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Teslas earnings on tap this week: Will a loss end its blowout stock rally? – MarketWatch

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Tesla Inc.s second-quarter results come amid another massive rally for the stock, which has boosted the companys valuation to nearly $300 billion.

The Silicon Valley car maker TSLA, +9.47% is expected to report quarterly numbers on Wednesday after the bell. A call with analysts at 5:30 p.m. Eastern will follow.

Teslas shares have quadrupled in price this year, with volume nearly tripling this week from a six-month average.

The rally has pushed the electric car makers market value to around $280 billion, making Tesla the most valued car company in the world after Japans Toyota Motor Co. TM, +0.17%, which sold more than 10 million vehicles last year, including 2.4 million in North America.

Don't miss:Tesla at $2,000 is new bull case for Morgan Stanley

Wall Street is calling for GAAP and adjusted quarterly losses for Teslas second quarter, but that hasnt quelled hopes that Tesla could surprise markets with a quarterly profit, which would put the stock on track to join the S&P 500 index within three to six months. One of the criteria for the indexs inclusion is GAAP profitability for four consecutive quarters.

Joining a major index would get Tesla shares to the portfolios of thousands of index-tracking funds, and send managed funds scrambling to catch up with it as well.

Heres what to expect:

Earnings: Consensus from 33 Wall Street analysts polled by FactSet calls for a GAAP loss of $1.02 cents a share, which would compare with a GAAP loss of $2.31 a share in the first quarter of 2019. The analysts expect an adjusted loss of 14 cents a share, which would compare with an adjusted loss of $1.12 a share a year ago.

Estimize, a crowdsourcing platform that gathers estimates from Wall Street analysts, as well as buy-side analysts, fund managers, company executives, academics and others, is expecting an adjusted profit of 12 cents a share.

Revenue: The analysts surveyed by FactSet expect sales of $5.15 billion for Tesla, down from $6.35 billion a year ago. Estimize sees revenue of $5.41 billion for the company.

Stock movement: So far this year, Tesla shares have gained 260%, a stark contrast with losses of around 7% for the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% and breakeven for the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.84% in the same period.

What else to expect: A clearer picture of the coronavirus pandemic impact on the company will likely emerge with the quarterly results.

For most of the three-month period, Teslas sole U.S. car-making factory in Fremont, Calif., was closed (and became a point of contention between Chief Executive Elon Musk and local health authorities, with the factory reopening against shutdown orders), with production from Teslas Shanghai factory offsetting some of the effects of Fremonts closing.

The share rally, which started in December, most recently picked up steam after the company earlier this month reported better-than-expected second-quarter sales without Fremont at full speed.

The stocks valuation is likely dislocated from traditional valuation metrics, analysts at Evercore ISI said in a recent note.

Tesla could weaponize it, and go for another equity raise, despite having done so as recently as February, they said. The money could be used to improve its balance sheet, and expand capacity faster.

More clarity on the pace of Model Y production and deliveries is also high on investors list for the quarter.

See also:Tesla stock rockets higher as quarterly sales crush expectations

Tesla lumped second-quarter production and sales of the Model Y, a compact SUV, with those of the Model 3, saying that it sold 80,050 and produced 75,946 of both, the vast majority being Model 3s.

Besides the focus on demand for the Model Y, Wall Street is bound to parse out any mention of 2020 sales goals.

Tesla in April said it has the capacity installed to deliver more than half a million vehicles in 2020 despite announced production interruptions.

The analysts at Evercore ISI on Monday tweaked higher their expectations for 2020 deliveries to 460,000 vehicles, from their previous expectation of 435,000 vehicles. The FactSet consensus calls for 435,000 units to be sold this year.

Another potential catalyst for the shares is around the corner, and Tesla could provide more details about it during the call. Tesla has set its battery day for Sept. 22 alongside its annual shareholder meeting. The expectation is that the company will unveil a million mile battery and showcase advances that would put the company comfortably ahead of competition.

Battery-technology innovations remain the key ingredients in Teslas success on the battery front and we believe the company is getting closer to announcing the million mile battery, Dan Ives of Wedbush said in a recent note. Such a battery could last for decades, withstand all types of weather/terrain, and be another major milestone for the Tesla ecosystem.

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Teslas earnings on tap this week: Will a loss end its blowout stock rally? - MarketWatch

The Best Value in Watches Comes From These Brands – Gear Patrol

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

For many decades, the Horological Holy Trinity has consisted of Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet. These three pillars of traditional Swiss watchmaking produce exquisite, historically important, valuable timepieces. Theyre unimpeachable. (And, yes, watch aficionados actually speak of this trio as The Holy Trinity.) For many watch collectors, owning at least one of each is mandatory for gaining entrance into horological heaven.

Among us mortals, however, there is a New Holy Trinity emerging: Grand Seiko, Nomos, and Tudor. I hadnt seen the light of this new Holy Trinity until my friend the author Gary Shteyngart a man well known for succinct and brilliant insights casually rattled it off one day. I owe my conversion experience entirely to Gary, and it is with his permission and my gratitude that I share his reformist vision of the new horological religion.

The original Holy Trinity (Vacheron, Patek, & AP) is out of reach for many of us because their watches are so expensive. And that Holy Trinity may be a bit too old-school. It might even be out of style. But the quest to commune with a three-headed horological god still compels us devoted watch worshipers.

Three is a powerful number. It is significant across religions, where three-headed gods occupy the highest of holy echelons. Three is the first odd prime number, and the second of all primes divisible only by itself and the great unifier, One. We mortals can perceive just three dimensions, and we can do so much with those three dimensions. And our eyes are trichromatic, seeing just three colors and blending them infinitely into our gorgeous experiences of reality. You can do a lot with three of something, and that even extends to a small watch collection able to cover just about every situation we might find ourselves in. And with Grand Seiko, Nomos, and Tudor, you can have it all. These three brands share a number of attributes that elevate their timepieces to holiness:

The Sacred In-House Movement All three brands offer in-house movements, a most sacred attribute among devoted watch aficionados. Grand Seikos movements are highly evolved mechanisms with roots going back to the 1940s and 50s. Nomos, a German company, produces beautiful and rather original movements in Glashtte. (Their balance bridge and free-sprung balance wheel are especially worthy of worship.) Tudor has been introducing in-house movements in many of their watches lately, elevating the brand up Mount Horology to sit alongside its Titan Father, Rolex.

Worship-Worthy Value Attitudes toward luxury have shifted to include a new emphasis on value. Its no longer necessarily in vogue to spend wildly and ostentatiously display ones expensive watch. Good value is worshiped now along with great quality and excellent style, and Grand Seiko, Nomos and Tudor offer some of the best value, quality, and style in timepieces today.

Alignment with the Mysteries of the Zeitgeist If only the marketeers could predict or better, create trends. They just cant do it, and the ability of a watch to capture the spirit of its moment remains a mystery to even the most astute analysis of culture. The dark forces at play here, shrouded in the vagaries of the lightning-fast global economy, have somehow not eluded Grand Seiko, Nomos, and Tudor. These brands seem to have dipped their timepieces in stardust that casts a spell on those who behold them.

Deep Roots Though Grand Seiko, Nomos, and Tudor form a new Holy Trinity, these companies have deep roots in horological traditions. Grand Seiko was formed in the middle of the 20th Century as a high-end expression of Japanese craftsmanship, and the brand employs thousand-year-old techniques in small workshops across Japan to produce some of the most transcendent dials, markers, and hands made today.

Nomos formed in 1990 after the Berlin Wall fell, setting up shop in Glashtte with a spirit of democracy and modernity that rings throughout the companys ethos today, a bright light of hope and free-market ingenuity shining where a dark cloud of dictatorial fascism once loomed. Tudor has roots reaching back to the minister of sport-oriented watch worship himself, Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex. Tudor was, and still is, the more affordable little brother of the Rolex brand, but is no longer bound to house 3rd-party movements as Rolex once mandated in order to meet standards of affordability. Tudor worship today is a religion in its own right.

The Good Works of the New Holy Trinity As a Holy Trinity, Grand Seiko, Nomos, and Tudor offer an incredible variety of timepieces that, taken collectively, inhabit just about every niche an horological devotee could want to explore. Here, we examine three examples from each of the three new horological gods, each a manifestation of their good works.

