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POLA POWER, INC. and its corporate structure, organization and business strategy.The alphaDIRECT Insight
Polar Power develops technologies and products that produce reliable energy for off-grid and backup power applications with a major focus on the telecom market. The company also produces energy efficient cooling and refrigeration systems. Polar has the unique ability to integrate multiple technologies into a single solution meeting the customer's specific needs. To protect its IP and deliver the most cost-effective solution Polar maintains a vertically integrated manufacturing facility. We believe the company is beginning to deliver on its key strategic initiative of diversifying its exposure within top-tier telecom providers, expanding internationally and developing non-telecom markets such as military and onsite primary power generation for residential and commercial markets. These initiatives are beginning to show in the company's backlog with a record $19.1 million as of November 26th. In this report we review the company's overall strategy, technology and markets.
Shawn Severson: First, I would like to thank you, Arthur for taking the time to speak with us today. I would like to cover an overview of Polar Power's corporate organization and structure and a brief review of your market strategy. However, before we get started, could you give us a brief introduction of yourself and what made you start Polar Power?
Arthur Sams: Absolutely, Shawn. I am a stereotype of an inventor, engineer, and entrepreneur. I began before I was nine years of age working at various jobs and spending my cash on hobbies and inventions. Hobbies included amateur rockets, SCUBA, target shooting, camping, travel, and sailing. My early businesses and various jobs provided me with experience and a nice income starting as early as Jr. school and continued throughout college. In college I had a dual major of engineering and pre-med. Leaving college in 1975 I incorporated my first international import/export business which was unsuccessful due to government intervention and lack of capital. In 1979 I co-founded Polar, a technology company, that developed world's first practical solar powered refrigerator to solve the cold chain problem with vaccine storage in rural areas for United Nations World Health Organization Immunization project. A few years later our technology developed into larger military cooling and power systems.
Shawn Severson: Thank you, Arthur. Can you provide us with a brief introduction of Polar Power (what you do, products, technology etc.)?
Arthur Sams: Polar develops technologies and products that produce reliable off-grid energy or backup power. Our technology and products provide reliable low-cost electrical power generation for off-grid applications and backup power for grid connected applications. We also serve mobile applications with prime power for powering electronics, refrigeration, or other payload needs. We provide DC generators and batteries for series type hybrid drive vehicles; these specialty vehicles are used for material handling, moving aircraft, etc.
Telecommunication's cell towers are becoming one of the largest consumers of energy and therefore becoming one of our largest target markets for backup and prime power. Since 2014 we have experienced a significant growth in our telecom market where we provide integrated solutions of Solar, DC generators and battery storage technologies to address backup power and off-grid energy needs. Our products are available in Diesel, LPG and Natural Gas configurations. One of our key differentiators is that Polar's sells directly to our key accounts without use of any intermediaries, which has helped us in identifying customer needs early giving us an edge in getting product to the market ahead of competition. In the U.S. markets our products have been certified and approved by top four Tier-1 telecom providers while globally we are certified by 32 Tier-1 telecom providers. Regarding the technology, what makes our products unique is our ability to combine multiple technologies into one single solution to fit the customer's needs.
As an example, we optimized a Solar Hybrid Power system by replacing the AC generator with a more efficient DC generator and the lead acid batteries with fast charging lithium ion. These improvements resulted in lowering capital cost while reducing operating cost due to component reduction, eliminating the unnecessary conversion of AC to DC, thereby increasing reliability and lower maintenance. To accomplish this, we engineer and manufacture our own components. We designed and manufactured a DC generator for efficiency and lower maintenance (there was none on the market) The DC generator eliminates the cost and efficiency losses in the conversion of AC to DC as required to charge the battery. To integrate the Lithium Ion battery into the system required monitoring of each cell in the battery bank and providing precise charging, Polar developed its own Battery Management System (BMS) that directly communicates with the DC generator for precise charge regulation. Polar is the only company on the market today with this feature.
Most companies that manufacture AC generators do not provide DC and they do not integrate batteries and solar into their products. Customers are left up to hiring engineers/consultants to select the system controls, generator, batteries, battery charging equipment, and provide the thermal management of the system. Most solar companies, engineers and consultants are purchasing off the shelf components from many vendors to assemble a system and this is very expensive and difficult to provide long term maintenance and support.
Since our inception in 1979, Polar has always first identified the market need and then developed the technology and products to most cost effectively and efficiently meet the application needs. Unlike many clean tech companies, we do not develop the technology first then look for the applications and customers.
