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What I Have Learned From Exelon's Deal
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Listening to Exelon's (EXC) Pepco Holdings (POM) merger conference call, I kept thinking the future of the utility industry will increasingly be focused on the customer experience. For all intent and purposes, it really has to, and that's what makes this deal of particular interest.
Why? It highlights how technological advancement is causing utilities to consolidate in order to offset lower power consumption by consumers as a result of, drum roll please, energy efficiency.
If energy efficiency is lowering the amount of power consumed by consumers, it only stands to reason that providers like Exelon need to evolve or, like many coal players, it will be faced with a challenged future.
For investors, the real utility winners will be the ones who embrace change. So for that reason I like the Pepco move by Exelon. That means rivals, such as Duke Energy (DUK) , American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Co. (SO) , a company that just delayed by one year the much hyped $5.2 billion Kemper County, Mississippi, clean coal test thanks to rising costs, must follow Exelon's lead and hunt for value as a means to recover from the uppercut the Supreme Court hit them with by ruling to regulate air pollution from coal-buring power plants.
Keep in mind Exelon said its deal for Pepco was "opportunistic" and it sees a continued recovery in the power prices and overall power markets.
So does that mean that other utility players must now be even more proactive to acquire cheaper energy assets? I think the answer is yes, considering Exelon did pay a 24.7% premium for Pepco. Therefore, the hunt for value may foster social Darwinism, a survival of the fittest for utilities. Considering 25% of American's electric generation capacity comes from older coal plants that will be retired in the next two years, I'm expecting them to be most willing to move next and make acquisitions, which help achieve better energy efficiency and grid resiliency.
The Exelon merger call only solidified for me, the idea that utilities should no longer be invested in solely because of their attractive dividends. I say this despite the fact Exelon itself may actually be in a position to raise its div, when it closes the Pepco deal sometime in mid 2015.
Rather, the sector is one in complete transformation and in desperate need of disruption. This could make the utility space more volatile than in years past for investors. I would go as far as to say the sector could be considered more of a value-play opportunity in today's marketplace, thanks to advances in technology, looming stricter emissions standards, increased efficiency efforts and on the heels of the recent Polar Vortex showing all of us just how reliant the country is on older infrastructure to supply our energy. This is something that should cause the U.S. to reconsider the role of nuclear power, something Exelon leads the nation in supplying.
Reviewing the details of the Pepco deal, which will likely be approved by legislators, Exelon now has better scale to invest in infrastructure and system reliability and storm response. Some may be saying the customer, someone with a growing number of more affordable distributed power choices and storage solutions these days, will want -- no, demand -- even better system reliability and quicker storm response from utility players. That has me excited about PSE&G's development of solar energy and combined heat and power systems, which actually maintained power in areas of New Jersey during Sandy.
As Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, rapped in the song "Lose Yourself", this opportunity only comes once in a lifetime. Hopefully utility players don't lose themselves, their customers and even their investors by not seizing the moment and investing in infrastructure.
Kudos, Exelon!
John Licata, Chief Energy Strategist of Blue Phoenix Inc., does not own shares in any of the above mentioned companies.
You can follow John on Twitter @bluephoenixinc.
This article represents the opinion of a contributor and not necessarily that of TheStreet or its editorial staff.


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Shopping for the perfect Mother's Day gift may not be as easy as shopping for yourself, but it doesn't have to be wildly complicated either — especially when the mom for which you're shopping is the type to appreciate the gesture more than the dollar value of your present. With that in mind, we've assembled a list of great gifts that covers budgets from low to high, plus some special high-end picks in case you've got serious cash set aside and you're ready to splash out. After all, nobody deserves it more than mom.
Mother's Day Gifts Under $50
Phone stands are a thing — and she'll appreciate one as much as anyone. Once she has it, she can open up her favorite workout or yoga app, press start on the live stream or downloaded content, and then prop up her phone with the stand. Holding that 10-second plank count down is much easier when she isn't straining her neck to see the timer.
S'well Stainless Steel Straw Set
This set of stainless steel straws will not only help her enjoy a smoothie and coffee, but it will also reduce plastic from the environment. The handy straw cleaner prevents stains and keeps the metal free from the taste.
Birchbox Arrow 5 Minute Beauty Kit 2.0
If she's ever gone straight from a workout to the office, she knows how difficult it can be to change and get rid of that super flushed I-just-worked-out look. Birchbox's five-minute beauty kit includes mascara, lip balm, serum and cheek tint to help solve that problem.
"Where Cooking Begins" Cookbook
Written by the Food Director at Bon Appétit, Where Cooking Begins is less a collection of recipes than it is a printed thesis on how to cook just about everything.
Anker 50W 5-Port USB Car Charger
Anker products are some of the most ubiquitous mobile products on the market and for good reason — they're equal parts practicality and smart design — and the Anker five-port USB car charger is certainly no different. Transform your older USB-less center console into a multi-station charge point and bring it into the 21st century.
Five Two Wooden Spoons
New from Food52's new line of home goods comes a set of seriously enviable spoons. Made with sharper edges than most wood kitchen utensils and out of moisture-resistant teak, this five-piece family of stirrers, flippers and strainers is peak mom.
East Fork Tender Earth Candle
If there were ever a brand that could be fairly described as "cultish," it's Alex and Connie Matisse's (yes, that Matisse) East Fork. Makers of all sorts of gorgeous stoneware from the clay surrounding its Asheville, North Carolina factory, this candle is said to smell like a walk through rainy woods.
HAY Tool Box
You can't really go wrong with anything by HAY. The Danish design studio sells some of our favorite indoor decor. Take a look at this tool box. It's elegant, practical and affordable, perfect for any home's kitchen or living room.
Wyze Cam Pan
This indoor camera is a terrific eye-in-the-sky for most homes. It's affordable and works with Alexa. Plus, you can rotate the camera (360-degree horizontal view) from within a smartphone app and find your dog if its hiding out of frame.
Le Labo Hand Lotion
This non-greasy hand lotion is formulated with sweet almond, safflower oil and goldenrod. It features a warm Hinoki scent and is paraben-, phthalate- and artificial colorant-free.
Enamel Blue Traveler
Vacuum insulation is now the industry standard for any water bottle worth your time. The S'well Enamel Blue Traveler however goes one step further with a copper wall layer which prevents exterior condensation so it won't sweat in your hands, on your clothes, or in your laptop bag.
Chan Luu Embelished Gauze Scarf
This embellished scarf from Chan Luu is both recognizable and elevated. It features a traditional bandana-inspired paisley motif on an airy viscose fabric and it is embellished with lightweight coins around the edges.
Apple Watch Sport Loop
For the sporty mom who lives by her Apple Watch, the Sport Loop range offers a lot of options and fun ways to accessorize. Made with quality materials and attractive colors, they are comfortable and appropriate for far more than fitness activities.
Mother's Day Gifts Under $100
Aesop Istros Aromatique Room Spray
When it comes to making a room smell the part, room sprays are decidedly less popular than candles. Aesop's Istros bottle is subtler, lasts longer and litters the air with less VOCs than any candle. Plus, its peppery, herby scent doesn't wear on the nose.
Apres Plant-Based Vegan Protein Shake
Ensure she's getting the proper vitamins, nutrients and protein after a workout. Apres makes it easy with its combination of 14 grams of plant protein, coconut water hydration and organic virgin coconut oil. Choose from four flavors to make it easy for mom to go from workout to the pick-up line without losing her momentum.
Calathea Medallion Plant
The Calathea occupies a niche spot in the plant world: anyone can keep one alive and few people already own one. Its red-bellied leaves are best left in indirect light and survive on just one watering a week.
Home Un Air de diptyque: Car diffuser
You could go the classic pine tree route, but if you're looking for a little more elegance in both design and scent, the Un Air de diptyque Car Diffuser is the way to go.
Swatch Azulbaya Watch
The wide range of Swatch watches includes many modest but fun gift options. This Azulbaya is affordable and great for Mother's Day, with a light blue dial and matching strap.
Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer
This moisturizer is designed to reduce lines, wrinkles and signs of sun damage while also strengthening the skin. It includes a unique Peptide complex along with Pygmy Water lily stem cell extract and soybean folic acid ferment extract.
Sunski Portola
A good pair of driving sunglasses should, of course be stylish but not outrageously expensive. They should be affordable enough where you don't mind leaving them in your car for full-time automotive duty. The Sunski Portola ticks all those boxes and does so with a hint of 1960's cool.
Made In Carbon Steel Skillet
Carbon steel skillets are lighter, less fussy cast-iron skillets. The down side? Because most are marketed to the commercial kitchen, they're cheaply made and warp easily. Made In's version is made from thicker gauge steel plates, meaning it'll last much longer for not a whole lot more money.
Tait Desk Clock
With a range of distinctive colors and tasteful designs, this desk clock is a gift that's sure to be used and appreciated daily. Its quartz movement is made in the USA, the body is made of maple wood, and the dials are screen-printed by hand.
Sleepypod Clickit Sport
If your mom loves her dog as much as she loves you, this is for her. The Sleepypod Click-It Dog harness is made from the same ballistic as your seat belt, uses three points of contact and is crash-tested as well.
Byredo Cotton Poplin Candle
Handmade in France, this candle has notes of blue chamomile, linen, white cedarwood and sweet musk. It is housed in a blown-glass vessel and has a burn time of 60 hours.
Under Armour Recovery Sleepwear
The most important part of recovery is sleep— and there are no shortcuts to it. When the kids keep mom up at night, she needs to be sure her rest is as strong as possible, which means every little bit helps — like ultra-comfortable pajamas. These are soft and cozy, plus the infrared pattern on the interior claim to reflect your body's energy to you, helping active moms recover faster.
Amazon Kindle (2019)
The newest Amazon Kindle is also one of the most affordable. It's great for indoor and outdoor reading, thanks to a front-lit six-inch e-ink screen (167ppi). It has a battery life that lasts a week. And it has access to Amazon's near-endless library of books.
