text:
We will be using the PyCBC library, which is used to study gravitational-wave data, find astrophysical sources due to compact binary mergers, and study their parameters. These are some of the same tools that the LIGO and Virgo collaborations use to find gravitational waves in LIGO/Virgo data
In this tutorial we will walk through estimating the significance of a peak in a signal, given a simplified search (with some assumptions as noted along the way). We will also make use of one of the standard signal consistency tests to help remove some non-Gaussian transient noise from the background.
Additional examples and module level documentation are here
Getting the software environment setup
PyCBC is installable through pip for python2.7, but also relies on portions of the LALSuite c-library. A bundled version of this suitable for use with PyCBC is also available on Mac / Linux through pip. These can be installed as follows within the notebook. For windows, we recommend use of our Docker containers or the linux subsystem for windows.
import sys
!{sys.executable} -m pip install lalsuite pycbc
Significance of Virgo SNR peak of GW170814
We will estimate the significance of signal-to-noise peak observed in the Virgo instrument near in time to the large peaks observed in the LIGO-Hanford and LIGO-Livingston observatories.
For this purpose we will consider the existence of a gravitational wave signal to have been confirmed based on the signal from the LIGO detectors alone, as was in fact the case for the matched-filtering based analyses of GW170814, as they did not incorporate any information from the Virgo data.
The question we will ask can be phrased as follows. What is the probability that noise can produce a peak as large or larger than the largest peak observed in the Virgo data, within a consistent lightspeed travel time between all three observatories? This is a form of null hypothesis testing, where we create a p-value.
For the purpose of this notebook, we may a few additional simplifying assumptions, and those will be stated as we go along.
Read and Precondition Gravitational Strain Data
In this section, we will read in a short segment of data round GW170814, and do some basic preconditioning, as also demonstrated in previous tutorials. We will also calculate the power spectrum of the data.
Notably, we are making the assumption here that the power spectral estimate of the data is constant over this short stretch of time, and isn't biased by the fact that we chose to center the estimate (very roughly) on the event time. We do not assume that the data is actually stationary, Gaussian, or is free from non-astrophysical transient artefacts.
%matplotlib inline
import pylab
from pycbc.filter import resample_to_delta_t, highpass
from pycbc.catalog import Merger
from pycbc.psd import interpolate, inverse_spectrum_truncation
m = Merger("GW170814")
ifos = ['H1', 'L1', 'V1']
data = {}
psd = {}
pylab.figure(figsize=[10, 5])
for ifo in ifos:
# Read in and precondition the data
ts = m.strain(ifo).highpass_fir(15, 512)
data[ifo] = resample_to_delta_t(ts, 1.0/2048).crop(2, 2)
# Estimate the power spectral density of the data
# This chooses to use 2s samples in the PSD estimate.
# One should note that the tradeoff in segment length is that
# resolving narrow lines becomes more difficult.
p = data[ifo].psd(2)
p = interpolate(p, data[ifo].delta_f)
p = inverse_spectrum_truncation(p, 2 * data[ifo].sample_rate, low_frequency_cutoff=15.0)
psd[ifo] = p
pylab.plot(psd[ifo].sample_frequencies, psd[ifo], label=ifo)
pylab.ylim(1e-47, 1e-41)
pylab.xlim(20, 1024)
pylab.ylabel('$Strain^2 / Hz$')
pylab.xlabel('Frequency (Hz)')
Generate our template waveform and calculate the Signal-to-noise time series
To calculate the signal-to-noise time series, we need to generate an estimate of the signal. For this purpose we will assume the source black holes are non spinning, have equal mass, and the agree with the total mass estimate for the system as a whole. A better method would be to use the maximum likelihood estimate from an analysis of the LIGO data alone, however, this is sufficient for the purposes of this tutorial.
from pycbc.waveform import get_fd_waveform
from pycbc.filter import matched_filter
# Calculate the component mass of each black hole in the detector frame
cmass = m.median1d("mtotal") / 2 # This is in the source frame
cmass *= (1 + m.median1d("redshift")) # apply redshift to get to the detector frame
# This is a frequency domain waveform generator. It has a very similar syntax to the time domain
# waveform function used in prior tutorials. This function returns both a plus and a cross
# polarization waveform, but we will just use the plus polarization in building our template
# as these are only different by a phase offset in this specific case.
hp, _ = get_fd_waveform(approximant="IMRPhenomD",
mass1=cmass, mass2=cmass,
f_lower=20.0, delta_f=data[ifo].delta_f)
# For each observatory use this template to calculate the SNR time series
snr = {}
for ifo in ifos:
snr[ifo] = matched_filter(hp, data[ifo], psd=psd[ifo], low_frequency_cutoff=20)
snr[ifo] = snr[ifo].crop(5, 4)
# Show a couple sizes
for w, title in [(10, 'Wide View'), (.15, 'Close to GW170814')]:
pylab.figure(figsize=[14, 4])
for ifo in ifos:
pylab.plot(snr[ifo].sample_times, abs(snr[ifo]), label=ifo)
pylab.xlim(m.time - w, m.time + w)
pylab.ylim(0, 15)
pylab.xlabel('Time (s)')
pylab.ylabel('Signal-to-noise (SNR)')
We see in the SNR time series plots above, that while there are nice peaks around GW170814 in each detector, there are also some large peaks at other times. LIGO / Virgo data, does contain transient (i.e limited duration) noise artefacts that an analyses must deal with to search LIGO data with high sensitivity. One approach for dealing with this is outlined later in this tutorial.
How well is the data actually fitting our model?
One of the ways we can test how well the data actual fits the models to use a $\chi^2$-based signal consistency test. We employ a version of the test described in this paper. Schematically, we chop up our template into $p$ number of bins and see how much each contributes to the SNR ($\rho_i$). We can then calculate our statistic as the difference between the SNR in one bin, and the expected fraction of the total SNR ($\rho$).
$ \chi^2 = \sum^p_{i=0} (\rho_i - \rho / p)^2 $
This will have $2p-2$ degrees of freedom as each SNR is complex representing both possible orthogonal phases the signal could have contributions from. There is also a constraint due to the fact that the sum of each bin must each the total SNR by definition. In this notebook we will normalize this statistic by dividing by the number of degrees of freedom, producing $\chi^2_r$.
We expect that this statistic will be high when the template does not match well the data, and near unity when the data either is Gaussian noise, or it contains the expected signal in addition to Gaussian noise.
from pycbc.vetoes import power_chisq
chisq = {}
for ifo in ifos:
# The number of bins to use. In principle, this choice is arbitrary. In practice,
# this is empirically tuned.
nbins = 26
chisq[ifo] = power_chisq(hp, data[ifo], nbins, psd[ifo], low_frequency_cutoff=20.0)
chisq[ifo] = chisq[ifo].crop(5, 4)
dof = nbins * 2 - 2
chisq[ifo] /= dof
pylab.figure(figsize=[14, 4])
for ifo in ifos:
pylab.plot(chisq[ifo].sample_times, chisq[ifo], label=ifo)
pylab.xlim(m.time -0.15, m.time + 0.15)
pylab.ylim(0, 5)
There are some notable features in the $\chi^2_r$ time series. We see that there is a dip in the value at the time of the peak in the SNR in each observatory. We expect this as the template now aligns with the signal in the data. Also, the values climb just around this minima. This occurs because the template is starting to slide against the true signal in the data but is not perfectly aligned with it.
Re-weighting our SNR to help down-weight times that don't fit our signal
One approach we can take is to down-weight the times where the data does not appear as either Guassian noise or Gaussian noise + our template. We can do this be combining the SNR time series and our $\chi^2_r$ time series as follows. This is a method used to re-weight SNR since initial LIGO, and has been employed in the first two Advanced LIGO observing runs. In this tutorial we will choose to rank our events by this statistic.
$\hat{\rho} = \frac{\rho}{ [1 + (\chi^2_r)^3]^{1/6}}$ where $\chi^2 > 1$, otherwise $\rho$
For reference on how we rank coincident (i.e. occuring in multiple detector) events in Advanced LIGO, there is a description here.
from pycbc.events import newsnr
# The rho-hat term above is named "newsnr" here
nsnr = {ifo:newsnr(abs(snr[ifo]), chisq[ifo]) for ifo in ifos}
# Show a couple sizes
for w, title in [(10, 'Wide View'), (.15, 'Close to GW170814')]:
pylab.figure(figsize=[14, 4])
for ifo in ifos:
pylab.plot(snr[ifo].sample_times, nsnr[ifo], label=ifo)
pylab.xlim(m.time - w, m.time + w)
pylab.ylim(0, 15)
pylab.xlabel('Time (s)')
pylab.ylabel('Re-weighted Signal-to-noise')
We can see above that there are still peaks around GW170814 in all detectors, at roughly the same signal strength, but that at other times, where that had been peaks in the time series, there are no longer large statistic values.
Calculating the background and significance
In this section we will determine how significant the peak in the virgo re-weighted SNR time series is.
We will do this first by determining where one might expect a peak relative to the LIGO observed peaks. This is set by the constraint that an astrophysical source can only cause delays between observatories no larger than the light travel time between them. The
pycbc.detector.Detector class provides some convenient methods to ask these sorts of questions.
We will then calculate the peak in the SNR for this window around the LIGO observed peaks. This is our "on-source".
Finally, to determine the significance of the on-source we will compare how likely it is for a peak as large or larger to appear in the background. Our background will be empirically measured by taking portions of the SNR time series from the "off-source" i.e. times that do not overlap the on-source. An important criteria to avoid a biased significance estimate is that the background and experiment be performed in the same manner.
import numpy
from pycbc.detector import Detector
# Calculate the time of flight between the Virgo detectors and each LIGO observatory
d = Detector("V1")
tof = {}
tof['H1'] = d.light_travel_time_to_detector(Detector("H1"))
tof['L1'] = d.light_travel_time_to_detector(Detector("L1"))
# Record the time of the peak in the LIGO observatories
ptime = {}
pylab.figure(figsize=[14, 4])
for ifo in ifos:
# shade the region around each LIGO peak that could have a peak in Virgo if from
# an astrophysical source
if ifo is not 'V1':
ptime[ifo] = snr[ifo].sample_times[nsnr[ifo].argmax()]
pylab.axvspan(ptime[ifo] - tof[ifo], ptime[ifo] + tof[ifo], alpha=0.2, lw=10)
pylab.plot(snr[ifo].sample_times, nsnr[ifo], label=ifo)
# Calculate the span of time that a Virgo peak could in principle happen in from time of flight
# considerations.
start = ptime['H1'] - tof['H1']
end = ptime['L1'] + tof['L1']
# convert the times to indices along with how large the region is in number of samples
window_size = int((end - start) * snr['V1'].sample_rate)
sidx = int((start - snr['V1'].start_time) * snr['V1'].sample_rate)
eidx = sidx + window_size
# Calculate the "on-source" peak re-weighted (newsnr) statistic value.
onsource = nsnr['V1'][sidx:eidx].max()
pylab.xlim(m.time - .05, m.time + .05)
pylab.ylim(0, 15)
pylab.xlabel('Time (s)')
pylab.ylabel('Re-weighted Signal-to-noise')
print('Virgo Peak has a statistic value of {}'.format(onsource))
Virgo Peak has a statistic value of 4.3219484918
In the plot above we see the re-weighted SNR time series. On top of that we've shaded the regions which are consistent with a Virgo signal based on the peaks in the LIGO observatories. Only in the darker region, is it possible to have a peak in the SNR that is consistent with both LIGO observatories.
# Now that we've calculate the onsource peak, we should calculate the background peak values.
# We do this by chopping up the time series into chunks that are the same size as our
# onsource and repeating the same peak finding (max) procedure.
# Walk through the data in chunks and calculate the peak statistic value in each.
peaks = []
i = 0
while i + window_size < len(nsnr['V1']):
p = nsnr['V1'][i:i+window_size].max()
i += window_size
# Skip past the onsource time
if abs(i - sidx) < window_size:
i += window_size * 2
peaks = numpy.array(peaks)
# The p-value is just the number of samples observed in the background with a
# value equal or higher than the onsource divided by the number of samples.
# We can make the mapping between statistic value and p-value using our background
# samples.
pcurve = numpy.arange(1, len(peaks)+1)[::-1] / float(len(peaks))
pvalue = (peaks > onsource).sum() / float(len(peaks))
pylab.figure(figsize=[10, 7])
pylab.scatter(peaks, pcurve, label='Off-source (Noise Background)', color='black')
pylab.axvline(onsource, label='On-source', color='red')
pylab.axhline(pvalue, color='red')
pylab.ylim(1e-3, 1e0)
pylab.xlabel('Re-weighted Signal-to-noise')
pylab.xlim(2, 5)
print("The p-value associated with the GW170814 peak is {}".format(pvalue))
The p-value associated with the GW170814 peak is 0.00487804878049
In this tutorial, we find a peak in Virgo as large as the obseved one has an approximately 0.5% chance of occuring due to the noise alone. Since that is a relatively low probability, we may reject the null hypothesis that the observed peak is due to noise alone. Given the simplifications of this tutorial, we find a result in agreement with the GW170814 discovery paper which reported a p-value of 0.3%.


