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thepublicnews · 4 years

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How Profit and Incompetence Delayed N95 Masks While People Died at the VA

Federal agencies have hired contractors with no experience to find respirators and masks, fueling a black market filled with price gouging and multiple layers of profiteering brokers. One contractor called them “buccaneers and pirates.”

N95 respirator masks manufactured by 3M.

Before embarking on a 36-hour tour through an underground of contractors and middlemen trying to make a buck on the nation’s desperate need for masks, entrepreneur Robert Stewart Jr. offered an unusual caveat.

“I’m talking with you against the advice of my attorney,” the man in the shiny gray suit, an American Flag button with the word “VETERAN” pinned to his blazer, said as we boarded a private jet Saturday from the executive wing at Dulles International Airport.

It remains a mystery why the CEO of Federal Government Experts LLC let me observe his frantic effort to find 6 million N95 respirators and the ultimate unraveling of his $34.5 million deal to supply them to the Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, where 20 VA staff have died of COVID-19 while the agency waits for masks.

It’s also unclear why the VA gave Stewart’s fledgling business — which had no experience selling medical equipment, no supply chain expertise and very little credit — an important contract. Or why the VA agreed to pay nearly $5.75 per mask, a 350% markup from the manufacturer’s list price. In the end, after ProPublica asked questions about the deal this week, the VA quickly terminated it and referred the case to its inspector general for investigation.

Stewart maintained he was trying to do a public service and plans to tell investigators how he was taken for a ride by “buccaneers and pirates,” the multiple layers of intermediaries, fixers and lawyers standing between respirator mask producers and front-line workers who are dying without them.

I had first contacted Stewart last Friday after a ProPublica analysis of federal contracting data showed this sizable deal was his company’s first — and had been awarded without the usual bidding meant to weed out companies that can’t deliver.

Stewart wasn’t alone. The coronavirus pandemic had unleashed a bonanza for untested contractors riding a wave of unprecedented demand and scarcity of everything from hand sanitizer to ICU beds. So far, the administration of President Donald Trump has handed out at least $5.1 billion in no-bid contracts to address the pandemic, federal purchasing data shows. The VA, far more than any other agency, appeared to be awarding large contracts to little-known vendors in search of the personal protective equipment that’s pitted local, state and federal agencies against one another.

I wanted to know how a company the 34-year-old Stewart had formed two years earlier had gotten one of the largest no-bid contracts. And, more importantly, could it fulfill it?

There was reason to wonder. A quick Google search showed large portions of the text on FGE’s company website had been lifted verbatim from a 1982 Harvard Business Review article. The company primarily advertised IT consulting and advertised a “block chain” A.I. solution to government procurement, whatever that means. But I found nothing suggesting the company could buy and ship life-saving medical equipment — and fast.

In a phone call, Stewart was defensive about an article on federal contracts in The Wall Street Journal that he believed unfairly painted him as a crook. His mother was so upset she wrote a letter to the editor. “My mom and dad raised me to be a man of integrity,” he said.

That’s when the first inconsistency arose. The Journal quoted Stewart as saying he was at the Port of Los Angeles “looking at a few million masks” and “getting ready to step on a Boeing 737 to bring the masks to the VA.”

He told me, however, that he had been in self-quarantine and hadn’t traveled anywhere since Christmas.

But he said he did have 6 million N95 respirators masks lined up in Los Angeles and would be getting a “proof of life video,” in the form of cellphone footage of scores of boxes with 3M labels, sent from an unidentified sender. The next day, he planned to take a private plane to the VA distribution center outside of Chicago to witness the delivery. I asked to tag along.

So here we were, aboard a whirring Legacy 450 Flexjet replete with leather captains’ chairs, dozens of liquor shooters, snacks and two pilots curious as to why we were stopping in Columbus, Georgia, en route to Chicago. It was a pit stop to pick up Stewart’s parents to bring them along for what was supposed to be a proud moment.

“This is about helping folks, about being able to say to my mom and dad, ‘Thank you,’” he said. “All the work you did, now we are about to help 6 million people — well, 6 million masks.”

“Kind of a Faith Thing”

For a man who said he had spent weeks of sleepless nights in search of masks and learning shipping logistics, Stewart exuded the confidence of a magician about to perform his career-defining trick. But his next act was already falling apart.

We were midair when Stewart revealed that the 6 million masks that were supposedly in LA had slipped from his grasp and been sold to another buyer when he didn’t produce the money fast enough. So, he had no masks.

This was the second time Stewart said he had lost a mask supply before he could get his hands on it. He had tried earlier in April to procure masks from China, but that failed when the Chinese government took control of its mask-producing companies and limited exports.

Robert Stewart Jr. checks his phone during a flight to Columbus, Georgia.

I asked why on earth we were flying to Chicago to try to meet the VA’s midnight delivery deadline if he didn’t already have the N95s.

“It was kind of a faith thing,” he said.

For 24 hours, Stewart had frantically reached out to contacts he had made as a former contract officer for the Pentagon. And early Friday, just one day before his shipment was due to the VA, Stewart said he got connected to a fixer in the U.S.

The fixer was Troy King, a former attorney general of Alabama who had just lost a run for Congress in that state’s 2nd District. Stewart said King connected him to an unidentified distributor, who could then connect him with 3M, the manufacturer of N95s, which block 95% of small particles such as those carrying COVID-19. Stewart said King also promised to arrange financing so FGE could get the deal done fast.

“When you’re a poor kid from Alabama,” Stewart said, “you do what you need to do to get the job done.”

