text:
package org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.sql.init;

import javax.sql.DataSource;

import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.ConditionalOnClass;
import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.ConditionalOnMissingBean;
import org.springframework.boot.autoconfigure.condition.ConditionalOnSingleCandidate;
import org.springframework.boot.jdbc.DataSourceBuilder;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Bean;
import org.springframework.context.annotation.Configuration;
import org.springframework.jdbc.datasource.SimpleDriverDataSource;
import org.springframework.jdbc.datasource.init.DatabasePopulator;
import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;

@Configuration(proxyBeanMethods = false)
@ConditionalOnMissingBean({ SqlDataSourceScriptDatabaseInitializer.class, SqlR2dbcScriptDatabaseInitializer.class })
@ConditionalOnSingleCandidate(DataSource.class)
@ConditionalOnClass(DatabasePopulator.class)
class DataSourceInitializationConfiguration {

	@Bean
	SqlDataSourceScriptDatabaseInitializer dataSourceScriptDatabaseInitializer(DataSource dataSource,
			SqlInitializationProperties properties) {
		return new SqlDataSourceScriptDatabaseInitializer(
				determineDataSource(dataSource, properties.getUsername(), properties.getPassword()), properties);
	}

	private static DataSource determineDataSource(DataSource dataSource, String username, String password) {
		if (StringUtils.hasText(username) && StringUtils.hasText(password)) {
			return DataSourceBuilder.derivedFrom(dataSource).username(username).password(password)
					.type(SimpleDriverDataSource.class).build();
		}
		return dataSource;
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Staffmark has been awarded the prestigious Best in Staffing award for both client and Talent. Less than 2% of all staffing companies in North America earn the Best of Staffing title, which is based on customer and talent ratings! In addition, Staffmark earned the coveted Diamond Award for receiving the Best of Staffing award for seven years in a row!
We are seeking a Material Handler to join the largest commercial printing company in the world. As a Material Handler, you will work in the warehouse to keep production flowing by wrapping all completed skids of product (using a powered skid wrapper) and preparing them for shipment. This is a long term opportunity.
To apply, visit www.staffmark.com/registration.asp or call / text 920-497-7463 for more information!
Come join our team! We look forward to working with you!
Ability to stand entire shift, bend, stoop, twist, turn or reach. Must be able to communicate using basic English.


text:
Charlon Anduele Romano Kloof (nacido el 20 de marzo de 1990 en Paramaribo) es un jugador de baloncesto surinamés-holandés que actualmente pertenece a la plantilla del FC Porto de la Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol. Con 1,91 metros de altura puede jugar tanto en la posición de Base como en la de Escolta. Es internacional absoluto con Holanda.

Trayectoria

Inicios
Formado en la cantera de los Yellow Birds de Surinam, jugó durante la temporada 2009-2010 en los Titans de Guilford Tech, community college situado en Jamestown, Carolina del Norte, perteneciente a la División II de la NJCAA.

Disputó 24 partidos con un promedio de 12 puntos (53 % en tiros de campo y 62 % en tiros libres), 3,7 rebotes, 2,6 asistencias y 1,9 robos. Fue el máximo anotador, el 2º en robos, el 3º máximo asistente y el 4º máximo reboteador del equipo, teniendo el 2º mejor % de tiros de campo y el 4º mejor % de tiros libres.

Durante la temporada 2010-2011 estuvo en la Canarias Basketball Academy en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Compitió en los torneos estatales de Seton Hall y Rhode Island. Fue elegido uno de los tres mejores jugadores del National Prep School Invitational por ESPN.com. Fue elegido MVP del partido en 2 de los 4 partidos que jugó.

Universidad
Tras su paso por la Canarias Basketball Academy, asistió a la Universidad de San Buenaventura, situada en Allegany, Nueva York, donde cerró su periplo universitario (2011-2014).

En su primera temporada, su año sophomore (2011-2012), jugó 32 partidos (27 como titular) con los Bonnies con un promedio de 6,4 puntos (37,3 % en triples y 65,8 % en tiros libres), 2,1 rebotes y 2,7 asistencias en 25 min. Fue el 2º máximo asistente (87) y el 2º en robos (27) del equipo, además de tener el 3º mejor % de triples (22-59).

Ganaron el torneo de la Atlantic Ten Conference. En su primer partido contra los Cornell Big Red, el 11 de noviembre de 2011, anotó 4 puntos, dio 3 asistencias y robó un balón en 17 min. Su primer partido como titular fue contra los Buffalo Bulls, el 3 de diciembre de 2011. Metió 12 puntos (2-2 de 3) y repartió 4 asistencias en 41 min (máxima de su carrera universitaria) en la victoria tras dos prórrogas contra los Saint Joseph's Hawks, el 29 de febrero de 2012.

Dio 7 asistencias (máxima de la temporada) en la derrota contra los Florida State Seminoles en el torneo de la NCAA, el 16 de marzo de 2012. Marcó 19 puntos (máxima de la temporada) en la victoria en los cuartos de final de la Atlantic Ten Conference contra los Saint Joseph's Hawks, el 9 de marzo de 2012.

En su segunda temporada, su año junior (2012-2013), jugó 29 partidos (16 como titular) con los Bonnies con un promedio de 5,3 puntos (33,3 % en triples y 66,7 % en tiros libres), 1,7 rebotes y 2 asistencias en 20,8 min. Fue elegido en el segundo mejor quinteto del Big 4 (pretemporada).

Anotó 10 o más puntos en 4 de los primeros 9 partidos y en 5 de los primeros 13, pero solo metió 10 o más puntos en 1 de los últimos 16 partidos. Fue el máximo asistente del equipo en 7 encuentros. Dio 8 asistencias (máxima de la temporada) contra los Iona Gaels, el 31 de diciembre de 2012. Robó 3 balones (máxima de la temporada) contra los The Citadel Bulldogs, el 19 de diciembre de 2012.

Marcó 11 puntos contra los campeones de la Atlantic Ten Conference, los Saint Louis Billikens, el 26 de enero de 2013, tras no haber haber anotado ningún punto en los 2 partidos anteriores y haber metido solo 6 en los últimos 4. Anotó 14 puntos (máxima de la temporada), incluyendo 3 triples (máxima de la temporada) contra los Cleveland State Vikings, el 15 de diciembre de 2012. Cogió 4 rebotes (máxima de la temporada) contra los Ohio Bobcats, el 28 de noviembre de 2012 y contra los Duquesne Dukes, el 2 de febrero de 2013.

En su tercera y última temporada, su año senior (2013-2014), jugó 33 partidos (todos como titular) con los Bonnies con un promedio de 11,8 puntos (50,5 % en tiros de 2 y 76,8 % en tiros libres), 3,6 rebotes, 5 asistencias y 1,2 robos en 33,4 min. Fue el 2º del equipo en min.

Anotó 10 o más puntos en 20 de los 33 partidos que jugó, incluyendo 3 partidos con 20 o más puntos. Fue el máximo anotador del equipo en 11 encuentros y el máximo asistente en 25. Metió 10 o más puntos con solo 2 pérdidas en los primeros 3 partidos de la temporada. Marcó 24 puntos (máxima de su carrera universitaria) contra los Louisiana Tech Bulldogs en el Gulf Coast Showcase, el 27 de noviembre de 2013. Anotó 18 puntos (incluyendo un coast-to-coast con un buzzer-beating para ganar) en 40 min contra los Niagara Purple Eagles, el 21 de diciembre de 2013.

Fue el máximo anotador (23 puntos), el máximo asistente (6 asistencias) y el 1º en min (38 min) del equipo, incluyendo 5 triples (máxima de su carrera universitaria), en el partido contra los Duquesne Dukes, el 25 de enero de 2014. Metió 10 o más puntos en los 3 partidos que jugó del torneo de la Atlantic Ten Conference. Marcó 22 puntos (incluyendo 9 tiros libres; máxima de su carrera universitaria), cogió 9 rebotes (máxima de su carrera universitaria) y dio 4 asistencias en la victoria contra los Saint Louis Billikens en los cuartos de final de la Atlantic Ten Conference, el 14 de marzo de 2014.

Finalizó la temporada en la Atlantic Ten Conference con el 9º mejor % de tiros libres y fue el 2º máximo asistente, el 3º en asistencias totales (164), el 9º en min por partido, el 10º en min totales disputados (1,103), el 12º en tiros libres anotados (119), el 13º en robos totales (40) y en robos por partido y el 26º máximo anotador.

Disputó un total de 94 partidos (76 como titular) con los St. Bonaventure Bonnies entre las tres temporadas, promediando 8 puntos (32,1 % en triples y 71,6 % en tiros libres), 2,5 rebotes, 3,3 asistencias y 1 robo en 26,7 min de media.

Profesional
Tras no ser elegido en el Draft de la NBA de 2014, el 1 de septiembre de 2014, el İstanbul DSİ de la TB2L (2ª división turca), anunció su fichaje para la temporada 2014-2015, en la que fue su primera experiencia como profesional.

Disputó 34 partidos de liga con el conjunto de Estambul, promediando 18,9 puntos (38,6 % en triples y 71,3 % en tiros libres), 6,6 rebotes, 2,9 asistencias y 1,4 robos en 34,8 min de media.

El 27 de junio de 2015, el Rethymno Cretan Kings B.C. griego, anunció su incorporación para la temporada 2015-2016, pero dejó el equipo en enero de 2016.

Disputó 13 partidos de liga con el cuadro de Rethymno, promediando 10,6 puntos (33,3 % en triples y 63,6 % en tiros libres), 2,8 rebotes, 2,2 asistencias y 1,2 robos en 27 min de media.

El 12 de enero de 2016, el Auxilium Torino italiano, anunció su fichaje para el resto de la temporada 2015-2016. Disputó 15 partidos de liga con el Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino, promediando 3,7 puntos, 1,8 rebotes y 1,2 asistencias en 17 min de media.

El 21 de julio de 2016, el KK MZT Skopje Aerodrom macedonio, anunció su incorporación para la temporada 2016-2017.