text:
Christian School in the UK
By John Harris I came across this Times Education Supplement website (http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6069260) when a Christian organisation in the UK applied to open a public funded school. The objections that came from atheists were unbelievable despite the coalition government specifically inviting all schools in England to become academies and encouraging parents to set up their...Read More
Religious Education in Newark?
Hi Everyone, today I found myself replying to a comment stream on the Local Newspapers website. ECC Christian church is considering the prospect of starting a school founded on Christian principles offering an excellent standard of education. Here is my last reply. Click here to view the whole article. "Dear adpikett, I am surprised that you have been so negative from the outset regarding...Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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ShakespeareS Social Themes In Taming Of The Screw Greg Graziani 03-05-01 English 283 sect. 08 McLaughlin Shakespeare's Social Themes in Taming of the Screw Shakespeare's Taming of the Screw is widely viewed as a comical play. But are the views and topics that are expressed really intended to be funny or are they more of a serious concern of Shakespeare's that women are mistreated? Throughout this paper I will try to explain that the perspective that Shakespeare is showing is one of concern over sexism and the treatment of women. To understand the sexism and its context is to understand when the play was written and the history of the social system at the time. The play was first presented in the late sixteenth century, the role of the women was not much more than that of service. The privileges of women were virtually non-existent in terms of political and personal rights.
The chief purpose of women was to provide children and care for the household. Most marriages were pre arranged or won, and initially had no love based relationship. The women were in a sense used and taken advantage of, they were expected to do what the husband said and agree completely with them. In the play Taming of the Screw, Kate represents a strong minded and individual person who shows no sign of calming. Petruchio, Kate's suitor, is a strong minded man bent on controlling and taking away Kate's sense of individuality. When the two meet for the first time there doesn't seem to be any attraction between the two.
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This is illustrated in act two scene one. The conversation of the two is filled with bickering and disagreement. Later in the scene Petruchio plainly states that his purpose is to tame Kate." For I am he am born to tame you, Kate, And bring you from a wild Kate to a Kate conformable as other household Kates,(Shakespeare 47)" This statement alone claims that Kate is to forget her own individuality and to conform to the norms of society and preferred behavior. Petruchio's aim is to control Kate and develop her mentality and actions to that which pleases him. These actions for the time are not unusual. It was common practice to display control and dominance over your wife at this time. Is Shakespeare merely poking fun at this practice or is he putting it on display and trying to expose the problems with it? If Shakespeare was to more directly show his concern it could have hurt him both personally and professionally, maybe he was all right with the status quo but would have liked to see it changed. As the play goes on Petruchio continues to try and break down Kate in to the women he wants. Petruchio goes on to publicly humiliate Kate and deprive her.
He controls her socially, economically, and physically. She is not free to her own decisions and must at least agree with Petruchio. He goes as far as to deprive her of sleep and food. The battle between the two is underway. Which sex will win is at no point is in favor of Kate.
It is her father's will for her to marry Petruchio and to like it as well. Kate is faced with a dilemma, give in and be under Petruchio's control or lead a life that will eventually find her dead. Indeed Petruchio's sexism is tearing Kate apart. She refuses to be dominated by her husband and continues to fight Petruchio's dominating nature. This continues until the fourth act.
Then while on a journey back to Petruchio's home there seems to be a change of events. Petruchio makes reference to the sun as the moon, Kate initially disagrees but then breaks down in to telling Petruchio that she believes it is whatever Petruchio says it is." Then God be blessed, it is the blessed sun. But sun it is not when you say it is not, and the moon changes even as your mind. What you will have it named, even that it is. And so it will be for Katherine.(Shakespeare 92)" How is it that something that is so obviously in Kate's favor turns around and ends up favoring Petruchio.
Maybe a turn around is starting to occur, or perhaps Kate is falling victim to society and its warped view of the household. From this point on Kate's feistiness is depleted slowly, but surely not forgotten. The ugliness of this woman loosing her personality and will is no less sad as that of a captured slave. Kate is commanded to do everything and has turned into a well trained dog, but is that really what is happening here. Is Kate turning into property or is she exploiting the social system for all its worth.
It is obvious that Kate posses some intelligence, is she manipulating Petruchio? This looks as if it could be a possibility. This would certainly go against the social order of the time and expectations of the audience. Kate could be positioning it so socially it seems like Petruchio has tamed her and she does as he says, but privately Kate's demeanor is one of individuality and discontent. Kate's mind is still with her and her defiance comes from within the house and into Petruchio's head. Where is the victory though, Petruchio still gets what he wants and everyone thinks she is trained as a conventional wife.
That's where the subtlety and undertone comes into play. At the very end of the play in act five it seems like the just married men have made a wager on their wives and their obedience. Between the three men it is understood that Kate has the least chance of winning between them, but Petruchio makes the bet with a curious sense of confidence. When the wives are summoned it is only Kate who responds. Petruchio has won the bet everyone is certain he had lost.
In the ensuing moments Petruchio continues to order around Kate as if to prove his point. A great sense of wonder fills the room. Is the wonder because a screw has fallen down and finally been tamed, another victim of society and it way it has put complete dominance on the female sex. Or is their a difference sense of wonder, that between Petruchio and Kate, one that no one else sees. " Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign one that cares for thee, and for thy maintenance commits his body to painful labor both sea and land, to watch the night in storms, the day in cold, Whilst thou li'st warm at home, secure and safe, and craves no other tribute at thy hands but love, fair looks and true obedience.(Shakespeare 108)" This statement appeals to the fact that she has been socialized and made obedient, but it seems as if Kate would have offered a wink to Petruchio after her little speech.
Maybe she has won the battle of the sexes. Socially it looks as if Petruchio is the dominating party but privately both know that Kate hold the upper hand, for she can always go back to being a screw. This play offers a different way of looking at marriage, if it were in now a day terms this relationship would look to be abusive and detrimental to Kate, but at the time it was written this offers a stark contrast in the ways of the wife. Kate is not trying to be a subordinate to her husband but has no choice, at least publicly, she is trying to encourage her individuality in the home. Shakespeare seems to be ahead of his time with his thought of the women and what their roles could be in the house as equals, but he doesn't let it come out more straight forward due to the fact that it could embarrass him and hurt his career. I believe that Shakespeare was addressing this issue in the form of a comedy because when we are afraid of something or want to protect against it we blanket it by laughter.
He might have been ok with the status quo but he might have also wanted to put this seeming problem on center stage to expose it. Whatever the case might be Shakespeare does an excellent job of putting the home on center stage. His ideas of the home and it operation is completely similar to the times he lived in. Whether or not this is just a comical play or one with serious undertones of distress and or of concern one can only speculate, but it is understood that the complete meaning went to the grave with Shakespeare himself. History.


