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Różanecznik żółty, azalia pontyjska, zielina, azalia żółta (Rhododendron luteum) – gatunek rośliny z rodziny wrzosowatych (Ericaceae). Występuje na Kaukazie i w Azji Mniejszej, poza tym na izolowanych obszarach na Ukrainie, Białorusi, w Słowenii i Grecji. W Polsce gatunek znany z jednego stanowiska uznawanego za naturalne, stąd objęty jest ochroną ścisłą. Roślina trująca, ale ze względu na efektowne kwitnienie i jesienne przebarwianie się liści oraz silny aromat – rozpowszechniona jest w uprawie jako roślina ozdobna. Zalecana jest także do sadzenia na skarpach w celu ochrony ich przed erozją. W Turcji, w miejscach masowego występowania w lasach, roślina ta bywa zwalczana.

Rozmieszczenie geograficzne
Największy zwarty obszar występowania gatunku obejmuje Kaukaz (od Noworosyjska nad Morzem Czarnym na zachodzie po Dagestan na wschodzie, najliczniej rośnie w rejonie Niziny Kolchidzkiej) oraz Azję Mniejszą (na północy Góry Pontyjskie i obszar na południe od Morza Marmara, poza tym góry Taurus na południowym wschodzie). Najdalej na zachód wysunięte stanowisko związane z tym obszarem zasięgowym znajduje się w zachodniej części greckiej wyspy Lesbos na Morzu Egejskim.

Kolejny obszar licznego występowania gatunku to Polesie i wschodni Wołyń na Ukrainie (obwód rówieński i żytomierski). Gatunek ma tu siedliska na obszarze ok. 15 tys. km². W sąsiedztwie – w obwodzie homelskim na Białorusi rośnie na sześciu stanowiskach. Oddalone od tej wyspy zasięgowej stanowisko uznawane za naturalne znajduje się w Polsce – w Woli Zarczyckiej koło Nowej Sarzyny, powiat leżajski. Poza tym gatunek rośnie na izolowanym obszarze na południowo-wschodnim przedpolu Alp w Słowenii (w dorzeczu Sawy, trzy populacje w okolicach miejscowości: Velike Brusnice, Boštanj i Topolovec, liczące ponad 100 roślin każda). Silnie porozrywany zasięg współczesny jest uważany za pozostałość po szerszym zasięgu w okresie poprzedzającym plejstocen. Izolowane stanowiska są pozostałością po refugiach w czasie zlodowaceń. Dawne szersze rozprzestrzenienie gatunku potwierdzają paleobotaniczne ślady jego obecności w pliocenie w Karpatach Zachodnich w okolicach Czorsztyna, poza tym w Alpach i na Bałkanach.

Jako gatunek introdukowany podawany jest z nielicznych stanowisk w południowej Austrii. W Wielkiej Brytanii rośnie zdziczały na rozproszonych stanowiskach, w Irlandii jest rzadki. Introdukowany został także w słowackie Tatry, a jako dziczejący w okolicach parków i ogrodów, gdzie jest uprawiany, podawany jest także z Niemiec. Różanecznik żółty z nasion pochodzących z Wołynia rozpowszechniany był też w lasach w Polsce – jego stanowisko koło Złotego Potoku chronione jest w rezerwacie Parkowe, koło Tomaszowa Mazowieckiego w rezerwatach Niebieskie Źródła i Małecz.

Jedyne stanowisko w Polsce uznawane za naturalne, znajdujące się koło wsi Wola Zarczycka w Kotlinie Sandomierskiej, chronione jest w rezerwacie przyrody Kołacznia. W XXI wieku udokumentowano okazy tego gatunku także kilkaset metrów na zachód od rezerwatu.

Morfologia

 Pokrój Krzew do 2,5, 3, rzadko nawet do 4 m wysokości, gęsto rozgałęziony. Stare krzewy są rozłożyste – osiągają szerokość większą od wysokości. Pędy są cienkie (maksymalnie do 2–5 cm średnicy), elastyczne, za młodu okryte lepkimi włoskami gruczołowymi. Starsze pędy okryte są gładką korą, początkowo jasnoszarą, później ciemniejszą. System korzeniowy płytki, płaski, silnie rozwinięty. Na korzeniach łatwo tworzą się odrosty korzeniowe.

 Liście Opadające zimą, skrętoległe. Krótkoogonkowe (ogonek 0,5–0,7 cm długości), o blaszce cienkiej, wąskoeliptycznej, na brzegach falistej, orzęsionej, z obu stron szaro owłosionej, poza tym żywozielonej. Liście mają długość od (3) 6 do 12 cm i szerokość od (1) 2 do 4 cm. Na wierzchołku są zaostrzone lub zaokrąglone. Podobnie jak młode pędy – młode liście i pączki pokryte są tarczowatymi, gruczołowymi, lepkimi włoskami. Jesienią przebarwiają się na żółto, pomarańczowo i czerwono.

 KwiatyWyrastają na wierzchołkach pędów zebrane zwykle po 7-12 (maksymalnie do 24) w krótkie, groniaste kwiatostany. Kwiaty osadzone są na szypułkach długości 1–2 cm. Kielich składa się z 5 krótkich (do 0,3–0,5 cm długości), ostro lancetowatych działek, owłosionych, rozciętych niemal do nasady. Korona kwiatu nieco grzbiecista, u nasady o rurce wąskiej, dalej dzwonkowatej lub rurkowato-lejkowatej, tworzonej przez 5 (rzadko 6 lub 7) płatków silnie odwiniętych na zewnątrz. Płatki żółte lub złocistożółte, lepkie, o długości 3,2–4,5 cm. Średnica korony wynosi 3,8–5 cm. Pręcików jest 5 i są one dłuższe od płatków – osiągają do 4–6 cm długości. Początkowo skierowane w dół, dalej odginają się ku górze. Pylniki drobne, otwierające się porami. Jeszcze dłuższy jest pojedynczy słupek z owłosioną, podługowatą zalążnią o długości 1,5–2,2 cm. U jej nasady znajduje się tarczka tworzona przez 5 jajowatych miodników.

 Owoc Elipsoidalna, owłosiona torebka o długości od 1,5 do 3 cm zawierająca liczne nasiona. Nasiona osiągają 3,7 mm długości i 0,9 mm szerokości, mają kształt okrągłojajowaty lub eliptyczny, są złocistożółte i na brzegu otoczone błoniastym skrzydełkiem.

Biologia

Rozwój
Różanecznik żółty kwitnie bardzo obficie na przełomie kwietnia i maja i w trakcie maja, na niektórych stanowiskach do czerwca. Poszczególne kwiaty kwitną przez 7–8 dni, cały okres kwitnienia trwa ok. 3 tygodnie. Kwitnienie ma miejsce zwykle przed, rzadziej już w trakcie rozwoju liści. Kwiaty wydzielają odurzający, przyjemny zapach (określany jako miodowy lub kwiatowy podobny do mieszanej woni hiacynta i tuberozy), który można wyczuć nawet z odległości 200 m (najsilniej pachnąca azalia z uprawianych w Polsce). Kwiaty zapylają owady. Nasiona są bardzo lekkie i przemieszczane są przez wiatr (anemogamia). Siewki na jedynym naturalnym stanowisku w Polsce rzadko są obserwowane, choć w uprawie nasiona kiełkują w 90%. Podobnie nasiona zebrane na Wołyniu kiełkują w warunkach kontrolowanych niemal w 100%. Do skutecznego kiełkowania roślina wymaga mikoryzy i dobrych warunków świetlnych. W naturze gatunek rozmnaża się głównie poprzez odrośla korzeniowe, przy czym tworzy je czasem tak obficie, że w efekcie powstają trudne do przebycia zarośla. Łatwo zakorzeniają się także pędy dotykające ziemi. Odrośla pojawiają się szczególnie intensywnie po wypaleniu lub przemarznięciu pędów nadziemnych. Krzew rośnie stosunkowo szybko; maksymalne rozmiary osiąga po 10 latach wzrostu.

Właściwości fitochemiczne
Roślina trująca: liście i młode gałązki zawierają trujące glikozydy: rododendrynę, erykolinę, andromedotoksynę (najbardziej trującą z nich wszystkich), arbutynę, 8 flawonoidów (kemferol, kwercetyna, awikularyna, gwajaweryna, kwercytryna, hiperozyd, mirycetyna i mirycytryna), skopoletynę i umbeliferon. Zawierają także kwas ferulowy, ursolowy i oleanolowy. U zwierząt (zwykle owiec i kóz) zatrucia objawiają się pobudzeniem, a następnie porażeniem układu nerwowego, ślinotokiem, zgrzytaniem zębami, silnym bólem brzucha, przyspieszeniem oddechu i tętna, w końcu śmiercią wskutek porażenia ośrodka oddechowego. U ludzi obserwowano tylko lekkie zatrucia, objawiające się zawrotami i bólami głowy. Andromedotoksyna działa toksycznie na układ krążenia (powoduje silny rzadkoskurcz), na obwodowe zakończenia nerwów czuciowych i działa ośrodkowo powodując zamroczenie świadomości, drgawki i porażając ośrodek oddechowy.