Nicknamed the Snowflake, this watch has captivated people around the world with its textured white dial that glistens like freshly fallen snow on Mt. Fuji. The genre-defying Spring Drive movement uses a self-powered mechanism combined with an integrated circuit to power a perfectly smooth seconds hand. Considered by many to be the most significant movement development since Seiko brought quartz to the market in the late 1960s, the SBGA211 watch may just reconcile the differences between art, science, and religion.Diameter: 41mmPrice: $5,800

More Info: Here

With a dial intended to replicate autumn leaves reflecting off a black lacquered floor in a traditional Japanese home, and a flecked titanium rotor in bright green meant to represent summer leaves prior to their seasonal turning, this watch reads like verses from the scriptures of horology. An in-house Hi-Beat movement ticks 36,000 times per hour, offering unparalleled accuracy and a smooth sweeping seconds hand. Grand Seiko refuses to reveal the mysteries of how this dial is crafted.Diameter: 39.5mmPrice: $6,400

More Info: Here

To celebrate Grand Seikos 60th Anniversary, this watch recreates the very first watch from the revered Japanese manufacture. With no date, a hand-wound in-house movement, a titanium case, and a deep blue dial that transcends earthly hues, this watch carries the weight of its elegant history in its ultra-light body.Diameter: 38mmPrice: $8,000

More Info: Here

Orion dominates our night sky with its familiar rows of three stars each, but in Nomoss world, the Orion is more like the North Star, having consistently guided the brand from its earliest days. This is spiritual minimalism, providing a quiet mechanical refuge to souls grown weary of the hecticness of the digital age. Though the Orion is available in many sizes and with either a handwound or an automatic in-house movement, the 35mm Rose stands out for its dreamy, pink champagne dial and gold markers and hands.Diameter: 35mmPrice: $2,360

More Info: Here

Nomos is known for the use of bold, Bauhaus-inpsired color schemes, and the Club range of watches offers sporty looks in a wide selection of bold and funky hues. The Siren White houses an in-house Minimatik auto-winding movement, and the white dial gleams in contrast against the blued-steel hands and bright red luminescent markers.Diameter: 37mmPrice: $3,160

More Info: Here

Earthly in orientation, heavenly in execution, this watch is the most complicated from Nomos to date. With a uniquely skeletonized dial that shows two time zones as well as cities from around the world, the watch features an in-house movement that achieves maximum efficiency of operation through just one pusher to advance local time.Diameter: 40mmPrice: $6,100

More Info: Here

An in-house GMT movement in an incredible-looking watch for $4,050? Thats exactly the kind of value that New Holy Trinity represents. The familiar Pepsi bezel speaks of the Rolex GMT Master of the 20th Century, but the matte ceramic bezel insert and signature snowflake hands of the Tudor Black Bay GMT assure no one is going to confuse the two.Diameter: 41mmPrice: $4,050

More Info: Here

Housing an in-house movement that meets the stringent COSC accuracy standards, the Black Bay Bronzes gray-to-black faded dial and bronze case cast a steampunky shadow-spell on all who behold it. Even if youre descending to the depths of hell, this incredibly rugged and accurate dive watch will see you through to the light.Diameter: 43mmPrice: $4,150

More Info: Here

In-house COSC-rated movement. Light titanium case. Durable enough to go anywhere and withstand anything. The Pelagos may just be Tudors most badass dive watch. And for those who are tired of the vintage-inspired trends (though it certainly features some throwback influences), the Pelagos will show you The Power of Now.Diameter: 42mmPrice: $4,575

More Info: Here

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The Best Value in Watches Comes From These Brands - Gear Patrol

PwC is using virtual reality to train employees on implicit bias – Business Insider

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Business Insider

Virtual reality could permanently alter the way businesses approach diversity and inclusion trainings.

Despite spending billions of dollars on D&I initiatives, US companies are more segregated now than they were 40 years ago, and implicit bias in hiring remains one of the biggest culprits. Implicit bias refers to the unknown assumptions people make about others based on their gender, ethnicity, age, or minority status, rather than their professional qualifications.

Some companies are exploring new options for diversity trainings. PwC is one of them.

The professional-services firm is working with software company Talespin to implement VR-based implicit-bias training programs and it could be a new frontier for how companies approach diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

The Big 4 consulting and tax firm completed a pilot with Talespin last year, and it has since used virtual reality programming to train over 4,000 employees.

The training places employees in simulated office settings designed after actual PwC offices, where they speak with virtual characters through a head-mounted display. During the five-to-seven-minute training modules, they are prompted to make decisions about who to hire and promote, and must use inclusive leadership practices introduced prior to the simulation.

Kyle Jackson, CEO of Talespin, told Business Insider that PwC employees using the VR tool are trained on how to recognize unconscious bias when hiring. They have to think about how even a candidate's name on a rsum can stir up implicit biases, he said.

Studies have shown, for example, that rsums with names that sound "white" get more call backs than those that don't. Employees using the VR training are asked to formulate responses if these biases are expressed in a hiring meeting by a colleague, or a senior partner.

Scott Likens, emerging technology leader at PwC, told Business Insider the firm wanted to test how VR diversity and inclusion training compared to more traditional computer-based training. PwC selected a group of new managers in 12 US locations to test out the VR between February and October 2019.

The results were promising. A PwC study found that VR participants required less time to learn, had a stronger emotional connection to the training content, were more focused when learning, and were more confident about their takeaways from the training. And to top it off, the VR training program was more cost-effective at scale than classroom or online learning modules.

VR could present a viable training method for companies looking to update their practices. So far, traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs haven't worked. US companies spend $8 billion annually on diversity and inclusion initiatives, and implicit bias seminars have become ubiquitous across the American workplace. But their efforts are still falling short.

Virtual reality has already taken off across a range of industries since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Hospitals are using virtual reality simulations to train doctors and nurses on treatment of coronavirus patients, and computer software company MeetInVR is developing a tool for companies to host virtual reality meetings. Talespin also offers training for managers who need to have difficult conversations in the office.

With VR, learners can immerse themselves in the experience at hand without feeling self-conscious about learning in a group setting. Compare this with a conventional, in-person training session: though employees might also be able to role-play in person, self-consciousness in front of colleagues may hamper an employee's ability to engage as closely with the scenario.

"Our own biases creep back in and our own fears creep back in terms of our participation, because we can't actually role play," Jackson said. "A lot of people's nerves creep up and role play does not work for them. So even as much as I try to put myself in somebody's shoes, I can't."

The key lies in the immediacy of the VR experience, Likens said.

"It comes back to experience as a driver for behavior change," Likens said. "VR has a weird way of doing that. You're in the shoes of a situation which you might not ever be, or at least not frequently."

VR training reduces the distance between the learner and the experience at hand, allowing participants to empathize with situations more deeply. Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of Stanford's Virtual Human Interaction Lab, worked with a group of researchers to see if people were more inclined to feel empathy after experiencing a VR simulation of homelessness. It worked: A significantly higher number of participants who had experienced the VR signed a petition supporting affordable housing for the homeless compared to those who had just read about it. A few months later, in February 2017, the Virtual Human Interaction Lab launched VR-based implicit bias training for the NFL.

PwC is not the first business to explore VR diversity initiatives but it's doing so at a crucial time. Both the pandemic and the backlash against racial injustice have made companies more open to approaching workplace racism and discrimination with new solutions.

"I think it accelerated the acceptance of the innovation," Likens said about the current moment. "We're getting executives to put on a headset, whereas a year ago they wouldn't have. But being at home, being disconnected from our teams, I think it's triggered this desire to do something big. And I think VR now is being accepted as a 'here and now' thing, not a future emerging technology."

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PwC is using virtual reality to train employees on implicit bias - Business Insider

OrthoGrid, Osso VR Teaming Up to Bring Clarity, Accuracy to the OR – OrthoSpineNews

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

by Elizabeth Hofheinz, M.P.H., M.Ed.

OrthoGrid Systems, Inc, a company offering AI-powered surgical guidance applications, has teamed up with Osso VR, a validated virtual reality (VR) surgical training platform, to boost patient outcomes with higher quality, repeatable procedures and VR.

A highlight of the OrthoGrids PhantomMSK Hip technology, its ability to correct fluoroscopic distortion, aims to give direct anterior total hip surgeons a higher level of image accuracy in an effort to create reproducible and desirable surgical outcomes.

Osso VR, a cost-efficient and scalable virtual reality program, is now being used for hands-on training in more than 20 leading teaching hospitals and trains nearly 1000 surgeons monthly in 17 countries.

Our companies are strongly aligned in our missions to improve patient outcomes and democratize access to quality care. With this partnership, we can give surgeons in our network another tool to continue to push the limits of whats possible when it comes to providing value for their patients, said Justin Barad, M.D., CEO and Co-Founder of Osso VR.

OrthoGrids VP of Sales, Will Irvine told OSN, Our partnership with Osso VR merges two cutting-edge technologiesinto a simple and effective solution that allows orthopedic surgeons to work with our surgical application for direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty and refine their skills in a highly realistic, but completely simulated, OR environment.

