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Talegaon Dabhade is a small principality that
borders the city of Pune, in the modern state of Maharashtra in
western central India.
There was a time when this land had a ruler (a
jagirdar) of its own. They were known as the Sarsenapati
Dabhades, the traditional commander-in-chiefs of the Maratha empire.
Yesajirao patil Dabhade
Yesajirao lived in the first half of the
seventeenth century and was the earliest known ancestor of the
Dabhade family. He was the son of Bajajirao Dabhade, the mukadam
of Talegaon village in the last half of the sixteenth century. Not
content leading the sedentary lifestyle in his rather peaceful
village, Yeshaba took up service as the personal attendant of
Chatrapati Shivaji maharaj, the first Maratha king.
Yeshaba soon rose to the rank of Shivaji's personal
bodyguard and became one of his most trusted aides. After Shivaji's
death, Yeshaba took to tutoring his sons, both Sambhaji and Rajaram,
while his own children, Khanderao and Shivaji (from his wife,
Valahibaisaheb), became their pages and playmates. After Yesajirao's
death, his family was represented by his elder son, Khanderao
Sarsenapati Khanderao Dabhade
Known more simply as Sarsenapati from 1717 to 1729,
he was at his height in the late seventeenth century. Shivaji's son,
Sambhaji, was killed by the Mughals while another son, Shahu, was
taken captive. Thereafter Sambhaji's younger brother Rajaram became
king in 1689. He and his successor, Shivaji, ruled the Maratha
empire until Shahu, the son of Sambhaji, returned to claim his
rightful kingdom in 1707.
The Dabhades transferred their services
exclusively to Rajaram and his wife, Tarabaisaheb. During this time,
Rajaram found himself trapped at Panhala fort while it was being
besieged by the Mughal forces led by Zulfikar Khan. Fortunately for
Rajaram, the Dabhade family was there alongside him. The two
brothers, Khanderao and Shivaji, disguised themselves (and Rajaram)
as grass cutters and carried their master to safety. Rajaram's
health was frail and may not have made it if he had not been
literally carried by the two brothers, covering, it has been said,
almost forty miles in a day.
As an additional note, Shivaji was later killed in
battle at Dahihade. The king, grateful for the service of the two
brothers, granted the already-existing jagir of Imamura,
Erase, and Dhaka villages to the Dabhades, plus additional pataki/kukri
rights for the talks of Janna, Harishchanda, Poona, Akola and
Maval. Khanderao was also awarded the title 'Sena Khas Khel',
or chief of the royal guard.
The Peshwas: Early Years
The Peshwas: Glory of the Peshwas
The Peshwas: Peak & Debacle
The Peshwas: Strife Within
Moghul Dynasty
Gaekwads of Baroda
Government of Maharashtra
Advanced Study in the History of Modern India
Khanderao Dabhade, one of the greatest representatives of the family
In 1700, when Rajaram died, his widow, Rani
Tarabai, took over the reins of the Maratha kingdom and the Dabhades
served under her leadership. Later, after the death of Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb, the Mughals released Sambhaji's son, Shahu, from
prison, supposedly as a goodwill gesture towards the Marathas. But
Rani Tarabai, who had ruled the kingdom for seven years, saw in
Shahu a threat to her supremacy. She ordered Khanderao to meet Shahu
in person (as Khanderao had been well acquainted with Shahu as a
child), and expose him as an impostor. To her chagrin, Khanderao was
quickly able to determine that Shahu was indeed the son of Sambhaji
and therefore the true king. Khanderao joined Shahu's cause against
Rani Tarabai. Shahu soon declared Khanderao his sarsenapati
(commander-in-chief of the army), and granted him a sardeshmukhi
of 104 villages of the parganas of Panner.
Khanderao later undertook the Gujarat campaign and,
in conjunction with the nizam, also scored a decisive victory over
the Syed at Balapur (in 1720). Gujarat was soon one of the major
areas of activity for the Marathas, all thanks to Khanderao Dabhade
and his men, important figures such as Pilaji Gaekwad, Kanthaji
Bande, and others. But by the time the campaign was almost over,
Khanderao was an exhausted old man. He requested that the king
transfer his title of sena khaskhel to his eldest son,
Trimbakrao, which was of course immediately granted. Khanderao then
retired to his village of Talegaon, where he died.
Khanderao Dabhade also constructed the
famous fort of Induri at Talegaon, along with his other palaces. He
was married to Umabaisaheb Dabhade, a gritty lady. It is said that
when a Mughal sardar named Jorawar Khan Babi raided
Ahmedabad, it was this unusually spirited lady who, in the absence
of her husband, picked up a sword and led her army into battle (near
Fort Bhadra). For her services the king personally travelled down to
Talegaon Dabhade and presented Umabaisaheb with a gold toda
(an ankle ornament), which remains a family heirloom to this day.
Umabaisaheb had a mansion built to accommodate the chatrapati
(the king) and his entourage in Talegaon Dabhade which Shahu himself
named Sawaiwada.
Trimbakrao Dabhade
Trimbakrao (1729-31) was the son of Khanderao, and
was a valiant commander. Even after the death of his father,
Trimbakrao took the Gujarat campaign to its logical conclusion and
the Maratha's saffron banner flew over virtually every fort in Gujarat.
Meanwhile, the Mughals still had pockets of control
in Gujarat and were getting increasingly irritated with Dabhade's
men, including Pilaji Gaekwad and Kanthaji Bande, who encroached at
will on Mughal territory. The Mughal viceroy in Gujarat sought the
help of Bajirao (who had by now become well known as a rival of the
Dabhades), in curbing the activities of these freebooters.
A letter written by Khanderao Dabhade to Rajaram informing him about
the death of his brother, Shivajirao, at the Battle of Dahihade
He even awarded the sardeshmukhi of certain
areas in Gujarat to Bajirao's brother, Chimaji appa. Dabhade
severely resented sharing the spoils of revenue-rich Gujarat with
the peshwa. Bajirao proposed jointly sharing his newly acquired
territory in Malwa with Trimbakrao Dabhade if Trimbarao could part
with half his revenues at Gujarat. But Trimbakrao refused.
In this matter, Shahu seemed to be more
inclined to side with his peshwa, which incensed Trimbakrao even
further. He allegedly began to flirt with the likes of the nizam, an
arch rival of Bajirao, and with Sambhaji of Kolhapur, the rival of
Shahu (this was, of course, after some alleged correspondence
between Trimbakrao and the nizam was intercepted by the peshwa's men
and presented before the chatrapati as evidence). Eventually
Trimbakrao came out in open rebellion against the peshwa.
The rival armies faced each other at
Dabhoi (1731). Though Trimbakrao's army was much larger, it was very
much divided and Bajirao successfully isolated it from its other
division. But Trimbakrao wasn't a man to give up so easily.
He dismounted his elephant and decided to take on his enemy man-to-man.
Unfortunately, one thing he couldn't have counted on was the
treachery of his own kin, Bhausingrao Toke. Toke shot him dead from
behind once he had removed his helmet. After that, it was only a
matter of time before the peshwa's army subdued Yeshwantrao Dabhade,
Pilaji Gaekwad, and the others.
Shahu had been extremely perturbed by this civil
war between his own army commander and his peshwa and sought an
immediate reconciliation with Umabaisaheb Dabhade, the mother of
Trimbakrao and his brothers, Yeshwantrao and Sawai Baburao.
The king even graciously forgave the
brothers for their rebellion and saw to it that the title of
sarsenapati remained with the Dabhades (although it is said that
the peshwa had given orders to capture Trimbakrao alive, many
historians believe that the killing of Trimbakrao Dabhade may have
been the result of a conspiracy to remove him once and for all). The
title of sarsenapati was passed to Khanderao's second son,
Yeshwantrao Dabhade (Trimbakrao had married Laxmibaisaheb, but the
couple had no issue). The remaining brother, Baburao Dabhade, was
given the family title of senakhaskhel. Their territory and
privileges were also left unchanged.
Sardar Baburao Dabhade
An artist's depiction of Umabaisaheb Dabhade
Sardar was the son of Khanderao. He was also very quick to
prove his merit. It so happened that the nawab of Surat had levied an
octroi [1] on one of Shahu's envoys. To avenge this insult, Baburao