Zatrucie możliwe jest również poprzez miód wytworzony z nektaru różanecznika. Trujący miód, zwany pontyjskim, zawierający andromedotoksynę, znany jest od starożytności – powstaje, gdy pszczoły zbiorą nektar różanecznika pontyjskiego lub właśnie żółtego. Spożyty powoduje problemy z zachowaniem przytomności podobne do upojenia alkoholowego, a przedawkowanie może być śmiertelne.

Ekologia

Różanecznik żółty rośnie na glebach bielicoziemnych, gliniastych i piaszczysto-gliniastych, zawsze w miejscach silnie zakwaszonych (zwykle poniżej 4 pH, w Słowenii na stanowiskach jest ok. 5,5 pH). Silnie kwitnie tylko w miejscach nasłonecznionych, rosnąc w cieniu kwitnie słabo lub wcale, pędy w takich miejscach pokładają się na powierzchni gruntu i łatwo korzenią. Starsze rośliny są bardziej mrozoodporne od siewek i młodych okazów.

W rejonie Kaukazu różanecznik żółty stwierdzony został w kilkunastu zespołach leśnych z dominacją dębów, buka wschodniego, kasztana jadalnego i grabów (Quercetum-Fagetum rhododendroso-pteridiosum, Querceto rhododendroso-aegopodiosum, Quercetum coryloso-rhododendroso-herbosum, Quercetum-Carpinetum rhododendroso-convallariosum, Querceto-Abieto-Fagetum rhododendroso-herbosum, Querceto-Castaneto-Fagetum rhododendroso-herbosum, Carpineto-Betulosum-rhododendroso-herbosum, Fagetum rhododendroso-asperuiosum, Carpineto-Quercetum-rhododendroso-graminosum, Querceto-Tremuletum rhododendroso-pterdiosum, Querceto-Carpineto-Aceretum coryloso-rhododendroso-herbosum). Rośnie tam poza tym na łąkach, w zaroślach i skrajach lasów sięgając po piętro subalpejskie.

W wołyńskiej wyspie zasięgowej gatunek rośnie głównie w wilgotnych partiach borów mieszanych Querco roboris-Pinetum z sosną zwyczajną i dębem szypułkowym (gdzie miejscami podszyt tego gatunku ma 100% pokrycia) oraz na siedliskach boru bagiennego, chociaż na tym siedlisku rośnie mniej obficie. Rzadko obecny jest także w grądzie subkontynentalnym Tilio-Carpinetum betuli. W zbiorowiskach tych występuje zarówno pod okapem drzewostanów, przy czym zwykle o zwarciu rozluźnionym i rzadszym, jak i w lukach i na porębach, poza tym na przydrożach śródleśnych i na skrajach lasów.

W Grecji różanecznik żółty tworzy podszyt w lasach z sosną czarną i kalabryjską wzdłuż brzegów strumieni, na glebie tworzącej się na skałach wulkanicznych. Tworzy także zbiorowiska zaroślowe wspólnie z chruściną jagodną. W Słowenii rośnie w kwaśnych lasach z dębem, bukiem i grabem w zespołach kwaśnej buczyny (Luzulo luzuloides-Fagetum) oraz w zespole lasu bukowego z kasztanem jadalnym Castaneo sativae-Fagetum sylvaticae.

W Polsce na jedynym stanowisku naturalnym różanecznik żółty rośnie na szczycie i wschodnim stoku piaszczystej wydmy, tworząc zarośla wspólnie z leszczyną pospolitą, kruszyną pospolitą, śliwą tarniną, jarzębem pospolitym i dębem szypułkowym.

Jako gatunek introdukowany w Wielkiej Brytanii rośnie na wybrzeżu atlantyckim, na wrzosowiskach, wydmach, mokradłach i w widnych lasach. Nie jest uważany za tak uciążliwy gatunek jak różanecznik pontyjski, jednak zmniejsza różnorodność gatunkową ekosystemów i utrudnia odnawianie lasów.

W górach sięga do 2000 m n.p.m. w rejonie Kaukazu, a na pogórzu Alp Julijskich w Słowenii rośnie do 400 m n.p.m.

Liście atakowane bywają przez patogeny grzybowe. W Polsce i Słowenii zidentyfikowano Erysiphe azaleae wywołującego chorobę – mączniaka prawdziwego azalii. Poza tym na gatunku stwierdzono z mączniakowatych także Erysiphe polygoni i Erysiphe penicillata, a z innych patogenów grzybowych:  Exobasidium dubium, Exobasidium horvathianum, Exobasidium vaccinii, Pucciniastrum vaccinii, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Melanomma rhododendri i Phyllosticta berolinensis. Na różaneczniku tym często pasożytuje opieńka miodowa Armillaria mellea.

Różanecznik żółty okazał się jednym z żywicieli dla inwazyjnego w Europie (pochodzącego z Ameryki Północnej) owada z rodziny pilarzowatych – Nematus lipovskyi.

Systematyka i zmienność
W obrębie rodzaju różanecznik Rhododendron zaliczany jest do podrodzaju Hymenanthes, sekcji Pentanthera. Do najbliższych krewnych tego gatunku należy różanecznik nagietkowy R. calendulaceum i kanadyjski R. canadense.

Gatunek jest bardzo zmienny w zakresie budowy morfologicznej, formy wzrostu i barwy kwiatów. W przeszłości opisano co najmniej 5 odmian i 9 form, jednak współcześnie nie uznaje się tej zmienności za wystarczającą dla wyróżniania taksonów wewnątrzgatunkowych. Na obszarach górskich w Kaukazie kwiaty różanecznika na wyższych wysokościach są jaśniejsze niż na niższych.

Zagrożenia i ochrona
Gatunek w całym swym zasięgu nie jest uznawany za zagrożony ze względu na znaczne zasoby w rejonie Kaukazu, w Turcji i na Ukrainie. Na światowej czerwonej liście publikowanej przez Międzynarodową Unię Ochrony Przyrody (IUCN) uznany jest za gatunek najmniejszej troski (LC). W skali Unii Europejskiej, gdzie rośnie na izolowanych, wyspowych stanowiskach w Polsce, Grecji i Słowenii ma status gatunku bliskiego zagrożenia (NT). W Unii Europejskiej wymaga ochrony w sieci Natura 2000 – wymieniony został w załączniku II do dyrektywy siedliskowej.

Gatunek jest objęty w Polsce ochroną ścisłą. W kolejnych wydaniach Polskiej czerwonej księgi roślin uznawany jest za gatunek krytycznie zagrożony (kategoria zagrożenia CR), podobnie w Czerwonej liście roślin i grzybów Polski. Na jedynym w Polsce naturalnym jego stanowisku, odkrytym w 1909 roku, utworzono w 1957 roku rezerwat przyrody Kołacznia, o powierzchni zaledwie 10 arów. Główne skupisko rośliny w rezerwacie zajmuje płat o długości ok. 30 m i szerokości od 5 do 10 m. Kondycja roślin pogorszyła się od końca XX wieku ze względu na powtarzające się uszkodzenia mrozowe i obniżenie poziomu wód z powodu wykopania stawów w pobliżu rezerwatu. Wcześniej, przed objęciem ochroną rezerwatową stanowisko było dwukrotnie wypalane. Także stanowiska, na których introdukowano rośliny z Wołynia objęte są w Polsce ochroną rezerwatową (rezerwat przyrody Parkowe, Niebieskie Źródła i Małecz). Chronione jako pomnik przyrody jest także antropogeniczne stanowisko tego gatunku w Lendorf w Austrii.

Ze względu na efektowność roślin w czasie kwitnienia i osobliwość botaniczną jaką stanowią rośliny na izolowanych stanowiskach w Polsce i Słowenii – chronione grodzeniami są przed nadmierną penetracją i niebezpieczeństwem zrywania kwiatów.

Znaczenie użytkowe

 Roślina ozdobna
Walorem są wcześnie rozwijające się, intensywnie żółte i silnie aromatyczne kwiaty oraz liście efektownie przebarwiające się jesienią. Do uprawy roślina wprowadzona została najpierw w 1792 roku na Kaukazie. W 1795 odkryta została przez Dionizego Miklera na Wołyniu i namnożona przez niego w oranżerii w Puławach, a następnie uprawiana w ogrodzie botanicznym działającym przy Liceum Krzemienieckim. Stąd nasiona różanecznika żółtego zostały rozpowszechnione w ogrodach i kolekcjach botanicznych całej Europy w latach 1810–1830. Gatunek zalecany jest do sadzenia w parkach i ogrodach naturalistycznych, na wrzosowiskach, nad zbiornikami, a ze względu na silny aromat – w pobliżu miejsc wypoczynku – ławek, altan i tarasów. Można go także uprawiać w pojemnikach.

