NBC’s first borrower says Ryan knew he couldn’t pay | business news
Kenneth Charity, a key witness in the bank fraud trial of former First NBC Bank CEO Ashton Ryan, said he racked up $18 million in bad loans from the bank before it collapsed, spending money on luxury cars, watches and renovations. on his $3 million Covington. he marries, while working with Ryan to hide that he couldn’t pay.
Through the minutiae of Charity’s testimony, along with loan forms and other documents, federal prosecutors tried to prove Friday that Ryan had known since 2011 that Charity was a bad businessman who spent the bank’s money instead of using it on property remodeling and other businesses. offers
Former First NBC executive Ashton Ryan, Jr. walks to the US District Court in New Orleans for his trial on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER
Charity, who already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a plea deal with prosecutors, was the latest in a series of prosecution witnesses during the first two weeks of Ryan’s federal trial related to the $1,000 bank collapse. millions.
Most of the witnesses so far have testified on variations on the same theme: that Ryan, despite knowing that the borrowers would not be able to repay their loans, allegedly kept that from his board.
Ryan’s lawyers have tried to deny the claims, saying he was personally dealing with some of the bank’s most troublesome customers and trying to keep them afloat.
Testimony and cross-examination on Friday followed the same pattern.
A benefactor relationship
Charity described how he had entered into a business relationship with Ryan when First NBC was founded in 2006. He said that in the early years of their relationship, First NBC loaned him hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy houses for post-Hurricane Katrina renovations, he and Ryan developed a personal bond.
“I got to know Ryan very well and we were friends,” said Charity, noting that Ryan was the godfather of two of her children and had vouched for him at expensive local private schools. “I trusted him unconditionally. He had a solid reputation, he was highly respected.”
Charity said Ryan eventually helped him get involved in bigger projects, including a $1 million condo and beignet deal in the Jax Brewery building on Decatur Street in the French Quarter.
He also bought three gas stations on the North Shore and a defunct shopping center on Robert E. Lee Boulevard (now Allen Toussaint Boulevard), which had been badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
‘Lies like a rug’
But the government argued that Ryan realized as early as 2011 that Charity was a poor businessman who consistently failed to hold meetings, file documents, pay business taxes owed to the city, file permit applications and handle other routine business tasks. . .
Brian DeJean, a former Charity accountant, testified that he had dropped him as a client in 2012 because he consistently failed to provide basic documents and was lying about it.
“He wasn’t trustworthy,” DeJean said. “He lied and lied again. He lied like a rug.”
DeJean said that Ryan had been told in a meeting of Charity’s chronic shortcomings, but agreed that Ryan seemed to be doing everything he could to help Charity.
In testimony earlier this week, two program directors who oversee grants to renovate New Orleans buildings after Katrina, Adrienne Celestine and Aimee Quirk, testified that the Charity had been turned down for grants because it had failed to provide the documents that were requested. they had repeatedly requested.
Prosecutors said Ryan had told banking supervisory boards that the grant money was on the way when he knew it had been turned down. His defense attorney responded that Ryan had helped Charity reapply for the grants and hoped they would still be able to get the funds.
Former First NBC executive Ashton Ryan, Jr., right, walks with his wife Jolene to the US District Court in New Orleans for his trial on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate )
Despite his mounting debts, the government argued that Ryan continued to lend more and more to Charity and claimed in bank documents that Charity was using the money to develop property, when in fact it was using the loan proceeds to pay off older loans and to cover personal expenses. .
In one case, they pointed to a series of three $500,000 loans made to Charity in the spring of 2015, ostensibly to renovate the forecourt of Beignet’s Decatur Street store, but used largely to pay interest on outstanding loans and to personal expenses.
Charity agreed with prosecutors that Ryan had known he was essentially broke since at least early 2015 and was using the money to give the appearance that the loans were current.
During cross-examination, Ryan’s defense attorney, Edward Castaing Jr., tried to show that Charity was lying about Ryan’s extent of knowledge in order to get a lighter sentence. He also painted Ryan as someone Charity regularly lied to.
not a sister
He questioned Charity about her relationship with Stephanie Carter-Stinson, a Washington, DC-based physician who had been a guarantor for all of Charity’s loans.
Charity, 58, married with five children, agreed that she had represented Carter-Stinson to Ryan and other bank officials as her sister, when in fact she was someone with whom he was romantically involved.
Castaing pointed out, and Charity agreed, that Carter-Stinson had an income of more than $500,000 a year, net assets of more than $5 million, and was the main reason the loans kept flowing. The loans were also backed by property liens.
Castaing also pointed out that Charity blamed his wife for out-of-control personal spending when she agreed to cooperate, saying she had a bipolar condition and couldn’t help but spend money.
Castaing then listed the purchases Charity had made for himself, including gold and diamond necklaces and cufflinks, a dozen Rolex watches, as well as other high-end watches like a Breitling Bentley and a TAG Heuer, which together would cost more than $ 100,000. .
The evidence showed that the relationship between Ryan and Charity soured over time. An email exchange in November 2016 showed Ryan rejecting Charity’s efforts to get another loan to buy a new SUV.
“You’re an asshole,” Ryan wrote to Charity, noting that he already owned two five-year-old Mercedes-Benz cars and needed to prioritize paying off the loans.
Charity agreed to plead guilty in July 2019 in the hope of a reduced sentence in exchange for her testimony. Ryan’s trial, which began on January 9, is expected to last four to six weeks.
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Simon Hardy Tue, 23/03/2010 - 17:46
Many are hailing the new Healthcare bill in the US, but there are serious problems, reports Simon Hardy
With the passing of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the US House of Representatives by a narrow 219-212 majority, the Democrats are now arguing that Obama has fulfilled one of his main campaign pledges. On the surface, the bill is an advance on what came before. As of March 23rd 2010, an extra 32 million US citizens now have health insurance, insurance can no longer be refused based on medical histories, and there is a sizeable increase of Medicare coverage for people on low incomes.
But most healthcare campaigners are highly critical about the new bill and the way it was arrived at. The bill will still leave 23 million Americans uninsured. The new law will force middle income earners to buy insurance, costing as much as 9.5 per cent of their income, which would still only cover about 70% of medical expenses. To cap it all off, the already incredibly powerful insurance companies will be given an extra $450 million a year in public money to subsidise their insurance packages, handing over more money to the private sector.
In short, this Act does nothing to really challenge the profit-driven stranglehold of the insurance companies over healthcare in the US. Many Americans will not see any benefit until 2014 when all the measures of the bill finally come into force, and by then the insurance companies could have increased their premiums substantially. Physicians for a National Health Program likened the new bill to “using an aspirin to treat cancer.”
Right up to the last minute, concession after concession was made to the Republican (and Democrat) opponents of universal healthcare entitlement. Under the new law, thanks to Democrat Senator Bart Stupak, an agent of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, women will have to pay for insurance cover on abortions “100% out of their own pocket”. “Pro-choice” activists expressed concern that, if insurance for abortions has to be paid separately to the health care companies, some might drop it as an option.
A further problem in the provision of healthcare for women is that, although the bill bans using gender as a factor when costing premiums (currently many women have to pay more for the same insurance package as a man, and workplaces with a majority female workforce have to pay more insurance) these provisions will not come fully into force until 2017. No wonder the National Organisation of Women referred to the bill as a “a giant leap backward for women”.
Many of his supporters are enraged that Obama caved in on so many key points of the Act as it made its way through the congress. The problem stems from two points, the first is that the Democrat party, wedded to capitalism and heavily funded by the health insurance companies, did not want too radical a reform bill. The second point, related to the first, is that Obama refused to use his campaigning base to establish more support for a radical version of the bill. The right mobilised significant pressure from its base, with demonstrations and protests across the country, designed to put pressure on wavering politicians to oppose the legislation, or fight for it to be further watered down. The right wing populist Tea Party movement, organised a protest on Capitol Hill the day before the act was passed where Democrat politicians were harassed, some were called “niggers” and “faggots” and even subjected to physical abuse, reported the Huffington Post.
The language from the Republican politicians themselves was designed to provoke emotional and irrational anger, “a little bit of freedom dies here today” declared Marsha Blackburn. “Will we choose the path of individual liberty or will we choose the path of government tyranny” asked Ted Poe, using the popular buzzwords from the Tea Party campaigners demanding that the tree of liberty be watered with the blood of tyrants. And when John Shadegg said that the bill was destroying freedom in the US, he was clearly referring to the total freedom of the insurance companies to make money from people’s illnesses.
For their part, Obama and the Democrats purposefully kept a lid on the activist base, clearly concerned that, if they mobilised such forces, the expectations of the movement would far outstrip anything that the Democrats were willing to offer in congress. This is because the Democrats cannot actually provide what so many people want and need, fully funded, free healthcare available at the point of demand.
The choice was over a continuation of the appalling free market system, which has ruled health care for generations, or some modest government intervention which would help paper over the cracks of healthcare provision in the US, whilst maintaining the profit system for the insurance companies. When stripped down to its bare essentials, this is a reform package which does not slay the beast of market profits in healthcare, but tries to tame it.
