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Friday, March 14, 2008
Well, He's Back at Starbucks. Now What?
Yes, he's back at Starbucks.
No, I do not mean Howard Schultz.
I mean Mark. Mark was a hard working, conscientious kid, and he worked at the local Starbucks for years. Mark left for various reasons a year or so ago and I had not seen him since.
Then this morning Mark appeared behind the counter. He's come back, for various reasons, and it was good to see him. But the most interesting thing about Mark's return is that he can't yet make espressos until he's done his training.
This is a guy who, at the rate of ten lattes, cappuccinos and other, foofier, beverages per shift, probably made at least 10,000 espresso drinks over a period of five years at Starbucks. If that sounds ridiculously high, do the math yourself. In fact it's probably low.
But Mark can't make a single one until he's finished his training again.
Now, no fall from grace—among the many that have occurred in Corporate America since the Housing Bubble burst—has been more visible and more welcome in more quarters than Howard Schultz's Starbucks.
And I'm not sure exactly why—resentment at the fancy prices, resentment at the foofy names for cup sizes and what are essentially chocolate milk shakes, or resentment at the demise of local coffee shops at the hands of a Chain Store from Seattle.
Whatever the reason, now that Wall Street has mostly given up on it and McDonald's is gloating over the boost to its business from an espresso roll-out of its own, Howard Schultz has returned to Starbucks and made a few changes.
Actually, he's made a lot of changes—firing executives, firing employees, getting rid of the hot sandwiches that made the place smell like a Subway sandwich shop, and shutting all the stores for three hours for an all-hands training session all around the country.
I had my doubts about that much-hyped "training" session, but hearing Mark talk about his own experience coming back makes me wonder if Howard's return won't be a good thing—for the business, if not necessarily for the stock.
Sure, McDonald's is now out there, along with Dunkin Donuts and Peet's. And yes, traffic is down and the cost of milk is up and the price of coffee beans is through the roof.
But I recall a conversion I had long ago with John Bryan, who at the time ran Sara Lee, which, back then, was a well-run company.
Bryan had come out of the meat-packing business—an awful, commodity business—and he loved consumer brands. He still couldn't quite get over the fact that consumers paid more for nothing but a label and the perceived quality behind that label.
And the consumer brand business that intrigued him above all was the tobacco business.
Now, this was in the days before Big Tobacco became a target of the government, and even before the toll of cigarette smoking on public health was as well known and widely accepted. Also, Bryan wasn't actually looking to buy a tobacco company, what with the liabilities and public censure and all surrounding what was regarded in most quarters as a somewhat dirty business.
But as a business, he mused, it was the best model you could find: not only were cigarettes addictive, he noted, they were brand-addictive.
And coffee is like that, too. Except for the emphysema and lung cancer and all.
Starbucks drinkers drink Starbucks, for the most part. They're not firing up Maxwell House at home, and they're probably not altering their morning routine to go through the McDonald's drive-thru instead of the Starbucks.
The same thing holds true with Dunkin Donuts regulars. And doubly-so with the snootier coffee drinkers who swear by Peet's and wouldn't be caught dead with a Starbucks cup in their hands.
So maybe there's something to this turnaround at Starbucks. Perhaps, if and when the commodity inflation that's hurting margins subsides, and the lending crisis that's hurting store traffic is over, the business will come back.
After all, a non-lethal, brand-addictive product can't be too bad a business, in the long run.
Jeff Matthews
I Am Not Making This Up
© 2008 Not Making This Up LLC
The content contained in this blog represents the opinions of Mr. Matthews. Mr. Matthews also acts as an advisor and clients advised by Mr. Matthews may hold either long or short positions in securities of various companies discussed in the blog based upon Mr. Matthews' recommendations. This commentary in no way constitutes a solicitation of business or investment advice. It is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the author.
6 comments:
- Phillip Charles said...
Anyone who buys (or holds onto)anything selling at 10x book that isn't returning 90% on equity and is not paying a steady dividend deserves what they get...just my two cents...I still love SBUX coffee, tho!
Peet's, of course, is trading at a much more smug 2x BV with no burdensome debt on their books. Debt is so boorish these days!
- Michael said...
Peets has no debt because their roic/wacc is prohibitively low/high...therefore their 2x bv.
Sbux has a bv of 6x (according to thompson) because it has a roic in the mid 20-s range.
As for divs, if roic's are that high, why the heck would sbux bother to return a div to investors...especially in this market? If I'm a shareholder, i don't want a div...i say 'please keep it and reinvest at 20+%'...at least it won't get wiped out by Hurricane Mozilo.
As for sbux's return of capital via buyback (as opposed to div), it makes imminent sense if the stock's got 20+% of upside in it. That's, of course, a subjective call for both sides of the table...but at least a div is black and white.
Sbux's roic promotes the idea that reinvestment in the business will compound those high returns and eventually reward shareholders (patient ones) down the line when they decide to stop expanding (~75% of OpCF is spent on new stores) and start returning cf with a real conviction.
Of course, in the meantime, sbux has to defend its operating margins if it intends to be that cash cow in the future. But I think Jeff diligently illustrated that sbux fully realizes this.
- Phillip Charles said...
Michael, I enjoyed reading your response and found it both thought-provoking and informative. Everything you said is true and valid from an 'at its peak' perspective. I simply view an investment's potential from a different position. I never expect to return 100% in a year, but if I never lose 50%, well, I hope to hang around for awhile.
The 10x BV to which I was referring was when SBUX was at its peak just under two years ago (actually it was closer to 12, but who's counting?). Yes, with the metrics you accurately noted, maybe some could justify such a high valuation, and with the returns SBUX was realizing there is little justification to start paying a dividend. However, and at the risk of recklessly espousing clichés, no tree grows to the sky. I can not justify something that is selling at such a high valuation, especially in a company that was coming upon noticeable and obvious stall points in its business model. I am not wired to buy downside and anything selling at such valuations and returning only 20-30% roic has limited upside and tremendous downside. In that situation, I would at least want a dividend to create some hope of a price floor. You don't have to agree with me, but wait long enough and the market will always validate that concept. Anything else is market timing, and good luck with that.
Your evaluation of SBUX was very intelligent and thorough and I hope that this response was a worthy follow-up; I'm often concerned that I oversimplify things.
My Peet's allusion was a play on Mr. Matthews' spot-on description of their clientele. The Peet's that I frequent and enjoy is in Harvard Square, the epicenter of East Coast snootiness, so I couldn't resist…
- sean said...
Just my 2 cents on valuation metrics...
Looking at the book value of Starbucks and comparing it to another consumer goods company is an exercise in futility in my opinion.
What is the asset here? In my very brief analysis, the real asset is a global brand that in many a consumer's noggin stands for 'high quality coffee and drinks' that they can sell for a lot more than 'joe's house of caffeine' because they provide a great experience and product.
The most valuable assets are not, in my opinion, the coffee equipment, leasehold assets, and those barista aprons, all stated at historical cost.