El 19 de julio de 2017, el UCAM Murcia anuncia su incorporación para la temporada 2017-2018. Charlon jugó durante dos temporadas (2017-2019) en la Liga ACB con el UCAM Murcia, donde promedió, en 65 partido, 7,1 puntos y 1,9 asistencias, en 18 minutos de juego.

Charlon jugó la temporada 2019-20 en la liga turca, defendiendo la camiseta del Mugla Ormanspor Basketbol Kulübü.

El 9 de septiembre de 2020, firma un contrato temporal por dos meses con Morabanc Andorra de la Liga Endesa, debido a la plaga de bajas en la plantilla, volviéndose a poner a las órdenes del técnico Ibon Navarro.

El 28 de octubre de 2020, firma por el Baloncesto Fuenlabrada de la Liga ACB para reforzar al conjunto madrileño hasta el final de la temporada con opción de corte.

El 2 de enero de 2021, el base regresa al Muğla Ormanspor Basketbol Kulübü de la Basketbol Süper Ligi.

El 12 de agosto de 2021, firma por el FC Porto de la Liga Portuguesa de Basquetebol.

Selección nacional

Categorías inferiores
Disputó con las categorías inferiores de la selección holandesa el Europeo Sub-20 División B de 2009, celebrado en Skopje, Macedonia, donde Holanda consiguió la medalla de oro tras derrotar en la final por 88-77 a República Checa, y  el Europeo Sub-20 de 2010, celebrado entre Crikvenica, Makarska y Zadar, Croacia, donde Holanda quedó en la 15ª posición.

En el Europeo Sub-20 División B de 2009 jugó 7 partidos con un promedio de 8,7 puntos (60,7 % en tiros de 2 y 63,6 % en tiros libres), 2,3 rebotes, 2,7 asistencias y 1,3 robos en 20 min de media. Finalizó el Europeo Sub-20 División B de 2009 como el 17º en tiros libres anotados (3 por partido) y el 19º máximo asistente.

En el Europeo Sub-20 de 2010 jugó 9 partidos con un promedio de 9 puntos (59,5 % en tiros de 2 y 71,8 % en tiros libres), 2,7 rebotes, 2,1 asistencias y 1,8 robos en 23,3 min de media. Fue el máximo asistente de su selección. Finalizó el Europeo Sub-20 de 2010 con el 13º mejor % de tiros libres y fue el 15º en robos, el 16º en faltas recibidas (4,2 por partido), el 17º máximo asistente y el 17º en tiros libres anotados (3,1 por partido).

Absoluta
Debutó con la selección de baloncesto de los Países Bajos en el EuroBasket 2015, celebrado entre Alemania, Croacia, Francia y Letonia, donde Holanda quedó en la 21ª posición.

Jugó 5 partidos con un promedio de 16,2 puntos (61,1 % en triples y 63,2 % en tiros libres), 4,6 rebotes, 3,2 asistencias y 1 robo en 29 min de media. Fue el máximo anotador y asistente y el 1º en robos y min de su selección.

Finalizó el EuroBasket 2015 con el 3º mejor % de triples y fue el 5º en tiros libres anotados (4,8 por partido) y faltas recibidas (6 por partido), el 6º en triples anotados (2,2 por partido) y el 8º máximo anotador.

En septiembre de 2022 disputó con el combinado absoluto neerlandés el EuroBasket 2022, finalizando en vigesimosegunda posición.

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 Ficha en Eurobasket.com
 Ficha en RealGM
 Ficha en la LEGA
 Ficha en FIBA Europe
 Ficha en FIBA.com
 Ficha en St. Bonaventure
 Ficha en la NJCAA
 Ficha en Sports-Reference
 Ficha en Basketball-Reference
 Ficha en Draft Express
 Ficha en ESPN.com
 Ficha en ACB.com

Baloncestistas de Surinam
Baloncestistas de los Países Bajos
Baloncestistas de la selección de los Países Bajos
Baloncestistas de la División II de la JUCO
Baloncestistas de los Guilford Tech Titans
Baloncestistas de la División I de la NCAA
Baloncestistas de los St. Bonaventure Bonnies
Baloncestistas de la Türkiye 2. Basketbol Ligi
Baloncestistas del İstanbul DSİ S.K.
Baloncestistas de la A1 Ethniki
Baloncestistas del Rethymno BC
Baloncestistas de la Lega Basket Serie A
Baloncestistas del Auxilium Torino
Baloncestistas de la Prva Liga
Baloncestistas del KK MZT Skopje
Baloncestistas de la Liga ACB
Baloncestistas del Club Baloncesto Murcia
Baloncestistas del Muğla Ormanspor Basketbol Kulübü
Baloncestistas del Bàsquet Club Andorra
Baloncestistas del Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
Baloncestistas del Oporto

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Take part in a one-time Cheers Queers counseling session to talk about how you're drinking at San Francisco AIDS Foundation—and you'll be eligible to receive up to $60 in VISA gift cards.
There's no requirement to change how you drink, although we encourage people who are curious about changing how they drink to participate. Contact Rich for more information, or take the Cheers Queers screening questionnaire to see if you qualify.
Find out more at cheersqueers.org.
Want to know how your drinking compares? Take the quiz.
© 2012 San Francisco AIDS Foundation. All rights reserved.


I remember back when I started my first website, the first attraction was an image aptly titled easter horror. It's still here, actually.
So today I present yet another Easter-centric photo strip. No candy this time, just all the stuff you need to get in the mood for some nice resurrection action.
Click here for the whole set on Flickr.


The University of West Georgia is committed to equal access for persons with disabilities. As such, we strive to remove barriers to facilities and programs wherever they exist.
If you encounter a barrier to access on our campus, such as an inoperable elevator, bicycles blocking an access ramp, or other obstructions, please help us identify them so that we can maintain access by removing the barriers as quickly as possible.
You may also report the barrier using the form below. Completing the form does not constitute filing a formal complaint or grievance. The University of West Georgia will follow up in as timely a manner as the information provided permits.
The email generated from this form goes directly to Accessibility Services. While the form may be completed anonymously, please let us know if you are a student, employee or visitor.
If you encounter a barrier to access on our campus, such as an inoperable elevator, bicycles blocking an access ramp, or other obstructions, please help us identify them so we can maintain access by removing the barriers as quickly as possible.
You may also report the barrier using the form below. Completing the form does not constitute filing a formal complaint or grievance. The University of West Georgia will follow up in as timely a manner as the information provided permits. The email generated from this form goes directly to Accessibility Services. The form may be completed anonymously. However, please let us know if you are a student, employee or visitor.
What is your role at UWG?