Grand Tour Wine Club
The brainchild of the folks behind the tightly curated, ever helpful Verve Wine, a subscription to the Grand Tour Wine Club delivers four bottles of somm-approved wine to the subscriber monthly. You'll even receive a small discount for shopping at Verve if you're a subscriber.
Casper Glow Light
The Glow Light produces the opposite of blue light. Instead of keeping you awake, this smart night light gradually dims to help you fall asleep. This is the non-obtrusive sleep aid she'll learn to love.
Molequin Grained Baby Pink Watch Strap
A new watch strap can make an old watch feel fresh again. This pink strap made from premium leather could be just the right thing to dress up mom's beloved watch.
Mother's Day Gifts Under $200
Osprey Tempest 20 Pack
This 20-liter Osprey pack fits everything mom needs for her daily commute as well as for a day hike. Osprey packs are built with women in mind, so the straps, buckles and belts are specific to women's generally shorter torsos and, thus, comfortable — whether she's running after the kiddos or climbing Mt. Hood.
Google Home Hub
The Home Hub is a terrific little smart display. It's cheaper and smaller than Amazon's Echo Show, and it works seamlessly with Google Assistant, Google Photos and YouTube. She doesn't want a device watching her? The Home Hub doesn't even have a camera.
Instrmnt A-Series Wall or Desk Clock
Available in anodised silver or gold options, this minimalist clock is made with high-quality, well finished materials. It's adaptable to sit on a desk or hang on a wall, and versatile enough for a range of rooms or styles.
Welden 13″ Slim Sleeve for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro
A laptop case is pretty self explanatory. It's portable and adds more protection than the built-in compartment inside your backpack. This one is slim and stylish, and can house a MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Seea Masa Clara One Piece Swimsuit
This one-piece bathing suit is perfect for active (and relaxing) days at the beach. The soft and stretchy suit slides easily over arms and legs, plus won't chafe during all-day wear. A high neck is flattering and supportive whether she's swimming laps or logging steps on the volleyball court.
Hermes Un Jardin Sur La Lagune EDT
This perfume effortlessly balances floral and woody notes. Magnolia, Madonna lily and sea breeze conjure images of a vibrant garden on the water.
Dagne Dover 365 Medium Landon Neoprene Carryall Duffel Bag
The unstructured sides of this bag mean you can stuff in enough clothes for a day of running around or a long weekend trip. Neoprene fabric makes everything waterproof and an extra sneaker pouch keeps sweaty kicks away from your laptop.
Ray-Ban Small Aviator Sungalsses
These classic Italian-made aviators are designed for a female face. Smaller than the original, they feature a 55mm lenses, slender temples and adjustable nose pads.
The Elder Statesman Ribbed Cashmere Socks
Made in Los Angeles, these cashmere socks are incredibly soft and very breathable. And while the material is luxe, the dye-job (yellow and green tie dye) is carefree.
Blockshop Textiles Mulholland Robe
This Belgian linen robe is hand block-printed by 5th generation master printers in Jaipur. The weight is perfect for year-round wear and the material is easy to care for: just wash cold and tumble dry low.
Aether Savanah Pant
Whether it's driving, hiking or riding a bike on a hot day, the Aether Sannah pant is designed to stay comfortable. The Italian cotton-stretch fabric is light, breathable and flexible enough and because it's Aether, it's got the right amount of minimalist style and design fit for almost any setting.
GoTenna Mesh
The GoTenna Mesh is a travel-friendly device that lets users communicate even without cell service. If your mother is a big hiker or likes to travel in remote areas, this little guy could be a literal lifesaver.
Cartier Panthere Coffee Table Book
Cartier's watch and jewelry designs are endlessly elegant and worth appreciating in detail. In hardcover, this admittedly large book is full of high-quality photos detailing the well-known Panthere line and forms a classy addition to any library.
Coyuchi Throw
Made of dense Canadian wool, this striped, whipstitched wool blanket is one of Coyuchi's most popular products ever. It's made in a 140-year-old factory and comes in multiple clean colorways.
Smith The Runaround
We love the single piece of metal across the top of the frames in these new Smith sunnies. Smith is known for its sport-approved glasses that help athletes and weekend warriors see a bit more clearly on sunny, hazy and cloudy days. These 70s-inspired sunglasses still have ChromaPop lenses, Smith's technology that sharpens and improves the colors you see.
Mother's Day Gifts Under $500
Mondaine Swiss Railway Wall Clock
The clock found in all Swiss train stations has become a design icon, and Mondaine now produces the official watches and clocks based on it. It is featured in the Museum of Modern Art, and you can even get one straight from the MoMA store.
Moccamaster KBS
You could fiddle around with French press, Aeropress or pour-over, or you could get the sleek, time-tested Moccamaster. Technivorm's very 1960s design was the first coffee pot to earn a stamp of approval from the Specialty Coffee Association.
Vince Full-Sleeve Pullover Sweater
Made from a versatile wool-cashmere blend, this sweater has a relaxed oversized fit and wide ribbed trims. The raglan sleeves ensure a loose shape and the blush color is easy to incorporate into almost any wardrobe.
Lotuff Women's Leather Wallet
Made in New England, this leather wallet is cut from tumbled, vegetable-tanned leather. It features a leather-lined interior with three full-length compartments and can fit any generation iPhone.
Dyson Pure Cool Me
Dyson's little air purifier safely and quietly collects all the pollen, allergens and other bacteria that naturally circulates in the air. It's perfect for small rooms, apartments or even offices.
Red Wing Clara
Taking inspiration from the first women's riding boots, the Red Wing Clara keeps the classic style but brings much needed updates to the style and construction. An Amber Harness Leather, texon insole and Vibram outsole make the Clara just as all-day tough as it is all-day comfortable.
Apple Watch Series 4
The best smartwatch is also one of the best gifts you can get anybody with an iPhone. It has a bunch of unique fitness and health features, including a FDA-approved ECG app to detect potential cardiac problems.
For the Mother Who Has Everything
Belstaff x McLaren
Belstaff is known for its classic leather and waxed canvas motorcycle jackets, protecting motorcycle riders the world over for decades. So when the old-school British brand teams up with its wildly technologically advanced compatriot McLaren, you should take notice. Lightweight, water repellent with laser-perforated ventilation makes the Belstaff x McLaren is a perfect mid- or outer-layer jacket where you can see the influence of both of the famous marques.
Shinola Runwell Tote
This might be the one tote to rule them all. It's beautiful, made of beautiful pebbled leather, and has an adjustable shoulder strap. It's large enough to hold an extra layer or two, too.
Belstaff Classic Tourist Trophy Jacket
It might dabble in modernity every once in a while, but Belstaff's calling card style is most certainly from the past and the Classic Tourist Trophy Jacket is prime example. But hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The old-school four-pocket style, belt cinch and waxed cotton construction is almost an exact replica of Belstaff's first riding jackets. The Classic Tourist Trophy Jacket looks stylish, for sure, but concealed under the shoulders and elbows is D30 armor, making this a functional motorcycle jacket meant for the road.
iRoboto Roomba i7+ vacuum
The best way to vacuum is to avoid vacuuming altogether, and Roomba's i7+ robo-vac is, by a large margin, the most advanced of its kind. Not only does it remember the rooms you assign it to clean and get faster at cleaning them over time, it empties its own dustbin in an industry-first home docking system.
Tissot Powermatic 80 Lady Watch
A great value for a luxury watch, the Tissot Powermatic 80 features a 33mm case with a mother-of-pearl dial (all the more appropriate for Mother's Day), and includes a Swiss automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve all for well under $1,000.
Heroine Racer Knight White Glossy
There are now dozens of vintage-style motorcycle helmets on the market, but few of them carry the elegance of the Hedon Heroine Race Knight helmet. It might look like it's straight from the '60s, but underneath the beautiful anodized brass hardware, cognac leather trim and glossy paint, there's a modern helmet lurking. The shell is a fiberglass and carbon fiber composite, there's a three-channel ventilation system, a clear anti-fog double lens shield, Merlin anti-bacterial fabric, sound proofing, and it's ECE rated.
The Hermes version of the Apple Watch gives the iconic wearable a luxury feel, with straps from the world-famous French fashion house known for its excellent, supple leather. It also includes exclusive Hermes faces not available on other Apple Watch versions.
Liv Amiti E+ 2
Whether mom's into bike packing trips or zipping around town, the Liv Amiti E+ 2 will make her life easier. This e-bike features a step-through design with a handlebar mounted control, so that she can click it into high gear with the touch of a button.
Chanel J12 Watch
If you want to go all-out for a high-end Mother's Day watch gift, then this is worth considering. Updated and improved for 2019, the white or black ceramic Chanel J12 includes a beautiful new movement visible through a sapphire crystal display case back.

subset: commoncrawl


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Kung-Fu fighting chicks in their underwear…sweet!
Director: Cirio H. Santiago
Stars: Jillian Kesner, Darby Hinton, Reymond King
Distributor: Shout Factory
Runtime: 77 mins
"A true fighter fights to kill, otherwise it's only a game."
When her sister suddenly disappears in the Philippines, Martial arts instructor Susanne Carter is trying to figure out what happened. On her seek she stumbles over a mean bunch of Kung-fu fighting motherfuckers and stand face to face with a big drug cartel who probably has the answer.
A massive hard hitting action flick. There's fighting all the way to the brutal(and gory) showdown. The leading role is perfect, and we rule for her, hoping she will kick everybody's ass. Except for the cheap sound effects this is great 80's fast-paced action and exploitation fun.


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Carport is the right choice for homes with limited space. In its design required careful planning so as to give the overall aesthetics compared to garage design
Carport mostly just a roof with four poles so that the carport is the simplest models of the open structure which has function to protect the car from the sun shine and rain.