I think book value has its place (but not at Bear Stearns apparently). Book value is worth something at a financial company or something with liquid assets.
But if you try to look at something like starbucks or coca cola and use book as your value compass you might be digging for treasure in circles.
In other unrelated news I thought i would mention that I actually go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and make generic coffee (although i try to make it starbucks)sometimes in the same week.
- Anonymous said...
"Peets has no debt because their roic/wacc is prohibitively low/high...therefore their 2x bv."
Isn't it the other way around? Peets has a low ROIC & WACC because they are unleveraged and have low debt?
- Jeff Matthews said...
Peet's has a low ROIC because they're too small to leverage their store base and their investment in roasting capacity.
Their model doesn't support debt. They have cash because they've sold stock.
Starbucks had similarly low ROICs in the early years of its growth.


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PKMKII wrote:Started playing Starcraft 2 online in 1v1. Predictably, getting my ass kicked.
I use to play "Starcraft" against my colleague over the local netwrok/lan...the bastard was just too good with 'ghosts', those little buggers that sneak in and not only steal all your rum, they plant a nuclear bomb in the middle of your base! "Nuclear Launch Detected, Nuclear Launch Detected" would send you into a blind panic and you'd have seconds to try and remove your army to safety before it was blown to bits.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ryan0751 wrote:I'm trying to install "Papywizard_2011-02-01.dmg" onto my Mac (very latest Mavericks).
When I run it, I see the error "Unhanded exception - No module named platform".
I know this is a Python module error, but I don't know how to fix it exactly. I run python from my terminal, and can manually import the module "platform".
It looks like papywizard comes with it's own version of python? Does anyone know how to fix this?
Ryan0751 wrote:I actually found a post a little further down in the forum where another user posted a .zip file with Papywizard in it.
I used that and it worked fine under Mavericks.
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The Syria Files,
Files released: 1432389
The Syria Files
Thursday 5 July 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing the Syria Files – more than two million emails from Syrian political figures, ministries and associated companies, dating from August 2006 to March 2012. This extraordinary data set derives from 680 Syria-related entities or domain names, including those of the Ministries of Presidential Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Information, Transport and Culture. At this time Syria is undergoing a violent internal conflict that has killed between 6,000 and 15,000 people in the last 18 months. The Syria Files shine a light on the inner workings of the Syrian government and economy, but they also reveal how the West and Western companies say one thing and do another.
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I wish more Americans could turn off their hatred and watch this clip with open eyes. It's a reminder to me why President Obama is ultimately qualified to be president. I couldn't be more proud of him for staying a class act in the midst of the craziest election season in our history. Below the clip is a guide to my favorite moments in this "presser". Enjoy!
:16 seconds – Facts about Medicare
1:30 Question on Todd Akins "legitimate rape" comment. POTUS: "Rape is rape!", "men making decisions for women"
5:56 On Romney releasing his taxes, this is priceless.
7:05 Calling out Romney for the liar that he is in response to a Q about the Priorities USA ad that's been distorted by the right.
9:00 "You can't just make stuff up!"
15:40 Chuck Todd follows up on the Romney tax question. President Obama makes the Republican compliant media look foolish and brings it back to reality. Great moment.
Cross-posted at Angry Black Lady Chronicles


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Solid NaCN from Caustic Soda, Ammonia and Natural Gas
Cost Analysis Report | NaCN E51A
Analysis Basis: United States | 2018 Q2 | 56 pages | Online Viewable Report Delivered in PDF Format
This report presents an up-to-date, detailed cost analysis (based on 2017/18 economic data) of Sodium Cyanide production from ammonia, natural gas and caustic soda. In this process, hydrogen cyanide is initially produced via a direct synthesis method involving the reaction of ammonia, methane (natural gas), and air. Subsequently, the hydrogen cyanide and sodium hydroxide solution (50 wt%) react and water is evaporated. Solid Sodium Cyanide is obtained as the final product.
The economic analysis provided in the report targets a United States-based plant and discloses:
- All costs involved in starting a new industrial plant (capital investment):
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- Main process units
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- Working capital
- Plant commissioning and start-up
- Cost of construction:
- All costs surrounding the production of Sodium Cyanide:
- Raw materials acquisition & utilities generation (manufacturing variable costs)
- Labor wages, maintenance, operating charges, overhead, taxes and insurance (manufacturing fixed costs)
- Administration, research and product distribution (corporate overhead costs)
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- Report Introduction: This report presents an up-to-date, detailed cost analysis (based on 2017/18 economic data) of Sodium Cyanide production from ammonia, natural gas and caustic soda. In this process, hydrogen cyanide is initially produced via a direct synthesis method involving the reaction of ammonia, methane (natural gas), and air. Subsequently, the hydrogen cyanide and sodium hydroxide solution (50 wt%) react and water is evaporated. Solid Sodium Cyanide is obtained as the final product.
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Google Glass in the Gobi: Dinosaur Nest main content.
by AMNH on
Last summer, a team led by the Museum's Provost of Science Michael Novacek and Paleontology Division Chair Mark Norell headed to the Gobi for the joint American Museum of Natural History/Mongolian Academy of Sciences expedition. The group included Aki Watanabe, one of Mark Norell's students at the Museum's Richard Gilder Graduate School, who was recently chosen as a beta-tester for Google Glass and who recorded video on Glass throughout the trip.
In this video, Watanabe shows his first find: a fossil dinosaur nest! (Explorer Roy Chapman Andrews and his team discovered the first dinosaur eggs known to science on a Museum expedition to Mongolia in the 1920s). Watch Watanabe extract the eggs and nest, and package it for its return to the lab for further study.


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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."
Whether that's a scientific fact or just a famous line from the popular Broadway musical and film "My Fair Lady," observing precipitation patterns across various landscape types wouldn't have been out of the question for several students from Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences who recently studied the potential effects of global climate change in Spain.
For the last two years, eight students journeyed from central Pennsylvania to Madrid to conduct research in the field of global climate change ecology. Enrolled in the Ecological Research in Spain course, at the end of the spring semester they traveled to Europe and stayed for almost two months, working with groups of Spanish researchers.
This unique opportunity was funded by the International Research Experience for Students program administered through the Office of International Science and Engineering at the National Science Foundation.
"The grant supports all expenses for the international experiences for four students each year for three years," said Margot Kaye, assistant professor of forest ecology, who along with Deanna Behring, director of international programs for the college, and Jason Kaye, associate professor of biogeochemistry, have coordinated the past two trips.
The experience allowed the students to participate in field and laboratory research projects as well as research group meetings and social gatherings.
Laura Davis, a senior Environmental Resource Management major from Tunkhannock, Pa., went on the first trip in 2010. The group helped with sampling and taking measurements at several work sites.
"We worked side by side with Spanish scientists, assisting them with both field and lab work," she said. "Going to the different sites allowed us to see different ecosystems within Spain and to interact more with the environment."