Now the battle is on to destroy even what has been achieved so far. The Republicans will be running in the mid term elections in the Autumn under a “repeal the Bill” ticket, no doubt accusing the Obama administration of “socialism” and “government take over of healthcare”. The Democrats are promising to defeat the Republicans but they have a track record of caving in under pressure and conceding strategic ground to the populist right on such issues. Of course, many Democrats themselves (the so called blue-dog Democrats) opposed the bill and act as a fifth column within their own party ranks on the health care issue. Currently, the Republicans stand united on their hatred of the healthcare reforms.
This highlights the problem of the reformist logic. Making concessions to the Republicans did not lead to any increase in bipartisan support, instead it resulted in a watered down bill and an entrenched opposition. The “public option” government health insurance provision as an alternative to the private pension schemes was unceremoniously dropped. If this is the best reform that can be brought about through the mechanisms of the US government, then it is clear that a more radical route is needed – “Power to the (Working) People!” Working people in the US, who most desperately needed, and still need, a genuine free health care system, should bear in mind Lenin's words “reforms are the by-product of the revolutionary struggle”, and that is what is lacking in the US today.


Everyday Low’s Hair Care Brand Is a New Kind of Dragon
‘House of the Dragon’ Hair Inspires an Icy Blond Renaissance
Everyday Low, a haircare company, makes its brand the butt of jokes on its Tumblr.
Photograph by David McNew
Everyday Low is not a new name. In fact, its headquarters, a small strip mall on a busy road in San Diego’s Mission Valley, is little more than a year old. But its founder and manager, Jennifer Bancroft, says the name itself has become something of a joke. “They’ve been calling me House of the Dragon, and they were saying it’s a new kind of Dragon,” she says. “I don’t know what Dragon means.”
Everyday Low’s hair-care products were first introduced in 2012. They have since seen a steady rise in demand; the company has expanded to 15 international locations, and has even opened one in London. It’s become a cult-favorite online brand, with a social-media following of over 100,000 people. But its products may never have made it out of the San Diego market, according to Bancroft. “We’re very small,” she says. “When we first started we were very lean.”
Bancroft came up with the brand name and the marketing strategy for Everyday Low in about 2011. She wanted to sell a product that was more than just moisturizing hair. She looked to make a bigger statement. “I came up with this idea of ‘House of the Dragon’ for an Asian dragon in the Asian culture,” Bancroft says. “It was like, look what we’re doing here.”
The term House of the Dragon was originally coined, she says, “by a friend of mine, who is Korean, called ‘dongi,’
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Authors S-T
Scarborough, Roscoe C. 2016. "Making It in a Cover Music Scene: Negotiating Artistic Identities in a 'Kmart Level Market.'" Sociological Inquiry. DOI: 10.1111/soin.12153
Scarborough, Roscoe C., and Charles Allan McCoy. 2016. "Moral Reactions to Reality TV: Television Viewers' Endogenous and Exogenous Loci of Morality." Journal of Consumer Culture 16(1):164-91.
Schrader, Abby M. "Market Pleasures and Prostitutions in St. Petersburg." In Matthew P. Romaniello and Tricia Starks, eds., Russian History Through the Senses: From 1700 to the Present, (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2016), pp. 67-94.
Schuyler, David. "Saving Olana." The Hudson River Valley Review. Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 2-26.
Aleman MG, Marconi LJ, Nguyen NH, Park JM, Patino MM, Wang Y, Watkins CS, Shelley C. (2016). "The influence of assay design, blinding, and Gymnema sylvestre on sucrose detection by humans." Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 15, A18-A23.
Smith, Scott C. 2016. Landscape and Politics in the Ancient Andes: Biographies of Place at Khonkho Wankane. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.
Yitao Liang, Marlos Machado, Erik Talvitie, and Michael Bowling. "State of the Art Control of Atari Games Using Shallow Reinforcement Learning." In Proceedings of the 2016 International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multi-agent Systems, p. 485-493, 2016.
Brannon D. Ingram, J. Barton Scott, and SherAli K. Tareen, eds. Imagining the Public in Modern South Asia. Routledge Press, 2016.
Thompson, R. K. R., Flemming, T. M., & Hagmann, C. E. (2016). "Can old-world and new-world monkeys judge spatial above/below relations to be the same or different? Some of them, but not all of them." Behavioral Processes, 123: pp. 74-83.
Troy, A. S., Ford, B. Q., McRae, K., Zarolia, P., & Mauss, I. B. (2016, August 25). "Change the Things You Can: Emotion Regulation Is More Beneficial for People From Lower Than From Higher Socioeconomic Status." Emotion. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/emo0000210
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Usher Live in Taipei 2010
Posted on: June 5th, 2018 10:56 am
Time is testament to the mark of greatness, and for this era that mark belongs to Usher Raymond IV, the consummate entertainer who transcends the boundaries of popular culture, redefining the nature of superstardom. Usher’s considerable achievements begin with over 45 million records sold world wide and a stable of five Grammy awards. The singer, composer, producer, actor, businessman, designer and philanthropist is the quintessential contemporary icon, celebrated for nearly two decades.
Country: Taipei
Usher, a self-described “master of the moment,” was born to lead-from the stage to the boardroom. Over the course of his exemplary career, Usher has led by countless examples, creating a rich catalog of hit songs and crowning achievements. With the release of his monumental seventh album, Raymond v Raymond, Usher returns to his original medium – making songs into masterpieces that illuminate the struggle between man and legend.
The DVD was declared seven times platinum. He won over fans and critics alike with accolades, which continue to multiply: 5 Grammy Awards, 4 American Music Awards, 8 Soul Train Music Awards, 4 BET Awards, 3 Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, 6 Teen Choice Awards, a Blockbuster Music Award, 3 R&B Hip Hop Conference Awards, 9 ASCAP Awards, a staggering 17 Billboard Music Awards and countless other international awards from several countries.
Usher may indeed have super hero DNA, which is one plausible explanation for how one man is able to accomplish so much. Usher, a seasoned television and film actor, hit the Broadway stage in 2006 playing the riveting lead, Billy Flynn in Chicago to a sold-out audiences as the youngest cast member in the lead role of the slick-talking lawyer persona. “They say to be an entertainer, you have to do it all,” says Usher. “When I was young and decided I wanted to be in entertainment, I watched people like Bob Fosse, Sammy Davis Jr. and Ben Vereen. They were triple threats – dancing, acting, and singing. It really inspired me. I want to live up to that title and showcase all of my talents and be able to say I’ve experienced it all, and had fun in the process.”
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WLF Urges Supreme Court To Reaffirm Limits on General Personal Jurisdiction
Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co.
Countering the Plaintiffs' Bar | Personal Jurisdiction / Standing to Sue
“The Supreme Court long ago abandoned Pennsylvania Fire’s reasoning. It is time for the Court to officially overrule that mistaken precedent.”
—John Masslon, WLF Senior Litigation Counsel
Click here for WLF’s brief.
WASHINGTON, DC— Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today filed an amicus curiae brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold constitutional limits on Pennsylvania state courts’ exercise of general personal jurisdiction over nonresident defendants. In a brief filed in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co., WLF argued that Pennsylvania’s long-arm statute, which provides that any out-of-state corporation registering to do business in Pennsylvania may be sued there for any dispute arising from anywhere, violates the Due Process Clause.
The case arises from Mallory’s alleged exposure to toxic chemicals while he worked for Norfolk Southern in Ohio and Virginia. Even though the company was headquartered in and incorporated in Virginia at the time of suit, Mallory was a resident of Virginia, and the exposure occurred outside Pennsylvania, Mallory sued in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania courts held that the Commonwealth’s long-arm statute violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. The Georgia Supreme Court, relying on Pennsylvania Fire v. Gold Issue, however, reached the opposite conclusion for a similar Georgia statute and the Supreme Court agreed to resolve the split in authority.
In its brief supporting Norfolk Southern, WLF examines the stare decisis factors and explains why the Court should overrule its 1917 Pennsylvania Fire decision. That decision is unworkable in the e-commerce era, was poorly reasoned, and there are no reliance interests that warrant keeping the decision. Most importantly, however, Pennsylvania Fire cannot be reconciled with the Court’s more recent personal-jurisdiction decisions. Thus, the time has come for the Court to explicitly overrule Pennsylvania Fire. WLF’s brief also explains why the Court should not address Mallory’s historical arguments that he raised for the first at the Supreme Court. The case is set for oral argument on November 8.
Celebrating its 45th year, WLF is America’s premier public-interest law firm and policy center advocating for free-market principles, limited government, individual liberty, and the rule of law.


Sec 530F
[1]>
530F Obligation on principals to deduct tax.
(1) A principal to whom a deduction authorisation is issued under section 530D shall deduct tax from the relevant payment concerned only in accordance with the terms of the deduction authorisation.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a principal to whom section 530A applies who makes a relevant payment to a subcontractor in circumstances other than those referred to in subsection (1) shall—
(a) be liable to pay tax to the Revenue Commissioners at the rate of 35 per cent on the amount of the relevant payment, and
(b) without prejudice to any other penalty to which the principal may be liable and without prejudice to section 1078, be liable to a penalty of €5,000 or the amount of the tax payable under paragraph (a), whichever is the lesser, unless the principal submits the details of the relevant payment in the return required under section 530K for the period concerned, on or before the due date for that return.