W celach ozdobnych uprawiana jest forma typowa, jej odmiany uprawne oraz liczne mieszańce międzygatunkowe. Mieszańce różanecznika żółtego z amerykańskimi gatunkami takimi jak: różanecznik nagietkowy Rhododendron calendulaceum, R. periclymenoides i R. viscosum tworzą grupę odmian zwaną azaliami gandawskimi (Ghent Hybrids), które z kolei dalej mieszane z różanecznikiem japońskim dały mieszańce z grupy Rustica.

Do odmian ozdobnych tego gatunku należą:
 'Bee Dazzler'
 'Golden Comet' – intensywnie żółte kwiaty, liczne kwiaty w kwiatostanach, karminowo czerwone liście jesienią, odporna na mączniaki.

Do azalii gandawskich należą:
 'Baltic Amber' – kwiaty żółte, srebrzyste plamy na liściach.
 'Corneille' – kwiaty różowe, podwójne, delikatne.
 'Daviesi' – kwiaty białe z żółtym środkiem.
 'Magic' – kwiaty początkowo żółte, ale ciemniejące z czasem i w końcu pomarańczowe.
 'Nancy Waterer' – kwiaty okazałe, żółtozłociste.
 'Narcissiflora' – podwójne kwiaty jasnożółte z ciemniej punktowanymi płatkami.

Do azalii mieszańcowych z grupy Occidentale (mieszańce z różanecznikiem zachodnim Rhododendron occidentale) należy:
 'Summer Fragrance' – kwiaty białe z żółtą plamką.

Siewki różanecznika żółtego są obok siewek różanecznika Schlippenbacha najczęściej stosowane jako podkładki dla mieszańców azalii. Pędy stosowane w tej roli powinny mieć grubość ołówka, zabieg szczepienia metodą przystawki bocznej w szyjkę korzeniową wykonuje się z wykorzystaniem zrazów półzdrewniałych na przełomie czerwca i lipca.

 Roślina lecznicza
Miód z różanecznika żółtego ma (poza tym, że działa toksycznie) działanie obniżające ciśnienie krwi, ma też działanie inotropowe. W tureckiej prowincji Giresun wywar z liści tego gatunku stosowany jest w leczeniu grzybic stóp.

 Wpływ na gospodarkę leśną
W obszarze masowego występowania w lasach kolchidzkich na tureckim wybrzeżu Morza Czarnego różanecznik żółty wraz z pontyjskim uznawane są za gatunki szkodliwe, w dużym stopniu ograniczające odnowienie lasów i zmniejszające zróżnicowanie gatunkowe. Rekomendowane jest tam stosowanie dolistnego herbicydu – Triklopyru, skutecznie zwalczającego różaneczniki i nie powodującego znaczących szkód w rozwoju gatunków drzewiastych.

 Inne zastosowania
Gatunek rekomendowany jest do sadzenia na skarpach, bowiem za sprawą licznych odrostów korzeniowych umacnia je i chroni przed erozją.

Uprawa
Różanecznik żółty dobrze rośnie na stanowiskach słonecznych i w półcieniu, przy czym preferuje te drugie. W pełnym słońcu liście mogą ulec oparzeniom, zwłaszcza jeśli gleba nie jest odpowiednio wilgotna. Z kolei rosnąc w półcieniu różanecznik ten dobrze znosi susze. Roślina jest mrozoodporna (podczas surowych zim zdarza się jednak, że przemarzają pąki kwiatowe) – zalecana jest do uprawy w strefach mrozoodporności od 6 do 9 (według innych źródeł od 4 do 8). Jest też tolerancyjna wobec gleby – nie znosi tylko gleb bardzo suchych, mocno podmokłych, wapiennych i bardzo gliniastych. Najlepiej rośnie na glebach kwaśnych, umiarkowanie wilgotnych, próchnicznych, zasobnych w materię organiczną. Ze względu na płytki system korzeniowy nie lubi sąsiedztwa drzew i krzewów o podobnie płytkim systemie korzeniowym. Zresztą źle znosi obecność innych roślin w swoim towarzystwie i w warunkach uprawy należy odchwaszczać powierzchnię na jakiej rośnie różanecznik. Ze względu na mocno rozbudowany, ale gęsty i zwarty system korzeniowy dobrze znosi przesadzanie.

Ze względu na płytko zalegające korzenie i łatwość tworzenia odrostów – nie zaleca się przekopywania gruntu w pobliżu krzewów. Wskazane jest natomiast usuwanie kwiatów tuż po przekwitnieniu.

Rośliny tego gatunku najłatwiej rozmnaża się za pomocą nasion, poza tym odkładów i sadzonek zielnych lub półzdrewniałych. Nasiona wysiewa się natychmiast po zbiorze zapewniając im dobre warunki świetlne (ew. je doświetlając) i utrzymując podłoże (kompost) stale wilgotne. Ze względu na wrażliwość siewek na mróz warto by pierwszą zimę spędziły w szklarni. Ukorzenianie odkładów trwa 15–24 miesiące. Ukorzenianie sadzonek jest trudne.

Konotacje kulturowe
Gatunek należy do nielicznych krzewów ozdobnych wspomnianych wprost w literaturze klasycznej. O różaneczniku żółtym, a ściślej o miodzie z niego pisał Ksenofont w Anabazie. Podczas marszu dziesięciu tysięcy Grecy weszli do wioski w Kolchidzie, gdzie znaleźli dzbany z miodem. Po jego spożyciu przez około dobę zatruci wojownicy leżeli niemal bez przytomności.

Na Ukrainie mówi się, że silna woń miejscami masowo tam rosnącego różanecznika żółtego może "odurzyć i uśpić może cały pułk wojska".

Filatelistyka
Poczta Polska wyemitowała 14 czerwca 1967 r. znaczek pocztowy przedstawiający różanecznika żółtego o nominale 10 zł, w serii Rośliny chronione. Autorem projektu znaczka był Andrzej Heidrich. Znaczek pozostawał w obiegu do 31 grudnia 1994 r.

Przypisy

Żółty
Rośliny chronione
Drzewa i krzewy ozdobne
Rośliny trujące

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This will install the prerequisite software for the Exchange 2010 Client Access Server. Although the server not always requests to I personally always recommend rebooting the server after installing the prerequisite software.
Recently I entered the dreaded -ERR Server Unavailable. 21 error on an Exchange Server. The strange this was that this did not happen to all mailboxes but only to a couple of mailboxes. Nothing written in the eventlog, just –ERR Server Unavailable. 21 immediately after entering my credentials (this error can be seen when using TELNET to access a mailbox using POP3).
To get more information regarding the login process you can enable POP logging on the CAS Server. Be very careful with this and only enable it for test purposes. If you forget to turn it off most likely your CAS server will shutdown in a couple of days because the system drive is filled up with POP3 log files.
And don't forget to restart the POP3 service.
The POP3 log files are stored in C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V14\Logging\Pop3. After testing and the Error Server Unavailable. 21 error show up, disable logging (Set-POPSettings –ProtocolLogEnabled:$FALSE), restart the service and open the POP3 log file.
Msg=User:joe:bf6c873e-4289-4a64-87bf-2ade894947cd:DAG04-MBX05:MBX19.E14.local; Excpt=""Could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.Exchange.Compliance, Version=14.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.-FileNotFoundException"""
Restart the POP3 and IMAP4 service and the POP3 Server Unavailable no longer appears.
For testing purposes it is useful to know how to use TELNET to access a mailbox using the POP3 or the IMAP4 protocol. Suppose you have a mail server running with POP3 and IMAP4 enabled and you want to give it a try.
You are now successfully logged on. If you enter the LIST command all items in the Inbox are shown. RETR 1 will retrieve the first message in this list while DELE 1 will delete this first message. Bottom line is that you are successfully logged on, POP3 is running fine and the mailbox can be accessed.
Use the QUIT command to log off from the mailbox.
That is: dot space login <<username>> <<password>>, you have to enter the dot and the space before the login command. If you omit either one the login will fail!
Again, you have to enter the dot and the space before the actual LIST command.
Logoff from an IMAP4 session is a bit peculiar, use the CTRL + ] key combination, followed by the QUIT command (to actually quit the TELNET session).
Useful commands for a quick test of your mailbox and the POP3 and IMAP4 services.
When using a Lync server infrastructure it is possible to use Lync Phones without connecting them to a PC using the USB cable. Devices like the Polycom CX500, CX3000, Snom UC600 or Aastra 6725ip are just a few examples. Since these clients are not connected to the PC they have to get their configuration information somewhere else.
While it is possible to configure these options manually there's a tool in Lync that will retrieve the appropriate information and configure DHCP for you!
In the past I've blogged about building a hosted Exchange 2010 SP2 environment. Basically you have to prepare Active Directory, create a hosting container where all customer containers (also referred to as organizations, not to mess up with an Exchange organization) are located, secure the OU's etc. Also you have to create Address Lists, Address Book Policies, Offline Address Books (do not forget to secure these to prevent unwanted downloads) and all this in a reliable and consistent manner.
There are a number of vendors, each having their own pros and cons but all work according to the same principle using a provisioning engine. This provisioning engine is talking to all services in your environment like Active Directory, Exchange, Lync or Sharepoint. It is also possible to add even more services like CRM, Hyper-V, online backup or Azure.