Last spring, the group embarked to Spain at the end of May. Dana James and Emily Bachner, both environmental resource management majors, suggested that the trip and research experience are likely to influence their future careers.
"My favorite part was creating relationships with the researchers in Spain," said Bachner, a junior from Jefferson Hills, Pa. "Being able to discuss their views of the environment, government and global climate change ecology was entertaining and enlightening."
"This trip was a great way to get more research experience in the field," said James, a senior from Lewisburg, Pa., who also is in the Schreyer Honors College. "It helped solidify my desire to work and study internationally."
Following their trip, the students returned to Penn State and continued with their academic and research programs. They also will complete any independent research projects that they started in Spain.
And just for the record, none of the students documented any precipitation patterns -- on the plain or elsewhere -- while they were in Spain.


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Shares fell in Asia on Wednesday, tracking modest losses overnight on Wall Street, where the biggest drop in crude oil prices since October weighed on oil producers and other energy stocks. Japan's Nikkei 225 index slumped 0.9 percent after a lackluster GDP report for July-September.
KEEPING SCORE: The Nikkei 225 was at 22,169.31, as manufacturers' shares were hurt by a stronger yen. Hong Kong's Hang Seng lost 0.7 percent to 28,956.00 and the Shanghai Composite index also lost 0.7 percent to 3,405.18. Australia's S&P ASX 200 fell 0.4 percent to 5,945.50 and the Kospi of South Korea declined 0.3 percent to 2,519.26. Taiwan fell and shares in Southeast Asia were mostly lower.
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JAPAN DATA: Japan's economy expanded at a 1.4 percent annualized rate in July-September in the seventh straight quarter of growth for the world's third-largest economy. The economy is in its longest period of expansion since 2001. But growth slowed from a 2.6 percent annualized rate of growth in April-June, the Cabinet Office reported Wednesday. Strong exports are helping offset relatively weak household demand. Private consumption fell 0.5 percent in July-September, the first such decline in seven quarters, the report said.
ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude sank 58 cents to $55.12 per barrel, or 1.04 percent, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell $1.06, or 1.9 percent, on Tuesday to settle at $55.70 per barrel, the biggest single-day decline since October. Brent crude, used to price international oils, shed 71 cents to $61.50 per barrel. It declined 95 cents, or 1.5 percent, to close at $62.21 a barrel in London.
ANALYST'S VIEWPOINT: "There's this perception that there's a lot of supply waiting in the wings and as prices have moved higher that's made the marginal producer want to come out and just find more oil," said Eric Freedman, chief investment officer of U.S. Bank Wealth Management.
WALL STREET: Energy companies led U.S. stocks modestly lower Tuesday, erasing small gains made a day earlier. Investors also are eyeing a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives on its version of a major tax bill this week. Expectations that the tax overhaul will sharply lower corporate taxes have helped lift share prices this year. The Standard & Poor's 500 index 0.2 percent to 2,578.87. The Dow Jones industrial average 0.1 percent to 23,409.47 and the Nasdaq composite slid 0.3 percent to 6,737.87. The Russell 2000 index of smaller-company stocks also gave up 0.3 percent, to 1,471.26.
CURRENCIES: The dollar fell to 113.21 yen from 113.43 yen on Tuesday. The euro weakened to $1.1793 from $1.1796.


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Music from the floodplains
Music by composers and musicians from Egypt (Assem), Palestine (Ramallah Underground), Lebanon (Trad.), Azerbaijan (Rustamov; Asadollahi), India (Narayan), Iraq (Anon.), Iran (Trad.), Turkey (Bey), Kazakhstan (Shildebaev), Ethiopia (Aga) & Serbia (Vrebalov)
Kronos Quartet
Nonesuch 07559 798865 9 78:44 mins
'Without doubt, the Kronos Quartet's instrumental experiments have never been more successful' Michael Church
A full review plus star ratings can be found in our September 2009 issue
Audio clip: Ram Narayan: Raga Mishra Bhairavi: Alap
- Article Type: | New Release |


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Valerie Mumm-Jansen
Valerie Mumm-Jansen
Science Building, Room 205
Professor Valerie Mumm joined the UW-Fond du Lac faculty in 2008. She had the opportunity to complete coursework abroad during both of her degree programs. She studied in both Valladolid, Spain and San José, Costa Rica. In addition, she spent four months in Lima, Peru working with children at a local orphanage.
She believes in the power of international travel and study and has led the UW Colleges study abroad program in Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Professor Mumm advises the Multicultural Club which hosts a variety of campus and community events celebrating diversity.
She is passionate about traveling and staying active and enjoys hiking, camping, dancing, biking and cooking.
MA in Spanish language and Latin American literature, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
BA in Spanish, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
WI Teacher certification, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire


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Found this in an old sketchbook: my first attempt to comics!
It's something quick I drew some time ago at work; a typical morning summarized in a couple of pages...the morning rituals, the suffering of traveling by bus (I've a car now, so bye bye suffering), a coworker spying on us through a door opening, and me getting bored and talking to a friend, eating, and for sure…drawing! (i've had no more time to get bored lately though…I'm loving my new project and tasks!)


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These are wildlife areas with legal environmental protection orders (see below).
There is no European ban on wind-farm development on Natura 2000 sites, which cover more than a third of the land of some EU states, but those who have tried to to gain a permit have encountered problems.
The European Commission published guidance in 2010 expressly stating that appropriately sited and well-designed wind farms are not a threat to wildlife. Yet, a recent study by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) found that only two countries in the EU — Bulgaria and Greece — actually use the guidance to counter arguments against any development. Other member states were either unaware of the document, said it had "too little influence", or drafted national guidance that ignored the EU advice.
Some countries have effectively banned wind farms from Natura 2000 sites. The Hungarian Wind Energy Association says these and other protected sites pose a significant barrier to investors, with environmental approvals taking up to a year. In Estonia wind projects in these areas tend to be rejected following environmental impact assessments.
Natura 2000 areas
These protected areas are often in regions with good wind resource and cover large proportions of land. "It is causing significant issues," says Remi Gruet, senior regulatory affairs adviser at EWEA.
In a report on emerging markets in eastern Europe published in February, EWEA found that problems associated with Natura 2000 site permits were causing the wind industry considerable difficulties. Slovenia, for example, has identified the potential for 600MW wind by 2020. However, as a result of its high population density and small size, combined with the fact that Natura 2000 sites cover more than 35% of its land, the country has yet to install a single megawatt.
Some EU member states have proposed tightening restrictions. Bulgaria's economic ministry is reviewing a recommendation to stop processing requests for project approvals in Natura 2000 sites, according to EWEA, even though 34% of the country's land is covered by the designation and many of the protected areas are in the regions with the highest wind potential.