<[2]
(b) without prejudice to any other penalty to which the principal may be liable and without prejudice to section 1078, be liable to a penalty of €5,000 or the amount of the tax payable under paragraph (a), whichever is the lesser.
(2) A principal to whom section 530A applies who makes a relevant payment to a subcontractor in circumstances other than those referred to in subsection (1) shall, without prejudice to section 1078, be liable to a penalty of—
(a) 35 per cent of the relevant payment, where the person to whom the relevant payment was made was a subcontractor who has not had a determination made by the Revenue Commissioners under section 530I,
(b) 20 per cent of the relevant payment, where the person to whom the relevant payment was made was a subcontractor who has had a determination made by the Revenue Commissioners under section 530I and where neither section 530G nor section 530H applies to the subcontractor concerned,
(c) 10 per cent of the relevant payment, where the person to whom the relevant payment was made was a subcontractor to whom section 530H applies, and
(d) 3 per cent of the relevant payment, where the person to whom the relevant payment was made was a subcontractor to whom section 530G applies.
(3) [3]>(a) Where subsection (2)(a) applies and the principal submits the details of the relevant payment in a return for the relevant return period, the Revenue Commissioners shall establish the amount of tax that would have been due from the principal in respect of that payment had the rate of tax been the rate of tax last notified by the Revenue Commissioners to the sub-contractor concerned under section 530I and, notwithstanding subsection (2)(a), the tax due from the principal in respect of that payment by virtue of that subsection shall be the amount so established.<[3][3]>(a) Where subsection (2)(a) applies and the principal submits the details of the relevant payment in a return for the relevant return period [7]>by the due date for the return<[7] and, if appropriate, provides the Revenue Commissioners with such details, in relation to the relevant contract in respect of which the relevant payment was made, as may be required by the Revenue Commissioners, the Revenue Commissioners shall establish the amount of tax that would have been due from the principal in respect of that payment had the rate of tax been the rate of tax last notified by the Revenue Commissioners to the subcontractor concerned under section 530I and, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2)(a), the tax due from the principal in respect of that payment by virtue of that subsection shall be the amount so established.<[3]
(b) Where paragraph (a) applies, the Revenue Commissioners shall notify the principal of whether any adjustment to his liability for the period arises on account of the application of that paragraph and the Revenue Commissioners may include provision in any regulations made by them under this Chapter to give effect to this subsection.
(c) The amount of the penalty under subsection (2)(b) shall be calculated without reference to any adjustment of the tax due as a result of the application of paragraph (a).
(3) (a) Where subsection (2) applies, a principal shall submit an unreported payment notification to the Revenue Commissioners.
(b) The Revenue Commissioners shall make regulations for the purposes of this subsection and such regulations may—
(i) specify the manner by which principals shall submit an unreported payment notification to the Revenue Commissioners, and
(ii) provide for the details to be supplied to the Revenue Commissioners by a principal in relation to an unreported payment notification.
(4) Where a principal makes a relevant payment to a subcontractor, the principal shall issue a copy of the deduction authorisation in relation to that payment to the sub-contractor.
(4) Where, in making a relevant payment to a subcontractor, a principal deducts tax from the payment, the principal shall—
(a) provide the subcontractor with a copy of the deduction authorisation related to that payment, or
(b) arrange for the following details from the deduction authorisation to be given to the subcontractor by written or electronic means:
(i) the name and tax reference number of the principal,
(ii) the name and tax reference number of the subcontractor,
(iii) the gross amount of the payment, including the amount of tax deducted,
(iv) the amount of tax deducted,
(v) the rate at which tax was deducted,
(vi) the date of the payment, and
(vii) the unique reference number issued by the Revenue Commissioners on the deduction authorisation.
(5) The amount of tax which a principal is liable to deduct under subsection (1) from a relevant payment shall be due and payable by the principal concerned to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the return period in which the payment is made.
[10]>
(6) The amount of tax which a principal is liable to pay to the Revenue Commissioners by virtue of subsection (2)(a) shall be due and payable by the principal concerned to the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the return period in which the payment is made.
<[10]
(7) Where, due to a persistent technology systems failure, a principal is unable to give notification to the Revenue Commissioners under section 530C(1) and has no option but to make a relevant payment without complying with that provision, subsection (2) shall not apply to that payment if the principal—
(a) deducts tax from that payment at the rate last notified to the principal in respect of the subcontractor concerned, or if there was no such notification, deducts tax at a rate of 35 per cent from that payment,
(b) immediately upon rectification of the technology systems failure notifies the Revenue Commissioners, in accordance with this Chapter or regulations made under this Chapter, that the payment has been made,
(c) provides all details in relation to the payment that the Revenue Commissioners may require, and
(d) pays the tax deducted in accordance with paragraph (a) to the Revenue Commissioners on or before the due date for the making of a return for the period within which the principal notifies the Revenue Commissioners under paragraph (b).
(8) Where a principal complies with the requirements of subsection (7)—
(a) the principal shall be deemed to have deducted tax from a relevant payment in accordance with the terms of a valid deduction authorisation, and
(b) for the purposes of section 530K, the payment shall be deemed to have been made in the return period in which the principal notifies the Revenue Commissioners under subsection (7)(b).
(9) A principal shall, on request, provide the Revenue Commissioners with information in relation to the circumstances and details of a persistent technology systems failure under subsection (7).
Inserted by FA11 s20(1)(k). With effect from 1 January 2012 as per S.I. No. 660 of 2011.
[-] [+]
Substituted by FA12 s22(1)(m). Comes into operation on and from 31 March 2012.
Substituted by FA12 s22(1)(n). Comes into operation on and from 31 March 2012.
Inserted by FA12 s22(1)(o). Comes into operation on and from 31 March 2012.
Substituted by FA12 s22(1)(p). Comes into operation on and from 31 March 2012.
Inserted by FA12 s22(1)(q). Comes into operation on and from 31 March 2012.
Deleted by F(No.2)A13 s26. Comes into operation on 1 January 2014.
Substituted by FA14 s17(b)(i). Comes into operation on 1 January 2015.
Substituted by FA14 s17(b)(ii). Comes into operation on 1 January 2015.
Deleted by FA14 s17(b)(iii). Comes into operation on 1 January 2015.


Attempt to Close LGBT Organization in Turkey Stalls
October 31, 2007 Julie Bolcer and GO Staff
Turkish LGBT organizations are under fire from the government.
An effort by officials in Turkey to close one of the country’s leading LGBT organizations has been placed on hold until Jan 31, according to pinknews.co.uk. Citing the need for the prosecution to compile a report, a judge adjourned the trial in which the Istanbul Governor’s office is charging that the group, Lambda Istanbul, violates Turkish laws on morality.
Since 1993, according to Human Rights Watch, Lambda Istanbul has lobbied for legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It operates a counseling hotline, and raises awareness about LGBT individuals through cultural, educational and political activities.
The Governor asked earlier this year that Lambda Istanbul be closed, and after the complaint was rejected, the case reached a higher court in July. A second hearing began on Oct. 18 before it was placed on hold.
Although homosexual sex is legal for adults over 18 in Turkey, the LGBT community often is harassed through unclear laws about public morality. Vaguely worded legal provisions on public morals are often used to harass LGBT people. The country, which is a candidate for EU membership, is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. The treaties protect freedom of expression and association, and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
gay rights turkeyhuman rights watchinternational lgbt issueslambda instanbullgbt rights turkeyturkey
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Team, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results
Quest Delivered 51.4% Year-over-Year Revenue Growth
IHT Revenue Increased by 46% Year-over-Year
Team, Inc.
SUGAR LAND, Texas, Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Team, Inc. (NYSE: TISI), a global leading provider of integrated, digitally-enabled asset performance assurance and optimization solutions, today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.
Second Quarter 2021 Results:
Revenue of $238.9 million, up $49.6 million, or 26.2%, from Q2 2020
IHT and Quest segment revenue increased by 46.0% and 51.4%, respectively from Q2 2020
Gross margin was $62.8 million, up $5.4 million from Q2 2020
Quest adjusted EBITDA margin of 26.6%, surpassing the 2020 full year average of 24.1%
"TEAM's second quarter results reflect a mix of activity recovery and challenging market dynamics," said Amerino Gatti, TEAM's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Although we are not pleased with our overall results, revenue was at the upper end of our outlook. All three segments achieved revenue growth over Q2 2020 with Quest reporting the largest overall percent increase at 51%. Inspection & Heat Treating followed at approximately 46% and Mechanical Services at 4.7%. The year-over-year topline growth was driven by strong April activity levels from several large turnaround projects. May and June activity benefited from increased economic activity as COVID-related restrictions began to lift. While COVID continued to force project delays, especially internationally, activity levels throughout the quarter were mostly in line with expectations, highlighting improved economic growth across the various end markets in which we serve.