text:
India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series Review
CricketCricket Betting
India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series was one of the most anticipated tours in world cricket in a long long time. The Coronavirus pandemic had robbed the cricket world from any international action for several months. The fans of both these nations were licking their lips in anticipation of this series. And boy did it not disappoint.
After 3 ODIs, 3 T20 matches and 4 grueling test matches, Team India finally returned home victorious, in one of the most memorable tours of their entire history.
New heroes were discovered, while some stalwarts upped their already high standards to ensure that the visitors win 2 of the 3 series they played. Let's take a look at how the 3 ODIs played out, compared to our cricket betting previews.
ODI 1 – India vs Australia 2020/21 at Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny summer day in Sydney, where the first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series match was about to take place. The pitch looked fantastic to bat on and so it proved. David Warner (66) and captain Aaron Finch (114) both gave the home side a flying start with a brilliant opening partnership.
After Warner's dismissal, in came Steven Smith in a very destructive mood, smacking 105 runs in just 66 balls, studded with 4 sixes and 11 boundaries. A typical late flurry of boundaries from Glenn Maxwell (45 off 19) saw Australia pile on a mammoth total of 374/6 in their 50 overs. Among the Indian bowlers, only Mohammed Shami had a noteworthy outing, picking up 3 wickets for 59.
The Indians started brightly with a flurry of boundaries from opener Mayank Agarwal and the experienced Shikhar Dhawan. However, they then lost quick wickets including the big one of Virat Kohli and found themselves at 4 for 101.
In came Hardik Pandya, who had no plans of giving up without a fight. Together with Dhawan (74), he piled on 128 runs for the 5th wicket, smashing a brilliant 90 off 76 balls, with 4 sixes. Despite valiant efforts from the lower order, India fell short by 66 runs.
Steve Smith was adjudged as the man of the match for his swashbuckling innings.
India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI 1 Betting Review
In our cricket betting tips for the first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series match, we had predicted that Australia will win this match, at odds of 1.61. Australia were heavy favourites. We had also predicted that Australia will hit the most sixes at 1.90 and that they will have the highest opening partnership.
All 3 of our predictions came true, but the last one of Bumrah being India's leading wicket-taker was inaccurate, as it was Mohammed Shami with 3 wickets. All odds were taken from Leo Vegas India.
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After a brilliant victory in the first match, Australia again won the toss and elected to bat on the same pitch, which was undoubtedly perfect for batting.
The openers again started brightly, with a 142 run opening stand, before Finch departed on 60. Warner (83), and then Marnus Labuschane (70) ably supported the ever brilliant Steven Smith, who again tormented the Indian bowling attack to hit back-to-back stunning centuries, as he ended on 104 off just 64 balls.
Another late blast by Glenn Maxwell (63 off just 29) meant this match almost mirrored the first match, as the hosts again piled on a mammoth total of 389, with all of their top 5 batsmen going past the 60-run mark. None of the Indian bowlers enjoyed any considerable success in a draining outing.
In reply, the Indian openers started brightly before Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed when the score was 58. Shreyas Iyer scored a gritty 38 and appeared to build a decent partnership with captain Virat Kohli but was dismissed soon.
A brilliant 75 run partnership between Kohli (89 off 87) and KL Rahul (76 off 66) gave India some hope in the middle before the skipper departed. Despite some decent knocks down the order, India finished at 338 and lost the match by 51 runs, losing the 3 game series in the process.
Steve Smith was adjudged as the man of the match for the second game running, after another brilliant century helped his team win the second match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series.
While we predicted India to win the second match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series in our betting preview and got that one wrong - we got our other 3 predictions correct as Australia hit the most sixes in this match. They had the highest opening partnership and Bumrah was India's top bowler in this match.
ODI 3 – India vs Australia 2020/21 at Manuka Oval, Canberra
After back to back defeats meant that India had already lost the 3 game series to Australia, the onus was on them to bounce back to record a victory, even if just for pride. India finally won the toss this time and elected to bat, which looked like a good decision looking at the flat hard surface.
Despite a shaky start, captain Virat Kohli stabilized the innings with a well-paced 63, however by the time he departed India were already down to 152 for 5. With a 3rd straight defeat looming large, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja had other plans, as both struck magnificent unbeaten half centuries for a 150-run partnership.
Pandya hit 92 off 76 balls while Jadeja hit 66 off 50 balls to take India to 302 in 50 overs. Ashton Agar was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-44 in his 10 overs.
In response, Australia lost both of their most consistent batsmen cheaply, as Labuschane and Smith both departed on 7. Captain Aaron Finch stood firm at the top with a well-made 75 and was ably supported by the rest of the batting order.
A 3rd consecutive late blast by Glenn Maxwell (59 off 38) almost took Australia home, but they eventually fell short by 13 runs. Shardul Thakur was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he picked up 3 wickets for 51 runs.
Hardik Pandya was adjudged as the man of the match for his brilliant innings of 92 as India defeated Australia in the third match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series.
Where was the first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match played?
The first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match was played at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Who won the second India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match?
Australia won the second India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match by 51 runs.
Where was the third India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match played?
The third India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI series match was played at Manuka Oval in Canberra, India.
#India vs Australia, #Cricket, #cricket betting, #ODI, #India vs Australia 2020/21

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Add your friend's details to the box below and a new account will be created for them with a free ticket to Late London: Sherlock's City.
Join Ben and head to the Museum of London for this unique event. Discounted ticket for Bobbers.
Enter the mind of the city's most iconic consulting detective and for one night only immerse yourself in Sherlock's unique habits and pursuits.


text:
Back to Leadership
Laurence Stein
Laurence Stein is the firm's Chief Administrative Officer. He is a member of the Management Committee, Client and Business Standards Committee and Enterprise Risk Committee. Mr. Stein is Chair of the Global Business Resilience Committee.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Stein was Global Head of the Operations Division. From 2009 to 2015, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Securities Division. From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Stein was Chief Financial Officer for the Investment Banking Division and the Federation, and before that, served as Chief Financial Officer of the Securities Division. He joined Goldman Sachs in 1996 in the Finance Division, and was named Managing Director in 2003 and Partner in 2006.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Stein worked in the Financial Services Group at Ernst & Young in New York and Deloitte & Touche in South Africa.


text:
Q: Norm of the sum of random vectors from a unit ball Let $x_1,\dots, x_n\in \mathbb{R}^d$ be independently distributed from a uniform distribution on a ball of radius $1$. That is for every $i$: $x_i \sim U(\{x\in \mathbb{R}^d: \|x\|_2\leq 1\})$.
We look at the norm of the sum of the vectors: X = $\left\|\sum_{i=1}^n x_i \right\|_2$. I need the following properties of X:
1) $\mathbb{E}[X] = ?$
2) $Var(X) = ?$
3) Given some $\alpha >0$ what is $P(X \leq \alpha)$?
If the vectors would have been distributed by a standard Gaussian distribution then I could answer these questions by considering the coordinate-wise distribution of the sum, which would also be Gaussian with a mean of $0$ and variance of $\sqrt{n}$. Thus, we could also calculate the mean and variance of the norm of the sum of the vectors, and for the third question the probability would be exponentially small.
Also, if we would consider a uniform distribution on the cube it could be calculated quite easily. But I don't know how to do the same calculation for a uniform distribution on the unit ball (note that this is not the unit sphere, the vectors may have different norms).

A: I will add my 2 cents on the matter, which hopefully someone can finish the appropriate computations. Denote $r_i:=\Vert x_i\Vert_2$ for all $1\leq i\leq n$, and notice that
$$ \mathbb{P}\Big( r_i\leq r \Big)=\frac{ \vert B_{\mathbb{R}^d}(0,r)\cap B_{\mathbb{R}^d}(0,1)  \vert }{ \vert B_{\mathbb{R}^d}(0,1)  \vert } $$,
which gives us that
$$\mathbb{P}( r_i\leq r)=\cases{0 & ;$r<0$ \\r^{\frac{d}{2}} & ;$0\leq r\leq 1$ \\ 1 &; $r>1$} .$$
By similar considerations,
$$\mathbb{P}( r_i^2\leq r)=\cases{0 & ;$r<0$ \\r^{d} & ;$0\leq r\leq 1$ \\ 1 &; $r>1$} .$$
Notice that $X^2=\sum_{i=1}^n r_i^2$, and is a sum of independent random variables, so convolving the above distribution $n$ times, will give the distribution of $X^2$, which should yield in a relatively simple way the distribution of $X$. Which would solve (3), but I am having trouble doing said convolution.
I should point out, that given that you compute said distribution, the tail-sum formula for expectation gives $\mathbb{E}[X]$ by
$$ \mathbb{E}[X]=\int_0^\infty (1-F_X(t))dt. $$
Using the tail-sum formula and what was computed earlier, we know that
$$ \mathbb{E}[r_i^2]=\int_0^1(1-x^d)dx=\frac{d}{d+1}, $$
and
$$ \mathbb{E}[r_i]=\int_0^1(1-x^{\frac{d}{2}})dx=\frac{d}{d+2} .$$

