text:
November 3, 2003
Chairman Fitzgerald, Ranking Member Akaka, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee:
Good morning. Thank you for inviting me to testify today on behalf of the Securities and Exchange Commission concerning abuses relating to the sale and operation of mutual funds. More than 95 million Americans are invested in mutual funds. For that reason, the "unholy trinity" of illegal late trading, abusive market timing, and related self-dealing practices that have recently come to light are matters that affect us all. And they go right to the heart of the trust the covenant, if you will between mutual fund and other securities professionals and the individual investor. As my colleagues and I have gathered evidence of one betrayal after another, the feeling I'm left with is one of outrage. And I feel that not just as a prosecutor, but as a citizen and member of the investing public.
It is intolerable when investment professionals who are duty-bound to serve their customers' interests instead serve their own. The conduct we have seen is antithetical to the duties that mutual funds, investment advisers, brokerage firms, and their employees owe to fund shareholders. Individual investors have a right to expect fair treatment, and quite simply, they have not gotten it. Along with the other regulators sitting at this table, the SEC is fully committed to ensuring that those responsible for betraying the trust of mutual fund shareholders are held accountable and brought to justice.
Indeed, that process has begun, starting of course with Mr. Spitzer's action against the Canary Partners hedge fund firm and its principal, Edward Stern. Since then, the Commission has brought five enforcement actions involving fraud against mutual fund investors. In each one, the Commission's staff has worked in close coordination with State regulators, including my distinguished co-panelists, Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Galvin. I'll touch on each of the cases very briefly.
On September 16, the Commission filed a civil action against Theodore Sihpol, Canary's primary contact at Bank of America Securities. We allege that Sihpol played a key role in enabling certain hedge funds to engage in late trading that is, putting in orders after 4 p.m. but receiving the old, 4 p.m. price. On the same day the Commission commenced its action, the New York Attorney General filed a two-count criminal complaint charging Sihpol with larceny and securities fraud.
Less than three weeks later, the Commission and the New York Attorney General again announced parallel criminal and civil actions, this time against Steven B. Markovitz, formerly an executive and senior trader with the prominent hedge fund firm Millennium Partners. According to the criminal charges and the SEC findings, Markovitz engaged in late trading on behalf of his firm. In partial settlement of the SEC's action, Markovitz agreed to be permanently barred from associating with an investment adviser or from working in any capacity with or for a registered investment company.
In the first action against a mutual fund executive for permitting abusive market timing, on October 16, the Commission and the New York Attorney General announced the arrest, conviction, and lifetime industry bar of James P. Connelly, Jr., former Vice Chairman of Fred Alger & Company. Market timing, of course, refers to the practice of excessive short-term buying and selling of mutual fund shares in order to exploit inefficiencies in mutual fund pricing. In its administrative order, the SEC found that Connelly had approved agreements that, contrary to Alger's prospectus disclosure, permitted select investors to market time certain mutual funds in some cases, in exchange for the timers leaving at least 20% of their investments at Alger in buy-and-hold positions. The Commission's order bars Connelly from the industry and imposes a $400,000 civil penalty.
Most recently, on October 28, in conjunction with the Secretary of Massachusetts, the Commission brought enforcement actions against Putnam Investment Management and two former Putnam portfolio managers, Justin M. Scott and Omid Kamshad, in connection with Scott and Kamshad's personal trading in Putnam mutual funds. We alleged that Scott and Kamshad market timed the very Putnam funds they managed, and that Putnam failed to take adequate steps to prevent or disclose their self dealing activity or that of other Putnam personnel who engaged in excessive short-term trading of Putnam funds.
I think I can safely predict that many more enforcement actions will follow. We are currently conducting a broad-based inquiry of late trading, market timing and related self-dealing practices. On September 4, the Commission staff sent detailed, compulsory information requests to 88 of the largest mutual fund complexes in the country and 34 brokerage firms, including all of the country's registered prime brokers. And just last week, we sent similar requests to insurance companies that sell mutual funds in the form of variable annuities. Based on the responses to these requests, Commission staff have been dispatched to conduct onsite inspections and interviews and further investigation at dozens of firms.
Although we are continuing to receive and analyze the responsive information, I would like to highlight some of the most troubling items. I must emphasize that these are only preliminary, and are the subject of continued, active investigation.
First, on the subject of late trading:
Second, on the matter of market timing:
Finally, let me mention another potentially abusive practice that has gotten our attention the selective sharing of mutual fund portfolio information:
The Commission's staff is following up on all of these situations closely, along with my colleagues at the table.
Let me also point out that we are also actively engaged in enforcement and examination activities in four other important areas involving mutual funds some of which I know that Mary Schapiro will address:
Before I conclude, I'd like to take a moment to address press reports that, several months ago, an employee in Putnam's call-operator unit told our Boston office that individual union members were day-trading Putnam funds in their 401(k) plan. Do I wish that we'd have brought the Putnam case two months ago instead of two weeks ago? Of course I do.
You know, the SEC receives on the order of 1000 communications from the public in the form of complaints, tips, emails, letters and questions every working day. That's more than 200,000 a year. We've made and are continuing to make changes in how we handle these including giving more expeditious treatment to those that raise enforcement issues and instituting a monthly review of the disposition of each enforcement-related matter by the Division's senior management. Tips from whistleblowers are critical to our program. In fact, the investigation of personal trading at Putnam which is what we ultimately sued Putnam for was launched when we received a tip in that area just a few weeks ago.
Speaking more generally, I am proud of the Commission's record in the enforcement arena. In our just-concluded fiscal year, the Commission brought 679 enforcement cases involving just about every conceivable type of securities violation. That's a 40% jump from just two years ago. We accomplished this dramatic increase with almost no increase in resources. And included in our most recent year's totals are some extraordinary efforts on behalf of the investing public: $1.5 billion in disgorgement and penalties designated for return to investors using Sarbanes-Oxley Fair Funds; 60 enforcement actions against public company CEOs; nearly 40 emergency asset freezes and TROs to protect investors' money on a real-time basis; groundbreaking and important cases against brokerage firms and banks for their roles in the Enron debacle; the first-ever case against a mutual fund management company for its failure to disclose a conflict of interest in the voting of its funds' proxies; a first-of-its-kind case against a major insurance company for aiding and abetting an issuer's financial statement fraud; multiple cases alleging violations of the Commission's new selective disclosure rule; the largest civil penalty ever obtained in a securities fraud case; and dozens of financial reporting cases involving Fortune 500 companies and their auditors. The dedication, commitment and professionalism of our Enforcement staff are second to none.
With Congress' help, we have now begun to see additional resources. With more people and better technology, our mandate from Chairman Donaldson is to more proactively identify problems and to "look around the corner" for the next fraud or abuse. With respect to mutual funds, I know that the agency's routine inspection and examination efforts will be improved by adding new staff, increasing the frequency of examinations, and digging deeper into fund operations.
We are working aggressively on behalf of America's investors to ferret out and punish wrongdoers wherever they may appear in our securities markets including in the mutual fund area.
And at the same time that the Commission is looking back to identify and punish past misconduct, the Commission has been engaged in a comprehensive regulatory response designed to prevent problems of this kind from occurring in the first place. My colleague Paul Roye, Director of that Division, will discuss those initiatives.
Thank you, and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.


text:
The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. Please click Accept Cookies to continue to use the site.
You can chat to us online here, or if you prefer:
Email us - email@example.com
Call us - 020 3011 2040
Pay securely through our encrypted checkout.
If you're not totally satisfied with your purchase, we offer a full money back guarantee*.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Green pest control does not mean ineffective parasite control; instead, it is about incorporated parasite monitoring, or IPM. A parasite control firm that welcomes IPM thinks prevention, customer recognition and education, and structure assessments are all as important as regulating bugs.
What Eco-friendly Pest Control Is
Integrated bug monitoring starts with discovering how and why an insect entered a residence or building. Professionals in this area are educated about the life process of parasites and their chosen nesting locations. Therefore, they are able to utilize cutting-edge pest prevention methods that are the least dangerous to plant life, residential or commercial property, pet dogs and individuals.
IPM utilizes common sense practices in sychronisation with environmentally delicate chemicals. As an example, as opposed to making use of unsafe chemicals to avoid the return of a parasite, parasite control specialists could mount preventative products such as new window and door displays, fresh caulking, brand-new door sweeps, and more. The specialists could also establish traps to learn more about additional areas a bug may live or set up solar powered repellants as an alternative to using harmful chemicals.
The Benefits of Green Parasite Control
Bug control products that are eco-friendly are constructed from natural as well as natural active ingredients. In addition, these items are crafted to be biodegradable and also equally as effective as their non-green equivalents.
Eco-friendly insect monitoring methods assist advertise the health and wellness and framework of plants, as they supply a biologically based choice to chemical sprays. The control techniques utilized in IPM are benign as well as for that reason decrease the environmental risk frequently related to standard pest management, such as ground water contamination. IPM additionally helps in reducing the danger of a problem as well as is a cost effective solution.
How It Works
Instead of spray a multi-purpose pesticide throughout a ravaged residential property, IPM professionals make use of a procedure that establishes an action threshold, keeps an eye on the bugs in order to recognize them, prevents their return and also uses control methods.
When an action limit is established, the expert discovers how huge an invasion is, what does it cost? of a danger the bugs pose, as well as determines the type of immediate action needed.
When an IPM expert monitors bugs, he is making certain he is identifying the parasite correctly. Correct recognition of an insect aids make certain the ideal sorts of chemicals are utilized, but pesticides are stayed clear of if they are not needed.
Prevention of insect invasions is just one of the essential elements to environment-friendly bug control. IPM consists of identifying and also fixing problems that make a home or structure welcoming to pests. Prevention is cost effective and also does not run the risk of the wellness of people or the planet.
If pest avoidance techniques are inefficient on their own, regulate methods are called for. When specialists carry out a control method, they initially evaluate it for danger as well as performance. Techniques that present the least danger, such as catches or using scents to interrupt breeding, are made use of very first. If the thresholds in position show these approaches are not effective, the control procedure then relocates to the use of pesticides in targeted locations.
Exactly what to Seek in an Eco-friendly Pest Control Firm
When seeking a green bug control business, seek one that will create a strategy that fulfills your demands like Pest Control Waco. The company must take into account the kind of bug, the size of the invasion as well as the atmosphere in which the bugs live.
Find out about the process and also chemicals a firm makes use of prior to hiring them. Some specialists utilize green parasite control products at first and afterwards follow them with traditional chemicals, which you might not desire. An excellent environmentally friendly pest control operator should concentrate on using high quality items that are low or non-toxic rather than items that are the least expensive, which are commonly highly hazardous. Furthermore, top quality green pest control companies educate their customers on how to protect against the return of parasite, aid deal with conditions that are inviting to them as well as offer to mount pest-proofing materials.
The observation, avoidance as well as treatment approach to environment-friendly parasite control helps customers have satisfaction recognizing that evicting insects from the house does not suggest injuring the atmosphere. Whenever you need the aid of professionals to help with undesirable pests, keep in mind that eco-friendly insect administration is the only approach that has both your personal and financial wellness in mind.


