SkinnyDipped has become a brand synonymous with delicious, better-for-you snacks since its launch in 2016 and the next chapter in the brand’s identity is here.

John B. Sanfilippo & Son, in business for more than a century, relies upon Bartelt's packaging technology in its nut processing and packaging operations.

Company expects to avoid its use of new plastic by nearly 80 million pounds in 2024 – the equivalent of nearly 2 billion bottles.

Investment includes the acquisition of an AV Flexologic Corrugated Flat Mounting Machine and the integration of Reproflex3's high-definition Vortex™ screening technology.

By introducing the series, XSYS provides a unique and new approach to printing plates using renewable raw materials as part of the plate formulation. Furthermore, the plates can be processed 20% faster, leading to time and energy savings.

Thanks to the patented nozzle seal technology in LEIBINGER printers, clogs are now a thing of the past, ensuring smooth, uninterrupted production and maximum efficiency.

People's Bank of China USD/CNY reference rate is due around 0115 GMT.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, is responsible for setting the daily midpoint of the yuan (also known as renminbi or RMB). The PBOC follows a managed floating exchange rate system that allows the value of the yuan to fluctuate within a certain range, called a "band," around a central reference rate, or "midpoint." It's currently at +/- 2%.

How the process works:

• Daily midpoint setting: Each morning, the PBOC sets a midpoint for the yuan against a basket of currencies, primarily the US dollar. The central bank takes into account factors such as market supply and demand, economic indicators, and international currency market fluctuations. The midpoint serves as a reference point for that day's trading.
• The trading band: The PBOC allows the yuan to move within a specified range around the midpoint. The trading band is set at +/- 2%, meaning the yuan could appreciate or depreciate by a maximum of 2% from the midpoint during a single trading day. This range is subject to change by the PBOC based on economic conditions and policy objectives.
• Intervention: If the yuan's value approaches the limit of the trading band or experiences excessive volatility, the PBOC may intervene in the foreign exchange market by buying or selling the yuan to stabilize its value. This helps maintain a controlled and gradual adjustment of the currency's value.

Earlier:

• ICYMI - PBOC Governor warned on yuan slide, will 'guard against risk of overshoot'

The People's Bank of China set the onshore yuan (CNY) reference rate for the trading session ahead.

• USD/CNY is the onshore yuan. Its permitted to trade plus or minus 2% from this daily reference rate.
• CNH is the offshore yuan. USD /CNH has no restrictions on its trading range.
• A significantly stronger or weaker rate than expected is typically considered a signal from the PBOC.

Previous close was 7.2150

The rate today at 7.1927 is weakest since September 12 of 2023.

PBOC injects 125bn yuan via 7-day RR, sets rate at 1.5%

• 18bn yuan mature today
• net injection is 107bn yuan

*-*-

/*/*

The New York Federal Reserve branch's Roberto Perli is manager of the Fed’s System Open Market Account (SOMA).

• Recent quarter-end money market volatility not historically large.
• Still strong evidence reserve levels remain abundant.
• No imminent signs of issues for Fed to implement monetary policy.
• Recent quarter-end pressure was contained.
• Slow rise in repo rates has been orderly.
• Standing repo facility stands ready to provide liquidity.
• Notes there’s been more friction in money markets lately.

---

The Federal Reserve’s System Open Market Account (SOMA) is the central portfolio used by the Federal Reserve to conduct monetary policy. It holds the securities that the Fed buys and sells through open market operations, primarily U.S. Treasury securities, agency debt, and mortgage-backed securities. SOMA is a key tool for influencing short-term interest rates and managing the money supply. By adjusting the size and composition of this portfolio, the Fed can influence liquidity, credit conditions, and the overall stance of monetary policy in the economy.

In addition to domestic assets, SOMA also holds foreign currency assets, allowing the Fed to participate in foreign exchange markets when necessary. The New York Federal Reserve Bank manages SOMA on behalf of the entire Federal Reserve System.

People's Bank of China USD/CNY reference rate is due around 0115 GMT.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, is responsible for setting the daily midpoint of the yuan (also known as renminbi or RMB). The PBOC follows a managed floating exchange rate system that allows the value of the yuan to fluctuate within a certain range, called a "band," around a central reference rate, or "midpoint." It's currently at +/- 2%.

