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A Visit with Lech Walensa

Updated on March 14, 2016
Hey get me a chair to stand on next to this guy!
Hey get me a chair to stand on next to this guy! | Source

On Wednesday, September 9th, I had an opportunity to hear and meet with Lech Welensa in the ships lounge just outside the famous Gdansk Shipyard. He graciously allowed Julie and I to be pictured with him, but he insisted that either he be allowed to stand on a chair or I bend over. As you can see, we all enjoyed my “stoop”.

Julie, Bob And Lech
Julie, Bob And Lech | Source

Here are some of his comments:

In World War II we warned everyone about Stalin (not Hitler) and no one listened. The west made alliances with Stalin to defeat Hitler and you know the rest. The Polish people know more about this than you.

The Polish people endured many hardships under Stalin and Communism. We studied the other attempts to overthrow communism and wanted to make sure that we did not repeat these mistakes. We knew of the Czech uprising and the problems they had.

Some felt it was impossible to break away from the Soviet system. Some felt that there had to be a way and I was among them. We decided to consult with all the powerful world leaders and all they could offer was support. No one thought we could do it.

We took one careful step after another. With each step we tested the Communist Party. We rallied the workers of the Gdansk shipyard, which was the center of maritime production for the Soviet Union, and took many actions that did not arouse the Soviets and Gorbechev with his Perestroika and Glasnost.

Gdansk Shipyard
Gdansk Shipyard | Source
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II | Source

At a time when we were discouraged, a Pole was elected the Pope. A year after he as elected, he decided to come to Poland. He put millions into the streets in front of the entire world and all the communist could do is watch. During services our leaders who were proclaimed atheists would do the sign of the cross during mass. We wondered what they were saying as they made the sign of the cross, “1-2-3-4?” When we saw this we knew they were radishes – only red on the outside. In 1981 they attempted to assassinate the pope only to find he was immortal.

We started a process that gave other states the courage to do the same.

The rest of the story you know.

I’d like to address some other issues. Right now we are faced with a great transformation in today’s world. We are moving towards Globalization and the European Union.

The European Union
The European Union | Source

We have established an economic relationship with other European counties called the European Union (EU). We have created the United States of Europe, although we do not call it that. The USA is a collection of states that are all independent yet act a single union for issues of trade defense, etc. Poland is a member of the EU. We wish to adopt the common currency but we need to make further reforms to comply with the guidelines to use the euro. We feel that the survival of Europe depends on this.

If I were to speak with my dead Father and tell him that there are no boarders in Europe and there are no soldiers at the border of Germany and Poland he would die of a heart attack all over again.

Gdansk Monument
Gdansk Monument | Source

Our real challenge is are we fast enough in reforming and restructuring the old structures and institutions to be able to cope and face the new times. So far we are not fast enough in doing that, which can be testified by the financial crisis that we are going though. This could not happen if the banking system could adapt to the new changes. The current economic system will not work under globalization.

We should be obliged to declare on the internet all of what we possess. If you don’t declare it t, you forfeit it. Then we will all be able to assess that 10% of the population has 90% of the globe’s wealth. And certainly such an advanced world that we have today will not accept such a disproportion. I feel populists and demigods will be taking advantage of such a situation and give away things that don’t belong to them. They of course hey will try to regain the money that they have given away trough taxes. So unless we reform certain things we will be faced with these demigods.

We used to make war to increase our territories, now we need new thinking. Will Germany ever invade Poland again? NO! We buy more Mercedes than the Germans do!

We must reform democracy, If we follow our old system of democracy then what happens when we let China or India into the Euopean Union. With a million voteds we will suddenly be a Province of China. We must adapt democracy to be a Global Democracy.

Lech Walensa
Lech Walensa | Source

And he then took some questions He asked us to ask tough questions because if we solved any problems he would be able to show off by telling others his answers to hard questions..

Q. What do you think of placing missiles in Poland?

A. Putting missiles in Poland is worthless – We already have the capacity to destroy the earth 10 times over.

Q.What do you think of Al-Qaeda?

A. Al-Qaeda will fail, in time, because the rest of the world will not tolerate their methods.

Q. What do you think about the US in Iraq.

A. The USA offered democracy to Iraq. When they had an election and no one showed up. The people did not vote. So much for democracy in Iraq.

Q. Did you feel at risk during this process?

A. Of course. You know the history of those who threatened the Party. It is not good. There are 200,000 Soviet troops in Poland to keep things in line. The KGB followed me everywhere. The stayed outside my home at night. You never knew when they might knock. I had a double that would hide in my car at work. At night when I came home, the double would exit my car and enter my house. Later I would emerge from the car unnoticed wearing a beard and would spend 2 or 3 days in secret meetings. When I came back to my house I would hand my beard though the window of the KGB agent watching the house and say “No Christmas bonus for you.”

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Home Made Jerk Seasoning!

jerk_seasoning_16x9At last, I’ve come to embrace the challenge, to make my own homemade jerk seasoning and let the results speak for themselves. As anyone familiar with my site here knows, at times I like to talk about food. I’m pretty DIY when it comes to good recipes, and enjoy making certain foods that promote comfort, are healthy, and go well with beer. And as I’ve come to compile a pretty a long list of spice-compatible beers over the years, I thought it was about time I tried to make my favorite spicy sauce!

For anyone who’s tried making the sauce, jerk seasoning/sauce/spice presents a bit of a challenge. It consists of several ingredients, the exact combination of which are subject to interpretation since it, like the region which spawned it (the Caribbean) is a very diverse place. Nevertheless, the basic premise remains pretty consistent from place to place and household to household. What all agree upon is the fact that anything bearing the name “jerk” is hot, peppery, and multilayered.

jerk_dinnerThe basic rub/spice comes down to scotch bonnet peppers (aka. habanero) and peppercorns, and the calls for the addition of spices which revolves around the holy trinity of allspice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves). You’ve also got your share of onions, garlic, and ginger which, in the case of a rub, would be powdered but need to be fresh if you’re making a sauce or marinade. This not only adds more layers of flavor, but a degree of consistency to it all. The final ingredients which finish the transformation of the spice into a sauce are rum (another Caribbean product of extreme and historical importance) and vinegar.

In my case, I used pale ale and balsamic vinegar, since rum and malt were not available. This did not heavily alter the taste from what I was anticipating, but for purists, I’m thinking only rum and malt vinegar will do here. And of course, only true habaneros should suffice for spice. No chillies, no jalapenos, no substitutes of any kind. Half of making jerk seasoning is measuring out the heat, and with habanero/scotch bonnets, a little goes a LONG way!

The following list was used by me, and the proportions were not exact, hence why I don’t list specific quantities. Best to just experiment until you get the color, consistency, and taste you want. So using the following template, combine the following ingredients in a bowl and grind well.

bay leaves
black pepper

malt vinegar

sea salt
habanero/scotch bonnet peppers (any more than two and your an adventurous SOB!)

Once finely ground, the resulting sauce should be a deep brown color, speckled from the ground pepper, and should smell strong and acidic. The taste should be spicy (obviously), and boast a fair degree of pepper, onion, garlic and be just slightly sweet, and the allspice should also be noticeable. If not, try tweaking the ingredients. Whatever is overpowering it, balance it out with more of the rest.

When finished, use as a rub, marinade, or cooking sauce, slather conservatively on your food, and let it bring out the taste! Remember, moderation is key here. Proper jerk is HOT, so not much should be needed to really made your food sing!

voltage-stout-sliderAnd of course, beer pairing is essential when dealing with this food. And in this case, keeping things geographically and culturally appropriate, I would recommend either a nice, clean lager or a smooth stout, preferably a St. Amboise Oatmeal, a Hoyne’s Voltage Espresso Stout, or a Brooklyn’s Black or Rogue Chocolate Stout. Nothing too overpowering, as you want smoothness to go with your spice.

This weekend, I will be making a third go at producing this sauce and using it as a marinade for a large roast. Paired with a dark beer and some roasted veggies, I know that dinner will be most enjoyable! I recommend you try this recipe out for yourselves since its an inexpensive way to turn your food into a real experience. Until next time, good luck and good eating!

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Permaculture for I Care

By September 16, 2011Uncategorized

Rotarian Michel Boulle invited fellow Rotarians and I Care’s Nevil Carrington to visit Durban’s Botanic Gardens in August to see the permaculture food garden project and have the system explained to them.
Nevil told Michel that I Care liked the idea and were very keen to go ahead.
Pictured above are, from left, Dave Prese – President – Umhlanga Rotary, Nevil Carrington – CEO – I Care, Greg and Jacqui Daniel – Rotarians and Jabulani from Botanic Gardens. Another un-named gardener is at the rear of the picture.
We will keep you informed as to how things progress in the I Care gardens.


text:
Monereo Meyer Marinel-lo is a Spanish law firm founded in 1989 with a multidisciplinary, intercultural and international approach and a unique specialisation in advising foreign companies with activities in Spain as well as Spanish companies operating abroad.  With three offices – Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca – and more than 40 lawyers, Monereo Meyer Marinel-lo takes a leading position, offering legal advice in different legal areas such as litigation and arbitration, urban real estate law, competition, consumption and trade, labour and tax law, renewable energies, and restructuring and insolvency, among others.