Wind-power producers in Bulgaria are not automatically excluded from Natura 2000 protected areas, but they are subject to additional environmental impact evaluations. Applications for Natura 2000 permits undergo a screening process that determines whether their potential effects on the site warrant further investigation. Projects whose environmental footprint is deemed negligible are granted permits at this point; the rest go through a secondary evaluation. As such, wind project development has not stopped in or around Natura 2000 sites and important bird areas, although this could change soon (see case study)).
Even in wind-friendly Denmark, the Danish Society for Nature Conservation is advocating a total ban on turbines in Natura 2000 areas. The society has even claimed that a ban is in place. While this is not the case legally, the claim has caused confusion with authorities using information from the society to create barriers against permitting wind turbines on Natura 2000 sites.
Simon Zisman, operational director at environmental consultancy RPS, says developers need to tread carefully when developing a project in a Natura 2000 area. "The Natura 2000 reserves are there to protect the very best of Europe's wildlife sites," he says. "As a starting point, our advice to clients is to steer clear."
Another problem is that avoiding the sites themselves may not always be enough. RPS advises to check any connectivity between potential development sites and nature reserves because, depending on national legislation, protection can extend beyond reserve boundaries. There can be effects from developments that lie on migration pathways of birds and bats, or downstream on aquatic species and habitats.
Conservation goals
However, Ivan Scrase, senior climate change officer at the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds', admits a total ban on development is not tenable and it should be allowed to happen as long as conservation goals are taken into consideration. There is considerable variation in how countries define boundaries to sites and whether they include buffer zones, he says. Bulgaria in particular has designated very large areas, which he suggests may be why development is proving problematic. "Consultation with (conservation charity) Birdlife partners could help developers tweak their projects so that they can demonstrate that the likely impact of their development on the conservation interests of the area will be nil," he advises.
However, this is easier said than done. Scrase points out that most countries have no management plan for the sites, and advises governments to go this extra step: "Without knowing what the official conservation objectives of a site are, it is very difficult for a developer to demonstrate that its project will not impact them."
Burden of proof
Zisman agrees that Natura 2000 legislation was never meant to be an outright ban. However, depending on how countries interpret the directives for their legislation, developers are likely to face a series of stringent tests that could prove prohibitive in terms of cost and delays.
Securing expert ecological advice early in the site assessment process is crucial for developers seeking sites in Natura 2000 areas. Surveys must be completed during the appropriate season, commissioned for the relevant duration, and using recognised survey methods, he says. This ensures results are credible, and can form the foundation for all required assessments.
Having defendable data gives wind developers their best chance of meeting the Habitats Directive's (see box, previous page) demanding requirements. Rigour at this stage is also vital to securing project finance.
RPS was recently called in to review the adequacy of bird assessments ahead of potential acquisition of a wind farm adjacent to the Danube Delta in Romania. The project had local consent, but the surveys failed to focus on the key species, making it impossible to conclude that the development would not affect birds from the adjacent Natura 2000 site. Without this security, the bank's lending criteria could not be met.
Gruet suggests developers put management measures in place to mitigate the impact of wind farms. They can improve or entirely re-create foraging areas nearby so local birds can avoid the direct location of wind farms. "We're trying to make it clear that wind energy is not one of the technologies that is most harming the environment," says Gruet. "Quite the contrary, so it shouldn't be the one that is most burdened."
Europe's target to halt biodiversity loss by 2020 is guided by two directives - for birds and habitats - that require the protection of key sites for certain species and habitat types. Natura 2000 is an EU-wide network of nature protection areas. It comprises areas designated by member states for special protection under the 1992 Habitats Directive or the 1979 Birds Directive, totalling more than 750,000 square kiometres of land. Natura 2000 aims to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats, but it is not a system of strict nature reserves where all human activities are excluded.
The Bulgarian environment and water ministry last year revoked a permit for the 95-turbine Smin wind project in the Durankulak Lake and Bilo special protection areas.
Bird protection campaigners claimed the wind farm would create a wall of turbines between the roosting and foraging sites of the red-breasted geese that winter in the area, further endangering an already threatened species.
This decision was overturned by the Bulgarian courts in February, to the anger of conservation charity Birdlife International, which claims the environmental impact assessment was inadequate.
Bulgaria's bird protection society and the environment and water ministry submitted an appeal to the supreme court, but this was rejected in May. There is no further appeal process, so the project can now go ahead.
However, Birdlife International has warned that the European Commission could take the case to the European Court of Justice. Bulgaria is already in hot water with the commission over failure to protect its Natura 2000 sites. Ultimately, the developer - international consortium Wind Energy - could be forced to remove the project.
Bulgaria's economic ministry is now reviewing a recommendation to stop processing requests for project approvals in Natura 2000 sites and other protected areas.


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Centra, a startup that raised more than $ 30 million this year through a so-called "Initial Coin Offering", promoted by celebrities, including boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., is the target of a class action lawsuit that wants to return investor funds. Mayweather is not mentioned in the lawsuit, dated December 13, claiming that the founders of Centra made several misleading statements and sold an unregistered security.
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The lawsuit filed with the US District Court in Florida is aimed at repaying the Centra investments of chief prosecutor Jacob Zowie Thomas Rensel and other investors. From July to October of this year, investors exchanged cryptocurrency, such as Bitcoin, Ether and Litecoin for a new cryptographic token or cryptocurrency that had to be made by Centra. Centra said it was the intention to create a bank card with which cryptocurrency could be issued via established credit card networks.
When booking a hotel, especially if you're travelling outside the country, it's wise to book online just for a night and then search for other hotels nearby which offer the best deal. Familiarize yourself with the check-out and check-in hotel policies, most hotels charge extra if you missed the allotted time for this. Skip cabs the moment you arrive to your destination. Practice walking to appreciate the area better, if you have an adventurous blood in you, go for the local transportation available, and also consider the railway system available, if there's any. In most countries, railways are much cheaper than buses.
The key in travelling on a budget is to know how to spend wisely without sacrificing the experience
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If it is not a hassle for you, bring a travelling buddy especially if you will be on a vacation just for a short period of time, because as the saying goes, a fish stinks after three days. Skip the expensive souvenir shops, take photos instead and let them be your souvenir. It's also wise to choose local restaurants instead of restaurants with international cuisines, but be prepared to have cash on hand as most local restaurants doesn't accept credit cards. If you can't avoid using your credit card, be sure you are familiar with your banker's exchange rates and other charges, if currency will be an issue.
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Now that you have decided on the purpose of your group trip, where you want to travel and what time of the year, you will now be faced with the task of planning your group tour. There will be many questions to answer, lots of details to complete and numerous deadlines to meet. Knowing what to tackle first, what decisions to make and what support you will need throughout both the planning period and on the trip will help make the process run smoothly. The key is to plan far in advance.
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The planning all begins with a timeline. Following are some general guidelines for mapping out the period from when the seed is planted until the departure date. Note: This timeline may differ depending upon your type of group, what destination you have chosen and when you may be traveling.
18 Months Prior to Departure
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•Who will be invited to participate?