Shawn Severson: What would you say are the four most important drivers of your business over the next three years?
Arthur Sams: For US Markets I would say the emphasis on upgrading and repairing of telecom infrastructure by all telecom providers has created opportunities for backup power systems in both on-grid and off-grid markets. Climate change and emphasis on reducing pollution and fuel costs at telecom towers has created opportunity for higher efficiency solar hybrid backup power systems. National security concerns over energy and telecommunication grids has started a renewed investment by federal government into public private partnerships to create a nationwide emergency telecommunication infrastructure which is equipped with improved backup power systems. As the severity and frequency of natural disasters increases, cell sites are having to increase the autonomy of backup storage from 2 – 8 hours to 48 – 72 hours and this is not practical with battery storage (for most sites). The DC generator is the best solution. Increased use of video streaming, introduction of 5G to compete with Cable providers, IOT applications on autonomous vehicles requiring 100% reliable networks has resulted in expansion of urban and rural networks requiring additional backup systems nationwide are positive trends for our business. Modern warfare is moving towards rapid deployments of troops via air as opposed to ship. Everything must be more compact, lighter in weight, and more rapidly deployed. Also, military is making significant investment into autonomous vehicles and mules, which can be used to carry logistic supply and security functions 24/7. This effort is aimed at reducing casualties. Use of DC power system in these robotic mules is a paradigm shift in power needs of military when forward deployed. We have benefitted from initial orders for compact generator to power future military robots. Regarding International Markets, emerging markets are the fastest growing markets for expansion of telecommunication infrastructure. Lack of reliable electric utility infrastructure and higher percentage of population located in rural areas has led to significant percentage of telecom infrastructure located in bad grid or off-grid areas. Backup generators, solar hybrid systems are essential part of each telecom tower site in these markets and therefore a key growth market for our products in the near term.
Shawn Severson: Can you briefly discuss your different target markets for your power solutions?
Arthur Sams: Our core technologies and products service diverse markets which range from telecom, military, automotive, industrial, marine, mining and distributed power. Due to significant expansion of telecommunication networks worldwide over 90% of our sales is generated from telecom customers. We are currently focusing most of our resource on Telecommunications both domestically and internationally. As Polar builds is production and customer service and support, we will expand sales into Military, Data center, commercial and residential and electric car charging. Polar is operating on a staged growth bases, supply chain, production facilities, marketing and field service all have to be elevated at the same time and in relation to our sales revenues. Otherwise our annual losses along with business risk will be similar to other clean-tech and high-tech companies.
Shawn Severson: What differentiates them on the market today compared to competitors' applications?
Arthur Sams: Polar has a unique position business model. Polar manages and masters multiple technologies and our competition focuses on a few technologies. For example, I have never seen major generator manufacturers include battery charging or battery banks, or solar hybrid systems into their product lines, like we do. Polar markets its products directly to our customers rather than using intermediaries. We have tried distribution channels in the past but found it difficult to launch new technologies, there is a tendency to "filter" information exchange between the customer and our engineering at Polar. Also, with distribution there is always the issue regarding the time resource split between our Polar needs and that of other companies being represented by the sales rep. Direct communication with the customers has allowed us to maintain long term relationships with our customers and this gives us insights into their future needs in terms of products and services. We believe our ability to be the first on the market to provide the solution to our customer requirements is a key competitive strength. The U.S military offsets some of our costs to develop our technologies. Over the last 3 decades, we successfully commercialized these technologies into DC power systems and solar hybrid products. The competition process to obtain US military contracts helps to ensure our engineering and quality control talent is competitive. Telecom rarely cover product development costs. Competition must cover their product development cost and include this cost into their product. Over the years, Polar has successfully developed key technologies and then invested capital in manufacturing these technologies in-house. This strategy has protected our technologies in competitive landscape and allowed us greater control over quality of these components and supply chain.
Shawn Severson: Can you discuss the reliability and long life of your DC systems and how that makes them desirable on the market, especially within the telecom market?