The firm has over 25 years of experience in cross-border work, and offers personal commitment and intercultural competence for each and every mandate: this is the approach that justifies the trust the firm’s clients’ place among its professionals.

The work method of Monereo Meyer Marinel-lo aims to provide clients with excellent and professional service.  Each client has a lawyer as a fixed contact person at their side.  This person can revert to different experts in various legal areas and legal systems, so the clients can make the right decisions thanks to support offered by the firm.

  • Madrid

    Monereo Meyer Marinel-lo Abogados

    Alfonso XII, 30, 5ª planta
    Madrid 28014

    Tel: +34 913 199 686


text:
• Viewo is a revolution in the landscape of online video sharing. The website will act as a decentralized video-sharing platform with its own cryptocurrency, VEO Tokens.
  • Viewo will implement unique algorithms designed by advanced mathematicians to give preference to videos according to the desires of the Viewo community, while at the same time rewarding all constituents in the Viewo ecosystem proportionately for their actions.
  • Viewo is a video sharing network that operates on a blockchain-based rewards system. All participants in the Viewo network are rewarded for their actions, big or small. Unlike current video sharing websites that operate on a self-serving basis, Viewo operates on a user-based approach, rewarding each individual user for actions completed and giving incentives to both viewers and content creators. Viewo is the only incentivized video sharing network that has the support and backing of a significant number of contemporary influencers.

(( Hi, sorry to interrupt you. We hope your finding this review informative. We invite you to join in developing a crowd sourced review about this project. Please use the MORE REVIEWS button for info on other projects and the link above to create an account and post your comments about this Project Review. ))

  • Viewo was born as an answer to the problems currently facing today’s video sharing industry. Whereas today’s industry ignores the needs and voices of participants, Viewo will reward every participant for actions they take, big or small.
  • On a reward-driven platform, users will be motivated to share content, comment, and generally be more active watching content. This, in turn will increase the popularity of their rewards (VEO Tokens), which can be used to make in-site purchases.

  • Viewo is a video sharing ecosystem in which all participants will be rewarded for their actions and contributions
  • Rewards will consist of various amounts of VEO Tokens, and with them, users will be able to: – Buy access to unique private videos and content;
  • Join online courses (MOOCs)
  • Increase their own video positioning on the network
  • Purchase items related to video content
  • Ecosystem Participants

The following participants will be rewarded with VEO Tokens on a weekly basis:

  • Content curators: Defined as constituents who upload videos to the network
  • Content sharers: Defined as constituents who share videos via encoded links
  • Moderators: Defined as constituents who verify video ranking and patrol the network for manipulators and participants attempting to “game” the system
  • Video commenters: Defined as constituents who comment on videos
  • Video raters: Defined as constituents who select a 1-5 star rating on videos
  • Video watchers with no other actions: Defined as constituents who watch at least 1/3 of a video.
  • VIEWO Wallet
  • A web-based wallet system that supports regular payments and payment channels does not exist for general use.
  • Viewo has developed a web-based integrated wallet system for our ERC20-based tokens, VEO Tokens, which
  • will work with virtually all ERC20 compatible wallets (wallets that support tokens issued on the Ethereum blockchain)
  • The Viewo Wallet will be one of the first Ethereum wallet systems that supports payment channels.
  • Our wallet is browser-based and lives in an iframe, allowing users to access it on all devices and without the need to download a browser extension and store private keys encrypted in the browser’s local storage.
  • Viewo’s payment channel uses Ethereum’s own security, only the sender and receiver are identified by their private keys, thus allowing them to interact with their channel, both on-chain and off-chain.
  • Transaction Privacy
  • Since the micropayments are performed off-chain, the token transfers are private. Balances are hidden from the public until the payment channel is settled, which means that it is extremely difficult to trace on-chain transactions. This will keep users’ video watching history private.
  • Security
  • Viewo will use AES encryption to store wallet data, with passcodes to store all private keys. AES (Advanced Encryption Technology) has been called the “gold standard” of encryption and has been a federal government standard since 2002. It is also the most popular algorithm used in symmetric key cryptography, which is used for SSL and TLS data transmission.
  • Viewo Wallet — Ease of Use
  • The Viewo team understands that most existing wallets are great for techies but confusing for common users

Video Content Delivery

  • Demand for video content to be available anytime, anywhere, and on any device, creates a challenge to deliver video in an increasing number of formats, resolutions, and bit rates. It also creates a demand for more servers and networks.
  • To meet this demand, Viewo is creating a custom-built content delivery network (CDN) using cloud computing technology; this type of CDN will allow us to scale unlimited computing and network resources without the large investment required for traditional data centers servers.
  • Cloud networks will also allow us to scale up or down when needed. For example, during live events there can be huge spikes in viewer demand, which won’t be met if scalability is not an option.
  • Viewo will also offer dynamic packaging with adaptive bitrates to create the best user experience, thus allowing content to be enjoyed even when in low-bandwidth areas.

Peer-to-Peer Video Delivery Network – Viewo’s Affiliation with Peer5

  • To decrease the cost of serving videos from Viewo’s custom CDN, Viewo has teamed up with Peer5, one of the world’s largest peer-to-peer (P2P) content delivery networks. Peer5 currently delivers over 50 million hours of video every month for companies like Dailymotion and Sony. Peer5’s video streaming CDN expands server capacity up to 50x during live streaming events, and reduces bandwidth costs by 55%
  • Here are the main benefits for Viewo when using Peer5 to deliver content. Peer5:
  • Reduces video streaming CDN bandwidth by up to 98% with a P2P live streaming CDN
  • Expands video streaming CDN server capacity by up to 50x during live streaming events10
  • Improves video quality and reduces bandwidth costs by 55%
  • Protects data using end-to-end encryption methods that are compliant with Google, Mozilla and IETF standards.

Advantages of Viewo over YouTube include:

  • Viewo offers videos, private content, products, and MOOCs. In fact, Viewo is the first destination site to offer a balanced conglomeration of so many desired features, along with a clean and easy-to-use GUI (graphical user interface).
  • Viewo offers rewards in the form of VEO Tokens, and now, tokens are skyrocketing in popularity around the world. Moreover, the use of tokens for applications has increased dramatically in 2017. (Steemit, launched in 2016, a social media platform that uses tokens, is growing rapidly today)
  • Viewo has mass appeal and is targeted at the mainstream public as well as the token community. Viewo founders are adamant that it’s time to bring the use of utility tokens to everyone, regardless of their technical prowess.
  • The number of internet users has grown dramatically compared to when YouTube launched in 2006. This gives Viewo an even larger audience, one that is already enthralled with video content.
  • Viewo will have moderators who will maintain the integrity of the site; specifically, they will patrol videos designated for families and children and report any content that is not appropriate for those audiences.
  • Viewo favors content curators. While other video networks split advertiser revenue with the content creators for ads shown on their videos, in Viewo, content creators are always compensated, whether they have ads or not.

Unique Private Content

  • Many content creators have fans who are willing to pay for unique private content. Unlike other major video sharing networks, Viewo will provide all content creators and uploaders the ability to offer their fans and other users unique private content in exchange for VEO Tokens.

The major differences between Viewo and YouTube include (but are not limited to) the following: –

  • All participants in the Viewo network have the ability to profit, even when they perform an action as simple as watching a video. YouTube does not offer any comparable reward system.
  • The Viewo business model is to grow with the community rather than growing by using the community.
  • The Viewo website economy is based on VEO Tokens rather than fiat currency.

Comparing Viewo to YouTube creates a clear picture of Viewo’s potential growth. Moreover, Viewo and YouTube will inevitably be compared among users, so it is important for us to make the comparison first and be prepared to answer how Viewo improves upon the model of YouTube

  • 15k telegram users, 12.5 followers on Facebook and 12.3k Twitter followers.
  • 5 ratings on ICO bench.