Dabhade entered the nawab's fort with 368 of his hand-picked men and captured
the nawab by surprise. He then extracted fourteen of the twenty-eight
mahals from the latter along with the pledge of chauth from Surat. [2]
The king was naturally pleased with his senakhaskhel's
feat and in return gifted Baburao the mokasa rights for Umbare,
Baglan, Khandesh and Karnatak.
But tragedy continued to pursue the Dabhade household.
Baburao Dabhade was poisoned and murdered in Khandesh. He left behind no
issue from his marriage to Tarabaisaheb.
The loyal commander of the Dabhade army, Pilaji Gaekwad,
had also earlier been assassinated by a Mughal sardar named Raja Abhay
Singh (the event taking place in 1732).
Yeshwantrao Dabhade suddenly felt very isolated and he blamed the
peshwa family for his misfortunes. Yeshwantrao avoided providing
service to the peshwas and started neglecting his affairs. As a result,
control of the army passed to Damaji Gaekwad, the son of Pilaji
Yeshwantrao Dabhade
Yeshwantrao (1731-1754) was the son of
Khanderao. Peshwa Bajirao had died in 1740 and was succeeded by his
son, Balaji Bajirao. Shahu too had died by 1749 and Peshwa Balaji
Bajirao was left in sole charge of the Maratha kingdom.
The Dabhades were in charge of Gujarat's
affairs and were to deposit half their income in the Maratha
treasury, something that they failed to do. Due to his affection
towards the Dabhade family, Shahu was lenient in his approach.
However, Peshwa Balaji Bajirao was determined to recover half the
revenue of Gujarat from the Dabhades.
Yeshwantrao Dabhade was not in a mood to
accept the peshwa's order to this extent. He had not forgotten his
family enmity with the peshwas and desired retribution. He decided
to join forces with Rani Tarabaisaheb, the arch rival of Peshwa
Balaji Bajirao, and an attack on Pune was soon organised with the
forces of Damaji Gaekwad. The peshwa's forces, led by Sardar
Trimbakrao Purandare, were able to get the better of Damaji's forces
on the battlefield at Alandi and Yeshwantrao Dabhade, his son
Trimbakrao, and his mother Umabaisaheb, along with Damaji Gaekwad
and Khanderao Gaekwad were soon captured and imprisoned.
They were released only when they pledged
to abide by the terms set by the peshwa. Damaji Gaekwad also agreed
to abandon the cause of the Dabhades. The Dabhades themselves were
left without any authority over Gujarat and had to resign their
former office to retire to their jagir at Talegaon.
Yeshwantrao later took part in the Battle of Bednaur in 1754 and
died on the banks of the Krishna. He left behind a son named
Trimbarao from his marriage to Ambikabaisaheb.
Trimbakrao Dabhade (1754-1799) was the son of Yeshwantrao.
He succeeded his father as the senapati. He took part in the infamous
Battle of Panipat. After Balaji Bajirao's death, Trimbakrao joined
the forces of Raghunathrao against Peshwa Madhavrao (the son of
Balaji Bajirao). But after the reconciliation between Raghunathrao
and his nephew, Madhavrao, Trimbakrao felt threatened and approached the
nizam, the old rival of the peshwas, for protection. Trimbakrao's
estates were confiscated and handed over to Damaji Gaekwad, who
proposed using them to pay off Trimbakrao's creditors. The peshwa's
forces soon routed the nizam's army and Trimbakrao found himself in a
precarious state. He died a disillusioned man at Verul.
Trimbakrao was married to Laxmibaisaheb
and had a son named Shivarao, who himself had died without issue. Without
an heir at all, the Dabhades adopted a son named Yeshwantrao II. Due to
the pressure exerted by the peshwa, Laxmibai Dabhade, the widow of
Trimbakrao, was given a large jagir by Govindrao Gaekwad, the
son of Damaji. But it came to light that the estate had already been
mortgaged by his brother, Fattehsinghrao, to his creditors. As destiny
would have it the Dabhade fortunes again came to naught. But Nana
Phadanvis, the regent for Peshwa Sawai Madhavrao, came to their rescue
and provided them with another jagir which yielded 50,000 rupees.
Yashwantrao Dabhade I at Old Rajwada
Yeshwantrao Dabhade II
Yeshwantrao was also known as Raosaheb
(1799-1833). He was the adopted son and successor of Trimbakrao. He had
a large jagir in Khandesh, but luck seemed to be as elusive as ever
for the Dabhades. The peshwa's aide, Balaji Kunjar, who was supposedly
eyeing up that property for himself, allegedly misled Yeshwantrao into raising an
large army. Kunjar even provided Yeshwantrao with a loan to maintain
the army, all the while promising that the peshwa would soon
strike off those expenses from his treasury.
To Yeshwantrao's chagrin, the peshwa refused and
Yeshwantrao was forced to relinquish his jagir to Kunjar in order to
repay the loan.
Now completely disillusioned with the peshwas, Yeshwantrao
cultivated the friendship of the English. By now they had
overturned the rule of the peshwa in India. Yeshwantrao married his son,
Bapusaheb (from his wife, Chimnabaisaheb) to the daughter of
Daulatrao Scindia (the most powerful noble in the Maratha court and
later an ally of the English), and proceeded to the Scindia jagir of
Gwalior. He later shifted to Mathura where he built a formal garden and a
mansion called Chinchachibaug. Eventually, he settled down in
Talegaon where he built a formal garden called Yeshwant baug.
Trimbakrao III
Trimbakrao was also known as Bapusaheb (1833-1837).
He was Yeshwantrao's son and successor.
He married a woman named Mainabaisaheb.
Baburao Dabhade II
Baburao was also known as Babasaheb (1837-1864). He
was married to Anandibaisaheb. A regency governed the Dabhade estates
between 1864-1870.
Khanderao Dabhade II
Khanderao was also known as Abasaheb (1870-1915). He was
married to Rajasbaisaheb (from the Madhyalkar Ghorpade family). He was the
founder president of Talegaon Dabhade municipal council, and built a mansion
called Yeshwantbaug wada on his ancestral garden at Yeshwantbaug.
Yeshwantrao Dabhade III
Khanderao Dabhade II
Yeshwantrao was also known as Raje Krishnarao
(1915-1933). He was married to Tararaje (from the Nagpur Bhosale family),
and after her death, he remarried, to Vatsalabaisaheb (from the Sardar
Kadam family), and then he remarried again, to Laxmibaisaheb (from the
Hande Deshmukh family of Janna). He served as the president of Talegaon
Dabhade municipal council. He had two sons from his second marriage in
the form of Veerdhawalraje (later the head of the senior branch of the
family) and Vijaysinhraje (the head of the junior branch).
Senior Branch (Sarsenapati)
The senior branch of the Dabhades
consists of the following:
Junior Branch (Sarsenapati, Senakhaskhel)
The junior branch of the Dabhades
consists of the following:
Padmasenraje Dabhade is the current scion of the Dabhade
junior house and resides in Pune with his son, Satyasheelraje Dabhade.
The other members of the Dabhade royal family reside in Talegaon Dabhade
and Pune.
Yashwantrao Dabhade III
Main Sources
Kincaid, C A & Rao Bahadur D B Parasnis - A
History of the Maratha People, Humphrey Milford Oxford
University Press, London, 1918
Kincaid, C A - The Tale of the Tulsi Plant
and Other Studies, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, 1994
Mehta, J L - Advanced Study in
the History of Modern India 1707-1813, New Dawn Press Group, New
Delhi, 2005
With thanks to Satyasheelraje Dabhade for
supplying information and pictures
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I have a privileged job in that it takes me all over the world. I have visited places and experienced things I never would have otherwise. I've worked in places such as Nigeria where I was advised to wear a fake wedding ring (when I wasn't married) to prevent me from being hassled and asked why I wasn't married; and Mexico where I left my (genuine) wedding ring at home to ensure I wasn't mugged for it. My job is to help students from other countries come and study at Cardiff University, and as such I have travelled to many countries for over 10 years now. It's a job I enjoy and believe in, even though it means I often miss one of my main passions – singing in Songbirds choir, Wales' only LBT choir. We sing an eclectic mix of music, reflecting our equally eclectic members and we've performed at weddings, charity gigs, on stage at Pride, auditioned (and been shortlisted) for Gareth Malone, been featured on Made In Cardiff TV, and of course hold our own concerts a couple of times a year. Continue reading Some thoughts from across the pond
Some thoughts from across the pond

