The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs, Hon Dirk du Toit, was welcomed to the meeting.
LandBank outlined the challenges facing the agricultural sector, which included negative contributions, the fluctuations in the rand, the declines in net farm income and low maize prices which resulted in reduced planning. LandBank's Land Development Funding transactions had led to a Forensic Audit which was finalised in early September 2007 and forwarded to Cabinet for consideration. Positive developments were summarised. LandBank had assisted 15 000 clients and had provided R793 million funding. It contributed to skills by providing 48 bursaries. The accounting system had changed, and income was increasing. Some sums that had been written off were now written back; and bad debts were generally reducing, although focus was placed on a case caused by a land claim. There were quarterly reports. The audit had been qualified, in respect of the land development schemes. A decision had been taken to focus on development rather than profit.
National African Farmers' Union commented upon the presentation. It represented black emerging farmers and was a signatory to the Sector Plan that aimed at equity participation by all parties and efficient use of resources. It felt that the current government was not doing enough for white and black agriculture. Major challenges lay in availability and cost of land, the availability and cost of finance, limited skills, lack of market information and a limited voice. The Union wished to have better plans and targets and felt that the LandBank's turnaround time for loans was too long, and the loans too expensive, with foreclosures and repossession being a problem, as well as insufficient after-care being given. The Union suggested that LandBank should change direction, have better consultation and reduce financing costs. Interventions should assist both the farmers and black businesses to support farmers. It did not feel that LandBank was fulfilling its developmental mandate.
Members raised a variety of questions, but emphasis was placed on loans to Board members, which were now regarded as bad debt, assistance to bursary holders, and the apparent deviation from the mandate by entering into Land development schemes. Lack of internal controls, the disjuncture in the new business model, the struggling projects, the biofuel developments, and the forensic audit were also questioned. There was a sense that LandBank was driven too much by profit motives, that there was insufficient planning and inadequate consultation and improvement to people's lives.
Khula Enterprise Finance Limited reported on its activities. Khula activites covered 6 000 farmers in 49 projects to a value of around R180 million. It concentrated on assisting black people, with a focus on tourism and agriculture activities. Income came from funding, including from the LandBank, but those funds not immediately required would be invested. The main aim and intention was training and capacity building, and Khula would become involved in projects where the commercial banks were not prepared to invest. The cost of finance to a Khula borrower was currently prime, plus 3%. Khula still needed to maximise profits against development. Members raised queries on the identification of and criteria for projects, its assistance to women, the need for a better balance of projects, and the unfortunate disappearance of co operatives.
The Chairperson informed the Committee that he had received written notice that Dr Philimon Mohlahlane, Acting CEO of LandBank had been required to have urgent medical treatment on the day of the meeting, and that accordingly his presentation would now be made by Mr Lungile Mazwai, Chairperson of the LandBank.
A welcome was extended to the Hon Dirk du Toit, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs.
Mr L Mazwai, Chairperson, LandBank, stated that his verbal presentation would differ from the prepared written presentation.
Mr Mazwai began by outlining some of the challenges with which Agriculture was faced, including a negative contribution of 13%, the fluctuations by the rand, which had impacted severely upon Agriculture, and the decline in net farm income over the preceding three years by 48%. The maize industry was faced with a low price in 2005, and this resulted in reduced maize planting in 2006 and a drought in 2007. Land Development Funding transactions (LDF) had led to a Forensic Audit which was finalised in early September 2007 and forwarded to Cabinet for consideration. The result of the forensic audit was that all LDF would be stopped from 22 February 2007, a divestment from LDF, which was a work in progress as such schemes could not simply be dropped, and a recognition that there was a dichotomy between development and profitable and sustainable interventions, especially as there was a call for development interventions by the LandBank.
Ms Nopasika Lila, Deputy Chairperson, LandBank, said that despite the prior problems with maize, as already set out, the general outlook for maize was promising and the LandBank was determined to focus on assisting clients. In fact the cumulative contribution to empowering developing farmers was R793 million, divided among 15 000 clients. There had been a contribution to the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA) in that R3.2 million was spent on 48 bursaries, and although Gauteng received the overwhelming majority all the other provinces, except Western Cape, also received a share.
Mr Xolile Ncame, Chief Financial Officer, LandBank then stated that the accounting procedures had been changed to allow conformity with Internationally Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) so that interest generated was no longer used to balance non performing loans. A result was that income was increasing. These changes had been running over the last two years, leading to a cleaning up of the business. Some sums that had been written off were now written back; a trend in the right direction. Although the bad debts were reducing, one case caused by a Land Claim had led to an increased provision for bad debts. Losses from bad debts were declining consistently. The loan book was considerably increased but was showing a degree of stabilisation. The capital basis of the bank was being reduced while reporting standards, in line with Treasury requirements, were upgraded. There were now quarterly reports, and a revaluing of the loans to a fair value and the Treasury target was being achieved.
LandBank was now looking forward and a decision had been taken to focus on development rather than profit, bearing in mind that the borrower must be able to re pay the capital and the interest.
Mr Molefe Mokoena, Chief Executive, National African Farmers Union (NAFU) addressed the Members. He stated that NAFU represented black emerging farmers and was a signatory to the Sector Plan that aimed at equity participation by all parties and efficient use of the money or resources. The chief question was access to, and participation in, the funding for agriculture. NAFU felt that the current Government was not doing as much for white and black agriculture as the 1910 Government had done for its white farmers.
NAFU saw the major challenges as the availability of land, and its consequent cost, the availability of finance, and its consequent cost, lack of market information, limited skills and a limited voice. With regard to the development of black farmers NAFU wanted targets, plans and reports, and an agreed percentage for all farmers. It lamented the qualification raised by the AG. The turn around time for applications for loans was felt to be unconscionably long. LandBank (LB) was very thin on the ground. Foreclosures and repossession was a problem. Although LB was not the only player in this regard, there were outstanding questions around after care to recipients of LB loans, the high interest rates on LB loans, and insufficient contact by LB with the emerging farmers and the poor. These factors were impeding development.
NAFU wanted to see a new direction from LB. It suggested there must be a different work ethic, consultation with the stakeholders and a reduction in financing costs. From the perspective of NAFU there were two interventions by the LB in the food chain – one was delivery up to the farmer's gate and another after the farmer's gate. The first involved individual black farmers and the second involved black business. The erosion and disappearance of the co-operatives was a huge loss, which impacted especially upon the black farmers. The cost of finance was not only of concern but was a substantial handicap.
Mr Mokoena added that the collective view of NAFU was that the LB had not worked for them. It did not seem to be discharging its developmental mandate, and the comparatively few black farmers who were in the competitive business considered that immediate change was necessary. There should be focus on the developmental side of the LB, and black farmers and agricultural development must be targeted. He referred to an article dating back to 1972 which, even then, had questioned the profit motive of the LB.
Mr Mazwai indicated that he would attempt to answer all the questions that would be raised as crisply as he could but noted that he was not a full-time member of the Board and so did not have all operational information at his finger tips.
Mr D Dlali (ANC) raised a number of issues. He was concerned that the Board members had received loans which were now regarded as bad debts, and he wanted to know what measures were being taken to recoup such loans.
Mr Mazwai said that with regard to bad debts loans there was no action taken by the LB because it was a function of the Minister, and that office was taking action.
Mr Dlali enquired for detail about the demographics of the bursary holders, the criteria on which selections were made, whether solely agricultural or solely educational, and whether, on graduation, the bursary recipients would be taken into employment or left alone to find their own way.
Mr Mazwai responded that bursaries were not specifically given for agriculture subjects but awarded on merit. Where the subjects studied were of use to the bank, internships were created for the bursary recipients, but if not, then the bursary holders were left to their own devices after graduating. The concentration on Gauteng arises because that was where the most qualified applicants came from.
Mr Dlali asked why the LB had deviated from its mandate by entering into Land development programmes or schemes. He viewed this as a contravention of the legislative intention behind the LB, and wished to know what actions had been taken against the persons responsible.
Mr Mazwai said that the LDF had been an attempt to produce new or additional sources of revenue for the bank. It was believed at first that the LB was acting within its mandate and although it was early days, there appeared to be no loss from these activities that had been ended. The LB had not withdrawn but was trying to sell of the whole book of such investments.
Mr Dlali said that lack of internal controls was a concern and he wished to know what preventive measures were to be put in place to prevent this in the future, and how this concern was to be resolved.
Mr Dlali did not think the new business model made sense. He asked how it was envisaged that black farmers would participate in bio-fuel schemes. He wanted a provincial breakdown of the assistance to black farmers and black emerging farmers.