  • Global Network and Gore System Development Architecture design of content recommendation engine in 2019.
  • Building and rollout of CON Network  product Launch Private beta launch: Invite-only for creators in 2019

Experts Review:

  • “I see many advisors – is good, but not many team members. KYC passed – is good too.
    Therefore 4 points. Vision and an idea is good and it’s very big market, but you make a video sharing network, but don’t have own videos. Only for MVP you receive 4 for product.
    You must do much more in your marketing asap.” – Nikolay Shkilev (Entrepreneur | CEO | ICO Advisor | Crypto enthusiast | Blockchain expert | Public speaker | Mentor.)
  • “Strong team and experienced advisers. The market is large-scale and is actively developing. If the team manages to realize an ambitious roadmap, the project has every chance to succeed.” – Daniil Morozov (Co-Founder Node, ICO&Business Advisor, Investor)
  • ‘‘Very large advisory board, which is good. but I would have liked to see more members on the team as well.There is ample opportunity and the vision is grand. I would however have liked to see more videos and at least an explainer video (especially if youre promoting a video sharing platform!) Overall a project that is good, but could be great with some small changes’’- Bas Geelen (ICO Analyst, Advisor & Investor)

Token VEO
Pre – Sale Price 1 VEO = 0.167 USD
Price in ICO 1 VEO = 0.20 USD
Country Hongkong
Platform Ethereum

Whitelist/KYC KYC
Restricted Areas China, North Korea
Pre-Sale 10th Nov 2018 – 10th Dec 2018
Public- Sale 11th Dec 2018 – 10th Dec 2019
Tokens for Sale: 564,062,500
Soft Cap 10,000,000 VEO
Hard Cap 564,062,500 VEO
Total Token Supply 2,000,000,000 VEO
Token Supply Breakdown 28% Token for sale through crowd sale
51% Tokens for ecosystem distribution
11% Founding team & Employees
6% Advisors, early supporters and partnerships
4% Bounty & Sub contractors
Bonus Pre-sale Tier
Week 1: $0.167
Week 2: $0.174
Week 3: $0.182
Week 4: $0.19


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Abstract and Presentation Guidelines

  • All abstracts, talks and posters must be presented in English.
  • The submitted abstracts will be reviewed by the session chairs.
  • The maximal length of abstracts is 3,500 characters (incl. spaces).
  • Each contributed talk should be 20 min in length including time for questions.
  • Invited talks are allocated 30 min (45 min for keynote lectures) including question time.
  • Posters should not exceed the size of a standard A0 (84.1cm x 118.9cm) in portrait layout.

Please note: Posters presented at the Early Career & Graduate Student Workshop will also be presented at the main meeting. Participants who give an oral presentation at the workshop are asked to present a poster on their topic at the main meeting (for this no additional poster abstract submission is required).


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IDEAS home Printed from
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Price volatility in ethanol markets

  • Serra, Teresa
  • Zilberman, David

Our paper looks at how price volatility in the Brazilian ethanol industry changes over time and across markets. Demand and supply forces in the energy and food markets are likely to ensure that crude oil, ethanol and feedstock prices co-move in the long-run. Hence, when assessing price volatility changes and spillovers in the ethanol industry, one should also pay attention to the notion of cointegration. Until recently, the methods proposed to estimate cointegration relationships, have not explicitly considered time varying volatility in the data. Seo (2007) suggests an estimator of the cointegration vector that explicitly models conditional heteroskedasticity. More specifically, he proposes a maximum likelihood estimator that estimates the error correction model and the multivariate GARCH process jointly. We follow this proposal.

Suggested Citation

  • Serra, Teresa & Zilberman, David, 2009. "Price volatility in ethanol markets," 2009 Conference, August 16-22, 2009, Beijing, China 49940, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:iaae09:49940

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    References listed on IDEAS

    1. Engle, Robert F. & Kroner, Kenneth F., 1995. "Multivariate Simultaneous Generalized ARCH," Econometric Theory, Cambridge University Press, vol. 11(01), pages 122-150, February.
    2. Perron, Pierre, 1997. "Further evidence on breaking trend functions in macroeconomic variables," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 80(2), pages 355-385, October.
    3. Kwiatkowski, Denis & Phillips, Peter C. B. & Schmidt, Peter & Shin, Yongcheol, 1992. "Testing the null hypothesis of stationarity against the alternative of a unit root : How sure are we that economic time series have a unit root?," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 54(1-3), pages 159-178.
    4. Bollerslev, Tim, 1986. "Generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 307-327, April.
    5. repec:cor:louvrp:-1847 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Seo, Byeongseon, 2007. "Asymptotic distribution of the cointegrating vector estimator in error correction models with conditional heteroskedasticity," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 137(1), pages 68-111, March.
    7. Hamelinck, Carlo N & Faaij, Andre P.C., 2006. "Outlook for advanced biofuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(17), pages 3268-3283, November.
    8. Kelvin Balcombe & Alastair Bailey & Jonathan Brooks, 2007. "Threshold Effects in Price Transmission: The Case of Brazilian Wheat, Maize, and Soya Prices," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 89(2), pages 308-323.
    9. Oecd, 2006. "Agricultural Market Impacts of Future Growth in the Production of Biofuels," OECD Papers, OECD Publishing, vol. 6(1), pages 1-57.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    More about this item

    Demand and Price Analysis; Research Methods/ Statistical Methods;

    JEL classification:

    • Q11 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Aggregate Supply and Demand Analysis; Prices
    • C32 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes; State Space Models

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Selection process

The 25 participants in the Seminar are selected through a Selection Committee that is composed of three officials of the United Nations with a background in international law.  The Selection Committee is usually chaired by an outside eminent person (usually a Geneva-based Professor of Public International Law or Humanitarian Law).  The members of the Selection Committee choose an average of six candidates from different countries from four geographic regions (Africa, America, Asia/Middle East and Europe) and are guided by the following criteria:

  • Legal experience and academic background
  • Usefulness of the Seminar for the career of the applicant and for his/her country
  • Good knowledge of at least two of the three working languages of the Seminar (English, French, Spanish)
  • Adequate gender balance
  • Availability of funds for fellowships.

All applications will be considered, but the Selection Committee does not disclose the motivation of its choices and decisions are final and cannot be appealed.


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A Bottom Up Energy Strategy

Date: 16 May 2001 | posted in: Energy | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

This was originally published in Twin Cities Star Tribune, May 16, 2001

VicePresident Cheney has told us that to address the electricity crisis, the nation needs one new power plant a week for the next 20 years. President Bush has told us that to address the gasoline crisis the nation needs one new petroleum refinery a month for the next 4 years.

We do need new energy supplies, although aggressive efficiency improvements could reduce the amount needed by half or more. What we don’t need is the kind of energy future championed by the Bush Administration. For theirs is a top down, centralized, undemocratic vision, one in which we would become even more dependent on remote energy sources and remote energy decision makers.

WhileDick Cheney envisions one new giant power plant a week, we are currently installing thirty new small power plants a DAY. Each of these plants generates a tiny fraction of the electricity generated by a coal or nuclear plant. Yet collectively they can make an important short-term contribution. Consider the phenomenal increase just in microturbines, tiny environmentally benign power plants that serve small businesses or office buildings.

In 1999 only 300 microturbines were shipped. In 2000 this increased to 1,200, with a total capacity of 53 MWe. This year more than 5,000 units will be shipped, with a total capacity of 300 MWe. At this rate of increase, by 2005 we could have the equivalent of 200 nuclear power plants of electricity generation capacity installed in a million basements and backyards.

On-site power plants expand supply and reduce demand. Why? Because only about 30 percent of the fuel consumed in coal and nuclear plants is converted into useful energy. Meanwhile on-site power plants can be as much as 90 percent efficient by making use of the heat as well as the electricity generated.

PresidentBush worries that no new petroleum refinery has been built since 1978. It is true that the number of petroleum refineries has dropped precipitously, from a peak of 324 in l981 to 157 today. But the President fails to tell us is that since 1978 some 57 ethanol refineries have been built, and another 50 may become operational by 2002.

The President will unveil his energy plan in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He should inform the nation about Minnesota’s own strategy for dealing with gasoline crises. Ethanol made from crops comprises about l0 percent of the state’s gasoline supply. Fifteen biorefineries produce that fuel. Two thirds are owned by farmers. About 15 percent of all full time grain farmers in Minnesota are shareholders in one or more ethanol plants. This year some of them will make almost as much money from dividends from these manufacturing enterprises as they will make selling their corn on the open market.

Bush’s centralized energy policy demands that the federal government intervene in local and state affairs. His energy plan would have the federal government exercise its authority to impose high-voltage transmission lines over the objections of the affected community and local and state agencies. His energy plan would force Nevada and Utah, two states without nuclear reactors, to become permanent home to nuclear wastes from the 26 states that do have nuclear reactors.

Thereis a better way, a bottom-up rather than top-down strategy that looks to communities and households and businesses and farms as energy producers, not simply energy consumers. Let me offer the President two policy suggestions that would move us in this direction.

First,issue an Executive Order that requires all federal buildings to install environmentally benign electricity generating capacity whenever the investment repays itself in less than 10 years. Ask Congress to provide the money to finance these money-saving investments.

Second,deny California’s request for a waiver from the Clean Air Act requirement that oxygen be added to gasoline in those communities where pollution exceeds certain levels. In Minnesota, the oxygenate of choice is ethanol. But two thirds of the nation opted for MTBE, an additive made from natural gas and petroleum. We now know that MTBE contaminates ground water. Eleven states have banned MTBE. California is asking the White House for permission not to use oxygen but rather to continue to rely on a 100 percent fossil fuel-derived gasoline.

TodayAlaska supplies about 9 percent of the nation’s oil. The President wants to expand the oil supply by permitting extensive oil drilling on federal lands in Alaska. A better strategy would be for the President should to embrace a 10 percent renewable energy standard for transportation fuels. This could consist of ethanol made from crops or from grasses and straw and corn stalks, or vegetable oils made from soybeans and other oilseeds, or hydrogen made from agricultural residues or urban organic wastes.