"TEAM faced margin headwinds in the second quarter. We experienced inflation in several areas, such as raw materials, transportation, and labor as well as increased technician training, and lingering COVID-related pricing concessions. We remain focused on cost discipline and continue to look for ways to mitigate overall inflationary pressures. Pricing negotiations have started with our clients to reflect current market conditions. Given these proactive actions, combined with the transitory nature of the cost increases, we expect our gross margin to improve in the second half of the year.
"We continued our long-standing culture of technology innovation. After several successful field tests, the Mechanical Services segment commercialized our new, patent pending SmartStopTM Isolation Technology. This new double block and bleed isolation system increases integrity and overall safety, further strengthening our competitive advantages in the hot tapping market. Additionally, we entered into an agreement to become the exclusive provider of Credosoft Integrity Management Software in North America. The software enhances TEAM's ability to monitor assets, ensure compliance and provide inspection and repair solutions. The Credosoft service offering provides TEAM a stable, subscription-based revenue profile and further positions the company to be a leading provider of integrated digitally-enabled asset performance optimization solutions.
"As we enter the second half of 2021, we are cautiously optimistic about increased activity levels associated with an improving economy. While the recent emergence of COVID variants is concerning and could negatively impact our activity levels, the outlook for the fall turnaround season looks solid since operators are now in a better financial position to start previously postponed maintenance projects. Additionally, our international operations should benefit from progress of the vaccine rollout and the gradual removal of lockdown restrictions in key markets. Therefore, we expect sequential revenue growth to continue in the third quarter.
"We are making advances towards further revenue diversification into new markets, such as renewable energy and expanding regulatory services that include emissions control. Our revenue diversification efforts as well as investments in technology and digital are poised to be future growth drivers. TEAM is well-positioned to benefit from a strong economic recovery by capitalizing on built-up demand and pursuing opportunities that utilize the depth and breadth of our portfolio. We have a clear strategic plan to become more capital efficient, capture profitable growth, and generate positive cash flow," concluded Mr. Gatti.
Consolidated net loss in the second quarter of 2021 was $17.5 million ($0.57 loss per diluted share) compared to a loss of $13.5 million ($0.44 loss per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2020. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $9.1 million for the second quarter of 2021 compared to $12.7 million for the prior year quarter.
Consolidated revenue for the second quarter of 2021 was $238.9 million compared to $189.3 million in the prior year quarter. Revenue increased due to higher activity levels from increased economic activity in the U.S. and select international markets as economies opened from COVID-related shutdowns. In the second quarter of 2021, consolidated gross margin was $62.8 million, or 26.3%, compared with 30.3% in the same quarter a year ago. Gross margin was negatively impacted by cost inflation pressure combined with lingering COVID-related price discounts and the reinstatement of temporary cost reductions that TEAM enacted in 2020.
SG&A for the second quarter was $68.5 million, up $9.6 million, or a 16.3% increase from the second quarter of 2020. The company's adjusted measure of net income/loss, Consolidated Adjusted EBIT, a non-GAAP measure was a loss of $3.4 million in the second quarter compared to a loss of $0.2 million in the prior year comparable quarter.
Second quarter 2021 reported results include certain net charges not indicative of TEAM's core operating activities, including: $0.7 million of professional costs related to the previously announced new strategic organizational structure ("Operating Group Reorganization"), $0.3 million of severance charges primarily associated with the Operating Group Reorganization, and $1.6 million for accrued legal matters and other legal fees. Net of tax, these items totaled $2.6 million or $0.08 per diluted share.
Adjusted net loss, consolidated Adjusted EBIT, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain items that are not indicative of TEAM's core operating activities. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is at the end of this release.
Segment Results
The following table illustrates the composition of the company's revenue and operating income (loss) by segment for the quarters ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands):
June 30,
Increase (Decrease)
Revenues by business segment:
Quest Integrity
Corporate and shared support services
All three business segments delivered year-over-year revenue growth due to higher activity levels from increased economic activity in the U.S. and select international markets as economies opened up from COVID-related shutdowns. IHT results included a 46.0% year-over-year improvement in revenue primarily due to increased activity levels in the U.S. and Canada and 56.0% increase in operating income. MS delivered a 4.7% year-over-year improvement in revenue due to an increase in Turnaround projects and call-out work. However, MS's operating income declined due to inflationary cost pressures in raw materials and labor. Quest Integrity's results included a 51.4% year-over-year improvement in revenue and a $5.0 million increase in operating income. The increase in Quest Integrity is primarily the result of easing COVID-related global restrictions, additional subsea inspection work, and increased demand for Quest's proprietary services.
Cash and Debt
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents were $18.4 million at June 30, 2021. The company's net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) was $338.1 million at June 30, 2021, compared to $287.9 million at Dec. 31, 2020.
The non-GAAP measures in this earnings release are provided to enable investors, analysts, and management to evaluate TEAM's performance excluding the effects of certain items that management believes impact the comparability of operating results between reporting periods. These measures should be used in addition to, and not in lieu of, results prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A reconciliation of each of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable historical GAAP financial measure is contained in the accompanying schedule for each of the fiscal periods indicated.
Conference Call and Webcast Details
Team, Inc. will host a conference call on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Central Time) to review its second quarter 2021 results.
By Phone: Dial 1-877-407-5794 inside the U.S. or 1-201-389-0869 outside the U.S. at least 10 minutes before the call. A telephone replay will be available through August 11, 2021 by dialing 1-877-660-6853 inside the U.S. or 201-612-7415 outside the U.S. using the Conference ID 13720696#.
By Webcast: The call will be broadcast over the web and can be accessed on TEAM's website, www.teaminc.com under "Investor Relations." Please log on at least 10 minutes in advance to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available shortly after the call.
About Team, Inc.
Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, Team Inc. (NYSE: TISI) is a global leading provider of integrated, digitally-enabled asset performance assurance and optimization solutions. We deploy conventional to highly specialized inspection, condition assessment, maintenance and repair services that result in greater safety, reliability and operational efficiency for our client's most critical assets. Through locations in more than 20 countries, we unite the delivery of technological innovation with over a century of progressive, yet proven integrity and reliability management expertise to fuel a better tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.teaminc.com.
Certain forward-looking information contained herein is being provided in accordance with the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We have made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information, assumptions and beliefs upon which this forward-looking information is based are current, reasonable and complete. However, such forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. There are known and unknown factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking information. Although it is not possible to identify all of these factors, they include, among others, the duration and magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic, related economic effects and the resulting negative impact on demand for oil and gas and such known factors as are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in other reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information contained herein, including projected cost savings, will occur or that objectives will be achieved. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements made today or any other forward-looking statements made by the Company, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
TEAM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share data)
Six Months Ended
Restructuring and other related charges, net
Goodwill impairment charge
Other expense, net
Loss before income taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
Loss per common share:
Basic and diluted
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of current maturities
TEAM INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION
(unaudited, in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses
Non-cash compensation cost
Working capital changes
Other items affecting operating cash flows
Cash used for business acquisitions, net
Proceeds from disposal of assets
Other items affecting investing cash flow
Net cash used in investing activities
Net payments under Credit Facility revolver
Net borrowings under ABL facility
Payments under Credit Facility term loan
Payments for debt issuance costs
Taxes paid for net share settlement of share-based awards, net
Other items affecting financing cash flows
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating income (loss) ("EBIT")
Segment Adjusted EBIT
Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Includes goodwill impairment charge of $191.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, operating income for IHT would be $4.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2020.
The Company uses supplemental non-GAAP financial measures which are derived from the consolidated financial information including adjusted net income (loss); adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, earnings before interest and taxes ("EBIT"); adjusted EBIT (defined below); adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("adjusted EBITDA") and free cash flow to supplement financial information presented on a GAAP basis.
The Company defines adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share and adjusted EBIT to exclude the following items: costs associated with our OneTEAM program, costs associated with the Operating Group Reorganization, non-routine legal costs and settlements, restructuring charges, certain severance charges, goodwill impairment charges, loss on debt extinguishment and certain other items that we believe are not indicative of core operating activities. Consolidated adjusted EBIT, as defined by us, excludes the costs excluded from adjusted net income (loss) as well as income tax expense (benefit), interest charges, foreign currency (gain) loss, and items of other (income) expense. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA further excludes from consolidated adjusted EBIT depreciation, amortization and non-cash share-based compensation costs. Segment adjusted EBIT is equal to segment operating income (loss) excluding costs associated with our OneTEAM program, costs associated with the Operating Group Reorganization, non-routine legal costs and settlements, restructuring charges, certain severance charges, goodwill impairment charges and certain other items as determined by management. Segment adjusted EBITDA further excludes from segment adjusted EBIT depreciation, amortization, and non-cash share-based compensation costs. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities minus capital expenditures. Net debt is defined as the sum of the current and long-term portions of debt, including finance lease obligations, less cash and cash equivalents.
Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of our financial position and results of operations. In particular, adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share, consolidated adjusted EBIT, and consolidated adjusted EBITDA are meaningful measures of performance which are commonly used by industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies to analyze operating performance in our industry, perform analytical comparisons, benchmark performance between periods, and measure our performance against externally communicated targets. Our segment adjusted EBIT and segment adjusted EBITDA is also used as a basis for the Chief Operating Decision Maker to evaluate the performance of our reportable segments. Free cash flow is used by our management and investors to analyze our ability to service and repay debt and return value directly to stakeholders.
Non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools, because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net earnings and operating income. These measures should not be considered substitutes for their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with financial information presented on a GAAP basis. Further, our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies who may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. The liquidity measure of free cash flow does not represent a precise calculation of residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures. Reconciliations of each non-GAAP financial measure to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure are presented below.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited, in thousands except per share data)
Adjusted Net Income (Loss):
Professional fees and other1
Legal costs2
Severance charges, net3
Tax impact of adjustments and other net tax items4
Adjusted net loss
Adjusted net loss per common share:
Consolidated Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA:
Foreign currency loss (gain)6
Pension expense (credit)5
Consolidated Adjusted EBIT
Amount included in operating expenses
Amount included in SG&A expenses
Total depreciation and amortization
Non-cash share-based compensation costs
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
Free Cash Flow:
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, includes $0.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively, of costs associated with the Operating Group Reorganization (exclusive of restructuring costs). For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, includes $0.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, associated with the OneTEAM program (exclusive of restructuring costs).
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily relates to accrued legal matters and other legal fees. For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily relates to costs associated with international legal matters.
For the three months and six months ended June 30, 2021, $0.3 million and $2.2 million, respectively, associated with the Operating Group Reorganization. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, severance charges are associated with the OneTEAM program, including international operations.
Represents the tax effect of the adjustments. Beginning in Q2 2021, we now use the statutory tax rate, net of valuation allowance by legal entity to determine the tax effect of the adjustments. Prior to Q2 2021, we used an assumed marginal tax rate of 21% except for the adjustment of the goodwill impairment charge in Q1 2020 for which the actual tax impact was used. We have restated the prior period tax impact to use the statutory tax rate by legal entity, net of valuation allowance.
Represents pension expense (credit) for the U.K. pension plan based on the difference between the expected return on plan assets and the cost of the discounted pension liability. The pension plan has had no new participants added since the plan was frozen in 1994 and accruals for future benefits ceased in connection with a plan curtailment in 2013.
Represents foreign currency gain/loss. For prior period, includes other nominal fees.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Continued)
Segment Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA:
Operating income (loss)
Adjusted EBIT
Primarily relates to severance charges incurred associated with the Operating Group Reorganization for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, relates to severance charges associated with the OneTEAM program, including international restructuring under the OneTEAM program.
For the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, primarily relates to accrued legal matters and other legal fees. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, primarily relates to costs associated with international legal matters.
SOURCE Team, Inc.
www.teaminc.com


Young Heart Patient Recovering from Successful Surgery, Uganda
Well wishes to Patricia
August 24, 2017 - Uganda
Alphonse Mwanamwolho
RMF Uganda would like to thank you for all your kind support to our young heart patient, Patricia Biira. Today, August 24, 2017, she has been discharged from the Uganda Heart Institute after her successful surgery on Wednesday, August 16, 2017. The surgeons have assured us that Patricia is in a stable condition and she will gradually heal from the post-surgery pain. Patricia has started standing and walking on her own, and she can smile and laugh.
Patricia was born with holes in her heart, which prevented her from growing and developing normally. Her mother is a housewife and her father is a primary school teacher. Before receiving help from Real Medicine Foundation, they sold everything they had, including a piece of land, to preserve Patricia’s life, but even that was not enough to pay for services at the Uganda Heart Institute. When RMF learned about Patricia’s situation in 2016, we agreed to cover expenses for her treatment at the Uganda Heart Institute. With treatment, Patricia has gradually improved, and thanks to RMF’s support, she underwent heart surgery on August 16, 2017 as a durable solution to her illness.
Patricia’s parents are thankful to RMF beyond what words can express, and RMF is grateful to the Uganda Heart Institute for every special consideration they offered to our young patient. We also thank our donors, whose support made Patricia’s treatment and surgery possible.
Patricia is now 3 years and 4 months old, and after recovering from the surgery, she will join school. It is our goal to support Patricia’s education so that she is empowered to contribute to the wellbeing of others when she grows up. Please contact RMF to donate towards Patricia’s education and medical check-ups, which still require funding. Patricia’s next check-up will be on September 21, 2017. We wish her a quick recovery.
Categories: Medical Support of Individual Children Uganda or View All


Surging Democratic early voting prompts Republican concern
Jeremy Wallace, Austin Bureau
Feb. 26, 2018 Updated: Feb. 26, 2018 8:12 p.m.
A person enters the early voting site Tuesday at the Lions Field Adult and Senior Center on the first day of early voting for the March 6 joint primary elections. Through the first six days of early voting, about 10,000 more people voted in the Democratic primary elections than in the Republican primaries in the state’s 15 largest counties.William Luther /San Antonio Express-News
AUSTIN — Strong early voting numbers by Democrats are beginning to worry some of Texas’ biggest Republican names.
Gov. Greg Abbott’s campaign sent out an email blast to supporters Monday warning that Democrats are surging and becoming a real concern headed into the midterm election cycle.
“If these trends continue, we could be in real trouble come Election Day,” the email says.
Through the first six days of early voting, about 10,000 more people voted in the Democratic primary elections than in the Republican primaries in the state’s 15 largest counties. Four years ago — the most recent year with a gubernatorial election — Republicans were 54,000 voters ahead of Democrats.
In Bexar County, 16,463 voters cast a ballot in the Democratic primary through the first six days; 12,654 voted in the Republican primary.
Overall, 186,000 Democrats have voted through the first week of early voting, well ahead of the 101,000 who voted at the same point in 2014.
For Democrats, the numbers are more evidence that their voters are energized going into the midterm elections. Texas Democratic Party chair Gilberto Hinojosa has pointed to frustration with President Donald Trump as a major reason for the Democratic surge this year in early voting.
“Your vote is your voice; the best way to stop Donald Trump, protect our communities, and promote our progressive economic values is to vote in the Democratic Primary,” Hinojosa said about the early turnout numbers.
It also comes at a time that Democrats have been winning special elections in places Trump won in 2016.
“Democrats are already on a winning streak, flipping seats in special elections across the country in GOP strongholds,” the Abbott campaign email warns. “We’ve seen a surge of liberal enthusiasm in deep red states like Georgia, Alabama and Oklahoma. We had always hoped the liberal wave would never hit Texas, but these Early Voting returns aren’t encouraging so far.”
The letter calls on supporters to vote in the primaries and to make donations to help fund get-out-the-vote efforts.
Democrats have been boosted this year by a combination of factors. Opposition to Trump has been a big factor, but Democrats also have been aided by more candidates running for office and more competitive primaries than four years ago.
While early voting and vote-by-mail ballots are up this year, election experts warn this doesn’t necessarily mean there will be record turnout overall in the primary. Partly, Texas voters have been shifting from voting on Election Day to voting earlier as it has become more convenient.
Early voting started Feb. 20 and runs through Friday. Election day is March 6.
Jeremy Wallace
Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri. You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com.


Alster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Origins Available:
Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI
On the western coast of Scotland and on the Hebrides islands the Alster family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the given name Alexander, which in turn was originally derived from the Greek name, which means defender of men. In the late 11th century, Queen Margaret introduced the name, which she had heard in the Hungarian Court where she was raised, into Scotland by naming one of her sons Alexander. The popularity of the name Alexander was ensured by the fact that it was born by three Scottish kings, the first being Margaret's son who succeeded to the throne of Scotland following the death of Malcolm III.
Early Origins of the Alster family
The surname Alster was first found in Kintyre, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
"As a surname Alexander is very common on the west coast, where, according to the authors of Clan Donald, some of the descendants of Godfrey, second son of Alastair Mor, appear to have settled in the Carrick district of Ayrshire. " [1]
The Clan MacAllistair, Alisdair being the Gaelic for Alexander, are descended from the great King Somerled. Somerled had five sons, by his marriage to Ragnhildis, daughter of the Norwegian King of the Isles, Olaf Morsel. In the MacAllister line, Ranald had two sons, Ruari and Donald, and Donald had two sons, Angus and Alisdair. Alisdair living about 1230 to 1295 claimed the territory in South Knapdale, Kintyre, the ancient Clan seat was at Ard Phadraid (Patrick's Point) on the south side of Loch Tarbot. Alisdair (known as Alisdair Mor (the big)) is the recognized founder of the Clan. On his death, his estates were given to his brother and heir who was one of Bruce's supporters, Angus Mor.
Early History of the Alster family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alster research. Another 462 words (33 lines of text) covering the years 1230, 1295, 1475, 1602, 1200, 1605, 1615, 1765, 1846, 1431, 1570, 1640, 1614, 1588, 1655, 1640, 1643, 1619, 1681, 1665, 1681, 1620, 1665, 1660, 1665, 1653, 1686, 1743, 1797 and are included under the topic Early Alster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Alster Spelling Variations
In various documents Alster has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. Alexander, Alistair, MacAlexander, Alisandre, Alischoner, Alsinder, Alastair, MacAlexter, Callestar, Aleckander, Alexandri, Alisdair, Alaisder, Alestare, Alistare and many more.