text:
Mace (Russia) Ltd v Retansel Enterprises Ltd & Anor, 28 April 2016 (unrep)
In this unreported Commercial Court decision last week, Phillips J granted the Claimant an anti-suit injunction to restrain the Defendant from proceeding with an arbitration in Russia in breach of a London arbitration clause.
The case is interesting for two points: the grant of an anti-suit injunction despite a material non-disclosure ex parte; and the decision that the new LCIA Rules do not preclude applications for anti-suite relief. Continue reading


text:
Return to Previous Press Release
Enter your name and a friend's email address in the fields below and click "Submit" to email this Press Release to a friend.
Your message will look like this:
[YOUR NAME HERE] thought you might be interested in this story from the University of Rochester.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jonathan Sherwood (585) 273-4726
February 19, 2003
Todd Krauss, assistant professor of chemistry, has been named a recipient of a $200,000 James D. Watson Investigator Award, which honors New York State biotechnology researchers who show great promise early in their careers. Krauss joined the University of Rochester in 2000 after gaining his doctorate from Cornell University in 1998.
"Todd deserves this award because he's a great scientist and his achievements reflect well on the department," says William Jones, C. F. Houghton Professor of Chemistry and chair of the Department of Chemistry.
One of Krauss' research interests is in using pieces of semiconductor only a few molecules in diameter for medical purposes. For instance, such semiconductor units, called quantum dots, could be used to sense pathogens like the bacterium E. Coli, or for teasing out the exact structure of strands of DNA. "I am very honored to have been selected as a Watson Young Investigator," says Krauss. "With support from this award I hope to further the understanding of semiconductor quantum dots as well as their use as novel biological sensors."
The James D. Watson Investigator initiative is part of the $225 million Generating Employment through New York State Science (Gen*NY*sis) program, which supports life sciences research being conducted at New York's public, not-for-profit, and private academic research institutions. The awards are designed to recognize outstanding early career life scientists with leadership potential in making scientific discoveries that could lead to economic development.
Krauss, along with nine other recipients, received their awards in a formal ceremony on Feb. 10, in Albany, where James D. Watson gave a 10-minute address after receiving a special commendation for scientific accomplishments. Watson is a Nobel Prize laureate for the discovery of the structure of DNA.
"This support for our finest young biotechnology scientists and engineers will help to further secure New York's role as an international leader in high-tech and biotechnology research and economic development," Governor Pataki said. "These grants will support the world-class research being performed by some of the best young minds at New York's colleges and universities."
Russell W. Bessette, M.D., Executive Director of the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research (NYSTAR), said, "These groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind awards, will encourage these early career biotechnology scientists to stay and conduct their critically important research here in New York State. In doing so, these scientists will be positioned to make the important advancements in biotechnology that will lead to the State's future economic growth."
Grants from the James D. Watson Investigator Program are being made to scientists who are performing their research in the life sciences, biomedical sciences or in other life science-enabling disciplines such as engineering, material science, chemistry, computer science, electronics, physics, bioinformatics, nanotechnologies and applications of microelectronics and micro-electromechanical devices.
The University of Rochester (www.rochester.edu) is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University gives students exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering is complemented by the Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, and the Memorial Art Gallery.


text:
The Xserve, which Apple officially put to pasture this week, proved to be another example of the company's on-again-but-mostly-off commitment to large scale, enterprise-class computing. It's a market where the company's track record has been a series of disappointments. But for a while, at least, Xserve seemed to have changed Apple's luck.
Depending on how you do the math, this is Apple's third or fourth failed attempt at establishing a server platform for enterprise IT. The first failure, the Macintosh Office of the mid-1980s, managed to give us the LaserWriter and AppleTalk, but never delivered the file server hardware that was the heart of that era's networking implementations. The Apple Workgroup Servers of the mid-to-late 1990s don't really figure in my reckoning, because the hardware was a Quadra, Centris or Power Mac workstation running MacOS with a few server-like add-ons and larger hard drives; they were a kludge at best. The AIX-based Apple Network Server was an ambitious reworking of the Power Macintosh 9500 but came at time when Apple was assumed to be circling the drain and sold poorly.
Apple introduced the 1U rack-mountable Xserve in 2002, returning to a market segment it had abandoned in 1996, following the complete failure of the Apple Network Server to establish itself. Xserve, as I wrote at the time in another publication, put Apple back on the list of serious server manufacturers. Although the fans of the first Xserve were deafening, and I wasn't terribly excited about the integration of the server's case with the rack-mounting hardware, I saw a great deal of potential in the combination of hardware and Mac OS X.
When Apple backed up its enterprise play in 2003 by adding the Xserve RAID to its lineup, I was again impressed. Although the RAID unit was best suited for shops that already had some experience with Fiber Channel networking, it was easy to set up and manage, and was supported by Apple with both Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Windows Server 2003.
Apple pitched the Xserve to academia as well as the industry, with the stripped-down Xserve Cluster Node being aimed specifically at university environments. But outside of some very limited deployments in the film and video production industries and some HPC experiments, the world at large never fell for the hardware to the same degree that many of us in the press did.
Apple continued to refresh the Xserve hardware specs from one year to the next, by moving from PowerPC G4 processors to the G5, then transitioning to Intel Xeon CPUs from the Woodcrest, then Harpertown and ultimately, the Gainestown series. But when Apple discontinued the Xserve RAID in 2008, the first bell rang for me, and I spent much of this year wondering if there was one more Xserve in the works.
The company's not completely abandoning the server market: It will continue to offer the Mac Mini Server and will support Mac OS X Server on Mac Pros. What remains a question is the future of Mac OS X Server; last month's sneak peek at Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" didn't say a word about any plans for a server version of the OS.
Will Apple ever again try to play in the "Big Iron" arena? I kind of doubt it; in part because the market for enterprise-class hardware is far smaller than the consumer space, which the company seems to own for the foreseeable future. But I wonder if the knowledge that Apple CEO Steve Jobs' crew has failed once again in the server market might encourage him to have another go at it someday.


text:
In the complexity and challenges of living and thinking in today's world, sometimes beauty, truth and simplicity can be elusive.
Do you seek out beautiful simplicity? Does it help you to find truth? Do you share the experience with others?
What does beautiful simplicity mean to you?
Find out what it means to me - through this blog in the weeks ahead.