If combined with an emphasis on farmer ownership of these new biorefineries, the President would be addressing not only the energy crisis but the agricultural crisis as well.

George Bush has the opportunity to offer America, a new energy vision, one that offers not only security but self-reliance. It is a vision uniquely compatible with the American spirit.

David Morris is vice president of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

David Morris
Follow David Morris:
David Morris

David Morris is co-founder of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and currently ILSR's distinguished fellow. His five non-fiction books range from an analysis of Chilean development to the future of electric power to the transformation of cities and neighborhoods.  For 14 years he was a regular columnist for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press. His essays on public policy have appeared in the New York TimesWall Street Journal, Washington PostSalonAlternetCommon Dreams, and the Huffington Post.


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The Sepsis Problem

Sepsis is a leading global cause of death in hospitals.

For each hour delay in diagnosis, the chance of death increases by 8%.

Sepsis is the single most expensive condition treated in US hospitals, costing more than $23bn in 2013, or 6.2% of all hospital costs.

Hospitalizations for sepsis is increasing and has more than doubled over the last 10 years.

About Sepsis

8% mortality increase with every delayed hour

Time is Critical

Overuse of antibiotics & superbug incidence is on the rise

Patients stay longer in the hospital and have more complications and procedures

Sepsis Deaths in Numbers

30-50% of all sepsis patients die.

60-80% deaths in the developing world are caused by sepsis.
Over 6 million infants and young children die, and 100,000 new mothers every year.

Diagnosis is often too late

Clinical symptoms are not specific, especially in children.
Blood culture has been used to diagnose sepsis for over half a century.

However, the diagnosis is very slow.

And provides informative results in 20-40% of cases only.

The Crisis of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance develops when doctors are forced to make treatment decisions in the absence of rapid and reliable diagnostics.
At the time of treatment, physicians disagree on the right treatment in 40-60% of cases because no accurate diagnostics are available to deliver a result at this time.

This results in the widespread overuse of antibiotics.

Leading to the generation of superbugs.

Antibiotic resistance costs the U.S. over $75 billion each year, contributing to Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs).
Antimicrobial resistance is forecast to be the leading cause of global death by 2050.

The Cost of Sepsis

U.S. hospitals total over $20 billion each year.
Total costs increased by 11.9% each year from 1997-2008.

Cost has more than doubled from €25,000 to 55,000 over the last decade in Germany.

The costs related to long-term damage resulting from sepsis are unknown.

Patients with sepsis stay longer in hospital and have more complications and procedures.


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CoverGirl adds badass athletes Shelina Moreda and Massy Arias as ambassadors

Massy Arias and Shelina Moreda are the newest CoverGirls. (Photo: @massy.arias/@shelina93racing via Instagram)

CoverGirl is continuing to add to its beautifully diverse roster of brand ambassadors with the most recent introduction of athletes Shelina Moreda and Massy Arias. According to the brand, the motorcycle road racer and fitness trainer represent the CoverGirl persona through their boundary-breaking, dedication, confidence, passion, and, of course, beauty.

Both Moreda and Arias took to their own Instagrams on Thursday morning to share the news to their combined millions of followers. Through the partnership, they both express a desire to break the stigma that divides the beauty and sports industries.

“As most of you who watch me race know, I go on track with my makeup on. My makeup sets me apart from the guys when I’m geared up on the grid and all you can see are my eyes peering out of my helmet,” Moreda captioned her photo. “Having my makeup on makes me feel pretty. More importantly, it makes me feel strong, and confident.”

The opportunity to recognize her passion for beauty within her industry of road racing is something that Moreda expresses great excitement for, sharing that she wants to “encourage other people to unapologetically be themselves.” A sentiment that Arias agrees with.

In a statement released by CoverGirl, Arias shares a similar experience to Moreda, explaining that even a powerful red lip can motivate her that much more in the gym. “There’s a stigma around wearing makeup at the gym, but there are times I proudly rock a full face, especially when I’m filming and want that extra dose of confidence before putting myself out there in front of millions of people,” Arias said. “It’s really a personal choice, and I wish there wasn’t so much judgement around it. If the flick of a cat-eye, or a brick red lip, gives you some extra motivation and feeling of, ‘I got this,’ why not go for it?”

The duo is joining a growing list of new CoverGirls including ambassadors Issa Rae, Ayesha Curry, and Maye Musk.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.


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Falling wedge- Under observation

A breakout is expected from the falling wedge pattern which is under construction for past 2 months. Right now CMP is 498 and still the price has not yet found its buyers for the breakout to happen upside. Hence expecting the price to fall further till 470-480 which is considered to be a major support. For now we can go short in this trade for a small scalp. Once it gets to 470 zone we can expected the buyers to jump in. If the 470 level fails to hold then we may see the prices reaching 450 levels which is a very strong support area . Based on these price action analysis, there are two potential setups.

Setup 1 : Short
Entry - Short @ 500 area or below 495 if it shows weakness
SL - 505
T1 - 490
T2 - 480
T3 - 475

Setup 2 : Long
Entry - Can take up long position @ 470-480 based on reversal pattern
SL - 440
T1 - 500
T2 - 520
T3 - 550

If setup 2 fails to hold, then we may look to go long from 450 levels if it shows some reversal.
For educational purpose.
Comment: Great. I expected this other scenario where it breakouts from the pattern early, but i thought it will be a failure. Turns out they are having a run. Will wait for further more price action.
Comment: Setup negated. It did not come to the recommended levels. But had a breakout and met all those targets.
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IndemCo Products

Contact an underwriter today to learn how IndemCo can satisfy your energy-related bonding needs.

Bond Types

  • Federal, state and local plugging and abandonment bonds
  • Operator bonds
  • Private performance bonds
  • Right-of-way bonds
  • License and permit bonds
  • Geophysical exploration bonds
  • Excise, fuel and miscellaneous tax bonds
  • Other energy-related bonds

  • Surety Bond Application — Download
  • Payment and Indemnity Agreement — Download
  • Letter of Credit — Download
  • Collateral Agreement and Receipt — Download


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alexa Missed Call Number
Home Articles How to Safeguard Oneself from Misleading Insurance Agents

How to Safeguard Oneself from Misleading Insurance Agents Research Team | Updated On Monday, November 17,2014, 04:00 PM

5.0 / 5 based on 1 User Reviews

How to Safeguard Oneself from Misleading Insurance Agents

I would like to start this article by quoting the famous saying Prevention Is Better Than Cure. In order to prevent misselling from occurring one must know the tricks used against us and the remedial questions we need to ask in order to prevent misselling from happening to us. Don’t we All think it is our duty to prevent misselling from occurring in our society? If you have any complaint regarding misselling you can post your comments on

Any problem ignored at its roots tends to be a scourge later on in life. If an insurance agent tends to succeed on a regular basis getting away with misselling, it emboldens him to try it on a larger scale. This tendency to ignore the small problems leads to frauds and scams being committed on a larger scale. Don’t you think it is our moral right to prevent such misselling from occurring in our society…If you have been subjected to misselling you can post your complaints on You can explore this unique Free Advisory Service just by giving a missed call on 022 6181 6111.

Premium can be stopped in 3 or 4 years

Here agents advise us that after paying the premium for the first 3-4 years all we need to look forward to are the returns. This should raise suspicion in our mind when he should be telling us to invest consistently. Here we need to know that there are no shortcuts to success in life.

You Will Get 10% Cash Back On Premiums Paid

Here the insurance agent tells us that you will be able to get 10% cash back on Premiums Paid. Here we need to see the irony in this. The amounts returned are our own money.This is just a selling gimmick. Here in a ULIP the premiums are so high they include the charges and commissions paid to the agents. Never Be Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

These Are The Most Bought Products In The Market

Here agents tell us not to worry. These are our most selling products. A lot of people have bought these products. Here we need to say , Please Do not tell me about others tell me how these products can help me achieve my long term goals like my retirement goals. Also note the different charges involved in these policies. Always remember the phrase Look before You Leap.

Being Aware Of Our Financial Surroundings

Here we need to have the basic knowledge of insurance in order to prevent misselling from happening to us. We need to ask the following questions.

Do We Need This Policy?
Is This Consistent With Our Needs?
Are We Being Too Greedy And Unrealistic?
Have We Set Our Goals Too High?