Today, contemporary designers make carport designs become more attractive by adding new elements such as a carport with retro design
From the research, the houses with carport or separated garage is not found high levels of benzene and toluene in air ruangannnya even in peak summer
Carport to be a trend for many variations of models on offer compared to the garage. You can put green elements such as the placement of potted plants in the carport so it can reduce air pollution


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A great article titled "The Ghosts of Sony" and authored by Jake Adelstein and Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky, came to me via a tweet by my good colleague Robert Swinney. (That's one of the reasons I love Twitter!) It surely is worth a read as it prodded a few thoughts:
- History repeats itself: In our Operations Strategy class, we teach two cases that prominently feature Japanese companies both in the same scenario: they attack the incumbent (a Swiss and an American company, respectively) "from below" and gradually move up the food chain. This follows the typical innovation dynamics that Clay Christensen has promulgated. After Sony did the same, it became the incumbent and is now under attack by South Korean Samsung Electronic Co.
- Are management professionals good CEOs of tech companies? We need to see more than a few data-points but Sculley didn't perform well at Apple either, nor did this work at Sony:
Former Sony executives and current employees blame the fall of the firm on the loss of brainpower and good employees during the reign of Nobuyuki Idei, from 1999 to 2005. Idei was the first Sony CEO to rise up entirely from a management background and in the "Who-killed Sony?" genre of books and articles; he is regularly the prime suspect.
- Success and innovation comes from your people, don't send them to your rivals! One should be very careful with early retirement options because you will lose your best people first (after all, those still have market value!):
"Idei decided to streamline the company and do massive restructuring. When we say, 'restructure' in Japanese—we really mean get rid of people. He put together an early retirement plan and strongly encouraged people to use it. Well, that didn't generate a lot of good feelings. When a company starts promoting early retirement, most people take that as a sign to get out while they still can. And many did. Maybe the idea was that by getting rid of the middle aged and older employees they'd encourage innovation and bring in some young blood. The effect was more like shooting yourself in the foot."
According to the Sony veteran, the middle-aged engineers and technicians that left were the same ones that brought Sony to greatness. They left behind a younger generation that was insecure, afraid of failure, and only willing to work with technology already in place—not build from the ground up.
"What was even worse is that during this period, Korea and Taiwan immediately welcome the exiting Sony techies with open arms. It was better than industrial espionage—Samsung could openly 'buy' the technology that Sony had developed simply by rehiring their best and brightest."
- "Made in X" still matters. "Made in Japan" matters some Japanese Sony customers, or is this a generational thing? Swatch still benefits from "Made in Swiss"…
- Focus, focus; one of the most important ideas in strategy and operations for success!
Mr. Tateishi sees part of Sony's problem in its diversity. It's no longer clear what Sony really is all about. For Japan, Sony is a consumer electronic company, but in America, according to Mr. Stringer, Sony, represented by the face of Spider Man, is seen as an entertainment company, and for others, it can be seen as a game company—the people that make the Playstation.
"Sony has too many different faces," he said, "for me, the biggest problem is that it has so many faces, it has become increasingly unclear what kind of company Sony is."
"If Mr. Hirai decides to maintain the group, then he needs to shift into a portfolio style management. Or if he wants to survive as an electronics company, then all the non core businesses should be unloaded, and the firm should focus on the high quality products only, in such a way as it could compete with companies such as Apple."
- The role of temperature/climate on innovation and quality. I love this quotation the most (as it agrees with some superficial theories I can conjure up about progress, but the advent of air conditioning and heating surely can change this drastically):
The problem now is that Sony does not invest in engineers," he added, "nowadays, also, it is hard to produce technological products in countries, where the weather is too hot."


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Contact Paola Inn and Suites
We want to ensure that your stay with us is enjoyable. If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact us. If you are looking for information about reservations, please see our calendar.
Paola Inn and Suites1600 Hedge Lane Ct.
Paola, KS 66071


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Why Does Hashem Give You adversaries?
"AND HIS BROTHERS WERE ENVIOUS OF HIM." (Breishis 37;11)
This animosity of his brothers was a gift from Hashem, because thereby Joseph was enabled to bring forth the very best of his potential qualities. This is G-d's purpose of putting enemies into the lives of the righteous. When Joseph forgave his brothers wholeheartedly, he thereby gained a superlative measure of Perfection in the eyes of G-d. -- The Beginning
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EADS plunges into heavy loss on bailout, provisions
Airbus parent EADS fell to a heavy 2009 loss and axed its dividend as production niggles on its A380 superjumbo swelled provisions and dampened the outlook for this year, despite signs of an aviation recovery.
The Franco-German group also ruled out a solo bid for a lucrative US tanker contract after partner Northrop Grumman dropped out of the race, leaving US plane maker Boeing as the only bidder.
Its earnings included a previously announced charge of €1.8 billion (Dh9bn) for its share of a European bailout for the A400M military transport, agreed last week, but EADS also took a €240 million knock from costs on the A380.
And while EADS was confident enough in a nascent aviation recovery to plan an increase in single-aisle Airbus A320 production from December, it said the A380 would continue to weigh "substantially" on core earnings this year. EADS said it expected roughly stable revenue and an operating profit of around €1bn in 2010.
Chief Executive Louis Gallois told reporters Northrop's withdrawal from the tanker tender meant "we have no chance to win in the competition in these conditions".
Airbus CEO Tom Enders also dampened talk of an independent European bid, barring a change in the situation.
"I leave the political assessment to others. For me it is clear, however, that under the current conditions a bid makes no economic sense for Airbus," he said by e-mail.
"The outlook for 2010 is very disappointing due to deteriorating [currency] hedge rates and further A380 problems," said DZ Bank analyst Markus Turnwald.
The world's second-largest aerospace group after Boeing posted a 2009 net loss of €763m and an operating loss of €322m, a far cry from a net profit of €1.57bn and an operating surplus of €2.8bn in 2008.
"The A380 continued to weigh heavily on the underlying performance," EADS said in a statement, adding it had also suffered exceptional foreign exchange effects.
Total currency effects hit 2009 earnings before interest and tax by €2.5bn compared to 2008, it said.
EADS excludes some exceptional items and goodwill from its standard reporting of operating income, but has recently used another yardstick stripping out other one-off items such as the A400M to allow investors to gauge its underlying business.
Such operating earnings before one-offs generated a €2.2bn profit in 2009, beating company forecasts of €2bn. Weakness in commercial aerospace was offset by strength in defence including higher Eurofighter export deliveries.
In a surprise move, EADS said Airbus would restore output of its most popular A320 family of single-aisle planes to 36 from 34 a month in December.
Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.


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With Maplandia.com and Booking.com the best price is guaranteed! Hefei hotel deals include also long stay accommodation Hefei offers. Take advantage of our exclusive offers and long stay discounts for selected Hefei hotels' suites.
Unbiased Hefei hotel reviews written by real guests and many hotel photos are provided to help you make your booking decision.
Hefei is located in Feixi, Anhui, China.
List of all hotels in Hefei. By default, Hefei hotels are sorted by class: the most luxurious hotels in Hefei are listed first. You can change the sorting order using the navigation bar above. By clicking the first (leftmost) button you can interchange the direction of sorting between ascending/descending.
There are separate sections devoted to Hefei luxury hotels and Hefei cheap hotels.
The Sofitel Grand Park Hefei is one of the most luxurious hotels. It is found in the area of technological and economic development, south of Hefei, 8 minutes drive from Hefei International Airport and 20 minutes by car from downtown. Number of rooms: 261.
Hilton Hefei offers comfortable accommodation in the heart of Hefei, only 1 km from the commercial district of Huai He Road. It features an indoor pool and a fitness centre. Number of rooms: 561.
Featuring an indoor swimming pool and 5 food and beverage options, Holiday Inn Hefei offers air-conditioned rooms located on Huai He Road Walking Street. Free private parking is available. Number of rooms: 317.
Hongrui Jinling is located in Hefei's cultural district, 10 km from Hefei Luogang Airport. Offering rooms with scenic views and free internet, it has an indoor pool and free parking. Number of rooms: 442.
Featuring tennis courts, a large indoor pool and first-rate spa, Howard Johnson Tech Center is well-situated in Hefei's Hi-Tech Zone. It features flat-screen TVs and free internet in elegant rooms. Number of rooms: 293.
The Westin Hefei Baohe is conveniently located in the business district of Hefei city. Decorated in a modern style, each room comes with a 37-inch flat-screen TV, a CD player and an iPod docking station. Number of rooms: 310.
An elegant 4-star business class hotel, the Novotel Hefei is ideally located in the city center, a stone's throw away from the BaoZheng Memorial Park, only 15 minutes away from the airport. Number of rooms: 243.
Just 2 minutes' drive from Hening Highway (Jinzhai Exit), Holiday Inn Express Hefei South offers easy access to all parts of the Hefei City. Its modern air-conditioned rooms are fitted with free wired internet. Number of rooms: 353.
Hefei Downtown offers guests, air-conditioned accommodation with a private bathroom. It features 2 restaurants and an indoor heated pool. Lord Bao Temple and Anhui Laomingguang Stadium are within a 10-minute drive away. Number of rooms: 281.
Kolam Gloria Plaza Hotel is located in Hefei, a 5-minute walk from Anhui Exhibition & Conference Centre. The hotel offers 5 dining options, free internet access and a fitness centre. Number of rooms: 209.
Swiss-Belhotel Hualun Hefei consists of 170 spacious and modern rooms and suites furnished with modern facilities such as broadband Internet and satellite TV. There are two executive floors with an Executive lobby. Number of rooms: 170.
Located a 3-minute walk from China Technology University, JJ Inns - Hefei Jinzhai Road Hotel features rooms with free internet access and cable TV. The hotel offers a restaurant. Number of rooms: 108.