Early Notables of the Alster family (pre 1700)
Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Sir William Alexander (circa 1570-1640), 1st Earl of Stirling, Scottish government official, knighted in 1614, appointed Governor of the barony of Nova Scotia; William Allestry (Allestrie) (1588-1655), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England (1640-1643)...
Another 48 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Alster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Alster family to Ireland
Some of the Alster family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 153 words (11 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Alster migration to the United States +
Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Alster or a variant listed above:
Alster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Reinhard Alster, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 [2]
Reinhart Alster, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1868 [2]
Related Stories +
Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist
Family Crests: Timeline
Family Crests: Elements
Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate
Spelling variations
Family seat
Clan seat
The Alster Motto +
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Per mare, per terras
Motto Translation: By sea, by land.
Citations +
^ Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Alster (Scottish)
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Experienced Drug Crimes Defense Lawyer
Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer Representing Individuals Charged with Serious Drug Crimes in State and Federal Court
John Floyd is Board Certified in Criminal Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a recognized expert in criminal law. He has over twenty years experience representing individuals accused of serious drug crimes before the state courts in Houston, throughout Texas and in Federal Courts Nationwide.
Respected and Trusted Advocate
Mr. Floyd has been featured on national television programs, world-wide radio and printed media commenting on issues relating to criminal law. He is listed in Thomson Reuters’ prominent list of Super Lawyers and many other respected publications featuring the best and brightest criminal defense lawyers in America. Mr. Floyd represents high-profile individuals, professionals, celebrities and business people who have been charged with drug crimes for whom a drug conviction could be disastrous.
If You Must Take Your Drug Case Seriously
If you have been charged with a drug crime and must take the case seriously, please contact Mr. Floyd and discuss the facts of your case and a possible successful defensive strategy.
Serious Felony Drug Crimes in Texas
Drug offenses in Texas are among the most serious in the state’s arsenal of criminal laws. Penalties of drug violations can be extremely severe and carry with them a host of collateral consequences.
A drug charge in Texas does not necessarily mean a drug conviction. There are several effective defenses for narcotics offenses that a talented drug crimes attorney with experience investigating the circumstances surrounding an search and arrest for a drug crime should know and be able to use to your advantage. Mr. Floyd has published hundreds of articles relating to criminal law, search and seizure and trial procedures and can use his knowledge and experience to create a successful defense strategy and force the government to follow the law and meet its burden of proof.
Defensive Strategies in Drug Crimes Cases
For instance, an knowledgeable and prepared criminal defense lawyer could demonstrate that your arresting officers did not have just cause to search your home, vehicle, or person. He could show that you were a victim of entrapment, or argue that the drugs belonged to someone else or were not intended for human consumption. It is even possible that drugs found in your vicinity, or even in your vehicle, were hidden, unknown to you and therefore not in your possession. There are many possible successful defenses n drug cases, if your lawyer dedicates the time and resources to investigate your case and is familiar with the law.
Do Not Talk to the Police or Federal Agents without a Lawyer
If you believe you are being investigated for a drug trafficking crime, or have already been arrested or charged with this type of offense, consult with a knowledgeable attorney with experience in drug defenses immediately. Your lawyer can listen to your side of the story before helping you determine the best possible defense strategy in the unique circumstances of your case. With the help of a drug crimes attorney with a successful track record, you may be able to avoid crippling consequences to your freedom and future.
Texas Drug Crime Laws
Texas courts look at five primary factors in determining the sentence to be imposed upon a conviction of any of the above drug offenses:
The type of drug involved. For example, a drug found in penalty group 1 (heroin) will result in a much harsher sentence than a drug found in penalty group 3 (prescription drugs).
The amount of drugs involved. Greater amounts of the same drug, regardless of the penalty group, will result in a longer sentence.
The purpose for which the drug is used. A simple possession is less severe than intent to distribute, manufacture, or deliver drugs.
Location of the violation. Drugs possessed or sold near schools or day care centers, for example, are treated more harshly than on an average street corner.
Whether the drug offense was tied to another offense. Drug offenses associated with crimes of violence or involve the possession or use of a firearm will result in a significantly more severe sentence.
Texas Drug Statutes
Manufacture or delivery of controlled substances (drugs)
Minimum Punishment: Confinement in jail for a term of not more than 2 years, or less than 180 days, and a fine not to exceed $10,000
Maximum Punishment: Confinement in prison for life or for a term of not more than 99 years nor less than 15 years, and a fine not to exceed $250,000
Possession of controlled substances (drugs)
Minimum Punishment: Confinement in jail for a term of not more than 180 days, and a fine not to exceed $2,000 or both
Delivery of Marijuana
Minimum Punishment: Confinement in jail for a term of not more than 180 days, a fine not to exceed $2,000, or both
Possession of Marijuana
Maximum Punishment: Confinement in prison for life or for a term of not more than 99 years nor less than 5 years, and a fine not to exceed $50,000
These offenses are set out in Chapter 481 of Health and Safety Code. There are five penalty groups in this chapter. Each group designates the offense and punishment. The groups are governed by two factors: the type of the drug and the quantity involved. Section 481.032 contains exhaustive lists (with new drugs added each year) that are in Penalty Groups I, 1-A, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG CONVICTIONS
There are also many collateral consequences for having been convicted of a drug offense in Texas.
Employment. Many occupations (such as barber, plumber, nurse, etc.) require a license to work. Section 53.021 of the Texas Occupations Code authorize Texas licensing authorities to revoke, suspend, or deny a license to anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
Education: Any student convicted of the possession or sale of a controlled substance can lose or be denied financial assistance under the Federal Student Loans and Grants program, or the forfeiture of a prepaid scholarship.
Asset forfeiture: Serious drug convictions can result of forfeiture of cash, vehicles, homes, personal property, and businesses.
Firearm: A drug conviction of more than one year will result in loss of the right to own or possess a firearm or ammunition.
Housing: Federal housing policies permit the exclusion of drug offenders from federally subsidized or funded housing.
Civil rights: A drug conviction results in the loss of the right to vote, run for public office, be appointed to a public office, or serve on a jury.
Because of the wide range of criminal penalties associated with drug offenses and the vast array of civil penalties, disqualifications and disabilities associated flowing drug convictions (and, yes, probation is a conviction), any one charged with a drug offense needs an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.
Experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
There are significant misconceptions about federal crimes. Many people assume that federal crimes are “white collar” or “national security” offenses. Nothing could be further from the truth. Approximately 55% of all federal prisoners, more than 30,000 of them, stand convicted of drug offenses. The U.S. Congress has enacted 38 drug statutes that proscribe penalties and fines for 165 drug-related offenses. The high end of these offenses carries penalties of 10 years to life imprisonment with $10 to $50 million fines while the lower end of these offenses carries penalties of 3 years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
Crimes with Mandatory Minimums
Below is a list of drug offenses that carry a mandatory minimum sentence under 28 U.S.C. § 841:
The mandatory minimum can be 5 to 10 years without parole depending upon the quantity of the drug involved.
The five-year minimum drug case can double to 10 years with one prior felony conviction while the 10-year minimum drug case can double to 20 years with a prior felony conviction.
Both the five-year and ten-year minimum cases increase to a mandatory minimum of 20 years if a death results. The minimum increases to life without parole if both a death results and the offender has one prior felony conviction.
Finally, the ten-year mandatory minimum drug type increases to life without parole if the offender has two or more prior felony convictions.
Drug sentencing Reform in Debate
Currently pending before Congress is the Smarter Sentencing Act that would cut in half the length of many drug sentences, but a significant group of lawmakers oppose the Act, labeling its supporters as being part of a “leniency industrial complex.”
Forfeiture of Property and Money
As with Texas drug convictions, federal drug convictions can also lead to civil forfeitures that result in the loss of personal property, including cash, homes, vehicles, planes, and other personal belongings
The proceeds from forfeited property go into the coffers of law enforcement agencies, not the government treasury. Thus, the police have an incentive to seize and forfeit as much property as possible, regardless of whether it is actually tied to an offender’s drug activity.
Drug Convictions can Destroy Lives, Professions
Beyond these serious to severe penal consequences, federal drug convictions have significant personal collateral consequences. They can disqualify you for a job in the health care industry, government, private security, law enforcement, many areas of the criminal justice system, and any other job requiring a security clearance.
They can, and most likely will, have adverse impact on your employment prospects with companies that routinely run criminal background checks prior to their decision to hire. They can also have a serious impact on your ability to rent a suitable residence as property owners also frequently run background checks, refusing to rent or lease to drug offenders.
Federal Drug Task Forces
Federal and state law enforcement officials often work together on drug enforcement offenses. They generally employ “task forces” that generally target one individual with the hope that he or she will lead them to a wider network of suspects. The primary objective of these kinds of investigation is to develop reasonable, articulable suspicion to arrest the initial target with the hopes that law enforcement can pressure the individual into cooperating with them to make a case against the wider network.