How the process works:

• Daily midpoint setting: Each morning, the PBOC sets a midpoint for the yuan against a basket of currencies, primarily the US dollar. The central bank takes into account factors such as market supply and demand, economic indicators, and international currency market fluctuations. The midpoint serves as a reference point for that day's trading.
• The trading band: The PBOC allows the yuan to move within a specified range around the midpoint. The trading band is set at +/- 2%, meaning the yuan could appreciate or depreciate by a maximum of 2% from the midpoint during a single trading day. This range is subject to change by the PBOC based on economic conditions and policy objectives.
• Intervention: If the yuan's value approaches the limit of the trading band or experiences excessive volatility, the PBOC may intervene in the foreign exchange market by buying or selling the yuan to stabilize its value. This helps maintain a controlled and gradual adjustment of the currency's value.

Earlier re China:

• Green shoots in China? Excavator sales grew 15% in October
• It's not a pretty picture in China

The People's Bank of China set the onshore yuan (CNY) reference rate for the trading session ahead.

• USD/CNY is the onshore yuan. Its permitted to trade plus or minus 2% from this daily reference rate.
• CNH is the offshore yuan. USD /CNH has no restrictions on its trading range.
• A significantly stronger or weaker rate than expected is typically considered a signal from the PBOC.

Previous reference rate was 7.2355.

The setting at 7.1991, about 300-odd points lower than the modelled estimate is indicative of the PBoC pushing back against yuan weakness. AUD/USD has popped a little on the setting of a stronger than expected yuan.

PBOC injects 233bn yuan via 7-day RR, sets rate at 1.5%

• 17bn yuan mature today
• net injection is 216bn yuan

/*/*

Justin had the news from the People's Bank of China here on Monday:

• PBOC governor will maintain yuan exchange rate at a reasonable, balanced level

The PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng emphasized that the Bank will not let the yuan plummet without a fight:

• Will step up countercyclical adjustment
• Should resolutely guard against the risk of exchange rate overshoot

Today is an example of the Bank pushing back on yuan weakness, with the reference rate set 300+ points stronger for the CNY than was expected (in the Reuters model).

Offshore yuan has jumped (lower USD/CNH as shown in the chart below):

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law is holding a hearing titled "Reviving Competition, Part 2: Saving the Free and Diverse Pres."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith testified today before the Senate Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband at a hearing titled "Shot of Truth: Communicating Trusted Vaccine Information."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hubbard Broadcasting Senior Vice President and General Manager Joel Oxley testified today before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights at a hearing titled "Breaking the News – Journalism, Competition, and the Effects of Market Power on a Free Press."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt testified today before the House Judiciary Committee at a hearing on imposing a performance royalty on local radio stations for music airplay.

NEW YORK — The 2024 NAB Show New York concluded, solidifying its place as the must-attend East Coast event for not only broadcast, media and entertainment professionals but for anyone creating content across various industries. With more than 12,000 attendees, some 250 Exhibitors, 50 of which are first-timers, and 20 new product launches, the Show offered a comprehensive look at the latest trends and innovations shaping the industry. Held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the Show’s Q4 timing provided a pivotal opportunity for professionals to explore end-of-year purchases and prepare strategic decisions for 2025.

This will be easier if you have a way of recording yourself, or if you have a buddy that can play one of the parts. If you need a cheap recording solution, there's a recording program that I used to use called WavePad, and its not the best, but maybe they've improved it. You can find it
here.

Anyways, duo harmony is exactly what it sounds like - its simply two or more guitar parts that harmonize with each other, and this works best for lead playing. A lot of flashy heavy metal players are using this trick extensively today, and I have to admit - its quite addictive.

Let's take a look at several ways that we can do this. The simplest method is to take or write one set of notes, and then play the exact same notes, exactly one octave apart (either higher or lower - its your choice).

Here's an example, when put together they have an awesome effect.



Note for note, those passages are the same, but just one octave apart. Something that you hear a lot of in some of the more popular metal bands right now is another type of duo harmony. This is the same harmony that is common in Cuban piano work. In metal guitar, the sound of two lead parts played in this particular way presents a
sour, wicked result.

The formula for this approach is simple. Take a lead part, then when you go to harmonize with it, instead of playing it one octave apart, drop the starting note down 3 notes. That's a whole plus a half step, W+H.

Here it is in action:




And yet one more that I know about is below. The formula for this one is to take your first lead passage, and when you to the next one, drop the starting note (from the octave position) down 5 notes.



There are so many different ways that you can construct these harmonies, and the best way to get this locked into your head, is to do a little bit of experimentation with each method, and even better - see what you can come up with.

The key is really to start with the first notes of both passages. Come up with something, and then try to find the first note of your lick in a different area, exactly one octave higher or lower. After you get to that spot, you can then start to move the overlapping lick around to see what works.