IRDA Rules And Regulations Governing The Insurance Sector

  • IRDA provides a certificate of registration to a life insurance company.
  • IRDA is responsible for the renewal, modification, withdrawal, Suspension or Cancellation of this certificate of registration.
  • IRDA frames regulations for the protection of policy holders interests.
  • It offers the policyholders the right to voice their complaints against insurers or insurance companies.
  • IRDA has set up a grievance reprisal cell to take up the complaints of the policyholders.
  • It specifies the requisite qualifications, code of conduct and practical training necessary for the insurance intermediaries and agents.
  • It specifies code of conduct for surveyors and loss assessors.
  • It promotes efficiency in the conduct of insurance business.
  • It promotes and regulates activities of professional organizations connected with life insurance.
  • It levies fees and other charges to carry the purposes of the IRDA act.
  • It can then call for information from undertaking inspection, conduct enquiries and investigations including the auditing of insurers, intermediaries and other organizations involved in the business of life insurance.
  • It specifies the form and the manner in which the book of accounts should be maintained and statements of accounts that should be rendered by insurers and other insurance intermediaries.
  • It regulates the investment of funds by insurance companies.
  • It regulates the maintenance of margins of solvency.
  • It adjudicates the disputes between insurers and intermediaries.
  • It specifies the percentage of premium income of the insurer to finance schemes for the promotion and regulation of certain specified professional organizations.
  • It specifies the percentage of life insurance business to be undertaken by an insurer in the rural or social sector.
  • It exercises any other powers as prescribed

Let us now consider how misselling of ULIPS occurred in India before the September 2010 IRDA Regulations :

  • Here the policy taker wants to take an insurance policy with a huge life cover such as a term plan. The agent directs him to take a ULIP saying it is a better product than a term plan and there is no medical test. This misselling directs him to the wrong product.
  • All charges in a ULIP are loaded upfront instead of being spread across the life of the product. Here about 40% is cut from the premium in the first year itself, Followed by 10% cut in premiums in the subsequent second and third year with no costs thereafter. All these charges go as commissions for the agents .There are no medicals in a ULIP mainly because the allocated life cover is very low and in some cases there is no life cover.
  • Here insurance agents make claims of very high returns in ULIPS. This may not necessarily be true as these are market linked in nature and depend on the stock market returns whose movements cannot be guaranteed. In order to learn more about Insurance and your Insurance Planning needs you can read through

IRDA Passes Rules To Govern ULIPS In India And Why They Were Beneficial :

Lock In Period Increased To Five Years

This is beneficial as it prevents the policy holder from spending the money resulting in a forced saving. Here it ensures the benefits of equity really kick in as there is sufficient time for funds to grow as huge entry costs are involved in these funds.

Level Paying Premiums

Here all regular premium /limited premium ULIPS shall have uniform/level paying premiums.

Even Distribution Of Charges

Charges on ULIPS are mandated to be evenly distributed during the Lock in period. This is to ensure that high entry load is eliminated.

Minimum Premium Paying Term Is Five Years

All limited premium unit linked insurance products, other than single premium products shall have a premium paying term of atleast five years.

Increase In Risk Component

Further all unit linked insurance products other than pension and annuity products shall provide a mortality cover or a health cover thereby increasing the risk cover component in such products.

Minimum Guaranteed Return For Pension Products

As regards pension products all ULIP Pension/Annuity products shall offer a minimum guaranteed return of 4.5% per annum as stated or as specified by IRDA from time to time.

Rationalisation Of Cap On Charges

With a view to smoothening the cap on charges, the capping has been rationalized to ensure the difference in yield is capped from the 5TH Year Onwards. This will not only reduce the overall charges on these products , but also smoothens the charge structure for the policyholder. For Further information on IRDA Regulations please lookup

I would like to end this article with the Honorable Finance minister Mr Chidambaram’s views on this sector telling us why there in no robust growth in the insurance services sector compared to the banking sector in India. Here Mr. Chidambaram states that the insurance sector is struggling despite pressing reforms ,is due to rampant misselling occurring in the sector. He states that if you want to sell insurance in India sell simple products and make it absolutely clear that insurance agents should not missell the products. Insurance agents also need to realize that one of the best sources of business is through word of mouth. Once the insurance agent has enhanced his reputation his products would sell themselves .And for the rest of us "Never Judge A book By Its Cover".

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Avoiding Conflict, Managing Conflict

Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Conflict and Resolution and other Infidelity topics.

What are some of the signs of toxic conflict?

Avoiding Conflict, Managing Conflict

It's very common for this "flooding" to occur in serious conversations -- conversations about pleasant things, like what to do with the tax refund, as well as difficult things such as cheating or child-rearing.
A conflict that involves violence -- even if it is directed at a physical object rather than a person -- is by its very nature toxic. So is a conflict in which one or both partners are impaired by alcohol or drug use. It is impossible to resolve a problem productively in these situations.
If a conflict turns toxic, the best thing to do is disengage. Take a break, go for a walk, call a friend, do whatever you need to do to feel safe and get your emotions under control. If you can, communicate this to your partner and set up a time to re-engage: "I'm really overwhelmed right now. I'm going for a walk, and I'd like to return to this conversation tomorrow when I've had a chance to process some of my feelings."

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Inky Beer Factoid: September 16

On this day in 1950, the Cleveland Browns play their first NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Browns actually won 35-10! Cleveland hosts some of the best fans in the NFL (some are known as The Dawg Pound). According to the Statistics Portal, these proud K-9’s are awarded with the opportunity to purchase a 12 oz. stadium beer at only $5.00. Wow! That beats the Detroit Lions who come in at a whopping $8.00 for a 12oz. Now, we all know that stadiums serve craft beer as well, but these prices are for your cheapest beer served at the stadium. I guess there ARE some good reasons to live in Ohio after all!

Also keep in mind that stadium beers are served in 12, 14, 16, or 20 oz. cups.  Therefore, it is good to use the 2013 chart above to calculate the real cost.

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Game Notes

Plays Of The Week: Rushmen Emerge, And The Youngins Continue To Roll

Kevin Brady

Cowboys Headlines -  94

The Dallas Cowboys are 4-1. Despite losing star players in Tony Romo, Dez Bryant, and La'el Collins just to name a few, the Cowboys continue to roll.

This past Sunday, they took the Cincinnati Bengals out to the woodshed, demolishing them and leading by as many as 28 points during the game. Let's revisit the 5 best plays from that game, as we look back upon an incredible Cowboys victory.

1 of 5

5. Let Zeke Eat, Let Dak Read

The easy way to save screenshots, GIFs, and websites. Make everyone happy by sharing smarter, faster, and with your point crystal clear.

The Dallas Cowboys have the number one rushing attack in all of football. Yes, a large portion of the credit for this goes to Ezekiel Elliott, who continued to eat this week with over 130 yards and 2 touchdowns, but quarterback Dak Prescott has emerged as a rushing threat as well.

When the defenders fail to respect Prescott's ability to run, he can make plays like this. Dak walks in for a touchdown on the zone read after pulling the ball, putting the Cowboys up 2 scores.

1 of 5

5. Let Zeke Eat, Let Dak Read

Die-hard Cowboys fan from the Northeast, so you know I am here to defend the 'boys whenever necessary. Began writing for a WordPress Cowboys Blog, and am currently a college student. Lets get going.

Game Notes

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks: Inside The Numbers

John Williams

Cowboys Blog - 2016 Contract-Year Cowboys: DT David Irving 2

The Dallas Cowboys will travel to the Pacific Northwest this weekend to face the Seattle Seahawks in an important game for both teams in the NFC race.

The Seattle Seahawks are 0-2 and risk being buried in an NFC West that has seen the Los Angeles Rams become the divisional power. With the San Francisco 49ers trending up, the Seahawks might find themselves left behind. On Monday Night Football, Russell Wilson and the Seahawks had little answers for a Chicago Bears team that has one of the more underrated defenses in the NFL. Well, maybe not so underrated now. They battered Wilson and the Seahawks offensive line for six sacks and were able to pressure him into an interception they were able to return for a touchdown.

The Dallas Cowboys rebounded from a week one disappointment to take care of business against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football. It wasn't a pretty win on offense, save for the first and last drives of the game, but it was a solid win. The defense dominated the New York Giants' offensive line and left them searching for answers at 0-2.

As we get ready for week three let's go Inside The Numbers for yet another important matchup for the Dallas Cowboys.

Team Breakdown

The Dallas Cowboys lead the all-time series 10-8, but have dropped the last two matchups and are 2-3 over the last five games. They've split the last two meetings that played in Seattle, winning the most recent showdown in 2014, 30-23.

If you'll remember, that was the game that had us all believing that Tony Romo and DeMarco Murray led Cowboys team was for real. Sadly the 2014 season ended with the typical heartbreak that we've grown accustomed to in the last 23 years.

Let's take a look at how the matchup breaks down on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

The Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks offenses are eerily similar statistically as both rank near the bottom in most offensive categories.

Dallas Cowboys at the Seattle Seahawks: Inside The Numbers 2As you can see from the chart above, there aren't many categories where either team ranks inside the top 20 in total offense.

Offensive Observations

  • The Dallas Cowboys have a decided advantage along the offensive line. They rank inside the top 15 in rush yards, rush TDs, first downs on the ground, and have allowed fewer sacks than the Seattle Seahawks offensive line.
  • The Dallas Cowboys have been excellent through two games at protecting the ball, having only turned it over one time; a fumble by Dak Prescott in the week one loss to the Carolina Panthers.
  • Through two games, the Seahawks haven't rushed for a touchdown. They haven't run it often and haven't run it very well either. They only average 3.6 yards per attempt on the ground. Advantage Cowboys.
  • While the Seahawks have thrown for more yards this season, Dak Prescott has a better completion percentage. For the year, Russell Wilson has completed only 59.4% of his passes. Dak Prescott is at 64.8%.