JJ Inns - Hefei Shuanggang Road Hotel is 200 metres from the Shuixi Road Bridge. It offers a restaurant, free parking and rooms with free internet. Hefei Luogang Airport is 10 km from JJ Inns - Hefei Shuanggang Road Hotel. Number of rooms: 95.
We search over 500 approved car hire suppliers to find you the very best Hefei rental prices available. You can compare offers from leading car hire suppliers like Avis, Europcar, Sixt or Thrifty as well as budget rental deals from Holiday Autos, Budget, Economy, EasyCar, or 121 carhire. Choose Hefei car hire supplier according to your preferences. The booking process is secured and is made as simple as possible. You don't have to browse through several websites and compare prices to find cheap car hire at Hefei - we will do it for you!
In the following list, car rental offices nearest to Hefei are sorted by the approximate distance from thi city centre.
Maplandia.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with Google.


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Saturday, July 19, 2008
Miss Teen South Carolina personally believes...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Greetings from Munich!
I finally got around to uploading some pics of Munich on the website.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Backstreet Kakadu With Great Break Dancing
Friday, June 6, 2008
Happy Birthday, big sister!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Pictures of Bradenton/Sarasota, Florida
Finally added a few more pictures of Florida - "highlights" of two vacations we had in Bradenton/Sarasota in 2004 and 2006 - for the full album, click to the website here.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Ralf's Birthday Party
Ralf's Birthday is always easy to remember - 2 days after Kalle's.
Enjoyed a nice dinner, grilling in their garden. Ralf and Monika, as always, are the perfect hosts - but the new cat that just decided to adopt the family a few days ago stole the show!
see more pics on our website, here.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Kalle's Birthday Party
What a surprise!
Since the weather is so nice, Christophe and Carmen (our neighbors downstairs) invited us over for dinner.
Not expecting more than some steaks or sausages on the grill, Kalle was instead surprised with a birthday party: Alex and Monika and the boys were there as well - the boys each handing over a flower with their birthday wishes and then everybody singing "happy birthday" - and they even baked a homemade birthday cake!
Have a look at all the pictures on the website here.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
happy birthday wishes....
Monday, May 26, 2008
new CI...
changed the corporate identity a bit - we couldn't agree on the dark dots in the background.
Botanischer Garten, 25.05.08
we're proud of the results -
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Ein erster Versuch...
Ein erster Versuch, mit einem (für uns) neuen Programm Filme zu basteln.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
What we've been up to...
Been busy uploading pics on our website (http://www.mark-kalle.de) - have now added Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Key West on the holiday pic side, plus three baroque monestaries... have a look! Will keep adding whenever I get the time... so many more to add - Italy, Spain,...
Our own "Rock Lobster"
We bought a crayfish for the aquarium a few months ago- he started out small, but is growing... quickly! Quite the little bugger, ain't he? He's fairly peaceful, too: doesn't attack the fish as long as he gets his tablets to munch on... and even when we forget, he leaves the quick-swimming healthy fish alone. The others, well, let's say they're learning to swim faster when he's out. But most of the time he hides in his corner and tries to look innocent....
Thursday, May 15, 2008
"Hey Democrats: Just Pick One!"
If you can't laugh about yourselves and each other - then I am very sorry for you. I laughed myself silly over both sides of the story. (Warning - takes a few minutes to load)
"Hey Democrats: Pick One!"
"Why would anybody want a Democrat in Office? They can't even make their damned minds up who they want to run!"
"Democrats in the office are like
"Should we bomb Iran or should we not bomb Iran...?"
".....I can't make a decision..."
".....But it's such a historic decision...."
"....It's such a historic decision that I can't make up my mind...."
"Look: the Republicans had a bunch of crappy candidates, too - and we all hated each other, too - and the headlines said "Republicans tearing their Party apart"
But, finally, we all came together and we said "Aw, fuck it: McCain!"
(Normally I'd tell you to watch your language right there but that pretty much sums it up). "See: Jackie and I have no love for McCain but here we are giving him helpful, profane campaign slogans..."
"That's right - see we picked a candidate and get right behind him - He might be terrible for the country, but at least we made a damned decision!"
"See: the Republicans all came together: all the Mexican-haters and the Muslim-haters and the Oil Executives and the Gun-Nuts and the Gay-bashers and the Home-Schoolers and the Clinic-Bombers and we put aside our differences..."
(Well, all except for the Ron Paul-Whackos)
"... and we said, 'I can't stand to look at these Sons of Bitches for another day - let's just go with the oldest.." (Yea!)
"So now all you Democrats out there:
You need to gather up all your Homosexuals and your Atheists and your Elitists and your Baby-Killers and your Tree-Huggers and your Flag-Burners and your Socialists and your Communists and your Undercover-Islamo-Fascists and your Screen-Actors' Guild and the last living members of the Weather Underground - Throw up a bunch of pictures of Obama and Hillary, grab one and GO WITH IT!"
"Aw hell, just turn and look in a mirror real fast with Hillary and Obama and the first one who catches your eye...just to get rid of it"
"Democrats: Pick one and hurry the hell up"
"Good Lord: Make up your minds - I need to know who the hell I'm gonna vote against!"
Quick Hello's
Since I've sent this link to you guys, and don't know if you stopped by or not:
Monday, May 12, 2008
Our New Lounge
Sunday, May 11, 2008
the B-52's are back
Friday, May 9, 2008
New furniture for the balcony
Welcome to our chillout lounge!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Meet the cats...
We have 2: Neko and Gato. They're brother and sister, born 30 Aug 1998 in Hamburg, Germany.
Der Beginn: Mark & Kalle's Blog
Da heutzutage internet-basierete, online weblogs (auch liebevoll "blogs" genannt) als Beweis dafür dienen, dass man nicht nur in der 21. Jahrhundert angekommen ist, sondern auch damit klarkommt, haben wir uns entschieden, einen eigenen Blog auch zu erstellen.
Launch: Mark & Kalle's Blogspot
Since these internet-based, online weblogs (lovingly known as "blogs") have become more than a requirement as proof that you and living in - and coping with - the 21st century, we thought we'd give it a try as well...


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Deftones bass player, Chi Cheng, is showing signs that he may be emerging from his three-year-long coma.
In 2008 Cheng was injured in a car accident and entered a coma, doctors have performed surgery to keep him alive, resulting in the bass player being able to come off the life support machine.
Now his friends and family have posted a video showing Cheng responding to commands. In the video Chi raises his left leg twice, you can watch this above.
His brother Ming Cheng told RecordNet:
"It's just all these pitfalls and hiccups. He just can't seem to stay healthy in the hospital. We hope to bring him home in the middle of March. It's so hard to say."
You can donate to 'One Love For Chi', the support fund for Cheng, by going to this link.
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text: The Atria Residences Gading Serpong is an apartment style of home comforts living in Gading Serpong, Tangerang, inaugurated in 2012 and specially designed for business travellers, golfers, couples and groups of friends travelling for pleasure. Our residences has a perfect location in the CBD Gading Serpong and it offers different accommodation options of international standard with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments (suites), as well as an outdoor swimming pool, Italian restaurant, fitness centre, transfers, free wifi internet. Enjoy the best apartments in Gading Serpong.


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Synopsis from Goodreads:
Khai Diep has no feelings. Well, he feels irritation when people move his things or contentment when ledgers balance down to the penny, but not big, important emotions—like grief. And love. He thinks he's defective. His family knows better—that his autism means he just processes emotions differently. When he steadfastly avoids relationships, his mother takes matters into her own hands and returns to Vietnam to find him the perfect bride.
As a mixed-race girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City, Esme Tran has always felt out of place. When the opportunity arises to come to America and meet a potential husband, she can't turn it down, thinking this could be the break her family needs. Seducing Khai, however, doesn't go as planned. Esme's lessons in love seem to be working…but only on herself. She's hopelessly smitten with a man who's convinced he can never return her affection.
With Esme's time in the United States dwindling, Khai is forced to understand he's been wrong all along. And there's more than one way to love.
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.
I really wanted to like this book a little more than I did. There was a lot to like about it, but overall it ended up just being ok for me.
What I Liked
- Learning a little bit about Vietnamese culture. I would've liked to have seen a lot more, honestly, but I thought it added a different dimension to the story than a lot of other "arranged marriage" type books I've read and I liked that.
- I LOVED the relationship between Khai and his brother Quan. It made the whole book for me. Quan was so understanding and protective and patient with Khai, but he also didn't treat him with kid gloves, either. I just loved pretty much every scene that had the two of them together and I could've used a lot more Quan.
- Khai is on the autism spectrum and I thought it came across as a pretty accurate portrayal. I liked watching his journey as he learned things about himself throughout the book. I enjoyed the chapters from his POV the most.
What didn't work for Me
- This is my fault more than the book's, but I thought this was a Women's Fiction book, but it's straight up Romance. I was expecting something with a little more substance and a little less description of body parts and sex. It left me a little disappointed in the overall plot.
- I had to continually remind myself that Esme was only 23. I know that she was coming to a new country and all and was naive in some things, but she wasn't a wide-eyed innocent type of character, either. She just seemed so immature so much of the time and I found myself frustrated a lot by her interactions with Khai.
- Speaking of her interactions with Khai, I wish that someone would have more fully explained Khai's autism to Esme earlier in their relationship. So often she's left frustrated and hurt after their interactions and had she understood him a little more, I felt she would have been able to respond in a more positive way and they could work out their issues together. There are a few times throughout the book that he's able to explain something about himself and she adjusts how she approaches him and had she understood his autism earlier, they would have had way less issues. I'm not saying that there wouldn't have been times she wasn't frustrated or hurt, but I think it would have forced her to communicate her feelings and thoughts to him.