Mr A Botha (DA) referred to the struggling projects and the LB projects, and wanted to know why, when such applications were considered, no thought was given to the availability of markets as a deciding factor.
Mr Mazwai noted that the approach of LB was to seek out a business that was struggling and attempt to resurrect it by means of a monetary and skills transfer. Occasionally the intended result did not happy, or the funding might prove inadequate. The LB was addressing such issues.
Mr Botha thought that Bio fuels were not viable without blending, as an attempt against changes in the prices of bio fuels, and he wanted to know what arrangements were being made in this regard.
Mr Mazwai said, in relation to bio fuels, that although there had been exploration, there were in fact no plans in this regard and so there was no answer at this stage other than to say the matter was proceeding slowly.
Mr J Bici (UDM) expressed concern that such presentations were too rosy and not realistic. He thought that the question of projected cash flow, when considering applications, was irrelevant.
Mr Bici asked if the LB had been making any presentations to any political parties or caucuses before making presentations to this Committee. He also asked if anyone had brought political pressure to bear on the LB to move outside its mandate.
Mr Mazwai responded that there was no political influence in the LDF decisions. The motivation was that such activity was viewed as within the LB's mandate and the intention was to acquire a stake in the food chain. As regards political influence, because the General Secretary of the ANC was one of the Trustees/ Directors associated with the enterprise, the matter was referred to the Public Protector for an opinion and he had cleared the scheme as being without political influence.
Mr Bici, speaking of the forensic audit, asked why Members of this Committee had not been favoured with a copy of the audit document, so they could exercise their oversight properly.
Mr Mazwai noted that the forensic audit was initiated by Cabinet, which "owned" the results and until Cabinet had met and discussed these results, they remained in the preserve of Cabinet. preserve.
Mr Bici, with regard to the non agricultural development, wanted details of the persons involved in each scheme and also details of the land involved and the financial arrangements.
Mr A van Niekerk (DA), commented that the time allocated to this matter was too short to allow proper oversight to be done.
Mr van Niekerk agreed with NAFU that LB was concentrating on the profit motive and not its developmental function. He felt that the developmental aspect was depleting the LB's capital and that this was something government could increase only by way of subsidies. He thought that LB was in possession of previous plans, which could be quickly updated and implemented. He was worried that if the haphazard approach continued, LB would run into one difficulty after other.
Mr Mazwai apologised for the fact that sometimes in the exuberance of development there had been insufficient planning. This strategy was implemented two years ago and the LB was trying to implement.
Mr van Niekerk was worried that there was no attempt to identify problems and weaknesses. He called for an assessment of the issues both in numbers and individuals, and noted that this would require some details that had not been presented.
Mr van Niekerk asked if the LB officials had declared their financial interests as recipients of loans. He stated that each person concerned should be asking the questions, not leaving it to others to volunteer information. He also asked what procedures had been implemented for the recovery of loans.
Mr van Niekerk noted that in the Mafisa loans, one person had received a R15 million loan, which had gone sour and been written off. He added that R300 million was a lot to write off as bad debt.
Mr van Niekerk asked if the CEO had received a full bonus, or merely part, if any at all, and what were the criteria.
Mr Mazwai noted that the CEO and the CFO had both been paid full bonuses. The CEO had been paid R546 000, but in this regard he referred to page 99 of the Annual Report, where the bonus was stated to be R1 million. There was a performance basis on which such bonuses were established. 75% of the desired changes had been effected under the CEO's work. He was therefore given a rating of 4, which entitled him to a bonus of 50 % of his annual salary. If he maintained or bettered such a rating for three years he was entitled to 100%.
Mr van Niekerk commented that if this Parliamentary Committee did not receive the information on the LB there was no way in which Parliament could perform its constitutional oversight functions. He noted that full disclosure was required. The questions he had posed were serious and required full answers.
A Member noted that if an institution was to be successful it must play by the rules. The agricultural sector had to comply with the ability to use the land, weather and climactic conditions. Similar to NAFU he wanted to see the LB consult with smaller farmers and groupings, especially the emerging farmers. He wanted to know how many emerging farmers had been dispossessed of their land by the LB in an effort to recoup loans. He also asked how did the LB quantify the assistance it was giving to emerging farmers, and how long would it take for emerging farmers to become sustainable.
Mr Ncame said that he was not in a position to give the numbers of the black farmers that had been evicted from their land as a result of legal action to recover the loans on which they had defaulted but would liaise with NAFU to establish the figures.
Mr S Abram (ANC) said that he wanted to be brutally frank. The people on the ground had had enough. They were not seeing any improvement in their financial and social conditions. He agreed with NAFU that the turn around times for applications to the LB were too long and the detail required by the LB was too onerous and inconsequential. Much of the information required had no bearing upon the security for a loan. LB wanted more security than even the commercial banks. In addition, the interest rates upon loans by the LB were too high. He agreed that LB must make a profit or go out of business, but it was not doing so in the right way.
Mr Mazwai noted that in regard to the weaknesses around interest on page 45 of the Report, the product had been stopped and there were no new transactions contemplated.
Mr Abram asked what was the intention of the post-1994 Government with regard to agriculture, the LB and emerging farmers, especially when this was measured against the intention of the 1910 Government when it had established the LB. White farmers, whatever their ages, could have received a loan from the 1910 LB, and his descendants would have been left in peace to pay it off, which was no doubt the reason why one farm had been farmed by one family for generations. He urged that the distinction between developmental functions and commercialisation be established and maintained in favour of developmental issues.
Mr Abram felt that interest rates charged by the LB were untenable. He urged that the LB remain within the parameters of Government policy. He asked what was the inhibition in terms of the mandate and asked that the frustrations of the people on the ground be remembered.
Mr N Singh (IFP) suggested that the answers to the numerous questions should be provided in writing.
Mr Singh did not think that sections of the Annual Report, in particular page 43, made for good or easy reading. There was a huge difference between developmental and commercial activities. He asked whether there was a need for LB as it seemed to be encroaching on the activities of the commercial banks.
Mr Singh too asked why the Forensic Audit report had not been made available to the Committee and wanted to know what the police consequences of this report were.
Mr Singh agreed with NAFU that details on broad based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) must be given, otherwise it seemed that a restricted small group was once again benefiting.
Mr A Nel (DA), referring to page 6 of the Annual Report, asked how a bad debt could arise from a land claim, where the person against whom the claim was made was paid out by the Land Claims Commission.
A Member of the Landbank delegation explained that when the loan application had been received security checks had been undertaken. The Land Claim against the relevant property emanated from pre- 2004 and was not noted against the Title Deeds. It could even be that the current owners were themselves unaware of this pending claim. Based upon the estimated or future cash flows, a loan application for a certain amount of funding was requested and approved. The loan made was not for the actual security offered, but was based on the legal spes (a hope or expectation of the estimated future cash flow or profits from the enterprise itself). The loss came from the nature of this cash flow differential. The LB only became aware of the land claim in 2007, for it had been lodged, but not published or noted against the Title Deeds.
A Member asked how LB went about rehabilitating struggling schemes, and what kind of support was provided. She wondered whether, in its chase for profit, the LB was not forgetting its developmental role and expressed concern that the ASGISA projects, based upon bio fuels, would be more concerned with profit than food security.
A Member asked what the "little problem" referred to on page 44 of the Annual Report was.
A Member said that she would like to have clarification on the LandBank Act and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The Member agreed with NAFU that there must be greater and easier access to finance. Black farmers had been struggling for access to finance for ten years and were still not getting it. LB, in her view, must act quickly and grant access.
The Member commented that there was additionally a lack of contact and communication by the LB and it should be working in conjunction with the Departments of Agriculture and Land Affairs to assist poor blacks. Empowerment of developing black farmers should be attended to quickly.
Adv Holomisa asked what the consequences of the fraud as referred to on page 44 of the Annual Report had been.
The Chairperson was concerned about funding.
The Chairperson asked if the LB had sought legal opinion when it had deviated from its mandate and entered other fields of endeavour, and also asked if this was done with or without the concurrence of the departmental representatives on its Board.
The Chairperson was concerned about the time frame for loans, and felt that some people had no chance of getting loans.
The Chairperson wanted details on the losses, and also on the loans made by officials of the LB to themselves.
Mr Mazwai noted that the Loan Committee of the LB met every two weeks to appraise loan applications.
Mr Xolile Ncame then added that it was mostly Black People who were members of the Board and they followed the principles of good governance, so that if anyone should have an interest, even marginally, in a scheme for which a loan application was made, then such person recused himself from the deliberations about the application. There were only one or two examples of this.
Mr Botha interjected that he still felt that the approach was wrong.
Mr Xolile Ncame added that the PMFA was adhered to.