text:
View the most popular items in our shop
In September, we launched our new Great Fire of London website, in partnership with the London Metropolitan Archives, the Monument and the Guildhall Art Gallery. Visitors can experience the gripping story of the fire through an interactive children's game, a Minecraft experience, and the Explore section of the website, which uses historic maps and objects to tell the story of the fire.
What made you decide to create the new website?
Rhiannon Looseley (Project Lead, Museum of London): September 2016 marked the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire, which offered an opportunity to refresh the hugely popular, but aging interactive game for 5-7 year olds that we published eight years ago. But we wanted to also create an even bigger and better website, not just for children, but for anyone interested in learning more about the fire. Our aim, by working in partnership with other expert heritage organisations across the City of London, was to make this the go-to, authoritative site about the fire for years to come.
The site is the product of the hard work of many different organisations even beyond our partners. We're very grateful to MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), who worked on the three historic maps that form the basis of the core of the site, geo-locating and adjusting them to fit over modern-day Google maps. The site also includes our Great Fire 1666 Minecraft experience, built by a team Digital Producer Adam Clarke.
Charlotte Scott (Assistant Director, London Metropolitan Archives): There was a strong feeling within all the City of London institutions that this was a very special piece of the City's history, but the full story wasn't always fully known. It was our job, as the people lucky enough to work with collections, to share this history during the commemoration year with new and bigger audiences. We also thought it right to work together to produce a website which would go on after 2016, somewhere people can turn to for an authoritative and full story.
How did the Museum of London decide what kind of website to create?
Rhiannon: Originally we'd talked in terms of a 'comprehensive' site that showcased all of the fire-related collections of the partner organisations, but this amounted to thousands of objects/pages of documents. Quite apart from this being a huge digitization and cataloguing task to coordinate, audience consultation confirmed our feeling that what users wanted was more of a narrative site which used the partners' collections to add authority and depth to the gripping story of how the fire started and spread and the enormous effect it had on London.
We looked to our web design agency Fabrique to bring all the various
elements of the site because we knew their previous work with museums such
as the Rijskmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum and were confident that
they could lead us through the tight timescales to a really beautiful and
engaging final website.
Meriel Jeater (Museum of London curator): It was then very difficult to decide which objects from our collection to include. For example, we have over 100 bricks from buildings that burnt down during the fire- we weren't sure if people would want to individually view every single one! Instead, we picked out the objects that had the strongest stories attached to them, and we wanted the website to tell those stories in the best possible way.
What was the goal when you began to design the site? What did you hope to achieve?
André Bouwman (Creative Director, Fabrique): Our main goal was to create an experience that tells a comprehensive and compelling story about the fire. Not just a linear Wikipedia-inspired website that merely sums up the facts, but a multi-layered story platform where people explore the story in unexpected and unplanned ways. We had so much information and so many objects available that we separated them into four main storylines; The Fire, Society and Politics, Streets & Buildings and Peoples' Lives. We made it easy for people to choose between the storylines and jump to another whenever they feel like it. This makes it a very personal experience to learn about the fire – you can move at your own pace and discover new facts, objects and theories.
How did you actually go about designing the site?
Rhiannon: The first phase of the project was to commission the cartography work from MOLA, and to have the game re-designed and re-made in HTML5. This was done in record time by digital production studio Fish in a bottle.
Drew Wilkins (Co-founder & Production Director, Fish in a bottle): When recreating an existing piece of content, particularly one as popular as the Great Fire of London game, it's critical we don't lose what made it popular in the first place. The original game's narrative was compelling and delivered a great piece of experiential learning, giving children a first-hand experience of the events surrounding the Great Fire. The original Flash version of the game wasn't working on mobile, tablets and many desktop browsers. In addition to this the art style, animations and voiceover were a bit dated (a little bit "Dick Van Dyke"), so we set about rebuilding the game, redesigning the characters and scenes, and rerecording the dialogue at higher quality.
Rhiannon: We did a lot of thinking before Fabrique came on board
about the stories that we most wanted to tell, the collections we wanted to use
and what we wanted people to learn from the site. We proposed an outline
structure and narrative, knowing that Fabrique could pick it up and turn it
into something wonderful.
André: We kicked off the project in London, working closely together with the museum, taking in as much information as possible in a short period of time. Together we defined a clear vision and roadmap for the project, decided on the main functionalities and had a sneak peek at the amazing amount of rich content and the fantastic historical maps that we were going to work with. In the short amount of time we had, those went into a first draft of the design.
The next phase was the most difficult and yet most fun
part of the project. Once you reach that moment when the overall boundaries are
set, the idea makes sense and you have in mind what you want to achieve and how
you are going to get there, you can finally lose yourself in the design
process. From structure to navigation to typography and illustration, we went
all out without losing sight of our main goal: to an authoritative and distinctive
site that tells the story of the fire in different ways for different types of
user. For example, for the visual design, we studied 17th century art, typography and literature. We were specifically drawn to 17th century English woodcuts. They were our main inspiration for the shapes and illustrations.
We built one of our most detailed prototypes ever and tested it amongst visitors in the museum. Slowly but surely the experience started to come together and even now, we are still tweaking and adding to it to make it even better.
Rhiannon: Once Fabrique had created the skeleton concept, it was back to us to work out the best way to flesh out the narrative around it to create the best experience possible. It's important to us that the public continue their inherent trust in museums as a source of reliable and high-quality information so we were careful to double- and triple-check all of our content.
Meriel: I also reviewed all the illustrations created by Fabrique, checking them for historical accuracy. For example, I spotted that the first pictures they created of people during the Great Fire had all the men wearing trousers - even though these wouldn't become common until almost two hundred years later. Fabrique quickly changed them to the historically-accurate breeches.
Charlotte: I supported the Museum of London with information from the London Metropolitan Archives. I worked with my colleagues to choose the best documents from the archives to illustrate the site, then we had to digitise and transcribe them, and help the museum to prioritise them, and give advice on specific stories. One of my colleagues for example knows a great deal about Robert Hooke and his work on the rebuilding on the City. It was fascinating to see how Fabrique tackled the project, I liked their fearlessness.
Do you have a favourite from amongst the objects featured on the new website?
Rhiannon: My favourite is probably the melted window glass which was excavated by archaeologists from the cellar of a shop on Pudding Lane which had burnt down during the fire. The way the glass has buckled, broken and clouded shows how hot the fire got. The object also ties in nicely with the quote from Samuel Pepys's diary on 4 September 1666 where he says that he '…took up a piece of glasse in the streete, where much more was, so melted and buckled with the heat of the fire'.
Charlotte: My favourite is the petition of Elizabeth Peacock, a single mother with 5 children who lost her home and business in the Fire, reminds us this was a horrific time for London and Londoners, and the Great Fire is a serious subject. I would also add in the Hooke Diary, Hooke is a neglected genius who did so much to rebuild London.
Meriel: I would pick the letter from Henry Griffith of London to his friend Henry Griffith of Bethnall, Shropshire. It's a very interesting and moving account of various aspects of the fire but it's not by anyone famous, like Samuel Pepys. Henry explains how hard it was to tackle the blaze and how the king and his brother helped to fight the fire in person. He also mentions the rumours that the fire was started deliberately but dismisses them ('And now that we cry out a plot, a plot, and 'twas treachery has done this unto us, when alas 'twas for those personal and national sins that this kingdom is guilty of…'). Finally, he writes about the losses that his friends and relations have suffered in the fire: his cousin Edwards and Mr String 'have lost all' and another cousin John Jones has 'extremely suffered'.
Many such letters must have been written at the time to loved ones who were anxious for news. We are fortunate that this letter has survived to give us an insight into the thoughts and feelings of people who were directly affected by the fire.
So, are you all happy with the results?
André: I believe we have truly created a complete educational experience for all ages with an innovative design, playful illustrations and most importantly, a very interesting story. I'm just very proud of the team for making it happen within the short amount of time and the challenges we were up against. I hope many people will enjoy the story and learn as many new things about one of the most iconic events in British history as we did.
Drew: We're very proud of the end result. The HTML5 version of the game delivers the same story-driven experience of the original Flash game, but with a full makeover it can be enjoyed by children for years to come.
Rhiannon: I'm very happy with the way the site's turned out. It was a challenging project in terms of both ambition and resourcing so I'm delighted that we were able to launch such a polished and fulsome site bang on time for the anniversary of the Great Fire starting on 2 September. Of course, like any website, there's always work to do to keep making it even better so we'll be continuing with that for a while. Usage so far far outstrips the performance of the previous site and was particularly high, pleasingly, over the anniversary weekend. Analytics suggest that people from all over the world are not only coming to the site, but sticking around and exploring the story which is just what we like to see!
Charlotte: I think the site is great, very fresh, but with a strong narrative, and it retains the much loved Great Fire game which so many people and children have told us they loved over the years. I'm really excited that the archives are so accessible, as they are notoriously difficult to display and explain, although they are packed with interesting information. The website goes a long way to make them accessible to new and wider audiences. Personally, I really enjoyed working with the Museum of London and it would be great if the two bodies could do more direct collaborations in the future.
Check out the Great Fire of London website to explore the story of the fire for yourself, or visit our Fire! Fire! exhibition at the Museum of London.
The curator of Fire! Fire! reveals what to expect from our groundbreaking new exhibition.
Explore the causes, consequences and legacy of the Great Fire of London with a new website and game.
How we solved a Great Fire puzzle within the museum's library.


text:
Zynga Poker Classic – Texas Holdem "The largest poker site in the world…" – ESPN.COM Zynga Poker Classic offers the familiar gameplay that stays true to our traditional poker experience with the design and play style of the original Zynga Poker, a game loved by millions of players for more than seven years.
Join the #1 free online Texas Hold'Em Poker game! Play for fun with your friends or compete against millions of users every day.
iPad Air 4
With the largest variety of tables, Zynga Poker Classic is the best place to practice your poker skills, whether you're a beginner or expert.
Download now and receive 20,000 FREE chips! FEATURES: – Play casual Texas Hold 'Em or competitive Tournaments like Shootouts and Sit-N-Go.
– Win up to 100,000 FREE chips daily with Lucky Bonus Slots! – Play Zynga Poker seamlessly across all Web and Mobile versions – just log in with your profile! – Full support for Turkish, Italian, French, German, Simplified & Traditional Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian.
Steve Jobs
UNIQUE TO ZYNGA POKER CLASSIC: – Design and play style of original Zynga Poker game – Special Jump Poker feature for faster poker with NO wait times! Let us know what you'd like to see next by hitting us up on Facebook or Twitter: Facebook: zynga.tm/pokerfanpage Twitter: zynga.tm/pokertwitter Use of this application is governed by the Zynga Terms of Service.
iOS 9
Collection and use of personal data are subject to Zynga's Privacy Policy.
Both policies are available in the Application License Agreement below as well as at zynga.com.
Social Networking Service terms may also apply.
Terms of Service: http://m.zynga.com/legal/terms-of-service
© Zynga Inc


text:
this time I will post a beach that is in java.
I am very happy with the beach ... because now I'm close to the beach of Kuta,,,
ok let's read together read my post this time but before we read my last post before I post ...
Located in the Meru National Park Betiri, Bandealit beach offers breathtaking panoramic and beautiful place to visit. This beach is located in the south of the town of Jember, about 35 Km from the city center. Bandealit beaches located adjacent to the beach Sukamade and has calm waves and combined with the natural beauty of the green.
Despite its calm waves, this beach visitors can do water sports activities such as windsurfing, fishing and swimming are also not left behind.
Other attractions that can be visited is Mount Sodung, where visitors can do turung cliff with a height of 100 M.


