q: Different ways of suming specific numbers to gain 100 I want to write a code to show how many ways one can sum up 5 different numbers to get 100. For example, the numbers are 2,5,10,20,50, and they can be repeated any number of times. Here 50+50 is one way and 20+20+20+20+20. I have no idea how to program this.
I think it should be done by a recursive function, and I've tried to write one without actually knowing how, so this is the best that I came up with:
#include<iostream>
#include<vector>

using namespace std;

int i,sum,n=5,counter=0;

int add(vector<int> &m){

    if(m.size()==0) return 0 ;

    for(i=0 ; i<m.size() ; i++ ){

          sum=m[i]+add(m);
          cout<< sum<<endl;
        if(n>0) n--;
        m.resize(n);
    }

}

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    int i,sum,n=5;

vector<int> m;

m.resize(5);

m[0]=2;
m[1]=5;
m[2]=10;
m[3]=20;
m[4]=50;

add(m);

    return 0;
}

A: This problem can be solved theoretically using generating functions. A generating function isn't a function and it doesn't generate anything (good name, eh?), but it does keep track of information very well. The upshot is that the answer to your problem is that the number of ways is equal to the coefficient of x^100 in the expansion of
1/(1-x^2) * 1/(1-x^5) * 1/(1-x^10) * 1/(1-x^20) * 1/(1-x^50)

Here's the explanation as to why. Recall that 1/(1-x) = 1 + x + x^2 + x^3 + .... This is the basic generating function that we're going to use to solve the problem.
Consider that you have numbers A,B,...,N (in your example, they are 2,5,10,20,50) that you can repeat any number of times. Then consider the (generating) function
f(x) = 1/(1-x^A) * 1/(1-x^B) * ... * 1/(1-x^N)

The coefficient of x^M in f(x) is the number of ways to write M as a sum of the form
M = a*A + b*B + ... + n*N
where a,b,...,n are nonnegative integers.
Why does this work? Because any monomial term in the expansion f(x) comes from taking one term from 1/(1-x^A) which will look like x^(a*A) for some nonnegative a, and similarly for the other terms. Since the exponents add, the coefficient of x^M is all the ways of writing such a sum to get M.
I know this isn't a programming answer, but hopefully you can use the idea to write a program.

A: Here is a recursive solution: http://ideone.com/ip98M
#include <iostream>

template<size_t N>
void find_combinations_helper(int total, const int (&denoms)[N], int denoms_used, int remaining, int (&counts)[N])
{
    if (remaining == 0) {
        int partial_sum = 0;
        for( int i = 0; i < denoms_used; ++i ) {
           if (counts[i]) {
               std::cout << counts[i] << "*" << denoms[i];
               partial_sum += counts[i] * denoms[i];
               if (partial_sum < total) std::cout << " + ";
           }
        }
        std::cout << "\n";
        return;
    }

    if (denoms_used == N) return;

    for( counts[denoms_used] = 0; remaining >= 0; (remaining -= denoms[denoms_used]), ++counts[denoms_used] )
        find_combinations_helper(total, denoms, denoms_used + 1, remaining, counts);
}

template<size_t N>
void find_combinations( int total, const int (&denoms)[N] )
{
    int solutions[N];
    find_combinations_helper(total, denoms, 0, total, solutions);
}

int main(void) {
    const int bill_denoms[] = { 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 };
    find_combinations(100, bill_denoms);
}

A: Just for fun
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <iterator>
#include <numeric>
#include <algorithm>

static const int terms[] = { 2,5,10,20,50,   /*end marker*/0 };

using namespace std;
typedef vector  <int> Solution;
typedef vector  <Solution> Solutions;

inline int Sum(const Solution& s)
{
    return accumulate(s.begin(), s.end(), 0);
}

template <typename OutIt>
    OutIt generate(const int target, const int* term, Solution partial, OutIt out)
{
    const int cumulative = Sum(partial); // TODO optimize

    if (cumulative>target)
        return out;         // bail out, target exceeded

    if (cumulative == target)
    {
        (*out++) = partial; // report found solution
        return out;
    } else
    {
        // target not reached yet, try all terms in succession
        for (; *term && cumulative+*term<=target; term++)
        {
            partial.push_back(*term);
            out = generate(target, term, partial, out); // recursively generate till target reached
            partial.pop_back();
        }
        return out;
    }
}