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Apple included some new visual goodies in its latest updates to macOS and tvOS.
The Apple TV got 24 new nifty flyover screensavers, from cities like Los Angeles and Dubai, and landscapes in China and Greenland. iDownloadBlog did the work categorizing the new flyovers and extracting direct download links.
And because Apple's new MacBooks have screens with better color display, Apple needed some new wallpapers to show them off.
If you want to check out the new visuals on Apple TV, you can see the download the additional cityscapes by going to Settings > General > Screensaver.
To check out these new macOS visuals, simply update your operating system, right click on a blank part of your desktop, and choose one of the the new wallpapers.
You can also check them out below:


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"You have to exercise," he said, for instance. "Or at some point you'll just break down." You also need to remove from your life the day-to-day problems that absorb most people for meaningful parts of their day. "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits," he said. "I'm trying to pare down decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make." He mentioned research that shows the simple act of making decisions degrades one's ability to make further decisions. It's why shopping is so exhausting. "You need to focus your decision-making energy. You need to routinize yourself. You can't be going through the day distracted by trivia." The self-discipline he believes is required to do the job well comes at a high price. "You can't wander around," he said. "It's much harder to be surprised. You don't have those moments of serendipity. You don't bump into a friend in a restaurant you haven't seen in years. The loss of anonymity and the loss of surprise is an unnatural state. You adapt to it, but you don't get used to it—at least I don't..."
Many if not most of his decisions are thrust upon the president, out of the blue, by events beyond his control: oil spills, financial panics, pandemics, earthquakes, fires, coups, invasions, underwear bombers, movie-theater shooters, and on and on and on. They don't order themselves neatly for his consideration but come in waves, jumbled on top of each other. "Nothing comes to my desk that is perfectly solvable," Obama said at one point. "Otherwise, someone else would have solved it. So you wind up dealing with probabilities. Any given decision you make you'll wind up with a 30 to 40 percent chance that it isn't going to work. You have to own that and feel comfortable with the way you made the decision. You can't be paralyzed by the fact that it might not work out." On top of all of this, after you have made your decision, you need to feign total certainty about it. People being led do not want to think probabilistically...
"Obama structures meetings so that they're not debates," says one participant. "They're mini-speeches. He likes to make decisions by having his mind occupying the various positions. He likes to imagine holding the view"... His desire to hear the case raises the obvious question: Why didn't he just make it himself? "It's the Heisenberg principle," he says. "Me asking the question changes the answer. And it also protects my decision-making." But it's more than that. His desire to hear out junior people is a warm personality trait as much as a cool tactic, of a piece with his desire to play golf with White House cooks rather than with C.E.O.'s and basketball with people who treat him as just another player on the court; to stay home and read a book rather than go to a Washington cocktail party; and to seek out, in any crowd, not the beautiful people but the old people. The man has his status needs, but they are unusual. And he has a tendency, an unthinking first step, to subvert established status structures. After all, he became president."
— from Michael Lewis's profile of Obama in Vanity Fair


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Is beta smart enough for you?
By: Kathrin Forrest, M.A., CFA
Portfolio Manager,
Sun Life Global Investments
No matter which way we turn, we are being cautioned to brace ourselves for years of lower-than-average returns. How low, exactly? And more importantly – what can be done about it?
In its 2016 Projection Assumption Guidelines, the Financial Planning Standards Council estimates an annualized return of 5.19% on a medium- to long-term basis for a portfolio holding a 50/50 mix of global developed market stocks and fixed income securities. After accounting for inflation, we land at around 3%, and that's before fees. Now let's consider some volatility around this average, and it may be tempting to throw in the towel.
But let's take a step back for a moment. After all, we don't necessarily invest to earn market returns; rather, we invest to achieve certain outcomes, such as income generation for retirement or the funding of large one-time expenses. Market returns may get us there, but what if our objectives and constraints call for a smoother ride or a higher expected overall nest egg? That's where active management can make a difference.
Active managers generally aim to generate returns above those of the broad market (alpha) and/or to reduce risk, either relative to the market (beta) or in absolute terms (standard deviation). Let's say a 60/40 active portfolio similar to the one above generates a return of 6-8%, which has been the recent historical range according to data from MercerInsight®. If alpha generation accounts for, say, one percentage point of that, it may not be so critical. But as we face lower return expectations, the same percentage point may have a substantially higher relative impact. Further, from a risk perspective, some investors may be comfortable if their portfolios fluctuate with the market while others may prefer more consistent returns.
Okay, that all sounds great – of course I'll take higher expected returns with lower risk. There is no free lunch though – in fact, there may be no lunch at all. In order to achieve better risk-adjusted returns after fees, we need to find skilled managers that can generate the desired outcome, and we require market conditions that allow these managers to apply their skill.
Chart: Sun Life Global Investments. For illustrative purposes only.
Graphing investment strategies: active vs passive
This is one industry-recognized way to illustrate the relationship between sample active and passive investment strategies in the context of market conditions.
The lines are generated by regressing active and passive managers' returns on the benchmark. The beta adjusts for the risk. The alpha is the intercept. The passive line intersects the x axis (Market return) and the y axis (Fund return) at 0 and travels up and to the right with a slope, or beta, of 1. For every unit of market return (loss), the passive fund delivers an equivalent unit of fund return (loss). In this illustration, the active manager generated positive alpha and reduced exposure to market risk. So we start our active line above 0 on the Fund return axis to represent the positive alpha. Then we draw it up and to the right, but with a slope of less than 1 to represent the lower beta.
Breadth and depth of alpha sources are among the key areas that help us understand which market conditions may be supportive of alpha generation for a particular manager, and which ones may not. We should also look at appropriate risk management tools that allow managers to take active positions where they have skill and avoid them in areas where they don't.
If we take a look at historical data across major asset classes for active managers' track record in this regard, there are three observations that stand out to us. (The methodology and data source for the following analysis can be found in the "Methodology" section below.)
First, over longer periods, we find strong evidence of alpha generation by the median manager in all major asset classes except U.S. equities. For example, within Canadian equities, annualized alpha over rolling 10-year periods, from 2006 to present, was as high as 3.0% (and always positive). This highlights that active managers have indeed been able to navigate Canada's concentrated equity market and generate index-beating returns, generally without taking on more market or absolute risk. It also indicates that we should be mindful of structural factors such as market depth, liquidity, regulation and transparency within an asset class as we consider active management.
Second, looking at shorter periods, we observe that alpha generation and other key return and risk features within an asset class can vary substantially through time. For example, in Canadian fixed income, rolling 1-year median manager alpha over the past 10 years has fluctuated between -1.7% and +3.3%. When evaluating opportunities within the context of today's uncertain interest rate environment, we need to be mindful of key features of the Canadian fixed income market, such as concentration in relatively low yielding government issued bonds. Skilled managers may be able to balance out the risk profile by actively managing interest rate exposure, or by focusing more on corporate and foreign bonds, which may offer higher yields as well as act as a buffer to interest rate changes.
- Future market returns are likely to be lower than usual – get used to it
- Higher market returns aren't necessarily the answer for every investor – don't lose sight of the specific objective and risk profile
- An active investment strategy is one way to meet the challenge of low market returns
Lastly, there is material dispersion between top and bottom managers in metrics such as excess return, alpha, beta, standard deviation, as well as upside and downside capture. In other words, managers at the top of their game outperformed weaker managers by a significant margin, highlighting the importance of careful manager selection in reference to the desired outcome. Revisiting U.S. equities, we observe that top quartile managers have generated positive alpha over the past 10 years.
This all suggests that a flexible approach in selecting active and passive managers as well as in selecting investments across asset classes can help create value. This may matter more than ever as we face modest expected future returns.
Free lunch? More like hard work, but it sure sounds smart to us.
Methodology: Data source is MercerInsight®, accessed October 28, 2016. We analyzed the following asset classes using the respective pooled fund survey (PFS) universes: Canadian Fixed Income vs FTSE TMX Canada Universe Bond Index; Canadian Equities vs S&P/TSX Composite Index; U.S. Equities (for Canadian investors) vs S&P 500 in C$; International Equities (for Canadian investors) vs MSCI EAFE in C$; Emerging Markets (for Canadian investors) vs MSCI EM in C$. For each comparison, we reviewed the following metrics using rolling 1-year and 10-year periods ending September 2016, with monthly calculations: Beta, Alpha, Downside Capture Ratio, Upside Capture Ratio, Excess Return and Standard Deviation.
Results generated by MercerInsight® are hypothetical and are not intended to project past or future value of actual investments or holdings. In no event shall Mercer or any of its service providers be liable to any persons or entities for reliance on any data contained in MercerInsight®, the results of any analysis of, or any conclusions drawn from, the data supplied in MercerInsight® or any report prepared by a user that includes data and analyses from MercerInsight®. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. You should not rely on past performance to make investment decisions.
© Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc., 2016. Sun Life Global Investments (Canada) Inc. is a member of the Sun Life Financial group of companies.