text:
This Joss Whedon Interview Leaves Me Optimistic About The Avengers
Published by B. McKenzie at 3:54 pm under Comic Book Movies
My main reservation is that a large cast frequently leads to more generic characters used in a more rushed way, more storytelling-by-committee (e.g. the studio dictating what can be done with each of the characters or how the plot has to play out), and less time for each character that viewers find interesting. For example, if you like Iron Man much more than Thor OR if you like Thor much more than Iron Man, then having both in the movie will result in less time for the one you want to see.
This Wired article suggests that Whedon and his team are at least aware of these issues, which bodes well. On the other hand, I would have been more encouraged if Whedon had been more involved in the selection of the villain (the company selected Loki for him).
UPDATE: Initial reviews for the movie on Rotten Tomatoes (based on an early overseas release) are astronomically high, 94% so far. Among superhero movies, only The Incredibles (97%) has done better.
12 Responses to "This Joss Whedon Interview Leaves Me Optimistic About The Avengers"
# deadmanshand on 30 Apr 2012 at 4:57 pm
Have no reservations about this movie. It's amazing. Beautifully done. Hands down my favorite superhero movie. Nothing else comes close.
# Nightwire on 30 Apr 2012 at 11:58 pm
I saw this movie the other day. It's freaking amazing! I still haven't recovered from the excitement!
Oh, and Bruce Banner/the Hulk totally steals the show.
# stet on 01 May 2012 at 5:35 am
The Avengers characters are interesting because they're so uninteresting. I mean, Batman is angst-y, verging on being a billionaire Dexter, Spiderman is very young, a nerd trying to do the right thing, the X-men, while often individually a bit boring, are part of an extended metaphor about racism and xenophobia. (And Mirageman–streaming on Netflix, my favorite superhero movie–is a bit dim.)
But in the Avengers, you have a billionaire playboy genius for whom superheroing is an extreme sport. You have the Hulk, who is interesting as Banner and a superpowered toddler having a tantrum as the Hulk. Thor is a god, and there's nothing more boring than that. Captain America is like a less-edgy version of Superman. All the conflict is external, any attempt at an interior problem just looks like the writers responding to a note: "This needs some emotional conflict."
That's probably why it makes such a good movie.
(Personally, I love a huge cast, with dozens of interchangeable bit characters who don't really matter. Well, at least that's the feedback I'm getting about my latest. Back to the chopping block …)
# deadmanshand on 01 May 2012 at 8:37 am
Wow, stet, I don't think you could be more wrong about the Avengers if you tried. The Avengers are interesting separately with very human problems. That's what makes them so good together. They overcome the internal conflict to deal with the external.
# Nightwire on 01 May 2012 at 10:20 am
@stet: It's quite clear you've never read a Marvel comic or watch the precluding movies before.
# B. McKenzie on 01 May 2012 at 12:12 pm
The initial reviews have been extremely favorable. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 94% rating (based on its 87 reviews so far). If that score holds up, it's probably among the best superhero movies ever made.
–The Incredibles: 97%
–The Dark Knight: 94%
–Spider-Man 2: 94%
–Iron Man: 93%
# deadmanshand on 01 May 2012 at 2:19 pm
Spider-Man 2 seriously is rated that highly? Wow. I hated that movie. Not as much as the third one but it was pretty bad. Other than that that sounds about right. It's a really good movie with a couple of hilarious moments in it. One that left me unable to breathe for a minute.
# Cuddles on 01 May 2012 at 7:12 pm
Great article. Thanks, B. Mac!
Well, I'll give you the original Iron Man, deadmanshand. He was interesting. But the current incarnation? The only interesting thing about him is that he's played by Robert Downey, Jr. The most interesting thing about Cap is he's supposed to be a strategic genius (or do I mean a tactical genius?), but we never really see that. Banner's interesting; Hulk's just smashing.
It's true that my Marvel-reading days were (mostly) long ago. But I'm talking here about the movies, not the comics.
Incredibles was great. I'm a fan of Mirageman. The first Batman (of the current Batmen; not the Keaton one) and Spiderman were both v. good.
But the movies with the Avengers in them were paint by numbers, in terms of internal conflict. Those plot points, where they existed, seemed pasted on. Frankly, I can't really remember exactly what they were. Hulk has no interior life, so he's got no internal conflict; that's all Banner. Cap was a pure-hearted 92 pound weakling then became a pure-hearted supersoldier. I guess he felt bad about doing his show for the fighting troops? Weak sauce. Iron Man has less interior life than Hulk. His origin story is basically 'gifted heir doesn't like terrorists.' They gave Thor an arc, but talk about paint by numbers. And he learned his lesson, and it's hard for me to imagine him learning another one.
I don't know. It's not like you need _much_ internal conflict in a superhero movie, but the Avengers crew just seems a bit light in their tights.
I'm not saying that they don't make good movies, though. Film focuses on the surfaces, certainly–rightly–in this genre.
# B. McKenzie on 02 May 2012 at 9:31 am
"But the current incarnation? The only interesting thing about him is that he's played by Robert Downey, Jr."
I don't think it's only RDJ. Very few of RDJ's other movies have fared as well critically. For example, the two recent Sherlock Holmes movies have averaged 65%, whereas the three movies with Iron Man have averaged 87%. The Sherlock Holmes movies weren't awful but nevertheless could have been so much better. In contrast, the Iron Man movies struck me as shockingly effective, very likely the most comedically effective superhero movies made so far. Granted, RDJ played a major role, but he didn't write the script, direct the movie, or do any special effects. In contrast, look at Green Lantern for a case where the off-camera talent ranged from subpar to historically ugly.
"Cap was a pure-hearted 92 pound weakling then became a pure-hearted supersoldier. I guess he felt bad about doing his show for the fighting troops? Weak sauce." Alternately, he's fighting for a role commensurate with his abilities… I thought it was a well-executed modern take on a classic story element (Greek heroes frequently needed to prove themselves to the public and/or allies before facing their nemeses). I think putting the Captain in a degrading PR role and having him struggle his way out helps suggest that there's more to him to than his superpowers. It would have been much less interesting if he had just effortlessly gone from getting superpowers to getting a prime military position–if it had happened that way, it would have been the superpowers doing all of the work.
By the way, his dissatisfaction with the safe PR role while duty calls him to the front lines is strikingly masculine. It really stood out to me–I think Hollywood's recent masculine characters have usually been more brutish than honorable.
"Banner's interesting; Hulk's just smashing." I disagree with one of these, but for professional reasons, it'd probably be best not to elaborate.
# deadmanshand on 02 May 2012 at 10:01 am
Stet, I'm just going to say that I couldn't disagree with you more and the vast majority of the comic book loving section of our populace agrees with me.
# Nightwire on 02 May 2012 at 6:54 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with B.Mac and deadmanshand.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This is the most lopsided Divisional Series matchup of all-time. Not only are the teams 18 games apart in the W/L column, but they should be even further apart. San Diego projects to a 75-win team using Pythagoras, and they were three games under .500 outside of the pathetic NL West. These Padres are the worst team to enter the postseason since... well, perhaps ever.
So what hope does this floundering team have against what has been the best team in baseball over the past two seasons?
None, really. Normally, Jake Peavy (13-7 2.88 216 K) would give this team a decided advantage in a short series, but since he's matched up against Chris "Duncanclay" Carpenter (21-5 2.83 213K), all he does is give the team a shot at keeping Game 1 close.
After Peavy, none of the San Diego starters have an ERA under 4.40. After Carpenter, the Cardinals still have four pitchers who each made 30+ starts this year and each possess an ERA under 4.15. The one edge that the Padres have is their unhittable bullpen, which led them to a 29-20 record in one-run games. Unfortunately, these games are going to get out of hand before the bullpen can bail the Padres out.
Brian Giles is the Padres offense, much like Paul Konerko, Morgan Ensberg, and Vlad Guerrero represent their respective playoff teams' offense. The trouble is that the White Sox, Astros, and Angels all have top-five defenses in terms of runs allowed. They can afford to play small-ball at the bottom of their order and hope for their big guy to make some noise, since they know that a couple of runs will win them games very frequently. The Padres have a guy in Dave Roberts who is having an unheralded year with a .784 OPS and 23 SB, but the nuisance he provides on-base isn't as unsettling when the Padres are already trailing by 3-4 runs.
Some good news is that Giles is used to not having much protection in his lineup. The bad news is that he still isn't the best type of hitter for a weak lineup. Konerko, Ensberg, and Vlad can each carry their offenses by swinging early in the count to drive in runs. Giles' patience would make him a superstar with 1 or 2 other good hitters around him, but as it is he's only driven in 100 runs once during the past five seasons. Take note of this, since these are the most negative words I will ever write about plate patience or Brian Giles.
And Cardinal fans, don't fret. I'm only focusing on the Padres since I know that I'll have a chance to write about your team next week in my Championship Series Preview.


text:
Home> Investor Relations > News Releases > AAR awarded $41M contract by National Nuclear Security Administration to provide a reconfigured transport aircraft
AAR awarded $41M contract by National Nuclear Security Administration to provide a reconfigured transport aircraft
Wood Dale, Sept. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs and OEMs, was awarded a firm, fixed-price contract by the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for the conversion and delivery of a B737-700 aircraft modified into a "FlexCombi" configuration.
"AAR is once again honored to provide increased airlift capability to the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration," said Jay Pereira, AAR Vice President of Government Programs. "We are proud to support this critical mission with a high-quality product at a very competitive price."
With this acquisition, the NNSA will increase its fleet size to support mission-critical activities to maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of the United States' nuclear deterrent capacity. The FlexCombi configuration gives the NNSA the ability to quickly configure the aircraft between passenger and/or cargo modes, serving ever-evolving mission requirements. Work will commence immediately and be completed within twelve months.
"We applaud the NNSA for recognizing the value and embracing the use of commercial best practices in this acquisition," said Nicholas Gross, AAR Senior Vice President Integrated Solutions. "This award further demonstrates the advantages available to the US Government by accessing the aftermarket for its systems and sustainment needs. AAR is in a unique position to deliver benefits given our commercial aftermarket expertise and ability to adapt to the needs of our government customers."
For more information about AAR´s Government Solutions, please visit aarcorp.com/integrated-solutions/government-solutions/.
AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AAR's Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AAR's Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.
This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which reflect management's expectations about future conditions, including the Company's unique position to deliver value given its commercial aftermarket expertise and ability to adapt to the needs of its government customers. Forward-looking statements may also be identified because they contain words such as ''anticipate,'' ''believe,'' ''continue,'' ''could,'' ''estimate,'' ''expect,'' ''intend,'' ''likely,'' ''may,'' ''might,'' ''plan,'' ''potential,'' ''predict,'' ''project,'' ''seek,'' ''should,'' ''target,'' ''will,'' ''would,'' or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
Daniela PietschAAR Corp
editor@aarcorp.com
AAR Corp


The Easter themed market will open between 11am and 4pm and aims to treat shoppers to a showcase of local produce, unique Easter gifts and cards, as well as arts and crafts. A number of food and drink stalls will also be present to help keep visitors well fuelled during the day.
Running alongside the Easter Fair on 9 April, will be the first of two children's Easter Egg Hunts. The Egg Hunts will see families exploring the Market Square and stalls to seek out Easter related clues in return for a small prize. A second Easter Egg Hunt will follow a week later on Saturday 15 April. Both will be free to take part in.
Deputy Leader of the Borough Council, Cllr Phil Larratt, said: "The historic feel and central location of Northampton Market Square makes it the perfect place for celebrating Easter with local families and visitors from across the county and beyond.
Local traders who would like to have a stall at the Easter Fair can book a stall with the Market Manager, Charlie Childs, at [email protected] or 07771 930475.


text:
When popular Indian restaurant will close after more than three decades
'We want to thank all our customers for their support and for keeping us running for so many years'
Ben Lyons
The three brothers who own Shah Jahan, (left to right) Saff, Shanny and Asif (Image: Shah Jahan)
A popular Indian restaurant will close this weekend after more than three decades of trading.
Family-run Shah Jahan has been feeding curry fans in Awsworth Road, Ilkeston, for more than 32 years.
Founded by entrepreneur Abdul Aziz, the restaurant was passed down to his three sons who have been running the restaurant since the mid 90s.
But back in September, Shanny, Saff, and Asif decided the time was right to sell up as they want to spend more time with their families.
And the owners have now confirmed that the restaurant, which specialises in serving Balti dishes and mixed grills, will close for the final time on Sunday, February 9.
Shanny said: "As a family we've been running the restaurant for 32 years and we are very saddened to leave.
"We want to thank all our customers for their support and for keeping us running for so many years.
"We have had the best of memories and made the best of friends over the years in Ilkeston, we've seen generations grow up at the restaurant.
The Shah Jahan restaurant in Ilkeston will close this weekend (Image: Google Street View)
"But it is time to move on - spend more time with our families and enjoy life.
"We are expecting a very busy week ahead as everyone wants to get their last curries in."
There was an outpouring of affection when the closure was announced, with dozens of customers sharing their best memories.
The restaurant currently has a TripAdvisor rating of 4/5, with more than 60pc rating it as "excellent".
Luke Webber clearly agreed with those reviewing, stating the food has "always been exceptional".
He said: "Will be missed greatly, been coming here for the last 15+ years and never had a bad meal, food has always been exceptional! Good luck to you all and completely understand family always take priority."
While Dawn Hunter went further and lauded Shah Jahan as her favourite curry house in the country.
She said: "Shah Jahan is the best, been to many restaurants across the UK, but they are far the best. We travel eight miles from home to go, nothing near our home comes close."