Solutions generate(const int target)
{
    Solutions s;

    generate(target, terms, Solution(), back_inserter(s));

    return s;
}

void Dump(const Solution& solution)
{
    std::copy(solution.begin(), solution.end(), std::ostream_iterator<int>(std::cout, " "));
    std::cout << std::endl;
}

#ifdef _TCHAR
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
#else
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
#endif
{
    Solutions all = generate(100);
    for_each(all.rbegin(), all.rend(), &Dump);
    return 0;
}

$0.02

In an effort to actually answer the question, I removed all the unneeded output of solutions, optimizing the code greatly. It is now much more efficient (I benchmarked it at 25x faster with target=2000) but it still doesn't scale to large targets...
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

using namespace std;

size_t generate(const int target, vector<int> terms)
{
    size_t count = 0;

    if (terms.back()<=target)
    {
        int largest = terms.back();
        terms.pop_back();
        int remain = target % largest;

        if (!remain)
            count += 1;

        if (!terms.empty())
            for (; remain<=target; remain+=largest)
                count += generate(remain, terms);
    }

    return count;
}

int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
    static const int terms[] = {2,5,10,20,50};
    std::cout << "Found: " << generate(1000, vector<int>(terms, terms+5)) << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Hopefully the smarter modulo arithmetic begins to reflect what PengOne suggested about approaching this problem.

A: This doesn't look right:
m[0]=2;
...
m[0]=50;

Shoudn't that be m[4]=50;?
Edit
You never declare the value 100 how do you know when you reached 100?

A: The code you have at the moment for the function add will get you a stack overflow :) Because you do the recursive call to add(m) before modifying the vector m. So add gets called always with an unmodified vector and the base case never gets hit.
I don't know if I catched what you want to do, but what about:
#include <iostream>
#include <sstream>
#include <vector>

void add(int i, std::string s, int sum)
{
    if (sum == 100)
    {
      std::cout << s << "=100" << std::endl;
      return;
    }
    if (sum > 100)
    {
       return;
    }
    if (sum < 100)
    {
      std::ostringstream oss;
      oss << s << "+" << i;
      add(i, oss.str(), sum+i);
    }
}

int main()
{
  std::vector<int> m;

  m.resize(5);

  m[0]=2;
  m[1]=5;
  m[2]=10;
  m[3]=20;
  m[4]=50;

  // This loop will initiate m.size lines of recursive calls
  // one for each element of the array
  for (size_t i = 0; i < m.size(); i++)
  {
    add(m[i], "", 0);
  }