Irvine, who has been training on OrthoGrids Osso VR system since May 2020, and training surgeons remotely during COVID-19 restrictions, added, The accuracy and precision Osso VR has created in our VR procedure, combined with the ability for surgeons to perform simulation after simulation, flattens the learning curve when the stakes are low. By practicing repeatedly and understanding the impact of our HIP software application when a virtual patient is on the table, we expect our customers will realize greater efficiency and effectiveness sooner when they utilize our software in live surgery insidea hospital or surgery center OR.We are thrilled that through this partnership and our new VR training platform, OrthoGrid, Osso VR, and orthopedicsurgeons around the country canjoin forces for great patient outcomes, even from the comfort of our own homes.

For more information on and to request a demo of OrthoGrids PhantomMSK Hip system, please visit https://orthogrid.com/

For additional information on Osso VR, please visit https://ossovr.com

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OrthoGrid, Osso VR Teaming Up to Bring Clarity, Accuracy to the OR - OrthoSpineNews

‘Speak out in the face of injustice’: Overland Park resident Judy Jacobs shares memories as a Holocaust survivor, encourages practicing kindness…

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

As part of its 10th annual event to share stories of Holocaust survivors, Johnson County Library invited Overland Park resident Judy Jacobs to talk about her experiences as a child in Hungary and in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War II.

In a Zoom webinar on July 8, Jacobs gave a firsthand account of her childhood experience in the concentration camp.

Born in 1937 in Budapest, Hungary, Jacobs recalls a happy childhood with her family. Her father was a radiologist, her mother an artist. She and her family felt the weight of anti-Semitism and the war from a young age, as Jews were systematically stripped of their rights.

In March 1944, Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Hungary, and from July to December of that year, Jacobs and her parents were incarcerated in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany. She lost her extended family in the death camps as well.

Staying alive for one more day became a primary objective, Jacobs said. Every morning as we awakened, we realized we had triumphed by surviving one more day.

In December 1944, the three were taken to Switzerland. Two years later, they immigrated to the United States, where Jacobs married and had children. She has lived in the Kansas City area for many years.

Jacobs raised many examples of how brutality against humanity continue today, and noted that geography is no barrier. She spoke of examples around the world, like Boko Haram in Africa forbidding Western education and promoting jihad and extreme brutality, and also genocide against the Muslim Rohingya, a minority people in Myanmar. She gave local examples as well.

Within the last week or so, weve read about a Shawnee Mission School District principal accused of harassment and inappropriate behavior, Jacobs said.

Dozens of listeners tuned in to hear her story, and many of them asked questions and thanked her for sharing. As to what individuals can do in the face of future catastrophes, Jacobs said she has no answers but does have some suggestions.

First of all, begin at the grassroots; you and I and everybody else, we make up society, and we should all resolve to try to make this a better world, she said. Begin with education; understanding the past and understanding what motivates people, people, who may be different from us. Practice kindness toward one another; practice the Golden Rule. Whatsoever thou wouldest that men should not do unto thee, do not do that unto them. Speak out in the face of injustice. Do not be a bystander. Bystanders are not innocent. And vote. Voting is the best way to effect change.

Jacobs has shared her testimony several times, including with the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education; she also gave her testimony in a speech in 2016 to her alma mater, University of Missouri-Kansas City, when she received the universitys Defying the Odds Alumni Achievement Award.

The Johnson County Library event is available to view below.

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'Speak out in the face of injustice': Overland Park resident Judy Jacobs shares memories as a Holocaust survivor, encourages practicing kindness...

Masks work and it only makes sense to wear them – Sentinel-Standard

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

To mask or not to mask? Why is that a question? Just when we were starting to finally shake off some of the restrictions brought on by the COVID virus, we are starting to go back to where we were when it all started.

The number of daily new cases in Michigan are higher now than they were since late May. It does not have to be like this, but too many people are refusing to wear a mask when they are out in public even though mask-wearing and social distancing are effective, as reported in the June 26 edition of Patient Care published by the University of California San Francisco.

Two case studies are particularly informative. One case was in a salon in Springfield, MO. Two hairstylists tested positive for COVID-19 but had met with 140 clients between May 12 and May 20 while wearing masks. The clients had close contact with the stylists for up to 30 minutes. Six other coworkers were also in the salon. Neither the clients nor the coworkers caught the virus.

In another case study, a man flew from China to Toronto. He had a dry cough and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. He was wearing a mask. The 25 people nearest him on the flight (within 6 feet) all tested negative.

Masks work.

A study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation published on June 24, 2020, reported that if 95% of the population wore face masks, it would reduce forecasted deaths from COVID-19 by over 33,000. So, why is there such resistance to wearing a mask?

For some people, the fact that the government, or someone else, is telling them what to do appears to be an irrational application of individual liberty. They abide by other dictates such as stopping at red lights, wearing seatbelts, or lining up to buy a ticket to a sporting event or some other form of entertainment. And I have never seen a person rip off his shirt or argue with a retail owner over a No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service sign. But if a store or restaurant were to enforce No Mask, No Service, the fireworks would start. Irrational. But, how did we get here?

You need to look no further than a comparison between the United States and Canada. On March 1 the United States had 69 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Canada had 20 cases. By July 6 Canada had 105, 524 confirmed cases and the United States had over 2.89 million cases. The difference between the two countries boils down to the difference between the two governments in how they responded to the pandemic. Donald Trump played down the threat if not outright denying it. Justin Trudeau saw it for what it was, a danger to his citizens. He listened to his scientists. Trump did not.

In times of uncertainty, our emotions tend to override our rationality. When that happens, we look to leaders for guidance. Donald Trump refuses to wear a face mask. The head of his COVID task force, Mike Pence, did not wear a face mask until June 28, after the resurgence of the virus. Justin Trudeau began wearing a face mask in mid-May, urging all Canadians to do the same.

Another factor that plays a role is political affiliation. According to a survey reported by Gallup on July 6, 98% of Democrats responded they always wear masks, compared to 66% of Republicans. Why are Republicans less likely to wear a mask? Chris Jackson of Ipsos Public Affairs may have answered that when he stated that, "Once [Trump] very clearly did not wear a mask in public, that transmitted a signal that if youre a good supporter of the president you dont wear a mask." (Market Watch, June 28, 2020)

Remember, wearing a face mask is not so much to protect you as it is to protect others. It helps to prevent a person from passing the virus to others. Remember the Golden Rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Hank Cetola is a Professor Emeritus at Adrian College and the founder of Lenawee Indivisible. He can be reached at lenaweeindivisible3@gmail.com.

Get safely back to the gym after lockdown – Winnipeg Free Press

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions locally, were seeing people coming back to the gym in droves after months of working out at home.

Its not unusual to see exercise-related injuries over the summer as seasonal sports pick up. Similarly, we expect to see an increased risk of injury as fitness enthusiasts scramble to get back into their gym routines after several months away.

Most injuries we see in the gym can be attributed to poor technique or an existing condition. However, I expect a number of unfortunate aches and pains this summer as a result of impatience on the part of former gym-goers who want to get back to their old routines without skipping a beat.

Its important to gradually increase the volume and intensity of training in this situation. The good news is that there are some strategies you can use to reduce your chance of injury upon returning to the gym.

Whether you like to run, do calisthenics, or lift weights, its essential to get a technique refresher. Exercise shouldnt hurt, and most people can move beautifully if they take the time to learn efficient technique. This will accelerate results and dramatically reduce the risk of injury.

Second, learn where your weak links are. A lack of flexibility in the ankles or lack of strength in the gluteal muscles or other hip stabilizers are common causes of injuries and pain in fitness enthusiasts. Including mobility and flexibility training as part of your program can go a long way toward preventing injuries. At the very least, knowing your bodys optimal range of motion can be a great pre-workout self-assessment tool.

One last strategy for preventing injuries during your gym comeback is to manage stress and inflammation. When it comes to the workout itself, this means allocating enough time for a proper warm-up and cool-down.

When planning your training, make sure to gradually increase the volume and intensity of your workouts. Dont try to lift the weights you were lifting before the pandemic if you havent had access to those weights at home.

The golden rule is to increase the volume and intensity by no more than 10 per cent each week. This also means planning enough rest to fully recover before hitting the gym again after a tough workout.

Finally, consider that what you eat, how you sleep, and how you manage stress all have a significant impact on how your body performs and how your body recovers.