Best of luck - I hope I explained this well and that this helps you guys out.

Experts Eric Stephens and Tim Hall discussion why it's important to revived the dormant conversation about IT governance.

Balancing functional, technical, operational requirements to meet the challenge of defining appropriate governance "guardrails."

Bringing IT architecture out of the ivory tower to make governance a less intimidating, more collaborative process.

In August of 2018 we did a program entitled Developer Evolution: What’s Rocking Roles in IT. That program focused primarily on the forces that are reshaping the role of the software developer. In this program we shift the focus to the DBA -- the Database Administrator -- and the evolve-or-perish choices that face those in that role. Bringing their insight to the discussion is an international panel of experts who represent years of DBA experience, and some of the forces that are transforming that role.

View the complete show notes.

Montenegro’s Demilitarization Programme (MONDEM) has had a positive impact on promoting the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, said the country’s Defence Minister Milica Pejanovic-Djurisic as she addressed the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation in Vienna on 20 April 2016, under the Chairmanship of Poland.

Run by Montenegro’s Government, OSCE and UNDP, the Programme has since 2007 contributed to the reduction of the country’s surplus ordnances by 85 per cent, decrease in the number of munitions sites and closure of open-space storage facilities. There are still about 1,900 tonnes of ammunition and some 14,000 pieces of armaments pending destruction.

“The Programme has had a positive impact on human security, counter-proliferation policy, sub-regional confidence- and security-building measures, the national small arms and light weapons control strategy, public administration reform, reducing of environmental pollution and sustainable development,” said Pejanovic-Djurisic.

MONDEM is based on five components aimed at demilitarizing chemicals, ammunition and heavy weapons, developing safe storage infrastructure and enhancing the knowledge and abilities of personnel working in this area.

Pejanovic-Djurisic said that the expert support and assistance provided by the OSCE Mission to Montenegro has contributed not only to the implementation of MONDEM but also to strengthening of democratic institutions and overall reforms in the country.

Related Stories

• OSCE confidence- and security-building measures must be adapted to current security challenges, says Polish Foreign Ministry Under-Secretary of State
• Dialogue for enhanced European security in focus at joint session of OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation and Permanent Council
• OSCE High-Level Military Doctrine Seminar: Transparency and co-operation needed to build trust in the face of challenges eroding European security

SKOPJE, 7 April 2016 - Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen today congratulated the Roma community in the country ahead of the International Roma Day on 8 April, and expressed her wish for harmony and co-existence amongst all communities.

“International Roma Day is not just about celebrating Roma culture, it is a day when societies should look into the everyday challenges Roma people face in all areas of life.” said Suomalainen.

“The Mission commends the efforts of national institutions, as well as other initiatives aiming at investing in the Roma community so that Roma women are guaranteed equal rights, Roma youth are equipped with employable skills and all Roma children complete mainstream education.

“Let me highlight that cohesion amongst communities and particularly the inclusion of Roma is not a task for the government only but a task for all citizens. I encourage the state authorities to work together in order to achieve the goals set in the adopted National Strategy for Roma,” she concluded.

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes two-day workshop on multi-ethnic policing
• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes workshop for national Police Union on countering gender-based discrimination
• OSCE Mission to Skopje organises workshop on hate crime for police managers

SKOPJE, 7 April 2016 - Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje Nina Suomalainen today congratulated the Roma community in the country ahead of the International Roma Day on 8 April, and expressed her wish for harmony and co-existence amongst all communities.

“International Roma Day is not just about celebrating Roma culture, it is a day when societies should look into the everyday challenges Roma people face in all areas of life.” said Suomalainen.

“The Mission commends the efforts of national institutions, as well as other initiatives aiming at investing in the Roma community so that Roma women are guaranteed equal rights, Roma youth are equipped with employable skills and all Roma children complete mainstream education.

“Let me highlight that cohesion amongst communities and particularly the inclusion of Roma is not a task for the government only but a task for all citizens. I encourage the state authorities to work together in order to achieve the goals set in the adopted National Strategy for Roma,” she concluded.

Related Stories

• OSCE Mission to Skopje supports face recognition on-site training for border police officers
• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes two-day workshop on multi-ethnic policing
• OSCE Mission to Skopje organizes a roundtable on the role of women in community safety

LG RESU16H Prime + Solis S6-EH3P10K-H-AU (AS4777-2 2020)

Part of the latest generation 3 series in the LG RESU line-up. The RESU16H Prime is the largest lithium-ion residential battery storage in the world, supplying a total energy capacity of 16 kWh. The latest RESU16H Prime provides an all-new continuous power rating of 7 kW and a peak rating of 11 kW. This increased peak power enables homeowners to backup high-surge power appliance loads like air-conditioning units and pumps.