  return 0;
}


text:
About our industry
Electrification Transition in Numbers
Electric Vehicle Transition Impact Assessment
The Automotive Employment Footprint Portal
COVID-19: Resources & support
R&I Forerunner
Growth & Competitiveness
EU Taxonomy
Light.Sight.Safety
CLEPA Plaza
Technology handouts
About CLEPA
President & Secretary General
Brussels Team
Contacts & Office
CLEPA DATA DIGEST #5 – Third quarter of 2022 marks growth: A little breather, but climb remains steep
Edition #5 – DATA DIGEST is CLEPA's monthly publication shedding light on the health and resilience of the European automotive supply industry through latest facts and figures
What you will find in this edition
1 – Suppliers record revenue growth but still below pre-pandemic levels
2 – Improved supply chain performance allows modest profitability recovery
3 – Battery supply chain continues to attract foreign direct investment
4 – Component imports from China and Turkey continue to increase
5 – Financial resilience and competitiveness remain points of concern
Third quarter of 2022 marks growth: A little breather, but climb remains steep
July to September figures better than expected
A slightly improved third quarter gives automotive suppliers a bit of breathing room, after four consecutive quarters of falling profitability. The supply industry's revenue has experienced strong year-on-year growth from July to September 2022, as production was less impacted by semiconductor and material shortages. Nevertheless, sales remain 5% below the levels recorded over the same period in 2019. Better vehicle production levels — aided by production backlogs from previous years — has helped in this regard. However, cost pressures continue to weigh on suppliers, allowing for only a slightly improved profitability outlook compared to one year ago.
CLEPA's latest analysis of investment and trade data shows a mixed picture. The development of a European battery supply chain continues to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), but generous battery production subsidies in the US will represent a serious test. Significant growth of imports from China and Turkey is starting to eat into the sector's traditionally large trade surplus adding to concerns that energy prices are undermining Europe's competitiveness. Over the past three years, the EU's quarterly trade surplus with China has fallen from €1.6 billion to €0.9 billion.
The third quarter of 2022 provided suppliers some respite after a difficult first half of the year, even if cost pressures continue to weigh on profitability. The EU continues to attract foreign direct investment, but a significant growth of imports points at a crack in our competitiveness.
Nils Poel
CLEPA's Senior Manager Trade & Market Affairs
Automotive suppliers' revenues were up 8% over the third quarter of 2022 compared to the prior year, adjusted for inflation. Nevertheless, revenues remain 5% below the levels recorded in the same quarter in 2019, before the outbreak of the pandemic. Revenues over the first nine months of 2022 are 0.5% above the revenues in the same period last year. The gross operating margin stood at 10.2% over the first nine months of 2022, 1.4 percentage points below the level recorded in 2019, illustrating how that profitability remains a concern.
Q3 2021 had the biggest supply chain disruption due to chips shortages, with production being down almost 20% YOY, to 16.6 million vehicles globally. In Q3 2022, 21.2 million vehicles were produced globally, relativising the strong year-on-year growth.
Easing of supply chain disruptions (in particular, better availability of semiconductor chips) resulted in an improvement of average operational profitability (EBIT) by 0.8 percentage points to 5.7%, based on an analysis of the financial results of the 18 biggest suppliers to Europe. Over Q3 2022, nine suppliers recorded operational profitability below 5%, a profit level that in the long run could erode a company's ability to maintain investments.
CATL's announcement to invest €7.1 billion to build a plant for battery cells and modules in Hungary lifted automotive supply foreign direct investment (FDI) to a new quarterly record. Excluding battery investment, the automotive supply industry recorded €0.3 billion of investment over the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 61% compared to the same period last year. Projects mostly targeted power electronics and electric components. Over the first nine months of 2022, non-battery FDI increased by 31% year-on-year.
Automotive suppliers exported €13.3 billion in automotive components in the third quarter of 2022, recording a moderate 2.2% growth compared to the same period in 2021. Gearboxes and parts thereof remain, in terms of value, the most important export product representing 24% of the total exports in components. Combustion engine specific components represented 37% of the EU's exports, up from 35% in the same period in the prior year.
The moderate export growth is in striking contrast to significant growth of imports. The EU imported €7 billion in automotive components, recording a 28% growth compared to the same period in the prior year. Imports from the EU's biggest sourcing markets for parts, China and Turkey, grew by 49% and 43%, respectively. It is part of a rebalancing of the EU-China trade relationship, with imports 86% higher than pre-COVID, while exports have expanded by a marginal 2.4%. The import figures do not consider battery cells and processed materials, highlighting that automotive import growth from China is likely underestimated.
A broader assessment of the financial health of automotive suppliers by Strategy& suggests that 61% of automotive suppliers were in financial distress at the start of the third quarter. The analysis considers how a company's profitability, availability of cash and equity compare to a company's debt structure and interest commitments. The slightly better results of the third quarter are likely to generate a certain improvement, but will most likely will not change the fact that more than one in every two suppliers will find themselves in a financially vulnerable situation.
Despite a modest profitability recovery in Q3, recent data on component imports and financial distress remain alarming. The industry's return to healthy profitability is key to continued investments in the mobility transition.
Benjamin Krieger
CLEPA's Secretary General
Are you interested in knowing more?
Contact CLEPA Communications Team at communications@clepa.be
Subscribe now to receive CLEPA's latest communication
In: CLEPA News
CLEPA News
Materials & Substances
Active safety
Legal Disclaimer | Cookies Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms of use | Copyright CLEPA 2017