Much of what Stewart told me either proved false or impossible to confirm, which he says is because he was being lied to by brokers and middlemen. For instance, he claimed to have a contact within the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Vice President Mike Pence, who was working to help him smooth the deal over with VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. But when I asked spokespeople with the task force and the VA about the name he cited, no one had ever heard of her or had employment records for someone by that name.

Stewart said King was the one who claimed to have Pence task force connections and was brokering the deal through an Alabama LLC, Bear Mountain Development Company. King would charge a broker’s fee for connecting FGE to the distributor, Stewart said, and the payout would depend on shipment volume. But the price per mask kept changing. King told Stewart it would cost him $4.90 per mask — without shipping or overhead — to get the supplies from the distributor, according to text messages Stewart shared.

King did not respond to my calls or emails, but through a spokeswoman said he talked to Stewart because he was having trouble getting masks.

“I worked all weekend to locate 3M masks that were available. The only 3M masks we could source for him were priced at $4.90 per mask, which is the price that we were being charged by our supplier.”

King said no cash changed hands and that he thought he might forgo the broker fee.

“Due to the fact that these products were for use in veterans’ facilities, we agreed that our efforts might end up being an uncompensated public service,” the statement said.

The deal’s tenuous nature — a broker Stewart didn’t know, buying from a seller he didn’t know, financed by someone he didn’t know — seemed a profound and expensive leap of faith. But Stewart was convinced that he was “getting the VA a good thing at a good price.”

He had been called to action, he said, after seeing a CNN segment where a nurse described making her own face shield out of plastic film. As a former Air Force officer, he said he felt compelled to help.

“The goal here is not to get rich,” he said. FGE would be lucky to pocket about 10 cents a mask, he said, somewhere around $600,000, when the VA got its goods.

Yet we were bobbing around on a lavish jet, when commercial flights were available at about one one-hundredth of the cost per ticket.

Stewart spent more than $22,000 to travel on this private plane.

When I asked why he spent more than $22,000 on a private plane, he said it was to prove he was no fly-by-nighter but a reputable government contractor.

“It comes down to me and my credibility,” he said. “Why would anybody pay $22,000 to have a ghost box delivery? It doesn’t make any sense.”

This was money out of FGE’s pocket. The government typically doesn’t pay vendors like Stewart until the goods are delivered. (ProPublica reimbursed FGE for the cost of a commercial ticket.)

Stewart pulled a faded Bible from his bag and talked about miracles. His chance to prove himself on this deal, he said, is a small miracle.

“Awarding a $34.5 million contract to a small company without any supply chain experience,” he mused. “Why would you do that?”

Price Gouging?

Why the VA would do that is a lingering question. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency is officially leading the effort to scrounge up PPE, reportedly plucking shipments out from under states and other parts of the executive branch, the VA made its own supply purchases in March and April.

But despite signing 1,100 contracts worth $591 million just for PPE, the VA has experienced a devastating shortage for weeks. Nurses and doctors are reusing masks, avoiding patients and rationing gear. As BuzzFeed News reported April 7, despite the VA’s public assurances that the supply chain was “kicked into full gear,” leaders at one hospital said nurses and doctors were allowed only one surgical mask per shift. The more effective N95 masks, which the VA hired Stewart and his company to hunt down three days later, were in such short supply that they could only be used if there was a high chance of aerosolization, meaning the virus was believed to be temporarily airborne.

Though Stewart repeatedly promised to show me his original VA contract pitch, he ultimately declined to share it. What is clear is that FGE, which is designated as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, had a competitive advantage in securing work at the VA, which sets aside certain contracts for small veteran-owned companies. Stewart declined to talk about how he qualifies as disabled.

Stewart said his deal’s cost was being driven up by high demand and by the brokers trying to collect “success fees.” While he said King never disclosed his fees, he showed me another contract with a different broker. That offer, which FGE declined, would have paid 5 cents a mask — about $300,000 — to the broker setting up the deal.

Ken Curley, a retired Army colonel whose company works with local governments and hospitals to order masks outside of this emerging black market, called the FGE deal “absolutely” a case of price gouging. “So you have a $4.90 mask before you put it on a truck?” he said. “It’s insanity.”

Curley’s company, Raymond Associates LLC, drafted a best practices paper for buyers like local hospitals, pointing out that 3M’s list price for masks like those Stewart was attempting to purchase was $1.27. After shipping costs and overhead, the end price should realistically be around $2 a mask, he said.

“So anybody that’s above that number is gouging,” Curley said. “And they know it.”

Curley said he’s seen numerous offers for respirators, many of which did not really exist, and turned away brokers working through multiple layers of intermediaries. To avoid this, he recommends “a single line” between the distributor and the government agency buying the product, meaning there’s only one facilitator.

Sergio Fernández de Córdova, who chairs a media nonprofit in New York, is working with Curley to help government agencies get reputable masks at better prices. Government agencies are partly to blame, he said, because they’re desperately handing out big contracts to unknown companies and paying exorbitant prices for whatever comes back. In the FGE deal, for instance, the VA essentially set its high price when it agreed to 6 million units at $34.5 million.

“They’re approving it,” he said. “So that’s why people don’t see a problem with it.”

Though several states have clear price gouging laws, those rules don’t apply to federal government purchases.

“It is the Wild West and a loophole — that’s why so many lawyers are involved,” Fernández de Córdova said. “We’ve seen deals with lawyers making a couple hundred grand.”

3M has filed lawsuits in at least five states against people selling its respirators and masks at obscene markups. The Justice Department is also hunting down alleged scammers, such as two California men who were arrested for selling Chinese versions of the N95 respirators, KN95s, which they didn’t actually possess.

Stewart had read about those cases and had been given a copy of Curley’s best practices memo, and it clearly worried him.