•Determine the approximate length and dates of the trip.
•Begin researching your chosen destination to find out what attractions, museums, theme parks, outdoor adventures, water parks, etc. you would like to attend and the costs associated with each.
•Begin researching transportation, hotels, vacation homes, dining and shopping (if applicable) and the costs associated with each.
•If this is a school trip, talk with the school principal and/or administration to receive their approval.
We often wonder if it is really possible to travel affordably, optimizing resources, and nevertheless, enjoying a great vacation.
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Whether it's a weekend, a week or a month's vacation, there are some simple rules to follow to be able to save time and money and usually have a common denominator: do it all online!
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On the web, in fact, is where you will find the best deals for traveling around, however, it is also true that often there are also nice and good scams, so is this case you need to search with caution.
We start from the flight: The main secret is to book early. Booking early, whether it's a low-cost airline or not, there will always be a savings, sometimes even remarkable. Do not be afraid of airports that are out of the way, there is always a way to take the bus to the center of the city; to note that often the cost of these buses are cheaper when buying return tickets.
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If it is not necessary to travel during the weekend, then I do not recommend it. Traveling during those days is much more expensive and often it is not worth the while for the price difference when compared to week days.
A lot has been said about how to get the best airfare. The general theories suggest that travellers should know about the right time of making reservations, be updated about ongoing as well as upcoming discount offers, opt for consolidated hotel plus flight packages, do smart packing and sign up for alerts with leading online travel agencies. These strategies help people to bag the best deals and cut down travel costs.
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There are several other lesser-known tactics, which enhance the probability of getting the cheapest airfare on regional as well as cross-border flights. These strategies are a little unconventional and not so popular. However, reports of a recent study conducted by a leading travel and tour agency reveal that if applied strategically, these tricks help fliers getting a good deal. Bagging low-cost air tickets depends upon several factors, such as smart timing, seasonality, chance, flexibility, type of airline, travel class and availability of information.
The 24-hour Rule
One of the less popular strategies, which might help in cracking a good deal, is the 24-hour rule. According to experts, sometimes this trick helps in saving a significant amount of money. This theory suggests that after booking air tickets, people should check the airfare of the flight the next morning. It is quite probable that the price of the ticket would have fallen within the span of 24 hours. In such cases, people can cancel their tickets and make another reservation on the new price. Most airlines do not charge penalties for this and those carriers, which do, charge nominal amounts.
If you are looking to save, some time and money then scan the websites of different airlines services and book last minute air tickets to your choice of destination. In fact, cheap business class tickets are ideal for companies that look at various cost-cutting options to minimize their expenses. It is a myth that only advance bookings can be economical!
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In view of uncertain economic conditions, rising shipping costs, expensive supplies, rising equipment and machinery prices and rising employee related costs, companies have no other option but to reduce their expenditure. Given that employees, board members and other staff members of large and small companies travel to international locations for official meetings and business purposes, booking flight tickets at reasonable rates can certainly help them save a huge amount of their money.
Businesses can use this money for further expansion and achieving their targets easily. With nearly all the leading airlines services offering last minute air tickets options, booking tickets at a very short notice has become both effortless. In fact, last minute flight ticket is an excellent option for business and corporate travelers who are looking to network with their prospective and existing clients at various international locations.
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Travelers can check the websites and book tickets to numerous domestic and international locations and get special and discounted flight tickets in no time. So, if you are in a hurry for hassle-free business trip, then book last minute business class ticket to your preferred destination right away!
Air travel can be costly and, of course, tiring. Flying business class, however, offers the opportunity to make the most of the journey-a great way to travel and to reach the destination invigorated and stress-free. Business class flights are pampered with top-notch lounges, multi-course meals, Internet accessibility, private screens and entertainment systems. Getting expert advice and travel tips can therefore worth the effort in finding airline deals to make flying experience the best it can be. Flying in business or first class, especially, at a price of an airline deal on a business class seat is very well the Holy Grail of air travel. And there are ways to work the upgrades deals on business class seats.
Airlines' Own Websites
Airlines' own websites offer great possibilities to find the lowest available fares on business class seats and they may show many fare options. One of the advantages of finding an airline deal on a business class seat on the airlines sites is that the sale s established directly with the airline. It becomes swell more so when flights are cancelled for it will be easier to negotiate an alternative with an airline agent when ticket is purchased directly with them.
Frequent Flyer Miles Program
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The frequent flyer miles program with an "elite" status member offers a better chance with more options and better odds at getting that upgrade for a deal on a business class seat. Using frequent flyer miles for an upgrade to a business class seat offers better value for the miles used compared to using miles to purchase a coach award ticket. Upgrade inventory, though, can be limited. It is best to book as far in advance as possible and be flexible about mid-week travel, if possible. Further, upgrades can be doable days and hours before departure-by being on the waiting list.
People generally travel for one of two reasons — business or pleasure. While the business side has declined a bit in the age of instant messages, webcams, and video conferencing, it is still an important part of the travel industry. According to the most recent numbers, corporate trips account for about 35 percent of the U.S. market.
What to Ask Before You Purchase
As you might imagine, these folks don't travel like tourists. They look for and expect different things from their chosen airlines, hotels, and rental car agencies. Since accommodations offer the greatest opportunity for savings, we will talk about the hotel selection process.
The Market
Choosing the right accommodations is easy if you know what to look for. Because they almost always stay in the same establishment, offering the promise of repeat business, hotels absolutely adore corporate guests. Most offer a myriad of special services to lure them in. Conference rooms, wireless high-speed internet, and 24-hour dry cleaning are services most of the top chains offer their working guests. But, travelers would be wise to consider more than mere amenities when it is time to book a room.
What To Look For
First and most importantly, you should make sure the establishment is in a safe neighborhood, and that it is close to the airport. Remember, you are not traveling for fun. You are there to do a job! The faster you can get to the airport, the faster you will get home.
It is also important to note that when the establishment is close to the airport, you may not need a rental car. You may be able to take a hotel shuttle service, which will help you save on the trip. It may also give you the option of staying in a nicer establishment since most business travelers have fixed budgets.
Services & Amenities
As we mentioned earlier, amenities are important. In addition to high-speed Internet and conference rooms, many of the top hotels have business centers. These fully-functioning offices are equipped with copiers, computers, printers, and fax machines for their guests.
If you are planning on wining and dining a potential client, you should also find out if there are a few good restaurants in the area or on the premises. Once again, picking the right hotel is all about convenience and proximity. If the closest eatery is half an hour away, it might interfere with set travel schedules.
A Final Word
To locate an appropriate establishment, it is also important to find one that does not cater to tourists. The reason most corporate travelers prefer hotels by the airport isn't only because they are close by. Business guests seldom want to see the sights or paint the town. More often than not, they are tired after a long trip and simply want to get some sleep. As a result, it is not only important to select the right establishment, but also the right room. To do so, you should always avoid accommodations near the restaurant, pool, or lobby, since places where people gather are bound to be noisy at all hours of the night and during the day.