text:
The number of properties available for sale and rent in Western Australia have dropped to the lowest levels since late 2014, with only 13,831 properties listed for sale and 6,599 properties listed for rent on reiwa.com in August.
Perth's residential sales market has slightly softened in August across all aspects, but the rate of price decline appears to be slowing, Real Estate Institute of Western Australia President Damian Collins says.
While CoreLogic's latest home value index shows dwelling values in Perth declined for another month to 0.5 per cent in August, there are signs the city may be approaching the bottom.
Mr Collins said there were a number of suburbs that showed a significant reduction in listings (percentage wise) for August, demonstrating their popularity.
"Topping the list was Churchlands with the largest reduction, which was closely followed by Sinagra, Waterford, Shenton Park and Greenwood," Mr Collins said.
Reiwa.com data shows the number of sales reduced by seven per cent during the month and the overall median sale price has lowered to $486,000.
Mr Collins said the further slowdown in the market suggested the full effects of the recent changes made by APRA, the Reserve Bank of Australia's rate cuts or Keystart initiative have not yet been felt.
"Hopefully in time we will see an increase in the number of buyers, otherwise there will be a need for further action by the State Government in relation to land taxes and stamp duty," he said.
The Perth rental market has seen a three per cent reduction of listing stock and a five per cent reduction in leasing activity for August.
Reiwa.com data reveals the top suburbs that have seen a significant decrease in rental listings include Alkimos with the largest reduction, followed by Connolly, Willagee, Shoalwater and Greenwood.
Mr Collins said he would be keeping "a keen eye" on any seasonal change that occurred within the market.
"Typically, as we move into these warmer spring months, the property market should see an overall uplift in activity"
Similar to this:
'People need to take responsibility for their own actions': REIWA President praises Westpac decision
Positive signs starting to emerge in Perth rental market - REIWA
WA needs federal support to help make Perth a migration hotspot - REIWA


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We did it!
Lisa Woodhouse raised £343 from 28 supporters
Start your own crowdfunding page
Closed 15/11/2018
We've raised £343 to Raise money for SADS UK & The Great North Children's hospital ward 1b Neuro ward.
- Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Funded on Thursday, 15th November 2018
What is crowdfunding?
Crowdfunding is a new type of fundraising where you can raise funds for your own personal cause, even if you're not a registered nonprofit.
The page owner is responsible for the distribution of funds raised.
This year I am taking part in my 4th GNR. I am raising money for SADSUK, as I lost my cousin aged 21 to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome, it is a charity close to the families heart. All money raised will help the charity raise awareness & help provide money so the public can have access to more defibrillator's across the country.
I am raising money for The Great North Children's Hospital ward 1b Neuro Ward as my niece was diagnosed with meningitis aged 3. I feel without this hospital and particular ward my niece might not be here today. All money raised will contribute to providing the ward with supplies to help the children with physio sessions, arts & crafts and toys to help them feel better. All money raised is getting split between both charities, any donations at all is greatly appreciated!!
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Deb Partridge
Sep 28, 2018
Well Done
from Deborah Collier (Julie friend)
Sep 14, 2018
Well Done Lisa
Laurie Coyle
Sep 10, 2018
Well done Lisa!! Done Soph and Lana proud :) xxxx
Bernie Gingell
Sep 10, 2018
Well done from Bernie and Kev xx
Julie Collins
Sep 10, 2018
Well Done Lisa from Barry Collins and Julie Stokoe
Sep 10, 2018
Well Done from Julie/Stephen Brother Barry and Julie friend Julie Stokoe
Michelle & Darren
Sep 9, 2018
Good luck in the great north run Lisa, what a fantastic charity too in memory of the lovely Sophie. X X X
Great people make things happen
Do you know anyone in need or maybe want to help a local community cause?
Create you own page and don't let that cause go unfunded!About Crowdfunding


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A Must Watch! And if you're wondering how people with diabetes can do this safely, you should know that there's more to the story than conventional medicine will tell you. Type 2 diabetes actually has a root cause in the liver being overburdened with fat. You've probably heard of…(Read More)
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After rocking the stage at the Mixers Magnet event in France, Little Mix have jetted off back to the UK – apart from a particular loved up member.
It has been confirmed Zayn Malik flew all the way to Paris to celebrate Zerrie's first year together.
The pair were already seen kissing at the Eiffel Tower, where the pair had a romantic meal.
A source told The Mirror:
1D are performing out there this week so Zayn flew out early to spend a couple of precious days with Perrie. They wanted to mark their first year together and it means a lot that they've made it this far despite their hiccups.
It is thought that Perrie will fly out a day before 1D's next gig (29th April) while Zayn will remain in Paris for their gig at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy.
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Will Brazil's 2018 election end a 24-year duopoly?
Brazil has had seven presidential elections since its return to democracy. In six of them, both the winner and the runner-up came from two parties: the Workers' Party and the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB). Will 2018 be the year this duopoly ends? And if so, why?
Brazil has 35 political parties, so such a duopoly is already surprising. Especially since neither is the country's biggest political family, a title which belongs to the Brazilian Democratic Movement party, which has never managed to hit the 10-percent mark in presidential elections. Conversely, the Workers' Party and the PSDB have combined for 70-to-90 percent of the votes in the first round of presidential races.
Polls have shown much lower numbers in 2018. According to Datafolha, the Workers' Party has 39 percent of voting intentions (with Lula as its candidate), while PSDB candidate Geraldo Alckmin can only reach up to 9 percent (when Lula is not on the ballot). The explanation for this impressive drop is the general feeling of anger and disappointment that Brazilians have for their political establishment, blaming traditional parties for the economic crisis and corruption scandals of recent years.


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When a brand can dispense with its tradename and can be unmistakably recognized with its brand mark -logo - alone, it's made it into popular culture.
Nike's swoosh, Target's bullseye. Apple's, well apple.
But on Lexington avenue this week on two sides of a phone booth were promotions for a popular film that carried absolutely no brand name, or brand marks or even a message other than the characters from the film. The point: if you know, you're supposed to; if not you're not.
This Harry Potter is truly a cultural phenom.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Transcending even the need for a logo
1 comment:
- msanders said...
I remember someone recently asking why if iPod is so successful, why it doesn't have a logo.
Is it it's own logo? That's pretty meta.
- July 13, 2007 at 10:34 AM