Tania Ttrault Vrga is owner and head trainer at North Star Fitness. Send questions to her at tania@northstar.fit and visit the website at http://www.northstar.fit

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Get safely back to the gym after lockdown - Winnipeg Free Press

interCaribbean Announces New Flights Between Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean – PRNewswire

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos, July 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --interCaribbean Airways is pleased to announce new connecting services in the Eastern Caribbean between Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

With flights already available to St. Lucia, interCaribbean announces effective August 1, connecting services will commence from Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport to Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica. The scheduled expansion in the Eastern Caribbean will give connective travel to the existing 22 cities served by interCaribbeanacross its Pan-Caribbean network as services are restored.

For more than two decades, interCaribbean' operations have been focused to the western area of the Caribbean, with services in some of the region's major cities in Antigua, Bahamas, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, Turks and Caicos.

Established over 28 years ago by founder and present-day Chairman Lyndon Gardiner, a Turks & Caicos Islander, interCaribbean has been aggressively broadening its scope across the region in the last decade.

In commenting on the actualization of his vision to become a household name in Caribbean travel, Founder and Chairman, Mr. Gardiner, states, "Building interCaribbean into what it is today has taken the full dedication of my entire team. The direction of the last 10 years culminates in introducing these new services to deliver a Caribbean-born and grown airline and become a leader in the region. It is my desire that every budding entrepreneur follows their calling and works towards their dreams. I did not start out imagining what we have become today, but continually calibrated and maximized every potential opportunity to grow this company. Our goal now is to fully consolidate ourselves in the region and become a globally recognized brand."

The company rebranded in 2013 from Air Turks & Caicos to interCaribbean Airways, to create a true Caribbean brand that each country could proudly call their own.

Company CEO, Trevor Sadler, stated, "the demand for our flights across the Caribbean continues to grow, with the introduction of jet aircraft into our fleet with more coming soon. We truly look forward to offering an optimal interCaribbean experience to the satisfaction of all customers. Never has it been easier to get around the Caribbean."

With an impeccable safety record, and a pledge to offer more affordable air travel, interCaribbean promises to take advantage of the existing and emerging opportunities to propel Caribbean integration, and deliver a service that is accessible to everyone across a region bound together by history and culture.

Visit interCaribbean.com to learn more about the company and its operations.

About interCaribbean

interCaribbean operates ERJ145 50 seat jets, EMB 120 30 seat Turbo Prop and 19 seat Twin Otter aircraft. Connecting the Turks & Caicos Islands, Antigua, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Dominica, St Lucia and St. Maarten. Domestic flights are operated in the Turks & Caicos Islands, as well as in Jamaica between Kingston and Montego Bay.

Media contact: Trevor Sadler 649-443-3102 [emailprotected]

SOURCE interCaribbean Airways

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interCaribbean Announces New Flights Between Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean - PRNewswire

Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot: 5 Actresses We Want To Join Margot Robbie (& 5 We Don’t) – Screen Rant

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

The newPirates of the Caribbean reboot for this classic and hilarious franchise is finally coming to the big screen, but there is still a lot of speculation about who is going to be in the movie, and what all will come of it. All fans really know so far is that Margot Robbie will be taking a leading role.

RELATED:10 Roles That Margot Robbie Slayed

Unfortunately, there's a lot of controversy over the fact that Johnny Depp, the iconic Jack Sparrow, will not be returning to this film. In light of that, fans focus on who they all want to join Margot Robbie in the pirate universe.

It's no secret that fans would love to see someone from the original franchise make an appearance in this reboot. While it's probably unlikely, having Knightley show up alongside Robbie would be phenomenal.

These two actresses are so unique, and together they might just explode on the big screen. Plus, this franchise is definitely not the same without Keira Knightley's beautiful self.

This is definitely no dig at this actress, because everyone knows that Ronan is talented beyond belief. This Oscar-nominated actress has already starred alongside Robbie inMary Queen of Scots.

While she's played many different roles, and is one of the most popular actresses out there today, it's time for someone new to join Robbie and the pirate universe. Plus, there's something about Ronan that's better without a pirate costume.

This Marvel actress has been eyed up by the producers of this movie, and it was very likely for a time that she would be cast in it. With rumors still flying, many people are obsessed with her still joining, but alongside Margot Robbie.

RELATED:Karen Gillan's 10 Most Memorable Roles, Ranked

Gillan has also starred in the reboot ofJumanji,and proves she's pretty fierce, hilarious, and a total bombshell. These two could definitely make for a great pirate partnership.

It seems almost crazy for anyone to say that they don't want this Oscar-winning actress in a flick, but it feels like it needs to be said. She's already starred with Margot Robbie, inBombshell,and it's obvious they have chemistry.

However, this is enough of a reason to keep their on-screen relationship in a more dramatic and serious role. For some reason, this actress doesn't seem like the type to adorn a sword and a parrot.

There's something about this young, upcoming, and totally versatile actress that could definitely excel at being a fierce pirate. Pugh has done thrillers and dramas, and from playing Amy March to being Lady Macbeth, fans can definitely see her playing a pirate.

Plus, Margot Robbie and Florence Pugh sounds like a partnership that would bring everyone to the theater, and their talents could only lift each other to their full potential. Plus, this movie would be as stunning as ever.

This Spanish queen is definitely full of talent, and while she may havestarred alongside Johnny Depp in the original series, she's not someone that fans are arguing over to reappear, especially without Depp.

RELATED:Pirates Of The Caribbean: 5 Ways To Reboot The Franchise (& 5 Reasons It Should Be Left Alone)

While time wearing a pirate hat was definitely entertaining, this fierce actress should likely dedicate her efforts to other films, where she can shine even more.

This actress is also a young woman that's looking to make a big name for herself. She actually also starred alongside Margot Robbie inOnce Upon A Time... in Hollywood,but the two never got to act together.

This spunky, quirky, and gorgeous actress could definitely get dressed up in a pirate costume and conquer the seas alongside Robbie. There's a lot this Emmy-nominated actress could bring to the table.

This actress has been working in Hollywood for years, and while she's never partnered up with Margot Robbie, fans of this Oscar-winning actress probably don't expect to see her in the pirate universe.

This woman might just be one of the most popular actresses of today, and while she's super talented and versatile, her face is not one that fans totally need to see on a pirate ship.

Saldana is definitely bursting in popularity in Hollywood today, and she's even starred alongside another fellow actress on this list, Karen Gillan. If both of thesewomen could join Margot Robbie, it'd be as fierce, hilarious, and entertaining as this movie could be.

RELATED:Zoe Saldana's 10 Best Movies (According To Rotten Tomatoes)

Saldana has a lot of talent to offer, and it'd be refreshing to see her sway away from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and step over into the pirate franchise.

This list has nothing against any of these incredible woman, but there's definitely some that just fans just can't see with a sword and a pirate hat. Unlike Robbie or the previous women from the franchise, Hathaway has something too elegant about her for this universe.

While she even made for a pretty impressive Catwoman, it's safe to say that her work in action is better left there. This popular actress has enough to offer without being a pirate.

NEXT:Which Pirates Of The Caribbean Character Are You Based On Your Zodiac?

Next Reverse Bear Trap & 9 Other Deadliest Saw Traps

I am a university student studying Criminology & Psychology at St. Thomas University, with a burning passion for film! I am an avid reader, writer, and film-goer, and I love learning about movies, actors, directors, and sharing my passion and knowledge with others.I am a List Writer for ScreenRant, and love being a part of a film community where we all share the same passions.

Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot: 5 Actresses We Want To Join Margot Robbie (& 5 We Don't) - Screen Rant

Exotrail set to expand in propulsion, space software and on-orbit transport systems – Geospatial World

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

SpaceNews mentioned that Exotrail has raised 11 million euros ($13 million) from investors.

French venture capital firms Karista and Innovacom led the Series A round, with participation from IXO Private Equity, NCI-Waterstart and Turenne Capital, plus previous investors 360 Capital, Irdi Soridec Gestion and Bpifrance.

David Henri, Exotrail chief executive, mentioned in an interview that Massy and Toulouse, France-based Exotrail has raised 17 million euros since forming in 2017. The company plans to use its new funding to further product development, increase manufacturing capabilities, and hire business development staff in Europe and in North America.

He also added that Exotrail plans to expand its manufacturing capacity from roughly 10 propulsion systems a year today to around 100 annually by 2022 or 2023, and increase its headcount to 50 people, up from 27. Exotrail has a demonstration propulsion system on a NanoAvionics cubesat awaiting launch on an Indian PSLV mission that has been delayed from November 2019. The pandemic has clouded the timeline for that launch.

He also stated that Exotrail has propulsion systems on other smallsats including one launching on a SpaceX Falcon 9 late this year for an undisclosed customer and two launching next year on cubesats Clyde Space is building for Eutelsat.