The 16 kWh battery features industry-leading continuous power, storage capacity, and DC round-trip efficiency (>90%). Stackable to 32 kWh of energy storage capacity, the RESU16H Prime can fully cover an average daily electricity use of a home.

SPECS
Electrical Characteristics
Nominal Energy 16.45 kWh
Usable Energy1) 16.0 kWh @77°F (25°C)
Voltage Range Charge 420 ~ 450 VDC
Discharge 350 ~ 410VDC
Max. Charge/Discharge Current 20A@350V
Max. Charge/Discharge Power 7 kW
Peak Power (only discharging)2) 11 kW for 10 sec.
Peak Current (only discharging) 32.8A for 10 sec.
Battery Chemistry Lithium Ion
Communication Interface RS485/CAN
DC Protection Circuit Breaker, Fuse, DCDC converter
(Short Circuit Current : 1.616kA)
Connection Method Spring Type Connector
User interface LEDs for Normal and Fault operation
Protection Features Over Voltage / Over Current /
short circuit / Reverse Polarity
Scalability
(Total Energy, Max. Charge/Discharge Power)
Max. 2 in parallel
(32.0 kWh @77°F (25°C), 14kW)

Only 14 units left in total

Happy to quote on PV installation also.
Price includes installation in Standard metro in WA, NSW, VIC, QLD
travel or freight is an additional charge

Kenny Solar
1300882990
www.kennysolar.com.au
info@kennysolar.com.au

A tribute to Tony Todd.

Normally after the rush of high season, few would dare go out and brave the rain. But it can be a good time to make a journey to the southwest. Despite thick cloud and patchy drizzle, I found peace at a remote seaside resort. Only a 40-minute drive from the airport, Banyan Tree Krabi offers soul-searching experience unlike any other.

"All things are possible..." Netflix has revealed an official trailer for a movie called Mary, yet another new take on the birth of Jesus story. This is ready for streaming in December already. Directed by DJ Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye, I Am Number Four, Redeeming Love), Mary reveals a side of the icon we’ve never seen or even imagined before. Noa Cohen (from the series "Infinity", "8200") stars as Mary in this coming-of-age biblical epic tale in which Mary is shunned following a miraculous conception and forced into hiding. When King Herod ignites a murderous pursuit for her newborn baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph go on the run – bound by faith and driven by courage – to save his life at all costs. The ensemble cast includes Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Ori Pfeffer, Eamon Farren, Hilla Vidor, Mili Avital, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Dudley O'Shaughnessy, and Keren Tzur, with Anthony Hopkins. So they made an action thriller about Mary? They must be really hoping to get more religious viewers tuning in. Look good? Here's the official trailer (+ two posters) for DJ Caruso's film Mary, direct from Netflix's YouTube: Through Mary's eyes, this coming-of-age biblical epic is the story […]

"Nobody is above the law." Except pretty much every politician and billionaire. Jolt has revealed an official trailer for a new documentary film called The Bibi Files, which first premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival this fall. It's described as "the documentary Benjamin Netanyahu tried to ban" by court order but it fell through. It might also be called a controversial doc, but it's only really "controversial" because it dares to tell the truth and show that Netanyahu is a corrupt, power-hungry, war criminal. Using never-seen-before interrogation footage, this investigation of Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu and his inner circle provides an unflinching gaze into the private world behind the headlines and the TV reports. Petty vanity and a sense of entitlement leads to corruption, and the unwillingness of the Netanyahus to give up power. The extreme right senses opportunity in Bibi’s weakness, and the dominos fall. Another powerful doc about the truth, but I still doubt it will change anything or have enough of an impact to really save more lives. We can only hope. Here's the main official trailer for Alexis Bloom's doc The Bibi Files, direct from Jolt's YouTube: Using never-seen-before interrogation footage, this investigation of Benjamin […]

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/germany-net-zero-policy-olaf-scholz-christian-lindner-europe-climate-energy-6c7fb13a By The Editorial Board The costs of net-zero climate policies continue to roil Western politics, and the latest evidence is the collapse last week of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition in Germany, paving the way for voting no later than March. Germany has been governed since late 2021 by an unwieldy condominium of Mr. Scholz’s […]

You don't come here for the fishing.

In which our hero meets a childhood hero of his, and borrows his underpants for ten minutes. With Special Guest Anthony Michael Hall.