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Christina Aguilera's bluesy ornamented version of Francis Scott Key's "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XLV has reignited controversy over appropriate performances of the national anthem of the United States. While it is her lyrical indiscretions that have sparked debate (she mangles line 4 of Key's original—"O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?" and substitutes words taken from across the poem—"What so proudly we watched, at the twilight's last gleaming"), in the history of the anthem, this error is not especially egregious—at least she keeps going…
More interesting to me is Aguilera's musical interpretations—the changes in dynamics, vocal color, ornamentation, and even to the expected melodic contour—that communicate and intensify ideas in and behind the lyrics.
Aguilera sings without accompaniment, no instrumental backing track enforces rhythmic regularity or standard harmony.* But for a few tiny pauses to take extra breaths, she sings the opening phrase straight, at least until "[ear]-ly light" on which she offers quick melodic ornaments that decorate the expected pitches. Next she hits the word "proudly" with a dynamic swell, and emphasizes patriotic pride—both national and personal. Gentle ornaments then articulate the words "hailed," "twilight's," and "gleaming," while Aguilera brings down the volume to the deeply intimate, covered sound of her opening line. Lines 3 and 4 follow the same trajectory, with her dynamic power celebrating the word "stars."
Aguilera really opens up, and appropriately so, in line 5, where Key's lyric becomes more dramatic and reports the glare and bursts of British canon that attacked Baltimore's Fort McHenry on September 13 and 14, 1814. The fortitude and resolve of the more than one thousand troops that defended the fort that day is signaled by the anthem melody at this point. It shifts up in tessitura, making the anthem hard for many to sing. Here, to hit these notes the song literally requires more power and strength from the voice as Aguilera's increase in volume reveals. She exaggerates this sonic symbolism further by holding onto the word "glare," extending the pitch and removing her vibrato to cut through the air; no ornaments soften the bombs' blows. Here, Aguilera's tone is aurally blinding, it glares as sound! And the crowd cheers, fans getting the message about American courage in the face of danger.
On "'Gave…' proof through the night," Aguilera digs deep into her voice producing a gutteral resolve that carries the melody to victory. Ornamentation returns on the word "night," and she varies the melodic contour to draw attention to the lyric's signal of triumph—that "our flag was still there."
Aguilera's intensity increases through the final pair of lines, the crowd increasing in volume—both anticipating the end of the song and the beginning of the game. On "yet wave" Aguilera startles the expected melody by skipping up a third and (possibly taking a cue from Hendrix) illustrates the movement of the flag with extended, heavy vibrato. The sound literally "waves," as does the image of Key's lyric in the listener's mind.
For the final climactic line, Aguilera takes dramatic breaths before "free" and especially the final word "brave"—the final word celebrating the key to America's victory in Baltimore and thus receiving all the dramatic force and momentum of her entire performance. Here she uses most of the emphatic musical tricks featured so far (gutteral power, the glare of no vibrato warming into a rich vocal wave, heightened melodic pitches, and ornamentation) to give the song an inspired and inspiring finish. She raises her hand to the heavens, emphasizing that she's given all she's got as a musician while welcoming the arrival of four military jets, which add their own patriotic (and deafeningly) mark of exclamation.
While Aguilera's performance is certainly virtuosic, celebrating her own vocal gifts and musical talents (and no doubt she hopes to make new fans and sell some recordings as a result of her Super Bowl exposure), her changes to the tune are born not simply of ego, but stem from the music and text of the anthem itself. Like the jets' dramatic flyover at the song's climax—Aguilera's artistry serves to deepen the meaning of the song and communicate an intense patriotism to her listeners across the nation and, indeed, around the globe.
Like José Feliciano at the 1968 World Series in Detroit, Marvin Gaye at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, and (I'd even argue ) Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock, Aguilera's musical rendition connects to a longstanding tradition of performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" to heighten and intensify the ideas behind the song. Indeed, the very first to be so inspired by patriotism to burst forth into lyric ecstasy was Francis Scott Key himself, who, held aboard ship by America's British attackers for the duration of the battle, lived through the anxiety and then emotional release of victory that inspired the pride and celebration of our nation's anthem.
* Any producers who wish to enforce a regular (if potentially less inspired) version of the anthem need just provide a standard recorded backing track to accompany a singer's performance. An accompaniment also serves to discipline a performance.


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Homestead - South Dade
Ex-Homestead mayor gets probation in campaign spending case
Former Homestead Mayor Steve Bateman, already facing prison time on a corruption conviction, agreed to probation on additional allegations that he misspent campaign donations.
Bateman on Thursday pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor counts of unlawfully disposing of campaign funds.
He agreed to serve 18 months of probation and was granted a "withhold of adjudication," meaning no conviction will appear on his record.
Prosecutors had alleged that Bateman illegally spent over $2,000 in campaign money after his reelection in 2011.
The misdemeanor case was always a minor sideshow to Bateman's other legal woes.
The plea deal comes three months after another judge sentenced Bateman to 22 months in prison in an unrelated corruption case. Jurors convicted Bateman of illegally wielding his influence as mayor while secretly on the payroll of a healthcare company needing government clearance to build a clinic in Homestead.
He was convicted of felony illegal compensation. A judge threw out a second conviction on the same charge, a decision prosecutors are appealing.
Bateman, 59, has yet to begin his prison term — he is free on bail as defense lawyers appeal his conviction.