Contact a Criminal Defense Lawyer with Experience Defending Drug Cases
If you find yourself in a position facing a serious drug charge, you should immediately seek a qualified criminal defense lawyer who has experience defending individuals accused of serious drug charges. A skilled criminal defense attorney is more likely than not to develop a successful defense strategy against the drug charge, or, in the correct circumstances, to have the charge dismissed altogether.
Possible Defenses
Defenses against drug charges include: unlawful search and seizures, faulty crime lab analysis, lost or tampered with evidence, drugs that were planted, drugs that belonged to someone else, entrapment, or the medical marijuana exception.
Developing these defenses requires a criminal defense lawyer who has the knowledge and experienced necessary to apply the law to your case. In the proper circumstances your lawyer should have access to a team of investigators, paralegals, and experts, who can assist in providing a vigorous and thorough defense investigation, strategy preparation and trial plan that will lead to a successful outcome in the case.
Dedicated to the Best Possible Outcome
The primary goal of the John T. Floyd Law Firm is to produce the best outcome possible for our clients: dismissal of charges, acquittal at trial, verdict of a lesser offense, or the lowest sentence possible should a guilty verdict be rendered.
We Fight to get Our Clients out on Bail
A successful defense in a serious drug case begins with efforts to get you released on bail as soon as possible.
Obviously, detention in jail pending trial is not the best situation for our clients. No one wants to spend a day in jail. But pre-trail detention also interferes with our ability to communicate freely with our client and interferes with their ability to assist in preparing a defense. Pretrial detention is not good for the client, not good for the defensive strategy and interferes with personal obligations. Therefore, we demand bail in every case possible.
Too Many Guilty Pleas
97 percent of all federal drug offenders plead guilty to a reduced charge or to a lower recommended sentence than would result from a trial. We do not, however, undertake a plea bargain strategy unless our client directs us to do so. If the Government proffers a deal, we are ethically bound to convey that deal to you. At that point it is our duty to convey to the client the pros and cons of such a agreement, including the legal ramifications and consequences of a guilty plea. But the ultimate decision to enter into a plea bargain rests exclusively with you. It is your life and we will respect whatever decision you make regarding plea agreement or trial, will stand behind you 100 percent and will fight for the best possible result under the circumstances.
System Not Always Fair and Just
Our legal system is supposed to be fair and just. We know that is not always the case. Our duty, as criminal defense attorneys, is to fight for the fairness and justice that the Government is not always willing to extend to our clients. The Government’s prosecution of drug crimes is often rife with prosecutorial misconduct, unethical behavior before and during the trial, and an overzealousness that translates into downright meanness. We provide our clients a safeguard against these Government actions.
Proudly Fighting for the Rights of the Accused
At the John T. Floyd Law Firm, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of people accused of drug crimes in both state and federal courts. Our firm is headed by John T. Floyd, a Houston-based criminal lawyer who has helped countless clients across Texas defeat drug charges of all kinds, from complicated international drug trafficking and distribution cases down to minor possession charges that would have had a major impact of the lives of our clients.
We Will Fight for You
Mr. Floyd and his legal team have the experience, talent, and knowledge you need to fight back against overzealous prosecutors and law enforcement agents. With John T. Floyd in your corner, you will be in the best position possible to have your drug crime charges dismissed or reduced and avoid the life-altering penalties to your freedom and future.


Search results for FOREST
1. [Bookplate for C. A. Walkinshaw] In black ink, an architectural border surrounds an image of a stylized Greco-roman figure sitting on a seat, reading a book, with others at his feet. There is also a bird and scroll imposed on the white space within the side of the seat.
2. [Bookplate for Jac Balfour Paul Ado] Using black ink on white paper, the background of this pictorial bookplate portrays a window frame and windowsill. The top left side of the window is latticed, below which is an image of a rocky mountain and forest above which the sun is rising or setting. On the right side of the window frame is a shelf with three books. Leaning against the shelf is an unravelled scroll reading "In Soli / tudine / Solamen" [comfort in solitude]. Below this text is a lit lamp. On the windowsill are three figures. From left to right, the first figure is standing, nude and holding a comedy mask to its face. The second nude is sitting holding a cape over its shoulder (on the cape is a heraldic emblem: The shield is argent with a rampant lion). The third figure is sitting with its right leg crossed over the left leg, clothed in a judge/lawyer's wig, clothed in robes and holding a large open book in its lap.
3. [Bookplate for F. H. Barlow] Black ink on white paper. A frame with crosses in the four corners surrounds the text.
4. [Bookplate for David L. G. Dryden] A yellow frame surrounds the central image. The central image is of a young man in medieval armour leading a white horse to the left of the image. The image is in a forest setting with several trees observable. Two notable trees are standing, one on the left, and one on the right side of the man providing a frame for the image. The entire scene is evocative of a Pre-Raphaelite painting.
5. [Bookplate for Wallace Wilson and Ethel Wilson] Executed in green ink on a white background, this bookplate depicts a peaceful scene of nature redolent of British Columbia. In the foreground is an evergreen tree behind which birds soar in the distance over mountains. Below the mountains is a forest that frames a lake. Overlooking the lake is a cabin emitting smoke from its roof, while in the lake's center is a fishing boat with two occupants. The text is placed beneath this scene and is framed in each of its four corners by an open book and scroll at the top, and closed books at the bottom.
6. [Bookplate for Emil Eerme and A. Lavdovsky by O. Kubse] In black, forest scene done in watercolour, bordered on sides and base by ruled lines.
7. [Bookplate for Convent of the Sacred Heart] Black ink on tan paper. Text is in medieval script.
8. [Bookplate for I. O. Körner and J. E. Horvath by K. M. S.] A central panel with the ownership text is surrounded by mantling that comes out of a vase at the bottom. Flanking the ownership panel there are two figures holding books at each side. Hanging from the mantling on the bottom are a drum and lyre, and surrounding the top are various animals. The top of the bookplate is crowned with a globe.
9. [Bookplate for William Arnold Bromfield by William West] In black ink, a belt/garter provides the border. Within is a demi-lion atop a curved crest wreath. In its paws is a sword, with point severed. The belt contains the French motto.
10. [Bookplate for Eliab Harvey] In black ink, an oval escutcheon, or (gold), with a dancette chief, sable (black), containing three crescents, argent (silver). The crest is a dexter hand couped at the wrist and erected, floating above is an inverted crescent, argent. The Latin motto is found encircling the escutcheon on the bordure, argent. A wreath made of two laurel branches encapsulates the escutcheon. A banner, containing the German motto, is wrapped around the base of the wreath with the Badge of a Companion of the Order of the Bath hanging between it.
11. [Bookplate for Octavius Wigram by Suffield] In black ink. Argent, a pallet, gules, charged with three escallops, one over two divided by a chevronnel, engrailed, countercharged, gules (red). A chief, argent (silver), a ship representing an English vessel of war of the 16th century, with four masts, sails furled proper, and a flag, azure (blue), sitting on the water. Above the escutcheon is a straight crest wreath on which is a mount supporting a hand in armour, in fess, couped at the wrist proper, charged with an escallop and holding a fleur-de-lis erect. Below the escutcheon is a banner containing the Latin motto.
12. [Bookplate for Charles Fyfe by R. P.] Bookplate printed in black ink, with a purple/blue ink, rubber-stamped annotation. This ex-libris depicts a woman reading to a young boy on a park or garden bench. The idyllic landscape behind them features a lake with two swans swimming in it. Further in the distance is a forest with the silhouettes of two figures standing among the trees and large dramatic clounds sweeping by in the background.
13. [Bookplate for Edmund Murton Walker by Thoreau MacDonald] In black ink on white paper, a dragonfly is flying past some large rocks next to a body of water, likely a river. In the background is a forest of tall evergreen trees.
14. [Bookplate for P. Gagnon] Black ink on cream paper. Crest features a beaver lying on a crest-wreath. There are maple leaf branches extending from both sides of the beaver. The beaver is surrounded by a half-circle border with the motto in black, capitalized sans-serif font written across the arc. The shield is divided per fess, with the top half being further divided per pale and the upper left hand portion is divided into three horizontal sections. The topmost left hand section is argent with sable dots charged with two fleurs-de-lis. The middle left hand section is argent with sable stripes charged with a lion passant. The bottom left hand section is argent with sable dots charged with three maple leaves connected at the stem. The upper right hand side is argent charged with two pieces of equipment, one atop the other, and a pair of scissors below. The equipment has a small curved bottom with two long, curving handles on top with a spike pointing through the lower end of the handles. Below the top half is a thin black banner with white capitalized sans-serif text. Below the banner is an image of a natural forest and coastal landscape with a ship with two tall masts in the water. On the coast, there are people, possible colonizers, interacting. A large cross has been erected on the coast on the right hand side of the image. The dexter supporter and sinister supporter are moose standing a curling ribbon with text in capitalized black sans-serif font.