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New 2020 AudiA3 2.0T S line Premium Sedan
- Stock: 5276K
- Fuel Economy
- 22.0/30.0 mpg City/Hwy
- Exterior Color
- Quantum Gray
- Interior Color
- Black
- Body/Seating
- Sedan/5 seats
- Transmission
- 7 speed automatic with auto-shift
- Drivetrain
- quattro all-wheel
- Engine
- 2.0 L I-4 cyl
Highlighted Features
- Leather upholstery
- Automatic temperature control
- Power moonroof
- Wireless phone connectivity
- Parking sensors
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Front dual zone A/C
- Rain sensing wipers
Detailed Specifications
- 1-touch down
- 1-touch up
- Air conditioning
- Automatic temperature control
- Driver door bin
- Driver vanity mirror
- Front beverage holders
- Front dual zone A/C
- Garage door transmitter: HomeLink
- Illuminated entry
- Passenger door bin
- Passenger vanity mirror
- Power moonroof
- Power windows
- Proximity key: doors and push button start
- Rear beverage holders
- Remote keyless entry
- Speed control
- Telescoping steering wheel
- Tilt steering wheel
- Alloy wheels
- Four wheel independent suspension
- Front anti-roll bar
- Front tires: 225/40HR18.0
- Power steering
- Rear anti-roll bar
- Rear tires: 225/40HR18.0
- Speed-sensing steering
- Sport suspension
- Wheel size: 18"
- 1st row LCD monitors: 2
- AM/FM radio: SiriusXM
- CD player
- CD-MP3 decoder
- Diversity antenna
- Primary LCD size: 7.0"
- Radio data system
- Satellite radio trial duration with new vehicle purchase (months): 3
- Smart device integration
- Speakers: 10
- Steering wheel mounted audio controls
- Wireless phone connectivity: Bluetooth
- Basic warranty: 48 months/50,000miles
- Corrosion perforation warranty: 144 months/ unlimited distance
- Powertrain warranty: 48 months/50,000miles
- Roadside assistance coverage: 48 months/ unlimited distance
- Front center armrest
- Front seats: bucket
- Heated front seats
- Leather shift knob
- Leather steering wheel
- Leather upholstery
- Max seating capacity: 5
- Power 4-way driver lumbar support
- Power driver seat
- Rear seat center armrest
- Rear seats: bench
- Rear seats Folding position: fold forward seatback
- Split folding rear seat
- Sport steering wheel
- Compressor: intercooled turbo
- Cylinder configuration: I-4
- Drive type: quattro all-wheel
- Engine liters: 2.0
- Engine location: front
- Fuel economy city: 22mpg
- Fuel economy combined: 25mpg
- Fuel economy highway: 30mpg
- Fuel tank capacity: 14.5gal.
- Horsepower: 228hp @ 4,500RPM
- Manual-shift auto: S tronic
- Mode select transmission
- Number of valves: 16
- Recommended fuel: Regular Unleaded
- Torque: 258 lb.-ft. @ 1,600RPM
- Transmission: 7 speed automatic with auto-shift
- Variable valve control
- Bumpers: body-color
- Door mirrors: body-color
- Heated door mirrors
- Power door mirrors
- Rear cargo: trunk
- Tailpipe finisher: chrome
- Turn signal indicator mirrors
- Compression ratio: 9.60 to 1
- Curb weight: 1,550kg (3,417lbs)
- Engine bore x stroke: 82.5mm x 92.8mm (3.25" x 3.65")
- Engine displacement: 2.0 L
- Engine horsepower: 228hp @ 4,500RPM
- Engine torque: 258 lb.-ft. @ 1,600RPM
- Exterior body width: 1,796mm (70.7")
- Exterior height: 1,415mm (55.7")
- Exterior length: 4,463mm (175.7")
- Front headroom: 927mm (36.5")
- Front legroom: 1,046mm (41.2")
- Front shoulder room: 1,392mm (54.8")
- GVWR: 2,070kg (4,564lbs)
- Interior cargo volume: 283 L (10 cu.ft.)
- Interior maximum cargo volume: 283 L (10 cu.ft.)
- Payload: 500kg (1,102lbs)
- Rear headroom: 917mm (36.1")
- Rear legroom: 892mm (35.1")
- Rear shoulder room: 1,346mm (53.0")
- Turning radius: 5.5m (18.1')
- Wheelbase: 2,637mm (103.8")
- Blind spot: Audi side assist warning
- Delay-off headlights
- Display: analog
- Exterior parking camera rear
- Front fog lights
- Front reading lights
- High intensity discharge headlights: Xenon plus
- Low tire pressure warning
- Outside temperature display
- Parking sensors: Audi parking system plus front and rear
- Rain sensing wipers
- Rear fog lights
- Rear reading lights
- Rear window defroster
- Speed sensitive wipers
- Tachometer
- Trip computer
- Variably intermittent wipers
- 4 wheel disc brakes
- ABS brakes
- Anti-whiplash front head restraints
- Brake assist
- Dual front impact airbags
- Dual front side impact airbags
- Electronic stability
- Forward collision: Audi pre sense front mitigation
- Ignition disable
- Knee airbag
- Occupant sensing airbag
- Overhead airbag
- Panic alarm
- Perimeter/approach lights
- Rear collision: Rear cross traffic assist warning
- Security system
- Traction control
Dealer Notes
At the heart of the 2020 Audi A3 Sedan Sport lies a 2.0-liter turbocharged TFSI(R) engine that churns out 184 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque, going from 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds. An available Audi A3 S line(R) quattro(R) model ups the ante of acceleration, zipping with all-wheel drive from 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds thanks to a more robust 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Either way, the A3 family brings added performance to its compact silhouette. The Audi trademark quattro(R) all-wheel drive technology is standard on the available A3 Sedan S line(R) quattro(R). The system has a variable torque split that can intuitively distribute power to where it's needed, helping to enhance performance and traction as road conditions demand. A lightweight MacPherson strut front suspension with an aluminum subframe frees up unnecessary heft. At the rear, a four-link suspension utilizes a sophisticated approach to help maintain balance. Combined, the A3 Sedan delivers an exceptional driving experience.
The available Audi virtual cockpit can make for a highly elevated driving experience. Set in a fully digital 12.3-inch instrument display, the Audi virtual cockpit allows you to customize information such as available MMI(R) Navigation plus and audio as well as access Google Earth?. The Audi virtual cockpit offers classic and infotainment modes for customized, streamlined use. Available MMI(R) touch with handwriting-recognition technology allows the driver to "write" their entry rather than selecting letters or numbers and more easily navigate available maps by moving a finger across the touchpad. You can connect your Audi to your world with Audi connect(R), an intuitive system that integrates sought-after information like Google Earth?, weather conditions and traffic information. The Audi A3 Sedan comes with a complimentary six-month trial of Audi connect PRIME and Wi-Fi hotspot for passengers with Audi connect PLUS online services. Combined with in-vehicle 4G LTE connectivity, getting connected has never been easier.
The available Audi side assist with Rear cross traffic assist helps the driver be more aware of their surroundings. Audi side assist uses LED lighting to alert the driver when a vehicle is detected in your blind spot, while Rear cross traffic assist identifies approaching vehicles and can help stop the A3 if a critical situation is detected. Available Audi active lane assist helps the driver stay in their lane. At speeds above 40 mph, the system helps detect when the vehicle begins to leave the lane without signaling. Then, it can provide gentle, corrective steering and steering wheel vibrations as an additional warning of lane departure. Available Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go can, within system limits, automatically apply the brakes, come to a complete stop & resume acceleration. After a longer stop, forward progress can resume upon driver command. This feature enhances comfort on long commutes and helps reduce driver fatigue during traffic conditions.
Let the 2020 Audi A3 impress you in person at Audi Ontario located at 2272 E. Inland Empire Blvd., Ontario, CA 91764.
Price plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge and any emission testing charge.
Prices and offers on inventory expire each night at midnight.
KBB.com Consumer Reviews
- 4.0
Detailed review of 2019 A3 Quattro AWD
By nashvilleitalian on Sunday, August 04, 2019So I've had my 2019 Audi A3 Quattro AWD for a few weeks now. Here are the things I love, and things I wish I could change. Things I love: -Acceleration/speed/driving experience -Premium sound system (best feature of the car) -WiFi built in plus wireless charging -The virtual cockpit (amazing when displaying Google Maps) Here is what I am not so thrilled about: -Cabin space - tiny glovebox, tiny trunk, center console is used up by the wireless charger - SPACE IS LIMITED -Placement of cupholders - my large Yeti mug is too tall so I have to hold it while driving. Not very safe.. they should have put more thought into this design -Biggest pet peeve? I have a $47,000 car with every high end tech option as other model Audi's (same virtual cock pit, same MyAudi / Audi Connect) yet Audi Corporate Office has refused to unlock "key user" functionality for the 2019 A3 model year! What does this mean? -I have a $47,000 vehicle with the same technology as the A4,A5 etc, yet they can use a mobile app to unlock doors, check gas levels, and track their vehicle in the event of theft, yet my A3 has the tech, but a decision by Audi "locks" loyal A3 customers from using very basic remote features due to them not having $50-150,000 MSRP model vehicles. Why the hate for the A3 customer community, Audi? Guess what I can do with the "MyAudi" app? I can view photos of my vehicle (wow), look at the original equipment installed (double wow) and set service appointments (triple wow). USELESS! The funny thing is, I would gladly pay a monthly fee to have a mobile app that actually linked to my vehicle as a key user. Maybe Audi will have a heart and push a firmware update that will allow 2019 customers to actually use the 2019 technology they paid a hefty price for to have in their A3's? Time will tell... Overall though, it's not all sour grapes. The A3 Quattro is a beast of a machine and if Audi unlocked basic features for remote monitoring, I would be much happier and less bitter about my $47,000 purchase (when you add local taxes, destination delivery and dealer fees and maintenance / extended warranty, it's actually a $55,000 purchase - just for the record)
- 4.0
Doing what it's supposed to do
By 5H4RK on Thursday, March 28, 2019Bought this car used with 15K mikes and have owned it for about 6 months. Main goal was to reduce the amount of $'s I was spending on fuel. I went from a full size SUV (Escalade) to a tiny A3 - a bit of a shocker initially but I'm past that. My daily commute is about 50 miles round trip some on freeways and parts in heavy traffic. I'm averaging just above 45 mpg which is pretty good compared to the EPA estimates (and my Escalade at 14mpg). Car is quite luxurious and well bolted together. I'd far rather have the A3 than a similarly frugal Golf or Jetta even if it would be a little cheaper.
- 5.0
By juju on Tuesday, April 16, 2019Once you get into a German car you will always have one, the performance and styling of Audi has always been the best in my opinion. For 180HP geared to a dual clutch automatic DSG transmission you will feel like you are driving a luxury go kart with fancy wheels.
New Arrivals
2020 Audi S5 Sportback Prestig…
- $69,240
Quick Specs
- Sportback
- Red Exterior
- 3.0L V-6 cyl Engine
2020 Audi A7 Premium Plus Hatc…
- $78,275
Quick Specs
- Hatchback
- Blue Exterior
- 3.0L V-6 cyl Engine


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Stars: ★★★☆
Summary: A terrifying but hopeful film that suffers from a cultural divide but benefits from an incredible musical score.
Review: There are some movies that stick with you. Little bits of soundtrack, snippets of dialog, memorable images that excited or traumatized you. Since before I can remember, I've had a bit of a problem with aliens; well, the pop culture conception of them as home-invading demons with psychosexual tendencies. When I first saw Shyamalan's 'Signs', it scared the hell out of me. It was the sum of all my nightmares. It didn't end when the credits rolled; I kept seeing the monsters in my living room and in blank television screens, I heard their voices over my shoulder while that awful, brilliant music heralded their arrival. 'Signs' was nightmare fuel unleaded.
It wasn't until recently that I began to realize that, even though it has some peculiar flaws, 'Signs' is one of my favorite films. It's because of the way that M. Night skillfully turns a horror story into an uplifting parable of the divine hand. It's my greatest fear and my greatest hope combined. It still chills me at the right moments, but my newfound affection for it has dimmed the alien monsters in my peripheral vision.
'Signs' has a major flaw, a storytelling hiccup that defines the latter half of Shyamalan's career thus far. That is, he doesn't speak the same language as most filmgoers. He has a distinctly Eastern worldview, one that remembers the power of folklore and allows, in a childlike fashion, for leaps of logic. A filmmaker risks it all on an audience's capacity to understand the story he or she tells. Shyamalan tells stories from another time and place, and doesn't bother to explain the philosophy; probably because he can't. It's a communication breakdown. I grew up in the Eastern Orthodox Church, where I breathed in Eastern philosophy along with the incense. Shyamalan's storytelling resonates with me. He speaks a language I'm lucky enough to understand. Most critics of his work, it seems to me, come from a Western, rationalist background, which values logic and clarity above all else. The problem with 'Signs' is that it's a Western movie with an Eastern soul, and that disconnect prevents the story from reaching everyone that it could.
The film's cinematography is superb. It feels like a Hitchcock film with a more dynamic camera. The frame bleeds suspense. But, of course, sound is half the picture; much like Bernard Herrmann's score for 'Psycho' and John Williams' score for 'Jaws', James Newton Howard's jaw-dropping music is insanely good and exceeds the film's own quality. It is equally wonderful and twisted. The mark of a good score, such as this one, is that it fires the imagination on all cylinders, even without the film.
M. Night Shyamalan has fallen out of vogue, but I'll always think fondly of his distinct style, and I'll continue to revisit this film again and again.