text:
Home Tags International Development
International Development Related Content
UK-India collaboration to boost 5G networks and future telecoms
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announces two new UK-India collaborations to boost 5G networks and future telecoms networks.
The social impact of development aid in developing countries
Sato Kan Hiroshi from the Institute of Developing Economies in Japan, charts research activities concerning the social impact of development aid in developing countries.
The Institute of Political History and the NEPOSTRANS project
Presenting political history and providing a new, overall narrative of how the Habsburg Empire was replaced by nation states at the end of WWI
Politics and International Studies (POLIS) – Professor Richard Beardsworth
Professor Richard Beardsworth is the Head of the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds.
Open Access Government October 2020
The October 2020 edition of Open Access Government speaks about global government policy issues, such as health & social care, research & innovation, digital transformation, economic development, international development, environment, energy and equality.
Progressive State Leadership: A Vision for the New FCDO
Here, Richard Beardsworth continues his series on the nature of progressive state leadership, asking how the present merger of British diplomacy and development could promote progressive global leadership in a post-Brexit UK.
Unregulated use of AI is threat to sustainable development
New research suggests that the use of Artificial Intelligence could pose a threat to sustainable development when unregulated.
Open Access Government July 2020
The July 2020 edition of Open Access Government encompasses high quality and stimulating content on government policy issues globally, including health & social care, research & innovation, digital transformation, finance, economic development, government, international development, environment, energy and zero-emission vehicles.
Re-evaluating development aid for the post-COVID-19 era
Here, Alexa Greenwald, Alumna, LSE IDEAS and Head of Strategy, The Centrum Media, re-evaluates the role of development aid for the post-COVID-19 era.
Progressive state leadership today: Part 2
Richard Beardsworth, Professor and Head of School, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, provides the second article of a series on progressive state leadership.
EU and Central Asia: Opportunities for a stronger partnership
The European Union(EU) is outlining its vision for a renewed partnership with Central Asia, updating its strategy on relations with the region first set out in 2007.
What is progressive state leadership today?
Professor Richard Beardsworth, Aberystwyth University, examines what progressive state leadership is in the world of politics and how it can be implemented.
Extra £12 million in UK aid for Cyclone Idai
UK Aid is sending £12 million to the survivors of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Malawai and Zimbabwe, in addition to the £6 million announced on Monday.
UK launches campaign against global period poverty
Minister for Women and Equalities and Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt will announce a new UK government campaign to break the silence and end global period poverty by 2030.
UK to stand for re-election to Human Rights Council
The UK government asserts that the Human Rights Council is the best tool the international community has to promote human rights in an imperfect world, and so the UK will stand for re-election.
One million Rohingya refugees 'must not be forgotten'
The UK is providing humanitarian aid to many of the one million Rohingya refugees and vulnerable local communities in Cox's Bazar.
What is the UK doing for Myanmar's future?
UK International Development Secretary calls for most vulnerable to be given a say in Myanmar's future after shifting the work of UK aid to help disadvantaged and conflict-affected people.
Can Open Data Feed the World?
Jaime Adams at U.S. Department of Agriculture explores the role of open data technology and if this can help feed the whole world Over 7.4 billion (1) people currently inhabit the Earth and an estimated 800 million (2) go to bed hungry every night – predominantly women and children. Experts...
Swedish research and education is at the forefront of change
The work of Swedish Minister for Research and Education, Helene Hellmark Knutsson, is profiled by Open Access Government in this compelling article
Lithuania emerging as the 'gateway' to blockchain in Europe
Lithuania has announced it will be home to Europe's first Blockchain centre, making it the gateway for blockchain in Europe As well as setting an example for blockchain in Europe with the issuing of an e-money license to various companies, Lithuania is set to open the first International Blockchain Centre...
Students retain information even when watching lectures at double-speed
Scientists discover how Zika Virus evades cellular antiviral response