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Some news about the Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal
We have some great news to share with you about the Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal.
We are moving! Our new website address is:
Starting now, head there to find all the latest news and information about local sports. We have made some changes on our new site which we hope will make it easier for you to find stories about your favorite sports teams at Mount Si and Cedarcrest High Schools and also the many graduates from those two Valley high schools playing in college this fall and throughout the upcoming school year.
This site you are looking at will remain active, as an archive site with all the posts we have put up here for the last three years, some 2,000 and counting, but all of our new content will be at the above website address starting Monday.
Please let all of your friends know about this exciting change and spread the word that quality Valley sports coverage is only a click away on your computer.
There are several of you who have email subscriptions here; we at this point aren't sure if we will have this capability on the new site, but we will be sure to work on that for you. In the meantime, we ask that you check in with us frequently for all the latest information.
Another feature of our new website is we are now able to provide space for local businesses to advertise, and we would like you, if you own a business and want to support quality local sports coverage, to consider advertising with us. If you are interested in doing this, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Our rates are competitive for today's economy, and you can get your business visibility with those in our community who support their local sports.
We also encourage news tips and comments; our new site has those features as well, so please comment or send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com with your news tips.
We thank you for choosing us for your Valley sports news and we hope you will join us in our move to our new site.
Rhett Workman
Snoqualmie Valley Sports Journal


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My first encounter with Girls Write Now occurred during my first year living in NYC. A friend had told me about a Chapters reading... more »
My first encounter with Girls Write Now occurred during my first year living in NYC. A friend had told me about a Chapters reading and suggested I go. When it was over, I walked out feeling more alive and more inspired than I had in months. I am now in my third year as a mentor with Girls Write Now, and am as inspired now as I was then. Working with my first mentee through her junior and senior years of high school, celebrating with her as she was accepted into her first choice for college and shedding tears as she left were so incredibly rewarding. I have begun a new adventure with a new mentee, and it's been so much fun sharing in her enthusiasm for all that GWN has to offer. Monthly group workshops challenge us to expand our writing skills while learning about different genres; our weekly pair sessions allow us to read poetry and champion each other's writing. Being part of the GWN community is the most supportive, rewarding experience I've encountered since moving to NYC. Witnessing such a diverse community of women writers--mentors and mentees alike--grow in their writing, form friendships, and be proud of their accomplishments is awe-inspiring. Girls Write Now empowers young women writers to find their voices and perhaps even more importantly, to use them.
I've been volunteering with GWN for about 8 years, taking on various roles throughout my time, from mentor to member of the Program Advisory Committee to doing both at the same time. While the organization has grown tremendously since I joined, it has remained a supportive community for both young girls and women. Because I've been around for so long, I've been able to see growth within the girls as they make their way through the program and then go off to college. Shy young girls become confident young women, excited to revise and share their work, and to see that is truly rewarding. I think GWN is a great program for high school girls looking to not only improve their writing but to have a safe space to come into their own as women. It's also a wonderful opportunity for adult women to be part of a community of like-minded ladies.
I recall saying this when Girls Write Now asked me to represent them at a small board meeting- Girls Write Now has been the best program I've been involved and seen in my twenty years of existence. I have four years being part of Girls Write Now's community. Two years as a mentee and two year as a mentee alum in their Youth Board. As a mentee, I received a lot of privileges: support from my GWN mentor and GWN staff and writing resources and great book recommendations, college prep, breakfast, and so much more. Besides the privileges, I also encountered and met inspiring guest speakers. As a youth board member, I get to witness and take part into the behind scene work. I see all the dedication and creativity that the staff produce and execute to make GWN into a fun and comfortable environment and build up that sense of community. I get to enjoy that sweet perspective working behind scenes. Also, GWN has given me an opportunity to feel productive and help me gradually overcome my shyness and relate to other people. Overall, I think Girls Write Now is
a safe space for the mentees and as well as for the mentors to be ourselves and discuss through writing what really matters to us.
I believe that Girls Write Now upholds a legacy of women writers and fulfilling the dreams of young girls whom can make a difference through writing.
This is my third year with GWN, and the thing that has always impressed me about them is how they are always self-examining and striving to improve.
Previous Stories
I just started as a mentor and I am already in awe. Girls Write Now manages to be completely open and welcoming of new ideas and yet still be the most organized volunteer group I have ever encountered. The Girls Write Now staff and my fellow mentors are filled with positive energy, and I am overjoyed to be spending the coming year working with them.
I have worked with many organizations that serve young people and focus, particularly, on helping them with their writing. " Girls Write Now" is definitely one of the very best. They're a well-organized, extremely creative, and widely diverse group of women interested in bringing the most up-to-date, practical, and yet wonderfully cutting-edge writing experiences to high school girls. One hundred percent of the girls
involved in the program go on to college. They don't all become writers, but they do have a much better idea of what it means to write well, and they have confidence in their ability to do so.
Previous Stories
I have had the privilege of being a mentor at Girls Write Now for two years; thus, I've gotten to know two girls very well--helping each with her school and personal writing. I've also learned about the lives of hundreds of other girls--through readings and workshops--and met scores of writers, who have shared valuable writing tips. This year, particularly, has been rewarding for me. The high school girl I mentor grew up in Tibet, and I truly think I may have learned more from her than she has from me! Together we've opened worlds to each other.
Family friend came over to the united states. She had poor English skills but was really excited about writing. Also very sky. This organization allowed to come out of her shell and become a confident writer.
Girls Write Now is consistently impressive at delivering quality mentorship to girls in the New York City public schools. At the same time, Girls Write Now provides a way and a space for women to volunteer their time and expertise and feel part of a meaningful community. As a board member and volunteer, I have connected to the organization for more than 5 years and GWN continues to impress me more and more.
I have attended several of the early presentations of Girls Write Now as well as, most recently, the Tenth presentation. I have been consistently impressed by the quality of the work, by the candor with which the young women address sensitive issues and above all by the passion they display. What I see is not only that they have learned a craft (be it poetry or story telling), but they have developed a voice. They speak for themselves, and they speak for their community as well -- bringing both the pain and the pride they have seen to the audience in ways that make it impossible to miss the point. Many of us have heard the slogan "educate a woman and you educate a family" -- I would add a new one to this "give a woman a voice, and you give her community a voice". Girls Write Now has given many, many young women a chance to be heard -- and this will improve their lives as well as the lives of those who hear them.
Saturday morning finally arrived. It was first day of the Girls Write Now mentoring training program. I was so happy to be part of the program. I arrived on 8th Avenue and found the building. I took a deep breath, and pushed the doors open. I was so nervous that I wanted to run back home. I entered the lobby and meekly approached the concierge. I asked for the Girls Write Now Program. He must have had keen insight because he gave me a big smile and said, "It is on the 20th floor." I entered the elevator along with several other girls. The journey up felt like an eternity. I began to fret over the usual worries such as, "Will I make a friend? Will the mentors be kind? I began to regret that I did not persuade a friend to participate in the program with me. Ding. The elevator arrived, and it broke my stream of self-doubting questions. I said to myself, "All right, let's get this show on the road." I stepped off the elevator and I was greeted by a two other mentees. They gave me a warm welcome, a big smile, a name tag and a gift. I was given my own personal journal. I ran my fingers over the cover and smiled. Somehow I knew I was in the right place. I was asked to complete an application consisting of mixed questions about my background, interests, likes and dislikes. Then all of the mentors and mentees were instructed to break up into groups. I socialized with professional women who have exciting and creative careers. I could not believe that I had the opportunity to meet a woman who works in advertisement at MTV. I also met an author of a cookbook, and spoke with other journalists. I felt as if I entered a world that was never available to me before. I felt lucky. Later, I had the chance to participate in a discussion with women from diverse backgrounds. We discussed values pertaining to the writing field such as respect, creativity, and family. These are values that I cherish, and it was nice to share them with other women who cared. The day ended with a discussion about future events and learning the Girls Write Now Pledge. I was so excited to hear that I will have the chance to attend so many exciting writing workshops and visit places such as Barnard College. I looked at my watch and I could not believe that four hours had passed. I left the building with more confidence then I had when I entered. I also had a huge smile and a good feeling in my heart.
I originally learned about this organization from a friend who is an active volunteer and have since become a supporter and fan. I've also read the anthology of the girls and mentors work which shows off what talented writers are in the program. Not only does Girls Write Now addresses an important need in New York City, but I can see the organization also creates a close and strong community of women, writers and leaders.
I have attended a few workshops and readings presented by girls from Girls Write Now and was amazed by the level of thought and care that went into the programming. I enjoy reading the monthly updates and newsletter which is sent out online. I have met and spoken with some of the Mentors who have given so much time and energy, who have committed to supporting and teaching the girls, and was inspired by their stories and writing. I was also very happy to watch the segment on national television about Girls Write Now. Watching the organization grow and affect so many people has given me a lot of hope for the future generations and the role that women play in the world.
I'm a mentee in the GWN program, it's been the best experience I've had. It's amazing how so much peole have the same interest as I do. It's amazing how a writing program can promote so much enthusiasm towards writing. Well this program has. I've had an amazing time with my mentor who I love very much. I mean why in the world would I give up my time and some Saturdays for 3 of my life that I would never get back to a program I don't like. I wouldn't. So thank you for all GWN has given me.
I have been involved with Girls Write Now since 2006, and from the start was inspired by the effectiveness and the passion of this organization and its volunteers. I have worked and volunteered in the nonprofit sector for the past twelve years, and never have I been so impressed with an organization as I have been with Girls Write Now. In the "safe zone" of the writing workshop and one-on-one mentoring relationships, high school girls develop their voices, their confidence, their creativity. They are bold and fearless, and ready to take on the world.
Girls Write Now is a phenomenal program that allows young girls to further their writing with professional women writers. What can be better than that? It's helpful, relaxed, fun, and encouraging.
Girls Write Now is a small organization that achieves big things. It is organized, inspiring, creative, joyful, smart and fun. I wish I had a community like this when I was a girl--I might not have been so confused about my goals. Everyone works harder, is more dedicated and is better at their jobs (both volunteer and staff) then anyone I've ever met. The girls are vulnerable and strong and watching them grow as writers and women is a privilege. It's all a privilege, one of the best things I've ever been part of.
I have seen first-hand how dedicated and ambitious the volunteers of GWN all are. They are constantly striving to improve and create an enriching and challenging program for the young woman they serve. The public readings showcase all the amazingly talented writers GWN nurtures and supports.
Girls Write Now is a wonderful program that inspires both the girls it serves and all of its volunteers. Even though I don't live in New York, I began supporting this organization as soon as I learned about their mission.
As someone who's watched NYC's girls thrive as a direct result of their participation in Girls Write Now, I can't say enough about this organization. It truly gives girls the power to shine.
Maya Nussbaum is one of the most inspiring leaders I have ever met, and Girls Write Now one of the most innovative, top-quality, world-changing organizations I know about. I have had many years of experience sitting on the boards of various organizations dedicated to serving women and girls, including Stanford's Clayman Institute and The I Do Foundation, but I have never seen anything like Girls Write Now. What amazes me is the level of attention and dedication GWN demands of its mentors and mentees -- and the results that this high standard yields. Attending the readings where the girls and their mentors present their work inspires and awes me, and the impact of writing and speaking on the girls' lives is irrefutable. Girls Write Now is poised to grow and change the lives of young women not just in New York but beyond, and I am honored to be a part of it.