A FiOS TV package from Frontier will give you access to all the movies, TV shows, and sports programming you could want. Frontier makes it easy to stay caught up on your favorite TV shows since each FiOS TV package comes with thousands of On Demand Channels as well as hundreds of the popular channels you expect. And with Frontier TV Everywhere you don't just have lots of choices, you also have freedom to watch movies and TV wherever you go. You can use any tablet, computer, or smart phone that connects to the Internet. Do you want to watch a movie while you're running at the gym or check your team's scores while you wait to meet up with friends? Wherever you go, you'll have access to entertainment from FiOS TV from Frontier, and you'll be able to follow sports with Pac-12 Now. But that's not all. Frontier uses a complete fiber-optic network to bring you FiOS TV. Viewers get a sharp picture thanks to Frontier's cutting-edge network. Call today to learn more about FiOS TV packages.
Some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced. No one knows what services are really available to my residence. I've called numerous times to resolve issues. Have waited 2 weeks for a rechnician to show up at our house. Still nothing. I really wish Spectrum was available in my area!
Frontier strives to make Cookeville a better place.
Frontier Communications works tirelessly to be locally engaged in the communities it serves, such as Cookeville, TN. This dedication ranges from investing millions in 2012 in order to expand Internet availability across the state, to employing thousands of Tennesseans.
FiOS Internet in Cookeville is also playing an important role in education. With 571 students per librarian and a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 19.00:1 in Cookeville public schools, children need more resources than are available to them through individual educators.
Frontier Internet in Cookeville helps connect schools and homes across The Volunteer State so that children have more resources for learning wherever they are. Through safe, wireless devices and access to Frontier FiOS Internet speeds, children in Cookeville have more educational opportunities than ever before.


All orders of eligible items across any product category qualify for Free Shipping. Some items may have additional requirements for qualifying for Free Shipping.
At MD, we have earned a strong reputation with our customers by using the best materials, keeping up with the latest fashion trends, and taking the time necessary to ensure that you receive clothing that fits and is designed to last.
This means that when ordering products from us, you may not receive them as quickly compared to online retail stores such as Amazon. But there are good reasons why ordering direct offers substantial benefits.
It is true that ordering directly from the manufacturer will take a little more time compared to a retail store, but there are good reasons why the process works better for you.
In order to better fit your body, MD puts your body measurements to our step by step process to clothing line production. At MD, we use a step-by-step process to ensure the accuracy of your measurements is reflected in the clothing that you order. We take the extra step to make sure it is correct.
We work with the top designers who design boutique clothes for those big names. We work with the latest designers to incorporated new fashion trends that you see with the large fashion firms. We want to be your personal stylist and augment your clothing with the latest trends in design. Let us be your personal stylists.
We use the same manufacturers who make for those name brands. This means no middle man and no extra charges that inflate prices when you go through a third-party. Now you can enjoy the latest fashions at lower prices all with the same attention to fit and quality. We've cut out the middlemen so you can enjoy beautiful fashion for better prices.
While Amazon is a great place to buy many things, including books and devices at the lowest prices, they do not understand the fashion industry. That is why Amazon failed with their QVC-like shopping show because they assumed that selling fashion was just like selling printers. Quality matters in fashion and that's why we provide only the best to you.
When you consider that most US online boutiques only provide cheaply made clothing to make a profit, you'll understand why our clothing line is a far better choice. We don't use low-quality materials and slap them on shiny models to make them look good. We are here to make you look good by using the best materials at low, competitive prices.
It's far better to get things right than to get something that doesn't fit fast. That's why at MD we take the time necessary to ensure that what you receive works for you. Our clothing and products are made with love and care, meaning that we use only the best materials, so that what we provide will last.
In addition, we take the time needed to get every aspect of our processing and delivery right, so that you get what you want. Our team works as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality or effort in getting your order sent in a prompt, professional manner.
At MD, we understand that quality speaks volumes to our reputation. And while it might take a little extra time to get your order processed and delivered, our goal is to get it right the first time so that you can enjoy it for a lifetime.
Free Shipping applies to all orders of eligible items no matter the product category. There are additional requirements for some items that may qualify them for Free Shipping, which will be shown at the checkout.
Using the Free Shipping option, your order will be delivered in ten to twenty business days once all of your items are available to ship. We also offer Expedited and Priority Shipping options. Here is a breakdown of your options, with speeds calculated from the day your items are available to ship.
When you are on the product detail page, any item that carries a "Free Shipping" label is eligible for this service. The checkout page will also carry information about whether your item qualifies for free shipping.
If you cancel items, combine orders, change your shipping address, the speed of the item being shipped, or the preference, that may affect the eligibility for Free Shipping.
We can ship to a U.S. address that is in the 50 states plus D.C.


text:
February 22nd, 2014 - DIRTCar Nationals Nears a Close with WoO Events
Volusia Speedway Park welcomed the World of Outlaws (WoO) Late Model Series on Thursday night for the final three events of the 43rd Annual DIRTCar Nationals.
The first $10,000-to-win event of the week drew an impressive forty-five entries. Jack failed to make the transfer into the main event via heat race action, relinquishing him to a sixth row starting spot in the b-main. Sullivan's night came to an end after the b-main when finished ninth, missing the transfer into the 50 lap feature.
The week drew to a close on Saturday night with a DIRTCar Nationals finale that boasted a $10,000 top prize. Thirty-five entries were on hand and Jack missed the transfer into the main event from his heat race. Sullivan failed to transfer to the 50 lap feature event after a seventh place finish in the b-main.
Full results from the can be found at www.woolms.com
February 19th, 2014 - Sullivan Competes in DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia
Jack Sullivan kicked off the Super Late Model portion of the DIRTCar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, FL on Monday night.
The event drew forty entries and boosted a $7,000-to-win top prize. Jack just missed the transfer into the main event via heat race action, but was able to lock in an 18th place starting spot after winning his respective b-main. Sullivan was able to secure a 19th place finish in the 30 lap feature event.
After a night off, Jack returned to the seat on Wednesday night at Volusia. Forty-two competitors were registered for the $10,000-to-win event. Jack narrowly missed the transfer into the main event through his heat race. In the b-main, Sullivan battled with Chase Junghans for the final transfer spot before he slipped high and out of contention for a starting spot in the 40 lap feature.
Complete results from the event are available at www.dirtcarnationals.com
February 16th, 2014 - Sullivan Enters World of Outlaws Event at Bubba
Jack Sullivan entered the World of Outlaws (WoO) Late Model Series event at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida on Friday night to kick off his 2014 racing season.
A total of 27 competitors signed in for the $7,000-to-win event and Jack was able to lock in a 14th place starting spot for the 35 lap feature event after he finished fifth in his preliminary heat race. During the course of the feature, Sullivan raced around mid-pack for much of the event before settling into a 15th place finish.
Round #2 of the Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park drew twenty-seven competitors. Jack posted the fifth quickest time overall and went on to finish fifth in his heat race, earning him a 14th place starting spot for the feature. Jack retired his mount with mechanical issues after just 18 laps of the 50 lapper, resulting in 23rd place finish.
Sullivan scored his best finish of the week in the $12,000-to-win finale on Sunday evening. Jack recovered from a modest qualifying run to finish fourth in his heat race, this earned him a 14th place starting spot in the feature event. During the course of the 60 lap feature, Jack drove by four other competitors on his way to a tenth place finish.
Full results from the weekend are available at www.woolms.com


Expand your payment capabilities with tools that allow you to collect currency abroad. The Collect functionality gives you a ready-made collections product that issues you with local accounts to speed up payments in the US and Eurozone.
A complete solution with a simple API integration. You can leverage our trusted platform and tailor your payments capabilities to give your customers a first-class experience, free from the complexities and inefficiencies of traditional cross-border payments.


text:
Lajos Czeizler, född 5 oktober 1893 i Heves i dåvarande Österrike-Ungern, död 6 maj 1969 i Budapest, Ungern, var en ungersk fotbollstränare. Med totalt 11 större titlar är han än en av de mest framgångsrika fotbollstränarna någonsin.

Han startade sin karriär på 1920-talet i Polen, i ŁKS Łódź, där han hade sitt första tränarjobb. 1940 flyttade han till Sverige, där han hade sina största framgångar med IFK Norrköping. Han tog där rekordmånga titlar genom att leda laget till fem SM-guld (1942-43, 1944-45, 1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48) samt två cup-guld 1943 och 1945. När han ledde IFK Norrköping till guldet 1948 blev han den äldste tränaren att ta denna titel. Han var då 54 år, 8 månader och 1 dag gammal. Rekordet är sedan dess slaget av Conny Karlsson med Helsingborgs IF.

Efter sin tid i Sverige flyttade Lajos Czeizler till Italien där han vann ligan med A.C Milan 1951. Han var tränare för Italiens landslag under Världsmästerskapet i fotboll 1954. År 1961 vann han sin andra titel i Italien med Fiorentina när laget besegrade Lazio med 2–0 i cupfinalen.

1963–64 vann han både ligan och cupen med S.L. Benfica i Portugal.