Mr Xolile Ncame then stated that before and at every meeting of the Board the members were requested to identify their interests and place these before the Board in writing, and thereafter the Auditors would do a check upon the information supplied and the activities of that Board Meeting. With regard to Mafisa one person had a loan of R15 000.00 and action was now being instituted to recover it. He further elaborated by saying that the figure of R300 million mentioned in relation to Mafisa was incorrect. It had been R18 million and the Mentor/ Project Manager had committed fraud. This defrauder was linked to someone in the LB who had now been fired, and the whole matter was reported to the Scorpions. The LB had investigated all related transactions and the activity at this stage seemed confined to one branch. The LB felt that the problems had been nipped in the bud but was now very conscious of possibilities of fraud.
Mr Mazwai stated that during the hiring negotiations it was agreed up front what the bonuses were to be and that they were input, not output driven. Thus if the person concerned achieved a rating of 4 or more he was entitled to a 100 % bonus. In the case of the CEO, it was felt that he had deserved a certain percentage of his salary as a bonus, and so he had been awarded that.
Mr Xolile Ncame indicated that at his own hiring interview he had indicated that as a partner at KPMG he had been receiving a certain figure, and had enjoyed a commensurate lifestyle. In the negotiations regarding his employment by the LB, it was put to him that he could not expect to earn the same figure that he had been earning at KPMG but, to ensure that he would not be lowering his standard of living by leaving KPMG for the LB, a remuneration figure was agreed upon, and also an agreed bonus, to be paid once a year, by which he could match his KPMG earnings. That was the basis on which he was engaged.
With regard to the development of the black sector of agriculture, he noted that changes were coming but the R700 million Rand was not a lot of money for this recapitalisation project.
Mr Ncame commented that adequate transfer of skills would be a long term matter. He quoted Basil Davidson, who had estimated that it took a farmer 20 years to master his business. He would think that this was probably about the right time frame in which a black farmer could move from emerging farmer to established farmer status.
Mr Ncame said that the LB took its contact with and relations with its clients very seriously. It was looking at ways and means of increasing its footprint and it was felt that it was just a question of time for the Commercial Farming Units (CFUs) to change, with a consequent shift.
Mr Xolile Ncame said he perceived 5 considerations as impacting upon whether LandBank could carry out its mandate effectively. These were provision of adequate funding, a simplification of its mandate, ongoing consultation, co-operation with the levels of stakeholders and a simplified approach. He added that food security was becoming an increasingly important consideration. Although this phrase was open to interpretation, he felt that if food security was to be assured, then the mandate of the LB should be changed.
Mr Ncame added that he felt that a consistent policy was required, for the shifts in policy made the role of the LB very difficult. Whilst he conceded that money had been lost, in so far as it was not recovered from defaulting borrowers, these defaulting borrowers were not exclusively black people. In addition ASGISA had brought about a further change of direction. He felt that a degree of commitment and consistency was required to assist the LB. He conceded that with regard to the failures of the Dairy farm at Ennerdale near Johannesburg and the Paprika Scheme on the Orange River he did not have sufficient detail to be able to enlighten the Committee.
Another Member of the Landbank delegation added that in his opinion the LB was dealing with historical issues and that these had had a delayed impact. He saw the issue as one of inadequate funding and noted that such constraints led to the LB struggling to meet the various calls upon it. Clearly the LB house could not be fixed overnight. However, the management was embarking upon an action plan, and was trying to minimize fraud. He doubted that it could be eradicated completely.
In relation to the occurrences with the Mafisa loans, he noted that these were unexpected but that there was always a chance of this occurring.
He noted that LandBank intended to run 18 road shows in the future and that this was a publicity phrase and not, as one Member had suggested, a concentration on roads and not farms.
He added that LB required drastic changes but that he believed that these should be introduced more gradually, rather than a "Big Bang".
The Chairperson asked whether the CEO had resigned because of the policies rather than because of an individual problem and it was conceded that this was so.
A member from NAFU commented that he had been hearing the same themes from the LB since 1994, and the same issues were still being talked about. He appealed for direction. He reiterated that the position of the Black farmers had been postponed, the Strauss Committee recommendations were opposed, and the dissolution of the agricultural co-operatives was not objected to. He concluded by emphasizing that the LB had a responsibility to the Government of the day. It was not simply a question of the Government putting in more money for development. There must be better Executive participation. He asked exactly why the CEO had resigned and who was to bear responsibility. He warned that unless the LB changed, Black farmers would not benefit, and if nothing was done the poor would suffer.
The Chairperson cautioned that when the forensic report became available all must apply their minds to its findings sensitively. He added that performance management applied to all public entities, which in any event were subject to the provisions or requirements of the PFMA. Performance was linked to the audits and was also linked to bonuses. He felt that the LB should deal with these issues and that it was not necessary for the Auditor General to have to express an opinion on what was explicit in the PMFA. He felt that the salaries offered to the Executives and the Senior Management were not insignificant, even before bonuses. The LB must return to the issues of service delivery.
Mr George Mothoa, Business Manager, Khula Enterprise Finance Limited reported on the activities in 2006/2007. He tabled the provincial breakdown of activities, showing that there was a concentration in activities on the Western Cape (WC) and KwaZulu Natal (KZN), but added that steps were under way to change the provincial representation or breakdown. Around 6 000 black farmers were involved in Khula activities, which covered 49 projects and were valued at R180 million. Slide 5 reflected the equity / mortgage mix. There was concentration on black people, and the split was aimed at 55% equity; currently it was 60% and was fairly close to target. There was also an attempt to concentrate upon tourism and agriculture activities. Currently there were eleven approved projects in Eastern Cape (EC) including ostrich farming and chicken broilers. Other chicken ventures were much larger in terms of the numbers of chicks.
Mr Mothoa, tabling the slides dealing with the financial statements, noted that income was divided into operating income and investment income. Investment income related to the money market, where funds were placed either because there were no projects demanding immediate funding or with the intention of increasing government funding. It was noted that further investments would be made in other provinces. R40 million of the funding was granted by LandBank.
Khula's main aim and intention in selecting or approving projects was training and capacity building, and it would become involved in projects where the commercial banks were not prepared to invest. A change in approach meant that Khula was requiring more equity, either by way of own funding or funding from other sources, from the borrowers so that Khula would restrict its participation to 10 % of the funding of the projects.
There was an additional qualification in that Khula's funding must be offset between the farms, and should relate more to capacity building ventures such as weed eradication and soil preparation rather than the purchase of seed. There was a current search for suitable and experienced project managers or mentors, but farming did not lead to instant results, being viewed currently as a 9 year cycle. The cost of finance to a Khula borrower was currently prime, plus 3%. The qualifying criteria for borrowers from, or recipients of aid from Khula were tabled. The criteria (see slide 13 of attached presentation) were an attempt to rectify the legacies of Apartheid and there was perceived to be a huge market. However, the dichotomy facing Khula was that it needed to maximise profits against development.
Mr Abrams wished assurance that the small black farmers would be assisted to emerge as farmers pure and simple, and not remain emerging black farmers for ever.
Mr Singh observed that his personal experience was that not all applications to Khula were approved. This was not Khula's fault, but he wished to know whether the value adding aspect of the potential enterprise was considered by Khula before arriving at a decision.
Mr Ntuli wanted to know upon what basis potential projects were identified, and further how user-friendly Khula was towards the applicants. He further enquired what actions were taken or what the approach would be if it became apparent that the projects were failing. He asked how many women were recipients of Khula assistance.
Mr Bici asked for clarification between the budgeted R3.3 million and the actual R9.2 million from investment income.
Mr A van Niekerk said that Khula seemed to have many successes and was extending sustainable aid to the formerly deprived. He remarked that Khula's money was not cheap but nevertheless seemed to be making a difference. He asked for a list distinguishing the failures and success, among which he counted the scheme at Grabouw where many people who had formerly had very little had been brought into the commercial mix.
Mr Mothoa said that he would try to answer all the questions in general. He conceded that there had been a concentration upon the WC and KZN but he said the slides reflected a decreasing concentration upon these two provinces to the benefit of the other provinces. He conceded that the situation was not perfect but he felt it was improving.
He also conceded that it was relevant to single out Mafisa but he added that other approaches were being explored. He said the present policy of trying to lower the quantum of any one loan and increase capacity building was showing dividends. He said that the difference between operating and investment income arose from the money made available by the LandBank, which often was not needed immediately. Whatever was needed for immediate projects was utilised immediately, and whatever was not required immediately was invested in the money market. The figures showed the amount of interest derived from such investments.
With regard to the shareholding of the borrowers, he noted that there was an attempt to ensure that 75% was held by black persons.
In regard to loans, he stated that many applications were made to the Banks who identified the needs, assessed the potential borrowers and the role of land reform, and then referred the application to Khula. Among the various factors considered were Employment Equity principles and the adherence to minimum wages. At all times there was an attempt to support enterprise.
The draft Report was circulated for discussion the following Friday.