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Use these simple tips to find the perfect lodging option on your next business trip.
Chauffeur Assistance
Guests often need help with transportation. An on-site chauffeur can provide this assistance to transport people to various local destinations, including restaurants, airports, and attractions. Some facilities also offer shuttles to specific local destinations. If you have your own car, inquire about valets in attendance who will help you with parking and retrieval of your vehicle.
Fitness and Relaxation
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Ask about fitness and relaxation opportunities available on site. Many companies have indoor or outdoor pools and hot tubs for guests. You might find saunas and fitness centers available with cardiovascular machines and weights in some hotels, too. Full-service spas may also be an option, with relaxing services such as massages, facials, hair styling, manicures, and pedicures available.
Business Centers
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Business guests can receive a variety of business assistance. On-site computers may be available for guests to use. These computers will have productivity software installed to enable patrons to perform standard work away from home. Printers, fax machines, speakerphones, and basic office supplies will also be available for guests to use. Ask about secretarial assistance such as typing and mailing. You might even find a conference room available for meetings.
Connectivity and Entertainment
Free high-speed Internet connectivity is complimentary and included with most guest stays. Many facilities also offer movies for entertainment. Ask about DVD/Blu-ray players and a lending library for guests, and you might also find premium movie channels available on flat panel televisions.
Many hosts are clean, friendly, and hospitable, but there is no guarantee of good customer service. While most hotels put great stock into hospitality and offering quality service, the same cannot be said for owner-rented properties. Amenities such as coffee pots, luggage racks, toiletries, televisions, and private showers are often not available. If full-service is a requirement, visitors are better off checking into a bed and breakfast or local hotel.
While there is definitely room in the hospitality market for owner-rented properties, the national conversation about their disruptive potential is overblown. Hotels will likely continue to be the standard for years to come due to their convenience, reliability, and commitment to hospitality.
Nowadays you will find many ads for hotel and hostel accommodations on the internet and the newspapers. But the question is, how do you find a hotel which is according to your budget? With so much information on the internet and ads with seasonal promotions, discount deals and travel related options. It usually becomes confusing and complicated for the traveler to find the best hotel deals.
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Luckily, there are many opportunities for you to find the best deals and get a hotel room according to your budget and requirement. The following suggestions will help you plan a perfect strategy for preparing your next trip.
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When you pick a destination to visit, you must ponder over more than just the expenditure. Many people only look to reserve cheap lodgings, whereas, many people consider other facts as well like the facilities, personal benefits and convenience. If you are a couple on your honeymoon then your priorities will be completely different from those of a business traveler.
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If you are on your honeymoon, you may want to stay at a hotel which offers a romantic view or if you are on a business trip you many want to consider the travel time from your hotel to the office. Before you pick a hotel, make sure that you have thought over all these aspects as they are very important.
If you are on a business trip, you can get a reduced price for the hotel room if you book near the place where the event or seminar is taking place. This is a very practical choice and helps as you can stay closer to your office and can walk from your hotel to the workplace conveniently without having any issues.
Travelling to a favorite destination should be lots of fun, especially when you have made all the right decisions. The accommodation is of utmost importance and it can actually determine the kind of experience. There are so many accommodation options today ensuring that every traveler finds a package that is suitable enough, regardless of the budget he or she is working with. There are budget friendly hotels and even simpler ways of finding one that will ease travel.
1. Evaluate your budget:
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When you know just how much you can spare for the hotel, it becomes easier to narrow down the search on the available hotels within your destination or desired location. The fact is that even budget-friendly hotels can have all the amenities you find important during a stay and will serve all your needs without weighing you down financially. You can use the internet to make a search and compare between available hotels.
2. The Kind of Accommodation:
To make sure you settle for the best, you should also consider the options available to you in terms of the different kinds of accommodation. There are hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, resorts and hostels to choose from.
Whether you are travelling for a family vacation or a business trip in a given area, you will need to get some sort of accommodation. Modern accommodation facilities are carefully designed to make sure they provide you with a nice setting so you feel as though you are at home. You will find hotels with stunning rooms you can rent for your stay no matter how long you are staying. Modern facilities will have everything necessary to make your stay enjoyable, but by looking at a few things, you are bound to make a good decision.
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The facility location – The best will depend on your personal preferences. There are people who would rather stay in a hotel located in the heart of a city, whereas others would rather settle for one that's set in serene quiet areas for maximized relaxation. The location of your accommodation facility can determine the access you have to areas of your choice, the kind of environment and surrounding you get to enjoy and also the noise levels. It is advisable you choose a location with the potential to complete your stay expectations.
The available amenities – Most modern accommodation facilities will have almost everything you need to have an enjoyable stress-free stay. The most common amenities you will find include coffee makers, toiletries, mini bar, hairdryer, DVD player, flat screen TV, high speed internet and air conditioners. By considering what is offered, you will know exactly what to pack for the stay or what to buy to add to your comfort levels. With so many amenities made available in most hotels, you won't have to worry about extra expenses during your stay at the facility.
Saving money for a long-term rental vacation or transition into life in a different country is essential. We can't always plan for events or situations that inevitably crop up that cost us money we may not have – saving money before you leave for your long-term trip will ensure that you have a bit of a financial safety net in the event of an emergency.
There are many ways to save money for a long-term rental experience, most of which can be utilized before you even leave home. One common money saving tip is to budget your monthly expenses, and take that money out of the bank in cash. Paying cash makes it easier for you to track how much money you spend every day as you are physically handing over bills and coins. When you get home, transfer the loose change you have from the day into a jar. Although it may not seem like much, all this can add up!
Creating a budget in the months leading up to your long-term vacation can also help you decide where you can cut back on your spending. Drinking one less fancy coffee or eating out a few times less can save you more than a few dollars in the long run. Always keep in mind your goal of your long-term vacation and the amazing things you're planning on doing there- this will keep you excited to save and on track with your budget!
By planning your long-term vacation early you can cash in on the best vacation rental properties for the best prices. Giving yourself enough time to plan also gives you enough time to research the options you have regarding your long-term vacation; compare and contrast different deals, dates and travel plans to get the most affordable price. Depending on how long you are planning to go on vacation you might also be able to get a long-term vacation rental price that reflects the longevity and consistency of your stay.


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On the Caribbean coast of Mexico, Akumal is a sun-splashed haven for romantics and families alike. With countless holiday rental options available, you're sure to find one perfectly suited for your group's personality and interests. This small, beachfront community is just one hour and ten minutes south of Cancun on the Yucatan peninsula but feels wonderfully remote. Stroll the white sandy beaches, swim, snorkel, meet a sea turtle up close – it's the ultimate escape. Dedicated to its precious environment, the region is home to the Centro Ecológico de Akumal, a non-profit group dedicated to environmental-marine research, education and sea turtle protection.