The analysis showed that the price of an average hospital stay soared, with prices in most areas going up between 11 percent and 54 percent in the years afterward, according to researchers from the Nicholas C. Petris Center at the University of California, Berkeley.
The new research confirms growing skepticism among consumer health groups and lawmakers about the enormous clout of the hospital groups. While most political attention has focused on increased drug prices and the Affordable Care Act, state and federal officials are beginning to look more closely at how hospital mergers are affecting spiraling health care costs.
During the Obama years, the mergers received nearly universal approval from antitrust agencies, with the Federal Trade Commission moving to block only a small fraction of deals. State officials generally looked the other way.
President Trump issued an executive order last year calling for more competition, saying his administration would focus on "limiting excessive consolidation throughout the health care system." In September, Congress asked the Medicare advisory board to study the trend.
But not only have big consolidations continued, the behemoths have further cemented their reach in some regions of the country by gobbling up major doctors' and surgeons' practices.
Ted Doolittle, who heads Connecticut's Office of the Healthcare Advocate, has fielded angry complaints from residents, but he sees few options available to officials. "A lot of this is too little and too late," he said.
The latest giant hospital consolidations continue to stir concerns. Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, two large chains, are expected to become one of the nation's largest groups — with 139 hospitals in 28 states — by the end of the year. And two of Texas' biggest systems, Baylor Scott & White Health and Memorial Hermann Health System, recently announced plans to combine.
The New Haven area has witnessed the most significant decline in competition. Yale New Haven Health, one of the largest hospital groups in Connecticut, took over the only competing hospital in the city and has also aggressively expanded along the state's coast. The group recently added another hospital to its collection, merging Milford with its Bridgeport location.
Although the price of a hospital admission in the New Haven-Milford area was already three times higher than in other parts of the state, prices surged by 25 percent from 2012 to 2014, compared with 7 percent elsewhere in the state, according to the Petris Center.
In the national analysis, a third of the metropolitan areas experienced increases in the cost of hospital stays of at least 25 percent from 2012 to 2014, from roughly $12,000 to at least $15,000.
Prices rise even more steeply when these large hospital systems buy doctors' groups, according to Richard Scheffler, director of the Petris Center.
Thousands of Connecticut residents were stranded without a local hospital last year when another big hospital group, Hartford HealthCare, battled the state's biggest health insurer over how much it would charge for patient care.
Its six hospitals are clustered around the state capital and are the only resort for residents in broad swaths of the eastern part of the state. This month, it announced plans to add a seventh hospital to its network.
Numerous studies by economists and others have underscored how hospital consolidation is driving up the cost of medical care. "Within the academic community, there is near unanimity," said Zack Cooper, a health economist at Yale University who is among a group of researchers that has looked at how dominant hospitals affect prices.
The emergence of a one-hospital town is inevitable in many places, and the Parkersburg, W.Va., area is no exception. St. Joseph's merged with neighboring Camden-Clark Memorial in 2011, and then they were consumed by what is now the state's largest health system.
Residents can get most care locally but they go to Morgantown, where the academic medical center is situated, for complex conditions. "We've elevated the level of care," Mr. Wright said.
But private insurers are paying more. In the Parkersburg-Vienna area, the overall price of a hospital stay increased 54 percent from 2012 to 2014, after the mergers. That is compared with 10 percent elsewhere in the state, according to the Petris Center.
Large systems "get paid better by some of the insurers," Mr. Wright said.