text:
Sports Dog Names
by Kyle Larson
As a sports fan it's fun to name your dog after your favorite team, player, or field. You'll probably want to make sure you go with a classic name as only the best players will be memorable 10 years from now. Think through the best player's from your favorite team or sports history to see if anything works for you dog's name. Here are a few suggestions to get you started…
Baseball Dog Names
There are a lot of classic baseball dog names that can be found. You could go with a player like Babe (Ruth), Bo (Jackson), Griffey (Ken), or Nolan (Ryan). Some classic ballparks are also great name opportunities like Fenway, Comiskey, or Wrigley.
Check out the full sports list for more baseball dog names.
Football Dog Names
When you're thinking football, think classic players. Some great names include: Barry or Deion (Sanders), Brady, Elway, and Montana. You could also try out a classic coach or field like Madden, Lambeau, or Ditka.
Check out this list for some more classic football dog names.
Hockey Dog Names
There's nothing tougher than a hockey player or a hockey named dog. Hockey dog names include: Brett, Gordie, Gretzky, and Hobey.
Here are some more hockey dog names.
Golf Dog Names
I'm a big golfer, but never considered a golf name for my dog; after looking around there are actually a lot of good options for golf dog names. Golfers could name their dog Arnold, Bear, Byron, Mulligan or Rory. There are a bunch of golfers with interesting names, golf terms, and golf courses that could inspire your name.
Check the full sports list to find more golf dog names.
Female Sports Dog Names
There are also a lot of good sports names for female dogs including some listed above. Great female names include: Babe, Dallas, Dottie, Jackie, Nadia, Serena, and Venus.
Check out the full list of sports names for female dogs.


text:
Chapter 2
Jurgis talked lightly about work, because he was young. They told him stories about the breaking down of men, there in the stockyards of Chicago, and of what had happened to them afterward — stories to make your flesh creep, but Jurgis would only laugh. He had only been there four months, and he was young, and a giant besides. There was too much health in him. He could not even imagine how it would feel to be beaten. "That is well enough for men like you," he would say, "silpnas, puny fellows — but my back is broad."
Jurgis was like a boy, a boy from the country. He was the sort of man the bosses like to get hold of, the sort they make it a grievance they cannot get hold of. When he was told to go to a certain place, he would go there on the run. When he had nothing to do for the moment, he would stand round fidgeting, dancing, with the overflow of energy that was in him. If he were working in a line of men, the line always moved too slowly for him, and you could pick him out by his impatience and restlessness. That was why he had been picked out on one important occasion; for Jurgis had stood outside of Brown and Company's "Central Time Station" not more than half an hour, the second day of his arrival in Chicago, before he had been beckoned by one of the bosses. Of this he was very proud, and it made him more disposed than ever to laugh at the pessimists. In vain would they all tell him that there were men in that crowd from which he had been chosen who had stood there a month — yes, many months — and not been chosen yet. "Yes," he would say, "but what sort of men? Broken-down tramps and good-for-nothings, fellows who have spent all their money drinking, and want to get more for it. Do you want me to believe that with these arms" — and he would clench his fists and hold them up in the air, so that you might see the rolling muscles — "that with these arms people will ever let me starve?"
"It is plain," they would answer to this, "that you have come from the country, and from very far in the country." And this was the fact, for Jurgis had never seen a city, and scarcely even a fair-sized town, until he had set out to make his fortune in the world and earn his right to Ona. His father, and his father's father before him, and as many ancestors back as legend could go, had lived in that part of Lithuania known as Brelovicz, the Imperial Forest. This is a great tract of a hundred thousand acres, which from time immemorial has been a hunting preserve of the nobility. There are a very few peasants settled in it, holding title from ancient times; and one of these was Antanas Rudkus, who had been reared himself, and had reared his children in turn, upon half a dozen acres of cleared land in the midst of a wilderness. There had been one son besides Jurgis, and one sister. The former had been drafted into the army; that had been over ten years ago, but since that day nothing had ever been heard of him. The sister was married, and her husband had bought the place when old Antanas had decided to go with his son.
It was nearly a year and a half ago that Jurgis had met Ona, at a horse fair a hundred miles from home. Jurgis had never expected to get married — he had laughed at it as a foolish trap for a man to walk into; but here, without ever having spoken a word to her, with no more than the exchange of half a dozen smiles, he found himself, purple in the face with embarrassment and terror, asking her parents to sell her to him for his wife — and offering his father's two horses he had been sent to the fair to sell. But Ona's father proved as a rock — the girl was yet a child, and he was a rich man, and his daughter was not to be had in that way. So Jurgis went home with a heavy heart, and that spring and summer toiled and tried hard to forget. In the fall, after the harvest was over, he saw that it would not do, and tramped the full fortnight's journey that lay between him and Ona.
He found an unexpected state of affairs — for the girl's father had died, and his estate was tied up with creditors; Jurgis' heart leaped as he realized that now the prize was within his reach. There was Elzbieta Lukoszaite, Teta, or Aunt, as they called her, Ona's stepmother, and there were her six children, of all ages. There was also her brother Jonas, a dried-up little man who had worked upon the farm. They were people of great consequence, as it seemed to Jurgis, fresh out of the woods; Ona knew how to read, and knew many other things that he did not know, and now the farm had been sold, and the whole family was adrift — all they owned in the world being about seven hundred rubles which is half as many dollars. They would have had three times that, but it had gone to court, and the judge had decided against them, and it had cost the balance to get him to change his decision.
Ona might have married and left them, but she would not, for she loved Teta Elzbieta. It was Jonas who suggested that they all go to America, where a friend of his had gotten rich. He would work, for his part, and the women would work, and some of the children, doubtless — they would live somehow. Jurgis, too, had heard of America. That was a country where, they said, a man might earn three rubles a day; and Jurgis figured what three rubles a day would mean, with prices as they were where he lived, and decided forthwith that he would go to America and marry, and be a rich man in the bargain. In that country, rich or poor, a man was free, it was said; he did not have to go into the army, he did not have to pay out his money to rascally officials — he might do as he pleased, and count himself as good as any other man. So America was a place of which lovers and young people dreamed. If one could only manage to get the price of a passage, he could count his troubles at an end.
It was arranged that they should leave the following spring, and meantime Jurgis sold himself to a contractor for a certain time, and tramped nearly four hundred miles from home with a gang of men to work upon a railroad in Smolensk. This was a fearful experience, with filth and bad food and cruelty and overwork; but Jurgis stood it and came out in fine trim, and with eighty rubles sewed up in his coat. He did not drink or fight, because he was thinking all the time of Ona; and for the rest, he was a quiet, steady man, who did what he was told to, did not lose his temper often, and when he did lose it made the offender anxious that he should not lose it again. When they paid him off he dodged the company gamblers and dramshops, and so they tried to kill him; but he escaped, and tramped it home, working at odd jobs, and sleeping always with one eye open.
So in the summer time they had all set out for America. At the last moment there joined them Marija Berczynskas, who was a cousin of Ona's. Marija was an orphan, and had worked since childhood for a rich farmer of Vilna, who beat her regularly. It was only at the age of twenty that it had occurred to Marija to try her strength, when she had risen up and nearly murdered the man, and then come away.
There were twelve in all in the party, five adults and six children — and Ona, who was a little of both. They had a hard time on the passage; there was an agent who helped them, but he proved a scoundrel, and got them into a trap with some officials, and cost them a good deal of their precious money, which they clung to with such horrible fear. This happened to them again in New York — for, of course, they knew nothing about the country, and had no one to tell them, and it was easy for a man in a blue uniform to lead them away, and to take them to a hotel and keep them there, and make them pay enormous charges to get away. The law says that the rate card shall be on the door of a hotel, but it does not say that it shall be in Lithuanian.
It was in the stockyards that Jonas' friend had gotten rich, and so to Chicago the party was bound. They knew that one word, Chicago and that was all they needed to know, at least, until they reached the city. Then, tumbled out of the cars without ceremony, they were no better off than before; they stood staring down the vista of Dearborn Street, with its big black buildings towering in the distance, unable to realize that they had arrived, and why, when they said "Chicago," people no longer pointed in some direction, but instead looked perplexed, or laughed, or went on without paying any attention. They were pitiable in their helplessness; above all things they stood in deadly terror of any sort of person in official uniform, and so whenever they saw a policeman they would cross the street and hurry by. For the whole of the first day they wandered about in the midst of deafening confusion, utterly lost; and it was only at night that, cowering in the doorway of a house, they were finally discovered and taken by a policeman to the station. In the morning an interpreter was found, and they were taken and put upon a car, and taught a new word — "stockyards." Their delight at discovering that they were to get out of this adventure without losing another share of their possessions it would not be possible to describe.
They sat and stared out of the window. They were on a street which seemed to run on forever, mile after mile — thirty-four of them, if they had known it — and each side of it one uninterrupted row of wretched little two-story frame buildings. Down every side street they could see, it was the same — never a hill and never a hollow, but always the same endless vista of ugly and dirty little wooden buildings. Here and there would be a bridge crossing a filthy creek, with hard-baked mud shores and dingy sheds and docks along it; here and there would be a railroad crossing, with a tangle of switches, and locomotives puffing, and rattling freight cars filing by; here and there would be a great factory, a dingy building with innumerable windows in it, and immense volumes of smoke pouring from the chimneys, darkening the air above and making filthy the earth beneath. But after each of these interruptions, the desolate procession would begin again — the procession of dreary little buildings.
A full hour before the party reached the city they had begun to note the perplexing changes in the atmosphere. It grew darker all the time, and upon the earth the grass seemed to grow less green. Every minute, as the train sped on, the colors of things became dingier; the fields were grown parched and yellow, the landscape hideous and bare. And along with the thickening smoke they began to notice another circumstance, a strange, pungent odor. They were not sure that it was unpleasant, this odor; some might have called it sickening, but their taste in odors was not developed, and they were only sure that it was curious. Now, sitting in the trolley car, they realized that they were on their way to the home of it — that they had traveled all the way from Lithuania to it. It was now no longer something far off and faint, that you caught in whiffs; you could literally taste it, as well as smell it — you could take hold of it, almost, and examine it at your leisure. They were divided in their opinions about it. It was an elemental odor, raw and crude; it was rich, almost rancid, sensual, and strong. There were some who drank it in as if it were an intoxicant; there were others who put their handkerchiefs to their faces. The new emigrants were still tasting it, lost in wonder, when suddenly the car came to a halt, and the door was flung open, and a voice shouted — "Stockyards!"
Back to Top
At the end of The Jungle, Marija is working as a
Cite this
Literature Note
©2014 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy


text:
Are We Baking with Volcanic Ash?
I was trawling the USGS photo archive for upcoming Friday Rock Blog candidates when I came across this scanning electron micrograph of wheat. It's from a gargantuan volume published in 1981, full of initial reports about the eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
Why is there a picture of wheat in a book about a volcano?
It turns out people were curious about how quickly material from the ash would be incorporated into the soil nutrient supply, and particularly into crops. So a month after the eruption, USGS scientists sampled wheat and soil from fields that had been ashed on.
The answer? Wheat from sites with 20mm or more of ashfall had slightly elevated sulfur content. I do not know if this means that bread made from Washington wheat in 1980-1981 was more or less delicious than it would have been otherwise. Worrisome things like cadmium and other heavy metals were apparently not affected by the eruption, at least not in the 1980 wheat crop.
But before they could get to this conclusion, they had to carefully wash all the tiny bits of ash off the wheat. You can see in this picture how the ash tends to hide in little crannies on the wheat, so if you're not careful, your analysis will just tell you the bulk composition of wheat + ash, which is not useful. So what you do first is to hang the wheat stalk upside-down in a beaker of distilled water, and whack it with some ultrasonic vibration to knock the ash off.
L.P. Gough, R.C. Severson, F.E. Lichte, J.L. Peard, M.L. Tuttle, C.S.E. Papp, T.F. Harms, and K.S. Smith, Ash-fall effects on the chemistry of wheat and the Ritzville soil series, eastern Washington, in USGS Professional Paper 1250 which is available for purchase or free download from the USGS publications warehouse.


text:
I've always loved boats and boat trips, but I had never spent an entire vacation on a sailboat. Probably because none of my friends or family members is as boat-crazy as I am. But when I found a tour operator that organizes sailing trips in groups for young people, I was all about it. I decided to spend my first sailing holidays in Croatia. After I registered for the trip, I got access to the crew forum, where I could "meet" my fellow sailors. This was the place where we organized who would bring essential things like towels, bio-degradable dishwashing detergent or multiple sockets. At the same time, it was the place where we got to know each other a little bit. Everyone introduced themselves and the anticipation grew.
As the trip drew closer, I became a little nervous and anxious – being on a small boat with eight people I've never met before suddenly seemed to be quite the challenge. Would we get along? Would they like me? Would I get seasick?
All my worries were blown away when I arrived at the airport in Split. At the baggage claim, I met a girl who was about to go on the same sailing trip. Due to the conversations in the forum, I knew we wouldn't be on the same boat, but I was happy to have company anyways. I had arrived a day before we were scheduled to set sail and had been worried about what to do all alone. This problem was now solved. Together, we took a cab to Trogir.
This little town is definitely a must-see. With its narrow, winding alleys, idyllic squares and old buildings, it makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale. Its dreamy charm is so soothing if you've been stressed out before. If you ever wanted to turn back time in order to find out what it was like in the Middle Ages, just go to Trogir. In spite of being a popular tourist spot, it still possesses its medieval charm. This is not your typical tourist town by the sea where you have casinos, souvenir shops and fast food stores all over the place. We walked on rustic cobblestone, saw old men with leathery skin and sailor's clothing playing the guitar and singing songs about ladies they met in different ports.
We marveled at the awesome architecture and felt like we were in an open-air museum. No wonder this place has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1997. Not only huge sights such as St. Laurentius Cathedral or Fort Kamerlengo caught our eye, every building was a little highlight of its own.
After spending the first half of the day sightseeing, we wanted to enjoy a little beach and sun during the afternoon. On a tourist map, we had seen that Parasailing was possible in the area and we were dying to do that! Unfortunately, the place where you could do it – a beach called Medena – seemed too far away to walk, but the staff at the hostel helped us out and showed us an awesome way to get there: by water taxi! Not only would we get to the beach pretty fast and comfortable, it would also be fun. We boarded the next taxi and enjoyed the beautiful view during the ride to Medena. Medena has a totally different vibe than Trogir. While Trogir seems relaxed and "retro", Medena is vibrant and busy. If you were missing tourist shops in Trogir, you will definitely find them here. But don't think of it as an ugly tourist spot! Yes, there are many people and souvenir shops and hotels, but there is also a beautiful landscape with conifers flanking the banks of the crystal-clear water. Take a little hike into the woods and you will find peace and quiet there. After we arrived, we signed up for the Parasailing right away, then went for a little walk while we had to wait until it was our turn. Parasailing is around 300 Kuna for one person and around 500 Kuna if you do it with a friend, like we did. You get your safety jackets and everything while still on land, then you go on a boat from where you start "flying". It is amazing to see the beautiful landscape from above. If you have no head for heights, don't worry – I am crazily scared of heights, but I still enjoyed this adventure. Of course it gave me some chills when we started to rise, but definitely in a good way. We were giddy and happy when we went back to Trogir in the evening.
The next day was reserved for grocery shopping and meeting the rest of the crew members. After all duties were done, we were finally able to set sail.
The goal for the week ahead of us was pretty clear: We wanted to sail and relax a lot, sightseeing was secondary. So we decided that we would not head for one attraction after the other, but rather enjoy nature and lonely bays where there was nobody else besides us. There were two islands where we actually anchored and got on land.
After several days at sea, my legs felt pretty weak when we had solid ground under our feet for the first time after setting sail. During these days, our crew had barely seen other people, except crew members of the other boats. So it was cool to be in a more busy place like this again. We had coffee at Hvar square, where a lot of tourists were enjoying the sun. This is the place where you automatically go to after getting off your boat, so there were quite a few people there. We did a little bit of window shopping, had an ice cream and took a look at Stephan's Cathedral before we went for a walk to explore the island a little bit. After walking for a while and climbing a lot of stairs – which was pretty exhausting in the heat – we got to the Spanjola fortress.
Up here, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view. Unfortunately, the fortress wasn't open, so we couldn't get in. But it was worth it anyways. After we had descended, we walked along the harbor and marveled at luxury yachts. Still, we were happy to get back to our humble little sailboat afterwards.
Unfortunately, we weren't really able to explore Vis a lot because we just spent one night there. What we definitely enjoyed was its beautiful nature. All seven boats of our fleet stayed in a cove for the night, from where we took the dinghy to land and partied in an old fortress on a hill. Great view, great music, great people. It was just fantastic and so special.
The next day was already our last day. Tanned, relaxed and happy, we arrived back in Trogir and enjoyed a last dinner together…. typical Croatian cuisine of course!


text:
Not completely convinced that McQueen would have ordered this type of custom bike, but I am told that it was created by East Side Custom Choppers with the approval and participation of Barbara Minty McQueen, Steve's widow. So, I may be wrong. Who knows?
The bike was constructed in 2007 and presented in conjunction with the debut of "An American Rebel", a documentary film about McQueen's life, and the release of "The Last Mile," Minty McQueen's highly personal book about her time with the actor during his final years.
Besides it sporty underpinnings, the bike's graphics treatment sets it apart from other customs. Various McQueen movie logos adorn the bodywork, as does a barbed-wire theme taken from "The Great Escape," one of the star's best-loved movies, in which he did much of his own stunt riding. A Gulf Oil roundel recalls "Le Mans," McQueen's 1971 ode to the 24-hour car race. The top of the gas tank contains an airbrushed likeness of McQueen from "Bullitt," plus a good luck medallion passed down from McQueen's father to his son and an inscription from Minty McQueen.
To be auctioned in Las Vegas January 10th by Bonhams. Location: The Grand Ballroom of Bally's Hotel & Casino on The Strip. Schedule: • Preview Day: Wednesday 9th, 10:00am-5:00pm • Memorabilia Auction: Thursday 10th, 10:00am • Motorcycle Auction: Thursday, 10th, 12:00 noon. Catalog: $45. Admission Fee: none.


text:
Crowne Plaza Nanjing Hotel & Suites
The Crowne Plaza Nanjing Hotel & Suites offers a pleasant stay in Nanjing for those traveling for business or leisure. With Free in-room Wi-Fi available, you'll have no problems keeping connected. The hotel is only 8km from Nanjing Railway Station and 40km from Nanjing Lukou International Airport,...
Xinjiekou Area (Downtown)
Sheraton Kingsley Hotel
Renovated in 2017, the Sheraton Nanjing Kingsley Hotel & Towers is a great choice for accommodation in Nanjing. This property features Free in-room Wi-Fi. Boasting a convenient location, the hotel is just 8km from Nanjing Railway Station and 41km from Nanjing Lukou International Airport. Just a...
Xinjiekou Area (Downtown)
Sofitel Nanjing Galaxy
The Sofitel Nanjing Galaxy is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available at this property. Traveling to the hotel is easy with Nanjing Railway Station located approximately 5km away and Nanjing Lukou International Airport roughly 44km away. Just a...
Shanxi Road Area
Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel
The Lakeview Xuanwu Hotel is a great choice for guests looking for accommodation in Nanjing, having been recently renovated in 2017. This property features Free in-room Wi-Fi. Traveling to the hotel is easy with Nanjing Railway Station located approximately 4km away and Nanjing Lukou International...
Shanxi Road Area
InterContinental Nanjing
The InterContinental Nanjing is an ideal choice for travelers who want to take in the sights and sounds of Nanjing. With Free Wi-Fi in designated areas and easy access to the Shanxi Road Area, this hotel makes a convenient choice. The hotel is conveniently located just 5km from Nanjing Railway...
Shanxi Road Area
Jinling Hotel
The Jinling Hotel is one of the newest hotels in Nanjing, having been renovated in 2016. With Free in-room Wi-Fi available, you'll have no problems keeping connected. The hotel is only 8km from Nanjing Railway Station and 41km from Nanjing Lukou International Airport, giving guests a number of...
Xinjiekou Area (Downtown)
If you want to stay in the best hotel in Nanjing, China, please come to Trip.com for a custom trip. Staying in exclusive Nanjing Bar hotel Trip.com offers, you can fully relax and enjoy the stay in Nanjing and around Nanjing.
All these Nanjing Bar hotels lead in the industry in aspects of environment and recreation facilities, providing the best hotel service in Nanjing.
To ensure that you can find the latest Bar hotel in Nanjing, the latest hotel price as well as hotel facilities and indoor facilities information will be offered.
In the meantime, detailed photos of Nanjing Bar hotel will be displayed, making you know quickly whether hotel's interior environment meets your taste. Besides, you can know specific location and reviews on Nanjing Bar hotel from millions of users.
If you want a nice room with limited budget, please filter through price and distance to get an appropriate Nanjing Bar hotel.
To ensure you can experience the best Nanjing Bar hotel, users and we give a comprehensive rating on hotel, which gives useful help.
Believe it or not, as the biggest online travel service company, we have the best service assurance and perfect users' experience to meet your requirements in different aspects, no matter it's Nanjing hotel or Nanjing Bar hotel.