Referenser

Noter

Ungerska fotbollstränare
Tränare i ŁKS Łódź
Tränare i Udinese Calcio
Tränare i Västerås SK Fotboll
Tränare i IFK Norrköping
Tränare i AC Milan
Tränare i Calcio Padova
Tränare i UC Sampdoria
Tränare i ACF Fiorentina
Tränare i SL Benfica
Ungerska idrottare under 1900-talet
Personer från Heves
Födda 1893
Avlidna 1969
Män


text:
extern "C" {

WEAK __attribute__((always_inline)) int halide_profiler_set_current_func(halide_profiler_state *state, int tok, int t) {
    // Use empty volatile asm blocks to prevent code motion. Otherwise
    // llvm reorders or elides the stores.
    volatile int *ptr = &(state->current_func);
    asm volatile ("":::);
    *ptr = tok + t;
    asm volatile ("":::);
    return 0;
}

}


Delphys Rising by Kip Koelsch follows on from the author's first book, Wendall's Lullaby, and tells the story of one man's determination and obsession to communicate with dolphins. It has always been known that dolphins are highly intelligent and that they communicate with one another via clicks and high-pitched noises, but can humans decipher these sounds, and can they respond so that the dolphins understand? Bee is a dolphin who may just be able to do that. Hans is a nine-year-old who can identify the dolphins through their sound and Dr. Evan McMillon might just have invented a means to perfect the communication with Delphys. But other forces are at work, and ghosts from his past seem determined to destroy his life's work.
The author has crafted an amazing scenario that seems all the more plausible because of his skilful and knowledgeable writing. The characters all come across as authentic and credible, and the whole scenario leads the reader to believe that such a center exists. The setting is in Tortola, and the writer describes the scene perfectly which transports the reader to the dolphin world. I have not read the first book by Kip Koelsch, but Delphys Rising is a stand-alone book and it did not deter me from enjoying and relating to the story. It certainly encourages the reader to pick up the first book to relate to the origin of the story and to the transition of Dr. Evan McMillon. The writing and the dialogue flow well, making this an enjoyable read from the start. An author to watch.