With three beautiful bays nearby -- Half Moon bay, greater Akumal bay and Aventuras Akumal bay – the watersports opportunities here are endless. Think snorkeling and SCUBA diving amidst rainbow-hued fish and coral reefs. Or just pull up a beach chair and crack open a juicy novel at the world-class Akumal Bay beach. When you've had enough sun, stroll the neighborhoods and discover gift shops, dive shops, grocery stores (great for cooking up locally influenced meals in your holiday rental's fully equipped kitchen), fun beach bars and tempting restaurants for a nice night out – try the Lol Ha Restaurant, right on the beach in Akumal Bay. Or, for a bit of shade, head to Aktun Chen Dry Cave and Jungle Tour for a look at the area's extensive cave system; you'll encounter monkeys and other local forest animals on a walk through the grounds.
The most valuable way to stay in Akumal with your family or friends is an amenity-packed holiday rental, be it a cozy one-bedroom beachfront apartment or a lavish, multi-bedroom seaside home. You'll save money compared to a traditional hotel and have a home-away-from-home all to yourselves. Most of the Akumal holiday rentals come complete with gorgeous sea views, air conditioning, pool, full kitchen, grilling area, patio and more. Spread out in your beach home's living, dining and sleeping areas; save money on dining by cooking your own delicious meals in your casita's kitchen; and come and go as you please, welcome flexibility for families with kids.
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Second Annual Message of George Washington3 comments Posted by HCPS at Wednesday, December 08, 2010
December 8, 1790
Fellow-Citizens of the Senate and the House of Representatives
In meeting you again I feel much satisfaction in being able to repeat my congratulations on the favorable prospects which continue to distinguish our public affairs. The abundant fruits of another year have blessed our country with plenty and with the means of a flourishing commerce.
The progress of public credit is witnessed by a considerable rise of American stock abroad as well as at home, and the revenues allotted for this and other national purposes have been productive beyond the calculations by which they were regulated. This latter circumstance is the more pleasing, as it is not only a proof of the fertility of our resources, but as it assures us of a further increase of the national respectability and credit, and, let me add, as it bears an honorable testimony to the patriotism and integrity of the mercantile and marine part of our citizens. The punctuality of the former in discharging their engagements has been exemplary.
In conformity to the powers vested in me by acts of the last session, a loan of 3,000,000 florins, toward which some provisional measures had previously taken place, has been completed in Holland. As well the celerity with which it has been filled as the nature of the terms (considering the more than ordinary demand for borrowing created by the situation of Europe) give a reasonable hope that the further execution of those powers may proceed with advantage and success. The Secretary of the Treasury has my directions to communicate such further particulars as may be requisite for more precise information.
Since your last sessions I have received communications by which it appears that the district of Kentucky, at present a part of Virginia, has concurred in certain propositions contained in a law of that State, in consequence of which the district is to become a distinct member of the Union, in case the requisite sanction of Congress be added. For this sanction application is now made. I shall cause the papers on this very transaction to be laid before you.
The liberality and harmony with which it has been conducted will be found to do great honor to both the parties, and the sentiments of warm attachment to the Union and its present Government expressed by our fellow citizens of Kentucky can not fail to add an affectionate concern for their particular welfare to the great national impressions under which you will decide on the case submitted to you.
It has been heretofore known to Congress that frequent incursion have been made on our frontier settlements by certain banditti of Indians from the northwest side of the Ohio. These, with some of the tribes dwelling on and near the Wabash, have of late been particularly active in their depredations, and being emboldened by the impunity of their crimes and aided by such parts of the neighboring tribes as could be seduced to join in their hostilities or afford them a retreat for their prisoners and plunder, they have, instead of listening to the humane invitations and overtures made on the part of the United States, renewed their violences with fresh alacrity and greater effect. The lives of a number of valuable citizens have thus been sacrificed, and some of them under circumstances peculiarly shocking, whilst others have been carried into a deplorable captivity.
These aggravated provocations rendered it essential to the safety of the Western settlements that the aggressors should be made sensible that the Government of the Union is not less capable of punishing their crimes than it is disposed to respect their rights and reward their attachments. As this object could not be effected by defensive measures, it became necessary to put in force the act which empowers the President to call out the militia for the protection of the frontiers, and I have accordingly authorized an expedition in which the regular troops in that quarter are combined with such drafts of militia as were deemed sufficient. The event of the measure is yet unknown to me. The Secretary of War is directed to lay before you a statement of the information on which it is founded, as well as an estimate of the expense with which it will be attended.
The disturbed situation of Europe, and particularly the critical posture of the great maritime powers, whilst it ought to make us the more thankful for the general peace and security enjoyed by the United States, reminds us at the same time of the circumspection with which it becomes us to preserve these blessings. It requires also that we should not overlook the tendency of a war, and even of preparations for a war, among the nations most concerned in active commerce with this country to abridge the means, and thereby at least enhance the price, of transporting its valuable productions to their markets. I recommend it to your serious reflections how far and in what mode it may be expedient to guard against embarrassments from these contingencies by such encouragements to our own navigation as will render our commerce and agriculture less dependent on foreign bottoms, which may fail us in the very moments most interesting to both of these great objects. Our fisheries and the transportation of our own produce offer us abundant means for guarding ourselves against this evil.
Your attention seems to be not less due to that particular branch of our trade which belongs to the Mediterranean. So many circumstances unite in rendering the present state of it distressful to us that you will not think any deliberations misemployed which may lead to its relief and protection.
The laws you have already passed for the establishment of a judiciary system have opened the doors of justice to all descriptions of persons. You will consider in your wisdom whether improvements in that system may yet be made, and particularly whether an uniform process of execution on sentences issuing from the Federal courts be not desirable through all the States.
The patronage of our commerce, of our merchants and sea men, has called for the appointment of consuls in foreign countries. It seems expedient to regulate by law the exercise of that jurisdiction and those functions which are permitted them, either by express convention or by a friendly indulgence, in the places of their residence. The consular convention, too, with His Most Christian Majesty has stipulated in certain cases the aid of the national authority to his consuls established here. Some legislative provision is requisite to carry these stipulations into full effect.
The establishment of the militia, of a mint, of standards of weights and measures, of the post office and post roads are subjects which I presume you will resume of course, and which are abundantly urged by their own importance.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives:
The sufficiency of the revenues you have established for the objects to which they are appropriated leaves no doubt that the residuary provisions will be commensurate to the other objects for which the public faith stands now pledged. Allow me, moreover, to hope that it will be a favorite policy with you, not merely to secure a payment of the interest of the debt funded, but as far and as fast as the growing resources of the country will permit to exonerate it of the principal itself. The appropriation you have made of the Western land explains your dispositions on this subject, and I am persuaded that the sooner that valuable fund can be made to contribute, along with the other means, to the actual reduction of the public debt the more salutary will the measure be to every public interest, as well as the more satisfactory to our constituents.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:
In pursuing the various and weighty business of the present session I indulge the fullest persuasion that your consultation will be equally marked with wisdom and animated by the love of your country. In whatever belongs to my duty you shall have all the cooperation which an undiminished zeal for its welfare can inspire. It will be happy for us both, and our best reward, if, by a successful administration of our respective trusts, we can make the established Government more and more instrumental in promoting the good of our fellow citizens, and more and more the object of their attachment and confidence.