Arthur Sams: During the initial phase of our company, Engineering, Maintenance, and Repair Services were performed by the same people. If equipment failed in the field the engineer of the system was the one that travelled to location to repair the product. So, consider the situation where the engineer who designed the equipment has travel from Los Angeles to a remote area in Alaska in the winter to urgently repair a generator supporting a fiber link relating to NASA communications, a memorable experience and not one anyone wants to repeat, so the engineer learns a valuable lesson on product design. Servicing the globe with specialized power systems with less than five technicians created a culture of "lets design it so it does not break" and "if it does break, let's make it really simple to repair". We did not pursue the path of planned obsolescence and finite service life on parts to support after sale revenues. Our value proposition was long life and low maintenance providing higher reliability. We felt that the opportunity to sell long life low maintenance power and cooling systems was greater profit and growth strategy than engineering components with limited service life to enhance revenues derived from replacement parts and labor. Eventually, with a large installation base revenue from parts and labor will eventually come, but in relative smaller proportions.
Shawn Severson: Do you consider the telecom industry in emerging markets to be your biggest market and how do you plan on increasing your market share as part of your growth strategy?
Arthur Sams: I have heard it said that USA represents only 5% of the world market. Not only are there great telecom opportunities in developing countries but it is a gateway for other power and cooling products and services. We are continuing to build our overseas sales, marketing, and service resource. With the launch our new LPG and natural gas power, HVAC and refrigeration solutions we see significant growth within North America.
Shawn Severson: Can you talk about some of your biggest customers, specifically within the telecom and military market?
Arthur Sams: Our technologies are designed to provide higher efficiency in off-grid power generation market. More than two decades ago we began our relationship with our telecom customers. In telecom markets certain regions in the U.S. market purchased our products due to high reliability in areas with temperature extremes and in other cases they purchased our products due to lower operating costs. Our largest telecom customers today are the top Tier-1 telecom providers in the nation. Lower volumes during initial phase of our relationship allowed us to further customize, configure and harden technologies to meet application needs. The fact that our warrantee costs are approximately 0.1% of the product cost reflects the reliability our design and production methods. 0.1% is significantly lower than industry average. Today we are known as highest quality providers in the telecom backup power generation market, with increase in volumes we have successfully reduced the cost to compete with legacy AC technologies. We are not yet strongly active in military marketing and sales. We are servicing those military projects that knock on our door.
Shawn Severson: Can you explain your position as a complete systems provider and how you divide your risk by operating on a global basis with a broad customer base?
Arthur Sams: In the telecommunications market we have seen the business model change a few times over the past two decades. Initially it started off as telecom providers themselves investing in technologies and infrastructure costs to provide coverage to selling off these infrastructure assets to tower operators. Telecom providers became Mobile Network Operators (MNO). Tower Operators are actually just Real Estate investment companies and seeking relationship with technology companies to provide complete solutions. We believe in emerging markets there are new opportunities for companies like Polar, as an Energy Service Providers (ESP) who can provide the complete energy infrastructure for telecom towers thereby removing the technology risks in purchasing, installing, maintenance and the CAPEX of an energy efficient solution. Presently most of our customers are not pursuing the ESP services; they prefer to purchase the system and not spend extra money on the value-added service of the ESP. We believe the future is to combine PV, battery storage with DC generator for prime power off-grid and bad grid applications. And for on-grid sites add a simple 500 W to 1 kW of peak solar to each site. Polar is here to lower the operating expenses of the MNO's and tower operators while profiting as a solutions provider. Our aim is to avoid the smaller profit margins as a commodity manufacturer. In the global market place, we have started developing the infrastructure that resembles what we have in the U.S. market. We have setup subsidiaries in Australia, Namibia and Romania to develop localized product solutions and sales infrastructure to address regional needs. In a short period of less than 12 months we have started to see initial results of these investments in forms of product qualifications and initial test and demonstration purchases by Tier-1 telecom providers. We believe once these regions scale further we will look into adding value added operations at these facilities to further reduce costs and thereby gain competitive strength.
Shawn Severson: You describer yourself as being ahead of the technology curve, can you please elaborate on that and touch on your IP?
Arthur Sams: Sometimes technology is just a component, product or service that most efficiently solves customer problems or enhances customer experiences. Our strategy of direct sales to large customers has always benefited us by giving us insight into inefficiencies or needs of the customer. Most of technologies are aimed at removing these inefficiencies through integrating multiple technologies to produce an efficient outcome. Although we do have IP related to our hardware components such as system controls, alternator technology and cooling systems we believe the main IP is in our software integration and "knowhow" that efficiently combines renewable energy with energy storage and fuel-based power generation to produce reliable lowest cost energy in off-grid, bad-grid and on-grid applications worldwide. We continue to monitor, test and experiment with new upcoming storage and power generation technologies to ensure our technologies and software can successfully integrate these technologies with any current or future power needs of our customers.