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Traditional style champagne silver picture frame with an internal picture size of 10″ x 12″.
Comes with glass, backing board and hanging brackets fitted. Can be hung in the landscape or portrait position.
The external measurements of the frame are 17″ x 19″ (or 43cm x 48cm)
Also available in champagne silver gilt, black, white or ivory


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Texas Oil Profits and the ONE Stock to Get You There
One of the most forgotten events in history took place nearly 100 years ago on a small piece of land owned by William H. Abrams in Mitchell County, Texas.
Few people I know could tell me where Mitchell County is, and fewer still know the extraordinary story that occurred there on July 16, 1920.
Up until that point, an oil well had been drilled on the property and even produced a little oil once drillers had hit a depth of 450 feet.
When the well showed even better results in June of 1920 at a depth around 2,410 feet, it was only a matter of time before they struck pay dirt.
Then, on July 16, with a crowd of around 2,000 onlookers watching the spectacle, the well was shot with nitroglycerin.
A jet of oil and gas exploded out of the top of the derrick, and history was made.
What the crowd witnessed that day was the discovery of the Permian Basin.
Comprised of over 7,000 fields, roughly 30 billion barrels of crude oil and 75 trillion cubic feet of natural gas have been produced from this monster play.
And nearly 100 years later, more than 4.1 million barrels of oil flow out of the now-famous Permian Basin today.
Well, dear reader, history is about to repeat itself...
The New Permian
When Occidental, with a little help from Warren Buffett, emerged as the winner over the battle for Anadarko Petroleum, it was clear that we've hit a new phase of the U.S. oil boom.
If we take both debt and the $10 billion that Buffett is chipping in, the $57 billion deal will become the largest oil and gas acquisition within the United States in about 20 years.
Of course, it could also spark a rush of M&A deals in the U.S. oil patch.
Now, keep in mind that not all M&A deals are created equal. Depending on the strategy, there are actually several types of deals that can take place.
Recently, ConocoPhillips' CEO laid them all out for us.
The first set comes from those deals that target small value for the company — things such as adding working interests, royalty interests, or shoring up their core acreage.
Then we have another set that includes acreage deals that add high-return bolt-on assets to their existing property.
Finally, there's the kind that we just saw Occidental make, where bigger corporations make transactions that require premiums.
In Anadarko's case, it's obvious that Occidental will sell off the non-core assets and try to squeeze as much as it can out of the highly valued Permian acreage.
But sometimes — just sometimes — a fresh opportunity presents itself for Big Oil.
And one such story is starting to gain attention, and it turns out that the Texas oil industry is about to experience the thrill of another massive oil discovery all over again.
This time there's nearly 4 billion barrels of black gold at stake...
Our analysts have traveled the world over, dedicated to finding the best and most profitable investments in the global energy markets. All you have to do to join our Energy and Capital investment community is sign up for the daily newsletter below.
The Tiny Oil Stock That Struck Black Gold
So is the Occidental buyout just the beginning of a long line of profits for oil investors?
Only time will tell.
Anadarko shareholders are certainly hoping so.
Of course, any investor who took a stake in Anadarko Petroleum would be smiling right now. Its shares have jumped more than 70% since the first week of March.
And here's the best part of this potential buying frenzy: Investors don't have to look far for those undervalued oil bonanzas.
You see, one Texas driller struck a massive oil discovery that will soon be turning executive heads at Exxon and the rest of Big Oil.
We're talking about a virtually untapped oil field that holds several billion barrels of recoverable oil.
Unlike the T&P No. 1 well, which caused a rush of wildcatters into the Permian Basin, this massive new discovery comes with a huge catch: There's only ONE driller that controls the acreage!
That's unheard of in today's oil boom.
You can still pick up shares at an incredibly steep discount.
This is the kind of explosive oil stock that individual investors like us find once in a generation.
But I don't want you to simply take my word for it.
I want you to see the full details behind this oil stock for yourself, and then you tell me how sorely undervalued it is right now (you can still pick up shares for around a buck apiece).
More importantly, I don't want you to pay a penny to see the valuable information I've uncovered. To see my latest presentation on this potential blockbuster oil story — at absolutely no cost to you — simply click here.
I strongly recommend you take just a few minutes out of your day and check out the full details here.
Until next time,
Keith Kohl
A true insider in the energy markets, Keith is one of few financial reporters to have visited the Alberta oil sands. His research has helped thousands of investors capitalize from the rapidly changing face of energy. Keith connects with hundreds of thousands of readers as the Managing Editor of Energy & Capital as well as Investment Director of Angel Publishing's Energy Investor. For years, Keith has been providing in-depth coverage of the Bakken, the Haynesville Shale, and the Marcellus natural gas formations — all ahead of the mainstream media. For more on Keith, go to his editor's page.
Energy Demand will Increase 58% Over the Next 25 Years
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Columbia police investigate shots fired near Clark Lane
COLUMBIA - The Columbia Police Department was investigating a shots fired incident off of Clark Lane near Hickam Drive Monday.
According to police, occupants of a westbound passenger car on Clark Lane shot toward a car occupied and sitting stationary on Hickam Drive. Police said the occupants of the stationary car returned fire, and both cars drove away from the scene. No description of the suspects was immediately available.
When police arrived, they said they found shell casings on the street.
Officers said a nearby car, uninvolved in the incident, had at least one bullet hole in it.
Neighbors said they were concerned because children play on the street.
Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the Columbia Police Department of CrimeStoppers at (573) 875-TIPS.
KOMU 8 News had a reporter on the scene who took pictures:
RT @AndreaGonz_ Police blocking Clark Lane in Columbia, right before Hickam Dr. pic.twitter.com/tt1iyLzI5d
— KOMU 8 News (@KOMUnews) June 29, 2015
RT @AndreaGonz_ Police tell me they are investigating a shots fired incident off of Clark Lane.
— KOMU 8 News (@KOMUnews) June 29, 2015
RT @AndreaGonz_ Columbia police say two drivers shot at each other and left scene. No suspect description at this time.
— KOMU 8 News (@KOMUnews) June 30, 2015
RT @AndreaGonz_ Neighbors car appears to have been damaged pic.twitter.com/hXDxjtofFK
— KOMU 8 News (@KOMUnews) June 30, 2015
[Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the most recent information.]


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When some people go off to college, they choose their major based on what they love to do. Other choose a major they think will make them a lot of money. If you're someone in the latter situation, we have some information for you.
Bankrate conducted a survey using 2016 census data to determine the most valuable, and also the least valuable, majors people study in college. First, here's their list of the most valuable majors:
1. Actuarial science
2. Zoology
3. Nuclear engineering
4. Health and medical preparatory programs
5. Applied mathematics
6. Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration
7. Molecular biology
8. Mechanical engineering
9. Civil engineering (tie)
9. Finance (tie)
On average, those jobs pay between $96,000 and $130,000 per year. Someone studying actuarial science would go on to become a risk assessor in the finance or insurance industry. Also it's pretty surprising to see zoology so high on the list. I always thought that would be one of those jobs people do because they love it, not because it pays super well.
If none of these majors sound right for you, they also studied to see what majors pay the least amount of money. Here were the results for that:
1. Miscellaneous fine arts
2. Composition and speech
3. Clinical psychology
4. Cosmetology services and culinary arts
5. Visual and performing arts
6. Human services and community organization
7. Educational psychology
8. Drama and theater arts
9. Interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary studies (general)
10. Library science
Basically, anything involving "arts" means you're not going to make a lot of money.
So there you go. Either you can sell your soul for a fancy corporate job or you can live life to the fullest and make no money.
(h/t Mental Floss)