text:
AIQ - The climate edition
Climate data
Seeing through the fog
28 February 2020 19 minute read
AIQ Editorial Team
Global Investment Thinking @avivainvestors
Big data is heralded as the answer to almost every problem, so why not the climate crisis?
What would an algorithm tell us if we asked it to solve the climate crisis? It is a nice idea to think we could outsource such a gigantic problem to a machine. In fact, artificial intelligence experts have already started to ask this very question.1
More on climate change
Apathy, anger, action: The psychology of climate change
Nuclear: From pariah to saviour?
'Sticking' it to carbon: The pros and cons of taxing emissions
Why asset managers cannot be passive on climate change
Google famously used computing power to improve its energy efficiency.2 However, while incremental progress will be made through endeavours such as this, the quality of the data will likely hamper its success: as the saying goes, "rubbish in, rubbish out".
In this AIQ article, we look at the potential for all forms of data – big, micro and alternative – to be translated into meaningful information and then collected and presented in a way that encourages tangible, action-driven outcomes. Challenges arise over privacy, ownership and responsibility. While individuals have a clear role to play in shifting consumer behaviour to a more sustainable footing, we expend the bulk of our attention on governments and companies.
Climate data: Seeing through the fog
Challenges of collecting data
Let's start with the difficulties in obtaining the right data from companies, and the reasons why there is a growing clamour for mandatory rather than voluntary reporting. According to the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment at Oxford University, levels of emissions disclosures range from 67 per cent of large companies in developed markets to just 25 per cent of small firms in emerging economies.3 Climate Action 100+, an investor initiative to pressure the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitters to take action on climate change, states companies in the oil and gas sector are among the least transparent – only 63 per cent report their emissions data to CDP, a climate-change data collection and assessment programme, and just 38 per cent conduct and report on climate scenario planning.4
A company is rationally going to operate within the laws it has
Glen Peters, research director at the Center for International Climate Research (CICERO) in Oslo, believes this gap in reporting needs to be filled by regulation. "At the end of the day, a company is rationally going to operate within the laws it has, unless it sees some competitive advantage in going faster than what regulation may require. So, the political/regulatory framework is pretty important, and one thing is to try and push it towards putting stronger limitations on CO2 emissions and so on, which then forces all companies to act."
Experience also suggests pressure from investors, civil society and activist groups is effective. Participants at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment's 7th Sustainable Finance Forum argued: "All of these groups could drive progress by asking more of the right questions of companies on topics of sustainable supply chains." They added the use of sensory data was "potentially transformative for the sustainable finance system, with investors and activists able to use data to drive change in corporate practices, revolutionise corporate reporting, track natural capital and improve supply chain management".5 (More on this later.) The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the largest public pension plan in the US, which manages pensions for more than two million California public employees, retirees, and their families, was a founding member of Climate Action 100+, and an early supporter of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Anne Simpson, director of board governance and strategy at CalPERS, agrees the voluntary nature of reporting is failing.
"Our view as a global institutional investor is that these types of sustainability data need to be included in mandatory reporting. The reason for that is to ensure consistency, reliability, integration with the financials, and to allow us to make comparisons between companies, sectors and over time. Right now, we just can't do that," she says. "You can treat one company as a proxy for another in theory, but in practice it's really giving you a very unsatisfactory view. We can put together a fancy model or an algorithm, but really this is not acceptable to us as fiduciaries."
Paul Lacoursiere, global head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) research at Aviva Investors, has the same view.
Not all companies disclose even basic environmental and social metrics
"The disclosure of ESG metrics is nowhere near the level of disclosure of financial metrics. It's not a requirement, and without a clear deadline analogous to what is required for financial reporting, ESG metrics tend to be significantly lagged," he says. For investors trying to analyse relevant ESG information over a one-year period, Lacoursiere estimates only 20 to 30 per cent would be available. "At this point, not all companies disclose even basic environmental and social metrics."
In fact, ESG ratings provided by external providers are nowhere near as reliable as standard credit ratings, from both an information accuracy and a rating consistency standpoint. "MSCI, for example, rates most of the opportunity set," explains Lacoursiere. "If a company does not disclose a metric, MSCI applies some form of industry related average estimate – in this scenario a company can choose to disclose only its strongest metrics, because it knows MSCI will give it an average grade for metrics it doesn't disclose. I am uncomfortable with that."
Lacoursiere would like to see an ESG data framework develop, "as in financial reporting – where there is a base set of statistics under each of the categories required, and the companies must put resources behind measuring and disclosing those metrics, so that it's a level playing field from one company to the next".
The TCFD aims to provide more guidance on emissions reporting through its Greenhouse Gas Protocol's Scope 1, 2 and 3 framework (with Scope 3 including upstream and downstream emissions). Yet it is still not enough, according to Lacoursiere.
The TCFD guidelines provide a lot of flexibility around how that report is compiled
"We need more, simply because the TCFD guidelines provide a lot of flexibility around how that report is compiled. So, if every company is using a different methodology, it is not the same as having an accounting standard," he says.
Not everyone has such a dim view of the progress being made. Fiona Reynolds, CEO of the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), says PRI is making TCFD-reporting mandatory for signatories from 2020. She argues the TCFD is, slowly but surely, leading to increased harmonisation.
"Scenario analysis – TCFD's forward-looking element – has been critical in providing both investors and companies with a view of the future and an understanding of how they will be impacted by the transition. This has led, and will continue to lead, to more informed decision making and an understanding of how to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement," she says.
Led by CalPERS, investor group Climate Action 100+ also works extensively with organisations focused on corporate climate performance – the Carbon Tracker Initiative, CDP, InfluenceMap, the Transition Pathway Initiative and the 2° Investing Initiative – having set up a technical advisory group to develop a relevant set of indicators and analytical frameworks, including science-based emissions targets.6
Figure 1: Core elements of recommended climate-related financial disclosures
Source: TCFD, Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, May 2018
The difficulties of harmonising reporting
One explanation for the lack of guidance and harmonisation is the difficulty in coming up with measures that are relevant across industries in the way accounting measures can be. The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is working on it, as are the TCFD and other environmental standards bodies. However, Lacoursiere argues that even if developing common metrics for emissions is achievable, measuring risk is more complicated.
The lack of a coherent, compulsory reporting framework may also be stopping the most exposed firms from fully disclosing their risks
"If you extend [the framework] to 'what's your Value-at-Risk due to climate change?', then the underlying analytics become opaque, so the second phase would be more difficult," he says. "If you went to three different service providers and asked them to give you that statistic, and didn't let them talk to each other, you would get three very different numbers back."
In the meantime, the lack of a coherent, compulsory reporting framework may also be stopping the most exposed firms from fully disclosing their risks, as they could put themselves at a competitive disadvantage. CalPERS' Simpson believes businesses have not improved their reporting because they believe there is a first-mover disadvantage. "If you say, 'Wow, look at all my risks and exposures' – why would I do that when it's not a requirement for all companies?" she says.
In the US and elsewhere, companies have a fear of liability too. "The TCFD is looking at physical risk, transition risk and litigation risk. Obviously, if a company discloses that it has some litigation risk it could be self-fulfilling, so we've seen hardly any disclosure in that area," says Steve Waygood, chief responsible investment officer at Aviva Investors.
Similar differences in disclosure are found at a country level. "Developed countries have to report on a regular basis on their emissions, and there's a quite detailed and standardised way they do that reporting," says CICERO's Peters. "But developing countries don't have to do that, or they don't have to do it so often, and that makes our life that much harder as researchers to figure out what's going on."
Competing frameworks
To solve these issues, a common, prescriptive regulatory framework is needed, but this still seems some way off. "Even though there are these initiatives, it's all very unharmonised and un-comparable from a research perspective," says Peters. "Companies or countries can basically say what they like and still get away with it. You can always find a way to define your emissions so that they're going down."
A common, prescriptive regulatory framework is needed, but this still seems some way off
Rhonda Brauer, a securities lawyer, ESG consultant and co-author of the Council of Institutional Investors' Sustainability Reporting Frameworks: A Guide for CIOs,7 explains: "The reporting frameworks include, among others, CDP, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the SASB and the TCFD.
"In terms of the ongoing efforts by the framework sponsors to align with each other, the most prominent example is the Corporate Reporting Dialogue's ongoing two-year effort: the Better Alignment Project. While the participating frameworks have agreed on some common principles, we are not yet near a place where one or more of the actors will merge or leave the market," Brauer adds.
The Financial Times in November noted these organisations are all trying to push their framework to become the one industry standard,8 making life difficult for those trying to report, and undermining the work to improve disclosures.
Rather than consolidating, harmonisation efforts seem to be needlessly multiplying
Rather than consolidating, harmonisation efforts seem to be needlessly multiplying. A group of central banks launched the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) in April 2019 which, among other recommendations, urged for globally consistent disclosure; the World Benchmarking Alliance was set up in 2018 to show up the best and worst performers on the UN Sustainable Development Goals;9 and the European Union is working on a region-wide taxonomy to help companies and investors define relevant metrics for sustainability. Programmes also comprise the Impact Weighted Accounts Initiative and a project by the CFA Institute to establish standardised ESG reporting for asset managers, similar to the CFA's Global Investment Performance Standards.
Lacoursiere is slightly more optimistic about convergence, particularly in Europe, where regulators have more appetite to force the issue. "Through the European Securities Market Authority, I think we'll see convergence within the next five years. All the financial regulators within that network are looking at requiring asset owners to disclose those statistics, which will have a trickle-down effect to asset managers and then companies themselves. I'm a bit more sceptical we'll see that in North America or in Asia in the next five years, [although] the trend is encouraging."
The TCFD's recommendations are a good illustration of the types of data companies should be reporting
Brauer agrees the onus is on regulators to force the issue. "If regulators played a more active role in standardising compulsory sustainability reporting, not only would it end the 'survey fatigue' about which companies complain, but it would also create a common playing field for the reporting," she says. "The resulting disclosure could be audited by accounting and engineering firms, several of which are already active participants in the different framework organisations. Such audits should also help to respond to those who criticise some of the current voluntary disclosures as 'greenwashing'."10
Although frameworks remain under discussion, the TCFD's recommendations are a good illustration of the types of data companies should be reporting and investors should be incorporating into their models.
Filling in the blanks: Could sensors and satellites solve the data dearth?
Until the lack of harmonisation is resolved, many are turning to technology to fill the information gap.
Investors are using big data to fill gaps so they have better information to support investment decisions
"Increasingly, investors are using big data to fill gaps so they have better information to support investment decisions," says Lacoursiere. Yet there is a long way to go. "A lot of the things we're talking about today are in their infancy, in terms of applying the datasets and machine learning and other analytic approaches to the problem. It's not a well-developed practice at this point; it's not something you can buy off the shelf."
For instance, the US State of New Mexico recently partnered with Descartes Lab to monitor methane emissions to stop leaks and reduce its carbon footprint, but the level of precision needed remains beyond the best technology.11
Although the use of satellites, sensors and big data analytics to measure emissions and inform investment decisions is just beginning, much of the data and computer programmes that make it possible exist and are constantly improving. We also know how to use much of it already, from companies predicting consumer preferences to cities monitoring water quality. This could finally bring data-driven emissions regulation within reach.12
Whether to measure direct emissions from factories, across a company's supply chain, or at a country level, an increasing number of options are emerging, including mobile data, big data analytics from online sources, satellite measures and data available from the plethora of sensors scattered around the world.
This could finally bring data-driven emissions regulation within reach
Government satellites, like the European Space Agency's Sentinel 5P, and other observation missions, like the US Landsat Missions, measure greenhouse-gas emissions (among many other things) and make the data publicly available. They are complemented by commercial satellites – particularly the constellations of tiny satellites called "cube sats" – whose measures can be bought to analyse all manner of information and, increasingly, drone observations.13
For instance, air pollution can be measured through a combination of satellite data and local sensors, and AI analyses of satellite imagery of shipping routes can track and report illegal activities.14 Similarly, Planet Labs' 200 Dove satellites use cameras and sensors to monitor the earth daily, with the aim of one day measuring emissions with precision. California is planning on using the Dove satellites to monitor its wildfires, as part of its plan to track greenhouse gases.15
This type of approach allows analysts and researchers to find and assess relevant data that does not
This type of approach allows analysts and researchers to find and assess relevant data that does not feature in companies' or countries' disclosure reports, such as litigation due to environmental damage, partnerships with clean or carbon-intensive energy providers, or speeches stating a firm's commitment to better practices. These can be found through scraping (compiling information from online and offline sources) and crawling (using programmes to search across online sources).16 Using AI to sort and analyse the mass of information gathered could make sense of it without deploying armies of researchers.
"Each individual piece of data may not be that instructive, but when you pull them all together, then you can get a coherent story.
This is what we do to some extent when we try and estimate what emissions will be in 2019 before the year is complete," says Peters.
In a recent IPE article, Ben Caldecott, director of the Oxford Sustainable Finance Programme, argued this could be a game changer for investors. "These rapidly growing data mountains can then feed increasingly sophisticated predictive models to generate more and more insights and results."17
Caldecott participated in the 2019 launch of the Spatial Finance Initiative, which aims to leverage satellite and other geospatial measurements and use AI to feed these into financial decision making.18 "This creates a significant opportunity for the financial services industry, including, but not limited to, the effective implementation of ESG practices."
However, using the example of 18 countries that he and colleagues found to have reduced their carbon footprint between 2005 and 2015,19 Peters explains why this is not straightforward. "Typically, what the algorithm does is to find countries where emissions have gone down and economic activity has gone up over that ten-year period, but over ten years you can have a few economic ups and downs. Some of the ups and downs will relate to economic challenges. Each country will have something unique about it."
To make sense of the data, researchers need to complement it with other relevant information
To make sense of the data, researchers need to complement it with other relevant information. Similarly, when using big or alternative data, investors must first determine what to look for, and then how to interpret their findings.
Other gaps remain. Data found online can be biased – for instance, if an issue causes noise on social media without necessarily representing the facts. Physical data gleaned through satellites or sensors still often lacks precision, and raises privacy issues when it comes to exploring a company or country's activities (including the impact of imported emissions).
Bringing everything together
Whether using reporting, big data, interviewing companies directly or taking a mix of sources, the first step is to formalise the necessary data. Lacoursiere gives the example of financial analysts trying to estimate company earnings ahead of announcements, for instance by tracking a retail company's mall footfall, or using satellite imagery to measure activity levels at a mining company's various sites.
Instead of estimating foot traffic and purchases you are estimating carbon outputs or energy consumption
"There's an analogy to that in the climate area, where instead of estimating foot traffic and purchases you are estimating carbon outputs or energy consumption. The framework exists, but I don't think it's been rigorously applied to estimating things that we know influence climate change."
At a country level, tools like the UN's Emissions Gap Report are making it possible to track reported emissions against countries' or companies' commitments.20 However, understanding those commitments can be challenging because some are – perhaps deliberately – ambiguous.
"There are various ways to manipulate data, in a justifiable way, that can make it easier or harder to get to a target," says Peters. Until that happens, if big data can help refine and improve the accuracy of estimates where companies don't disclose, it will make it much easier to see through cases of greenwashing.
"Greenwashing is about transparency: the more granularity we have as it pertains to the datasets, the more we can check that. A common language and better inputs should help," says Francois de Bruin, sustainable income and growth portfolio manager at Aviva Investors.
Peters concurs, to a degree. "You can probably go quite some way by mining data, but to get the structures in place to collect that data can be extremely difficult. You can mine data that's out there, but the job would be a hell of a lot easier if the appropriate data was collected and reported," he says.