Shawn Severson: What do you consider to be your main competitive advantage within power systems?
Arthur Sams: Vertical integration of manufacturing and control over our supply chain is a key competitive advantage for Polar in combination with our company departments of Quality Control, Production, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, and customer service. We are also proud to be able to find the right talent with the realization that growth is not possible without good employees.
Shawn Severson: Lastly, where do you want to take Polar. What are your growth goals?
Arthur Sams: Polar was founded on the goal of taking the right technology and applying the technology is such a way that benefits both the environment and the end user. We did not want to develop a technology or product and apply it to applications where this technology was not well suited. Polar would instead develop another technology and product that would be more competitive in a solution for the customer. Many companies develop a technology first then look for applications and customers. Polar looks at a customer needs first then develops the technology, this is a faster way to market and profitability. In the 1970's we saw the need and technology advantages of DC (direct current) based solutions for mobile / portable, off-grid, bad grid, and good grid applications. Given the financial resources of Polar at that time we pursued small niche markets that had the potential to grow into larger niche markets. For example: solar energy, electric vehicle charging, power generation for both backup and off-grid applications, wireless communications, advancement of electronics into military applications. Expansion of telecom networks in bad grid and off-grid emerging markets has resulted in backup generators consuming more fossil fuel than transportation in countries like India and Nigeria, this trend will result in shift of focus from automotive industry to lower pollution stationary power technologies for telecom towers. In conclusion, our journey that began 40 years ago as solar powered vaccine refrigerator and special equipment provider to the military has now become main stream renewable energy product that reduces operating costs and air pollution. We believe our success is based on our ability to deliver environmentally sustainable power generation solution that combines fossil fuel and renewable energy solutions to provide the most cost effective, smallest carbon footprint for our telecom customers worldwide. Our entry into some of the emerging markets has ensured that new telecom infrastructure development in these regions is based on environmentally sustainable footprint while ensuring economic viability and product reliability. I would like to take Polar to $500 million and above in revenues while expanding our efforts in reducing pollution and improving the oceans and rural environments. Meeting our clients' energy needs efficiently and without a negative impact on the environment. When we reached between $7 to $8 M in sales our first round of capital raise was $1.2 M, and with this $1.2 Million we grew to $24 M in sales and this performance gave us the creditability for the next raise, a $17 net capital raise via IPO. The IPO raised the minimum amount of funds that would allow us to reach our sales goals ($75 – $100 million) and even if we wanted to raise more capital our business plan and creditability would not allow it. Also, the management infrastructure was not in place to effectively make use of a larger capital placement. We will need a third capital raise to assemble a much larger, more automated factory with the necessary inventory that will take to the $500 M and above sales revenue. We are conservative in our capital raises and subsequent expenditures as we have our investors best interest at heart, including myself.
Shawn Severson: Thank you very much, Arthur. I think investors have a better understanding of Polar Power and I am looking forward to our next conversation in the near future.
Arthurs Sams: Thank you, Shawn.
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In our gaming world Candy Crush Jelly is one of our games that we have been playing for a long time. This is the first "glitch" we have encountered in any "King" game.
Level 1941 is a two frame (Upper and lower) screen and the point is to collect "Monklings" (Are we surprised that "Monklings" gets a spell check line? No!) Collect the "Monklings" in the top frame and then move them down to the lower frame and finally get all 3 to the bottom after battling those icon eating flowers to win the game. When at least one "Monkling" falls to the bottom the screen switches to the bottom frame for you to carry on and get that one below to the bottom. Once you get one down then the screen will switch back to the top frame for you to get the other two. Of course, only if you have enough moves to complete. This is where the "glitch" is that we encountered. We got to the bottom frame and there wasn't a "Monkling" to be found in the bottom frame. We thought maybe one of the other icons was actually a "Monkling" so we kept playing and knocking off the other icons, but we found that, in fact, we were "Monlingless" in the bottom frame. Another problem being that we could not create any new "Monklings" to complete the game, so we decided to see how long we could play because we noticed we could play even though the "moves counter" was zero. We created our own version of the game and played for three hours and got bored so we "broke" out. If you are a farmer you could play until the cows came in and went back out to the meadow. If you are a software developer you would know that the game is stuck in an infinite for/next loop bypassing all the "stop" checks and giving the player and infinite number of moves. If you are a big time Jelly player you will get "pissed' that you are stuck in this loop and probably send an email to support demanding a refund. All you need to do is "CTL/ALT/DELETE" and close the "Task" or Reboot. If you reboot standing on your head, that would be stylish. Please send a "selfie" of that move so we can post it. We once received a "selfie" of a player doing a backbend and closing a task. So that's it folks. Maybe the King software developers' will read this and create the paperwork for this game to go back to Q & A where it should have been thoroughly tested in the first place. Happy Candy Crushing folks like Donna, Noel, Kat, Carol, Amid, Abdul, Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Michael, Gabriel, Susan's Mom, Maria's Mom, and the other billion players who depend on King to properly test their games.