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Kyle Hawes is a Senior Natural Resource Biologist and Director of Ecoscape Environmental Consultants Ltd. (Ecoscape). With over 14- years experience, he has conducted numerous field studies within aquatic and terrestrial habitats throughout British Columbia, Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Alberta. His particular area of expertise is freshwater fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Kyle has provided services to a broad sector base from mining, to forestry, natural resource projects, transportation, urban land development, and various research and conservation initiatives.
Kyle is a very well-rounded biologist with demonstrated skills in fisheries and aquatic habitat studies, fish and benthic taxonomy, amphibian and reptile inventory and life history studies, bird inventories/counts from BC through to Ontario, terrestrial ecosystem mapping and vegetation surveys, wetland evaluations/classifications, Sensitive Habitat Inventory and Mapping, and small mammal surveys, and stream and wetland restoration.
Kyle has worked closely with regional, provincial, and federal inventory specialists to develop and refine inventory protocols and data collection requirements and standards. Kyle has been a leader in the development of inventory programs in often challenging environments. Specifically, Kyle has developed Wetland Inventory methods that have provided the City of Kelowna with an invaluable tool. Coupled with this, Kyle has developed a new assessment protocol for mapping large rivers in BC and subsequently developed a comprehensive habitat index with Jason for these systems.
When not working Kyle keeps active as a triathlete, an avid nordic skier, hockey player, and father of three young boys.


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Halloween weekend, we're getting crazy with the cheese wiz with Deltron 3030 at Deschutes Brewery's AlterCross Warehouse Party in Bend.
Worlds could not be colliding harder right now.
Head to Deschutes' warehouse starting at 8pm on Saturday, Oct 29th to join the alternative reality - two rooms of weird centered around taps of flowing Deschutes beer. Other artists include Fou Fou Ha!, Ells, Mister Whipple, Coop da Loop, Jefe, Expatriate, Chrome Wolvez, Eka Boo Button + More.
Advance tickets are only $20 or pay $25 at the door. Presales are strongly encourage. Click here to lock yours down now.
For the cyclist out there, join Moondog guitarist Drea at the Cyclecross Races on Saturday Oct 28th and 29th from 8am to 4pm. Visit CrossCrusade.com to register.


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Q3 report 2016
Ericsson's financial report for the third quarter of 2016 was published at approximately 07.30 CET on October 21, 2016. On this page you will find: CEO Comments, Press Conference webcast and the Media & Analyst conference call information.
Comments from Jan Frykhammar, President and CEO
The negative industry trends from the first half of 2016 have further accelerated, impacting Q3 sales, primarily relating to mobile broadband. The decline, in both mobile broadband coverage and capacity sales, was particularly strong in markets with a weak macro-economic environment. In addition, capacity sales in Europe were lower than a year ago. Gross margin declined YoY, following lower mobile broadband capacity sales, a higher share of services sales and lower sales in segment Networks.
In the first half of 2016, a number of important markets, in regions such as Latin America, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa, were impacted by a weak macro-economic environment. This negative development accelerated in the third quarter and had a negative effect on both mobile broadband coverage and capacity sales in these markets. In addition, capacity sales in Europe were lower than a year ago. Combined, this led to a significant deviation from what the company expected and communicated in conjunction with the Q2 report, and resulted in early announcement of preliminary sales and margins for the third quarter on October 12, 2016.
Both reported sales and sales adjusted for comparable units and currency declined by -14% YoY and sales were particularly weak at the end of the quarter. This shows an acceleration of the negative sales trends compared with the second quarter when the decline in sales, adjusted for comparable units and currency, was -7% YoY. The decline was driven by segment Networks where the reported sales decline worsened from -14% in Q2 to -19% in Q3.
As anticipated, sales in North America declined, mainly due to lower sales in Professional Services. In addition, one customer continued to reduce their investments in mobile broadband. Sales in Mainland China declined by -7% YoY mainly due to lower 3G sales, while 4G deployments continued on a high level. In India the delayed spectrum auctions led to another slow quarter. The transition from 3G to 4G continued to contribute to sales growth in region South East Asia and Oceania.
Sales in the targeted growth areas showed resilience and grew by 3% YoY, driven by Cloud, IP and services related to OSS and BSS. In total, the targeted growth areas now account for 21% of group sales. The strategic partnership with Cisco has to date generated more than 60 deals.
The current industry trends indicate a somewhat weaker than normal seasonal sales growth between the third and fourth quarters. In addition a renewed managed services contract in North America, with reduced scope, will impact sales negatively. The current business mix of coverage and capacity sales in mobile broadband is anticipated to prevail in the short term.
Operating income declined to SEK 0.3 (5.1) b. following lower sales in segment Networks and a lower gross margin. The positive effect of the cost and efficiency program did not offset the sharp decline in gross income.
Gross margin declined to 28% (34%) following lower mobile broadband capacity sales, a higher share of services sales and lower sales in segment Networks.
IPR licensing revenues declined YoY and declined slightly QoQ. The IPR revenues in the quarter represent the current licensing contract portfolio.
Cost reductions to secure resilience and competitiveness
The cost and efficiency program was first initiated in November 2014 and then expanded in the second quarter of 2016. We are taking action in all dimensions of the program. Actions in the quarter included headcount reduction activities which were announced and initiated in Sweden, the US, Finland, Spain and the UK. We are tracking towards our target to reduce the annual run rate of operating expenses, excluding restructuring charges, to SEK 53 b. in the second half of 2017.
We will implement further short-term actions mainly to reduce cost of sales, in order to adapt our operations to weaker mobile broadband demand.
Cash flow
Cash flow from operating activities was SEK -2.3 b. in the quarter, mainly due to lower trade payables following lower demand. As cash flow is volatile between quarters it should be viewed on a full-year basis. We are taking operational and structural actions to improve cash flow both in the short and long term. Net cash at the end of quarter was SEK 16.3 b.
Strategy execution
Ericsson is in the middle of a significant company transformation. In addition, the rapid technology development, different and new customer requirements, as well as the convergence of IT, Media and Telecom, are posing both challenges and opportunities. Focus is on speed and fine-tuning of execution, supported by the new company structure which is designed for efficiency and effectiveness.
In short, the strategy builds on three key elements; efficiency and scale of our core business, investments in new revenue base and strong cash flow generation. Combined this will enable us to secure leadership also in the emerging broader 5G market – from technology to new business models and services – enabling us to be a strong business partner to existing and new customers.
Conference call for analysts, investors and media
The conference call for financial analysts, investors and journalists will begin at 1400 CEST (1300 BST in the UK, 0800 EDT in the US and 2100 JST in Japan).
Jan Frykhammar, Carl Mellander and other members of the Ericsson Executive Leadership Team will comment on the report and take questions. To join the conference call, please call one of the following numbers:
Replay numbers:
Sweden replay number: +46 8 5664 2638
International replay number: +44 20 3426 2807
Conference Number: 677409#
Press conference and live webcast, 9AM CET
Ericsson will hold a press briefing, which will also be available through a live webcast, starting at 0900 CEST on October 21, 2016 at Ericsson Studio, Grönlandsgatan 8, Kista, Sweden.
President and CEO Jan Frykhammar and Acting CFO Carl Mellander will comment on the report and answer questions. The press briefing is open to journalists and analysts.