To get the structures in place to collect that data can be extremely difficult
He adds it is difficult, although not impossible, to check for data manipulation. "This comes back to data mining. You're essentially looking for inconsistencies in data; for example, if China says its coal consumption went down while statistics of steel production, cement production, electricity generation show ten per cent growth. I guess accountants and tax officers probably do something similar for companies, essentially trying to find inconsistencies in data streams."
Lacoursiere thinks machine learning could also improve investors' and companies' climate-risk scenarios, as it already does for weather forecasting. "It's an interesting relationship. Historically, a given set of atmospheric conditions would result in predictable weather patterns, but those relationships are changing. Neural networks are very good at identifying changing relationships, so they are naturally suited to the problem."
Human input will always remain indispensable
He and de Bruin agree human input will always remain indispensable, however. "It has to be both, because there is no defined set of rules an algorithm can simply follow and then decide on our behalf. Interpretation is required," says de Bruin.
In 2018, the United Nations' Exponential Climate Action Roadmap said the question now was, "How do we provide governments, businesses and citizens with shared roadmaps that show the way, which can be defined and redefined as we go?"
The report argued all the data needed to create these roadmaps was already accessible, from government policies to public emission statistics and published research. However, the data remains scattered and needs to be collated, analysed and presented under a common framework. "By methodically presenting open data in this way, we can see exactly where we stand, focus on the right actions, hold stakeholders accountable and spread best practice. In doing so, roadmaps become vital tools that can be used to drive action and guide strategies."21
Participants at the summit are working on this, and have since published another two roadmaps, the latest presenting 36 solutions to halve emissions by 2030.22 Many show how big data, technology such as sensors and satellites, and AI can radically change carbon emissions:
Solar, wind, storage and smart grid technology supported by digital solutions will enable electrification, decentralisation and greening of the energy system.
Digitalisation can improve delivery by optimising shipments, routes and traffic systems.
Deforestation can now be predicted and detected through digital solutions, which helps form the basis for proactive action through monitoring and improving agriculture, reforestation and peatland restoration.
Through the use of Internet of Things, AI, 5G and digital-twin technology, the need for more roads and physical infrastructure can be dramatically reduced through optimising existing infrastructure.
Political will is also needed, as well as greater ownership and accountability by companies and investors, among other stakeholders.
Figure 2: Corporate credit and equities warming potential (in°C) for Aviva's shareholder funds
Source: Carbon Delta, Aviva. As at 31 December 2018
Another example in the UN Climate Action Summit 2018 report was on methane leaks. It said: "Solutions to reduce a significant portion of this leakage are generally available, and many are profitable, but aren't applied at a large scale because return on investment is considered too low. Stronger policy and better monitoring techniques can help close the gap. In particular, the technology industry can play a leading role here, through the use of drones and AI to detect leaks, and to help make sense of the large amounts of data already available."
Beyond mandatory reporting by companies, de Bruin believes "there has to be a framework for opinion and the only way you can get companies to go the extra mile is to create incentives".
Meanwhile, Simpson is adamant that accountability is key. "What we're calling for at Climate Action 100+ is: First, companies need to take responsibility and support the energy transition – and that means being accountable; second, they need to set targets to support the goals of the Paris Agreement; third, companies should all report under the TCFD framework," she says.
If demand for oil doesn't go down, Shell can't plan to put itself out of business
"Let's take a company like Shell. Thanks to Climate Action 100+, it has agreed to take responsibility for its Scope 3 emissions. […] The big emissions come when Shell passes the refined product onto its customers, that's Scope 3: utilities, transport, transportation, airlines and so on. So, by Shell taking responsibility for Scope 3, it means that, as an oil company, it needs to be in a dialogue with other sectors of the economy. Because if demand for oil doesn't go down, Shell can't plan to put itself out of business."
Investors will play a key role
"The free lunch in climate change is akin to free fast food for lunch," says de Bruin. "There is a near-term benefit (low cost) and it meets immediate needs, but longer term you're better off paying for sustainable food groups. As the benefits of disclosure become clear, it should create a virtuous cycle of continued reinvestment; a bit like paying for a healthy, balanced diet."
Investors are increasingly realising this, which is a powerful driver in the search for more and better data. Waygood explains how Aviva compared its portfolios' carbon footprint to that of the London Stock Exchange.23 "You can see the FTSE 100 is about 3.9 degrees. Our portfolio is better, but still about 3.4 degrees, so that gives you a sense of the gap."
ESG risks are integral to the risk framework
De Bruin explains how this has changed investors' approach. "As any credit analyst will tell you, ESG risks are integral to the risk framework. These are all material risks that are in your framework already, so it's just that we are now explicitly putting it into a category. We are now finally shining the spotlight on exactly what it is that needs to be addressed."
Interestingly, this spotlight is also influencing bondholders' perceived responsibility to engage with companies. "I do think, historically, shareholders would have been seen as the flag bearers, but now, increasingly, debt investors have a role to play," says de Bruin. "Bondholders can say, 'We're not refinancing this time round because we want to see certain levels of disclosure'. Essentially, they are the gatekeepers of the capital."
He also believes large investment firms can use their own data resources to share information and engage with smaller companies. "If they are smaller, they might not have the resources to even consider these decisions. As investors, we might be able to say, 'This is what we are seeing globally, have you considered this and this?' It's a conversation."
Big data can help investors better understand issues and trade offs in emerging markets
Similarly, big data can help investors better understand issues and trade offs in emerging markets, and to then engage with companies locally, which are keen to discuss the climate transition. "From the initial letters that we have sent, we have had responses not from the investor relations teams, but from the CEOs themselves. They want to engage on this topic, they know it's pertinent," says de Bruin.
Better data – and particularly ESG data – also creates investment opportunities. By using an open-architecture framework, de Bruin explains, "If I'm dealing with supplier issues in toys in the US and South America, I can learn from those in Asia".
On the equities side, Trevor Green, UK equities portfolio manager at Aviva Investors, adds: "One of the things we've really progressed with this year is looking at the change in the direction of the [ESG] score because that's the key. It's not about absolute levels, [it's about] who's moving in a particular direction. That brings new investment ideas to light."
Lacoursiere believes the next steps should be companies analysing their business models and value chains using the same approach asset managers are taking today, albeit as practitioners rather than evaluators. "If a company isn't using this info to help make its capex investment decisions, more of them will go wrong. That will just become more apparent as time goes by, and the market will make it more apparent which companies are doing well and which aren't," he says.
"Ultimately, I would like to see a world in which there is no difference between ESG and non-ESG investing, as more financial market participants come to realise the significant financial impact of so-called 'non-financial' information," adds Brauer.
Figure 3: Integrating climate risk into investment considerations
Source: Aviva Investors, 31 December 2019
Of the three demands of climate activist group Extinction Rebellion, the first is "Tell the truth". While not everyone endorses all their views, and indeed actions, this maxim has neat parallels with the debate on data and the desperate need for transparency.
"We think that when people understand the emergency that we are in, then they will actually be pushing and supportive of some sort of emergency mobilisation," says Andrew Medhurst, who leads the UK national finance working group at Extinction Rebellion.
It is crucial for investors to assess climate risk when allocating capital
The effects of climate change will have a growing impact on individuals, companies and the economy. As such, it is crucial for investors to assess climate risk when allocating capital. The investment community is slowly but surely heading towards an agreement on compulsory reporting standards. However, there will always be a need for richer and more up-to-date information to augment it, as there are limits to what companies and countries can, and are willing to, disclose.
According to Simpson at CalPERS, the issue is cut and dried. "What we've done on the climate change agenda is to take emissions reduction as our priority. The reason for that is simple: we're on a timetable. The clock is ticking, and we can't be fiddling while Rome burns, in this case almost literally."
It is a complex task. Given how much is at stake for investors – whether they are passionate about saving the planet or simply looking out for their financial interests – the need to optimise environmental data collection and analysis has become one of their most pressing objectives.
Would you like to read the whole of AIQ: The Climate Edition?
Subscribe to download a PDF copy or get a printed edition delivered directly to you.
David Rolnick et al., 'Tackling climate change with machine learning', November 2019
James Vincent, 'Google uses DeepMind AI to cut data center energy bills', The Verge, 21 July 2016
Elizabeth Harnett, Conor Hickey, Lucas Kruitwagen, Matthew McCarten, Xiao Zhou, 'Impact and ultra-transparency: measuring and managing the impacts of investments and investee companies on climate change and the SDGs', 7th Sustainable Finance Forum & 2nd ADI Annual Meeting Summary of Proceedings, June 2018
'2019 Progress Report', Climate Action 100+, September 2019
Elizabeth Harnett et al., 'Impact and ultra-transparency: measuring and managing the impacts of investments and investee companies on climate change and the SDGs', 7th Sustainable Finance Forum & 2nd ADI Annual Meeting Summary of Proceedings, June 2018
Rhonda Brauer and Glenn Davis, 'Sustainability Reporting Frameworks: A Guide for CIOs', Council of Institutional Investors, September 2019
Billy Nauman, 'Moral Money: Friendly fire from 'warrior accountants,' Financial Times, 13 November 2019
Elisabeth Jeffries, 'Risk metrics jigsaw', IPE Special Report, November 2019
Greenwashing refers to the practice of painting a more positive picture of a company's ESG credentials than is in fact the case
Michael J. Coren, 'Space-based data on polluters is improving—and Wall Street is taking notice', Quartz, 16 October 2019
Mark Johnson, 'What climate change looks like from outer space', Quartz, 26 September 2019
Dewi John, 'Artificial Intelligence: Solving the riddle with AI', IPE Special Report, November 2019
Ben Caldecott, 'Viewpoint: Spatial finance has a key role', IPE Special Report, November 2019
Spatial Finance Initiative
Pep Canadell, Corinne Le Quéré, Glen Peters, Jan Ivar Korsbakken and Robbie Andrew, 'Eighteen countries showing the way to carbon zero', The Conversation, 25 February 2019
'UN Environment Emissions Gap Report', UNEP DTU Partnership (UDP)
Johan Falk et al., 'Exponential climate action roadmap', Exponentialroadmap.org and Global Climate Action Summit, September 2018
Johan Falk et al., 'Exponential roadmap: Scaling 36 solutions to halve emissions by 2030', Exponentialroadmap.org and Global Climate Action Summit, September 2019
'Aviva's climate-related financial disclosure 2018', Aviva, March 2019
Except where stated as otherwise, the source of all information is Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (AIGSL) as at 31 January 2020. Unless stated otherwise any views and opinions are those of Aviva Investors. They should not be viewed as indicating any guarantee of return from an investment managed by Aviva Investors nor as advice of any nature. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but has not been independently verified by Aviva Investors and is not guaranteed to be accurate. Past performance is not a guide to the future. The value of an investment and any income from it may go down as well as up and the investor may not get back the original amount invested. Nothing in this material, including any references to specific securities, assets classes and financial markets is intended to or should be construed as advice or recommendations of any nature. This material is not a recommendation to sell or purchase any investment.
In the UK & Europe this material has been prepared and issued by AIGSL, registered in England No.1151805. Registered Office: St. Helen's, 1 Undershaft, London, EC3P 3DQ. Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. In France, Aviva Investors France is a portfolio management company approved by the French Authority "Autorité des Marchés Financiers", under n° GP 97-114, a limited liability company with Board of Directors and Supervisory Board, having a share capital of 17 793 700 euros, whose registered office is located at 14 rue Roquépine, 75008 Paris and registered in the Paris Company Register under n° 335 133 229. In Switzerland, this document is issued by Aviva Investors Schweiz GmbH, authorised by FINMA as a distributor of collective investment schemes.
In Singapore, this material is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Asia Pte. Limited (AIAPL) for distribution to institutional investors only. Please note that AIAPL does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this material. Recipients of this material are to contact AIAPL in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this material. AIAPL, a company incorporated under the laws of Singapore with registration number 200813519W, holds a valid Capital Markets Services Licence to carry out fund management activities issued under the Securities and Futures Act (Singapore Statute Cap. 289) and Asian Exempt Financial Adviser for the purposes of the Financial Advisers Act (Singapore Statute Cap.110). Registered Office: 1Raffles Quay, #27-13 South Tower, Singapore 048583. In Australia, this material is being circulated by way of an arrangement with Aviva Investors Pacific Pty Ltd (AIPPL) for distribution to wholesale investors only. Please note that AIPPL does not provide any independent research or analysis in the substance or preparation of this material. Recipients of this material are to contact AIPPL in respect of any matters arising from, or in connection with, this material. AIPPL, a company incorporated under the laws of Australia with Australian Business No. 87 153 200 278 and Australian Company No. 153 200 278, holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL 411458) issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Business Address: Level 30, Collins Place, 35 Collins Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000, Australia.
The name "Aviva Investors" as used in this material refers to the global organization of affiliated asset management businesses operating under the Aviva Investors name. Each Aviva investors' affiliate is a subsidiary of Aviva plc, a publicly- traded multi-national financial services company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Aviva Investors Canada, Inc. ("AIC") is located in Toronto and is registered with the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") as a Portfolio Manager, an Exempt Market Dealer, and a Commodity Trading Manager. Aviva Investors Americas LLC is a federally registered investment advisor with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Aviva Investors Americas is also a commodity trading advisor ("CTA") registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC"), and is a member of the National Futures Association ("NFA"). AIA's Form ADV Part 2A, which provides background information about the firm and its business practices, is available upon written request to: Compliance Department, 225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 2250, Chicago, IL 60606.
The client lens: An interview with Faith Ward
Brunel Pension Partnership's chief responsible investment officer discusses climate change, greenwashing and the urgent need to repair flaws in the financial system.
Navigating the path to net zero: An interview with Jill Rutter
There is a large gulf between the concept of 'net zero' and the practical policies that will deliver it. Jill Rutter, senior fellow at the Institute for Government, takes a hard look at the UK's progress towards the 2050 target.
The evolution of ESG: More than just a risk mitigator
Once dismissed as a virtuous endeavour that compromised investment returns, the ability to gain a more holistic view of risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors is increasingly appreciated by investors. We assess the evolution of ESG across asset classes, as well as its role as a risk mitigator and opportunity spotter.
Nature and neglect: The era of ecological disasters
As the frequency and ferocity of natural hazards increase, in part five of our mini-series on the source of the next crisis AIQ considers the economic and investment implications and what we can learn from past mistakes.
The AIQ Podcast: Climate emergency
This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast goes back to basics on climate: we explore leading scientists' understanding of how the world is changing, as well as the investment community's response.
The AIQ Podcast: The psychology of climate change
This latest episode of the AIQ Podcast explores the psychology of climate change and how to engage individuals in the quest for solutions.
Climate change: The journey from denial to crisis
More than 40 years since a senior NASA scientist told US Congress of concerns about human activities disrupting the climate, experts are warning of an impending climate catastrophe and the financial sector is wrestling with the implications.
As active investors step up their engagement efforts on the climate crisis, discussions need to be at the CEO rather than board level, argues David Cumming.
Psychological barriers can prevent people from acting to avert the climate threat, even when they recognise the problem. So how can we best engage individuals, companies and communities in the quest for solutions?
Stranded! When assets become liabilities
Until recently, many investors made light of dire warnings of the risks posed by assets becoming "stranded" by climate change. However, as the threat becomes reality, fears are mounting that whole industries could be wiped out.
With governments urged to do more to tackle climate change, carbon taxes are being touted as a politically expedient solution.
Slash and burn: The link between land use and climate change
Poor land management contributes to rising global temperatures. But solutions are emerging as new technologies improve farming efficiency and consumers shift towards climate-friendly diets.
Hot water: The threat of warming oceans
As the challenges posed by climate change continue to loom large, due attention should be given to oceans, not just the solid ground under our feet and the air we breathe.
An inconvenient transition
Despite deafening calls for countries and companies to step up to fight the climate crisis, research suggests individuals – especially in the developed world – could also make a massive difference if they committed to getting by with less. But will they?
As the old saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Despite lingering public anxiety around safety, there are growing calls for the world to look again at nuclear power as part of the solution to the climate crisis.
How capitalism can help solve the climate crisis
Despite the increasing clamour for a global 'Green New Deal', Steve Waygood explains why a complementary International Panel on Climate Finance (IPCF) is also needed if we are to rise to the challenges ahead.
AIQ: Investment Thinking
RA20/0152/31012021