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Ray White New Zealand completed property sales in excess of $487 million in the month of July 2014. These results were 12% up on last year and in comparison to last month saw an increase of 13%.
Chief Executive, Carey Smith said that the July results rebounded strongly given that there was a school holiday period throughout the month. "There was particularly strong trading across the South Island which saw each of the markets in the Upper South, Canterbury and Lower South regions increase by more than 30%. The average sale price for Ray White edged slightly higher again to $525,000. This is an 8% increase in comparison to last year. The number of new listings secured during July decreased by 5%, with the network securing 1,180 controlled appointments for the month."
The top five offices in the Group combined for a record July result with aggregated sales of $130 million. Ray White Remuera completed over $34 million in property sales to be the leading office in New Zealand. Ray White Ponsonby continued their strong market share across the inner west zone, with sales totalling $26 million. Ray White City Apartments were the number three office and showed a good lift in their auction results. Ray White Auckland Central Commercial produced another outstanding month with sales about $43 million. Ray White Ellerslie also showed above average sales for the month, to be in the top five offices throughout New Zealand.
The Northland zone saw a decrease in their overall sales number in comparison to last year. Ray White Whangarei was the leading office, with Ray White Kerikeri and Ray White Paihia all recording good sales for the month.
Almost three quarters of the Group's sales came from the Auckland region. The top offices included Ray White Remuera, Ray White Ponsonby, Ray White City Apartments, Ray White Auckland Central Commercial and Ray White Ellerslie. Other offices to have a strong month included Ray White Manurewa, Ray White Glen Eden and Ray White Orewa.
The leading office in the Central North zone was Ray White Hamilton. Ray White Papamoa and Ray White Bayfair completed good levels of sales in July. The Lower North Island featured another strong sales month from Ray White Wanganui. Ray White Paraparaumu had a record sales result of over $3.6 million. Ray White Palmerston North were the number three office in the Lower North Island.
In the Upper South Island, Ray White Richmond completed over $10 million in sales. Ray White Motueka and Ray White Nelson featured with above average sales results for the month.
In Canterbury Ray White Metro were the leading zone office. Ray White Rolleston reported sales of close to $14 million in the Selwyn District. Ray White Unlimited completed $9 million of sales. Ray White Christchurch Commercial again featured with strong sales results, completing over $12 million in commercial sales.
Ray White Queenstown were the leading office in the Lower South Island with over $10 million in sales for the month. Ray White Wanaka and Ray White Dunedin also featured through strong sales results.
The Ray White Group will welcome five new offices during August. In Auckland, Ray White Mangere Bridge and Ray White Epsom. In Christchurch, Ray White Merivale and Ray White Papanui; while in the Northland region, Ray White will increase their coverage to have 14 offices with the opening of Ray White Russell.


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The bond issue election will be held May 9, 2017. You may request an advanced ballot for this election NOW through May 1. Advanced ballots will be sent out April 19. The last day to register to vote in the 2017 bond election is April 18. Early voting will be held at the Sedgwick County Election Office and the Butler County Election Office during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning April 26 and ending May 8 at noon. On May 9, all polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Butler County and Sedgwick County will each have two polling locations:
Not sure where to vote? Click here.
Last day to register to vote is April 18. Last day to request an advanced ballot is May 1.
Are you registered? Click here to find out!
Many don't have the ability to vote because-
It's never too early!
We've made it easy for you to get registered, apply for advanced ballots and know when to vote!


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Learn the suggestions utilized by Professional Roofing Contractors near Douglas Alaska
The telephone sounded at 2:00 in the early morning. When the telephone rings at this time, it usually means problem, this time, it was exception. The frenzied voice at the other end was declaring that his house ceiling was falling – actually. All the rain that had actually succumbed to the last two days had turned a small roof leak into a water fall. The client was requesting emergency situation roof services, at 02:00 AM, to drop in the middle of a rainy early morning. He was not pleased when I discussed that it would not be safe to tackle the roof in the darkness. The lesson in here is "do not wait on rain to fix your roof leakage!"
Common Places Leaks Occur in Roofing
This post will provide the essential knowledge to locate a roof leak It will likewise inform you the best method to obtain your roof fixed. Portions of the roof susceptible to leakage are the joints between the roof and the roof mounted structures, such as the chimney. The joint between the roof and a vertical wall; and the joint between 2 slopping sections – valleys.
While roof leakages are common in lots of houses, the standard places are the skylights, ice dams, wall step flashings, missing shingles, plumbing vent flashing, chimneys, fields of shingles, and furnace or B-vent flashings. As typical areas, many homeowners battle to find the specific place when it pertains to roof repairs.
Leaks can happen anywhere on the roof and for any number of factors. Serious weather condition which brings rain, snow, wind and hail are difficult on the roofing systems. Some roofing systems leak since they are plain worn.
[ssvideo keyword="roof repair" title="roofing in Douglas"]
Tips to discover the source of the roof leakage.
Individuals normally discover the roof leakage after the water starts to drip through the ceiling. Nevertheless, the source of the leakage is rarely straight above the water stain. These ideas will assist you locate the sources of a roof leak:
In the attic, start above the ceiling leakage and follow the water stains on the deck to the potential source. Expect a ray of sunshine to indicate a nail hole.
Have a pal pipe down the roof while you enjoy the leakage from the inside of the attic.
If you find a hole, mark the location by utilizing a wire wall mount through the hole. Make certain your good friend has the ability to find the wire hanger on the top of the roof.
When you try to find leakage on asphalt shingles, start by searching for worn shingles with dark patches in them. This shows loss of surface area granules. Look also for curled and damaged shingles.
Look likewise for broken or missing shingles.
For those in Douglas, on a roof with a valley, clear out all particles built up in the valley. Search for broken or missing flashing product.
The best ways to identify leak discolorations and Their Places
An identifiable stain is the mold or wetness around the vents, chimneys, and skylights. These are the crossways where water links. After finding the leaking locations, it's important to move perishable products such as electronics, furnishings, and other home appliances along with capturing the leakage in a container. We have actually seen the movies where pails lie each foot in the house; do not let this happen to your roof. Identifying the spots and locations are the primary steps to conserving your home from harmed goods by easy leakages. Your roofing contractor will discuss the essential requirements to ensure your belongings are safe while checking the condition of the ceiling before repair.
Simple Emergency Repairs to Decrease Leak for homes in Douglas AK
Taking preventive measures will save you loan in expensive roofing repairs. Think about checking and fixing easy problems if your roofer notices leakage from your shingles, cracks in your chimney, or broken down flashings. Fix roof leakages immediately. It is not suggested that you do the roof repair yourself due to its complexity and the required knowledge of its repairs – besides, it is dangerous. Call a qualified and insured roofing contractor who will provide the best insight of looking after your roof in addition to discuss the procedures that are used to eliminate leakages and protect your investment.
Carrying out Temporary Defense:
If you are not afraid of heights and are handy with tools, you can do some temporary roof repairs. A bit of tar, few roofing nails, and some flashing can get rid of small annoying leaks. Some cases such as the one mentioned below is a basic, easy-to-do repair you can complete to eliminate persistent leakages.
Water streaming inside the flat surface of the deck – Easy Roof Repairs:
Take a little pry bar to get rid of the shingle in concern then layer a thick tip of tar across the area. Nail the shingle back down then cover the entire shingle in tar. If you can not use the very same nail holes, place tar within and on top of the holes to prevent leak through the deck. Before you are done, place another thin layer of tar on the underside of the shingles simply for safe-keeping. You must see a modification in the location and the leakage should end after the tar is applied correctly.
Simple Ways to Limitation the Damage
Roofing repairs can be a pricey financial investment for any property owner. You can restrict the damage to your house by acting early. If you feel that your house needs an assessment from a roofing professional, take the time to seek advice from somebody who understands the ordeals. A simple call to your regional roofer can land you in the right position to pinpoint future issues. House enhancements consisting of changed shingles, flashings, and decks can complicate the procedure. If you are not a roofing professional, do not aim to attempt intricate projects on your own. Be safe. Let a professional take a look, provide a quote, and finish the job right with quality materials. Consider this financial investment a long-lasting agreement for a pleased house.
[google-map location="Douglas AK"]