“I’m just trying to fulfill my obligation and not go to jail,” he said.

Empty Hotel, Empty Promises

At 11 a.m. Saturday, Flight N407FX skidded onto warm asphalt in Columbus.

Stewart’s mother and father were waiting with luggage, while a few other family members came by to take pictures.

Also joining us was Dawn Lockhart, Stewart’s friend from middle school whom he had hired as FGE’s human resources director. She, like me, had been told by Stewart that everyone on board would have access to an N95 mask for protection on the flight. But there were none.

Despite his company’s moniker, there seemed nothing expert about this operation. Stewart said his company lawyer had missed the flight because he slept in. Lockhart, who joked that she was wearing a skirt and heels for the first time in three years, was flipping through a textbook titled “Strategic Staffing.”

Stewart was building his company, like this deal, in midflight.

Once we were airborne, Stewart said he had found a new mask supplier in Atlanta who could quickly deliver to Chicago.

He said that once we landed he would drop his folks off at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort just outside of Chicago and then he and I would take a taxi over to the VA distribution center and wait for a mask delivery “even if we have to wait until 3 a.m.”

But we never left the confines of the vast and vacant Hilton, where two employees sat bored behind makeshift plexiglass barriers.

In the lobby, Stewart worked the phones. He needed the VA to sign off on his new arrangement, but to win approval, he needed invoices and other documentation that he said King wasn’t sending over.

Just before 2 p.m., King had sent the “proof of life” video that Stewart said he’d been asking for, according to text messages Stewart later shared. The grainy cellphone video pans over what appear to be hundreds of boxes labeled 3M, but it was unclear what was in the boxes or where they were.

Text messages between Troy King and Stewart.

By 3 p.m. Stewart had been joined by several friends and associates, including Roosevelt “Trey” Daniels of Frontline Recovery, a Houston disaster recovery firm. Daniels connected FGE to King.

Stewart and Daniels made dozens of calls — to King, to trucking companies, to cargo jet owners. “Hey, Frank,” Daniels said into his cell. “Who is a good freight company?” And that would lead to the next call and the next.

By 5:20, Daniels had suggested they send a portion of the shipment by truck to Illinois, while they figured out how to get the rest on planes. Stewart insisted that he wanted to get the whole shipment there at once.

Then, a new idea emerged. Maybe they could buy some time by getting the VA to agree to an extension. Daniels had worked as a district director for U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat, and got her office to draft a letter in support of FGE.

“Can you lend your voice to this veteran-owned, African American business?” Daniels said he asked the congresswoman. “And she said yes. She’s always willing to go to bat for folks who are trying to do the right thing.”

Stewart drafted a formal extension request, citing provisions in federal contracting law. As the evening wore on, what was at first frenetic determination to pull off a miracle subsided into resignation and then into finger-pointing — at King, the VA bureaucracy, the market itself.

Daniels says the deal went south because King and Stewart faced a challenging market, trying to move cash too fast, while the federal government doesn’t provide enough guidance for vendors.

“This situation with Troy King and Rob Stewart is you really have two good guys who had a lot of miscommunications,” he said. “One wasn’t communicating enough. One had his back against the wall.”

“Robert Stewart is a good guy,” Daniels said. “He’s a very honest guy.”

The group ordered tacos for what Stewart said was the company’s “last supper.” “I’ve done everything I can do,” Stewart said. “I called in every favor I had.”

A Federal Investigation

The next morning, as the dejected party boarded for a return flight, the pilot asked: “Anything I can get you before we take off?”

“Six million N95 masks,” Stewart quipped.

We landed in Georgia an hour and a half later, Stewart snapped photos with his family in front of the jet, and the two of us took off for Dulles.

The CEO was in the same gray suit as the previous day, now wrinkled. With his friends and family gone, his joviality had given way to exhaustion and the realization that this article probably wasn’t going to be one he liked. The optics of the private jet, he said, would not be good.

“The only reason I took the plane was because of my parents,” he said. “They’re old and I didn’t want them to get sick, and I wanted them to see this. I wanted to say thank you.”

Stewart said he had severed ties with King the previous night. Stewart said he and his team couldn’t track down any Juanita Ramos, the connection King purported to have to Pence’s task force. And King hadn’t sent over the invoice he needed for the VA.

“I absolutely do believe he made her up,” Stewart said Wednesday. King did not respond to a question about Ramos.

“He’s the one that made up this figment Ramos lady,” Stewart added. “I didn’t make that up.”

“After several conversations over the weekend, Mr. Stewart informed us that he had secured these masks through another source and that he would not need our services to secure the masks,” King said through a spokesperson. “There have been no further conversations between Mr. Stewart and me. No agreement was ever made, no contract was ever executed, and no money was ever exchanged.”

Stewart believes there were never any masks in LA or Atlanta.

“Every time you get ready to do the due diligence or whatever else — you ask to see the proof of life — people go: ‘Oh, well we don’t have that. We have this kind. Or we can’t do that until this week or this date.’ Stuff just never materializes. It’s a bunch of smoke and mirrors and ghosts.”

Stewart, to the end, maintained he would find a way to get masks to the VA. He followed up with the VA, offering a contract to get on a production line directly from 3M, at a cheaper cost, just $3.77 a mask.

But the VA terminated the deal Wednesday, after I inquired with the agency and a spokesperson for Pence’s task force. The agency didn’t tell Stewart directly, though he said he was made aware of the IG investigation.

“The story is that we started out trying to do the best thing for the country,” Stewart said. “I failed in that, ultimately.”

Back in DC, I asked a VA spokesperson why any of this, the FGE contract and intermediaries, was even necessary. Couldn’t the VA just buy masks directly?