It's on the defensive side of the ball where the Dallas Cowboys have a decided advantage, particularly with their pass rush.

Dallas Cowboys at the Seattle Seahawks: Inside the Numbers

As you can see, the Dallas Cowboys have the statistical edge in nearly every category.

Defensive Observations

  • The Dallas Cowboys rank in the top five in several defensive categories including points allowed, yards allowed, yards per play, passing yards allowed, passing touchdowns, net yards per attempt, first downs achieved through the air, and sacks.
  • Where the Dallas Cowboys have struggled in the first two games, particularly against the Carolina Panthers was against the run. Though they're around the middle of the pack through two games, the Panthers were able to find a lot of success on the ground. The New York Giants, not so much.
  • The Cowboys are going to have to continue to be careful with the football as the Seattle Seahawks continue to be one of the best at creating turnovers, especially in the secondary. They're tied for first in the NFL in interceptions with five. Through two games, Prescott hasn't thrown one, but he's had a couple potential interceptions dropped. This week he won't be so lucky.

What it All Means

The Dallas Cowboys are going to have a pretty difficult challenge corralling Seahawks' Quarterback Russell Wilson, but the numbers seem to point to it being a long afternoon for Wilson.

The Dallas Cowboys have a decided advantage when the Seahawks drop back to pass. The Seattle offensive line has allowed the most sacks in the NFL. Coming off allowing six sacks to the Chicago Bears, Wilson could be in for another long day against a Dallas Cowboys defense that is second in the NFL -- to the Chicago Bears -- in sacks with nine.

The Seattle Seahawks won't be able to rely on their running game to keep the Dallas Cowboys defense off balance as they only average 3.4 yards per carry through the first two weeks of the season. If the Cowboys can get an early lead this Sunday, it will present a really favorable opportunity for the Dallas Cowboys pass rush.

Dallas Cowboys vs Seattle Seahawks Stat Notes

Dak Prescott hasn't thrown an interception this season. If we can make any observations through two games, it's that he seems to be back to his ball protection ways. As a rookie, Prescott only through four interceptions, before doubling that in 2017 with eight.

Cole Beasley and Deonte Thompson are tied for 27th in the NFL in yards per route run. That number is better than Stefon Diggs of the Minnesota Vikings, Golden Tate of the Detroit Lions, Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers, and Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Seattle Seahawks have had a hard time getting to opposing passers and have collected only three sacks through the NFL's first two weeks. Prescott was sacked six times in week one, but the Dallas Cowboys offensive line rebounded to keep the New York Giants from collecting a sack in week two.

Tyler Lockett has played 53 of his 79 offensive snaps from the slot, but has only been targeted four times, catching four passes for 85 yards. His 1.60 yards per route run out of the slot is tied for 11th in the NFL among players who have played at least 50% of their snaps from the slot.

Seattle Defensive Lineman Jarran Reed has been the best run defender for the Seahawks, earning a run stop on 13.5% of his run snaps. Overall he sits eighth in the NFL. Among defensive lineman with at least 50% of their team's run snaps, only Da'Shawn Hand and Linval Joseph have a better run stop percentage.

The amount of snaps per reception allowed by Dallas Cowboys Cornerback Anthony Brown. No player who has played at least 50% of his coverage snaps in the slot has a higher snap per reception rate in the NFL than Brown's 19.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson's been sacked on 36.4% of his drop backs this season. Only Ryan Tannehill and Nathan Peterman have a worse percentage of players who have dropped back to pass a minimum of 22 times this season.

Wilson's been under pressure on 38.8% of his drop backs, which is sixth in the NFL.

Dak Prescott's adjusted completion percentage, which "accounts for factors that hurt the passer's completion percentage but don't help show how accurate they are," per Pro Football Focus and "It accounts for dropped passes, throw aways, spiked balls, batted passes, and passes where the QB was hit while they threw the ball."

Prescott's adjusted completion percentage is ninth in the NFL. Better than notable names such as Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ben Roethlisberger, DeShaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford, and Andrew Luck.

✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

As I look at the run down for this game and after watching these two teams in week two, I see this as a very favorable matchup for the Dallas Cowboys. Obviously, statistics don't tell the whole story, but the Dallas Cowboys biggest strength, it's pass rush, will be facing a Seattle team that is very weak along the offensive line.

This looks to be a Dallas Cowboys win that will improve them to 2-1.

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Game Notes

Snap Judgments: Cowboys’ Linebacker Depth Stands Out in Win

John Williams

Snap Judgments: Cowboys' Linebacker Depth Stands Out in Win

The Dallas Cowboys evened their record at 1-1 with their 20-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night. The Cowboys linebackers had a huge impact on the outcome of the game and it wasn't just the guys at the top of the depth chart either. America's Team got contributions from guys at the bottom of the depth chart.

What a difference a year makes.

The Dallas Cowboys worked hard this offseason to fix the linebacker depth that failed them in the 2017 season. When Sean Lee or Anthony Hitchens -- or both -- were sidelined with injuries, Jaylon Smith, Damien Wilson, and the rest of the linebacker group struggled to keep up with opposing offenses. Specifically, in games against the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers the major depth inadequacy was revealed.

One year later, the Dallas Cowboys have a linebacker corp that allows them to go five deep with Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith, Leighton Vander Esch, Joe Thomas, and Damien Wilson all making considerable contributions for the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday nights victory.

Here are the final snap counts for the five linebackers that played a defensive snap against the Giants.

  • Jaylon Smith - 57 (84%)
  • Sean Lee - 41 (60)
  • Leighton Vander Esch - 28 (48%)
  • Damien Wilson - 17 (25%)
  • Joe Thomas - 14 (21%)

Jaylon Smith led the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night with 10 tackles (seven solo) and played really well roaming sideline to sideline and making plays. He was tasked with the difficult assignment of containing New York Giants Running Back Saquon Barkley and allowed four catches for 41 yards in his coverage area. Smith was credited with three stops or plays that result in a "loss" for the offense (per Pro Football Focus).  Smith led the team in snaps for the second straight week.

Sean Lee had a better game on Sunday night than he did in week one. PFF credited him with four stops, four tackles and an assist. Lee allowed two catches for 24 yards on two targets to Wayne Gallman and Evan Engram. Lee pulled his hamstring at the end of the game and was held out the rest of the way for precautionary reasons. He'll be an interesting name to watch on this week's injury report. Age catches up with everyone, but hopefully Sean Lee can stave it off for at least another season.

Rookie Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch saw a big bump in his snap count from week one (17) to week two (28). The rookie played well too. As many players seemed to struggle with tackling Saquon Barkley, Vander Esch was able to bring down the number two overall pick on several occasions. Vander Esch had seven solo tackles in his second career game.

Damien Wilson was the surprise player of the night. He had three tackles on the night, including one on special teams, a sack, and a forced fumble. Though his time on the field might have been short, his impact was certainly felt. His forced fumble led to a field goal that gave the Dallas Cowboys a 13-0 nothing lead. Wilson was also credited with two stops on the night.

Joe Thomas has been a good player for the team off the bench as well. Though he only had one tackle, it was good enough to be credited with a stop. He's a player that can play both the WILL and MIKE linebacker spots. As the fourth or fifth linebacker on the depth chart, Thomas is a great role player.

Other Snap Count Notes

  • Taco Charlton may not have started, but he played 84% of the team's defensive snaps. That number is up from 73% in week one. Charlton had a sack, a hit, and a hurry as well as three stops on the night.
  • Cole Beasley and Allen Hurns led the wide receiver group in snap percentage from week one to week two. The big difference at wide receiver was seeing Michael Gallup take the third most snaps on offense instead of Deonte Thompson. Thompson still had the bigger impact with four catches for 33 yards on five targets including two for first downs.
  • Geoff Swaim was the far and away leader at tight end in snaps with a 94% snap count. Only the offensive line and Dak Prescott had more snaps on the night than Swaim. He's the TE1 for the team, though he didn't have an impact in the passing game.
  • Rico Gathers only played five snaps, but there was concerted effort to get him the ball as he had two targets in his five snaps. He may not have come away with a catch, but it's a start.
  • Jourdan Lewis continues to be the odd man out on defense. He only played one snap.
  • Dorance Armstrong saw a snap jump from week one to week two going from 28% of the defensive snaps to 40% of the snaps. He had two hurries and an assisted tackle.

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Game Notes

Takeaway Tuesday: Prescott’s Legs Give Offense a Much Needed Spark

Mauricio Rodriguez

Takeaway Tuesday: Prescott's Legs Give Offense a Much Needed Spark

When the Dallas Cowboys took the field last Sunday against the New York Giants, they did so very differently than last week, starting with a 64-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to connect with WR Tavon Austin in the third play of the game. Although there are still many things this team must continue to work on, they looked like a very improved unit in week 2.