text:
You are here
Euro zone business growth struggles to gain traction: PMI
[LONDON] Business activity in the euro zone last month was not as robust as first thought, a survey showed on Friday, adding to signs the bloc's recovery remains on track but is struggling to gain momentum.
For the second month running, firms held prices steady despite costs rising at the steepest rate since July 2015, indicating companies' pricing power remained muted and that the European Central Bank might have to do more to drive up inflation.
Markit's final composite Purchasing Managers' Index for the euro zone was 53.3 in October, below a 53.7 flash estimate but beating September's 52.6 and its highest since January. The reading has been above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction since mid-2013. "The weaker than previously indicated expansion in October raises doubts about whether the euro zone is breaking out of the sluggish growth phase seen throughout much of this year," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. "The October PMI signals a mere 0.3 per cent GDP growth rate, suggesting the fourth quarter could see growth unchanged on that seen in the second and third quarters despite the ECB's further efforts to stimulate the economy." A stable but lacklustre economic outlook will push the ECB to tweak its asset purchase programme and announce by year-end an extension to it beyond March 2017, a Reuters poll found last month.
Years of ultra-loose monetary policy has so far failed to get inflation anywhere near the central bank's 2 per cent target ceiling but the PMI showed input prices rose sharply, largely driven by higher staff costs and oil prices.
The input prices sub index was 54.2, up from 53.5.
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Although costs were rising, firms in the bloc's dominant service industry returned to discounting to drum up trade after holding prices steady last month. The output prices sub index for the sector was 49.7, down from September's 50.0 and the flash 50.3 estimate.
Those price cuts helped drive activity up from the previous month and the services PMI registered 52.8, above September's 52.2 but below the 53.5 preliminary reading.
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United States District Court, D. Arizona
May 11, 2018
Kathleen Huggins, Plaintiff,v.Walbro LLC, Defendant.
Court finds that the Plaintiff has made a prima
facie case of age and sex discrimination but has failed
to produce any evidence of pretext to rebut the
Defendant's assertion of a legitimate reason for not
promoting the Plaintiff to the VPHR position. The Court
grants the Motion for Summary Judgment.
was hired by Defendant on August 14, 2013, when she was 61
years old[1]as Senior Human Resources Manager, the
number two position in Walbro's human resource
department. In April 2015, when she was 62 years old, she was
promoted to Human Resources Director. She was supervised by
Vice President, Human Resources and Compliance, Ann Guernsey,
until July 2015, when Guernsey was demoted to Chief
Compliance Officer, leaving the Vice President, Human
Resource (VPHR) position open. Walbro did not post the
opening internally, but Plaintiff sent an email and her
resume to Chief Executive Officer, Matt Riddle, allegedly
inquiring about the position. According to the Plaintiff, he
responded by telling her that she would not be considered for
the position. Plaintiff alleges she was fully qualified for
it. On October 8, 2015, Walbro hired Andy Arkells, who was
substantially younger and a man. Plaintiff charges Walbro
with sex and age based discrimination. (Second Amended
Complaint (Doc. 4) at 2-3.)
seeks summary judgment. Walbro argues that the Plaintiff
cannot make a prima facie case of either age or sex
based discrimination. Alternatively, Defendant asserts that
even if she does make a prima facie case, they hired
Arkells for legitimate nondiscriminatory reasons and she
cannot establish pretext because there is absolutely no
evidence whatsoever that Plaintiff was denied the promotion
to the VPHR position because of her age or sex.
Defendant argues that the qualifications for the position
were based on recommendations of a third-party consultant
whom Plaintiff has not charged with discrimination. The
record reflects that the Plaintiff did not possess the
qualifications for the job because: she never held an
executive HR position, had no global experience, had never
interacted with a Japanese board, and had no experience
influencing Japanese executives.
she cannot establish she applied for the VPHR position, and
therefore cannot show she was denied the position. Based on
an email sent by the Plaintiff to Riddle on August 5, he
understood that Plaintiff was not interested in the position.
Walbro submits alternatively, that the two finalists for the
position, and Arkells specifically, were more qualified than
Plaintiff; the search, which was conducted by a third party,
included female candidates and did not exclude candidates
based on age-Defendant sought "seasoned
candidates." Neither Riddle nor any person in any
management position at Walbro made any ageist or anti-female
Standard of Review for Summary Judgment
summary judgment, the moving party is entitled to judgment as
a matter of law if the Court determines that on the record
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact to be
decided by a jury. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). The moving party bears
the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a genuine
issue of material fact, but is not required to support its
motion with affidavits or other similar materials negating
the opponent's claim. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett,
477 U.S. 317, 323-325 (1986). In determining whether to grant
summary judgment, the Court views the facts and inferences
from these facts in the light most favorable to the
non-moving party. Matsushita Elec. Co. v. Zenith Radio
Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 577 (1986).
mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the
parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported
motion for summary judgment; the requirement is that there be
no genuine issue of material fact. Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247-48 (1986). A material
fact is any factual dispute that might affect the outcome of
the case under the governing substantive law. Id. at
248. A factual dispute is genuine if the evidence is such
that a reasonable jury could resolve the dispute in favor of
the non-moving party. Id.
moving party is under no obligation to negate or disprove
matters on which the non-moving party bears the burden of
proof at trial. Id. at 325. Rather, the moving party
need only demonstrate that there is an absence of evidence to
support the non-moving party's case. Id.
If the
moving party meets its burden, then the non-moving party must
"designate 'specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial.'" Id. at 324
(quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). To carry this burden, the party
opposing a motion for summary judgment cannot rest upon mere
allegations or denials in the pleadings or papers.
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252. The non-moving party must
"do more than simply show that there is some
metaphysical doubt as to the material facts."
Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586. "The mere
existence of a scintilla of evidence . . . will be
insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could
reasonably find for the [non-moving party]."
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252.
trilogy of 1986 cases opened the door for the district courts
to rely on summary judgment to weed out frivolous lawsuits
and avoid wasteful trials. Rand v. Rowland, 154 F.3d
952, 956 -957 (9th Cir. 1998);10A Charles A Wright, Arthur R.
Miller & Mary Kay Kane, Federal Practice & Procedure,
§ 2727, at 468 (1998). As explained in Celotex:
"the plain language of Rule 56(c) mandates the entry of
summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon
motion, against a party who fails to make a showing
sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential
to that party's case, and on which that party will bear
the burden of proof at trial." Celotex, 477
U.S. at 322.
on summary judgment the question is limited to whether there
is a genuine issue for trial. It is not the Judge's role
on a motion for summary judgment to determine the truth of
the matter or to weigh the evidence, or determine
credibility. The question is simply whether there is
sufficient evidence that a reasonable jury could find in
favor of the non-moving party, the Plaintiff.
Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252.
Prima facie Age and Sex Based Discrimination
It is
unlawful for an employer to discriminate based on an
individual's age or sex. 29 U.S.C. § 623(a)(1) (the
Age Discrimination in Employment Act); 42 U.S.C. §
2000e-2(a)(1) (Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964). The
Plaintiff may establish her claims of discrimination by
either direct evidence of conduct or statements made by
persons involved in the decision-making process that may be
viewed as directly reflecting a discriminatory attitude was
more likely than not a motivating factor in the employment
decision. Enlow v. Salem-Keizer Yellow Cab Co., 389
F.3d 802, 812 (9th Cir. 2004). The Plaintiff may
also carry her initial burden by presumption under the
McDonnel Douglas burden shifting framework: 1) The
employee establishes a prima facie case of
discrimination, an inference of discrimination arises and the
burden shifts to the employer to produce a legitimate,
nondiscriminatory reason for its employment decision. 2) If
the employer does so, the burden shifts back to the employee
to prove that the employer's explanation is a pretext for
discrimination. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green,
In a
failure to promote case, a prima facie case of
discrimination is made if the Plaintiff produces evidence
that she: 1) was at least 40 years old/was a member of a
protected class, i.e., female; 2) she was qualified for the
position for which an application was submitted, 3) she was
denied the position, and 4) the promotion was given to a
substantially younger person/a male. Shelley v.
Geren, 666 F.3d 599, 608 (9th Cir. 2012);
Dominguez-Curry v. Nev. Transp. Dept., 424 F.3d
1027, 1037 (9th Cir. 2005).
does not submit any direct evidence of discriminatory animus.
She relies on the McDonnell Douglas presumption.
Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment challenges the
second and third prong of Plaintiff's prima
facie case. Defendant argues the facts are as follows:
The Plaintiff's April 2015 promotion to HR Director was
approved by Defendant's CEO, Riddle, who had been hired
approximately one month earlier. It is undisputed that the
Plaintiff did not "formally" apply for the VPHR
position with the third-party consultant hired by Walbro to
conduct the job search. During the time that the search was
underway to fill the VPHR position, she sent Riddle an email
on August 5, 2015, from which he concluded that she was
"not interested in the position" and had taken
"herself out of the running." The Defendant asks
the Court to find that as a matter of fact, she did not apply
for the position and they did not deny her the promotion,
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text: Return to Available DogsMeyers 3 years White and tan Terrific Terrier Whether you tune in for his satirical political commentary or because you're just in the mood for some late night laughs, Seth Meyers has a little something for everyone. Our handsome Meyers is also quite prolific and is ready to share all he has to offer with a new forever family. He's got looks. He's got personality. ...and he's got lots of love to give. He will be your devoted companion and will happily accompany you everywhere or just snuggle close while you read or watch TV. Whatever will make you happy...he'll be there. At 15 pounds, Meyers is neutered, microchipped, and current on his vaccines. So, if you are ready for a fun-loving companion who will bring you laughter both day and night, Meyers is the pup for you!


text:
New Beginnings
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
I had moments when people hurt me so bad and then on top of that, they just pretend like nothing ever happened. Like I never really came and walked into their lives. I know it's lame but this is what I'm feeling right now.
I always make it a point, no matter how busy my life gets, to make time for people that are very important to me. Is it wrong to care for someone so much that you lost yourself in the process? Does everything happened for a reason, or do we have reasons for everything that happened?
I am very disappointed with myself. Sometimes I just feel like I am a "SHRINK" and everyone who came to me is my "NUTCASE". Once they are back on track again, they just leave me with no apparent reason. It's always like this. Same case over and over again. Maybe because I trust people so quickly. I am so quick to label them as "MY FRIENDS" when in fact I barely even know them.
I know everything happens for a reason, people come and go. I am just happy that there are those people who came into my life, never said anything, no false promises and yet they never left me. They never give up on my no matter what bullshit I have. And I've been counting them, I just happen to have 15.
So I'm putting my walls back up. Bringing back my reigns of control. Taking my life back to where it was before. Bringing my B*tch face back. The next time someone came in to me. I wont be easy!.
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text:
Marais is an old part of Paris with medieval and Renaissance buildings in it and it is still laid out like it was back then. Now the interesting thing is this: Marais doesnt appear on many lists of places to visit while in Paris and to be honest…that is CRAZY!! I spent today following a self tour on the Trip Adviser app (gives you directions to some of the main highlights of the area) and I spent a lot of the time doing an awful lot of WOW!!! This is really a beautiful area with fascinating places to explore. I walked around the gardens of Sens Mansion which was built around the 16th century (and as you know I am doing this trip on the cheap so the fact this was free was a bonus) it has an amazing garden. If you can find the entrance to the building (yep i couldnt lol) then you can go in because this is a public library.
I then wandered around the Saint-Paul Village which was filled with cute shops. The village is divided into a number of squares (all given a different colour) so make sure you go to each. Eventually I got back onto the tour and headed for Sully Mansion (Hotel de Sully) on the Rue Saint Antoine. This is a 17th century building which used to be luxury private mansions when this area used to be habited by the aristocrats. Now it is the offices for the National Monuments, so you can't go in it but again you can wander around and trust me it is sooo worth the wander:
As you carry on walking on the tour you will find yourself in these archways which surround a garden. This garden is the oldest planned square in Paris. Further down you will come across Victor Hugo's mansion (which you can look around). Now an interesting reflection…you dont see street people much in Paris and yet under these archways was a large mattress with a guy asleep on it, it struck me the contrast …beautiful ornate buildings with the oldest square in front of him and yet here was an example of the poor of Paris.
The oldest planned square in Paris
From here i walked to 23 Rue de Sevigne to go to Carnavalet Museum (Musee Carnavalet) can i just say at the start here…WOW!!! This is a museum worth going to (and it's free!!!) it is an extensive museum spread over two old hotels dating back to 1500s. It has rooms decorated in the design of the times, art, history, jewellery and paintings over the entire room (yep entire…including the roof) I loved it and can't recommend it enough.
After spending hours at the museum I set back out on my walk and ended up walking past a number of other great buildings and also the Jewish quarters of Paris (called 'Pletzl'). In this area you can visit Picasso's Museum, Musee Cognacq-Jay (another collection of arts), the Hunting and Nature Museum (yep those of you who know me know i wouldn't go in there, but the write up says it is fun), Museum of French History (National Archives in Hotel de Soubise), and finally the Hotel de Ville (government buildings since 1300s, though only buildings from 1800s are standing here now).
Well at the end of it I was tired, had a great time and really want you to go to Marais if you go to Paris. Also, I highly recommend the Trip Adviser app for the self tours. Hope you have a great day 🙂