Flailing hospitals often have little choice but to be acquired or go out of business, and a larger system can offer badly needed capital and management skills. "They can fix a hospital and benefit the community," said Torrey McClary, a lawyer who specializes in mergers at King & Spalding.
Because it converted Saint Raphael into what is essentially a second 555-bed campus for its academic medical center, Yale New Haven Health defends the higher rates it charges private insurers as appropriate for a top-tier medical institution. Its community hospitals negotiate prices individually with insurers.
"Our focus is not on getting bigger," Mr. D'Aquila said. He said Saint Raphael, which was half empty when it was taken over, is now seeing record numbers of patients.
Systems also say they are trying to improve the care for smaller communities. "We're actively trying to move care toward places that are accessible," Hartford's chief executive, Elliot Joseph, said.
But patients rarely reap the rewards of lower insurance premiums or out-of-pocket expenses when mergers occur.
Hartford executives talk about reducing the total cost of care in the same breath that they discuss the need to charge insurers more. "The math for us is how we move the care out of the hospitals while maintaining our financial stability," Mr. Joseph said.
To defend higher rates, many hospitals cite low reimbursements from government sources, particularly Medicaid, and highlight their role as a safety net. "We're left with no choice," Mr. D'Aquila said.
Others, like Hartford, negotiate prices as a single entity, forcing health insurers to include all of their hospitals in a network or risk losing access in areas where there are no alternatives.
Hartford "has taken over so many hospitals and practices that, with the Anthem dispute, we felt we had no choices at all," Sharry Goldman, a Storrs, Conn., resident, told state lawmakers. Although Hartford and Anthem Blue Cross, the insurer, eventually reached an agreement, Connecticut passed a law this year requiring hospitals and insurers to extend previous contracts for two months to protect consumers when the parties are at an impasse.
While patients may pay more for a well-known brand, like Yale, it is not clear that the higher price tags lead to better care, said Francois de Brantes, a health care executive who once worked at General Electric, which is headquartered in the state.
"We have more lower-rated hospitals in Connecticut than in other New England states," he said, pointing to an analysis he did at the time of the Anthem-Hartford dispute.
In the Albany, Ga., area, where the Berkeley researchers found a rare decline in hospital prices, the Federal Trade Commission had unsuccessfully attempted to block HCA, the for-profit hospital chain, from selling its hospital to its only local competitor in 2011. But the merger took place, and the F.T.C. reached a settlement with the parties involved.
While Berkeley researchers foundarea prices dropped, another study by two former F.T.C. employees, Christopher Garmon and Laura Kmitch, found that certain hospital quality measures declined. The merger "highlights the problems that can occur when competition is reduced," the authors said.
The hospital group, Phoebe Putney Health System, dismissed the findings. "Phoebe has made great strides in enhancing the quality of health care available to the people of southwest Georgia," Dawn Benson, Phoebe's general counsel, said in a statement.
To foster competition, Lee County is planning a new 60-bed hospital within the Albany area.
In some cases, state regulators have opposed actions they consider illegal and anti-competitive. In Washington, state officials accused CHI Franciscan Health, based in Tacoma, of using its ties to two doctors' practices to raise prices and decrease competition on the Kitsap Peninsula, according to a lawsuit filed last year.
The regulators argue that CHI wanted to wield its newfound clout by shifting some operations and imaging from less expensive outpatient settings to hospitals where they could charge more.
In California, Mr. Becerra, the state attorney general, brought a lawsuit against Sutter in March, claiming that its actions led to significantly higher prices in Northern California.
Sutter says it adopted methods encouraged by the federal health care law, by combining hospital services with care delivered outside the hospital to better meet patients' needs.
But Mr. de Brantes, the health care executive in Connecticut, and others wonder why many mergers were allowed in the first place. "The puzzling part for many of us in the state is why anyone would allow these oligopolies to form," he said.