- I felt like the pace was pretty slow and nothing really happened for long stretches of time. It took me quite awhile to really get into the story and to start caring about the romance between Esme and Khai. There were a few cute moments, but I never really fell in love with them.
Overall, The Bride Test was just ok for me. I liked the inclusion of Autism and Vietnamese culture, and loved the brotherly relationship between Khai and Quan, but Esme's immaturity and the heavy Romance content left me a little underwhelmed. It's not a book I would plan on reading again, but I think there will be a lot of people out there who will really enjoy it.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 3 Stars


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Looking for the 2019 guide? 5 Ways to Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in Milwaukee in 2019
Maxie's Derby Day party is an also a fundraiser, and the $15 entry fee goes directly to the Hunger Task Force. When doors open at 1 p.m., come dressed up to pose in the photo booth, taste some favorites from the Maxie's menu and some new, Kentucky inspired meals like Kentucky Hot Browns, and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale Beer Cheese Soup.
6732 W. Fairview Ave.
Iron Horse Hotel
In your classiest hat and seersucker suit, take a photo with a living, breath iron horse, drop by the champagne bar and sip on bottomless Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps. The party begins at 2 p.m. with live music before and after the event.
500 W. Florida St.
The Monarch Lounge
A high-class buffet including deviled eggs and pork sliders, bourbon tastings, contest and more will entertain guest at this Derby Day party. Best dressed awards and raffle prizes will also be given to some lucky visitors. The party starts at 2 p.m.
509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
Watch the race from three different rooms in the casino: the Off-Track Betting Room, The Northern Lights Theater or the Tribal Room. While you're there, show off your best hat for a first place cash prize of $300.
1721 W Canal St.
Pier 106 Seafood Tavern
Pier 106 starts the party at 2 p.m. with drink specials, authentic Derby-style food and a contest for the best dressed. After the race, board the Edelweiss for a special $15 cruise on the Milwaukee River and the Inner Harbor of the Bay of Milwaukee
106 W Wells St.


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Convergent customers that have an outstanding debt can make payments online by visiting www.payconvergent.com. Convergent USA is a 3rd party debt collector that communicates with customers who have past and overdue debts providing affordable solutions for paying off these debts.
Most customers will receive a correspondence letter from Convergent reminding them of a debt that is still outstanding with one of their clients. They will then offer customers creative ways to pay off the debt mostly through one-time reduced settlements or affordable monthly payments over a certain period of time.
If you have received a correspondence letter from Convergent the very first step you should take is to verify the debt owed. You'll want to speak with a Convergent representative to ensure it is from the right company and the debt owed is accurate. If the debt is legitimate consider the settlement offers that are highlighted on your letter.
Many times settlement offers are considerably less than the actual amount of the debt. Customers can pay off a debt in one lump sum or take advantage of any monthly payment offers. If customers find the settlement offers are unmanageable under their current financial condition other arrangements could be offered by a representative.
Convergent Payment Portal
Making payments is a very convenient process with several ways customers can submit their payment. The fastest and easiest way to make a monthly payment is by visiting Payconvergent and utilizing their online pay system. When visiting the payment portal customers will need to enter their Temporary ID that was provided on your collections letter.
Enter that temporary ID at Pay Convergent Collections which will require you to create a new account. This step in the process will create an account for individuals who will need to make recurring payments. Once you've setup the account making payments will be much easier and convenient.
Your payments can be paid by credit/debit card via a checking account. Your account will be debited the same day and your payment will reflect accordingly. Customers can also pay by phone, Western Union, or mail. The phone number and mailing address are highlighted on your correspondence letter.
As a note of caution if payment arrangements are agreed upon between the customer and Convergent it is necessary that the customer commits to the agreement because missing payments can result in the agreement being nullified and you owing the full amount of your debt.
Take advantage of the online payment service offered by Convergent at payconvergent.com which can be accessed from your personal computer, mobile devices, or smartphone.


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Read Also
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Apac CIO Outlook
Healthcare has witnessed unprecedented growth in the last decade. With the emergence of big data, akin to most industries, healthcare has adopted data analytics and processing to counter healthcare challenges and patient health issues. This has significantly bolstered the HIT Infrastructure and invited many innovations within its realm. However, unstructured data doesn't always produce tangible outcomes and cannot be easily quantified. Therefore, extracting meaning out of this data chunk has to be espoused by other technologies that can boost the backend process, as well. While such questions surround the healthcare ecosystem, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and natural language processing (NPL) are the go-to technologies for healthcare organizations that offer the right mix of quality and ROI.
Artificial intelligence, in the recent years, has emerged as a perfect enabler of the healthcare industry. In fact, as per few surveys, AI can attribute to a total saving of $150 billion in the U.S. healthcare market by 2026. Powered by a plethora of innovative products such as virtual nursing assistant, fraud detection systems, robot-assisted surgery, and others, AI not only can reduce costs but also enhance productivity. Next in line is machine learning that is currently being used in the quantitative analysis of three-dimensional radiological images. This empowers clinicians with comprehensive data of radiological images, identifying anomalies that escape human eye. Natural language processing also works along the same lines and processes a vast number of natural languages in order to deliver effective and precise results.
The solutions mentioned above are still operating on a surface level and haven't penetrated more in-depth into the ecosystem. However, if time and effort are invested meticulously in these projects, the day isn't far when self-operating healthcare will be a reality.
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SDLP MPs meet Treasury minister on future of 134 Newry jobs
Posted by Newry Times NewsSDLP MPs Mark Durkan and Margaret Ritchie have met with UK Treasury Minister David Gauke to demand the retention of the Newry and Derry HMRC Centres. Speaking following the meeting Ritchie stated, "We have put the case robustly to the UK Treasury Minister that these centres are vital to the local economy and provide important services, especially for those who do not have internet access. "The closure of the Newry centre alone would cost 134 jobs and would damage our whole economy in the region. The centre remains a productive office with a workforce that still processes over half a million work items every year. "We also expressed a large degree of dissatisfaction with how the Treasury has approached this situation by undermining the future of these centres and strongly indicating that they will be closed while offering staff voluntary exit packages, the SDLP MP continued. "Placing so much uncertainty around the jobs in question is deeply upsetting to staff at a time when they are being asked to make a decision about their future employment. "Moreover, neither the Minister nor senior staff from the Treasury have taken it upon themselves to make an assessment visit to the site, creating the impression that this decision has already been made. "These are all issues that we raised and we trust that the Minister has listened to these concerns, and we will continue to press him for answers and for reassurances that he is reconsidering the future of the Newry HMRC centre. Ritchie added, "The Conservative government talk about making work pay but, in this case, it is those who have worked hard who are being made to pay as the Treasury remove jobs from the heart of our local economy." More on this story: 134 jobs under threat in Newry
Friday, January 17th, 2014
Friday, January 17th, 2014
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A PMP® in Iraq
lessons learned from training for a military mission in Iraq
This paper presents specific project management practices, drawn from training and operations in support of a military mission in Iraq, and suggests how these ideas can be applied to project situations and resolve management issues. The paper focuses on the specific areas of risk management, human resource management, and communications management. The paper specifically translates military training, operational circumstances, and issues from this experience into understandable project terms. The risks may be more dramatic, involving issues of life and death, but a military deployment provides a useful vantage point, from which to gain important project management knowledge.
Learning from Personal Experience
I began managing Information Technology (IT) projects in 1986, and earned the Project Management Professional (PMP®) credential in 2001. I've taught on project management topics for 10 years, and managed a wide range of IT projects, including Year 2000 conversion, systems integration, application development, wide area network implementation, database management system and operating system upgrades, and disaster recovery system implementations. Throughout those same years, I also served as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the U.S. Army Reserves and NY Army National Guard, following initial U.S. Army Active Duty from 1983-1987.
Recently, my military service allowed me to apply project management principles in highly unusual circumstances, which yielded valuable lessons for managing projects in the future.
I deployed to Iraq as first sergeant for the headquarters and headquarters company of a National Guard Military Intelligence (MI) Battalion (BN) mobilized for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) III and stationed at Tikrit, Iraq. As first sergeant, I was responsible for 160 soldiers, including headquarters staff, motor maintenance mechanics, cooks, and intelligence analysts. Our unit returned from deployment without any combat injuries, and I was awarded a bronze star for the deployment.
Managing the mobilization, training, and deployment of a U.S. Army National Guard MI BN to a combat zone proved the challenge of a lifetime. I think of it as my Iraqi Project for the U.S. Army.
Project Scope
Challenge of a Lifetime
Our MI BN prior to activation consisted of about 120 National Guard soldiers, approximately 60% or "cadre strength" of our authorized 200 soldiers. Upon mobilization, we needed to immediately organize and train for deployment. At the same time, we had to identify unit vacancies, and coordinate for replacements with other Guard, Reserves and Active Duty Army organizations. As our vacancies were filled, we integrated these new soldiers and worked through the inevitable challenges related to organization, process, training and leadership differences, as well as interpersonal conflicts.
Coincident with the dramatic increase in new personnel, we commenced a rigorous training regimen of combat, peacetime contingency, and unconventional operations. For Guard soldiers, training focused on conducting operations in a combat zone, combat drills, and other physical and mental reinforcement training, to condition soldiers to react instantly to threats and other combat events. Many soldiers also underwent additional skills training for their military occupational specialty (MOS), and to adapt to differences between garrison (peacetime) and operations in a combat setting.
We continued mobilization training for nearly 8 months, prior to a combat deployment that would last 10 months.
As first sergeant, I also retained primary responsibility for personnel issues. This responsibility was delegated to platoon sergeants (40-50 soldiers each), who then delegated to 10-12 person squads. Pay issues were identified and addressed with the BN S1 (administration), and clothing and equipment issues handled via unit supply or the BN S4 (logistics). The average age of our soldiers was around 35, with several over 50, a characteristic that compounded the complexities of personnel management.