text:
Our next stop in Eastern Europe led us into Bulgaria's capital city of Sofia. Old meets new in this city of 1.3 million. With over 2,000 years of history including Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet occupation, Sofia is rich with exactly what we desired, ruins and history to discover around every corner.
Arriving in Sofia
This time a flight on Air Serbia from Belgrade's Nikola Tesla airport to Sofia's Vrazhdebna airport was the cheapest option. In a city this large, taxi to our next Airbnb made sense. Our accommodations were located across the street from a very large park that included a quaint church. The curb appeal of the building was lacking, but the inside was completely modern with remote control shades, the newest appliances, and comfortable furniture.
Free Sofia Tour
A non-profit organization called Free Sofia Tour offers English speaking tours of the city twice daily. The tour is a great introduction to Sofia, its culture and history. It is a fun and easy way to get your bearings in such a large city. Tour guides are all local volunteers who have lived in the city for most of their lives, and can tell you things about Sofia that you won't find in any travel books.
At the beginning of each tour a poll is conducted on where each person is from. We quickly found out that we were the only Americans. Other countries that filled our group were Italy, Germany, Turkey and Mexico. The tour was a two hour walking tour that highlighted the cities best points of interest, giving you the opportunity to revisit any of the sites at a later time.
Sofia Bulgaria was ruled by communism for 45 years from 1944 – 1989. If you want to know what that era looked like in Sofia, Bulgaria we suggest attending the Communism Tour offered by the same Free Sofia Tour organization.
St. Sofia Statue
Located in the commercial heart of the city the Sofia statue was erected to replace Lenin's monument in 2001 as a symbol of democratic changes. The statue did receive criticism as some felt its representation of Saint Sofia was too erotic and pagan. The statue designed by Georgi Chapkanov is made of copper and bronze. It stands on a 16 meter high pedestal and is 8 meters high.
The Meeting of Faiths
In one area on our tour we come to a corner where four major faiths are represented. Saint Joseph Catholic Cathedral, Orthodox church of St. Petka of Saddlers, Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue all reside peacefully located less than one block away from each other. Their motto for this peaceful neighborhood is simple – if you must live within a stones throw of each other, don't throw stones.
Mineral Water Springs
Located next to the Central Bath people can drink the mineral water free of charge. The city of Sofia has 42 mineral springs with 8 different hydro-thermal zones that allow water to flow at 480 liters per second. The mineral springs are deep underground, are clean, and can not be polluted.
Older generations of Bulgarian's say the mineral water with a temperature of 30 to 90 degrees Celsius brings healing properties for washing, soaking and drinking. We were allowed to try the water for ourselves.
Ancient Serdica
Amid excavations to expand the local subway system, Roman ruins of Serdica have been uncovered. The subway has been partially converted into a public archeological dig, slash museum telling the story of the history of Roman Serdica.
During the reign of Emperor Constantine (306-337) who granted Christianity a lawful religion in Roman society by signing the Edict of Milan, Serdica was considered a possible alternative capital for the empire. (Constantine's Edict was a confirmation of a previous Edict of Toleration issued by Emperor Galerius in 311 A.D.)
Basilica of St. Sofia
The Basilica of St. Sofia was built at the end of the 5th century within the boundaries of the Eastern necropolis of Serdica over the foundations of three earlier churches which appeared with the adoption of Christianity in the Roman empire. It was named after God's Wisdom, and later on in the 14th century A.D. gave the name to the capital city, Sofia.
Beneath the church exists another recently uncovered treasure! The remains of Serdica's necropolis, ancient buildings, tombs, fresco's, and mosaic's can all be found in the excavations taking place under the facade.
Rila Monastery
Just two hours from Sofia tucked away in the Rila Mountains one can find another UNESCO world treasure, the Rila Monestary. We joined a small group tour with Traventuria that picked us up in front of Sofia's large Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Surrounded by a beautiful forest located in a central valley of the Rila mountains, the monastery is a UNESCO world heritage site and was founded in 927 A.D. by hermit monk Ivan Rilski. The monastery was vital to the preservation of Bulgarian culture under the Ottoman rule, and turned into a museum during the communist regime.
The site is both extremely beautiful and peaceful. Our guide explained the importance of the frescos covering the exterior of the church representing stories from the bible. The frescos are absolutely stunning! The interior is richly decorated with the traditional Orthodox style.
We climbed the Tower of Hrelja to gain a view of the whole complex.
After exploring the Monastery, our small group was treated to a delicious meal at a nearby village for lunch. The local-caught grilled trout could not have been better! Our trip was perfect thanks to the folks at Traventuria.
In a city founded thousands of years ago, Sofia had a lot more to offer us than we bargained for. There is much more to explore than we had time to cover. We were not even able to visit Plovdiv, Bulgaria's beautiful "second city." In 2019 it will be the European Capital of Culture. This stunning city is the oldest inhabited town in all of Europe, pre-dating even Rome and Athens. People have been in Plovdiv since 4,000 B.C.
We hope you consider making Bulgaria a stop on your trip to Eastern Europe!


text:
…or arrange for us to call you. Lines open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
If your home is considered to be non-standard, it's likely that you won't be able to obtain a quote for a standard home insurance policy.
We can search our panel of specialist insurers to find a home insurance policy for the following types of non-standard home:
We can also provide you with a quote to cover your home if you have a conviction, unclear claims history, or have been previously declined insurance.


text:
Hello Everyone!!!!
This is what I have been up to for the last several weeks....making a valance for my sister's condo. Not a hard job - but the material she picked up at IKEA was very hard to work with and well, life got in the way a bit, so finally, finally finished it late last night and put it up for her today.
She has all Scandanavian furniture so it looks really good with her red chair and other items, not my taste but everyone is different I guess.
I do have so bad news, my puppy - Cooper has torn his ACL muscle in his leg - so has to be operated on next week - he has been limping so took him to the vet and they took xrays and well, next week he will be operated on to fix the torn muscle and then home to get better. They want me to crate him for 8 weeks - which I can not do, but will keep him on his leash and will limit exercise - walks. Oh I am so sad for him as he just loves to run in the backyard with the little boys across the street...he is such a sweet dog! sO PLEASE say lots of prayers for him next week!
Youngest daughter, received her class ring last week - here are some pics of her! This is my Mom with her - mom looks good for 87 yrs old!! And here are some with her friends...
And of course, I am especially proud of this one....
This is what happens when you lend your camera to her because she forgot hers!!!! Don't know why it is sideways - oh the fun of High School Days!!
I hope all of you have a wonderful Easter Holiday and Spring!!!! It is 60 degrees today - YEAH!!
Many Hugs,


text:
Shorpy is funded by you. Help by purchasing a print or contributing. Learn more.
Our holdings include hundreds of glass and film negatives/transparencies that we've scanned ourselves; in addition, many other photos on this site were extracted from reference images (high-resolution tiffs) in the Library of Congress research archive. (To query the database click here.) They are adjusted, restored and reworked by your webmaster in accordance with his aesthetic sensibilities before being downsized and turned into the jpegs you see here. All of these images (including "derivative works") are protected by copyright laws of the United States and other jurisdictions and may not be sold, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without permission.
Vintage photos of:
December 1936. "Street scene. Spencer, Iowa." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
I am now sitting inside the F.W. Knight building, on the left in this photo. I work often at restoring this old property to what it once was. The exterior is fairly close to what is seen here. The basement window wells I remember from my childhood are gone but I intend to put them back. A caretaker's tunnel out the back is still there, where one could sneak out to the old house behind for a quick hand of poker and a belt or two. Many interesting things are popping up as old residents come in to retell the history of this fine old building. The community restroom still exists as it once did, the shower is new, the toilet is original. More later.
J.D. Schooley
I just finished reading the delightful biography of Dewey, Spencer's library cat!
How nice to have a glimpse of what Spencer looks like, there is an interesting story behind its "Prairie Deco" buildings.
Those buildings are still there. This was when Grand Avenue was still Main Street, before the enlargement of the Hotel Tangney, which would be off to the right across Sixth Street in a few years. Those houses were moved or sold for lumber. The F.W. Knight building on the left got bought Jim Schooley, who is restoring it. The Reporter building still has a print shop in it, but they put a nasty false front on it, with the old windows underneath. The barber shop in the basement has some evidence of a few bath cubbies in the back, where people could get a hot bath after their shearing!
The newspaper is still printed and seems to be flourishing.
Before he moved to Metropolis, this could have been the type of hometown newspaper where Clark Kent would have served.
It's too bad he had to move on to bigger and better things at the Daily Planet.
For one thing, the locals would know Superman was Clark. He couldn't fool them by wearing eyeglasses that had no glass in them.
Of course, about all the heroics he could muster in Spencer, Iowa, in 1936, would be flying up to hang or remove those Christmas lights on the newspaper building.
The gentleman on the left? Surely a Norwegian bachelor farmer heading for the Chatterbox Cafe for some pie and coffee.
This is one of those amazing, unposed images that make me want to step right into the photo. I want to know where the ladies are going, and what they're discussing. Is the elderly man a Civil War vet? What's the guy with the car doing? What's happening in those houses along the side street at that moment in time?
I'm impressed by the Community Rest Room, since there is such a great need for these things in NYC. Did many farm communities offer this amenity at the time?
I've seen lots of cool old signs on Shorpy, but this one is going to be hard to beat.
A wonderful photo. The photos of large city places and people are great, but I especially enjoy photos of smaller cities and their everyday life. This must be close to Christmas as the lights are strung. One thing that first caught my eye, was the sign for "Community Rest Rooms." Wonder if they offered anything more than the basic facilities?


