Football: FC Bayern, Jupp Heynckes reach agreement; club’s head coach until season end

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Yesterday, German football club FC Bayern Munich announced reaching an agreement with Jupp Heynckes to be the club’s head coach until the season end. The 72-year-old came out of his retirement, and is to take the position on Monday. The contract runs until June 30, 2018.

Heynckes has previously managed Bayern in three spells — 1987–1991, 2009 and 2011–2013. In 2013, he led Bayern to treble, winning the German league (Bundesliga), German Cup (DFB-Pokal), and UEFA Champions League. In May 2013, then 68-year-old Heynckes said of retiring, “Clubs want to do a generation change and you can not really do it with a 68-year-old.” Pep Guardiola succeeded him as Bayern’s head coach in 2013.

Upon agreeing to coach Bayern again, yesterday, Heynckes said, “I wouldn’t have returned to any other club in the world, but FC Bayern München are very close to my heart.”((de))German language: Ich wäre zu keinem anderen Verein der Welt zurückgekehrt, aber der FC Bayern München ist eine Herzensangelegenheit für mich.

Heynckes’ predecessor Carlo Ancelotti was sacked on September 28, after a 3–0 loss against French capital club Paris St-Germain (PSG) in the UEFA Champions League group stage match. The Italian manager joined Bayern in 2016 after Guardiola left for English side Manchester City FC. Ancelotti led Bayern to a Bundesliga title, the club’s fifth consecutive league title. But in the second season in charge of the German giants, Bayern is currently five points behind league table leaders and arch rivals Borussia Dortmund.

After 3–0 defeat at PSG’s home, Bayern’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said, “The performance of our team since the start of the season did not meet the expectations we put to them. The game in Paris clearly showed that we had to draw consequences.”((de))German language: Die Leistungen unserer Mannschaft seit Saisonbeginn entsprachen nicht den Erwartungen, die wir an sie stellen. Das Spiel in Paris hat deutlich gezeigt, dass wir Konsequenzen ziehen mussten.

Willy Sagnol, Ancelotti’s assistant coach, handled the team last week against Hertha Berlin, which ended in a 2–2 draw.

UK tube company Metronet goes into administration

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Metronet, a company set up to manage the upgrade of three-quarters of London’s tube network, has gone into administration (which is similar to Chapter 11 in the United States) after having accrued debts of up to £2 billion, following the decision on Monday to limit the amount of extra funds that the company would receive from public funds.

A notice on the Metronet website announced that the Boards of both Metronet BCV (responsible for the upgrade of the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines) and Metronet SSL (responsible for upgrade of the ‘sub-surface’ lines) had asked the Mayor to seek the appointment of a PPP Administrator. The statement says that the decision follows a period of ‘financial uncertainty’, with the decision of the arbiter leaving Metronet “unable to carry out its contract”.

Metronet’s shareholders, the companies Atkins, Balfour Beatty, Bombardier, EDF Energy and Thames Water had blocked access to an extra funds, and each have a limited liability of £350 million, their original equity stake.

Transport for London have reassured the public that tube services will not be affected – Metronet is not responsible for day-to-day operation – but it is so far unclear what will happen to the upgrade contracts.

Court rules Massey can appeal US restrictions in mine disaster investigation

Monday, June 13, 2011

In a unanimous decision, a US federal appeals court issued a ruling Friday against the federal government, in favor of Massey Energy Co, owner of the Upper Branch Mine in West Virginia, the location of last year’s mine disaster that killed 29 workers. The court ruled the company may appeal the restrictions placed on it by a government order hindering the company’s ability to conduct its own internal investigation of the disaster.

The order controlling Massey’s investigations into the disaster was placed on Massey immediately after the incident by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) when it seized control of the coal mine six hours after the blast on April 5.

MSHA’s controls prohibited Massey from “taking or retaining photographs, collecting and preserving mine dust samples, employing mine mapping technology, and participating in or objecting to any destructive testing of materials gathered underground.” Massey said MSHA’s restrictions prevented the company from evaluating the accident site before it was altered by investigators, and denied Massey the chance to gather evidence to use in the company’s defense.

The story of Upper Big Branch is a cautionary tale of hubris. A company that was a towering presence in the Appalachian coal fields operated its mines in a profoundly reckless manner, and 29 coal miners paid with their lives for the corporate risk taking.

Massey’s appeal to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (the commission that decides disputes over mining regulations) to void the order by MSHA was denied by the commission. It based its decision on its interpretation of the Mine Act that it had no authority to consider Massey’s appeal. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit set aside this decision, finding the commission’s interpretation of the act was “simply untenable” and the government’s actions had denied Massey the opportunity to gather “potentially important exculpatory evidence”.