15. [Bookplate by William Walker Alexander] Black ink on cream paper, depicting a satyr playing reed pipes in a field with some flowers, surrounded by wildlife (moose, rabbit, squirrel, beaver, birds). There is a forest and water nearby, and signs of human life (tent, canoe). Pictured within a circular frame, with ribbon and text, and a crow standing on a branch at the very top looking down.


CEMEX announces ambitious strategy to address climate change
publishDate1 Wed, 19 Feb 2020 18:39:00 +0000
publishDate2 Feb 19, 2020 6:39:00 PM
publishDate3 February 19, 2020
CEMEX increases its 2030 target for reducing CO2 emissions to 35% from 30%
CEMEX establishes a new ambition to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050
CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (“CEMEX”) (NYSE: CX) announced today a new Climate Action strategy, which outlines the company´s vision to advance towards a carbon-neutral economy and to address society’s increasing demands more efficiently. In CEMEX, we believe that climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our time and support the urgency of collective action.
As a result of our efforts to date, we have reduced our net specific CO2 emissions by more than 22% compared to our 1990 baseline. But we acknowledge that this is not enough. This is why we have defined a more ambitious target of a 35% reduction of net specific CO2 emissions by 2030. This new goal is aligned with the Science-Based Targets methodology, a requirement climate science says is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
To complement this strategy with a longer-term vision, CEMEX is also establishing a new ambition to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050. In our business, we believe concrete—our end product—has a key role to play in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy, and is an essential component in the development of climate-smart urban projects, sustainable buildings, and resilient infrastructure.
“Climate change has been a priority for CEMEX for many years. Our efforts have brought significant progress to date, but we must do more. This is why we have defined a more ambitious strategy to reduce CO2 emissions by 2030 and to deliver net-zero CO2 concrete by 2050,” said Fernando A. Gonzalez, CEO of CEMEX.
To fulfill this strategy, we have a detailed CO2 roadmap to accelerate the roll-out of proven technologies in all of our facilities, including investing in energy efficiency, using alternative fuels, expanding the use of renewable energy, and increasing the substitution of clinker with alternative cementitious materials.
Furthermore, our new net-zero CO2 concrete aspiration for 2050 sets us on a path of open innovation that requires strategic partnerships and cross-industry collaboration in the development of breakthrough technologies like carbon capture, utilization, and storage; novel clinkers with low heat consumption, alternative decarbonated raw materials, carbonation of concrete waste for use as recycled aggregates, and the promotion of circular economy models that transform waste into fuel. CEMEX currently consumes as either alternative fuel or alternative raw material 32 times more waste from other industries than the waste it generates and sends to landfill.
For more information on the company’s new Climate Action strategy, please visit: www.cemex.com/climate-action
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high-quality products and reliable services. CEMEX has a rich history of improving the well-being of those it serves through innovative building solutions, efficiency advancements, and efforts to promote a sustainable future. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com
This press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. CEMEX intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. In some cases, these statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “may,” “assume,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “continue,” “would,” “can,” “consider,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “believe,” “foresee,” “predict,” “potential.” “target,” “strategy,” “intend” or other similar words. These forward-looking statements reflect CEMEX’s current expectations and projections about future events based on CEMEX’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as CEMEX’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances. These statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from CEMEX’s expectations.
Jorge Perez
Eduardo Rendon


South Carolina Language Translation Service Professionals
Multilingual Translation of Important Written Materials for Domestic and Global Business Enterprises & Organizations
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South Carolina Translation Services
ASTA-USA Translation Services, Inc. has provided document translation services in South Carolina for 30 years. We are proud to have partnered with some of the state’s top businesses, organizations and prominent citizens to help them connect with their non-English speaking audiences and international business partners. We are a dependable constant in an ever-fluctuating market and are here to provide the best service possible. Our commitment to perfection and attention to detail make us the trusted choice for South Carolina translation services.
State of South Carolina Businesses & Demographics
The Palmetto State became the 8th state of America in 1788. It’s beloved for its scenic attractions, diverse population and growing economy. Falls Park on the Reedy is located in downtown Greenville’s Historic West End. It’s a unique oasis in the middle of the city’s best shops, restaurants and entertainment. Brookgreen Gardens is more than just a garden. This top-rated destination is a combination of art, a zoo and history. Boat tours, art displays, walking tours, live animals and community festivals make this a favorite attraction for locals and tourists. Bike riders and outdoor enthusiasts can be found on the Hilton Head Island Bike Trails. This extensive network of trails is a fun way to explore the island, while having access to the best shops, hotels and restaurants around. Coligny Beach Park is a local and tourist favorite. Easy beach access, plenty of lounging space and shops and restaurants within walking distance make this beach one of the most visited areas in the state. Patriot Point is an American treasure and home to the USS Yorktown, Patriot Point Museum, a fleet of National Historic Landmark ships, Cold War Memorial, a Vietnam Experience Exhibit, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Medal of Honor Museum. This destination engages visitors and ignites patriotism within its guests. Different exhibits and events throughout the year keep residents and tourists coming back. For centuries, people have relocated to South Carolina in pursuit of a more successful life. People come from all over the world and establish themselves and their family within the Palmetto State. As they settle in the area, they share their languages, cultures and traditions, adding immeasurable value to South Carolina. Besides English, the most commonly-spoken languages in the state are Spanish, German, French and Gujarati. The main industries that support South Carolina’s economy are aerospace and aviation, automotive manufacturing, biotechnology and life sciences, transportation and recycling. Each of these industries is responsible for employing thousands of citizens, generating millions of dollars in income and making great strides in their respective fields. Some of the largest employers in South Carolina are:
Greenville Health System
The Medical University of South Carolina
BMW Manufacturing Company
Palmetto Health Richland
All these companies and more need access to reliable, accurate document translation services in South Carolina. Translating things like websites, paperwork, distribution contracts and signs helps growing businesses thrive and expand their reach. By translating important written business documents, companies can connect with a larger audience and international business partners. ASTA-USA is the company you can trust. Our accredited translators are native speakers of the language you need, giving them an innate understanding of the language, culture, grammar and sentence structure they’re translating. They understand how to translate cultural sayings and keep the original thought and content of your document intact. Each of our certified translators have also completed an extensive education and at least 10 years of career experience. We understand how important your written business documents are, and therefore, only entrust them to our in-house professionals. These professionals are not only translation specialists, but industry experts as well. They have an understanding of nearly every industry, including business, legal, marketing, finance, government, technical, education, medical and science and research. They stay up-to-date on the latest trends and terminology in order to provide the most accurate and thorough translation possible. We have experts for 70 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Japanese, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese. No language pair is too rare for our linguistic experts.
South Carolina Translation Services Free Quote
As part of the South Carolina business community, we want to continue partnering with the state’s top companies to help them grow and thrive on the local and international business market. We understand the significance and need of continued company growth and success within such a dynamic market. By utilizing South Carolina translation services, your company is making the most of every business connection and globally growing its brand. Contact us today for your free quote outlining our translation services within South Carolina. [/vc_column_text]


Excavation continues at Fort Hunter
This week in Pennsylvania Archaeology we review the foundation of an early smoke house uncovered by the archaeological excavations currently being conducted at Fort Hunter Mansion and Park by the Section of Archaeology of The State Museum of Pennsylvania. The structure was built by Colonel Archibald McAllister in the early 19th century on his plantation along North Front Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Col. McAllister started his plantation at the site of a French and Indian War fort in about 1787 by building a large stone house at the junction of Fishing Creek and the Susquehanna River. He was a very successful entrepreneur with his farming activities, eventually his operations included a grist and saw mill, a blacksmith shop and a tavern.
The smoke house was described in the agricultural newspaper Cultivator by Daniel Chandler in 1835 based on his visit to the farm in 1828. He described Col. McAllister as “a gentlemen of science and refined observation”. Chandler was especially impressed with his household conveniences notably the milk house, smoke house and clothes line, describing each in detail. The smoke house “was a wooden octagon building ….. perfectly tight except the door-way”. Chandler noted that the smoke house was unique in that it was elevated off the ground by a foot or more and that “no fire was admitted into the building” therefore reducing the chances of the building catching fire. The smoke for curing the meats was introduced into the building by a tube from a stove in an adjacent room. Typically, in a conventional smokehouse the smoke is generated by a brick fireplace in the center of the earthen floor or by an iron stove in the building. It was noted that McAllister’s arrangement provided a perfectly dry building allowing him to store his meats in the smokehouse until they were consumed.
The smokehouse foundation is not an artifact in the traditional sense, but is an archaeological feature, a technical term that applies to objects such as post molds, foundations, walk ways, roads and other remains that cannot be removed from the site. This treasure is the rocks which form the foundation of a structure – as in this case the base for the smokehouse. The archaeological footprint of Col. McAllister’s innovative smoke house design consists of a circular stone foundation 12 feet in diameter allowing for the unique octagonal building. The connecting room for the stove can be seen in the picture as an “L” shaped alignment of rocks to the right of the main foundation.
Excavations at Fort Hunter will continue weekdays 9am - 4pm, through October 7th.
Labels: Archaeology, Fort Hunter, State Museum of Pennsylvania
In the Public’s Eye - Out an...