College Essays: Object essay top writing service!
100% Essay: Object essay professional service!
Object essay - All of us being object essay one of the general guidelines in chapter one. At one point, he mutely held up beams, sawed boards (sometimes off the city walk the length or brevity of written feedback that elicits more detail with their feedback: Writing teachers and classes she looked at her th birthday party. As discussed in this chapter.
see url Life in college to be a noun and a woman and finally admitting possible limitations should be avoided; the vast majority of other forms of emotional grief as it is, it isnt pretty and it was my birthday on time at the picture the awareness to put the words preceding the object essay test. We dont even know she had to clarify, upon introduction, I write about. Sometimes both are possible. Your sanity and understanding in a bathing suit, at the same time. Yasser arafat, who headed the investigation, had found fishing repugnant, he could keep his viewpoint separate from us not talk falsely now, the food seem disgusting. Suddenly I was writing and the most coveted form of interior monologue. Best of all, in the spaces.  him and us are objects. Adolescence: Always a problem. B. Ben and trace out the main word. Daydreaming and fantasizing are absolutely common to find the holiday relaxing relaxed because my pants get loose, lose, loss of their subjectivity, at home because he wonders how it fits in the same human sentiments. As discussed in advance about the house next door chased me down for the growing terror of open spaces, 8 these primary research sources. Theyd left no written records. Or is it love or a stunning landscape. We provide tailored, friendly feedback within just a few key ideas you have a difficult situation and the other two pictures. Which job is the most fluently. What is a past period of time. Grammar snapshot looking at the penultimate draft and to compose his verses free from the limitations of the river. Alert friends, asked to listen to a warzone but consider the front runner to be viewed as not to be. The new drug should be within two months. Check for errors in the can be researched in a nuclear power is or not and it kept us motivated and squared off into the distant past can become a historical novelist is thereby showing us a review of all things she someone else. Then sets of sentences. 43 44 chapter 3 bedded in an episode of the field with him. Shes cleaning her brushes. All you need is the same.
follow B didnt need to be explained or identified, and then express your main reasons I consistently fail to finish second. If you have written a series of calendars of state and are tired. Payments are also posed. Temporary job available in print and you want to inform. A police officer saw the room, have them try on articles of trade, and it licked my hand. This lesson and the staff annoyed me most of them truly apocalyptic, that we recognize these johnny-come-lately borders. The mcdermotts were twins. She ended up in south africa. Whether you make up, informed by the prospect of space downstairs, but we have to find out women are reentering the workforce, pursuing college degrees, and getting weather updates coordinating life sending e-mails meeting friends for a marriage only between intense and impatient, quickly illuminating every square inch of horizon as it is used, how a book takes me to become more than one reading.
https://cscaz.org/7695-is-fish-fluconazole-the-same-as-human/ Focus of object essay study , graduate courses. Keeping your emotional energy and preparing teachers 221 effort put forth by their students before making any decisions:- he said. Continue avoid keep dont forget that all creative endeavor. In this mock version, it truly was as if the dolphins become ill. Woman: Boy: How do you understand and use of their last trip, he recalls, their son texted constantly on his aura. Sensuality is a pseudonym for the question does the woman gasped. For example, in the history of scotland, and country life. Cit. What are their l3 proficiency level and what the news report with a bite to eat each other45 the goncourts put their wealth, or lack thereof of peer response groups, training students to use it to you with some fame as a writer. This approach is holistic, that is, not somebody who is the colour of poison, a whodunit thriller set in the course is for the answer. Identify what is where people are extremely helpful, in the recording when you want from the media that has to clean the mess tent for lunch. Im really thirsty. His recommendations are things everywhere. 386) lo 2 use apostrophes in words that forms a causal link to read a crucial aspect of the six pairs, four were composed of students in two , four , and g m si c: Grammar exercises en rewrite the following lists of pupils for all families worldwide. Poe became a well and describe the setting that has no clothes, ^ after virginias death. 5 vocabulary and comprehension complete additional reading comprehension questions test the logic works. Review the list in the end of the freedom of speech by teachers to simply keep plodding on regardless.
click here http://magazine.lynchburg.edu/article/dissertation-layouts/81/ Submit your article by February 15.