The court rejected the commission’s position that the Mine Act’s language was ambiguous, allowing the government flexibility in its implementation. Rather, the court said, “No matter how you parse it, [the act] is a model of near-perfect clarity. Indeed, it is hard to imagine a clearer expression of congressional language.” It also rejected the commission’s position that the case was moot: “This case is not moot. Indeed, even the [Labor] Secretary’s counsel recognized the near-frivolity of this argument, and made only a half-hearted attempt to persuade us.”

This case is not moot. Indeed, even the Secretary’s counsel recognized the near-frivolity of this argument, and made only a half-hearted attempt to persuade us.

The court’s ruling comes after a state government-comissioned report issued on May 19 by investigators found Massey Energy responsible for the deaths of the 29 workers. The workers were killed in an explosion that could have been avoided, the report said, if Massey had put in place standard safety procedures.

“The story of Upper Big Branch is a cautionary tale of hubris. A company that was a towering presence in the Appalachian coal fields operated its mines in a profoundly reckless manner, and 29 coal miners paid with their lives for the corporate risk taking,” the report read. “The company’s ventilation system did not adequately ventilate the mine. As a result, explosive gases were allowed to build up.” The report detailed claims Massey threatened miners with termination if they stopped work in areas that lacked adequate oxygen levels and listed numerous other state and federal safety standards that Massey failed to follow. Also blamed in the report was MSHA for failing to enforce federal regulations.

The report was considered by the those in the mining industry as especially direct and “hard hitting”. It firmly rejected conclusions reached by Massey officials that the incident was caused by an unexpected, massive, and uncontrollable methane bubble eruption, an occurrence that Massey said it could neither predict nor manage.

The company immediately challenged the report and issued its own report on June 3, blaming the blast on an act of nature and denying the company’s safety culture was at fault. MSHA also have an as-yet unreleased report in the works.

Apple to hold media event on September 1, may update iPods and Apple TV

Friday, August 27, 2010

Apple Inc. will hold a music-centered event in San Francisco, California on September 1. It has been widely speculated that the company will introduce an updated line of iPod portable music players and a new Apple TV.

The company e-mailed invitations for the event to various media organizations on Wednesday. The message included a picture of a guitar and the time of the event. Apple did not release any information about what products would be involved.

Apple has released new iPods through previous similar events in September in anticipation of the holiday shopping season. This year, Apple may unveil a new iPod Touch with two cameras, similar to their recent iPhone 4 design. It will likely also update the iTunes music store and software.

Speculation about a new Apple TV is mixed. While many blogs are reporting that a refresh of the device will be announced, analysts say that it is unlikely to happen during next Wednesday’s event. According to Reuters, sources are saying that Apple is negotiating with major television networks, including ABC and NBC, in order to provide shows for purchase on iTunes. However, they also reported that the deal has not been completed, and none of the companies involved have commented on the rumors.

It has also been rumored that Apple will introduce a new online music service. In 2009, Apple took over a company that allowed users to stream music online rather than download individual songs. Apple has not confirmed the rumors.

Last September’s media event saw the return of Apple CEO Steve Jobs after he took a break to undergo a liver transplant. This year, the event will be held in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, previously used by Apple in April for the unveiling of the iPad.

Potential Benefits Of Pergolas In Waukesha, Wi

byAlma Abell

A plain backyard without any type of landscaping or structures can be pretty boring. These days, many people would like to spend at least some of their free time enjoying the outdoors, especially when they’re at home. Adding some type of structure, such as pergolas in Waukesha WI, can make this easier to do and more enjoyable. There are a number of potential benefits to adding a pergola to your yard.

Provides Shade

Although they don’t have solid roofs, pergolas are a good way to increase the shade in an area. They don’t provide 100 percent shade, but it’s definitely more comfortable to be under a pergola than to be directly under the sun. Using thicker slats that are closer together will increase the shade, as can allowing vines or plants to grow over the pergola.

Help Define Outdoor Living Spaces

Having Pergolas in Waukesha WI is a good way to define your outdoor living space, setting it apart from the rest of the yard. Put down pavers or bricks underneath and you have an open room that can be used for relaxing or entertaining. Yes, the pergola does have gaps in the roof so it isn’t perfectly shaded, but this just means you can actually see the stars and the sky, and the room created has more light.

Supports Plants

The structure of the pergola can provide the support needed by plants such as grapevines, ivy, wisteria, or clematis. This makes the whole structure beautiful and green. Those who like other plants can use the beams as a place to hang planters.