Le Tour De France: We must admit that this year we are completely addicted to watching the Tour De France and we get up in the wee hours of the night to watch each stage. We find the energy of the French people along the route to be infectious. It's great seeing an entire country supporting this event. The coverage of the race is awesome. The commentators are great because they don't use any fancy queue words and explain everything. The also give a good history on each of the riders and the styles like sprinters, ling distance etc. specialist. The golf commentators should be watching and listening to these guys to show you can commentate and not be negative. Now this addiction has given us a great idea and that is to actually go to the Tour De France next year. Yes folks, we have started planning our trip and we must say that we have never been outside the USA other than Mexico and Canada. So first thing will be to get a passport and start researching the trip. We are looking at going to one of the small towns on the route a week early to get to know some of the local people and watch the race from there. The after the race we choose to tour the French countryside to check out some of those ancient castles, cathedrals, and mansions. We have sent the attention out to the Universe and included that sending a guide (Human) for us would be a great perk. We can use the "senior citizen" card, but a guide would be much more efficient. When watching on TV we love when the local people spell-out messages in hay bales to anyone who is flying over the route in a helicopter or plane. The other day we saw a bunch of guys up in the top of a turret waving yellow flags. (Sober guys? ) Yesterday they showed the picture of one of the riders etched into the field of a sports stadium grass. They said it took two weeks to create that etching. Great job goes out to those who did it. We also wish to stop in England on our way home to visit the royalty like Queen Elizabeth so we can compare countries and tell Trump jokes to each other. Yeah we wish to meet the queen and we will if our spiritual guides are on the ball. One queen we choose to meet for sure in the rock and roll "Queen" with Adam Lambert. They probably have some Trump jokes too. We have sent the request out and now we will forget about it making sure that our mind is clear so that when the Universe sends out answers to us as to where to start our journey to France and places unknown.
Thanks to all that have stopped by to support our site and of course many blessing go out to all of you.
We have nothing else to report at this time.

subset: commoncrawl


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Three Little Pigs is a fairy tale featuring talking animals. Printed versions date back to the 1840s, but the story itself is thought to be much older. The story in its arguably best-known form appeared English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs, first published in 1890 and crediting Halliwell as his source.
Peter Griffin tried to get the Three Little Pigs for his son Stewie's birthday in "Chitty Chitty Death Bang" but did not succeed.
In "Padre de Familia", Peter the Pig pleads with the Big Bad Wolf not to blow his house down so the area won't stink from the poop he just made.
Peter tries to have an intellectual discussion with Brian about the Three Little Pigs in "A Fistful of Meg".
The Big Bad Wolf tells his own story about a failed relationship with one of the pigs to Little Red Riding Hood in "Grimm Job".


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text: Plot Summary:The small city Traker's Mill is startled by extreme sadistic murders. The population fears that this is the work of a maniac. During a search a mysterious, hairy creature is observed. This strange appearance is noticed once a month. People lock themselves up at night, but there's one boy who's still outside, he's preparing the barbecue.


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Olympic Entertainment Group: OEG: The Italian subsidiaries of OEG are merging
Posted on 17. May 2017
The Italian subsidiaries of OEG, casino operating companies Slottery S.r.l. and Jackpot Game S.r.l., have concluded a merger agreement on 8.05.2017. The merger will be finalised within the current year and during the course of the merger Jackpot Game S.r.l. will merge with Slottery S.r.l. After the merger has been completed the group will carry on operating the casinos in Italy only through Slottery S.r.l. The aim of the merger is the adjustment of the group's structure.
The merger of the subsidiaries has no direct influence on the economic activities of OEG Group. The members of the management and supervisory boards of OEG have no personal interest in the transaction.