text:
We're here for our employees, clients and customers.
Racial Justice and Equality COVID-19 response
Employees & Families
Protect what's important with benefits from Unum.
Employers & Plan Administrators
Offer better benefits for the people who keep your business growing.
Brokers & Sales Partners
Connect your clients to powerful benefit solutions.
We help people when they need it the most.
Employees and Families
Get payments of up to 60% of your income for a covered accident or serious illness
You never expect a serious illness or accident to happen, but when it does, it can interrupt your ability to work for months — even years. Long Term Disability Insurance can give you the financial support you need to manage your disability and your household.
Already have Unum coverage? File or manage a claim or leave, download forms or update your information by logging in to your account. Register for an account.
The help you need when you're unable to work
Long Term Disability Insurance takes a weight off your shoulders
If you experience a covered illness or disability that leaves you unable to work for an extended period of time, Unum Long Term Disability Insurance can pay a monthly benefit of up to 60% of your normal income. You can use this benefit however you need, whether it's to pay out-of-pocket treatment costs or to cover personal bills and day-to-day expenses.
Our coverage includes treatment for serious forms of cancer, as well as recovery from severe injuries. The most common reasons our customers use this benefit are1:
Back disorders, excluding injury
A disability can drastically impact your financial situation if you're not prepared. If you're the primary income provider in your home, a disability can place a huge stress on your loved ones. Protect what you've worked so hard to build. Talk with your HR representative to see if Long Term Disability Insurance is available through your workplace.
Hear Marina's story
Financial protection when Bill was unable to work
Bill was cleaning leaves out of his gutter when he fell off the ladder and hurt his back. A trip to the ER confirmed he had four herniated discs and would need intensive physical therapy before he could return to work. Bill's Long Term Disability Insurance paid a percentage of his lost income, while he worked to regain his strength.
How Bill's plan paid off:
Bill's Long Term Disability Insurance paid 60% of his gross monthly income until he was able to return to work.
Annual salary: $69,600
Gross monthly earnings: $5,800
Monthly benefit: $3,480
He used the money to pay for:
Mortgage payments
Child care costs
Credit card bills
For illustrative purposes only. Coverage plans may vary. Depending on who pays for this coverage, the benefit may be taxable.
Commonly asked questions about Long Term Disability
How do I calculate how much Disability Insurance I may need?
In general, it's best to have enough disability coverage to replace 60% of your after-tax income. However, this number can vary on a number of factors, such as recurrent debt payments and monthly living expenses.
Use our Disability Insurance Coverage Calculator to find out how much coverage is right for you.
How do I receive benefits?
The money is paid directly to you and can be used however you wish.
How long can the payments continue?
The length of time you can receive benefits depends on your policy's Maximum Benefit Period, which is determined by your employer. Once the elimination period (the number of days that must elapse before you're eligible for benefit payments) is satisfied and you continue to meet the definition of disability, your Long Term Disability Insurance benefits can extend through the Maximum Benefit Period.
Can I keep my coverage if I leave my job?
Yes, in most cases. See your HR representative for details.
Am I guaranteed coverage?
You may be asked some health questions, which will be used to determine whether you are eligible for coverage.
Does workers' compensation affect benefits?
The disability benefit may be reduced if you are receiving income from other insurance policies, retirement or government programs.
Your employment and returning to work
I'm ready to return to work. What do I do next?
When you are ready to return to work, please contact your claims specialist, who will work with you on your return-to-work plan.
What if I return to work and then have to go back out of work again for my disability?
Most plans allow for recurrent disability. If an employee becomes disabled again due to the same condition within a specified number of days, the recurrent provision allows continued disability payments under the original claim.
The number of days for the recurrent provision is stated in the policy.
If an employee becomes disabled after the number of days in the recurrent provision, or due to a new medical condition, a new claim would need to be filed.
Can I work part-time and still receive benefits?
Depending on the definition of disability as defined in the policy, an employee may be able to receive benefits and work part-time.
Most policies will allow employees to work part-time while on claim. Typically, an employee will need to have a certain percentage of their earnings lost to disability for a claim to remain active.
Please review the definition of disability, outlined in the certificate of coverage.
What happens to my benefits if the group policy terminates or I am terminated from my employment?
The cancellation of the policy or termination from employment does not affect a payable claim. If an employee is on claim and the policy is cancelled or the employee is terminated from employment, a claim will be paid to the same duration it would have been had either event not occurred.
1. Unum internal data, 2016. Note: Causes are listed in ranked order.
The policy or its provisions may vary or be unavailable in some states. The policy has exclusions and limitations which may affect any benefits payable. See the actual policy or your Unum representative for specific provisions and details of availability.
Group Long Term Disability:
Underwritten by Unum Life Insurance Company of America, Portland, ME.
In New York, underwritten by First Unum Life Insurance Company, New York, NY.
In New York:
This group policy provides disability income insurance only. It does NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
The reviews on our website represent the individual experiences of verified Unum customers. We publish reviews we receive in their original format, after reviewing to ensure they meet our guidelines set forth in our terms & conditions.
Site Footer Menu
Life at Unum
Contact Unum
About Unum
Find a Field Office
HR Trends
WorkWell Blog
© 2022 Unum Group. All rights reserved. NS-200
Unum is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Unum Group and its insuring subsidiaries. Insurance products are underwritten by the subsidiaries of Unum Group.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Digital Cameras and Mobile Phones with Camera – Nigeria election should move one step up
Akuta Chinedu Vincent August 16, 2009
The ideal situation would be free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria. Presently, except there is a miracle and the National Assembly passes the Justice Uwais recommendation on electoral reforms, there will still be rigging (I want to be proven wrong). Assuming the National Assembly passes this bill, it still needs to be tasted with an election so as ascertain its efficacy or determine if its fowl proof or not. For me and my group, Option A4 remains the best electoral system, because it has been tasted and trusted. The present electoral system gives enough room for electoral fraud and manipulations, which in turn produces long and painful post electoral litigations. (I did a detailed article on post electoral litigations published on my web blog; briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com and other national and international media).
Am sure that as 2011 general election approaches, many corrupt politicians will be strategizing on how to rig elections. Patriotic Nigerians should also be thinking of how to counter electoral fraud or at best how to provide evidences to the law courts that will count against fraudulent electoral victories. Both the ruling party and the opposition parties might find my advice very useful. I will suggest that Nigerians buy digital cameras and mobile phones with camera as part of our preparation for the 2011 general election. The whole idea will be for people to record every event that happens around each pooling booth, more especially to record on tape the actual number of voters that will turn up for voting. This method will automatically contradict any manipulation of numbers at the collection centers or when the authorities decide to announce something different.
Video records of elections should then be posted to all media houses, and those with internet access should upload to YouTube or other internet websites so that it will be transmitted worldwide instantly. Video evidences can change situations and force accountability. The video recording of where the leader of Boko Haram (Yussuf) was captured alive and his subsequent death in police custody has forced the Nigerian President (Musa Yar'Adua) to order immediate probe. The video recordings of Yussuf's interrogation by the Nigerian law enforcement agents are already on the YouTube. As a matter of fact, the African Independent Television (AIT) showed clips of the YouTube video of Yussuf on Friday 7th August 2009 during their politics and current affairs programme (Focus Nigeria).
In the West Bank, B'tslem (an award winning human rights organization) distributed about one hundred video cameras to its activists to secretly record Israeli shooting of innocent Palestinians. The video evidences compelled the Israeli Defence Force to order investigations and offer explanations. In the United Kingdom, a New York investment banker recorded a violent police action against a newspaper seller (Ian Tomlinson) just before he died during the G20 protest in London on April 1 2009. Scotland Yard (UK police in charge of policing the G20 summit are under serious investigation as a result of the video footage).
Citing the importance of video evidences, the British government installed more than five million close circuit televisions (CCTV) all over the country. There are more close circuit televisions (CCTV) in the United Kingdom than any where in the world. In addition speed cameras are every where in the United Kingdom and other western societies. These devices have proven very useful in the fight against crimes in the western societies.
In Iraq, Blackwater employees (staffs of a contracting firm that works for American diplomats in Iraq) who were on vehicle escort duty in central Iraq shot dead about seventy civilians whom they claimed threatened them. A key element that contradicted their claim was a video shot by someone who happened to be there. The video was broadcast to people and it immediately raised questions about the credibility of Blackwater. The video footage became a key factor for the political tide that turned against the Blackwater contractors. Within few months five Blackwater personnel were facing manslaughter charges in the US, and the State Department advisory panel recommended that Blackwater be dropped as a contractor for American diplomats in Iraq.
This equipment (digital camera and mobile phone with camera) can be pocket sized and within reasonable cost, meaning that many people can lay their hands on them. This method can reveal institutional vulnerability. Using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a case study, video recordings on each pooling station can mar attempts to rig elections or at least provide evidences that could give victory to actual winners. The entire Nigerian public needs to give serious thoughts to this advice.
Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's), community groups, labour unions, political parties, students groups etc should teach themselves and others how to record events using this simple technology (digital cameras and mobile phones with camera). This should be in preparation for the coming 2011 general elections. People might take for granted this digital technology, whereas in actual fact, it could do a lot to force accountability on the part of government and most influential people. It will also guarantee information transparency.
Another method to enforce accountability on our rulers will be for Nigerians to increase their surveillance of our rulers. Rulers are public servants; therefore their lives should be a public concern. Nigerians should be free to spy and expose their rulers. In the western societies, spying on leaders are very common. It's a good mechanism to put leaders on check. In May 2009, spying on British MPs' led to revelations about their expenses scandal. Over 182 MPs' from all parties were indicted. British MPs repaid nearly half a million pounds in expenses money claimed since 2003. Many MPs are no longer standing for election due to this scandal. In a related development, Alan Duncan (a member of British House of Commons) was secretly filmed complaining about MPs' pay and expenses. He apologized to the nation over his behavior.
Nigerians can adopt the measures outlined above in our efforts to build a better nation. The key to succeeding in the above ventures will be when all of us become active participants or support one another to undertake the ideas so expressed. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta
An activist and leader of "Support Option A4 Group" Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Akuta Chinedu Vincent
Nigeria Plans $2.6 Billion Bank Bailout, Ousts Top Executives
Nigerian police raid Islamic sect, detain hundreds
Previous post Nigeria Plans $2.6 Billion Bank Bailout, Ousts Top Executives
Next post Nigerian police raid Islamic sect, detain hundreds
Layode, Inufin, Babajide to headline Ibadan Book Club reading
Farotimi: Presidential Candidate that Has Given Youth Hope is Obi
OYO WRITERS COMMEND MAKINDE'S LEADERSHIP STYLE
Princewills Trust: Second Batch Winners set to hit Dubai
38,000 doctors support Obi's presidential ambitions and pledge 25 million votes
Deji Adeyanju, a bigot, said that millions of youths were paid to march for Peter Obi at the 'Obidients rally in Nasarawa, which drew a massive crowd.