Our goal was very simple: we intended to deploy, protect, perform, and return without loss of life or serious injury.
Project Activities
Our mobilization training phase ensured that soldiers successfully completed all training requirements in combat, peacetime contingency, and unconventional operations. Intelligence soldiers would perform intelligence analysis, while other soldiers would perform various support services applicable to their MOS (clerks, cooks, and mechanics). Most soldiers of the MI BN would also be called upon for force protection (security) and other forward operating base (FOB) work details.
Our MI BN Commander decided that we would complete a 550 mile ground assault convoy (GAC) with our organic vehicles from Kuwait to Tikrit, Iraq. Once stationed in Tikrit, we conducted 2-4 logistics convoys a week to other FOBs. In preparation for these missions, MI BN soldiers trained extensively in convoy, defensive, and urban combat operations.
Mission and Project Views
Relevance to PMBOK® Guide Knowledge Areas
The Project Management Institute (PMI) publishes literature for the profession of project management, including A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide). My mobilization and deployment with the Army National Guard displayed a high degree of correlation to all the process groups and specific knowledge areas of the PMBOK® Guide: human resource management, communications management, and certainly, risk management. The remainder of this paper will specifically translate military training and operational circumstances into understandable project terms, and suggest some lessons learned.
The Mission is The Project
Consulting company founder John Keane, Sr. consolidated his firm's 20 years of project management experience into Productivity Management, first published in 1984. Keane considered project management principles so essential to the well-being of his company, the company issued a copy to every new Keane employee.
Productivity Management captured lessons learned, first and foremost the critical importance of definition. Not all things called a project are projects. Many well-intended efforts fail because a problem is inadequately defined, or a solution drives the effort rather than resolves it. Principle One, Define the Job in Detail, starts with the admonition: "the seeds of a project's success or failure are sown at its very beginning." So, to begin at the beginning, what's a project, and how does a combat deployment constitute one?
The PMBOK® Guide defines a project as "a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product or service."
Mobilizing and training for a combat deployment meets the criteria for a project. Leaders at all levels conduct risk management, although clearly the risk factors they assess and attempt to mitigate are somewhat more dramatic than for the average project. The military leader evaluates threats, those that are perceived, and those unanticipated threats that can be envisioned. That meant conducting training in addition to basic combat skills or job-specific content areas: counter-terrorism, detainee operations, defense support for civil authorities (DSCA), nation and infrastructure building, and other peacetime contingency operations.
The deployment "project" was further complicated by the challenges of the necessary transition of part-time soldiers to full-time soldiering. This certainly affected motivation and morale, but also had more pedestrian effect on day-today work routines.
Project Phases
A work breakdown structure (WBS) for the entire deployment would suggest the following project phases:
- Activation
- In-Processing
- Medical Fitness
- Operations (Mission) Planning
- Staffing and Reinforcements
- Readiness Evaluations and Training Planning
- Mobilization Training
- Deployment and Transition
Controlling and Monitoring:
- Mission Operations
- Redeployment & Out-Processing
- Return & Re-integration
Risk Management
The new Army Field Manual 5-19, Composite Risk Management (CRM), formally defines Risk Management:
"Composite Risk Management (CRM) is the Army's primary decision-making process for identifying hazards and controlling risks across the full spectrum of Army missions, functions, operations, and activities."
Consistent with the PMBOK® Guide, the Military identifies a five step process for risk management:
- Step 1 – Identify hazards
- Step 2 – Assess hazards to determine risk
- Step 3 – Develop controls and make risk decisions
- Step 4 – Implement controls
- Step 5 – Supervise and evaluate
Risk management forms the critical core of everything a military does. Governments initiate military action as a form of risk mitigation (or avoidance). Military leaders conduct risk management appropriate to the level of their responsibilities. Army NCOs are specifically trained to conduct a rigorous form of risk management.
Guard units deploying into Iraq took advantage of several year's worth of evolving assessments of hazards (threats). Pre-deployment training, command reconnaissance, and outgoing-to-incoming command briefings and information transfers during military Transfer of Authority operations, all focused command attention on risk assessment, developing controls, making risk decisions, and implementing controls. Leaders at all levels supervised controls during ongoing deployment operations, and continually evaluated controls in light of control effectiveness and changing conditions.
Primary risk mitigation controls included equipment re-supply. Unit vehicles that could be used in convoys were up-armored, and the outgoing unit signed over factory-armored vehicles in a military wide program to ensure units new to the combat zone would be adequately equipped. Initial equipment shortages were eliminated with a complete re-supply, with many augmented items from the military's Rapid Fielding Initiative. A critical component of the RFI was the issuance of Individual Body Armor.
Other risk mitigation controls focused on individual and unit training, as discussed in human resource management below.
Human Resource Management
Human Resource Environment
Mobilizing a National Guard unit for a combat deployment necessarily involved a high degree of human resource management, as people represented our primary and most versatile weapon systems. ("Guns don't fight wars, people do.") Each State National Guard is a shared resource between its state and the Federal Government. When federally activated, National Guard units are immediately converted into Federal Active Duty Army units. Though National Guard are often activated for State Active Duty in emergencies, since 11 September they have also been called to Federal Active Duty for international peacekeeping, peacetime contingency, and active combat assignments in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.
Most National Guard soldiers serve "part-time" in the Guard, and work in a wide variety of civilian occupations. This diversity of knowledge, skills, and expertise provides the Guard with significant "value-added" capabilities that can be utilized in military missions.
Contractors and Outsourcing
Many military specialty functions have been effectively outsourced, such as transportation, large elements of logistics, security, food services, and other life support functions.
The corporations and companies that provide services for the U.S. Military, and specifically, those that implement projects for the U.S., Coalition, or Iraqi Government in Iraq, are among the largest and most professional service organizations in the world. They employ many ex-military, and are able to provide services in the most dangerous and inhospitable places. They are not "profiteers," any more than other professionals who transition from government to private industry during their careers.
Financial and management process project audits are a regular feature for military and Iraqi Government sponsored projects in Iraq. As a civilian, I performed project audits for many years. Project audits, if executed properly, are demanding, detailed, and can be nearly as complicated as the complex projects upon which audits are performed. But I can't imagine undertaking that already difficult work within a combat zone, with the added stress and strain of physical danger and potential political instability. Projects in the developing world magnify all the normal factors for risk, quality, change, acceptance, and subcontractor management processes. Most obviously, Opposition Stakeholders have guns.
Training = Risk Management
Risk management will always necessitate a fair amount of training and education of human resources and other project stakeholders. For a military mission in combat, training is the paramount risk mitigation control.
Training Environment
Mobilization training was conducted at a designated mobilization site on an Army base. In our case, we were fortunate to train at Fort Drum, NY, less than a day's ride from home for the majority of our soldiers.
Conditions at Fort Drum were relatively austere for continental U.S. training, with a continuous 5 week initial training under "lockdown" conditions. Soldiers were confined to base with a half day free each week, and physical conditioning, basic combat drills, and classroom training were strenuous and demanding.
Training Objectives
Individual and unit readiness formed the core objective of unit training. Soldiers needed to physically condition to conduct operations successfully in an extreme desert climate with up to 80 pounds of gear and equipment. Soldiers needed to qualify on individual weapons (M16 rifle, M4 carbine, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon or SAW, and M9 automatic pistols), and crew served light and heavy machine guns (M240B and M2).
We underwent formal external assessment from regional military commands, and were required to achieve 100% certification in several key areas, ensuring that every soldier attended all required training and completed all training requirements, including weapons qualification.
The training necessary for the required 100% individual and unit certification could be completed in as little as 6 weeks, though routinely Guard units conducted up to 6 months of mobilization training. We completed nearly 8 months, as our deployment date was rescheduled.
We conducted additional physical training to better condition our soldiers, with a combination of ruck marches, cross country runs, and water survival skills. We trained 25% of our soldiers as combat life savers, which gave thus qualified individual soldiers CLS bags of bandages, intravenous bags and equipment, and the skills necessary to perform basic lifesaving for wounded soldiers before medical aid was available.
Conducting operations in low intensity conflict environments pose special challenges for unit and soldier training. We placed special emphasis on multiple methods for threat recognition and rehearsal drills that prepared soldiers for immediate response in a wide range of scenarios based on actual conditions in Iraq.
Meanwhile, soldiers underwent job and refresher training applicable to their duties: Staff clerks attended a Battle Staff course; motor maintenance mechanics got our vehicles up to standard and trained up on up-armored HUMVEES and the latest armor add-on kits; our mess NCO-in-charge (NCOIC) attended training on our new mobile kitchen; and our many intelligence analysts attended multiple training events at schools and active duty command locations.
As the U.S. and Coalition Forces missions in Iraq evolve, participants in the "Iraqi Project" take on many new roles and the skill sets required have significantly evolved. As security is increasingly turned over to Iraqi Security Forces, more U.S. military forces adopt a training role, working with Iraqi Army and other ISF. Such training takes place in greatly decentralized settings, often down to battalion, company, and local police department levels. Trained linguists remain in very short supply, even as augmented by contractors. Heavy reliance on local nationals as interpreters introduces additional security challenges and cultural issues.
All of our soldiers underwent cultural awareness and sensitivity training, as well as training in history, culture, geography, and other information pertinent to Iraq and the area of operations in which we would operate. Key leaders also attended a graduate level orientation and training course hosted by the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
Communications Management
The U.S. Military confronts modern technology in all phases of operations. In particular, modern communications technology and media provide both increased opportunity and heightened challenges for the Military. As such, leaders of any military mission or operation will conduct all communication management processes.
Planning, Information Distribution, and Performance Reporting
Military doctrine, army regulations, unit standard operating procedures, and command and other directives prescribe formal military communications, in terms of content, format and reporting requirements. However, new technology and communications tools offer new methods for information distribution and new capabilities and insight into performance reporting. Military leaders largely consider the same set of communication technology factors as described in the PMBOK® Guide:
- the urgency of the need for information;
- the availability of technology;
- the expected project [mission] staffing;
- the length of the project [mission]; and
- the project environment.