Madis Jääger CEO Olympic Entertainment Group AS Tel + 372 667 1250 E-mail email@example.com https://www.olympic-casino.com


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Toronto, Canada, August 1, 2007
Infosys Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: INFY), a world leader in consulting and information technology services, today announced a multi-year agreement with Canadian Pacific (CP) to provide Modular Global Sourcing services to its information technology organization, Business and Information Technology Services (BITS). Infosys will help CP improve its IT delivery capabilities through BITS' strategic "Bestshoring" initiative.
Canadian Pacific, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, and its subsidiaries operate a 13,500-mile transcontinental railway that spans Canada, and the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States. CP also provides logistics, supply chain expertise, and rail and intermodal transportation services.
"After evaluating several options, we selected Infosys because its flexible, scalable solutions and expertise delivering IT services globally best fit our current and future IT needs," said Kathryn McQuade, Executive VP and COO, Canadian Pacific. "In the world of closely-tracked, highly-accurate railway transportation, there is no room for error. We are confident that Infosys will provide the technology that continues to meet the guidelines of this industry, while also supporting our business strategy and vision for growth."
The five-year agreement will focus largely on the application development, management and maintenance of CP's railway operations. BITS will be utilizing Infosys' CMM Level 5 capabilities, which will deliver differentiated IT sourcing solutions that meet the specific accuracy requirements for CP's control hub's mission-critical applications and train control operations.
"By closely examining CP's IT application landscape, Infosys was able to make key recommendations about how to implement its Bestshoring strategy," said Paddy Rao, Head of Canada Integrated Business Unit at Infosys. "We look forward to working with BITS to develop an IT support structure that delivers the solutions and services that meet the ever-demanding requirements of railway transportation."
Today's agreement between CP and Infosys marks a key milestone in making CP's Bestshore strategy, a highly visible IT project in Canada's transportation industry, come to fruition. Through Infosys' Modular Global Sourcing approach, CP will have at its disposal a wide-range of IT solutions with flexible terms, scalable operations, and integrated multi-vendor relationships.
Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY) defines, designs and delivers IT-enabled business solutions that help Global 2000 companies win in a Flat World. These solutions focus on providing strategic differentiation and operational superiority to clients. With Infosys, clients are assured of a transparent business partner, world-class processes, speed of execution and the power to stretch their IT budget by leveraging the Global Delivery Model that Infosys pioneered. Infosys has over 75,000 employees in over 44 offices worldwide. Infosys is part of the NASDAQ-100 Index. For more information, visit www.infosys.com.
Statements in connection with this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of US Securities laws intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including those described in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31 2007 and our other recent filings, and actual results may differ materially from those projected by forward-looking statements. We may make additional written and oral forward-looking statements but do not undertake, and disclaim any obligation, to update them.
For further information, please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Here's a post that will show you two things. First, that often the victims of crime are the same group of people who commit crimes. This stands to reason as people who are too lazy to get a job are often too lazy to look outside their own group for suitable victims. The second thing that you can learn from this post is some basic internet research tactics.
A man was stabbed early Friday morning in Wilmington, NC
Officers had difficultly nailing down exactly what happened to a man found stabbed in his back, neck and arm early Friday morning on Wilmington's Castle Street as the victim gave police conflicting accounts of the crime, a police spokeswoman said.
Read the whole story. Note that the story does not give the name of the victim. This is often the case. It does, however, give you a street address of the crime. The responding agency appears to be the Wilmington Police Department, so I went to the Wilmington PD's website and used their "Search for Events" feature. By plugging in the date and the street, I received this police report.
The report gives me the crime, Assault w/Deadly Weapon Inflicting Serious Injury, the time, address, and the victim's name. It also tells me that the victim is homeless and that alcohol was involved. In addition, it tells me that the victim is a black male, 48 years old.
I take that info and enter it into the Department of Corrections website and it spits out this guy. Habitual felon, Drugs, DWI, Assault on a Female, Driver's license permanently revoked, Larceny by Public Employee. He only just got out of prison in October after over 7 years. And here he is, drunk, homeless, and getting stabbed.
This info is already out there. The reporters frequently only tell you half the story. I mean, anyone could get drunk and stabbed in Wilmington. Did the reporter leave out the fact that the victim was a convicted felon just out of prison because he didn't know? Or because he didn't think you should know?
Let's be clear about some things. Just because someone's a felon doesn't mean that crimes committed against them are any less serious. It's also not blaming the victim to point out that he was drunk at 1am on a pretty seedy looking street, and that he's homeless after being out of jail just over 6 months. Drunk, stumbling down a seedy looking street pretty much defines "Condition White."