By 2024, Exotrail hopes to launch its first in-space transportation system, dubbed Space Van, that would provide last-mile services for 10 or more nanosatellites, bringing customers to their desired orbits after launcher separation, he said. The French space agency CNES awarded Exotrail a 100,000-euro contract earlier this year to help fund the design phase for Space Van.

Henri said Space Van is a long term vision, and that Exotrail isnt worried about following after companies like Momentus and D-Orbit that are designing vehicles for similar services on shorter timescales.

Exotrail hopes to evolve Space Van into a satellite servicer in 2025 for life extension and in-space assembly. For areas out of Exotrails primary areas of expertise, the company would rely on partners for robotics and other elements of the servicer.

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Exotrail set to expand in propulsion, space software and on-orbit transport systems - Geospatial World

Another view: What is driving the Justice Department’s decision to go after Google? – Amarillo.com

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Bloomberg

For months, President Donald Trumps Justice Department has hinted that it intends to crack down on Silicon Valley. It recently took a big step closer as senior antitrust officials met with their state counterparts to plot out a case against Alphabet Inc.s Google. What they plan to argue isnt quite yet clear. But as the final months of Trumps first term wind down, and an election draws near, some exceptional skepticism is in order.

One reason for caution is that Attorney General William Barr has not exactly been a disinterested enforcer of competition law. Quite the opposite: In recent testimony, a senior Justice Department whistle-blower described how Barr pressured antitrust prosecutors to harass automakers (and others) for transparently political reasons.

Now, according to news reports, Barr has taken an unusual interest in the Google case. Why? In a recent interview with Fox News, he intimated that he hopes to use antitrust law to punish tech companies for censoring conservative viewpoints, a frequent preoccupation of Trumps. Never mind that this accusation is false, and that tech companies would be entirely within their rights to so discriminate if they chose. The whole thing has nothing to do with antitrust.

Perhaps Barr was musing idly, and perhaps the department has more legitimate objections in mind. But even under more traditional theories of competition law, Google makes an odd target.

Feasibly, a case might be made against its dominance of the online advertising market, for instance. Combined with Facebook, Google took in about 60% of digital ad spending last year. Yet theres no law against building a good product. And with pressure rising from Amazon and other contenders, online ad rates have fallen by more than 40% over the past decade. That doesnt look like a market lacking in competition.

Nor could anyone credibly argue that Google has harmed consumers, the standard traditionally applied in antitrust analysis. To the contrary, it gives them (among other things) access to limitless email, a smartphone operating system, innovative mapping software and a search engine that ranks among the greatest inventions of the last century all for free. Its targeted advertising has been a boon to businesses big and small. Thats to say nothing of its work on driverless cars, quantum computing or esoteric life-extension technologies.

Even an otherwise blameless company shouldnt get a pass for anticompetitive behavior, of course. And some allege that Google has unfairly privileged its own products, pursued harmful mergers and engaged in other dubious conduct. If the Justice Department imposed targeted remedies for such violations after a transparent investigation, it would be entirely appropriate.

Yet the Trump administration has suggested nothing of the sort publicly. If its track record is any guide, this case is more likely to amount to a political attack with a belabored legal rationale attached. Even if its motives are pure, the administration should be wary: Government intervention in a market where no obvious harm has been caused to consumers and in pursuit of vague or unrelated objectives is a recipe for disaster.

The fact is, for all the criticism leveled at tech companies, they employ hundreds of thousands of people, create immensely useful products, propel what growth the American economy still enjoys and are among the most trusted brands going. They need to follow the rules like everyone else. But abusing antitrust law to clobber them for electoral gain wont end well for anyone.

Original post:

Another view: What is driving the Justice Department's decision to go after Google? - Amarillo.com

Copper price gains on supply shortage, demand recovery in China – Proactive Investors Australia

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Mining companies which can keep up output could reap the benefits along with emerging copper exploration and development companies.

Copper prices touched a one-year high of US$6,454 a tonne last week, erasing losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged US-China trade war.

The metal has surged by a staggering 45% since March 2020.

The present situation of tight supplies could mean the strong rally in prices is likely to continue in the second half of 2020 supported by demand recovery in China.

Coppers gain has been driven mainly by concerns over strains on supply from key producers in South America.

Thousands of copper workers have fallen ill in Chile, which is the worlds largest producer of the metal, accounting for more than a quarter of global supply.

Mines have reduced their labour force and postponed non-essential activities in an attempt to keep workers safe without forgoing too much output.

The risks to production in Chile and other parts of the world have some analysts warning the market could slip into a supply deficit this year.

Mining companies which can keep up output could reap the benefits along with emerging copper exploration and development companies.

Castillo Copper Ltd (ASX:CCZ) is one of the emerging players with a three-pillar strategy to transform into a mid-tier copper business having completed a $2.1 million fund-raising exercise to expedite its operations in Australia and Zambia.

The company, which has three core copper assets in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia and in Zambia, is close to drilling at its Mt Oxide pillar in Queenslands Mt Isa copper-belt.

Castillo managing director Simon Paull recently said: Behind the scenes, our team is working at a frenetic pace to ensure all the logistics are in place so that we can move ahead with the inaugural Mt Oxide pillar drilling campaign.

For the Arya and Big One Deposit, our objective with the upcoming drilling campaign is to extend known mineralisation and determine potential scalability.

As such, one of the key focuses is to test how far high-grade supergene ore extends from surface along the strike extent and if this transitions into underlying sulphides at depth.

Established copper producer Aeris Resources Ltd (ASX:AIS) has locked in higher copper pricing by entering unsecured A$ copper hedges with Macquarie Bank Limited for 9,000 tonnes at a forward price of A$9,096.80 per tonne from its Tritton Copper Operations in NSW.

The hedges will mature over the next six months in scheduled monthly deliveries of 1,500 tonnes.

Aeris executive chairman Andre Labuschagne said: With the current copper price significantly above our budgeted pricing for the first half of FY2021, we have taken the opportunity to hedge 75% of our copper production over the next six months.

Locking in this higher pricing enables us to accelerate exploration and life extension projects at the Tritton Copper Operations, with the first project being the exploration drive to the Budgerygar deposit, which sits adjacent to the Tritton underground mine.

Red River Resources Limited (ASX:RVR) achieved record copper production at its Thalanga Operation in Northern Queensland for the quarter ending June 30, 2020.

An increase in copper grade of ore milled to 1.0% and a record copper recovery to copper concentrate of 84.7% resulted in quarterly production of 2,697 tonnes of high-quality copper concentrate, compared to 2,310 tonnes in the previous quarter.

Legend Mining Ltd (ASX:LEG) recently added to the robust nature of Mawson prospect within the Rockford Project in WAs Fraser Range with an intersection of 4.5 metres at 3.05% nickel, 2.32% copper and 0.19% cobalt - the best grades to date.

Earlier this month, Euroz reiterated its speculative buy rating for Legend with a price target of 30 cents per share (current price: 14 cents) after the recent high-grade drilling results.

Legend has $30 million in cash and receivables and a further $19.5 million of options in the money so is very well funded to execute the current drilling program.

Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) and partner Cyprium Metals Ltd (ASX:CYM) found high-grade copper surface samples earlier this month at the joint venture Cue Copper Project, northwest of the Hollandaire deposits in WA.

The samples were from a regional field mapping and surface sampling campaign at the Cue projects Rapier West and Mt Eelya prospects.

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Copper price gains on supply shortage, demand recovery in China - Proactive Investors Australia

Op-Ed: Addressing concerns about the future submarines from a general’s perspective – Defence Connect

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

When the new submarine was being proposed, the media often asked if 12 was the right number of submarines to buy. The answer I always gave was trite but correct: It depends on what you want to do with them, explains NSW senator Jim Molan.

The single biggest issue for the submarine is how does it fit into a national defence strategy? At the time there was no real national defence strategy to assist the answer now there is.

The recently announced 2020 Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan assists in answering many of the questions about the Attack Class submarines: do we need them; why so big; how many; why conventional not nuclear; why not buy cheaper from overseas; are they vulnerable; when will we get them; what about the Collins; and why so expensive?

To summarise my position on the project as a whole, because of the war we may have to fight in the future and how we have decided to fight it, Australia needs submarines just as we need a range of surface ships and aircraft. We also need big submarines.

We need something in the order of 12; they are going to be conventional boats because nuclear is illegal in Australia and regardless, no one is going to lease or sell us nuclear boats. No one makes a conventional submarine big enough so we must build them as we built the Collins to meet our need, and there is a premium.