George Washington
(Source: http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/presiden/washpap.htm)
Alexander Hamilton's Heads of Topics For President's Speech of December 8, 17901 comments Posted by HCPS at Wednesday, December 01, 2010
December 1, 1790
I.—Confidence that measures for the further support of public credit, and for the payment of the interest and gradual extinguishment of the principal of the public debt, will be pursued with zeal and vigor; and that, as one means to this, a plan for the sale of the western lands will be adopted, which will give them the effect intended, appropriating them to the sinking fund, and which will extend the agriculture of the United States.
II.—Felicitation on the success of the measures hitherto adopted for the support of public credit, as witnessed by the rise of American stock, not only in the United States, but in Europe. The public credit cannot but acquire additional energy when it is known that the resources hitherto in activity have been more productive than was calculated upon. As proof not only of the resources of the country, but of the patriotism and honor of the mercantile and marine citizens of the United States, the punctuality of the former in discharging their obligations has been exemplary.
III.—Information that a loan of 300,000 florins has been effected in Holland, the terms and disposition of which (as far as any has been made) the Secretary of the Treasury has been directed to explain.
IV.—Growing conviction in the minds of the great body of the people of the utility and benefits of a National Government. It is not to be doubted that any symptoms of discontent which may have appeared in particular places, respecting particular measures, will be obviated by a removal of the misapprehensions which may have occasioned them.
V.—Communication of the expedition against the Indians, and of the motives to it.
VI.—Disturbed situation of Europe, particularly of the great maritime powers. The precautions of a prudent circumspection on the part of the United States ought not to be neglected.
VII.—Almost total interruption of our Mediterranean trade, from the dread of piratical depredations. Great importance of opening that trade, and expediency of considering whether protection cannot be afforded to it.
IX.—Symptoms of greater population than was supposed—a further proof of progressive strength and resource.
X.—Remarks on the abundance of the harvests, affording an assurance of internal plenty, and the means of easy payment for foreign supplies.
(Source: http://oll.libertyfund.org/)


text: Cameroon finished four points clear of their opponents in Group I [GETTY]Cameroon beat Libya 1-0 Sunday to clinch the last place in Africa's World Cup playoffs, finally ending the conflict-racked country's qualifying campaign as seven of 10 groups were decided in the last round of games. Defender Aurelien Chedjou's goal three minutes before half-time settled Group I and saw the four-time African champions through to the 10-team playoffs. Libya needed to win to produce a major shock and progress instead.Cameroon, who had slumped to miss the last two African Cups, joined top-ranked African team Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso and surprise packages Ethiopia and Cape Verde Islands in the crucial playoffs, which start next month. Five countries will ultimately qualify from those two-legged ties to represent Africa at Brazil 2014. Nigeria, Senegal and Ethiopia reached the playoffs on Saturday, while Tunisia crashed out after being shocked at home by Cape Verde. The North Africans' World Cup dream disappeared at the very end of the main qualifying competition with a painful 2-0 loss in Rades, and the Cape Verdeans continued their breakthrough year after playing in their first African Cup. Burkina Faso also kept their hopes of playing in Brazil alive by beating Gabon and overtaking Republic of Congo on the final matchday. Ivory Coast, Egypt and Algeria had already won their groups before the weekend's games. Ghana progressed on Friday. The top five teams in FIFA's rankings on September 12 will be seeded in the draw for the playoff ties and can't meet. Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria and Cape Verde are currently the highest ranked countries in the playoffs. Nigeria win African champions Nigeria saw off Malawi 2-0 through goals from Europe-based forwards Emmanuel Emenike and Victor Moses. "We are truly delighted to be in the final round, and we believe the Super Eagles will do the nation proud by picking one of the five tickets to represent Africa at next year's FIFA World Cup,'' Nigeria Football Federation general secretary Musa Amadu said. Ethiopia came from behind with two second-half goals to win 2-1 over Central African Republic in neutral Republic of Congo and qualify from Group A, eliminating 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa, who beat Botswana 4-1 in vain. Ethiopia's winner came, ironically, from Minyahile Beyene, the player whose presence in an earlier qualifier while suspended led to Ethiopia forfeiting a game and having their progression put on hold. The victory in Brazzaville sparked wild celebrations back home in Ethiopia, who have never played at the World Cup despite being one of the founding members of African football. The football-mad East African nation is now one tie away from the biggest stage. Tunisia led Group B and were overwhelming favourites to qualify, needing just a draw at home to Cape Verde. But the islanders scored twice in the first half and the Tunisians couldn't come back, resulting in coach Nabil Maaloul saying he would resign after his team was booed by its own fans for the final 10 minutes. "We were out of it,'' a dejected Maaloul said. "The players weren't able to respond to the Cape Verde team, which was better than us. This was my final game as national coach.'' Senegal avoided a surprise loss to Uganda in neutral Marrakech to qualify, and clinched a 1-0 victory late on with Sadio Mane's 84th-minute winner. Like Cape Verde, African Cup runner-up Burkina Faso leapfrogged Republic of Congo with a precious Prejuce Nakoulma strike to beat Gabon 1-0. Republic of Congo's 2-2 draw with Niger in Niamey proved costly as they surrendered the lead and qualifying position from Group E by a single point to the Burkinabes, who now have a chance at the World Cup after playing in African football's biggest game this year. Ivory Coast were already through before a 1-1 draw with Morocco in Abidjan, where Didier Drogba hit an 83rd-minute penalty to scrape a draw for the Ivorians. Ghana qualified by edging out Zambia, while Egypt and Algeria play their final group games Tuesday. SOURCE: AP Sport Football Latin America Algeria Botswana


text: Hi unix Gurus, I am really new to Unix Scripting. Please help me to create a shell script which reads the xml file and from that i need to fetch a particular information. For example <SOURCE BUSINESSNAME ="" DATABASETYPE ="Teradata" DBDNAME ="DWPROD3" DESCRIPTION ="" NAME ="ACTRL_BNFT_KEY_DMN" OBJECTVERSION ="1" OWNERNAME ="COC_V20_ETL_APPL" VERSIONNUMBER ="1"> <SOURCEFIELD BUSINESSNAME ="" DATATYPE ="varchar" DESCRIPTION ="" FIELDNUMBER ="1" FIELDPROPERTY ="0" FIELDTYPE ="ELEMITEM" HIDDEN ="NO" </SOURCE> From the above xml file , I have to read the xml file and get the source name from the file as the below output. SOURCE ->ACTRL_BNFT_KEY_DMN. Please help me UNIX Gurus.