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Hi, i'm trying to rip from a DVD into a raw MPG2 file (i.e. without re-encoding) from the VOBs, but i'm having trouble removing the pulldown flags.
The title I want to rip is structured in 4 VOB files, and this is where the problem lies. According to eac3to, the video format of the first file (it's an NTSC DVD) is:
i.e. it can't find any pulldown flags, so using -stripPulldown has no effect as it appears not to attempt to remove any."MPEG2, 480i60 /1.001 (16:9)"
However for the other 3 VOB files, the format is:
If I run eac3to with the -stripPulldown argument for these 3 VOB files to create a joined VOB file, it attempts to remove the flags this time, although it then says:MPEG2, 480p24 /1.001 (16:9) with pulldown flags
My ultimate goal is to demux the 4 VOBs into joined demuxed files, while removing the pulldown flags on the video track at the same time, something along this command:The MPEG2 stream is a mixture of progressive and interlaced encoding. The Pulldown cannot be removed from this type of MPEG2 stream. Will have to abort processing and redo everything.
If I include the 1st vob in this command, as eac3to doesn't detect any pulldown flags, it doesn't attempt to remove them from the other 3 VOBs, yet if I leave off the 1st vob from that command, it gives me the "Pulldown cannot be removed" errors as above.eac3to 1.VOB+2.VOB+3.VOB+4.VOB -demux -stripPulldown
What's going on? Can you help?
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There are ways to do it but it's inadvisable.
One option:
You can load all the VOBs into DGIndex and then demux the video to a single M2V. Then use DGPulldown to remove the pulldown flags.
The problem with this is it will likely destroy audio sync, and I suppose that is why eac3to disallows this operation.
Second option:
Use eac3to individually on each VOB, then binary concatenate the resulting M2Vs. Again, it will probably ruin audio sync.
Last edited by Guest34343; 13th Jun 2014 at 06:44.
tsmuxer, but it complained that:
Warning! Source stream contain irregular pulldown marks. Mistiming between original fps and fps/1.25(without pulldown) exceed 100ms.
DGindex with Honor Pulldown and then do external IVTC with Telecide()/Decimate() or TFM()/TDecimate(). Don't use Force Film as it will destroy audio sync.
If you actually have a hybrid of progressive and interlaced *content* things get more complicated.
He means demuxing simply demuxes -- including pulldown flags. The pulldown removal is only reflected in the index file.
Yes, jagabo is correct.
If you are bound and determined just to remove the flags and see what happens, then re-read my first post.
If there is a mix of hard and soft telecine then re-encoding is unavoidable. A sample would be needed to advise you properly.
Yes, you can set a range with the [ and ] keys, then demux as jagabo mentioned. That is convenient as it allows you to select the desired content.
You can also cut the VOB directly with DGSplit.
Try to provide sections from both the progressive-coded and the interlace-encoded VOBs.
Last edited by bergqvistjl; 13th Jun 2014 at 12:09.
Index with honor pulldown flags then TFM().TDecimate().
The interlaced portion appears to be only the first 42 black frames at the start, and the rest is pure soft 3:2 pulldown.
You can use Force Film in DGIndex or you can do external IVTC. The first will be much faster and you don't have to worry about TFM/TDecimate.
Removing the pulldown without re-encoding is also an option.
Either of the methods in my first post.
Of course, you will have to remux the audio and video again after you remove the pulldown from the elementary stream. You may also need a slight audio offset to account for the desync of the first 42 frames. But it will be a constant offset and will not grow throughout the stream (assuming the stream is indeed soft 3:2 throughout).
Last edited by Guest34343; 13th Jun 2014 at 08:48.
DGIndex, followed by running them through DGPulldown to remove the pulldown.
When demuxing them through DGIndex, do I Honor Pulldown, ignore it, or use film mode?
Also, Correct me if i'm wrong here, but the source framerate is currently 29.97 and I want to end up with 23.976?
Finally, what settings do I set for DGPulldown?
Also, Correct me if i'm wrong here, but the source framerate is currently 29.97 and I want to end up with 23.976?
Finally, what settings do I set for DGPulldown?
"Note that if the custom rate conversion is selected, and if the source rate is
specified as equal to the destination rate, then all pulldown is removed and the
stream is flagged as having a rate equal to the specified destination rate."
So, use custom rate with both source and destination frame rate set to 23.976 fps.
I tested it on your second sample and it works just fine.
Last edited by Guest34343; 13th Jun 2014 at 08:51.
It depends a bit on your audio type. What is the filename (with extension) of the demuxed audio that you would like to use?


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ReStyle - Red Rose Cameo Black Velvet Gothic Romantic Bag
Whenever I want a truly Gothic handbag or a Steampunk handbag, I just think, "ReStyle". As I have said before, I am a handbag girl and I love all different types of bags, but there is a certain excitement that happens when I get anything from ReStyle! It's like Goth - Steampunk heaven!
I LOVE this handbag because it is Gothic and has a gorgeous red rose. It is the same style as the "Red Doll" Gothic Lolita Handbag and the "Grey Doll" Gothic Lolita Handbag. There is just one more to finish your set, the Purple Rose Black Velvet Gothic Romantic Handbag. If I want something from my partner, I have been known to print a copy or copies from a website and put in a big red circle saying, "I want that one". It makes the gift giving process so much easier! LOL!
The handbag made of solid black velvet and faux leather decorations.In the centre of the bag there is beautiful, detailed print of red rose, surrounded with faux leather frame. The stainless steel frame is decorated with floral ornaments and white zircons. They are just fabalous! On the sides there are two roomy pockets made of faux leather with velvet flaps fastened with magnet buttons.
Inside there is black ,soft lining with two pockets. A big zipped one and other smaller one.
A4 format doesn't fit to the bag, but it's very spacious either way!
The rose graphic is made by Euflonica
High: 25 cm
Length: 37 cm
Length of handles: 50 cm
A Tip from Jo:
Some women are shoe girls; other women are handbag girls. I am a handbag girl.
With every handbag you have you should store it properly and use the the right protections and cleaners to keep your bag in top shape. This doesn't matter if its Leather, PU, Vegan Leather or Nylon. If a you buy a handbag that doesn't have a dust cover, you can go to Kmart and buy some cheap white pillowcases, wash them thoroughly and store your bag. For my cleaning and protection needs, I go to Strandbags. I have a collection of handbags that would make most women's jaws drop to the floor, but I swear by storing, cleaning and protecting. You can't go wrong. If you are not looking after your handbags properly, you are very naughty and need a smack on the bottom with a wooden spoon!
Love you, mean it!