The agency is waiting, along with much of the federal government, on FEMA, said spokeswoman Christina Noel. More than 166 million respirators are being produced by 3M under the Defense Production Act over the next few months, “some of which are being provided to the VA.”

In the meantime, the VA was hiring contractors to scour for additional masks.

“To meet the remainder of its N95 respirator needs, VA conducts additional acquisition activities with other vendors,” Noel said.

In the end, the VA ended up with precisely zero additional N95 masks from its deal with Stewart.

On the up side, the VA paid no money to FGE, Noel said.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,200 VA employees had tested positive for COVID-19.

#tumblr milestone #viralpost #news #world news

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pearlsmith25 · 4 months

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Unleashing Creativity: A Deep Dive into the Washable Finger Paint Market

Washable finger paint refers to paint that can be used by children for creativity and artistic expression. It allows children to freely explore their imagination on various surfaces like paper, cardboard, walls etc without the fear of creating permanent stains that are difficult to remove. Finger paint comes in vibrant colors and has a creamy texture that is safe if ingested. It washes off easily with just soap and water without any harsh chemicals. The global Washable Finger Paint Market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2,363.3 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.9% over the forecast period 2023 to 2030, as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights.

Market Opportunity:

The growing emphasis on the importance of creativity and art-based learning in early childhood development is expected to drive the demand for washable finger paints. Arts and crafts play a critical role in child development as it allows children to express themselves freely. It also helps in developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, colors recognition and self-expression. Moreover, with rising disposable incomes, parents are increasingly encouraging art-based hobbies and skills in their children at an early age. This growing interest towards fostering creativity and skills through mediums like finger painting is expected to present lucrative opportunities for players in the washable finger paint market over the forecast period.

Porter's Analysis Threat of new entrants: Low capital requirements and established distribution channels reduce barriers for new companies. However, existing players have strong brand recognition and supply contracts that deter start-ups.

Bargaining power of buyers: Individual consumers have limited influence over pricing due to the availability of many alternatives. However, larger retailers can negotiate lower prices due to bulk orders.

Bargaining power of suppliers: Key raw materials include pigments, binders, and packaging. Suppliers wield some power as production scale is required, though different formula options offer flexibility.

Threat of new substitutes: Temporary tattoos, sticker art, or digital coloring apps pose threats but lack the tactile experience of finger paint. Traditional paints provide substitution but are less portable and washable.

Competitive rivalry: The market is fragmented with several private label brands competing on price against global labels with strong brand awareness. Marketing to children through school programs drives competitive promotions.

SWOT Analysis Strengths: Finger paint fosters creativity in children and easy cleanup allows use anywhere. Established brands have built trust over decades satisfying safety, quality and play value.

Weaknesses: Single-use packaging raises per-unit costs versus refill options. Liquid formulations can leak or dry out quickly impacting shelf life.

Opportunities: Partnerships with educational toy retailers and programs reach parents. Online reviews and learning videos expand reach to new customers.

Threats: Rising raw material prices from supply issues can squeeze margins. Strict regulations around ingredients may impact existing SKUs.

Key Takeaways The global washable finger paint market is expected to witness high growth over the forecast period supported by rising disposable incomes of parents. Rising awareness towards the importance of cognitive development in kids is driving sales.

Regional analysis indicates North America will continue to dominate the global market owing to well-established distribution channels and presence of leading brands. However, Asia Pacific is poised to witness the fastest growth with increasing spending ability of consumers from China, India and other developing nations.

Key players operating in the washable finger paint market are Crayola LLC, Melissa & Doug, Faber-Castell, Sargent Art, Colorations, Prang, Handy Art, Amos, Okonorm, TColors, Little Brian, Eco-Kids, Doodle Hog, TBC The Best Crafts, ALEX Toys. Crayola LLC holds the largest market share attributed to its well-known brand and wide product range. Private label manufacturers are expanding their presence through online retail channels.

#Washable Finger Paint Market Share #Washable Finger Paint Market Growth #Washable Finger Paint Market Demand #Washable Finger Paint Market Trend #Washable Finger Paint Market Analysis

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queens-smokehookahllc · 4 months

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Chicago Sip and Paint

Queen's Smoke Hookah LLC With chicago sip and paint. Our events provide a one-of-a-kind opportunity to unleash your artistic side while enjoying your favourite beverages. Whether you are a prepared artist or a tenderfoot, our talented instructors direct you through the method, guaranteeing a fun and memorable painting encounter.

#Chicago Sip and Paint

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artofpaintingsblog · 5 months

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Transform Your Space: Art of Painting and Custom Restoration Unleashes Artistry

Experience the transformative power of color and craftsmanship with Art of Painting and Custom Restoration, LLC. Our latest blog post invites you to explore the artistry that defines our professional painting company. From vibrant accent walls to meticulous custom restorations, discover how our skilled team turns your vision into a masterpiece. Dive into our blog and learn how we bring spaces to life, one brushstroke at a time. Transform your surroundings and evoke a sense of artful elegance with our unparalleled painting expertise. Reach us at https://artofpaintingllc.com/

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makemoremoneyus · 9 months

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Unleashing Excellence: Elevate Your Craft with Make More Money LLC's Paint Protection Film Tools

In the dynamic world of automotive aesthetics, where precision and protection intersect, Make More Money LLC stands as a beacon of innovation and quality. Specialising in equipping professionals with top-tier paint protection film tools, we are your partners in elevating your craft and boosting your business.Paint protection film (PPF) has become a staple in preserving the pristine beauty of vehicles, from luxurious cars to rugged trucks.