Here are my main takeaways from the Dallas Cowboys' first win of the year. Let me know what yours are in the comments section below or tweet me @MauNFL and let's talk football!

Cowboys' Secondary Capable of Holding Top WR

If there was one player who could've changed the outcome for the New York Giants, it was WR Odell Beckham Jr. Widely recognized as one of the best wideouts in the nation, Beckham was the biggest challenge the cornerbacks, led by Byron Jones and Chidobe Awuzie, have had in the first two weeks.

None of them followed Beckham all over the field, each stayed on their side of the field and still managed to limit him to four receptions for 51 yards in nine targets. The Giant's offense is not known for being one of the best in the league, but it's the fact that this defense was able to limit exactly the player they needed to. They did their job.

Also, props to the defensive line for keeping the pressure on Eli Manning.

Monday Morning Hangover: Cowboys Bounce Back Against Giants

Taco Charlton Was Dominant VS Nate Solder

With Randy Gregory ruled out for the game, Taco Charlton had a golden opportunity to stay on the field for more snaps. He took advantage of this, as he finished the night with three tackles, one for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovery.

Charlton still has a long way to go in order to prove he was worthy of a first round pick, but we can't deny he hasn't stopped developing. It will be interesting to see how he does now that Gregory is expected to return for week 3.

Dak Prescott's Legs Give Offense a Needed Spark

One of the things I liked the most about the Cowboys' game versus the Giants was how Dak Prescott was utilized. Criticized after a poor performance in Carolina, Prescott came out with a chip on his shoulder.

We've been talking a lot about how Scott Linehan must play Prescott to his strengths and that's precisely what he did by letting Dak run for 45 yards in seven carries. It's completely understandable if the Cowboys don't want to run him as much as the Panthers do with Cam Newton, but the truth is, if #4 hurts defenses with his leg, Ezekiel Elliott won't receiver all of the defense's attention.

Also, shoutout to how they used Tavon Austin. With Elliott, Prescott and Austin being a threat on option plays, this offense could take a step on the right direction.

If Activated, Where Does Rico Gathers Fit Offensively?

Rico Gathers Will Be Used

The Cowboys' Rico Gathers project is moving in the right direction. The 2016 sixth-round pick was active for the first time in his career last Sunday. The first question that popped into our heads was whether or not he'd be actually used in the game. He was.

He even managed to get open in the end zone in a play that could've been TD but Prescott didn't throw a good pass. However, the mere fact that he was able to get open and that the coaches actually put him on the field told us a lot about his future. Cowboys Nation should be excited to see him involved.

Tell me what you think about "Takeaway Tuesday: Prescott’s Legs Give Offense a Much Needed Spark" in the comments below, or tweet me @MauNFL and let’s talk football! If you like football and are looking for a Dallas Cowboys show in Spanish, don’t miss my weekly Facebook Live! show, Primero Cowboys!

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Koalas’ Secrets Hidden in their Genes

The genome of one of Australia’s most iconic animals, the koala, has been sequenced and has led to some surprising revelations about the creatures and their conservation. 54 scientists from 29 different countries worked together to finish sequencing and analyzing the entire koala genome. Led by researchers at the  Australian Museum Research Institute and the University of Sydney, the findings were recently published in Nature Genetics.

Lead scientist Dr Rebecca Johnson says that this research provides an important foundation for conservation management strategies.

“There are many great examples where genomics has been used for conservation. A couple of examples include the Tassie devil and the Mountain pygmy possum. We sequenced the koala genome because we were certain we would gain new insights into the koala… and also because it would directly inform conservation,”says Johnson.

Rebecca Johnson takes a selfie with sleeping koala.
Photo by: Rebecca Johnson

Koala conservation is complex as populations are threatened by different factors in different areas. For example, in northern Australia, the primary threats are habitat fragmentation and urbanisation. While populations in southern Australia are growing but experiencing detrimental genetic bottlenecking, and disease that results from a lack of genetic diversity. The genome provides information that can create a clearer picture of these complexities and provide a foundation for conservation management strategies like maintaining gene flow in different regions.

Conservation is further complicated by widespread diseases like Koala Retrovirus and Chlamydia. By combining information from genome sequencing, vaccination trials, and organisms resistant to Chlamydia, researchers have established a starting point for new research on immune response that can ultimately lead to effective vaccine design.

Johnson says that this was a source of inspiration for the project. “Two of the animals we used in the study were euthanized due to severe chlamydia. To see the way this disease ravages their bodies is extra motivation to enhance our scientific knowledge so we can minimise the effects of such things via future vaccines and treatments.”

Through analysis of the sequence data, expression studies, and protein data, researchers started to clear up a number of koala mysteries, such as how tiny joeys are able to develop an immune system while growing in a bacteria filled pouch. They found that gene families encode antimicrobial peptides in the mother’s milk that ward off pathogens, even the infamous ‘golden staph’,  and it appears mothers can alter the composition of the milk to account for changes as the joey develops. Such information may one day be applicable to warding off pathogens in other organisms, even humans.

Wild koala and her joey. Photo by Greta Frankham

The next conundrum was examining how koalas are capable of eating eucalyptus leaves that are toxic to other mammals. Scientists previously predicted that the koalas’ 22 hours of sleep per day are used to digest the complex leaves, but the mechanisms weren’t well understood. The genome revealed specific gene families responsible for koalas’ smell and taste receptors, potentially explaining the evolutionary origin of their specialized diet, as well as a highly expanded version of the gene family responsible for detoxifying toxic compounds. The researchers further confirmed that these genes have a high level of expression, especially in the liver.

Sequencing the 3.4 billion base pairs and 26,000 genes that comprise the koala genome was a feat in itself. It is larger than the human genome, and the researchers were able to achieve an accuracy of 95.1 percent, comparable to the human genome project. It is the most complete marsupial genome sequenced to date and the researchers have made the sequence data publicly available to other scientists. “Not only does open data promote the best interests of science, it also maximizes the benefits that the koala populations, and the public, receive from such research,” says Johnson.

Featured Image: Wikimedia user benjamint444. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

img_2441.jpgArticle by Katie Ryan

Katie Ryan is a student at NC State University, USA, studying biochemistry and chemical engineering, but loving all varieties of science.

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text: How does Milton’s verse and Defoe’s funky  death-by-compound-sentence style compare to our contemporary English? The marked differences in the structures of seventeenth-and eighteenth-century poetry and fiction can fall hard upon non-English majors and literature obsessives alike, leaving some to believe the fault lies in their comprehension abilities. Visualization of these differences will illustrate how our modern English and  Milton’s sometimes esoteric word order and verse structure share more similarities than one might initially notice. Corkpit, at provides visual corpus analysis that, with some initiative, can provide greater clarity to works like Paradise Lost and Robinson Crusoe, while connecting traditional and digital pedagogy. Treebanking provides a clear look at parts of speech and their relation to one another, and plugging in poetry and prose from past eras has the potential to assist students at all levels to understand the relation of these classic, culturally significant works to the language and meaning of our day.


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Virtual or "real"? Yes.

Sometime I wonder what our collective vision of the economy really is. Has it become completely divorced from reality? Take for example this story in the Washington Post that “Hurricane Sandy proves that an Internet economy is far from reality.” The story tried to make the point that the physical infrastructure still matters:

As far as the country has traveled toward online commerce, the economy still depends very much on physical highways, not just Internet highways, as well as century-old networks for physically moving people and goods.

Did anyone really think the physical infrastructure didn’t matter anymore? If so, that is news to companies like Amazon who have invested heavily in warehouses and “fulfillment centers” as well as “server farms.” As the story points out, people have gotten used to ordering goods online rather than going to the store. But that is the focus of the difference — going to the store or going to your computer. The goods still have to physically move somehow.
On the other side, there are examples of how the virtual world has changed. For example, as the Wall Street Journal reported (“Sandy–The Social-Media Phenomenon” and “Technology Softens Sandy’s Impact for Advisers, Clients“), millions relied on Facebook and Twitter for information on the storm — especially on smartphones and tablets as power went out. And companies used both mobile and shared (“cloud”) technologies to continue to conduct financial business even though the markets were closed. The Post story notes that the financial markets thought about trying to stay open electronically, but decided the infrastructure (including the supervision and regulatory infrastructure) were not yet adequate. I suspect that the lessons of Sandy will push the financial markets more toward virtual and away from physical.
The point here is simple: both virtual and physical are real. We are developing the an economy where each compliments the other. It is similar to the evolution of the economy to a fusion of “manufacturing” and “services” (but that is another story).
Once again, both/and is a better description of reality than either/or.

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Fun with Epoxy

Where does the time go? I’ve probably got about two weeks now until the spot at Stoney Crest opens up, although I haven’t heard from them yet, and three weeks until I need to be out of the apartment. There is still so much to do.

This past Saturday the roomie and I got the rusted dinette screws taken care of. Step one was getting the snap caps off and cleaning up all the caulk. I was hoping maybe we’d get lucky and be able to unscrew them at that point without using excessive measures, but it was not to be. The least rusted of the four came out this way, but the other three needed to be dremeled out. Whoever had done it put the screw heads inside the trailer with the nuts facing outside, exactly backwards for how the rivets in the Casita are placed.