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- Various scholarships are available to all providers who work with children at least 15 hours a week in a paid position.
- Scholarships are available through URPD to those whose program does not offer financial assistance and no other funding sources are available.
- To qualify for a scholarship for a Family Child Care or Infant Toddler CDA or CDA Renewal then you must work in a program regulated by Utah Child Care Licensing. (unless program is located on a Native American Reservation)
- All scholarship reimbursements require documentation of payment made with personal funds.
- The following scholarships are currently available through URPD:
Preschool CDA- $425 Reimbursement
Infant Toddler CDA- $425 Reimbursement
Family Child Care CDA- $425 Reimbursement
CDA Renewal- $75 Reimbursement
College Level Early Childhood Course- Reimbursement-Maximum of $150
Face to Face National Administrator's Credential (NAC)- Reimbursement-Maximum of $150
Community Based Career Ladder class that exceeds $200 in cost- Reimbursement-Maximum of $150
Demonstrated Competency Observation Fee by CCPDI Approved Observer- $100 will be paid directly to a
URPD approved observer. Here is a list of URPD approved observers.


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CANCELED Martial Arts for the Mind: Stress & Resilience Training
Clarity Seminars; training hosted by the Federal Executive Board
Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Event Details
REGRETS: this program is cancelled due to insufficient registration.
Pittsburgh Federal Executive Board is hosting this training. This program is recommended by many other federal agencies around the U.S., and we are pleased to being it here for the second year in a row. Attendance was unusually large last year. Seating is limited; register soon.
Testimonials about the Gamows' training:
"This is the best stress management program we've ever offered in my 20 years at NASA."
—Miriam Glazer, Programs Director, NASA-Ames Research Center
"This training program was helpful, not only in terms of how to deal with people who stress you out, but especially on how you handle yourself, so you don't let the slings, arrows, and other misfortunes that others may sling your way get you down."
—John Lom, Deputy Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury
"Karen and David's stress and resiliency training received the highest accolades of the year from the our federal workforce — a must attend for people who are tasked with doing more with fewer resources."
—Joseph Schmitt, Executive Director, Federal Executive Board of Minnesota
"Your program was awesome! It was lively, fun, and complete engaging start to finish. Extremely helpful and effective. You are performing a great service."
—Gina Thomas, Manager, U.S. Forest Service
"I have a painful wrist condition and wear a support band. After just one of your exercises, I noticed a dramatic reduction in the pain. I literally felt tension pouring out of my hand. During the break, I felt profoundly refreshed in a way I hadn't in a long time. Your program is excellent and effective."
—JoAnn Baldwin, Executive Assistant to the Assistant Regional Commissioner
Social Security Administration, San Francisco Region
"Our employees include some of the country's finest research scientists, and they gave this program top ratings. It's a big plus that the program is based on clinical research and that people can experience the results of the techniques first-hand. Even our traditional skeptics were won over."
—Erin M. Shatara, Training Coordinator
Stanford Linear Accelerator, U.S. Department of Energy
About the training
Gain clarity of mind and an increased resiliency to meet and overcome life's challenges. This training provides both physical and cognitive techniques to overcome the negative impacts of stress, and to increase our capacity to bounce back from adversity. Navy Seals use these techniques to calm intense fear before combat; athletes and actors use them to enhance performance under pressure. Learn how to:
1) Manage challenging work situations with greater calmness and clarity of mind; bounce back more quickly from adversity
2) Understand and communicate more effectively with difficult co-workers
3) Dramatically reduce stress with clinically-proven meditation and relaxation techniques that can be done in just a few moments
4) Achieve significant relief from tension, chronic pain, and insomnia, among many stress-related health conditions
5) Increase mental focus and productivity amidst 24/7 hyperconnectivity and distractions
About the presenters
David and Karen Gamow have trained over 25,000 employees for many federal agencies including U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, DOE, DOI, and Forest Service. Private sector clients include GE, CBS, Hyatt, and Citrix. For years their training has been an integral part of leadership training intensives for GE, NASA, and the Social Security Administration. Authors of Freedom from Stress, their work has been featured in Investor's Business Daily and Money Magazine.
More about Clarity Seminars
When & Where
William S. Moorhead Federal Building
Conference Room 1310
1000 Liberty Avenue
Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Add to my calendar
Clarity Seminars; training hosted by the Federal Executive Board
David and Karen Gamow have trained over 30,000 employees for clients including the U.S. Navy, Army, Marines, NOAA, Forestry Service, Department of Treasury, Justice, Education, Energy, and many other federal agencies. For years their training has been an integral part of leadership training intensives for GE, NASA, and the Social Security Administration. They have spoken about stress on behalf of the American Heart Association. Authors of Freedom from Stress, their work has been featured in Investor's Business Daily, Gannet News, and CNN's Money Magazine. More info: www.clarityseminars.com.


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The 11th Hour Of The 11th Day Of The 11th Month
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below…
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields…
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands, we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields…
~ Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872-1918)
I have a feeling that these days there's not much slumber in Flander's fields.


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Who we are
Our vision is to implement successful and low cost projects giving any company, looking to move its marketing to the next level, a great advantage.
- Customers DNA is a company that was founded in 2010, specialized in applying quantitative methods to enterprises growth and optimization issues, particularly in the domains of sales, marketing and strategy.
- Our people combine technical as well as business experience in numerous industries aiming to bridge the gap between technology and its applications in business & strategy.
- Customers DNA provides a comprehensive and complementary range of services across CRM, Customer Intelligence, Market Research and Training.
What we do
- Gap Analysis for CRM
- IT Infrastructure for CRM
- Campaign Management
- Event/Trigger based Marketing
- Customer Centricity Strategy
Market Research
- Multi-attribute Segmentation
- Share of Wallet Analysis
- SWOT Analysis
- Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty
- Drivers Importance Analysis
Business Analytics
- Customer Segmentation
- Customer Behavior Prediction
- Life Cycle Management & NBA
- Social Network Analysis
- Big Data analytics
- Building Effective CRM
- Segmentation Management
- Campaign Management
- Data Mining Techniques
- Next Best Activity & LCM
Our Collaboration Model
Usually we start our collaboration with the following steps:
Your Needs
We make a short interview with your team in order to identify business priorities & link them with appropriate data
Your Project
We implement for your enterprise a Free of Charge Pilot Project using anonymized data in the framework of our Proof of Concept approach
Your Service
We present the results of the POC project and if you find them interesting we can proceed with an actual project implementation or with a collaboration model of data hosting & business analytics services
Your Data
We exchange encrypted data via SFTP on a periodic & ad-hoc bases in order to support your standard as well as ad-hoc business needs
Zero Investment
Minimum IT involvement & zero investment on software & hardware
No Risks
No Data Security Risks since analyzed data are encrypted & anonymized
No Resources
No need from your site to allocate internal resources for maintaining & updating business analytics procedures
Training and Consulting
On the job training on business analytics and campaigning issues as well as management consulting on how to utilize business analytics results
Why work with us
Experienced in a responsible position
Some of our Clients