#Paint Protection Film Tools

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financialsmatter · 2 years

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Unleashing the Dogs of War

Vilification of political opponents has become standard practice today as evidenced by what’s being done to Donald Trump. And they can’t even see how they are unleashing the dogs of war in the process. As a result, there are many people who have just been brainwashed. And they refuse to open their minds to the fact that both sides engage in propaganda. Ironically (or NOT) the demonization of Trump – in an alleged effort to seek the truth – is being used to justify the hatred of all Republicans. Sad to say, that has become the necessary step to win an election or even support a cry to unleash the dogs of war. Cue up: The basic strategy in leadership 101. Politicians have known for centuries that by creating war in politics or on the battlefield – from the vilification of someone like Trump or Putin – it’s then used to hate all Republicans or Russians. Unfortunately, it’s a winning strategy near term. But these morons don’t look at the cost long-term and how it divides a nation ensuring its fall. History is riddled with examples: Leaders Who Unleashed the Dogs of War Nero did it with the Christians Hitler did it with the Jews Africa is notorious turning tribes against each other Pol Pot Stalin Mao And that’s only a partial list. Bottom line… The vilification or demonization of the enemy renders all diplomatic solutions impossible. Why? Because you cannot sit down with a devil to negotiate. And we’ve said many times in the past, the real problem is not Democrat vs Republican, liberal vs conservative, or black vs white. It’s about good vs evil. And as we are also wont to say… As difficult as things might appear, Evil Always Overplays its Hand…And Righteousness Prevails. But in the process, there will be economic, financial, and personal pain as the Boyz unleash the Dogs of War. If Trump is indicted then you can expect Civil War possibly in early 2023. We’re not trying to paint a gloom and doom scenario here. Instead, we constantly try to offer you hope via the financial world by understanding how things operate “Behind the Curtain” (HERE). And when the brown stuff hits the fan, you’re going to need to know how to navigate the minefields of Wall Street in addition to the Globalists assault on our freedoms. Don’t be their victims. Learn how to prosper AND thrive in Turbulent Times (HERE). Share this with a friend…especially if they’re clueless. They’ll thank YOU later. We’re Not Just About Finance. But we use finance to give you hope. FYI So, Instead of fantasizing about the Dogs of War, Here's What Dogs Think About... Invest with confidence. Sincerely, James Vincent The Reverend of Finance Copyright © 2022 It's Not Just About Finance, LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Read the full article

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itunesbooks · 5 years

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Rain - Cynthia Barnett

Rain A Natural and Cultural History Cynthia Barnett Genre: Earth Sciences Price: $9.99 Publish Date: April 21, 2015 Publisher: Crown/Archetype Seller: Penguin Random House LLC Rain is elemental, mysterious, precious, destructive. It is the subject of countless poems and paintings; the top of the weather report; the source of the world's water. Yet this is the first book to tell the story of rain. Cynthia Barnett's Rain begins four billion years ago with the torrents that filled the oceans, and builds to the storms of climate change. It weaves together science—the true shape of a raindrop, the mysteries of frog and fish rains—with the human story of our ambition to control rain, from ancient rain dances to the 2,203 miles of levees that attempt to straitjacket the Mississippi River. It offers a glimpse of our "founding forecaster," Thomas Jefferson, who measured every drizzle long before modern meteorology. Two centuries later, rainy skies would help inspire Morrissey’s mopes and Kurt Cobain’s grunge. Rain is also a travelogue, taking readers to Scotland to tell the surprising story of the mackintosh raincoat, and to India, where villagers extract the scent of rain from the monsoon-drenched earth and turn it into perfume. Now, after thousands of years spent praying for rain or worshiping it; burning witches at the stake to stop rain or sacrificing small children to bring it; mocking rain with irrigated agriculture and cities built in floodplains; even trying to blast rain out of the sky with mortars meant for war, humanity has finally managed to change the rain. Only not in ways we intended. As climate change upends rainfall patterns and unleashes increasingly severe storms and drought, Barnett shows rain to be a unifying force in a fractured world. Too much and not nearly enough, rain is a conversation we share, and this is a book for everyone who has ever experienced it. http://dlvr.it/R1qtqD

#Earth Sciences

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mahajanmangesh3023 · 4 years

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Yacht Coatings Market COVID-19 Analysis, Share to Witness Growth Backed by Minimally Invasive Techniques

Market Overview

Yacht Coatings Market offer key advantages such as durability, finishing, and reparability. Increasing water traffic is expected to boost the demand for these coatings in the forthcoming years. In the latest study published by Market Research Future (MRFR), the global yacht coatings market is anticipated to register a double-digit CAGR of 12% over the review period 2016 to 2022. The market’s valuation, by 2022, is expected to exceed USD 4 Bn in terms of revenue.

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Yacht coatings offer key advantages such as ultraviolet resistors, aliphatic urethane resins, premier quality pigments, solvents, etc. These factors are expected to accelerate revenue creation for the players of the yacht coatings market over the next couple of years. Also, the rising inclination towards distinguished appearance and looks is likely to encourage investment by the market players. This, in turn, is prognosticated to catapult the yacht coatings market on upward trajectory.

Increasing disposable income is anticipated to generate demand for luxurious yachts is projected to generate demand for these coatings in the years to come. In addition, the increasing production of yachts, especially in Europe region, is expected to play a crucial role in the proliferation of the global yacht coatings market across the projection period. The market is poised to exhibit more growth in developed economies. However, the developing economies are also projected to witness new avenues of growth to be explored by the market participants for profit maximization over the next few years.

Competitive Dashboard:

· Akzo Nobel N.V

· PPG Industries Inc.

· Jotun

· Hempel A/S

· Boero Bartolomeo S.p.A.

· Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd

· Engineered Marine Coatings LLC

· BASF SE

· DuPont

· ALEXSEAL

Segmentation Analysis:

The report covers a segmental analysis of the yacht coatings market based on type and application.

On the basis of type, the global yacht coatings market has been segmented into polyurethanes, epoxies, ethyl silicates, and others.

On the basis of application, the yacht coatings market has been segmented into fairing, final priming & sealing, finishing, surfacing, topcoat care & maintenance, specialty applications, hull, and others.

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These are few of the prime players of the yacht coatings market expected to play a crucial role towards revenue growth over the next couple of years. Key players are focusing on product development and innovation for capitalizing on the growth opportunities present in the market. In addition, investments in facility expansion are further anticipated to favor the amplification of competition in the global yacht coatings market in the years to come. Other events that are prognosticated to enable the competitors in gaining an edge over others are mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, partnerships, etc. Investments in regional as well as facility expansion are anticipated to motivate the competition among the market participants.

Regional Analysis:

The geographical evaluation of the global yacht coatings market spans across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific (APAC), and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). Europe is dominating the global market at present and is expected to maintain its prominence over the next couple of years. The boom witnessed in the marine industry of the region is likely to lead the growth pace of the yacht coatings market over the next couple of years. The strong economic growth of North America is expected to unleash developmental opportunities for the key players of the regional yacht coatings market. It is anticipated to hold the second spot in the market place and exhibit substantial growth in the years to come. Asia Pacific is prognosticated to witness moderate growth and retain the third spot over the next few years followed by the Middle East & Africa and Latin America.

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unleashedpaintingllc · 5 months

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Commercial Painting | Unleashed Painting’s Proven Expertise

In the bustling world of commerce, first impressions matter. The façade of your commercial property speaks volumes about your business, making it imperative to invest in top-notch Commercial Painting services. At Unleashed Painting LLC, we understand the significance of a well-maintained exterior, and our dedicated team of professionals is here to transform your commercial space into a visual masterpiece.

Commercial Painting — Unleashing the Power of Professionalism

Commercial Painting is not merely a task; it’s an art that requires precision, expertise, and an understanding of the unique requirements of businesses. Unleashed Painting LLC takes pride in being a leading provider of Commercial Painting services in the USA, offering tailored solutions that go beyond a mere coat of paint.

Our team of skilled painters is committed to delivering a seamless and efficient painting experience, ensuring minimal disruption to your business operations. With a wealth of experience in transforming a diverse range of commercial properties, we have earned a reputation for excellence and reliability in the industry.

Why Choose Unleashed Painting LLC for Your Commercial Painting Needs?

Expertise That Speaks Volumes: Unleashed Painting LLC boasts a team of highly trained and experienced painters who specialize in commercial projects. Our expertise extends to a variety of commercial spaces, including offices, retail outlets, warehouses, and more. We understand the unique challenges posed by different environments and tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.

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#commercial painting #commercial painting service #commercial painters #commercial painters near me #commercial painting company

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deepakrathod-blog · 4 years

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Calcium Silicate Market Analysis - Trends, Size, Share, Growth, Demand and Regional Outlook by 2023

Market Definition:

Calcium silicate is a powder procured from limestone and diatomaceous earth. It is extensively used across different end-user industries and is likely to witness rising applications in the years to come. Market Research Future (MRFR) has conducted an analysis recently which states that the global calcium silicate market is poised to expand at a moderate CAGR over the assessment period 2016 to 2023. The growth pace of the market can be accredited to the key advantages offered by the product such as passiveness towards the fire.

Study Infographics @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/infographics

Get a Free sample of This Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5712

Market Scenario and Growth Factors:

Calcium silicate has paved its way across the construction sector which is poised to influence the revenue growth of the market primarily. It is anticipated to catalyze revenue creation for the players of the calcium silicate market over the next few years. In addition, the implementation of favorable regulatory laws for protecting the health of the workers at construction sites are also projected to support the expansion of the market in the forthcoming years. In addition, rapid industrialization has also unleashed developmental opportunities to the calcium silicate market. The use of the product for insulation in industries is likely to lead the proliferation of the market in the years to come.

Calcium silicate is expected to observe an upsurge in demand for the production of sealants. It helps in sealing micropores which are anticipated to expedite demand generation across the projection period. In addition, it is also likely to gain popularity as an anti-caking agent in food preparation. Also, the product is poised to pave its way across the food & beverage industry as a food additive. These factors are poised to accelerate revenue creation for the participants of the Calcium Silicate Market Analysis over the next couple of years.

The product is expected to witness proliferating applications across industries such as paints & coating materials, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers & insecticides, etc. The growth of these industries is anticipated to boost revenue growth over the next few years.

Competitive Dashboard:

The key players operating in the global Calcium silicate market and profiled in this MRFR report are:

Promat International NV (Belgium)

American Elements (U.S.)

Morgan Advanced Materials (U.K)

Spectrum Chemical Manufacturing Corp. (U.S.)

Prochem, Inc. (U.S.), Materion Corporation (U.S.)

Mil-Spec Industries Corporation (New York)

Associated Ceramics & Technology, Inc. (U.S.)

Pyrotek (India),

ZIRCAR CERAMICS (India),

Skamol (Denmark),

Industrial Insulation Group, LLC (U.S.)

Market Segmentation:

The global Calcium Silicate Market has been segmented on the basis of application for a detailed segmental analysis. Based on application, the segments include insulation, building materials, sealants, pharmaceuticals, food additive, and others.