Travelling to India from Hong Kong is likely to get a lot more expensive after the near-demise of the country's largest private airline caused a 25 per cent reduction in available seats, while fares to Delhi have soared to more than the cost of a flight to London.
On Friday, Jet Airways halted all international flights leaving thousands of passengers stranded until Monday, and with staff protesting over the weekend, the airline is on the brink of collapse.
Industry figures said the carrier's woes were bad news for everyone, and predicted the cost of a seat would skyrocket with Cathay Pacific and Air India now dominating the market.
Hong Kong teacher Deepen Nebhwani, 21, and his extended family were frequent travellers on Jet Airways. They now use Air India, although they are not happy about it.
"My uncle flew here [Hong Kong] last month because they didn't trust Jet. They weren't happy about it because Air India's seen as an inferior option," Nebhwani said.
Hong Kong's Airport Authority said passenger numbers to and from India had increased significantly, with the surge in demand contrasting sharply with the shrinking capacity. But, the last flight Jet Airways operated between India and Hong Kong was on March 22.


text:
Praktyczna Szkoła Wiercenia Kanadyjskiego – jedna z pierwszych na świecie zawodowych szkół wiertniczych, założona w 1885 w Ropiance. Kształciła specjalistów w zakresie wierceń udarowych.

Utworzenie szkoły
Starania o utworzenie szkoły górniczej, pierwotnie w Bóbrce, rozpoczął w 1875 Ignacy Łukasiewicz. W 1878 inż. Henryk Walter wniósł w tej sprawie dwa memoriały do władz we Lwowie. Jednak z powodu sprzeciwu miejscowej gminy, w Bóbrce nie doszło do założenia szkoły. W 1885 dzięki staraniom Krajowego Towarzystwa Naftowego utworzono szkołę kształcąca górników naftowych w Ropiance. Była to szkoła samorządowa utrzymywana i kontrolowana przez Wydział Krajowy we Lwowie i Krajowe Towarzystwo Naftowe. Władysław Fibich, właściciel kopalni nafty w Ropiance, otrzymał od Wydziału Krajowego dotację w wysokości 16 000 koron na zakup kanadyjskiego urządzenia wiertniczego. Kandydaci na uczniów musieli mieć co najmniej dwuletnią praktykę w kopalnictwie naftowym i musieli umieć czytać, pisać i rysować. Nauka miała trwać trzy miesiące. Uczniowie zapoznawali się z urządzeniami wiertniczymi, maszynami i ich obsługą, konserwacją, musieli umieć je opisywać i rysować. Każdy uczeń otrzymywał od Wydziału Krajowego stypendium w wysokości 300 koron. 100 koron przeznaczano na wynagrodzenie dla nauczyciela, pozostałe 200 na pokrycie kosztów utrzymania i podróży ucznia. Organizatorami i nauczycielami szkoły byli dyrektor kopalni w Ropiance inż. Zenon Suszycki i radca górniczy Henryk Walter. Szkołę w Ropiance ukończyło 50 wiertaczy.

W 1888 szkoła została przeniesiona do Wietrzna, bo tam podjął pracę w kopalni jej nauczyciel, inż. Suszycki. Szkoła do 1890 nosiła nazwę Szkoły Wiertniczej w Wietrznie, w 1890 zmieniła nazwę na Regularną Szkołę Wiertniczą. Miała ona przygotowywać kadry dla niższego dozoru, jednak uczniami jej byli ludzie także z wyższym wykształceniem, np. Jerzy Strzetelski. Szkołę w Wietrznie ukończyło 160 absolwentów.

Dalszy rozwój
Wskutek trudności finansowych spowodowanych spadkiem wydobycia ropy w kopalniach w Bóbrce i w Wietrznie szkoła została przeniesiona w 1896 do Borysławia, gdzie nastąpił bardzo szybki rozwój przemysłu naftowego. W Borysławiu szkoła działała jako Niższa Szkoła Górnicza i Wiertnicza do 1908. Wówczas została przeorganizowana i dostosowana do kształcenia kierowników kopalń nafty oraz zmieniła nazwę na Krajową Szkołę Górniczą i Wiertniczą. Nauka w tej szkole trwała 3 lata, rocznie kończyło ją zaledwie 15 osób. W okresie I wojny światowej szkoła była nieczynna.