text:
Minimalismi è un singolo del gruppo musicale italiano Zero Assoluto, il terzo estratto dal primo album in studio Scendi e pubblicato nel 2004.

Il singolo

Video musicale
Il videoclip è stato pubblicato sul canale YouTube del duo.

Collegamenti esterni


Offer shipping options from all the major carriers like FedEx®, UPS®, and USPS®. Calculate shipping costs seamlessly and automatically. Create custom shipping methods and options according to your business model. Integrate specialized shipping requirements, such as charges for orders over 150 lbs, simple boxing, and maximum weight per box. Split shipments automatically when needed and calculate shipping costs accordingly. Create custom shipping tables by weight or order amount. Ship to international customers as seamlessly as domestic orders using country specific shipping rate tables. Completely automate calculations for international shipping rates too. Enjoy full support for UPS Online® Tools, FedEx, Endicia (USPS) and Con-way LTL Freight integration. Set default shipping options to promote your preferred carrier.
Bongo International has developed a pre-built integration between Bongo's Checkout International Business Solution and GoECart, making it possible for merchants to implement its International Fulfillment solution in a fraction of the time normally required. The GoECart solution also supports robust certified integration with all leading carriers like UPS, FedEx, Endicia (USPS) and CanadaPost for accurate shipping rate calculation, service selection and manifest label generation. Bongo's GoECart integration enables merchants' ecommerce sites to accept international transactions from over 220 countries without having to manage the common challenges associated with Cross Border eCommerce. Every international order gets shipped to one of Bongo's US destinations, where it is processed for export abroad.
Take advantage of Endicia Internet Postage to substantially lower USPS shipping rates. Calculate postage and generate pre-paid, customized, and professional USPS shipping labels directly from a web browser. Get Mailing Address Verification through Endicia's Dial-A-ZIP™ patented address verification process. Verify and correct common address errors using the US Postal Service address database (both business and residential) right from the GoECart order screen before any shipment leaves your warehouse.
Enjoy seamless, reliable integration with FedEx, the most widely recognized shipping provider in the world. Generate shipping labels with a single click. Eliminate the challenge of managing separate ecommerce, logistics tracking, and shipping systems. Get outstanding GoECart software integration with online shipping tools based on FedEx's next-generation web services. Improve customer service. Automate repetitive tasks. Ship to any destination. Enjoy the extra time you'll save by dramatically streamlining the shipments of FedEx packages.
Eliminate the headaches associated with international shipping. Completely automate calculations for international shipping rates. Create custom shipping options and rate tables for one or more countries. Sell more to international customers with confidence. Offer a more intelligent checkout solution for foreign orders. Automatically compute and display only the relevant options to customers at checkout based on their shipping address. Get precise control of the Country drop-down lists displayed site-wide. Customize the drop-down with your countries to which you are selling. Block orders from high risk countries if you so choose.
Allow customers to view and track the status of their orders and shipments in real time and reduce support calls and inquiries. Enable them to view their own order history and obtain a history of past purchases. Give your customers the freedom to choose their preferred shipping carrier. Let them tally up costs using one or more shipping calcuators before they hit the checkout button. Eliminate surprises associated with shipping costs and reduce shopping cart abandonment. Give them the capability to track and manage multiple shipments per order such as on the major ecommerce sites like Amazon.com.
Ensure your shipments arrive at their destination on time and in prime condition —regardless of a package's size, shape, or its destination—across the street or anywhere in the world. Leverage our integration with Con-Way Freight to deliver packages via freight carrier ideal for large shipments. Point and click to activate a variety of options to optimize and automate your ecommerce site for delivery via Canada Post. Ship via DHL's global delivery network to over 220 countries and territories if you so choose. Deliver the goods with an ecommerce soluition that covers all of your shipping carrier preferences.
Offer return customers "express checkout" features so they don't have to re-enter shipping (and billing) information. Store customer information and preferences securely in a handy address-book-style format so they can access it readily each time they return to your site. Simplify the shopping experience and ring up additional sales.


Head Brewer Chris Sheehan is ready to roll out Ghost Hawk's first brews.
Chris Sheehan is in his 11th incarnation – as a brewer. His 28 years of brewhouse experience have brought the north Jersey resident to Ghost Hawk Brewing in Clifton, soon to open as Passaic County's first craft brewery.
Fermenting tanks provide canvasses for local artists at Ghost Hawk.
Sheehan's pride and joy – the 1 mil BTU boiler.
The brewery is the project of Tom Rachelski (President and Finances) and Steve Bauer (Marketing, Tasting Room) and it's been a while in the making. Chris came to them through their neighbor John Bednar, one of three partners who opened Silk City distillery a few years ago literally next door to Ghost Hawk's location.* Chris had given John advice back then, and when John heard the Ghost Hawk guys were looking for a brewer he said, "I've got the guy for you." (*They are Units #5 and #6 at 321 River Road, Clifton. Looking for a landmark? Across the street is famous hot dog joint Rutt's Hut.).
Chris has compiled quite a track record along the way including several Great American Beer Festival medals for his signature Foreign Extra Stout (a luscious, full-bodied stout, just shy of an imperial). But, if you're thinking he's a one-trick pony, he's quick to remind you he won a gold in 2004 for Summer Solstice Wheat while at Chelsea Brewing Co. So, that takes care of two of his opening offerings – Raven Dark (stout) and a session strength American wheat ale, Deucalion. (Chris says it's taken from Ovid's Metamorphoses. Ok, now we know what he reads in his spare time – I confess I had to look it up).
Chris plans to have six beers on tap for the Grand Opening, April 20 (eventually there'll be 12). He has what will be a staple – Ghost Hawk Lager (5%). He calls it a Continental Lager, somewhere between a Dortmunder and a Helles; – it was halfway through its 1-month sojourn in the horizontal lagering tank during my visit. He also presents Apex Predator, a New England IPA, and what started as a Double IPA but turned into a Triple IPA at 9.3%. He calls it Trouble.
Chris said he's still learning the new equipment and tweaking the recipes. "I'm still getting a feel for the gravities and hitting the marks," he said.
Wait, you say, that's only five beers. I forgot, he has a delicious Cherry Wheat, which is basically the wheat beer conditioned on sour Montmorency cherries – not sweet, slightly tart, with a delicious cherry flavor.
Right now, the goal is to get open and accommodate an anxious public – they have several new investors after a recent round of crowdfunding when they hit some unexpected expenses. Down the road they'll be able to crank out a lot of beer on their 15-bbl O'Neills (CT) brewhouse. The plan is for four year-rounds and many, many seasonals and one-offs. The space has a built-in mezzanine that will make for a great barrel-aging showcase.
What else? Where did the name come from? Ghost Hawk is named for Steve's late brother. He tells the story way better than I ever could at www.ghosthawk.com.