Regional Analysis:

On the basis of region, the global calcium silicate market has been segmented into five regions viz. Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and North America. Asia Pacific is expected to retain the leading position over the next couple of years. The regional segment resonates strong growth potential and is anticipated to strike a healthy growth rate in the years to come. Rapid industrialization and urbanization are the key factors expected to encourage the growth pace of the calcium silicate market in the region across the projection period. Fast-developing nations such as China and India are prognosticated to contribute significantly to the development of the regional segment in the foreseeable future. In addition, the growth of the end-user industries such as paints & coating, construction, adhesives & sealants, etc. is also anticipated to catapult the regional segment on upward trajectory.

North America and Europe are also significant growth pockets expected to expand at a substantial pace in the forthcoming years. Technological innovations and increasing consumption levels are forecasted to favorably influence the expansion of the calcium silicate market in these regions.

Watch Videos @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/videos

Study Complete Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/calcium-silicate-market-5712

#Calcium Silicate Market Analysis

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kingmindint · 6 years

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Blockchain and Cryptos Offer a New Twist In Artistic Endeavors

The blockchain is a technological breakthrough with uses that could change the path of other technologies towards more transparent and auditable developments. Its applications are promising for industries such as insurances, accounting, election auditing, etc.

However, since the appearance of Bitcoin, the most significant application has been the economic one. While there are already more than 1500 cryptocurrencies, the rest of the industry has lagged behind due to reliance on traditional techniques or the lack of technological evolution in adapting to current standards.

A man contemplates the meaning of life while contemplating this art piece valued at $105 Million.

One of the most exotic uses of blockchain and cryptos is the promotion of artistic works.

Perhaps art is one of the least thought-out areas for applying Distributed Ledger Technologies, but since a while ago blockchain has made it possible to “rethink” what art means to society, and several initiatives have emerged within this concept of the evolution of traditional art.

And while some people do not understand the way artists think, this does not seem to stop man’s creative impulse, and blockchain has been perfect for promoting creativity and protecting artists’ work.

Cryptocurrencies promote interaction between artists and their public.

In 2015, a girl with the pseudonym of “Coin_Artist” published a tweet that put her in the spotlight of geeks and art lovers:

The painting is a #puzzle, there is 4.87 #bitcoin concealed by this image. Happy #EasterEgg http://t.co/2KASaawd3u pic.twitter.com/90kuCshXj1

— YT (@coin_artist) April 3, 2015

Within the painting “TORCHED H34R7S” also known as “The Legend of Satoshi Nakamoto” there was a puzzle and whoever deciphered it would win 5 BTC.

This initiative popularized a new way of conceiving art. A relationship between artists and fans without precedent. Her piece was so complex and yet so fascinating that it became one mandatory thread on BitcoinTalk to search for clues. Many attempts were unsuccessful until three years later, in early 2018, someone was able to solve it.

From that moment on, the famous artist decided to unite the world of art with the world of cryptos, co-founding Blockade Games LLC, the company behind “Neon District,” an ERC 721 MMORPG based on a futuristic cyber-punk aesthetic with beautiful visual effects.

“Bitcoin Initially Valued at $90”, 2017. This piece hides the key to a wallet with 0.21080000 BTC

But if you missed the chance to win this award, Andy Bauch may be able to encourage you to purchase a beautiful work of art and spend some time trying to solve the enigma that each of his works presents in order to gain access to a wallet with a preloaded amount of cryptocurrency.

Andy went a little bit further and made his artwork from Lego pieces placed in intricate, personally tested patterns to ensure that whoever studies them can come up with a real answer to the encryption pattern that holds the resources.

This pattern is the private key of a crypto wallet.

Even though the paints mean access to actual money, it is expected that each piece will be appreciated for much more than its economic value.

I am attempting to help those without computer science backgrounds visualize and understand the rather abstract concept of cryptocurrencies and simultaneous democratizing the potential and volatility that comes along with them,” Bauch explains on the gallery’s website.

Blockchain enters the movie industry

No Postage Necessary: A film to be released on Qtum

No Postage Necessary is a romantic drama/comedy film starring George Blagden and directed by Jeremey Culver, an American filmmaker whose previous work can be seen in movies such as “An Evergreen Christmas”, “Radical Kindness”, and “Walking with Francis”.

What makes this film innovative is that Culver decided to market it via the Vevue platform, “a peer-to-peer incentivized video network” in the Qtum blockchain.

According to The Savvy Screener, Culver is quite optimistic about the use of blockchain technologies to promote art.

Although this is a first for the industry, we hope it will signal a shift in the way content is shared and consumed (…) There are many advantages to blockchain distribution, including immutable proof of intellectual property rights, transparent royalty payments, and, since all data on the blockchain is resistant to duplication, we can now envision a world where films are no longer pirated.”

Blockchain: Where fun is a serious business

Other artists who have endeavored to promote their efforts through the use of cryptos and blockchain have been those involved in the video game industry. Beautiful visual pieces have served as ERC721 tokens for many games, and just as Coin_Artist now unleashes her creativity through art in games, other games have used cryptos to reward fans and promote their development.

Beautiful 3D visuals and a Bitcoin Prize: Montecrypto promises hours of fun for those who download it

Montecrypto: The Bitcoin Enigma is perhaps the game you want to download if you love to spend hours in front of your computer and you are also an enthusiast of the world of crypto.

The game consists of a series of highly sophisticated but well-developed puzzles and labyrinths that will reward with 1 BTC to the first player who completes all of them.

So far, it has not yet been completed by anyone, and the players support and betray each other in pursuit of such an attractive prize.

There is no doubt that blockchain technologies and cryptocurrencies have made it possible to rethink new industries, and global culture will be affected by these developments shortly. Maybe soon we’ll enjoy more of a virtual reality tour of museums running in the blockchain instead of planning a visit to the Louvre. The possibilities are endless.