We are not taking the nuclear reactor out of a submarine and putting in a diesel engine we are designing these boats from a basic French design, as we did with the Collins.

They would probably have been built in South Australia regardless of the fact the Defence Minister came from there. Of course, I would rather they be available sooner than the mid-2030s to the mid-2050s, but we do have an effective submarine force in the Collins and we must keep it effective.

No one can criticise the Attack Class for not being effective submarines because at this stage they are still being designed and are likely to be a capable boat.

The French Submarine, as many of its detractors insist on calling it, has now become political, and some of the commentary is shrill. But we all have the right to a view, and to express that view, especially on the cost of the project if nothing else, and I respect others views.

This is the peoples money and the peoples future security. It is important for the project that we see frequent engagement by ministers, military chiefs and politicians.

We need to show that we believe in it, but also a more open explanation of what is behind and what is happening in the project in other words much more emphasis on informing the public rather than just rebuttal. In that spirit, I have stated where I stand.

The change in Australias defence strategy launched by the PM on 1 July was seismic and relevant to this issue. When considering any weapon system that has as much strategic, operational and tactical value as a submarine, and costs as much, it is wise to start with the overall strategy.

In essence, because of the change in our strategic environment, Australia now has a forward leaning defence strategy designed to shape the environment before conflict breaks out, to deter direct attacks on Australia, and if deterrence fails, to respond with force, another way of saying win.

The defence strategy says directly that Australia is able and willing to deploy military power to shape, deter and respond, which describes how we will fight the next war.

To implement what is essentially an operational concept, the government will allocate $270 billion over10 years for equipment, with manpower and operating costs additional.

To have the widest range of options for military commanders and governments in fighting future wars, we need submarines and big ones. The distances in our region are enormous, so they need endurance.

People forget how big the distances in our region are, or even just the length of our coast. We are not Sweden, Singapore, Germany or Norway. The distance from our east coast to our west coast is the same as that from London to Istanbul, regardless of whether we might want to deploy submarines to north Asia, the Indian Ocean or the South Pacific.

Big submarines are necessary for long deployments regardless of where the deployment goes, because one of the greatest assets of a submarine is to be on patrol for a long time and to hide.

In these days of wide area surveillance, submarines are vulnerable around their bases. As well, bigger boats can carry a range of weapons in addition to torpedoes, such as modern self-deploying sea mines, perhaps missiles or even special forces.

Bigger submarines then have options that do not involve returning to base to change loads.

Strategically, the role of submarines is to deter conflict by contributing to the operational and tactical defeat of an enemy force. Deterrence has the best chance of being achieved if a significant number of boats with a range of weapons can be deployed at any one time. A potential aggressor is never sure of their number or their location.

Nothing off-the-shelf can do this for Australia; the US are not going to lease nuclear boats to us. Apart from any considerations of national sovereignty and security, they also see the danger in our shared strategic environment. Starting this year, they are building three nuclear submarines each year, the most expensive US submarine building program since WW2.

This program, a combination of Columbia class ballistic missile boats and Virginia class attack submarines, is already stretching the USAs industrial capacity. We are on our own.

The number of boats needed by Australia is more difficult to quantify and twelve seemed arbitrary at the time, but not so much now within the current strategy.

The six Collins were intended to keep two operationally at sea most of the time which was world standard, and apparently now there are three Collins available for operational duties at any one time, another for training, one in light maintenance and one in deep maintenance, plus there is discussion of a life extension and upgrade.

Given the Attack Class submarines are unlikely to deliver operational capability until the mid- or late-2030s, the Collins will be around for a long time and then there will be a mix of Collins and Attacks.

The number of submarines needed to achieve deterrence for Australia in this new strategic environment will be well over six, probably at least nine, but 12 will be very good. Three to four submarines sustainably deployed is probably the strategic deterrent minimum and an operational one as well.

Some make the argument that the day of the submarine is over, that they can be found and destroyed now, and they are likely to be more vulnerable in the future.

Others of course make the point that nothing can survive in war on the surface of an ocean and so we should get rid of our surface ships. Everything in war is vulnerable to some extent, particularly mobile assets that operate in the atmosphere (aircraft and surface ships above the water) and fixed bases.

Advice is that research does not suggest to me that the relative difficulty of detecting submarines underwater by comparison with units which have to operate in the atmosphere is going to diminish. There is a big difference between getting an indication of a boat in an area and then localising it and a further difference between localising and achieving tracking quality sufficient to achieve a firing solution.

So you might know a submarine is around, but being able to destroy it is not as easy as some are saying. The updated strategy identifies the need for land-based anti-shipping missiles and I support this, while acknowledging that they are not a substitute for highly mobile submarines, surface combatants or aircraft, they are in addition.

For land-based missiles to survive in modern war, they need to be continually mobile, given the effectiveness of wide area surveillance.

Some related criticism of the Attack Class is that we are taking the nuclear reactor out of the French boat and replacing it with a diesel. That is unfairly simplistic and not the case. The Attack Class will be based on a French hull design but even that will be changed to suit our needs.

This boat is being designed now as a new vessel, and there are no grounds to say at this stage that it will not be an effective submarine.

I will not enter the argument of whether the costs have increased. Contracting and the costs have become a political issue and the ministers involved will handle that, but I acknowledge that everything in defence is expensive. We have tried fighting wars with the cheapest option and it does not go well.

Jim Molan is a senator for NSW. He retired as a major general from the Australian Army in 2008.

Op-Ed: Addressing concerns about the future submarines from a generals perspective

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Op-Ed: Addressing concerns about the future submarines from a general's perspective - Defence Connect

A Reduction in Government Support Blows New Challenges at the Wind Energy Industry, Sees Kline – GlobeNewswire

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

PARSIPPANY, NJ, July 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Driven by support from various governments, wind energy has grown rapidly since 2000. As a result, global lubricant demand in the wind energy industry has increased in line with the growth in total installed wind energy capacity. From 2008 to 2019, the global wind energy installed capacity grew at a CAGR of 16.6%, and lubricant consumption grew by a CAGR of 13%, shows Klines recently published Lubricants for Wind Turbines: Global Market Analysis and Opportunities study.

As the industry matures, governments are phasing out monetary incentives and emphasizing supporting legislation such as renewable energy targets, grid priority, and land allocations. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, government policies to jumpstart economies will put more pressure on finances; this may accelerate the phasing out of monetary incentives. The industry will have to learn to stand on its own.

To learn more about this changing market, ACCESS our recently held webinar,Outlook for Wind Turbine Lubricant Demand in the Current Economic Environment.

Currently, OEMs are experiencing tough market conditions due to the phase-out of subsidies. Senvion, a German wind turbine manufacturer, filed for bankruptcy in April 2019. Nordex recently announced a merger with the Spanish renewable energy company, Acciona Windpower. In emerging markets, Suzlonthe largest OEM in terms of cumulative capacity installed in Indiais now on the brink of bankruptcy. The capital expenditure of wind power projects has also dropped by 10% to 15% after the transition from feed-in tariffs to reverse auctions.

The wind energy sector is dominated by a few global players, and OEM ties are increasingly important. The supply base for lubricants used in wind turbines is also largely consolidated in the hands of a few key companies. Global majors such as Castrol, ExxonMobil, and Shell are present in almost all markets. The study shows that Castrol is the global leader in the lubricants market for wind energy with a supply footprint covering all major regions.

To succeed in this business, suppliers need to have a proven track record of products meeting OEMs performance requirements, the ability to demonstrate cost savings, and OEM tie-ups, comments Milind Phadke, Vice President, Energy at Kline. Castrol leads the market due to a strong product portfolio and tie-ups with such OEMs as Vestas and Siemens Gamesa, giving the company access to their first-fill and warranty fill business. This gives Castrol a strong position in Europe, North America, and India, along with a global leadership position.

Srikanth Visvanathan, Global Marketing Director for Castrol Commercial Vehicles and Industrial, says: Our leading position in wind, with 33% of the market, reflects our commitment to providing innovative lubricants and service solutions. With BP and our affiliate Onyx Insight, we can provide improved efficiency, lower downtime, and lower the levelized cost of energy for our customers.

We are the trusted supplier for thousands of wind turbine OEMs and wind farm operators worldwide, from first-fill through the entire working life, providing them with the ultimate lubricants and optimized service solutions that help extend the asset life. Castrols combination of industry experts and suite of wind solutions is designed to drive the success of the wind sector, delivering high-grade lubricants, advanced analytics, and expert training to upskill wind technicians.