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


My sister is 27 years old and still lives at home with my parents with her 2 year old daughter. Growing up at home was difficult. My mom drank for much of my childhood and she quit around the time I was 12 years old. My dad is very controlling, verbally abusive and occasionally physically abusive towards my sister. Since the birth of my niece he has choked my sister twice. He once tried to commit suicide (through a massive dose of antidepressants) when my mom wanted to go out to a dinner that was for her office only (no spouses). Sometimes when my mom and I make plans to go shopping, he comes along too and seems very jealous of my mom's time. My concern now is how my niece is being treated. My father will scream at her and then deny that he does it. My sister will scream at her and also deny that she does it. My sister has had multiple issues and the latest diagnosis is borderline personality (and I agree). My sister and my father have gotten into a fight where she threw a soft shoe (croc-type shoes) at my father and it hit my niece. I was furious but my mom promised to take care of it. That last incident with the shoe was about 6 months ago and things have calmed down (like usual – they classically cycle through the abuse cycle). I was on the phone with my sister the other day and I heard him scream at my niece. My sister then screamed at my father and my dad threw something at her. To top it all off, I found out that my sister is seeing the father of my niece again (the same guy who hit her with a telephone in the face and left a bruise). My mom doesn't know what to do and I lost my cool and told her that our childhood was pretty lousy and that it is her responsibility to call Children and Youth Services and have them step in. My mom is afraid that my sister, living on her own, would be worse to my niece. My mom feels that if she is there, she can at least protect this little girl. I feel that doing the same thing over and over isn't making a difference – and in fact, things are worse for my niece than they were for us, I think. The problem is, I feel horrible about talking to my mom they way I did. I am normally the calm one, but I was very agitated when I talked to her about it. I felt it was important to tell her that our childhood was difficult and that I wanted better for my niece – but by saying that, she was very hurt. I feel bad, but if she is in denial, what else could I do? I didn't rant and rave or be insulting and I told her I knew she did the best she could and that I loved her – but she still hung up and when I talked to her the next day, she pretty much cried on and off for the few minutes we were on the phone and said how hurt she was. What else can I do? What could I have done?
You are describing a very difficult family situation for which there are no easy solutions. Based on what you have described of all the family members, the family system as a whole functions on a "borderline level." In other words, there are high levels of tension, anger, acting out, emotional and physical violence and chaos. It seems as though you are looking around for the single person who is the cause. In reality, the entire family is engaged in this terrible and highly emotional way of existing. You are correct about your niece, she is in the middle.
First, with regard to your niece, if you in any way believe that she is being emotionally or physically abused you are required by law to report the situation by calling Children and Youth Services. They will investigate, make recommendations and, if necessary, remove your niece from all of them, not just from your sister. I am sure the court will demand they go to family therapy and change the situation before they restore your niece to the home. It does seem to me as though this is a very abusive and unhealthy situation for your niece. Not just because of her mother but because of the entire family situation, including your sister.
Based on my experience with this type of situation, you need to protect and save yourself. In other words, I am suggesting that you put as much distance between yourself and the family. You can even tell them, over the phone, that you will do this until such time as they learn to and can prove that they have calmed down. I would even say that you ask them to go to family therapy. Now, do not expect much. However, for the benefit of your life and your right to have a fulfilling and happy life, it is essential that you get far away from them, including changing your phone number, not calling them and not seeing them.
I know that this must sound very harsh. However, if there is any hope for change, someone has to take the first step. That is why I am suggesting that you tell them what you are doing and why. Then, suggest family therapy and make the moves you need to make to protect yourself because I do not believe much will change, at least, not at first.
Part of the strategy can include reporting them to Children and Youth Services. Until the system they have always live in is challenged, there is not much hope for change.
It is not that you pushed them too much. Rather, they cannot hear you through the high levels of emotions that drown out any logic. The noisy emotion is a result of how All of them interact and not one person. As long as you remain connected to the family while they remain this way, you will be vulnerable to their attacks.
In the end, you need to pull yourself up and out before they drag you down. If they change, fine but, until then, save your self. Who knows, maybe you can even get temporary custody of your niece when you report the situation and you can, maybe save her, yourself and, maybe, maybe, the whole family (though I doubt that you can save the whole family).
Last, when you report the abuse the family will be angry at you but you can speak to the agency about that.


This online catalog is for your convenience as you select items to purchase for your school or department. Most items are available on a state contract; others are from bids put out by the District. Pricing is available exclusively for Canyons School District.
Items will have a link to the contract, if applicable, and the contact information for the appropriate buyer in the Purchasing Dept.
You can search for an item or a category by clicking on the alpha menu row at the top of this page.
HELPFUL HINT - Do you have a purchase that is less than $500? Try using your P-Card!