One more thing you can learn from this story. Once you give your life to drugs and alcohol, forever will it dominate your destiny. I want drugs to be decriminalized. I think that the benefits will outweigh the costs. But this man is an example of what they cost. His life appears to have been wasted because of drugs and alcohol.


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It's quiet here in the empty but not tenebrific offices of the Curmudgeon, as I have generously given the staff the first day of the New Year off. I'll be heading to the homestead soon to prepare the traditional New Years good-luck food, black-eyed peas. I mentioned this while on the phone to my Canuck friend, who responded, "What are black-eyed peas?"
Shocked, I was. I appreciated this question however, imprimus because I like talking to my Canuck friend, and furthermore, because it made me contemplate the matter, that is, speaking culturally, what's up with that "black-eyed peas good luck on New Years day" thing?
Ahh. To explain black-eyed peas to the unenlightened is a joyous thing, but of course I pretended to be miffed and irritated since that is my shtick. So pay attention, class. I'm only going to say this once.
Black-Eyed Peas 101:
This legume that looks like a small, tan-colored bean with a black spot in the center, is sometimes simply called a "field pea," of which the black-eyed pea is the most common variety. They are considered good luck in many parts of the US, but especially in the South—wherefrom I hale, and are traditionally consumed on New Years Day to bring luck throughout the year.
These legumes are often accompanied by either hog jowls or ham, such as a hock, cooked in with the beans. As much as I vociferously cling to and celebrate southern traditions, hog jowls I do not do. Nor pigs feet, chitins, tripe, or any other offending trifle that the poor and desolate have been forced consume from necessity and somehow got it into their malnutritioned minds that it was good. Ham hocks are another matter, and add tremendous flavor suitable for…uh…I don't know…Minnie Pearl or someone.
History tells us that black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures for ions. The hog, and thus its meat, is believed to be lucky because it represents prosperity. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day. Many cultures consume cabbage on New Year's, as it is also a sign of prosperity and good luck follows since the leaves resemble and represent paper currency. So lay some cabbage on me so I can buy some black-eyed peas and ham hocks.
Serving Suggestion: Use a Spoon
And that is everything I know about eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day, except that my family always had them on the first day of the year, and I continue that tradition today. Besides, when made from real beans (not canned) and slow-cooked with a couple of ham hocks and some chopped onion, they are scrumptious! I'll also be serving an appetizer of homemade vegetable soup with stock made from a large Sirloin roast bone, and then the main course of barbecued ribs, the black-eyed peas, and a big salad with lots of stuff in it!
And don't forget cornbread! Here's the trick to cooking cornbread. Ya gotta have an iron skillet. This is paramount. You fry up one slice of bacon and remove it from the skillit, but leave the grease. Then you pour the cornbread batter into the hot skillit. Hear that sizzle? Ya gotta have the sizzle. Then cook it normally in the oven. You can sprinkle that slice of crispy bacon over the black-eyed peas when you serve. Come on over for dinner!
Many might see such a meal as causing gaseousness and wonder if the black-eyed peas really do bring good luck. Hmmm…Interesting questions both. I'll let you know about the gas thing later, after I study the situation. As for "do they bring good luck," thinking back on past New Years…umm…no…apparently not–if one can judge by me–for if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all.
And yet, I "chew on" with this ridiculous gastronomic charade, passing gas copiously and having bad luck. Oh well, at least dinner will taste good, and if you come over the company will be nonpareil. You can bring the wine. But what kind of wine to bring?
I Don't Want Whine With That
I think the wine should accompany the ribs, so how about a nice Cabernet or Shiraz or Merlot. Something nice and hardy and rich with deep woodsy flavors and a spicy nose. It has to stand up to the flavorful meat and sauce.
Maybe pick up a blend, perhaps a Hardy's triple blend that has all three. It's easier than deciding. That will cut the heaviness of the Shiraz, too, which will enable us to drink more. I actually like the blends. No wine "aesthete" am I. When asked what type of wine you should drink with what foods, I say, "whatever you like."
So I'll expect you at 8:00 or thereabouts, as I am not particularly impressed with promptness. We'll enjoy a nice, country, rustic meal, or call it "French Farmhouse Cooking" if you prefer. As for the after-effects, I think I'll light some beeswax candles.
Bon Appetit.