The post Blockchain and Cryptos Offer a New Twist In Artistic Endeavors appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Source

The post Blockchain and Cryptos Offer a New Twist In Artistic Endeavors appeared first on Bitcoin Geek.

via Kingmind Blockchain and Cryptos Offer a New Twist In Artistic Endeavors

#Kingmind #Kingmind International

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duaneodavila · 6 years

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Coastie’s Conviction By Loaded Jury Tossed

Long before it was assumed that campus sexual assault was an epidemic, or the tentacles of #MeToos of Hollywood emanating outward in all directions, there was an call for the military to end it’s blight of rape. And the military appeared ready to do whatever it could to convey the impression, if not the fact, that it was dealing with its problem.

Petty Officer Riesbeck was convicted of rape, two charges of making false statements and one charge of communicating indecent language. The jury sentenced him to three months of confinement, a reduction in rank and a bad-conduct discharge. Adm. Zukunft approved the punishment.

The defendant was tried under the Uniform Code of Military Conduct, one peculiar aspect of which is that the military, theoretically at least, abhors something called “command influence.” For obvious reasons, this is an overarching problem in military adjudications, given the hierarchical nature of command, such that a ranking officer could order a subordinate to do something that would influence the outcome. For the most part, the military takes this problem very seriously. But not always.

The nation’s highest military court has thrown out the 2012 rape conviction of a Coast Guard enlisted man because admirals and prosecutors packed the seven-member jury with five women, four of whom held jobs as advocates for victims of sexual assault.

In a 5-0 ruling that could change how the military conducts sex abuse trials, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces unleashed caustic criticism of all involved.

From the Coast Guard commandant down to an appellate court to the original trial judge, the high court said all contributed to a “stain on the military justice system.” The military has been under intense pressure to wipe out sexual harassment and assault, the five civilian judges noted.

About ten percent of the military is female. Is it possible that, by sheer chance, the jury ended up being five of seven women? With four of whom serving as victim’s advocates? It certainly helps when you start by manipulating the jury pool.

The opinion, delivered by Judge Margaret A. Ryan, said the four admirals who played a role in assembling the officer and enlisted jury pool produced an illegal “gender-based court stacking.” She suggested that the admirals’ role amounted to unlawful command influence, which military law analysts see as the enemy of fair trials for service members.

The court ruling said the trial judge “failed to conduct even a rudimentary investigation” into defense attorneys’ complaints of an unfair jury.

It also said the Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals failed in its duty to protect against unlawful command influence as it “rationalized the error away as a benign effort to seek inclusiveness.”

Much as “inclusiveness” is a catchword used to evoke images of unicorns prancing on rainbows, it’s no different than any other word when used to abuse a system by loading it with people bent on pre-determined outcome. Bear in mind, the word can be used just as easily to load a jury with people inclined favorably to the death penalty as it can with female victim’s advocates.

“Yet the error in this case is both so obvious and so egregious that it adversely affected not only Appellant’s right to a fair trial by an impartial panel, but also the essential fairness and integrity of the military justice system,” Judge Ryan and the four other judges wrote.

The integrity of military tribunals is subject to even greater threats than civil juries at a trial conducted by the “least dangerous branch.” Not only is it subject to acceptance of its outcome as legitimate, but capable of overcoming the taint of command influence. Outside of the military, people aren’t quite so inclined to follow order, though they’re not nearly as disinclined as many would hope.

But was this “benign” effort at “inclusiveness” really prejudicial, in the sense that they were “merely” assuring that a guilty rapist not go unpunished?

Even worse, the high court suggested that the enlisted man never would have been convicted by a more gender-proportionate jury. It said the evidence was so weak that a hearing officer had recommended dismissing the charges. The admiral overseeing the case overruled him.

Was the case against the petty officer that weak? Details of the charges are sparse.

“The Government’s case was weak, primarily based on the testimony of [name redacted], the putative victim, who was unable to remember many of the events surrounding the crime due to alcohol use and whose testimony was controverted by other witnesses at trial,” the opinion read.

It should be noted that this might well have been deemed overwhelming proof of guilt in a Title IX adjudication on campus, where the involvement of any alcohol by the “putative victim” is sufficient to vitiate consent, and where the inability to remember facts is considered evidence of veracity, just as the ability to remember is proof of veracity as well.

And how does one guarantee a conviction when that’s the outcome needed?

“The salient facts paint a clear picture of court stacking based on gender in an atmosphere of external pressure to achieve specific results in sexual assault cases,” the ruling read. “Against that backdrop, purposefully selecting a panel that is seventy percent female, most of whom are victim advocates, from a roster of officers that was only twenty percent female and a pool of enlisted that was only thirteen percent female, smacks of a panel that was ‘hand-picked’ by or for the Government.”

The judges used the word “absurdity” in their assessment of assembling a jury pool of 70 percent women based on inclusiveness. “As a matter of common sense, 70 percent is not statistically or otherwise ‘representative,’” their ruling read.

Notably, this case commenced in 2012. While the court dismissed the case with prejudice, Coast Guard Petty Officer John Riesbeck could have been earning medals, increasing his rank, and most significantly, serving his country. Instead, he was hung out to dry by his admirals who were happy to sacrifice him to show the military was “fixing” its rape problem.

Copyright © 2007-2018 Simple Justice NY, LLC This feed is for personal, non-commercial and Newstex use only. The use of this feed anywhere else violates copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it means the page you are viewing infringes copyright. (Digital Fingerprint: 51981395c77d7762065ca2c084b63e47) Coastie’s Conviction By Loaded Jury Tossed republished via Simple Justice

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