text:
Ravi [ The Blade ]
A monster. He lives in the shadows and watches her dreams and punishes those she thinks are in the wrong. Souls, ripped away from their bodies and shambling shells left behind.
David Gandy
Name Ravi
Age Seems to be in his 30s. Maybe 40s.
Appearance Tall and swarthy, with skin darkened by the sun and glossy black hair that seems windswept and purposely styled, Ravi is good looking in an intense and brooding way, with piercing dark eyes that seem to stare straight into your soul.
Maybe they do.
He is almost always dressed in very luxurious and fabrics. Fancy pirate wear. Or brocade robes. Slick suits that precisely match his rangy frame. As if he has been carefully and meticulously styled for his role.
Maybe he has.
Personality Ravi is quiet. He is intense, preferring to watch and calculate rather than throwing himself into the fray. He has an arrogant way of speaking and can often rub alpha males the wrong way. Not quite likeable, but with arresting charisma that still draws you to his orbit, it is as if someone mashed together the qualities of a leading man and gave them a thirst for vengeance and blood.
Ability Ravi exists in the shadows. He is vengeance and justice and karma, able to steal away an individual's soul. Sometimes, the body goes missing- other times, the body remains; there is just something a little bit lacking about the person. As if the light has gone out of them.
Trigger warning: Hospitals. Death. Murder. Pulling souls out of bodies by force.
The room was dim, lit mostly by the machines that tracked vitals. A small nightlight glowed in the corner near the door, just enough to highlight panels and switches. The figure that lay prone on the bed was slight, more bones than skin, with softly shorn hair worn in a feathered cap.
The room was dim, but it was not dark. Shadows coalesced in the corners and seemed to thicken, stretching and gaining shape until it was tall and broad shouldered, humanoid with long legs that strode towards the bed.
An arm made of shadows reached out, gently clasping the frail hand that lay on the bed. Warmed by the contact, the shadows seemed to melt away into bronzed skin and a long-sleeved silk shirt, a heavily brocaded jacket.
"I'm here." A deep voice murmured, and shadows continued to melt around a tall man with thick, curling dark hair and steady eyes that were dark with pity. He leaned over, pressing his lips against the forehead of the patient. "I'll make them pay."
He was not a tall man. Of average height, of average build, with hair that straddled an incongruous line between russet and brown, black framed glasses, and the beginnings of a five o'clock shadow.
He was not a tall man, nor was he particularly memorable. But he strode through the halls of the medical unit with purpose and slight irritation, with always that sliver of annoyance, arrogance.
The not tall, not memorable man walked out of the hospital with a harried pace towards his car, keys held in one hand, phone in the other, too busy to notice the shadow that peeled away from the lamppost and seemed to keep face with him.
Too busy to notice the shadow lengthen and grow into a tall, humanoid form, to see hands form, spear through his chest.
It was too late by then, although, surprisingly, there was no pain. Surprise, maybe, as he watched his body fall and crumble to the ground. The hands continued to hold him, somehow. Caged between claws that had curled around his form.
'Why?' he had no voice, no vocal chords, but he could feel the shadows understand his question.
'Because you wronged her.' He could not hear the response, but he could feel it.
That was the last the not tall, not memorable man remembered.
A shrill scream shattered the silence of the Labs.
Sh'an burst out of his room, running down the hallway before slamming into a closed door. His fists banged out a panicked beat against the surface even as he tried the doorknob. Locked.
A sleepy head peeked out a few doors down, Imraan yawning as he waved his hand towards the frame. It shifted, groaning in obedience as it stretched wider, the door itself swinging inwards.
Sh'an ran through, through the small receiving room towards the private sleeping quarters in the back.
'She is fine, Search Rider' a voice murmured, a slight spike of aggravation in its husky tones, but no panic, no pain. 'A bad dream'
Sh'an ignored the words and strode towards the bed where Sidhu sat, her knees raised and her arms curled around them. Her hair was wild, hiding a face that was pressed against her knees. Raising himself onto the bed and pulling the sheets to bring her closer to him, he curled his arms around her.
"What's wrong, Sidhu?" he murmured, one hand running down her hair and her back in a soothing, repetitive motion. "What happened?"
Sidhu took in a shuddering breath. "I'm fine. I am fine." She enunciated her words carefully.
"You don't have bad dreams. Not without a reason."
She took in another shuddering breath. "A nightmare. I'm sure. I am not hurt. I just-" she paused, raising her head, her eyes a bright molten gold that seemed to glow in the darkness. "Something is broken."
Not wrong. Broken. Gathering her close and running his hands over her body to make sure that indeed nothing was broken, he nodded his head and straightened. "Okay. Get ready."
"Ready?" her words held more control, slight annoyance. "Get ready for what?"
"We will go see the scientist and see what is broken."
The molten gold shimmer dulled, a warm hazel tone bleeding through as she frowned. "It is in the middle of the night, Sh'an. It can wait. Get some sleep. I will… I will try to get some sleep too."
Sh'an scowled. "Your scream woke half the Labs. He will be up, or someone will wake him. Let's go."
Sh'an was not wrong. The private receiving room of the Scientist was warmly lit, a small pot of tea and two dainty teacups, a French press with a sturdier cup, and a small assortment of fruits and cheese were waiting for them when they arrived.
Monique, her hair rumpled, her sleep gown fluffy and feathery sat in plush cat tower, her hands wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate liberally sprinkled with marshmallows.
Ari stood, hair perfectly coiffed, silk dress perfectly pressed, as she arranged another small dish of mini quiches.
"Do you not sleep?" Sh'an muttered irritably. The adrenaline and fear was gone now, leaving him tired and cranky.
"Her scream woke half the Labs. Drink your coffee." Came the steely tone of the aide.
"There now." Shy crooned as he stepped out, dressed in a loose and flowing robe. He reached out with both hands and gathered Sidhu for a hug, murmuring something soft and lyrical into her ears. "Sit, drink. Tell me what happened."
Sidhu nodded, moving slowly to a chair. Sh'an was immediately behind her, hand on her back and shoulder as he helped her sit.
"You're not fine." He muttered, turning towards the table.
Ari had already poured a small cup of tea and was holding it out for him.
With suspicious eyes he took it, muttering a quick thanks before pressing it into Sidhu's hands. "Now tell us. Tell him. Make him fix it."
Sidhu looked down at the cup of tea. She took a small sip, looking up and then back down at her knees. "It seems stupid now." She whispered.
"I heard the pain in your scream, Dreamcatcher." Monique's voice drifted towards them from the cat tower. "Tell us what the girl has dreamed up this time."
"Girl?" Ari's quiet query was almost ignored.
"A monster." Sidhu murmured. "Gold eyes. But not like ours. Maybe… maybe it was just the light. But a monster. He lives in the shadows and watches her dreams and punishes those she thinks are in the wrong. Souls, ripped away from their bodies and shambling shells left behind. It…" she shuddered. "I saw him reach for a soul and rip it out. Consume it. I wasn't supposed to see it. See him. He saw me and-"
"Did he hurt you?" Sh'an words were immediate, bitten off with anger.
"No! No. He seemed… surprise. But you know?" Sidhu lifted her head and stared at Monique. "She dreams them up? Who is she?"
"Child." An odd term from a tiny frame. "You know sometimes I know as much as you do, when I speak." Monique took a slow sip of her hot chocolate.
"Is it dangerous?"
"Everything is dangerous. The Death Court is a danger. I, am considered a danger. The little brat modeled after the Red Mage is a danger. But is this a danger to us?" Monique paused. "Yes." Monique tested out the word, and scrunched her nose. "No. No? No. It is not a danger to us."
"You should not use words to test the future, Monique." Shy chided.
"The Dreamcatcher asked." The Oracle retorted. "The monster is not a danger to us."
"No." Sh'an shook his his head. "He did not hurt Sidhu this time, but what if she meets him again? What if the next time, she stands in his way? It might not be a danger right now, but it can be. We need to find it."
"And what? Search Rider?" The Oracle laughed. "Will you kill it, and have the girl dream up more monsters? Or will you befriend it?" the Oracle's smile turned sly. "We do need more weapons against the Death Court, don't we Shy? We are always looking for Weapons."
The woman was small and round, her skirt ill-fitting and her hair uneven. She frowned as she typed something on her keyboard, her gaze fixed on the screen in front of her. Every so often she would stop, looking down at the keys, peering closer at the screen, before continuing.
The room was brightly lit, but there were always shadows. In the corners where the floor and walls met, hidden behind cabinets and drawers. The shadows lengthened, long claws creeping along the floor, slow, deliberate movements. Extending from the corners of the walls towards the desk, the chair, towards the woman who laboriously made progress on her report.
They stopped their slow progress just under the chair, wiggling a greeting upwards before yanking the chair backwards.
The woman had time to utter a startled shriek before the shadows swallowed her whole.
"What is it?" Monique asked, her tone utterly delighted as she walked slowly around the abandoned office, the sleeves of her grown dragging on the floor behind her. "Humanoid, intelligent?"
"A monster." Sidhu murmured, bangles on her wrists chittering as she shifted her weight from foot to foot. "It was different, this time. It… took all of her."
"Less of a mess, really." She commented, kneeling on the ground and patting at the carpet. "Some sort of teleporter?"
"You sound too fascinated by all of this."
"Shy needs to add weapons to collection, this one seems quite delightful." Monique laughed, a happy sound that was out of place with the tension and nerves on Sidhu's face. "Do you think it can be reasoned with?"
"I don't know what 'it' is, yet."
"Don't worry. You'll figure it out." Monique clapped her hands with delight as she straightened. "And next time, we'll be there to meet him."
There were less lights on the machines monitoring her vitals. Maybe that was better. The room was still as dimly lit as before, maybe even dimmer. The shadows were comfortable now, forming not in the corners and in the darkness but closer to the light, under the shade of the bed, behind the monitors.
Always at night, always when nobody was watching. The tall man sat with one hand clasped around a smaller, frailer hand, his other hand gently stroking the top of her head. Murmuring words in a deep voice that was hard to hear but provided texture and comfort.
Soft, bright, curious. The words had no place breaking the silence and the moment. The man froze, shadows sharpening around him into jagged claws.
"It has taken me a long time to find you." Monique sounded smug. "But I did. Because you gave my sister nightmares, and I want to know what you are. Would you like to chat with me?"
The shadow disappeared.
A muffled curse and a crash as something fragile slammed into the wall. Sh'an tilted his head as he watched Monique throw another mug against the wall.
"Did she just expect a creature, who might not even speak our language, to suddenly fall in love with her and agree to her demands?"
He caught the mug that was thrown in his direction with a deft hand.
"Not fall in love, but maybe agree to a meeting." Ari supplied from her seat.
"He. Just. Disappeared!" an exasperated scream as she threw a plate against the wall. "Left! ME!"
"This arrogance, it is a Project trait?" Sylden sat carefully poised next to Ari, her hand tightening around her cup.
"No, no. It is entirely a Monique trait." Sh'an walked over to greet the journeywoman geneticist, leaning over to peck her cheek. "Normally she does try to behave in front of guests, and keeps the temper tantrums for family."