Observing the rapid growth in the industry, new participants are trying to enter this market. These include mid-tier lubricant companies with a presence in the synthetics business. However, new suppliers face several entry barriers, including a rigorous approval process, a good track record as a supplier, and a performance history of new product development. The industry is risk-averse, and this results in an extension of warranties and the use of the same products outside the warranty period.

Despite the reduction in government support, the wind energy sector continues to receive support. Germany is likely to support local OEMsSiemens Gamesa, Enercon, and Nordexwhich have a strong global footprint. Governments are unlikely to withdraw complete support for the wind energy industry, as this will be difficult politically. However, they may reduce their support by decreasing the quantum of subsidies that they currently provide. Monetary subsidies will be replaced with favorable legislation (as in Germany), such as renewable energy targets, grid priority, and land allocations.

As per the GWEC outlook for spring 2020, new installations should grow at a CAGR of 4.1%, from 60.4 GW in 2019 to 73.4 GW in 2024. As a result, total installed wind energy capacity is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.1% over the forecast period to reach 1,005.0 GW by 2024 from 650.1 GW in 2019. While not as strong as in previous years, the growth in new installations will continue to drive growth in the lubricants market. Besides the growth, other factors, including green image and high-margin business for lubricant marketers, will attract lubricant suppliers.

The information is sourced from our just-published studyLubricants for Wind Turbines: Global Market Analysis and Opportunities.

About Kline Kline is a worldwide consulting and research firm dedicated to providing the kind of insight and knowledge that helps companies find a clear path to success. The firm has served the management consulting and market research needs of organizations in the agrochemicals, beauty & personal care, chemicals & materials, energy, and life sciences industries for more than 60 years. For more information, visit http://www.KlineGroup.com.

Bruce Power partners with university to advance nuclear technologies – BlackburnNews.com

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

By Ryan Drury July 18, 2020 6:00am

Bruce Power is partnering with McMaster University following an announcement on July 17th.

The new partnership will see Bruce Power and McMaster work together todevelop, advance and promote nuclear technologies in Ontario, including next generation reactors, life extension and medical isotopes.

Bruce Power and McMaster initially linked up over a shared roleas leaders in the globalmedical isotope supply chain. McMaster is home toCanadas most powerful nuclear researchreactor, and is the leading producer in the world ofIodine-125. They also are a major supplier ofHolmium-166, and both are used to treat various cancers.

This is an exciting day as we mark the beginning of a renewed partnership to explore avenues of collaboration with one of Canadas most reputable universities, says Mike Rencheck, Bruce Powers President and CEO. We want to ensure Canada remains at the forefront of global isotope development and production, while advancing new technologies around life extension and new reactor development. Todays announcement is a big step forward in achieving these goals.

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Bruce Power partners with university to advance nuclear technologies - BlackburnNews.com

Will Congress throw the American economy off a cliff? – The Week

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

America is careening towards an economic cliff. The resurgence of the coronavirus pandemic is clearly beginning to bite the economies of many states, and deeper recessionary forces are taking hold. Eviction moratoriums are set to end in many states at the end of the month, and 28 million people could become homeless in a matter of weeks. Perhaps most importantly, the huge boost to unemployment insurance that Congress passed as part of the CARES Act is going to expire on July 25 sucking billions of dollars of spending out of the economy, and driving millions more Americans into destitution.

Republicans in Congress, of course, have been dithering and procrastinating. After taking a two-week vacation, it looks extremely unlikely that they will get anything passed before the program expires, and they may not do anything at all. The effect would be to fling America into the economic abyss.

As I have written before, super-unemployment is the only thing keeping tens of millions of Americans from starving indeed, the program is by far the most generous thing the federal government has done for lower-income people in generations. It is also the main thing propping up spending more broadly, and hence supporting tens of millions of other jobs that depend on benefit-collectors having money in their pockets.

Republicans, of course, are mad about exactly this generosity. They hate the fact that the program pays people who make less than the average wage more if they get laid off. Not only is that a completely goofy objection at a time when there are four job-seekers for every available job, and during a pandemic in which we shouldn't want most people to work in any case, these objections could also be addressed. The federal government could nationalize the unemployment system, and set up a program that pays people 100 percent of their previous income. Or they could add more money to the next round of stimulus checks, or both.

Furthermore, there are much more serious problems with unemployment insurance than generosity. Millions of eligible laid-off people have not been getting their benefits because state unemployment systems are either ancient and decrepit or have been deliberately designed to not pay out benefits. Something very badly needs to be done either to help and/or force states to fix their systems, or simply take over the administration entirely.

Yet Senate Republicans have not even mentioned fixing janky state unemployment bureaucracies. Instead, they watched the weeks pass while the super-unemployment expiration timer ticked towards zero, and at least eight other vital priorities went unaddressed. Only over the last week or so have Republicans started serious negotiation with House Democrats and the White House. President Trump abruptly added a payroll tax holiday to his list of demands recently an idea that isn't terrible but doesn't seem to have much congressional support which throws an additional wrench in the negotiation process.

I have been watching both American political parties fail to rise to the occasion for my entire adult life, yet I confess the complete lack of urgency in facing this problem is still astonishing. House Democrats have passed a six-month extension of super-employment in the HEROES Act, but with few exceptions they have not tried to pressure Republicans by screaming bloody murder day in and day out. As usual, they seem to hope the economic pressure will do the political work for them.

If the U.S. had any kind of real democratic culture, members of Congress would not be so cavalier about twiddling their thumbs while millions of people are teetering on the edge of destitution. Franklin Roosevelt correctly viewed his New Deal program as necessary to preserve the republic if the national government cannot arrange things such that the people have something to eat and a roof over their heads, it risks falling to a revolution. Incumbent political leaders often fare less than well when that happens. But many Republicans are not only resistant to further pandemic rescues, they straight-up oppose them.

Americans have long been one of the most docile, easily-bullied peoples on Earth. As David Bentley Hart writes, most of us passively accept the kind of abuse from our government that would have other democratic nations in flames (in part because of our brutally authoritarian criminal punishment system, to be fair). But one cannot count on that forever. A downtrodden people may endure horrible treatment for years, only for a spark to set off destabilizing unrest. That was what happened with the George Floyd movement against police brutality, which were probably the largest mass protests in American history, and still continue in many cities. If members of Congress don't want to end up like the clueless leaders of other crumbling governments, I suggest they take the welfare of their constituents more seriously.

Will Congress throw the American economy off a cliff? - The Week

Fidelity Bank and Prudential Life Insurance to extend bancassurance deal by 10 years – BusinessGhana

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

10-year exclusive strategic bancassurance agreement with one of Ghanas largest banks, aims for growth in key marketFidelity Bank Ghana Limited, the largest private indigenous bank in Ghana, and Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, one of the leading insurers in the country, have today announced a 10-year extension to their exclusive bancassurance agreement, which began in 2015.

By combining Prudentials globally trusted insurance expertise and best-in-class products with Fidelitys customer-focused approach, strong distribution network and talented banking professionals, the extended partnership will continue to deliver comprehensive savings, protection and health solutions to more than 1 million Fidelity customers.

Prudential and Fidelity have already demonstrated that when two of Ghanas leading financial services organisations come together, they can deliver huge benefits to customers.

Were excited to build on the success of our partnership to date, through our multi-channel approach, innovative products and distribution expertise to serve the savings, protection and health needs of all Fidelity customers, said Matt Lilley, CEO, Prudential Africa.

Emmanuel Mokobi Aryee, CEO of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana said: We are delighted to extend our mutually successful strategic partnership with Fidelity.

We have demonstrated our strengths to deliver insurance protection tailored to our customers needs.

We look forward to continuing to work with Fidelity, securing a safer future for our customers in Ghana.

Julian Kingsley Opuni, Managing Director of Fidelity Bank noted that: Fidelity is excited to be extending our partnership with Prudential.

As a customer-centric organization, our focus is on delivering superior banking products and services to our customers.

Signing this extension with Prudential is further evidence of our commitment to provide our customers with exceptional products and services that extends beyond their traditional banking needs.

Nana Esi Idun-Arkhurst, Divisional Director, Retail Banking at Fidelity Bank shared that the partnership with Prudential allows Fidelity to provide our diverse base of customers with the necessary benefit of insurance cover across the broad spectrum of our products.

She further commented that the extended partnership incorporates technological innovations that are in line with Fidelitys digital transformation agenda in order to provide added value and convenience to our customers.