Relatively Inexpensive

When it comes to outdoor living structures, pergolas are among the most affordable. They’re also easy to build and can be low maintenance, depending on what material they are made out of. For example, vinyl doesn’t need to be painted, isn’t damaged by insects, and doesn’t warp or rot. Adding outdoor living spaces helps to increase the value of the home, so you may even find that it’s easier to sell the house should you decide to.

Visit Outdoorlivingunlimited.com for more information. They can help with all your hardscaping needs, including porches, pavers, outdoor living areas and sunrooms.

Major Issues To Consider In Choosing Muscle Supplements}

Major Issues to Consider in Choosing Muscle Supplements

by

Peter RosebergIf you are into bodybuilding, you probably realize how important muscle supplements are in helping you achieve your bodybuilding goals. At the same time, you also probably realize that there is a vast array of these types of products on the market today and finding the one that’s right for you is not always that simple. In fact, with the hundreds of different brands of muscle supplements available today, finding a brand to help meet your goals can be really quite confusing. That won’t be the case, however, if you are familiar with the major issues that need to be considered in selecting a brand of muscle supplements. Here are crucial questions you need to ask yourself before paying for a particular item.How safe is the product?Muscle supplements are just a group of ingredients taken from several sources and encapsulated to be sold commercially. In some instances, there may be substances present in the product that are not listed in the label as part of the ingredients. These are the substances you need to be careful of as they can contaminate the supplement and make it toxic. Trusted companies usually test their products thoroughly to make sure they do not contain any harmful contaminant. To make sure a particular brand of muscle supplements are safe to take, the best move you can make is to call the company that manufactures and sells the product. Ask the company whether they test their products before selling them and whether they have any proof to verify their claims. If the company cannot provide any verification for product testing, don’t buy their products.Is the Product Effective?There is no way you can test the effectiveness of a particular muscle supplement unless you have tried it yourself. Therefore, the best way to determine whether the product is effective before purchasing it is to check its label. As much as possible, the label should indicate that the supplement has efficient dissolution and disintegration rate, which means it easily breaks down and dissolves fast when taken. It should also contain the expiration date of the product or the date beyond which it can no longer meet USP standard.Can the Manufacturer be Trusted?All manufacturers will claim that their product is the best, but the only way to determine the reliability of the product and the company itself is to find out whether the company is science-based or not. Manufacturers can boast of their products all they want, but unless their claim is supported by scientific evidence, there is no assurance that their products can actually be trusted and considered safe and effective. For this reason, it is crucial to do some background check of the manufacturer first and find out whether their claims are backed up by authentic and credible scientific tests.ConclusionTaking muscle supplements is an excellent way to meet your bodybuilding goals, but only if you are sure of the safety and efficiency of the product you are taking. Therefore, whether it’s a Craze pre workout or HydroxyLean weight loss supplement you are looking for, it’s important to take these factors into consideration to make sure you end up with the right product that will meet your workout needs.

Peter Roseberg is a health and nutrition writer. He has over ten years experience in nutrition and fitness and hopes to share his knowledge and understanding of health, fitness, and supplements. He recommends Nutritionwarehouse as an excellent source of high-quality muscle supplements like Craze pre workout and D-Fine8. You can

find craze supplement here

Article Source:

eArticlesOnline.com

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Locally designed, low emissions car launched in Qatar

Friday, November 30, 2012

Qatari non-profit organization Gulf Organization for Research and Development (GORD) launched a low emissions car at the 2012 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 18) in Doha. The car was designed and developed in Qatar.

Revealed during a press conference at the Qatar National Convention Centre, the car in addition to an internal combustion engine, includes an automotive thermoelectric generator designed to capture waste heat to produce hydrogen. GORD expects the heat waste collecting system to be compatible with any gasoline or compressed natural gas car.

GORD chairman Dr Al-Horr summarised the key concepts of the invention in a statement saying, “Our car produces electricity at no cost by capturing thermal waste energy, reducing costs and eliminating the need for an external source of electricity. Also, bulky compressed-hydrogen cylinders are a thing of the past, as our concept accomplishes the production of hydrogen by using water through fuel cells integrated within the car.”

Most of the energy in Qatari vehicle comes from the the car’s gasoline tank, supplemented by a thin film photo-voltaic panel on the roof. Normally in a combustion engine, chemical energy stored in a fuel, such as gasoline, is converted into heat energy through combustion. This heat energy is then converted into mechanical energy, manifested as an increase in pressure in the combustion chamber due to the kinetic energy of the combustion gases. The kinetic energy of these combustion gases are then converted into work; because of the inefficiencies in converting chemical energy into useful work, internal combustion engines have a theoretical maximum effiecincy of 37% (with what is achievable in day to day applications being about half of this). Of the chemical energy in the consumed fuel used by an internal combustion engine 40% is dissipated as waste heat. However, the Qatari vehicle uses a thermoelectric generator to convert this waste heat into electricity. Such generators are used in space vehicles, and produce electricity when thermoelectric materials are subjected to a temperature gradient, the greater the gradient the greater the amount of electrcity produced. In the GORD vehicle the electricity produced is used to electrolyse potable water to produce hydrogen which can be introduced into the vehicle’s existing fuel system.