Sylden smiled wryly. "I will take it as a compliment then, that she thinks I am family."
"Of course you are." Monique muttered, stomping over back to the temple. "Saniyath is one of Shy's, so we are related in some… way." She frowned as she hoisted herself up onto a chair. "Somehow. I'm sure we are family."
"Yes dear." Ari answered obliquely, to which Monique wrinkled her nose.
"Back to business then. What are we going to do now? We don't really have to try to chase him down."
"No, no. We do." Molten gold flashed across Monique's eyes. "There is a reason Sidhu keeps tapping into his actions while she sleeps. We need to see what the link is."
"But he will not speak to you?" Sylden asked.
"No. He seems quite… shy."
Sh'an coughed. "Or sane. Maybe it is instinct telling him to stay away from us. Stay far, far away from where the Scientist can get to you."
"And how do you think we can help you?"
Ari turned her attention towards the geneticist. "We were hoping the next time Sidhu has a dream, maybe you and Saniyath could take a look. Figure out what he is. Saniyath's abilities are growing, I would like to figure out if she could get a sense of what his weaknesses might be."
"Test out my beloved against a monster that scares your Dreamcatcher?" there was no heat to the words as Sylden smiled. "Let us see what he is then."
Sidhu's soul shattering scream woke the Labs for a second night.
This time the Lab was prepared.
"That is him?" Sylden asked, her words hushed.
A tall shadow stood in front of a four story white washed building, arms outstretched; shadows coalescing and moving in jerking, jagged motions towards the hospital.
Sidhu stood with her arms wrapped around herself, nodded her head once.
'He does not seem to be too intimidating' Saniyath nodded.
'I am sure there is more to him than meets the eye' Sylden sent back.
The Imperial Court dragoness, a comforting presence in Sylden's mind peered at the figure as the shadows surrounded the building, and one by one, lights started to turn off in the building.
"You need to stop him." Sidhu's words were ragged, horrified. "He's taking them all. You need to- you need to stop him before the final light goes out."
"I'm here." Sh'an's word's were hard, grim. "I'll get him, Sidhu. Tell me, Journeywoman. What is his weakness?"
'He doesn't have one. Not really'. Surprise colored the Imperial dragon's tone. 'He's not quite real, is he? Not quite there. You cannot fight his gifts: his shadows will consume you. But maybe, you can, talk to him?'
Monique snorted. "That didn't work, clearly."
"Maybe you were the wrong person?" Sylden suggested, straightening her shoulders as three pair of molten gold eyes held hers.
She would never get used to that eerie feeling. Of something quite other assessing her.
"Please." Sidhu said aloud, taking one step, then another towards the figure. "Please. It hurts. It can't be what she wants. Not really."
The tall man ignored her, and lights continued to darken in the windows.
"What do you want?" Sidhu asked. "What does she want?" she begged. "Because it can't be this."
The tall man turned, slowly, and the shadows froze. Gold eyes, Sylden noted. Not molten gold. A flat, brassy, one dimensional shade that didn't seem quite real. They blinked once, dark color flooding them.
"They wronged her." He answered, his words modulated rich and buttery.
Monique shivered.
"They wronged her." He repeated. "I will make them pay."
"That can't be what she wants."
'Who is this she they refer to?'
'Hush, Saniyath. We don't know if he can read minds'
"They wronged her." He repeated. "I must make them pay."
Sidhu took a hesitate step forward, and Sh'an followed.
"Is she the woman I've seen you with, in the hospital room?" Sidhu asked.
For dark eyes that had watched her so carefully brightened into a flat, one dimensional brassy shade again.
"You don't understand." He answered simply.
And disappeared.
"He. Keeps. Doing. That." Monique snarled, slamming her glass onto the table. "Then he disappears and it takes us weeks to chase him down. For what? For more mysterious words?"
"Did you see his eyes though? Like ours, but not." S'han took a slow, considering sip of his coffee, pushing a plate of fruits towards Sidhu.
"Flatter, somehow." Sylden answered. "Saniyath believes he's not quite real, not the way we are."
Monique snorted. "I'll make him less real the next time I see him."
"What does that even mean?" Sh'an wondered outloud, laughing as he dodged a thrown muffin. "Do you really think we need to do this again?"
"I have a link… with him. I think." Sidhu answered slowly. "He spoke to me. He acknowledged me. I think, the next time I see him… I might get through."
Sh'an reached out to squeeze Sidhu's hand. "I'll be there for you." He promised.
No one was.
The sun was warm, the sky was blue, and the wind had just enough of a chill to it to ensure the weather was enjoyable.
Sidhu stood dressed in a simple black dress; no adornment, no frippery, her hair braided loosely down her back and a veil covering her face. A young woman sat alone in front of a grave, her shoulders wracked with sobs.
"Her." A voice spoke behind her, the tone rough, gritty. "I do it for her."
The woman crying at the grave was different from the woman Sidhu had seen in her dreams: she was younger, with long pale colored hair and skin blotchy with grief. Sidhu nodded her head.
"Did she… create you?" she asked carefully.
The figure took a few steps foreward until they stood shoulder to shoulder. He shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe she woke me, gave me purpose."
"And your purpose, is it done, now?"
"I cannot bring people back from the dead." He shrugged again. "But when she grieves and feels that people have wronged her, maybe, I will be back."
"How fascinating." Shy marveled, circling the man in front of him.
The man turned with Shy, as if some base instinct warned him that this scientist was not one you wanted at your back unaware.
"He is also quite pretty." Monique commented, tilting her head. "Is this by design?"
"Does it matter?" Shy quipped. "Show me again, if you don't mind. What you do."
The man nodded, stretching out his hand. Shadows coalesced below him, stretching and twining on the ground. They snapped and shifted and paused, nipping at the edges of the Projects that stood within the room.
"Can you only attack those that have wronged her?" Shy asked.
The man shook his head. "I help her because she calls out to me." He looked around the room. "If there is a test-"
"The Death-" Monique started.
"No." Shy frowned, his gaze troubled. "The Empress does not want me to attack them, not yet. She's naively working on a peace treaty with a dragon with delusions of grandeur and a harem of sycophants. I have been asked not to stir up trouble."
"I am sure it chafes at you to be so obedient, Shy." Ari noted dryly, walking in the room with a tablet in her hand and a Pigeon sitting on her shoulder. "I am not sure if it would be wise for him to stay here."
Shy sniffed. "The Labs-" he started.
"Would be too sterile an environment also. Imraan is still rebuilding the Labs. You prioritized the Vella Crean to appease the council, and now he has delayed work he needs to catch up on." Ari scanned something on the tablet and nodded. "Maybe we can second him."
"Maybe." The man answered. "It would be best for you not to consider me an obedient pet."
Shy and Monique froze, and Ari turned another assessing look towards the man. She pursued her lips, and nodded. "You are right. Mr-"
The man stared blankly.
"She wants to know your name, pretty boy." Monique offered, her smile coy. "What do people call you?"
The man's lip curled.
"What do people say when they meet you for the first time?" she asked again.
"Please god? Oh no?"
Shy laughed, a little titter of a noise as he shook his head. "That would not work for a name."
"And she? What does she call you?" Ari asked.
The man's face carefully blanked, his eyes brightening to the same glassy, one dimensional shade of gold. "That is private."
"Those eyes. How remarkable. Not as beautiful as the shade my children carry, but still. Unique." Shy reached out with one hand and the man took a careful step back. "What makes yours eyes shift?"
"Ours change color when we expend too much of our gifts." Monique responded. "But you do not seem to be spending more of our gifts."
"It helps us communicate."
"Us?"
Shy and Ari asked the questions simultaneously, and the man nodded.
"Yes. Us." He seemed somewhat amused. "I am not the only one who woke when she called."
"There are others?" Shy's tone took one of greed, avarice. "More like you?"
"Different." The man confirmed. "Difference. But awake, because she needs us."
"She was wronged, and we are here to help her."
A plan was created. A team of projects assembled to find the 'others'. Other creatures with flat brassy eyes and different abilities who had been created (or awakened), with Shy putting a priority on the girl who was dreaming up monsters.
"I must know." He insisted. "Who this girl is and if she can help us in the fight against the Death Court."
The man was given a name; Ravi. He agreed it would do for now, and until she called again he did not mind staying with the curious molten gold eyed individuals.
Such curiosities they were to him, with their own gifts and abilities.
A little boy with tentacles made up of smoke found him a kindred spirit; a pair of bronze skinned fighers who laughed like hyenas and boasted of a four digit kill count liked to test his shadows and claws.
But Ari was never happy with his residence at the Vella Crean: to close to the Death Court, to the council that was trying to control the Lab.
"Maybe" Monique offered slyly. "We can ask Sylden to host him at Dawn Watch."
Ari snorted. "Why not Isla? We have our own residences there."
"They are stricter than the Empress on weaponry and dangerous Projects."
"The Refugium? Our embassy could provide neutral ground."
"It is too unusual. Too many creatures, aliens. Species. Pern is safe- safer." Monique amended. "Besides. Don't you think Sylden will find him fascinating? He could be homework."
"Homework?"
"One day she will want to engineer her own projects, don't you think?" Monique offered again, her golden eyes glinting with humor. "Maybe she will be able to figure out what Ravi is."
Sylden voices her objections about the Projects using Dawn Watch as a "dumping ground for dangerous weapons."
"But we are family, Syl." Monique whined. "Ravi needs a place to stay."
Monique sometimes overestimates her abilities of persuasion: but Ari eventually brings her around. Ravi is quiet, unassuming, obviously an other-worlder but passively playing a human male in his prime.
"He has powers." Ari whispered. "Smoke that turns into claws, the ability to destroy souls, taking just the soul or the body. He could be a wealth of information for you."
In exchange for weekly study sessions and biweekly bloodwork, Ravi is allowed to stay. A Vella Crean trader, they say. Here to watch and study Dawn Watch, to understand Pern a little better.
The two scaled hatchlings had separated when they reached the first rank of candidates. The smaller one turned and walked along the line, looking up into each face as she went. Each time she had a gentle word to those she rejected, but rejected they still were, none of them quite right to fit the space in her mind. The other walked determinedly through the group, looking up here and there but always continuing on. When they reached the back of the group they paused, glancing about with a puzzled expression, before it suddenly cleared and they went galloping off down the expanse of sand which separated the clutch and candidates from those who watched.
Ravi, why are you all the way over here? He came to a stop before the man with a spray of sand, looking up with bright rainbow eyes. That was not a fun walk. Far to far to find you. Still, I have you now.
The Balanced Scales Sport
Nelduth
(nehl-doo'th)
Pernese Dragon x Rainwing Hybrid
Bonded to: Ravi (Naeodin)
#181818 | #3F0606 | #731919 | #7F1F12 | #C4551B
Loyal | Quick-witted | Practical | Protective
Nexus Teleportation – Nelduth will be a natural at jumping between dimensions
Location Sense – Nelduth has an uncanny sense for knowing when and where he is in the Nexus
Ravi's Cameo Appearances
Seeking Nana out for Clan Vecira
Seeking Amina out for Empyrean Stair
Seeking out Devraj who has funny ideas on what they are supposed to do