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Fidelity Bank and Prudential Life Insurance to extend bancassurance deal by 10 years - BusinessGhana

Fugro starts Vattenfall site investigations at two UK offshore wind farms – GISuser.com

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Fugrohas beguna four-month marine site characterisationcampaignforSwedish energy groupVattenfallattwo majoroffshore wind development siteslocatedover 40kmoff the coast of Norfolk, UK. Theresulting Geo-datafromFugros geotechnical investigationswillfeed into the ground model forthe Norfolk Vanguard andNorfolk Boreas wind farms, which will have a total installed capacity of 3.6GW,enough to power more than 3.9million homes.

Fugro has mobilised the Fugro Scout to perform surveys and sampling on their latest site characterisation campaign for Vattenfall off the coast of Norfolk, UK

Working from its dynamically positioned (DP2)geotechnicaldrillshipFugro Scout, Fugro is performing surveys and samplingusingits proprietarySEACALFMk VDeepDrivecone penetration testing systemat both sites,and will carry outtestingbothin situ and at the companys world-class soilslaboratoriesinWallingford,UK,and Nootdorpin theNetherlands.Thesite characterisationworkis split across twoprojects:thefirstwillhelpVattenfalloptimisethewind turbinefoundationengineeringdesign;thesecondwillassistVattenfallinselectingthemost efficient cable route from the onshore substation to the turbines.

Rob Anderson, Project Director of Vattenfall UKs Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas Projects,said:The Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas projects are huge and complicated infrastructure projects requiring long-term planning and support from specialistservice providersduring their development and beyond.We are pleased to partner with Fugro on these important site investigationprojects,who we can rely on to providethe necessaryGeo-dataforthe next phase of engineering and procurement.

John ten Hoope, Fugros Marine Site Characterisation Directorfor Europe and Africa, said: Wehave beena trusted partner of Vattenfallin Europe formany years. These latestoffshore windcontracts havefurtherstrengthenedour workingrelationship, which is based not only on Fugro consistently delivering technical excellence but also on shared company valuesto create a safe and liveable world.

ClickheretowatchashortvideoofFugrosintegratedsolutionfordevelopingoffshorewind farms.

https://www.fugro.com/your-industry/power/offshore-wind

About Fugro

Fugro is the worlds leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analysing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Adopting an integrated approach that incorporates acquisition and analysis of Geo-data and related advice, Fugro provides solutions. With expertise in site characterisation and asset integrity, clients are supported in the safe, sustainable and efficient design, construction and operation of their assets throughout the full lifecycle.

Employing approximately9,500talented people in 61countries, Fugro serves clients around the globe, predominantly in the energy and infrastructure industries, both offshore and onshore. In 2019, revenue amounted to EUR1.6 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.

About Vattenfall

Vattenfall is a leading European energy company, which for morethan 100 years has electrified industries, supplied energy to peoples homes and modernised our way of living through innovation and cooperation. We now want to make fossil free living possible within one generation. Thats why we are driving the transition to a sustainable energy system through initiatives in renewable production and climate smart energy solutions for our customers. We employ approximately 20,000 people and have operations mainly in Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the UK and Finland. Vattenfall is owned by the Swedish state.

Vattenfall has been working in the UK for more than ten years, developing fossil free energy projects. We have grown our windbusiness from one project in 2008 to 11 today. We continue to grow in district heating and power networks, to make fossil free living possible within one generation.

Vattenfall is planning two offshore wind farms off the coast of Norfolk that could power more than 3.9 million UK homes. Norfolk Vanguard has been granted consent and Norfolk Boreas is in the examination phase, with a final consent decision expected in April 2021.

http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/vattenfallinnorfolk

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Fugro starts Vattenfall site investigations at two UK offshore wind farms - GISuser.com

The Pros And Cons Of Expanding United States Offshore Aquaculture In 2020 – Forbes

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

An aerial view of an in-ocean salmon farm in Norway.

An executive order issued by President Donald Trump on May 7th moved to open up federal waters to commercial fish farming (aquaculture). The area has previously been off-limits. The executive order intends to promote U.S. seafood production and create a hassle-free regulatory process for offshore aquaculture projects. While the aquaculture industry is celebrating, many conservationists and commercial fishers are not happy with the move.

Coastal waters in the U.S. are managed in zones under different authorities. The Submerged Lands Act of 1953 secured state control over waters from the coastline to three miles out to sea. Beyond that mark, waters are federally managed to 200 miles offshore. This federal zone is called the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). While nearshore aquaculture in the U.S. is regulated by states, there is currently no explicit authority in charge of permitting and regulating aquaculture in federal waters, which provides a significant stumbling block for anyone interested in starting up an offshore fish farm. The executive order designates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the government agency lead on all aquaculture projects in the EEZ and also requires that all permitting decisions on new aquaculture projects be made within two years, significantly speeding up the process. An executive order is needed to establish priority amongst the many agencies that have authority in the offshore space, says Margaret Henderson, campaign manager for the aquaculture lobby group Stronger America Through Seafood.

Despite having the largest EEZ in the world, the U.S. currently has no commercial fish farms in any of it. NOAA fishery statistics indicate that approximately 90% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, however this estimate is debated by some that argue that it is far less given the fact that much of the fish caught in the U.S. is exported for processing, only to be sent back to be consumed. Regardless of the percentage, proponents argue that expanding U.S. offshore aquaculture will lower imports and stimulate domestic production.

After taking a beating in sales during the coronavirus pandemic, the seafood industry is still not where it once was. With at least 70% of seafood going to restaurants, the pandemic lockdowns have disproportionately affected sales for seafood suppliers. The executive order provides a way forward for aquaculture projects that have been stalled due to burdensome processes and restrictions. However some argue that by boosting aquaculture, wild fisheries would face even more competition.

Some argue that putting fish farms in our federal waters is short-sighted and ill-informed. Concerns over the spread of disease, antibiotic use, and escapes from fish farms are driving the backlash against the executive order. Another concern is the amount of fish waste that will be deposited in the ocean, which could cause algal blooms due to increased levels of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. Although studies have been done to assess impact of potential offshore farms, scale is an important factor. Impacts seen at a large commercial scale may not be represented in the studies.

These concerns are nothing new, and are rooted in examples from history. However aquaculture has come a long way since its nascent years. Bryton Shang, CEO of tech startup Aquabyte, which uses machine learning to advance aquaculture sustainability, believes that the use of technology in aquaculture will eliminate many of these concerns. Using cameras mounted in fish pens, they can now count the sea lice on each individual fish to keep infestations under control. They also built fish facial recognition software which can determine individual fish size and growth to avoid overfeeding. Cameras can also be used to inspect for damage before there is a catastrophic breakdown leading to escapes. The technology is being used in offshore farms in Norway already.

While in-ocean aquaculture has seen many advancements in technology and infrastructure in recent years, accidents and mishaps still occur. Strong storms can break cages and lead to escapes. Escape of farmed fish is problematic because interbreeding of farmed and wild fish can diminish the fitness of wild species. Shang says that there are still challenges to offshore development; You need to be able to operate these farms without anyone there, which requires more automation, you need to also make sure that theyre managing pollution and parasites, which is where technology can help, but he is confident that the U.S., while late to the game of offshore aquaculture, can benefit from the advancements that have already been developed around the world to start strong.

The aquaculture industry is pushing hard for offshore production, saying that compared to other forms of protein, seafood is about as environmentally-friendly as it gets. Faced with an exploding population, advocates say we have to think about the inevitable: feeding more people with the same amount of space. Farming fish in greater volumes is one proposed solution, and doing so in our own waters makes economic sense. Environmentalists argue that we should not rush to bolster the industry without sound science to back up the claims that the environment will be protected. If the impact turns out to be worse than advertised there may be a big environmental price to pay.

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The Pros And Cons Of Expanding United States Offshore Aquaculture In 2020 - Forbes

Swire Blue Ocean to Install Seagreen Turbines – Offshore WIND

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Danzig

Swire Blue Ocean (SBO) has secured a contract with MHI Vestas for the transportation and installation of turbines at the Seagreen offshore wind project in Scotland.

Seagreen will comprise 114 MHI Vestas V164-10 MW turbines located some 27 kilometers off the Angus coast.

SBO expects to commence the installation of the units in the second half of 2021.

Upon completion of Seagreen, offshore wind turbines installed by our vessels should be capable of meeting the energy needs of more than half of Scottish households; which is a great achievement for our company, said SBO CEO Mikkel Gleerup.

We could not have reached this phenomenal milestone without committed project partners such as MHI Vestas and SSE, companies that have demonstrated dedication to the expansion of offshore wind in Scotland.

SSE Renewables reachedthe final investment decision (FID)for Seagreen in early June, when it also announced that Total would take a 51% stake in the project.

The 1,075 MW wind farm is planned to be commissioned in 2024.

Swire Blue Ocean to Install Seagreen Turbines - Offshore WIND

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