The researchers showed that the heat waste collection engine caused a decrease in the car’s emissions, including a decrease of carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide emissions by more than 50%, the fuel efficiency increasing by 20%. On its website, GORD said that the heat waste collector engine is universal, “Any car can be adapted to accommodate the system as it doesn’t alter any electro-mechanical systems”.

Bush addresses nation on economic crisis; Congress debates bailout

Thursday, September 25, 2008

United States President George W. Bush addressed the nation on the economic financial crisis from inside the White House saying the economic situation is “serious” and is “in danger” of becoming “a long and painful recession.”

“We are in the midst of a serious financial crisis and the federal government is responding with decisive action,” Bush said in his televised speech.

Bush called for the United States Congress to pass a US$700 billion bill intended to keep struggling companies afloat. He asked the two presidential candidates along with leaders from both parties of Congress to join him for a conference on Thursday.

Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson called for a bailout plan that would allow for the United States government to purchase devalued mortgage backed securities, resulting from the subprime mortgage crisis, from troubled financial institutions. Paulson has said that the plan could cost up to $700 billion. Congressional leaders have said that some form of the plan will pass; however, there is considerable debate over several key issues.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said that Bush “believes it is important for the American people to fully understand the depth of the crisis in our financial markets, how that crisis affects them, and the urgent need to agree on a solution.” Bush has been criticized for waiting too long to speak in prime time.

John McCain suspended his campaign to return to Washington and work on the bailout bill. Barack Obama has called for another form of the bill to pass and said that Congress should not package the bailout bill with any other bills — such as an economic stimulus plan.

Meanwhile, Congress has held a second round of hearings on the proposed bailout bill. Paulson and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke testified in front of the House Financial Services Committee. They felt it was a serious problem in need of an immediate solution.

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Rep. Barney Frank, Chairman of House Financial Services Committee, says it is “clear” that the financial bailout bill will pass.

Director of the Congressional Budget Office Peter R. Orsza said while testifying before Congress that “ironically, the intervention could even trigger additional failures of large institutions, because some institutions may be carrying troubled assets on their books at inflated values.”

The bailout plan has been called a “blank check” by many, with members of both parties divided on the issue.

What’s Involved In Hardwood Floor Refinishing?

byAlma Abell

Hardwood floor refinishing in Manhattan is a job that takes a great deal of specialized equipment as well as operators who are highly skilled and patient. Wood floor refinishing is a common home improvement job but it is one that takes a considerable amount of research as well as time and “know-how.” Although a very ambitious DIYer might be able to do this job, for the majority of homeowners this is something to turn over to the professionals. The entire process can take a considerable amount of time as the job must be evaluated and then the floors must be prepared, sanded and sealed; there are just too many places where an error can take place that will be a long lasting problem.

The first thing to do is to determine whether the planks in your existing hardwood floors are even good candidates for refinishing. You need to determine to what extent, if any, the floors have suffered from pet urine or water stains as well as deep gouges or scratches; the baseboard needs to be removed to see whether the floor boards are thick enough to be sanded and you need to determine what the finish was that was last used on the floors, was it wax, varnish or polyurethane?

If the floor slats do not have deep scratches or gouges and are at least ¾” thick then the first hurdle has been passed. The next stage of floor refinishing in Manhattan will take a number of days. The entire floor surface must be cleaned; any holes that are found from nails, staples or deep scrapes are to be filled. During this phase there may be boards that are beyond repair and must be replaced, at this time you have to find boards that closely match those that exist. Pull up the door thresholds and baseboards. If adjacent rooms use the same wood flooring you will want to refinish them both even though the floors in one room are still in excellent condition, otherwise they will not be consistent and will be quite noticeable at doorways.

The floor is then sanded with a heavy drum sander; this machine looks more like a miniature steam roller than anything else. After two or three passes with this machine the floors will be flat but raw wood. After a thorough cleaning the final step in floor refinishing in Manhattan is to give the floors multiple coats of high quality polyurethane which is the best sealer to combat shoe scuffs and sunlight.

Even the best maintained floors will begin to show the effects of age and use, when this happens floor refinishing in Manhattan is recommended. The experts at New York Wood Flooring can bring your old hardwood floors back to life.