Our MI BN would conduct a full range of communications, from urgent battlefield situation reportsin the form of the acronym SALUTE (size, activity, location, unit/uniform, time, and equipment), to battle update briefs for senior commanders. In addition, the BN would create administrative, finance, staffing, readiness, maintenance, and even recruiting and retention reports that are the paper underpinning of the modern military. Increasingly, a wide variety of metrics are maintained on an ongoing basis to report readiness, effectiveness, and other aspects of performance reporting. Work sections were trained in standard reports, formats, and standard office software tools. (Soldiers grouse about Powerpoint almost as often as they complain about food, demonstrating how "computerized" the U.S. military has become.)
Computers, internet access, secure and open systems networks were available to our BN in Iraq, via official and non-official communications. We knew our authorized staffing, even if it took us several months to reach full strength, and we knew the mission environment and the expected length of our deployment.
Since 9/11, military deployments are more frequent and inevitable for National Guard soldiers, in support of the many United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions, OIF, or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF in Afghanistan). Military units in the U.S. are strongly encouraged to form and maintain family readiness groups (FRG), consisting of dependents, veterans, and community resources who volunteer to serve during overseas deployments. In addition to Unit Newsletters and in some cases, online websites and web logs (blogs), the FRGs form the primary mechanism for formal communications to military families during deployment.
Manage Stakeholders
For a Guard deployment, leaders must pay particular attention to an expansive consideration of stakeholders. Primary are civilian leadership and military command at all levels, and the military organizational structures themselves. For a company first sergeant, I reported to my company commander, a captain, mindful that he and I reported to a battalion commander (lieutenant colonel) and a command sergeant major (CSM), who themselves reported to a division commander (two star general, with his own CSM). Ultimately, they reported to the multinational force (MNF) headquarters of coalition forces, as well as Joint Services and Department of Defense Command organizations. Military organization is all about stakeholders.
To the extent that U.S. forces deploy overseas, stakeholders certainly include host nation populations, civilian government, and security forces. In Iraq, there are multiple ethnic groups, communities, and enclaves. The ISF include the Iraqi Army, border guard, national and local police forces, and other security organizations. In such a scenario, every soldier is a diplomat. Many soldiers have gone beyond their official duties, and organized diverse non-profit, charity, or other medical and civic aid to Iraqi communities, including medical appeals and emergency operations, toy and shoe drives, and education and school supplies.
Depending on the specific location, military missions can include United Nations and non-governmental organizations and non-state actors who are important stakeholders in the military mission. Some other important stakeholders operate less visibly, and there are such people as opposition stakeholders. Unlike most projects, in our deployment to Iraq oppositional stakeholders sometimes carry weapons. Media representatives should also be considered stakeholders, no matter their point of view, or the degree of "neutrality" of the specific organization represented. Many media outlets employ stringers, both for better access and for economic reasons These individuals sometimes seek and maintain undue influence, and may be under the control of enemy combatant organizations.
In the case of the military and their family stakeholders, as well as the public as a whole, morale is a vital objective of project communications. Media, on the other hand, may discount military public communications as "biased" or propagandized, and devalue military reporting in favor of more "objective" media sources, although it remains objectively unclear who such sources might be in a modern combat environment such as Iraq. Understandably, the military and those who serve advocate for better public access and outlets for "good news" to balance the bad. Military authorities are enhancing military access to new and alternative media, Internet sites, YouTube and other streaming video, and blogs. Informal and unofficial communications abound as well, including the online diaries of military blogs (MILBLOGS).
Regardless, perceptions often prove more important than fact for many stakeholders. This correlates with what many non-military project managers experience. Further complicating any objective assessment of the situation is the difficulty associated with data points and trends. If bombings and attacks form the basis for identifying significant activities, the data point obscures the significance of the white space in between data points. In the context of Iraq, that white space can indicate the simple absence of violence, or the mundane nation building tasks of infrastructure, rebuilding, civil projects, education, medical care, etc.
Contrary to many historical wartime situations, oppositional stakeholders in Iraq don't seek, don't need, and don't expect military victory in a classic sense. They seek media attention, shock, intimidation, and the reactions of civilian, government, and military organizations. Many seek to foment a civil war where none would exist without such provocation or incitement.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned
Human Resources
The mobilization and deployment of a National Guard unit to Iraq offered many opportunities for lessons learned. One of the most important is the critical need to manage Guard & Reserve soldier expectations in the heightened "operations tempo" of a post 9/11 national security environment. For better or worse, National Guard forces serve double duty in responding to State emergencies and National Security missions. Deployment lengths are obviously dependent on overall staffing levels, but to the extent that deployment requirements can be stabilized, units and personnel can adjust personal and professional lives to such requirements.
From a training and readiness standpoint, Guard leaders at all levels should take the time to inventory hard and soft military and civilian skill sets. Many civilian skills and trades offer significant "value-added" in peacetime contingency and nation building operations. Given the sometimes high profile and international aspects of modern military deployments, the Guard needs to continue to build and disseminate public affairs and other "diplomatic" capabilities throughout force. On the hard skills side, combat drills and other forms of rehearsal-based training are essential for survivability.
Training mitigates, avoids, and changes individual responses to events and outcomes, but training will not eliminate all risks. Some risks will not be visible nor anticipated; and mitigation strategies will not always yield the expected reduction in risk potential. Leaders must teach concepts with some specifics, if roles are variable or undefined. As a leader, I must know my people, know what they bring to the team, and train them to self-improve.
The U.S. military has rightfully increased emphasis on information operations (IO), and it is of critical importance for all soldiers to know there is an IO war that we can lose. As it does for combat operations, an "asymmetric response" works well for data, too. Too much information can be better than too little, but without effective strategies for "mining" data, creating automated alert mechanisms, or otherwise screening vast amounts of information for priority information, critical data will be lost in the pile.
From a public relations perspective, the military must build and maintain relationships with mainstream and alternative media, and find ways to "recruit" or incent journalists with military backgrounds. The U.S. Military serves as one of the finest professional organizations in the world with the highest of ethical standards: we hold our own accountable far more effectively and honestly than other governmental and non-governmental organizations. Public relations is a theater of operations, and public perception of the military and its proper role is an important aspect of communications. Project success can often be as much a matter of perception. The military needs to fight against stereotypes and prejudices among the non-military, and continue to stay on point with aggressive messaging that gets our side of the story out.
The target audience for communications include the broadest conception of stakeholders, including military families, partnerships with traditional media, MILBLOGS and other alternative media. Relationship building must be continuous. Transparency needs practice, and widespread awareness throughout the force. The military must identify, and learn the processes and potential value of informal networks. With Internet, mobile and other high technology communications ubiquitous, Operations Security (OPSEC) can be a legitimate concern. However, implementation of OPSEC should enhance and not reduce soldier accessibility to communications.
A Definition of Project Success
Much has been said, and much more will be said about Operation Iraqi Freedom, but for my Iraqi Project for the U.S. Army, I modestly propose the following definition of project success:
- 100% unit and soldier readiness certified
- No absent without leave (AWOL)
- Recognition of outstanding Intelligence mission accomplishment
- Best-in-theater motor maintenance operations, 95% fully mission capable
- No combat injuries or losses
- No soldiers left behind
In the end, we achieved our goal: we deployed, performed, and returned without loss of life or serious injury.
642nd Military Intelligence Battalion Unit History (2005). Troy, NY: Published privately by 42nd ID, NY Army National Guard.
Burden, M. (2006) The Blog of War. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Keane, Inc. (2002) Productivity Management: Keane's Project Management Approach. Boston, MA: Keane, Inc.
Nuding, J. (2006) Projects and Propaganda. Retrieved on May 9, 2007 from http://dadmanly.blogspot.com/2006/09/projects-and-propaganda.html.
Nuding, J. (2005) Patterns of Analysis. Retrieved on May 9, 2007 from http://dadmanly.blogspot.com/2005/09/patterns-of-analysis.html
Project Management Institute. (2000) A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK®) (2000 ed.). Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.
U.S. Army. (2006) Composite Risk Management, Field Manual (FM) 5-19. Fort Monroe, VA: U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
© 2007, Jeffrey C. Nuding
Originally published as a part of 2007 PMI Global Congress Proceedings – Atlanta, Georgia
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In Greek mythology, Pelops (/ˈpiːlɒps, ˈpɛlɒps/; Greek: Πέλοψ) was king of Pisa in the Peloponnesus. His father, Tantalus, was the founder of the House of Atreus through Pelops's son of that name.
He was venerated at Olympia, where his cult developed into the founding myth of the Olympic Games, the most important expression of unity, not only for the Peloponnesus, "island of Pelops", but for all Hellenes. At the sanctuary at Olympia, chthonic night-time libations were offered each time to "dark-faced" Pelops in his sacrificial pit (bothros) before they were offered in the following daylight to the sky-god Zeus (Burkert 1983:96).
Pelops was a son of Tantalus and either Dione,[1] Euryanassa[2] or Eurythemista[3]. In some accounts, he was called a bastard son of Tantalus while others named his parents as Atlas and the nymph Linos.[4]
Of Phrygian or Lydian birth, he departed his homeland for Greece, and won the crown of Pisa or Olympia from King Oenomaus in a chariot race then married Oenomaus's daughter, Hippodameia.
Pelops and Hippodameia had at least sixteen children. Their sons include Pittheus (or his mother was Dia), Troezen, Alcathous, Dimoetes, Pleisthenes, Atreus, Thyestes, Copreus, Hippalcimus, Sciron, Cleones and Letreus. Four of their daughters married into the House of Perseus: Astydameia (who married Alcaeus), Nicippe (who married Sthenelus), Lysidice (who married Mestor) and Eurydice (who married Electryon).