text: Modeling Returns, Volatility, Volume, and Trade Durations using High Frequency Data MANH CUONG PHAM 10.26180/5c15d36f7ebaf https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/thesis/Modeling_Returns_Volatility_Volume_and_Trade_Durations_using_High_Frequency_Data/7471319 Market microstructure theory highlights two important empirical predictions about how financial asset prices evolve over time, which are: (1) trades convey information that contributes to security price movements; and (2) intensified trading activity increases price volatility. This thesis provides three essays that develop new empirical models for high frequency returns, volatility, trading volumes and trade durations in order to test these two empirical predictions. Our newly proposed models show strong support for these theoretically implied predictions and provide additional insights into the interdependence amongst returns, volatility, volumes, and trade durations. 2019-03-13 00:38:21 Market Microstructure High Frequency Data Trade Durations Price Dynamics Volume-volatility relation Limit Order Book


text:
Injured from Manufacturer Car Defects? Now What?
Posted in Motor Vehicle Accidents on January 19, 2019
Tags: premises liability
In 2014, the Orange County District's Attorney filed a complaint alleging that "GM endangered the public through deception regarding vehicle safety and reliability and gained advantage over its competitors by engaging in unfair business practices" by selling car models with known car defects in Southern California.
These individuals were injured from manufacturing car defects, and unfortunately it happens more than we think.
Here's what to do if you or a loved one is injured from a defective car from manufacturers.
Manufacturer Car Defects: General Motors vs. Orange County District Attorney
The OCDA claims that "at least 124 people died and 275 were injured, as a result of these failures".
The OCDA filed a Complaint for Violations of the Unfair Competition Law and the False Advertising Law, claiming that General Motors endangered all motorists by selling products while intentionally concealing safety defects of these products in order to avoid paying for a recall or replacement of defective car parts.
So, what happened?
General Motors was required to pay $13.9 million in settlements.
Looking at the Settlement
When you examine the settlement between General Motors and the OCDA, the latter was claiming that there were concealed defects in millions of the auto maker's vehicles.
These included problems with
- Power steering
- Airbags
- Brakes
The OCDA claimed that GM's hiding of these defects and marketing its autos as reliable and safe caused customers to make purchases under false pretenses.
Why Does Vehicle Safety Matter to You?
In 2017, there were a total of 35,391,347 cars that were registered in the state of California.
That's a lot of cars.
If majority of car manufacturers were producing defects, many people would be injured unnecessarily due to negligence.
What To Do When Denied
Once again, the claims process is incredibly complex for motor vehicle accident lawsuits. Even if an injury claim has been denied, that may not necessarily be the final word.
Many reasons given to justify a denial of a claim may be surrounded with a gray area.
If you own a motor vehicle in Santa Ana or elsewhere in Orange County, you want to believe that it's safe.
Every time that you operate a vehicle on the road, you're putting your life at risk. Therefore, your vehicle's safety is paramount.
That's why you buckle your seatbelt and get regular tire checks and safety inspections. As a consumer, you also want to presume that any defects to your vehicle that become apparent to the maker will be communicated to you.
The purpose of recalls from vehicle manufacturers is that owners like you can return your vehicle and get a replacement part. If the vehicle is not fixable, you would hope to receive compensation for its loss.
Why Would GM Do This?
If you dig deeper into the operations of any brand, there will always be cost-benefit analyses that guide management decisions.
For example, in the case of a vehicle recall, the manufacturer will be worried about the effects of car defects (and related negative publicity) on its business model and its bottom line.
The OCDA claimed that GM placed more value on cost-cutting than safety. Presumably, GM sought to avoid negative attention from a recall. However, when any type of decision similar to what the OCDA implied here takes place, then the company exposes itself to the after-effects.
In this example, there are many potential legal liabilities when people are hurt or killed.
The Damages
In this case, the District Attorney, Rackauckas represented victims who were injured and killed and who were GM vehicle owners or lessees. It is unfortunate that these victims and their families suffered various degrees of property damage and economic damage.
The may also have experienced pain and suffering and loss of income (from permanently disabled or deceased victims).
Vehicle owners may also have found themselves unable to sell or trade in the affected vehicle after the accident occurred.
What Can We Learn About This Case for Future Product Liability Claims?
When you or someone in your immediate family is injured or killed in a car accident, you want aggressive representation. A qualified attorney will work with his or her legal team to investigate all the facts in your case.
In any motor vehicle accident, there's the potential that a product liability issue contributed to the event. The cause could have been a defect in your vehicle or in another vehicle involved in the accident.
Aggressive representation will include talking to investigators from insurance companies and from law enforcement agencies. An attorney may also need to hire outside experts such as accident reconstructionists and vehicle safety engineers.
Any product liability case calls for substantial proof because the auto manufacturers typically have greater financial resources at their disposal and can easily defend your potential claim.
Due to the expenses of litigation, few wrongful death lawsuits are tried before a jury. Having a skilled team of wrongful death lawyers who are capable of negotiating helps to avert costly and often emotionally painful trials.
Still, you must be prepared in case negotiations fail. Make sure your legal team has a proven track record of both pre-litigation settlements as well as success at trial.
Get to know the safety of your current vehicles and check manufacturer websites for any car defects or recalls that affect them! For immediate assistance with motor vehicle and product liability lawsuits, please contact us today.


text:
can I give up Facebook for 40 days?
And as of this post, I still don't know what indulgence I will be without for the next few weeks.
Today is Ash Wednesday.
And as a Catholic, I am to make some kind of personal sacrifice to mimic how Jesus fasted and abstained the days leading up to his death.
But what would I give up?
A few days ago, I read a story in the Wall Street Journal about some Christians giving up Facebook for Lent.
And sadly, I knew I wouldn't be able to give up social networking. My TweetDeck works overtime.
Then I suggested to a friend that I give up swearing. My trucker mouth could use the break. But then my friend said I'd never be able to get through work without at least one obscenity.
I'm still pondering it though.
I thought about giving up alcohol. But then I thought about all the girls' nights I would miss. And what about my nightcaps?
Candy seems so passe'.
And coffee would be simply impossible. I go through terrible caffeine withdrawals.
So what's left?
Are you giving something up this Lenten season? Any suggestions for me?


text:
Thinking of a Career in Emergency Management?
- BY Nicole Pelette
The IT Customer Experience Manager (CXM) will focus on enhancing how World Vision Information Technology (WV IT) interacts with its internal customers via its web or mobile applications. The incumbent needs to have a strong understanding of WV IT's customers to be able to translate that into an improved digital experience.
Typically, the IT CXM must make use of three disciplines to improve internal customer experiences: customer loyalty management, customer relationship management and customer value management.
The key responsibilities for the IT Customer Experience Manager:
Individuals within the IT leadership job family have responsibility for activities that contribute to planning, creating and implementing an IT vision and strategy aligned with the company's strategic business plan. They oversee the development of corporate standards, technology architecture, technology evaluation and transfer. They manage small to large teams of people responsible for developing and delivering IT solutions for the business and customers. Each role within this job family provides technical and business leadership to their organizations as well as to the business.
IT Leaders are also responsible for analyzing trends in technology, assessing the impact of emerging technologies on the business, providing solutions to address technology and business issues, and managing financial resources while ensuring the development of high-quality technology solutions. These solutions must be developed at the best possible cost and be aligned with customer and business needs while establishing relationships with employees and key internal and external stakeholders. They are also responsible for participating and leading the development of an IT governance framework that defines the working relationships and sharing of IT components among various IT groups within the organization.
To be successful, individuals must possess a combination of business, technical and leadership skills and competencies. This requires an understanding of client's business needs, processes and functions. They also need a solid knowledge of IT infrastructure, architecture, applications development and support, networks, and computer operations. In addition, individuals working in this job family must have excellent communication skills and the ability to influence others.
Business and IT Strategy:
Change Management:
Governance: Provides input into demand management process and executes on plan.
Process Improvements: Implements defined process improvements.
IT Technology Development: Develops and implements technologies to improve the performance of a business efficiency and effectiveness.
Service Level Agreements (SLAs):
Vendor Management:
Resource Management:
Workforce Planning:
The IT CXM will have a minimum of 7 years of experience in the following:
Preferred Skills, Knowledge and Experience:


text: In this tutorial we will show you the new procedure in MicroStation V8i (SELECTseries) to control the display order of elements in a 3D design file. The default method is set to the elevation of the element. With a simple edit to a Display Style the legacy draw order could also be used.