text:
mike thomas
I have the beast set, wired, leveled and am cleaning it up a bit more. I hope to try it out this coming weekend, but am unsure about what to lube it with. The manual specifies a weight of spindle lube, but does not give hints as to type. I also question whether or not it is safe to hit the zerks with the same grease gun I use on the autos. What say guys? Mike


text:
Hi there
As for a weekend projekt i thought i easy could read out a PIC18F14K50 with PICKIT3.
-The Pic came from a BusyLight.
But when i read it with PICKIT3 Programmer these seeting are shown to me (see the configX attachment)
User ID FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Configuration: 3200 1E23 0000 0081 C003 E003 4003
I can read from 0000 to 1068
from 1068 to 26A8 i got FF
I can read from 26A8 to 3FFe
Eeprom data is only FF.
Is this Pic write protectet at anypoint?


text:
I finished all of the hand-stitching on my doll quilt. Binding goes on tonight!
Cooper hit the 7-month mark while we were gone. Time continues to fly by! He's right at 20.5 pounds. He loves to sit up to play and can roll as far as we'll let him, but luckily he's not even close to crawling. He still wakes up all night long, but is a great napper. Cooper seems to test out new skills every couple of weeks and then drop them when he's finished-- these have included the head shake, a wheezy laugh, and the "I'm so cute" flop to one side. A new one that's popped up is the angry scrunch face. That boy is developing a temper! He loves to eat. Just in the last few days he's been able to actually put cereal puffs in his mouth instead of just smearing them across the high chair.
The dogs have figured out his finger foods too. Which makes meal times just a bit less peaceful.
We've got just a few weeks left of summer (if you can call it that after the never ending rain we've had) before school starts back up. I'm going to soak up as much time with the kids as I can until then! And of course there's so much other stuff to do.
Better get back to it!


text:
Difference between revisions of "Herbstluftwm"
(added AUR package, updated configuration section, restructure a bit, more high level explanation, add new script)
(remove stub. it is quite a comprehensive entry now.)
|Line 1:
|Line 1:
[[Category:Tiling WMs]]
[[Category:Tiling WMs]]
[http://herbstluftwm.org Herbstluftwm] is a manual tiling window manager for X11 using Xlib and Glib.
[http://herbstluftwm.org Herbstluftwm] is a manual tiling window manager for X11 using Xlib and Glib.
|Line 29:
|Line 28:
Right now there's no error message if you use wrong parameters on a command, but only a non-zero return value. If you don't show the return value of a command anyway (e.g. in your $SHELL-prompt), you might want to {{ic|echo $?}} to find the return value of the last command.
Right now there's no error message if you use wrong parameters on a command, but only a non-zero return value. If you don't show the return value of a command anyway (e.g. in your $SHELL-prompt), you might want to {{ic|echo $?}} to find the return value of the last command.
==Scripts and Hooks==
==Scripts and Hooks==
Revision as of 11:32, 20 November 2014
Herbstluftwm is a manual tiling window manager for X11 using Xlib and Glib.
Herbstluftwm can be installed with the package herbstluftwm or the AUR package herbstluftwm-git.
First steps
Read carefully herbstluftwm and herbstclient man pages in your favorite terminal emulator or online (herbstluftwm, herbstclient). Take your time to read through the whole documentation, they contain a lot of information from an explanation of the binary tree in which the layout is kept to config file options and possible values.
/etc/xdg/herbstluftwm/autostart file to
$HOME/.config/herbstluftwm/autostart. You can edit that file for your needs. Make sure the autostart file is executable, else you'll probably end up without keybindings!
The configuration of herbstluftwm is updated on-the-fly by issuing
herbstclient reload (See Commands section), or having a keybinding for the reload command. Autostart is called on each reload, therefore within autostart you typically unmap all existing configuration first.
Multi-Monitor Support
Herbstluftwm supports multiple monitors as a virtual concept; monitors in herbstluftwm do not have to match the real monitor configuration as reported by xrandr. It brings a lot of flexibility and gives the user more control over his/her monitor-arrangement. You can use
herbstclient detect_monitors to automatically adapt to the physical setup.
Otherwise, see the manpage on how to add, remove, resize and move monitors.
Herbstclient is a very powerful tool, as it provides you with full control over your window manager from the command line.
There is a tab-completion for the parameters for herbstclient. Try
herbstclient list_commands to show all parameters.
Right now there's no error message if you use wrong parameters on a command, but only a non-zero return value. If you don't show the return value of a command anyway (e.g. in your $SHELL-prompt), you might want to
echo $? to find the return value of the last command.
Scripts and Hooks
The main way to control herbstluftwm is though commands to herbstclient. Since herbstclient can be called from any script, you have great flexibility in controlling herbstluftwm this way. Furthermore, you can listen to window management events and react to them accordingly.
Script to switch to the next empty tag
The following ruby script allows you to switch to the (next or previous) (full or empty) tag. Call it with the arguments (+1 or -1) and (full or empty). For example, if you save the script to herbst-move.rb, then
ruby herbst-move.rb +1 full
will move you to the next full tag. I use the following key bindings.
hc keybind $Mod-Left spawn ruby /home/carl/Ruby/herbst-move.rb -1 empty hc keybind $Mod-Right spawn ruby /home/carl/herbst-move.rb +1 empty hc keybind $Mod-Up spawn ruby /home/carl/Ruby/herbst-move.rb -1 full hc keybind $Mod-Down spawn ruby /home/carl/Ruby/herbst-move.rb +1 full
And here is the script.
#!/usr/local/bin/ruby incr, type = ARGV d = incr.to_i if type == 'full' ch = '.' else ch = ':' end array = `herbstclient tag_status 0`.scan(/[:\.\#][^\t]*/) len = array.length orig = array.find_index{|e| e[0] == '#'} i = (orig+d) % len while array[i][0] == ch i = (i+d) % len end if i != orig system "herbstclient use_index #{i}" end
Script to cycle though paddings (or other settings)
Here is a ruby script to cycle through a set of paddings, although you can modify it to cycle though any collection of settings. The script knows the previous layout by looking for the presence of two dummy files in /tmp.
#!/usr/bin/ruby file1 = "/tmp/herbst-padding-1" file2 = "/tmp/herbst-padding-2" pad1 = 'pad 0 0 0 0 0' pad2 = 'pad 0 0 20 0 200' pad3 = 'pad 0 0 0 0 150' files = [file1, file2].map{|f| File.exist? File.expand_path(f)} if files == [false, false] # 0 files system "herbstclient #{pad2}" system "touch #{file1}" elsif files == [true, false] # 1 file system "herbstclient #{pad1}" system "touch #{file2}" else # 2 files system "herbstclient #{pad3}" system "rm #{file1} #{file2}" end
Script to change decoration per-tag
The following Perl script demonstrates how to use hooks to react to window management events. It can be called in autostart (with backgrounding).
#!/usr/bin/perl # This script watches for tag changes and gives visual feedback ## Configuration (fill with your tag names) my %colors = ( main => '#DD0000', devel => '#13B8E0', write => '#96E013', admin => '#C713E0' ); ## Apply tag color # Right now we change the active window's border color to the tag's color. sub redecorate { my ($foo, $activity) = @_; system("herbstclient", "set", "window_border_active_color", "$colors{$activity}"); } ## main routine use v5.20; # set up a pipe for reading hooks open HOOKS, "herbstclient -i '(tag_changed|reload)'|" or die "can't fork: $!"; # process incoming messages OUTER: while (<HOOKS>) { chomp; for ($_) { redecorate(split(/\t/)) when /^tag_changed/; last OUTER when /^reload/; # quit on reload } } close HOOKS or die "unfinished love story: $! $?"; # happens on hlwm crash
See also
- The herbstluftwm homepage
- The herbstluftwm thread
/usr/share/doc/herbstluftwm/examples/- various scripts
/usr/share/doc/herbstluftwm/BUGS- bugs
- A herbstluftwm thread on the CrunchBang Forums
- Screenshots and configuration files: on ArchLinux Forum, on DotShare.it
#herbstluftwm- IRC channel at the irc.freenode.net