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings. Roxy CinemaIn honor of Ken Kelsch, Abel Ferrara’s The Blackout and The Addiction screen on 35mm; prints of Douglas Buck’s Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America and the 2006 Sisters remake screen Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Film ForumA 4K restoration of Michelangelo Antonioni’s Il Grido begins; 42 screens on Sunday. […]

The post NYC Weekend Watch: Ken Kelsch, Il Grido, Flesh for Frankenstein 3D & More first appeared on The Film Stage.

Deadline reports that Marv Films (Matthew Vaughn's UK-based production company) "is plotting 'something like seven more Kingsman films' as part of the company’s expansion plans." That's... ambitious! But other spy franchises have certainly sustained that many or more. At least one of those seven films is expected to be a spinoff centered on the American spies (including Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges) introduced in the second movie, Statesman. If previous plans mooted by Vaughn are still in effect, another is likely to be a third and supposedly final movie about the characters from the first two films, Eggsy (Taron Edgerton) and Harry Hart (Colin Firth), said to close out that trilogy. 

The next Kingsman movie we see will definitely be the WWI-set prequel The King's Man, long in the can and delayed by the global pandemic. That's currently slated for February, but likely to change again. It stars Harris Dickinson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Tom Hollander, and Daniel Brühl. With a cast like that an an exciting new time period less well mined by other spy franchises (and even a more serious tone judging from the trailers), I'm hopeful some more of these upcoming Kingsman films are sequels to The King's Man. Perhaps Dickinson and Fiennes will get as many movies as Edgerton and Firth.

According to Marv Group CEO Zygi Kamasa (per the trade), the company also has a Kingsman TV series in the works. 

Big Buck Bunny is a short animated film by the Blender Institute. It is made using free and open source software.

A report from Airbnb found that hosts in Osceola County with a single listing earned an average of $14,700 last year.

As it faces criticism from conservatives, the Walt Disney Company has appointed its first chief brand officer.

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s departure from Comcast on Sunday for “inappropriate conduct” will not affect the company’s ongoing and upcoming theme park projects.

Following a stronger start to November, Cole Anthony is progressing back to form, which could bode well for the Magic.

U4SSC - Case study - Fine dust filtration in Stuttgart, Germany

U4SSC - City Snapshot - Vanylven, Norway

DSTR-IoTM2M-Roaming - Roaming aspects of IoT and M2M including any related development and tariff principles

U4SSC - City Snapshot - Anyang, Korea (Republic of)

U4SSC - Verification report - Anyang, Korea (Republic of)

Terms, definitions and acronyms for television and sound transmission and integrated broadband cable networks

End-to-end quality of service for video telephony over 4G mobile networks

DNA-testing company 23andMe (Nasdaq: ME), once an industry leader that attracted millions of customers, including rapper Snoop Dogg and investor Warren Buffett, has announced significant cuts to its operations, with plans to lay off 200 employees or roughly 40% of its workforce. The company also said it will discontinue development of its therapeutic programs. Here’s what to know about the latest development and what led up to it.

Board exodus

The latest move comes as the company looks to stabilize after facing significant challenges, including the resignation of all seven independent board members in October.

Data breach

Last year, 23andMe suffered a massive data breach when hackers accessed the personal information of 6.9 million users. The incident led to a class-action lawsuit, which, in September, 23andMe agreed to settle for $30 million.

The problem with SPACs

In 2021, 23andMe went public through a merger with a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC. It later expanded into drug-discovery and weight-loss sectors. However, as DNA test kit sales declined, so did its financial health. By fiscal 2023, it reported a $312 million net loss, with its stock down 98% since going public, currently at about $4 after a reverse stock split in October 2024.

Separate reports have found that things have often not ended well for companies that took advantage of the pandemic-era SPAC boom, which led to billions in losses for investors and a number of bankruptcies for companies.

What’s next for 23andMe and its employees?

The layoffs are expected to result in $12 million in severance, termination, and transition-related costs and are part of a broader plan to streamline the business and achieve annual cost savings of $35 million.

The company says it is exploring various strategic options for its therapeutic programs, including potential licensing agreements and the sale of assets in its development pipeline.

“We are taking these difficult but necessary actions as we restructure 23andMe and focus on the long-term success of our core consumer business and research partnerships,” said Anne Wojcicki, cofounder, CEO, and chair of the board, in a statement.

Shares of 23andMe were up almost 6% to $4.87 on the news, which was announced late yesterday. The stock is down more than 73% year to date.

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