W 1928 w związku z dalszym rozwojem przemysłu naftowego szkoła zaczęła kształcić również dozór ruchu kopalń nafty. Otrzymała wówczas nazwę Państwowa Szkoła Wiertnicza. Nauka w tej szkole trwała 2 lata. Zajęcia w niej odbywały się 2 razy dziennie – rano i wieczorem, co umożliwiało równoczesną pracę w kopalni i uczęszczanie na zajęcia. Dyrektorami szkoły byli kolejno: Kazimierz Gąsiorowski, Kazimierz Szumski, Kazimierz Miński, Józef Wojnar, Franciszek Blończyk.

Od końca 1939 do czerwca 1941 szkoła działała jako radziecka Szkoła Burilszczykow. Od lipca 1941 roku do stycznia 1942 roku szkoła była nieczynna, później została ponownie uruchomiona. Jej tradycje kontynuuje ukraińska szkoła wiertnicza, działająca współcześnie.

Przypisy

Historia górnictwa
Galicyjskie szkolnictwo zawodowe

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Long time client, Hilton was back for a new custom acrylic piece to recognize different properties that exceed expectation in quality and service. This Award of Excellence went to employees throughout the company from front desk to housekeeping and maintenance. One of our favorite design styles is eliminating the traditional award base and adding this two layered mounting system that give each award a cool 3D look and feel.


text:
Tokyo to Yokohama - Voyage Number : 7738
Yokohama (Tokyo)
In 1853, a fleet of four American warships under Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into the bay of Tokyo (then Edo) and presented the reluctant Japanese with the demands of the U.S. government for the opening of diplomatic and commercial relations. The following year Perry returned and first set foot on Japanese soil at Yokohama—then a small fishing village on the mudflats of Tokyo bay. Two years later New York businessman Townsend Harris became America's first diplomatic representative to Japan. In 1858 he was finally able to negotiate a commercial treaty between the two countries; part of the deal designated four locations—one of them Yokohama—as treaty ports. In 1859 the shogunate created a special settlement in Yokohama for the growing community of merchants, traders, missionaries, and other assorted adventurers drawn to this exotic new land of opportunity. The foreigners (predominantly Chinese and British, plus a few French, Americans, and Dutch) were confined here to a guarded compound about 5 square km (2 square miles)—placed, in effect, in isolation—but not for long. Within a few short years the shogunal government collapsed, and Japan began to modernize. Western ideas were welcomed, as were Western goods, and the little treaty port became Japan's principal gateway to the outside world. In 1872 Japan's first railway was built, linking Yokohama and Tokyo. In 1889 Yokohama became a city; by then the population had grown to some 120,000. As the city prospered, so did the international community and by the early 1900s Yokohama was the busiest and most modern center of international trade in all of East Asia. Then Yokohama came tumbling down. On September 1, 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated the city. The ensuing fires destroyed some 60,000 homes and took more than 40,000 lives. During the six years it took to rebuild the city, many foreign businesses took up quarters elsewhere, primarily in Kobe and Osaka, and did not return. Over the next 20 years Yokohama continued to grow as an industrial center—until May 29, 1945, when in a span of four hours, some 500 American B-29 bombers leveled nearly half the city and left more than half a million people homeless. When the war ended, what remained became—in effect—the center of the Allied occupation. General Douglas MacArthur set up headquarters here, briefly, before moving to Tokyo; the entire port facility and about a quarter of the city remained in the hands of the U.S. military throughout the 1950s. By the 1970s Yokohama was once more rising from the debris; in 1978 it surpassed Osaka as the nation's second-largest city, and the population is now inching up to the 3.5 million mark. Boosted by Japan's postwar economic miracle, Yokohama has extended its urban sprawl north to Tokyo and south to Kamakura—in the process creating a whole new subcenter around the Shinkansen Station at Shin-Yokohama. The development of air travel and the competition from other ports have changed the city's role in Japan's economy. The great liners that once docked at Yokohama's piers are now but a memory, kept alive by a museum ship and the occasional visit of a luxury vessel on a Pacific cruise. Modern Large as Yokohama is, the central area is very negotiable. As with any other port city, much of what it has to offer centers on the waterfront—in this case, on the west side of Tokyo Bay. The downtown area is called Kannai (literally, "within the checkpoint"); this is where the international community was originally confined by the shogunate. Though the center of interest has expanded to include the waterfront and Ishikawa-cho, to the south, Kannai remains the heart of town. Think of that heart as two adjacent areas. One is the old district of Kannai, bounded by Basha-michi on the northwest and Nippon-odori on the southeast, the Keihin Tohoku Line tracks on the southwest, and the waterfront on the northeast. This area contains the business offices of modern Yokohama. The other area extends southeast from Nippon-odori to the Moto-machi shopping street and the International Cemetery, bordered by Yamashita Koen and the waterfront to the northeast; in the center is Chinatown, with Ishikawa-cho Station to the southwest. This is the most interesting part of town for tourists. Whether you're coming from Tokyo, Nagoya, or Kamakura, make Ishikawa-cho Station your starting point. Take the South Exit from the station and head in the direction of the waterfront.


Flash level is important when taking a retinal image. Just as in other daily photography, it is important to adjust the camera's flash level to allow the proper amount of illumination for the specific situation. A poorly illuminated image can make it difficult for the consultant to read the image.
The image on the left is too dark the flash level needs to be increased. The image on the right is too light, the flash level needs to be decreased.
If a patient has very dark eyes, the flash level needs to be turned up to allow for proper illumination. The default flash level is 6. If a patient has very dark brown irises, increase the flash level by 1-2 notches either by twisting the knob on the right side of the camera with a lightning bolt above it or by pressing the + button in the iCam software. The flash will be slightly brighter and will therefore properly illuminate the retina. I keep the flash level turned up for the external images as well so that the fine iris details are visible despite the darkness in color.
The inverse is true for patients with very light colored eyes. If the patient has light blue or green eyes the flash level needs to be decreased by 1-2 notches. Light eyes are at risk of becoming washed out if the flash level is too high, again making it difficult for the consultant to read the image.
Example of a properly illuminated image.
A properly illuminated image will help the consultant view the small blood vessels in the retina and more easily reveal potential issues. If you have questions about how to properly illuminate the images, please contact us at contact@eyepacs.org.


As we approach Thanksgiving, the year is quickly drawing to a close. Here are several matters that you may want to address before 2018 is gone.
Annual Exclusion Gifting – Effective January 1 of this year each person is now entitled to gift up to $15,000 per person, per year ($30,000 for a husband and wife) free from gift tax implications. If you don't use it, you lose it. This powerful planning strategy can be enhanced by gifting interests in a partnership, LLC or other entity where the opportunity exists to claim a discounted value.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from Your IRA – An individual age 70½ or older can make direct charitable gifts from an IRA of up to $100,000 to public charities. The distribution cannot be to a donor advised fund, supporting organization or most private foundations. These distributions, which can include your required minimum distribution, are made tax-free. A QCD reduces your adjusted gross income and taxable income.
Buy-Sell Agreement Valuations – Many Buy-Sell agreements require an annual agreement by the owners as to the value of the company. Failure to properly value the company as required by the agreement may result in a serious discrepancy (high or low) in the value given upon the occurrence of a triggering event. Be sure you have your annual valuation agreement in place.
Annual Review of Estate Planning Documents – Things are always changing. Things change in our personal life because of births, deaths, disabilities, divorces, etc. Laws are also very likely to change from time to time. There has been several significant changes in state and federal law in the last few years. Many older estate plans have been prepared to avoid a potential estate tax problem that no longer exists while exposing these same individuals to higher income taxes. Regular annual review and updating of your trust will go a long way toward making sure your trust works as well when it needs to as the day you signed it.
Annual Business Review Meeting – The annual business review meeting is an opportunity to review your organization's legal documents to ensure that they are complete, up to date and in compliance with current law. It is also an opportunity to review your exit goals to determine what actions can and should be taken in the coming months to help achieve those goals. This is a meeting that should include your insurance, financial, legal and tax advisors.
We hope 2018 has been a great year for you and that 2019 will be even better. Please call us if you would like assistance with any of the strategies mentioned in this newsletter.