text:
Gaby Sepulveda stood with her legs shoulder length apart. Her right eye was closed as she focused on the target with her left eye. She was about to shoot a bow and arrow for the first time.
As she pulled her right arm back and let go of the bow, the arrow sped to the target. It wasn't a bull's-eye, but it was close enough.
"Getting it on the first try was good," said, Sepulveda, 11, a Girls Scout member from Troop 100 in Pinecrest. "It's really fun. I would do it again."
During the first Saturday of every month, the Sense of Wonder Nature Center at A.D. Barnes Park teaches an Introduction to Archery class. The class is open to the public on a first come first served basis and costs $6.
Sign Up and Save
Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald
Bows, arrows – and targets – are provided.
On a recent visit, nearly 25 children were taking turns shooting the target with a bow and arrow in an open range area at the park. Instructor Andre Da Silveira and his assistant, Alexa Abreu, taught them how.
"Archery is part of our human history," Da Silveira said. "It's been one of the longest-going sports in the Olympics. It's a hobby I like to share with everybody."
Before the newbie archers began practicing, Da Silveira prepped them on the safety and proper use of the bow and arrow. The sharp tip of the arrow can hurt someone.
Da Silveira recommends that children in the class be at least 9 to practice archery because of the strength needed to pull back the bowstring. But, younger children are welcomed to try the challenging sport.
"If you're little, shooting can be hard because the person won't have the strength and speed needed to get the target and it can be frustrating at that point," he said.
Lucia Salazar, 6, smiled as she tried to pull the arrow back by herself. Her father crouched down beside her and helped her. She wasn't able to get the arrow very far her first two tries, but she got pretty close to the target the third time.
Her older brother, Luis Salazar, 9, tried next. It was his first time using a bow and arrow. He said the experience was cool and that he would definitely do it again, even though he wasn't able to hit the bull's eye.
"I was using the small bow and I think I should've used the bigger bow because I ended up hitting the bush," Salazar said as he laughed.
Although archery takes strength and speed, women are usually better archers than men, Da Silveira said.
"Men could shoot twice as fast but women are usually better at the sport because they have more patience."
For the majority of the class, it was their first time using a bow and arrow. Abreu said many young children sign up for the class, but there have been adults who have been interested.
A.D. Barnes Park has been offering Introduction to Archery since Da Silveira was transferred to the park three months ago. The class is still in its trial-and-error phase, as the park evaluates how the community responds to the program.
Maria Victoria White, 9, said she really enjoyed the class and would definitely do it again.
"It doesn't take a lot of strength, but I got scratched with the bow and that hurt," she said. "It's hard because I thought I was aiming for the target, but the arrow didn't go."
Da Silveira began practicing archery in 2008 after his boss at a former job introduced him to the sport. Then, he became an instructor in 2010 and shot competitively for two years.
He said he practiced for four months before he hit his first bull's-eye.
"It's satisfying," he said. "But, it takes some practice."
For more information, call the A.D. Barnes Sense of Wonder Nature Center at 305-662-4124.


text:
Role of Immigration Attorneys
Immigration lawyers are somewhat different from other types of lawyers. They don't normally spend majority of their time before judges handling disputes and siding clients. These lawyers are more of consultants that mediate foreigners to immigration authorities. So if you are a person who travels a lot, then you need to know when to ask for the services of such a lawyer. Here are some few scenarios these lawyers prove to be useful for immigrants.
During the Application Process
Immigration lawyers are particularly useful in the application process to gain entry into a country. If you have no idea on where to start, or you are required to submit documentation that you do not understand, then your best choice is to hire one of these lawyers. They are able to prevent delays because they fully understand the immigration law.
Crime Conviction
If you have a criminal record at any time in your past, then you need to disclose this information. You won't have to hire a criminal lawyer. Immigrant lawyers know how to handle such instances because they know where the overlap between immigration and criminal law is. Otherwise you may be unable to gain entry to the country.
Seeking an Employment Based Visa
If you've acquired an employment based visa and your employer is not helping with the immigration issues, then you need to get yourself an immigration lawyer. This is because processing such visas is a hefty process and these lawyers can ease the procedure. Your employers also need to fulfill their end of the bargain, be it housing requirements or your allowances and an immigration attorney is just what you need to put them in check.
Rejected Prior Application
If your application has been rejected before, then you shouldn't start the immigration procedure without the help of an immigration lawyer. This is because those past reasons may come back and trouble you so it's best to explain the situation to the lawyer. They will be able to tell exactly why your application was rejected and give you the best method to appeal the application.
Long Waiting
If you've completed your application process and find that you are waiting too long, then contact these lawyers. Immigrant attorneys are well aware of the deadlines and waiting times of the application process. This places them in a better position to rush the process and deal with any situation that may be hampering the process.
Immigration law can be quite complex for an ordinary person. Getting an immigration lawyer (at a firm like The Immigration Group Pty Ltd) from the start would help you sort out any arising issues and save you a lot of time and frustration.


text:
Airline pushed into bankruptcy by credit-card processor's change
Saturday, April 12, 2008
NEW YORK -- Frontier Airlines, the latest airline to file for bankruptcy, was pushed over the brink by a problem that could spread to other carriers: credit-card troubles.
The carrier on Friday blamed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on a cash squeeze caused by its credit-card processing company, which has decided to keep a larger chunk of the Denver airline's ticket revenue.
The move ends a policy under which the processor, First Data Corp, passed on most money from ticket sales to Frontier. The change is intended to protect First Data, which would be on the hook for ticket refunds if Frontier stops flying. Frontier plans to continue operating while in bankruptcy.
First Data's decision represents a new threat to an industry facing jet fuel prices that have soared 74 percent in one year, a new government focus on safety that has grounded thousands of flights in recent days and tight competition and falling demand that, combined, have limited carriers' ability to raise prices.
"It's just a god-awful time for this industry," said Bob Mann, an independent airline consultant based in Port Washington, N.Y. "This illustrates the uncertainty of capital markets to a T."
ATA Airlines, Skybus Airlines and Aloha Airlines all have filed for bankruptcy in recent weeks. Champion Air plans to shut down and MAXjet Airways went bankrupt in December. All cited some combination of high fuel prices and falling demand, among other factors.
While it's not uncommon that banks processing airline credit-card transactions hold a certain amount of a carrier's proceeds in their own accounts until a passenger completes his or her travel, it is unusual for a processor to suddenly change its cash withholding policy, analysts say.
In the case of Frontier, the new requirement -- known in industry speak as a holdback -- was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.
"We believe that we currently have adequate cash on hand to meet our operating needs," Frontier chief executive Sean Menke said in a statement. "Unfortunately, our principal credit-card processor very recently and unexpectedly informed us that, beginning on April 11, it intended to start withholding significant proceeds received from the sale of Frontier tickets."
Such a "change in established practices" would throw a serious wrench into Frontier's cash forecasts and business plan, Menke said. The bankruptcy filing prevents First Data from imposing the new cash withholding requirement, he said. The airline also threatened to sue First Data.
"The terms of our agreement with Frontier Airlines are not unique; they are considered standard industry practice and terms originally agreed upon by Frontier," First Data, of Greenwood Village, Colo., said in a statement.
"They do this because ... they're concerned that a carrier will use the proceeds in advance of travel occurring and then not have the funds to actually perform the travel," Mann said.
Companies such as First Data usually base cash withholding decisions on their own analysis of an airline's finances -- most airlines are contractually required to provide their processors with monthly cash flow reports and forecasts.
"They're doing the same thing that I'm doing," said Ray Neidl, an analyst at Calyon Securities who late last month expressed concern about Frontier's projected cash position. Earlier this week, the carrier said it had no concerns about bankruptcy. Credit-card processors constantly review the credit profiles of the companies they serve, Neidl said.
But negative news reports and analyst research notes can also undermine a credit-card company's confidence in an airline by contributing to fears that an airline's failure is imminent, said Mike Boyd, president of the Boyd Group consultancy in Evergreen, Colo.
"It could happen to any airline," Boyd said.
Shares of another discount carrier, AirTran Holdings Inc., tumbled more than 30 percent Friday as nervous investors wondered whether it too could face trouble.
After the market closed, AirTran issued a statement saying it is "in full compliance" with the terms of its credit card agreements, and has no holdbacks with any of its major credit card processors. The Orlando, Fla.-based company said its balance of cash and investments has grown to $358 million through the end of March, from $326 million at the end of last year.
President and chief executive Bob Fornaro called his company "one of the strongest low-cost carriers operating today" and said it has "ample balance sheet strength to support our operation."
Meanwhile, Neidl raised his rating on AirTran to "Add" from "Neutral" and said he does not believe the company is in any immediate danger of defaulting.
"We would use this opportunity to buy the stock since we believe AirTran has sufficient liquidity to survive through next year under the most likely scenario," Neidl wrote in a note to clients issued late Friday. The carrier's shares jumped 15 percent in after-hours trading.
Frontier's situation is not the first time credit card companies have imposed cash withholding requirements on airlines. Many did so in the months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because of worries about the industry. Several airlines, in fact, declared bankruptcy in the years after the attacks, due to the downturn in business and by the recession earlier this decade. Strict cash withholding requirements were a factor in Delta Air Lines Inc.'s 2005 bankruptcy.
Now analysts believe most larger airlines have sufficient cash to weather the current economic downturn and spike in fuel prices. The six largest airlines -- AMR Corp.'s American Airlines, Delta, UAL Corp.'s United Airlines, Northwest Airlines Corp., US Airways Group Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc. -- have a combined $20 billion in cash on their balance sheets, Mann said. Their credit card processors won't likely change withholding requirements unless there is a significant change in operating conditions.
It's the smaller companies with less cash that are more at risk of facing new cash withholding rules, analysts say.
On Friday, Calyon's Neidl dropped coverage of Mesa Air Group Inc., citing its small capitalization. Last week, Mesa said Delta planned to end a major contract-flying agreement and Mesa sued to keep the deal intact. Mesa has declined to comment on whether it faces bankruptcy.
Larger carriers canceled thousands of flights affecting more than a quarter of a million passengers this week to check electrical wiring in MD-80 aircraft. The inspections were required to comply with Federal Aviation Administration safety regulations.
American Airlines was the hardest hit with nearly 3,100 cancellations, including almost 600 on Friday. The airline said it will cancel an undetermined number of flights on Saturday, but expected to resume normal operations by Saturday night. The cancellations will cost American tens of millions of dollars, but chief executive Gerard Arpey said the carrier can withstand the losses.