By the nymph Axioche (Ἀξιόχη)[5] or Danais[6] or Astyoche[7], Pelops was father of Chrysippus.
Tantalus' savage banquet
Pelops' father was Tantalus, king at Mount Sipylus in Anatolia. Wanting to make an offering to the Olympians, Tantalus cut Pelops into pieces and made his flesh into a stew, then served it to the gods. Demeter, deep in grief after the abduction of her daughter Persephone by Hades, absentmindedly accepted the offering and ate the left shoulder. The other gods sensed the plot, however, and held off from eating of the boy's body. While Tantalus was banished to Tartarus, Pelops was ritually reassembled and brought back to life, his shoulder replaced with one of ivory made for him by Hephaestus. Pindar mentioned this tradition in his First Olympian Ode, only to reject it as a malicious invention: his patron claimed descent from Tantalus.
After Pelops' resurrection, Poseidon took him to Olympus, and made him the youth apprentice, teaching him also to drive the divine chariot. Later, Zeus found out about the gods' stolen food and their now revealed secrets, and threw Pelops out of Olympus, angry at his father, Tantalus.
Courting Hippodamia
Having grown to manhood, Pelops wanted to marry Hippodamia. Her father, King Oenomaus, fearful of a prophecy that claimed he would be killed by his son-in-law, had killed eighteen suitors of Hippodamia after defeating them in a chariot race and affixed their heads to the wooden columns of his palace. Pausanias was shown what was supposedly the last standing column in the late second century CE; he wrote that Pelops erected a monument in honor of all the suitors who had preceded him:[8]
Pelops came to ask for her hand and prepared to race Oenomaus. Worried about losing, Pelops went to the seaside and invoked Poseidon, his former lover.[9] Reminding Poseidon of their love ("Aphrodite's sweet gifts"), he asked Poseidon for help. Smiling, Poseidon caused a chariot drawn by untamed winged horses to appear.[10]
Two episodes involving charioteers were added into the plain account of the heroic chariot race. In the first related by Theopompus, having received the horses, Pelops hastens to Pisa to defeat Oenomaus. On the way, his charioteer Cillus (also named Sphaerus) dies and stands in a dream over Pelops, who was highly distressed about him, to make requests for a funeral. Pelops complies by burying his ashes magnificently, and raises a mound to erect a temple dedicated to Apollo which he names Apollo Cillaeus and he founds a city besides the mound and the temple which he also names Cilla after his charioteer and friend. Both the temple and the city are mentioned in the first book of Homer's Iliad and suggestions regarding their exact location have been made. Furthermore, Cillus, even after his death, appears to have helped Pelops' cause in order for him to win the race.[11]
In the second, Pelops, still unsure of himself (or alternatively, Hippodamia herself) and of the winged horses and chariot of divine providence he had secured, convinced Oenomaus' charioteer, Myrtilus, a son of Hermes, to help him win. Pelops or Hippodamia herself convinced Myrtilus by promising him half of Oenomaus' kingdom and the first night in bed with Hippodamia. The night before the race, while Myrtilus was putting together Oenomaus' chariot, he replaced the bronze linchpins attaching the wheels to the chariot axle with fake ones made of beeswax. The race started, and went on for a long time. But just as Oenomaus was catching up to Pelops and readying to kill him, the wheels flew off and the chariot broke apart. Myrtilus survived, but Oenomaus was dragged to death by his horses. Pelops then killed Myrtilus (by throwing him off a cliff into the sea) after the latter attempted to rape Hippodamia.
Olympic games
After his victory, Pelops organized chariot races as thanksgiving to the gods and as funeral games in honor of King Oinomaos, in order to be purified of his death. It was from this funeral race held at Olympia that the beginnings of the Games were inspired. Pelops became a great king, a local hero, and gave his name to the Peloponnese. Walter Burkert notes[12] that though the story of Hippodamia's abduction figures in the Hesiodic Catalogue of Women and on the chest of Cypselus (c. 570 BCE) that was conserved at Olympia, and though preparations for the chariot-race figured in the east pediment of the great temple of Zeus at Olympia, the myth of the chariot race only became important at Olympia with the introduction of chariot racing in the twenty-fifth Olympiad (680 BCE). G. Devereux connected the abduction of Hippodamia with animal husbandry taboos of Elis,[13] and the influence of Elis at Olympia that grew in the seventh century.
Curse of the Pelopidai
As Myrtilus died, he cursed Pelops for his ultimate betrayal. This was one of the sources of the curse that destroyed his family: two of his sons, Atreus and Thyestes, killed their half brother, Chrysippus, who was his favorite son and was meant to inherit the kingdom; Atreus and Thyestes were banished by him together with Hippodamia, their mother, who then hanged herself; each successive generation of descendants suffered greatly by atrocious crimes and compounded the curse by committing more crimes, as the curse weighed upon Pelops' children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren including Atreus, Thyestes, Agamemnon, Aegisthus, Menelaus, and finally Orestes, who was acquitted by a court of law convened by the gods Athena and Apollo. Although commonly referred to as "the curse of the Atreides", the circle of atrocious events began two generations before Atreus and continued for two generations after him, before being formally absolved by the Furies in court.
Pelops is believed to have Anatolian origins. He may have been originally worshipped in Phrygia or Lydia. Other ancient mythographers connect him with Paphlagonia.[14] He may have come from the Paphlagonian town of Enete.[15]
Others represent him as a native of Greece, who came from Olenos in Achaia, or perhaps from Arcadia.[16]
Also, according to Strabo, Pelops cult may have come to the Peloponnese originally from Phthiotis, and was first based in Laconia: "... the Achaeans of Phthiotis came down with Pelops into the Peloponnesus, took up their abode in Laconia ..."[17]
The shrine of Pelops at Olympia, the Pelopion "drenched in glorious blood",[18] described by Pausanias[19] stood apart from the temple of Zeus, next to Pelops' grave-site by the ford in the river. It was enclosed with a circle of stones. Pelops was propitiated as a chthonic deity, at night with the offering of a black ram. His remains were contained in a chest near the sanctuary of Artemis Kordax (Pausanias 6.22.1), though in earlier times a gigantic shoulder blade was shown; during the Trojan War, John Tzetzes said, Pelops' shoulder-blade was brought to Troy by the Greeks because the Trojan prophet Helenus claimed the Pelopids would be able to win by doing so.[20] Pausanias was told the full story: the shoulder-blade of Pelops was brought to Troy from Pisa, the rival of Elis; on the return, the bone was lost in a shipwreck, but afterwards recovered by a fisherman, miraculously caught in his net.[21]
Giant-sized bones were and are often found in Greece, the remains of gigantic prehistoric animals. In ancient times there was obviously no knowledge of dinosaurs or mammoths, and such findings were believed to be actual remains of legendary heroes or demigods, and to reflect the supposedly supernatural stature of humans of the long-bygone Heroic Age. The bones' provenance was then determined according to local legends about ancient burials, with political expedience also playing a major role, helped along by convenient dreams, visions or priestly auguries.
See also
- Hyginus, Fabulae, 82 & 83
- Tzetzes on Lycophron, 52
- Scholia on Euripides, Orestes, 11
- Robert Graves. The Greek Myths, section 108 s.v. Tantalus
- Scholia on Euripides, Orestes, 4; on Pindar, Olympian Ode, 1. 144
- Pseudo-Plutarch, Greek and Roman Parallel Stories, 33
- Robert Graves. The Greek Myths, section 110 s.v. The Children of Pelops
- Pausanias, Description of Greece, 6. 21. 9–11, with a reference to Megalai Ehoiai fr. 259(a).
- Pindar, First Olympian Ode. 71.
- Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes 2.27.67 (noted in Kerenyi 1959:64).
- Gordon S. Shrimpton (1991). Theopompus the Historian. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-0837-8.
- Burkert, Homo Necans 1983, p 95f.
- G. Devereux, "The abduction of Hippodameia as 'aiton' of a Greek animal husbandry rite" ''SMSR 36 (1965), pp 3-25. Burkert, in following Devereux's thesis, attests Herodotus iv.30, Plutarch's Greek Questions 303b and Pausanias 5.5.2.
- Diodorus Siculus, 4.74.
- Pelops at theoi.com
- Pelops at theoi.com
- The Geography of Strabo, Vol 4 uchicago.edu
- Pindar, First Olympian Ode.
- Pausanias, 5.13.1-3.
- Adrienne Mayor, The First Fossil Hunters: Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times (Princeton University Press, 2000) discusses the uses made of giant fossil bones in Greek cult and myth.
- Pausanias 5.13.4.
Ancient sources
- Ovid, Metamorphoses VI, 403-11
- Bibliotheca, Epitome II, 3-9; V, 10
- Pindar, Olympian Ode I
- Sophocles, Electra 504 and Oinomaos Fr. 433
- Euripides, Orestes 1024-1062
- Diodorus Siculus, Histories 4.73
- Hyginus, Fables: 84 - Oenomaus
- Pausanias, Description of Greece 5.1.3-7, 5.13.1, 6.21.9, 8.14.10-11
- Philostratus the Elder, Imagines 1.30 - Pelops
- Philostratus the Younger, Imagines 9 - Pelops
Modern sources
- Burkert, Walter (1983). "Pelops at Olympia". Homo Necans. University of California Press. pp. 93–103.
- Kerenyi, Karl (1959). The Heroes of the Greeks. New York/London: Thames and Hudson.
- Patay-Horváth, András (2017). "Pelops and the Peloponnese". Orbis Terrarum, Internationale Zeitschrift für historische Geographie der Alten Welt. 15: 113–130.
- Smith, William; Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, London (1873). "Pelops"
External links
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pelops.
- The Theoi Project, "Pelops"
- Pelops at Bulfinch Mythology
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. .