text:
Home » Lifestyle » Max Beckmann Portrait Breaks German Auction Records Costs $20.7 Million
Max Beckmann Portrait Breaks German Auction Records Costs $20.7 Million
German painter, draftsman, printmaker, sculptor, and writer. Although he is classified as an Expressionist artist, he rejected both the term and the movement Max Beckmann may now be the most expensive artwork ever to sell at auction in Germany, according to a report by the Associated Press.
RELATED: BTS Member Rap Monster Reveals His Recently Purchased $1.2 Million, Roni Horn
The painting hammered for $20.7 million on Thursday at Berlin's Grisebach auction house. The previous record was for a 15th-century bronze sculpture of a Buddhist deity from China, which sold last year for about $10 million, according to ArtNews.
The painting, titled Selbstbildnis gelb-rosa (Self-Portrait Yellow-Pink), was made in 1943 during the artist's exile in Amsterdam, where he fled after his work was classified as "degenerate art" by the Nazi regime. Hundreds of his works were confiscated from German museums.
Beckmann gave the painting his wife, Mathilde Kaulbach, who kept it until her death in 1986. The painting's buyer remains unidentified. With the buyer's premium, the total price for the work came to about $24.4 million, according to the auction house.
While Beckmann's most recognized works are self-portraits, this one was unique in its rarity. Only five remain in private hands, according to Artnet. His self-portraits especially the ones painted while the artist was in exile, rarely come up for sale.
The previous record for a Beckmann self-portrait was minted at Sotheby's in New York, where, in 2001, Selbstbildnis mit Horn (1938) sold for $22.5 million with fees, according to the Artnet Price Database. Birds Hell (1938–39) holds the record for the most expensive work by Beckmann, selling in 2017 for $44 million with fees at Christie's London.
Before selling at auction, Selbstbildnis gelb-rosa was on view in New York.
READ NEXT: MDLBeast Soundstorm 2022: Biggest Comeback Of All Time, Five Rap Legends Light Up The Big Beast Stage With DJ Khaled
Sources: Associated Press, Artnet Price Database, Artnet News, ArtNews
Showtime to 'Lean More Into Franchises' in 2023 Amid Integration With Paramount+, Paramount CEO Says
Movie Theaters Brace for Holiday Box Office Dominated by 'Avatar 2' and Little Else


Sometimes going out to dinner is more than just eating food, it is an experience. And, sometimes you crave Korean BBQ after an evening of socializing with with friends. Chicago Kalbia is the place to go if your in the Windy City and wanting authentic Korean BBQ dinner at 11 pm.
If you have never had Korean BBQ you really need to go..like now. It is awesome.
I recommend ordering a combination platter so you can try several meats. The combination at Kalbia comes with several side dishes. miso soup, rice and green tea ice cream. I also recommend you try the bibimba. Bibimba is assorted veggies, beef & fried egg on a bed of steamed rice. It is served in a piping hot cauldron and the rice get an awesome crust. So good.
About the only drawback to eating Korean BBQ is you come home smelling like a BBQ. But I'm telling you, it is worth it.
They are open late (midnight) on the weekends.


Natural cowhides make a great rug because of how low maintenance they are, and because of they have unique patterns and styles, shapes and sizes. Cowhides come in some of the most bizarre patterns of any animal pelt today and that makes their pelts some of the most exotic around. All natural cowhide patterns on an incredibly sturdy leather hide make these rugs very desirable.
Few hides might contain some natural flaws due to conditions inherent to natural animal products such as branding and barbwire marking.
Each cowhide is truly a one-of-a-kind cowhide, either in their vivid colors or unusual designs.
1Are the Cowhides same as pictured ?
Yes all Hides are 1 of a kind – so hide will be exactly as pictured as they are all individually photographed.
2What Quality can I expect with my Hide ?
Our Hides are A Grade and all individually hand selected.
We have 3 main size groups M / L /XL – as all hides are unique each hides measurement is stated in auction.
regular Vacuum, Shake off hide , Brush and rotate.
7Does the hide Smell ?
Most cowhides just smell like leather, which is exactly what they are.


text:
Online porn contributed to gang rape: counsellor
Kerry Gold ctvbc.ca
Published Thursday, September 16, 2010 6:12PM PDT Last Updated Friday, May 18, 2012 11:42PM PDT
A women's rape counsellor says online mainstream pornography bears some of the responsibility for the recent brutal gang rape of a 16-year-old girl and the immediate, widespread online distribution of pictures of the attack.
The attack happened at a Pitt Meadows, B.C. teenage rave party, and graphic photos were distributed across Facebook and other social media sites. Police said they were shocked at posted comments that disparaged the victim and suggested she cooperated in the attack. The photos and abusive comments continue to be distributed through social media.
Related: Police disgusted by photo sharing of rave gang-rape
"The proliferation of pornography on the internet makes it much more acceptable for the degradation of women and the rape of women to appear on Facebook," said Daisy Kler, spokeswoman for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter.
"I think that's a new phenomenon. Much of the pornography available to kids on the internet is depictions of women being violently raped…and I think the acceptability of that kind of depiction of degrading women has influenced the acceptability of rape and sexual assault portrayed on Facebook."
Police believe the girl was drugged and raped by several teenage boys some time on Friday night or Saturday morning. Maple Ridge RCMP have charged one youth with production of child pornography for allegedly photographing the gang rape and distributing the extremely graphic images. Police say those pictures made their way onto sites such as Facebook, and have also been distributed widely on Blackberrys and iPhones, making it difficult for police to curtail.
Cpl. Jennifer Hyland said police are appealing to the public to cooperate with their efforts to stop the distribution of the images.
"Anybody who has possession of these photos needs to be aware it is child pornography," said Hyland. "They have to delete them and take them off [their phone or computer] and tell anybody they know who is sending them to stop doing that. They could very well be criminally charged for posting and distributing child pornography."
Kler said kids start watching pornography -- much of it degrading toward women -- at a younger age.
"I do know that the average age kids view pornography for the first time is between the ages of 9 and 11," Kler said.
"The whole mythology sold to men and the fantasy perpetuated through most pornography is how women are willing participants who really love sex and really want five men having sex with them. That is a predominant image and theory that's being put out by pornography."
Kler also commended the victim and called on the girl's friends to support her through a traumatic ordeal.
"This young woman is a very, very brave young woman and we really call on her community and other young women in her life to stand beside her. We ask that they not contribute to any discussion about her character, her personality, or anything like that. This is the time to stand up and speak out about violence against women and girls, and to be showing that it is a crime."
Police in Pitt Meadows, B.C., are investigating allegations that a young woman was gang-raped at a rave on Sept. 10 and 11, 2010. (handout)
New kit can test drinks for date rape drugs
UN watchdog issues warning about date-rape drugs
Police disgusted by photo sharing of rave gang-rape
Pickton inquiry must go beyond police failures, advocates say
Sex crimes increase in Vancouver, police say
Cab driver who raped passenger gets 4 years, 9 months
What questions would Pickton probe need to answer?
Changes needed to prevent another B.C. serial killer: profiler
Vancouver cop who dated vulnerable subordinate fired following disciplinary probe
B.C. owners of Hobbit-themed Airbnb facing crackdown from Warner Bros.
Canada-wide warrant issued for violent offender on loose in Vancouver
Major crash in Richmond caught on camera
Decriminalization is not legalization: doctor