The roomie did the actual dremeling inside the RV on the screw heads, while I used a caulk scraper, acetone, and soapy water to clean up the holes as best as I could. We borrowed the dremel from her job (yes, we had permission) which saved me money from having to buy one, always a good thing.

After the screws were all out and the brackets removed from the table and wall, little bits of sandpaper were rolled up and used to scrape the inside of the holes out as best we could, to give the Marine-Tex epoxy something to stick too. Then we used masking tape around the holes to keep the Marine-Tex from getting everywhere, and I mixed the two parts of the concoction together, there was a paste and a liquid portion.

Filling in the holes with a putty knife went quickly, and it’s a very good thing we’d made liberal use of the masking tape because it would have been quite the mess otherwise. I did manage to get the stuff in the carpet a little on the inside of the trailer, but that area isn’t going to look very nice anyway given all the rust stains and it’ll be underneath the dinette most of the time anyhow.

All and all, we’re both quite proud of the work we did. The side dinette table top won’t be as secure now compared to how it was with the brackets, but the great thing about Marine-Tex is it can be drilled so if I decide at a later date that I absolutely need to have that extra stability, I can take the trailer somewhere and have the work done properly.

Yesterday I went back out to the Casita to make sure the stuff was actually hardening, and all looked to be good. The inside makes me pretty sad right now though because cleaning up all those metal filings is going to be a pain. I thought about buying a cordless hand held vacuum but am on the fence about that. Ideally I’d just haul the regular vacuum out there to clean everything up, but I won’t have access to electricity until the actual move and I want it clean before that.

I also went out to Hunting Island yesterday. Did some hiking, and walked through the campground and dreamed about the day that I’ll actually be camping out there. It was a nice break, and the weather was gorgeous.

Well, time is ticking and I have five good hours to get stuff done today. Have a good week all!

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  1. Sherry on April 10, 2012 at 9:46 am

    Congratulations for taking on the fix it project. Hope the clean up is easy.

    LOVE Hunting Island. I’ll be spending Thanksgiving there this year. Great place to be thankful for.

    Sherry recently posted..Off to KoreshanMy Profile

    • Becky on April 11, 2012 at 11:22 pm

      Took the Casita and truck to Camping World to get the weight distribution hitch installed today and stopped at a gas station that had a coin operated vacuum on the way back, it cleaned up the filings quite nicely. 🙂 Getting the rust off the carpet is another story, I very much doubt I’ll get the staining out but as long as it’s no longer caked in rust I’ll be happy.

      My roommate wants us to stay at site # 100 at Hunting Island, I’m not convinced though. It’s a pull through site but sort of bi-level, the picnic table and fire ring are on a raised part of the site and the part that the trailer will be one will definitely require some effort to level. It’s neat looking and offers a bit more privacy that some of the others though.

  2. Ross Macintosh on April 9, 2012 at 8:06 pm

    Becky – Have you seen the tv ads for the Schticky™? As Vince Offer (the Shamwow guy)says “You can clean your house in a quickie if you have the Schticky™” I’m thinking his Little Schticky™ might just be the ticket to cleaning your house on wheels! In the commercial Vince uses it to pick up loose coins so it will likely have no trouble with your filings.

    Brian’s idea to use a magnet is probably spot on but with the Schticky™ you’ll no doubt successfully gather up lots of other unwanted gunk – and have more fun.

    Regards, Ross

    • Becky on April 9, 2012 at 10:24 pm

      I haven’t seen those commercials so I just googled it now. It’d be impossible to get in the crevices with it, but does look handy for bigger spaces and would be less money than a hand vac. Maybe I’ll check to see if a magnet works first and if I have no luck there move on to this, thanks for the idea.

  3. Brian on April 9, 2012 at 4:01 pm

    Just a thought, depending on what the hardware was made from a magnet might pick up the metal shavings. Good job on the repairs.

    • Becky on April 9, 2012 at 10:17 pm

      Thanks Brian, it’s worth a shot to try.

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Jason Thomas

Executive Vice President, Field Ministry
Chief Campus Ministry Officer

Jason Thomas became involved with InterVarsity at Western Michigan University, after growing up as a second-generation South Asian American in the Detroit metro area. Jason was a student leader with InterVarsity at Western Michigan University at a time when the chapter grew from 25 to 350 students. He is passionate and innovative, with strong leadership experience. He graduated with a degree in accounting and worked as a CPA with Ernst & Young for five years.

But Jason sensed a call to pursue kingdom significance rather than worldly success. His first role with InterVarsity was as a volunteer while working in his CPA job. He later became a Campus Staff Minister, and then Area Director, Regional Director, and National Field Director. Now, as InterVarsity's Chief Campus Ministry Officer, Jason's focus is on leading InterVarsity's mission to students and faculty.

For half of his 18-year career with InterVarsity, Jason had the privilege of partnering with his wife, Andrea, as Co--Area Directors in West Michigan and as Co--Regional Directors in Red River (Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas). As the Red River RDs, they formed a high-caliber Regional Leadership Team that led a turnaround effort which improved the fruitfulness, morale, financial health, ethnic diversity, and geographic breadth of the region.
Jason served as the National South Asian American Coordinator for 10 years, supporting InterVarsity’s emerging South Asian ministry, mentoring South Asian staff at various levels of InterVarsity leadership, and producing three transformative SAIV Leadership Institutes. He also earned a Master of Arts in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Jason and Andrea have been married for 22 years. Andrea is InterVarsity's Director of Marketing and a breast cancer survivor. They moved from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Austin, Texas, in 2005 and attend Austin Christian Fellowship. Jason loves to play basketball, read leadership books, travel to visit friends, play strategy games, and watch his three children perform in choir concerts and sporting events.


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Making the Rounds With Helen Benefield Billings

June 21st, 2018   |   By Helen Benefield Billings

Whisper Creek Farms

Whisper Creek Farms

Fine dining is most certainly alive and well at Grande Lakes Orlando.

A recent excursion to Florida to attend the wildly anticipated Jimmy Buffet and Eagles concert led us to the storied resorts of The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, Grande Lakes Orlando. Truly inspiring, both hotels create a destination distinguished by authentic, enriching, exquisite beauty and timeless charm. The two resorts are linked together by a grand hallway that houses a plethora of glamorous meeting spaces and ballrooms with luxurious features.

More than just a place to stay, these sparkling resorts came to life in the late ‘90s and continue to wow visitors from all walks of life and all budgets, with caring guest services, beautifully updated guest rooms, state-of-the-art golf, pool and spa facilities as well as memorable dining experiences.

Highball & Harvest

Foremost on our list of “must do’s” was Friday night dinner at elegant Norman’s. The restaurant follows the Colonial Italian Palazzo-inspired design and is housed within The Ritz-Carlton, where James Beard Award-winning Chef Norman Van Aken presents a stirring fusion menu, impeccably featuring Latin and Asian dishes. An extensive global wine list and a knowledgeable sommelier added to our pleasure, as we inquired about several French whites that undoubtedly paired perfectly with fish and pork dishes being ordered.

The Bar at Norman’s is cozy and was our first stop before dinner. I couldn’t resist ordering the Albatross cocktail – delicious, perfectly fashioned and presented.

Albatross cocktail

3 oz Tito’s Vodka
2 oz white cranberry juice
1 oz St. Germain liqueur
Cucumber garnish

Mix ingredients together with ice in your favorite cocktail shaker. Strain into preferred glassware and garnish with ribbon cucumber.

Fast forward to Sunday evening, for comfort cuisine at its finest along with pleasing craft beers and an innovative cocktail menu, at Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen, at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes. Drawing ingredients from their on-site farm ensures the absolute freshest offerings available. We loved this casual dining concept that includes communal tables and a relaxed, masculine vibe.

Beekeper cocktailTHE BEEKEEPER by Whisper Creek Farm: The Kitchen

1 ½ oz Palm Ridge Whiskey
¾ oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 oz Whisper Creek Farm honey
Dash orange bitters

Shake with ice and strain over ice into a short glass.

Another great bar and restaurant to visit is Highball & Harvest at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando. It presents unique interpretations of new Southern cuisine including Shrimp & Grits, Fried Chicken and Deviled Eggs. All ingredients are sourced from the aforementioned on-site garden and local vendors, giving guests a true taste of the region.
Impressive selections of Florida/Georgia brews are showcased along with an exciting Signature Cocktails menu not to be missed. The Industrialist caught my eye and is featured below.

Industrialist cocktail

THE INDUSTRIALIST by Highball & Harvest

1 ½ oz Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
2 oz house-made honeysuckle Crème de Menthe
¼ oz Fernet Branca
3 mint leaves as garnish

About the author

Helen Benefield Billings

Helen Benefield Billings

Travel and hospitality industry writer Helen Benefield Billings has been with in the Mix since its inception in 2004. Helen lives in her native childhood home of Sea Island, Ga. when not traveling or attending industry functions with her husband, Don.