How are employers affected by greater life expectancy?
As we are both living and working longer, employers' policies relating to employees are becoming increasingly important for success and profitability. Maintaining control over the costs of pay, pensions, benefits and skills development is important today and will be even more important in future. Handled properly, employers can achieve good cost control while at the same time securing the engagement and loyalty of employees.
In todaya's labour market, it is increasingly important to make sure that employees understand the link between individual work performance and compensation. Through its consultative services, Söderberg & Partners Compensation & Benefits supports employers in the structuring and implementation of tomorrow's guidelines for pay, pensions, benefits and skills development.
The fact that we achieve tangible, measurable results is because of our process-oriented consultancy, the development of system support and the training of managers with responsibility for setting pay levels. Our work also results in employees actually understanding the link between individual work performance and compensation. This contributes to higher profitability.
At present our newsletters are only available in Swedish.
The purpose of our newsletters in the area of compensation and remuneration for management and employees is to provide inspiration and factual knowledge.
We hope that our newsletters will inspire greater engagement among both owners and company management teams on issues relating to personnel costs.
We also try to be a voice in the social discourse on issues relating to compensation and remuneration.
Compensation & Benefits © 2017 All rights reserved.


Höpflinger, Anna-Katharina (2014). Buchrezension von Howard P. Segal: Utopias. A Brief History from Ancient Writings to Virtual Communities. Wiley-Blackwell: West Sussex, 2012. Religion, 44(4):695-697.
Download PDF 'Buchrezension von Howard P. Segal: Utopias. A Brief History from Ancient Writings to Virtual Communities. Wiley-Blackwell: West Sussex, 2012'. Item availability may be restricted.


text:
CYO title to St. Paul's
By Ron Brocato, Sports
Led by Most Valuable Player award recipient Devonte Allen (24), St. Paul's won its second Allstate Sugar Bowl CYO Basketball Classic championship on Dec. 2 by virtue of a 46-44 victory over defending CYO champion De La Salle.
Allen became the fourth player to be awarded MVP honors multiple times. He won the award in 2015 as a sophomore. He joins Bobby Delpit of St. Aloysius (1950-51), Brandon Spann of Jesuit (1997-98), and Craig Victor of St. Augustine (2010-11).
Allen scored 23 points in the championship game played at Jesuit. He was joined on the all-tournament team by his St. Paul's teammate Parker Edwards; Abiram Frye and Jalen Henry of De La Salle; Glenn Grover Jr. of Hahnville; and Kolby Warren of Slidell. Edwards scored 13 points in the title game and Frye 13.
St. Paul's defeated St. Stanislaus, 54-46; Fontainebleau, 53-39; and Slidell, 64-54, in the semifinal round game. De La Salle earned a trip to the championship game by defeating Archbishop Shaw, 74-44; Grace King, 69-64; and Hahnville, 64-48.
In consolation games, Jesuit defeated Fontainebleau, 61-29; Archbishop Rummel beat St. Martin's, 60-35; East St. John topped King, 69-64; Brother Martin edged Holy Cross, 67-66; and John Curtis won over Archbishop Shaw, 60-52.
Tags: Allstate Sugar Bowl, CYO Basketball Classic, Latest Sports News, Ron Brocato Posts


According to the International Standards on Auditing (ISA) and especially the ISA 505 «External Confirmations» standard, auditors carry out a «circularization» process, more commonly known as «external confirmation procedures».
External confirmation procedures are frequently performed to confirm, or request information regarding account balances and their elements.
External confirmations may also be used to confirm certain terms of agreement, contracts, or transactions between an entity and other parties, or to confirm the absence of certain conditions, such as a «side agreement».
As part of the digitization on the audit profession, and in application the ISA 505 "External Confirmations" standard, auditors can use the secure and cloud-based platform, Circulariz.com and simplify external confirmations for everyone.
Responding to audit confirmation requests from external auditors can be time consuming. Circulariz.com, the secure and cloud-based platform, makes it easy to respond to audit confirmation requests.
There are two types of external confirmation which can be sent by auditors: Positive Confirmation and Negative Confirmation.
Positive confirmation requires customers or suppliers to respond to the auditor whether the customer's records correspond to the auditor's records, or not. A response to a positive confirmation request is usually expected to provide reliable audit evidence.
Negative confirmation requires customers or supliers to respond to the auditor only if they find a discrepancy between their records and the auditor's records.
Both positive and negative confirmations can be used by financial auditors through Circulariz. Whatever the type of confirmation you have received, you will be able to respond quickly and securely.
You've received a confirmation request? Do you need help to respond?