text:
Pricing О нас Карьера Контакты
Искать на английском языке
Банки и финансы	Корпоративное право	Расторжение брака и вопросы семейного права	Трудовые отношения	Иммиграция	Интеллектуальная собственность	Судебные разбирательства и арбитраж	Частные клиенты	Недвижимость	Налоги	Trust, estate and inheritance disputes
HSR alert
Most people think that Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filings are only for large corporations and market leaders. But that's actually wrong. High net-worth individual are often caught in HSR filing obligations. And when they miss a mandatory filing obligation, the penalty can be over $43,000 per day.
High net-worth individuals who routinely receive stock bonuses or dividends are especially likely to unwittingly fall into the HSR net. Here's why.
The exposure
The HSR Act covers acquisitions of voting securities and most assets, provided just a few basic tests are met. It applies even when individuals are involved and even when there is not the slightest anticompetitive issue.
The tests are:
1.	one side of the transaction (like a passive investor or corporate executive) has at least $18.8 million in assets;
2.	the other side (like the company issuing the voting securities) has sales or assets of at least $188 million;
3.	the transaction size is greater than $94 million (or a second threshold of $376 million).
A hypothetical example
Let's assume that we're dealing with an executive of Company X. her net worth is $20 million. Company X has sales or assets of $1 billion. Two of the three HSR tests are already met.
Let's also assume that the long-time executive, over the years, either regularly bought Company X stock or received stock dividends as part of his compensation package. So she now holds $93 mil-lion of Company X stock.
Company X now issues a stock dividend of $2 million as part of his compensation package.
OK, you say. This is a $2 million transaction, not a $94 million transaction. On a common-sense level, you're right. But in HSR-land, you're wrong.
In fact, the "transaction value" is the total of all the voting stock you would have in the same company after the transaction. By receiving the $2 million stock bonus, our executive crossed the "transaction size" barrier without making a mandatory filing. The daily penalty for this violation is $43,280.
Let's assume that the executive realizes her mistake just two months later. The penalty now technically is already over $2.5 million.
In practice, the FTC waives the penalty for the first violation when the person really did not know about the filing obligation. But the condition of the settlement with the FTC is that the individual promises to set up a reliable HSR filing system for the future. "Reliable" means one that never fails. If you even inadvertently skip a second filing, you will be fined.
Real life example
Barry Diller is a corporate investor. In 2012, bought 605,000 shares of Coca-Cola voting securities between November 2010 and April 2012, and 264,000 more shares in April 2012. The first purchase pushed him over the lowest HSR threshold and the second set over the second and higher threshold. He did not file for crossing either HSR threshold.
This was total inadvertence, but he made no filing until Coca-Cola called the mistake to his attention. The FTC filed him $480,000. (In those days, the daily penalty was $16,000, not $43,280.) Diller was fined because 15 years earlier, in 1997, he had made a HSR acquisition and inadvertently didn't file then. Because the Coca-Cola incident was not his first violation, the FTC imposed the fine.
Another complication based on "control"
Here's a variation to show you how complicated this is. Suppose our executive doesn't own any voting securities at all in Company X. But she does control a separate company that does hold $93 million of the stock. Company X grants her a $2 million stock dividend. Now, she might think $2 million plus $0 is $2 million. But she would be wrong. You need to combine everything you own in a target, plus everything under your control. Once again, our executive inadvertently crossed the HSR threshold without filing.
This same problem happened to Barry Diller in his earlier case. Diller controlled USA Networks. USA Networks bought voting stock of Citysearch and the value exceeded the HSR threshold. Diller did not file, even though he was the controlling entity. The FTC accepted a corrective filing and imposed no fine because this was the first violation, and because he undertook to be "accountable for instituting an effective program to ensure full compliance with the Act's requirements."
Fines are imposed even without anticompetitive effects
This is important: fines can be imposed when there are only literal violations of the law but absolutely no anticompetitive effect. After the Coca-Cola incident, Diller publicly denounced the FTC, saying that he was "dismayed" for their "tactics" for a "technical" violation of a transaction where it was "inconceivable" that it "could harm competition."
Regardless, there is no question purely non-competitive stock dividends and stock bonuses trigger HSR filing requirements. And there are many enforcement actions and fines levied because people just didn't bother to check with their lawyers.
To sum up, you need to consider an HSR filing if you are getting voting securities and:
Your net worth is at least $18.8 million;
The issuing company's sales or assets are at least $188 million.
You will hold at least $94 million of voting securities after the transaction.
Your holdings include your own, plus the holdings of all the companies (Corp. or LLC) that you control.
When you're valuing the stock you already own, the value is today's market price, not what you paid for it.
If any of this seems like familiar territory for you, please contact your regular Withers attorney.
Client types: Family businesses, Technology, Families and family offices, Public companies, Private companies
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Homepage»Parenting»4moms MamaRoo Vs. Rockaroo – Which Is Better?
You will inevitably stumble upon 4moms while shopping for baby gear. It is one of the most prestigious manufacturers of baby seats, swings and bouncers. When looking for a comfortable and safe seat, chances are you cannot really tell the difference at first. Both RockaRoo and MamaRoo from 4moms look identical, but are they?
The truth is there are a few small details that can make the difference. Sure, your baby will love each of them, yet one thing will always be better than another. Also, it is worth noting that what works for some babies will not necessarily work for yours too, hence the necessity of some research. So, what should you know before making a decision?
Music is the main necessity for your little one. It is one of the best ways to keep them entertained while soothing. Luckily, the MP3 plug-in will make your life easier. Whether you plug your phone or an MP3 player in, you can choose your own music or white noise.
In terms of movement, this seat goes in one direction only – front to back. The rocking motion perfectly imitates the mom's swinging arms and can soothe the baby in no time. While a side to side movement would have been handy, it is not necessarily mandatory.
Most baby swing seats require some separate purchases, such as toys to be hanged for your baby's entertainment. RockaRoo has everything you need though. Toy balls hang from the top, but they are also removable. As your baby grows, they will be able to interact with these toys too.
It is important to consider the sizing capacity and requirements though. The RockaRoo model is recommended to babies weighing between 6 and 25 pounds. If they can sit up without assistance before weighing 25 pounds, you know it is time to resell or store the baby swing seat away.
4moms RockaRoo relies on electricity. It does not require any batteries – no stress about running out of power. Furthermore, it does not require too much electricity, so it will save you money in the long run. It has a basic control panel with an on/off setting, as well as five different rocking speeds.
The baby swing seat measures 29.6×16.5×27.5 inches. It is compact and can fit into any room. It only weighs 17.5 pounds – easy to move from one room to another. The cover is removable and machine washable. As for the assembly, it is a piece of cake.
4moms MamaRoo goes back and forth, but also side to side. It features more types of movements to keep your baby entertained, such as a tree swing, rock a bye, wave, kangaroo or car ride. Each setting has its own particularities. They are quite sophisticated and may even help getting your little one used to certain environments.
The car ride movement is probably the most exciting one, as the baby goes in all directions – eight different movements combined into one. If you are up for something calm to soothe the baby, the wave movement is ideal. It only sweeps your loved one in a circle – no bouncing involved.
You do not necessarily have to stand up, change the settings and wait by your baby for a few minutes to figure whether they like it or not. Instead, 4moms has developed an application for the MamaRoo model. Once logged in, you can adjust the motion, speed and sound. You can even do it while your baby sleeps.
There are multiple speeds to choose from depending on your baby's mood. Again, the speed can be adjusted through the app. Bluetooth connectivity is also allowed if you struggle with the app.
If you think music will make your baby fall asleep faster, the MamaRoo model features four integrated sounds. Not happy with them? Nothing to worry about. It features a classic MP3 plug-in too. You can plug your phone in, as well as an MP3 player. Just choose the music yourself and surprise your baby.
Unlike many baby swing seats, the MamaRoo one allows reclining the seat to a few different positions. You are not stuck to one simple position, but you can adjust the seat according to your baby's needs. Whether they need to sleep or sit up and play, consider it done.
Starting with the price (RockaRoo being cheaper) and ending with the connectivity, 4moms RockaRoo and MamaRoo come with a series of differences. The motion is different, so MamaRoo is more diversified. As for the built-in sounds, RockaRoo has more options. Luckily, both provide MP3 support.
MamaRoo dominates in comfort due to the adjustable seat recline, as well as the application and Bluetooth control.
There are also many similarities for parents who are not so fond of bells and whistles. If you are one of them, RockaRoo is the more cost efficient choice. All in all, both models can hold babies up to 25 pounds and provide automatic movements. They are compact, sturdy and well done.


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