text:
BrowseToggle child menu
Do regulations kill growth? (with Robert Reich)
Posted on February 5, 2019 May 20, 2021
https://pitchforkeconomics.com/episode-player/174/do-regulations-kill-growth.mp3
Deregulation for the powerful is a central tenet of the trickle-down myth, embraced by Democrats and Republican alike. Government regulations, we're told, are costly and inefficient intrusions that slow grow and kill jobs. But Robert Reich explains that when thoughtfully applied, regulations are absolutely essential to growing a safe, secure, and broadly prosperous economy.
Robert Reich: Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing Economies. Served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration. Author of fifteen books, including 'The Common Good'. Co-creator of the documentaries 'Inequality for All' and 'Saving Capitalism'.
Twitter: @RBReich
Facebook: Robert Reich
Further reading: Robert B. Reich: How Trump's war on regulation is trickle-down economics
Nick Hanauer: There is nothing big corporations and rich people like more than not being constrained by anybody.
Robert Reich: Average Americans are going to be doing worse off, and are doing worse off because all of these protections that they have relied on are no longer in place.
Donald Trump: We've eliminated record numbers of job killing regulations …
Robert Reich: Nothing is trickling down except the risks and the burdens and the costs [00:00:30] and the future risks.
Nick Hanauer: Not every business person is dishonest. But in any industry, if the worst most dishonest actors are not called to account, they drag the entire industry down with them.
Speaker 4: From the offices of Civic Ventures in downtown Seattle, this is Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer. A pointed conversation about who gets what, [00:01:00] and why. With one of America's most provocative capitalists.
Nick Hanauer: I'm Nick Hanauer, founder of Civic Ventures.
Paul Constant: Hi, my name is Paul Constant, I'm a writer at Civic Ventures. In the last episode, we talked at length about the first pillar of trickle down economics, which is that tax cuts for rich people and corporations will eventually trickle down to everyone else [00:01:30] in the form of job creation. That is not true, and today we're going to tackle the second pillar of trickle down economics, which is that deregulation for corporations and the powerful is good for everyone. That is also not true.
Nick Hanauer: Yeah, there is nothing that big corporations and rich people like more than not being constrained [00:02:00] by anybody. One of the things that is so funny about life is no one wants to be held to a high standard. But everyone wants everyone else held to a high standard. So you will find lots of CEOs of big corporations pounding the table about how public school teachers should be held to a very high standard of accountability. But when that same logic is applied to their own institutions, oh my god, that would [00:02:30] be, that's a big government job killing attack on freedom.
Paul Constant: Yeah, who are you to tell me you can't use asbestos in our walls?
Nick Hanauer: Yeah, yeah. We should be able to determine that ourselves. And by the way, sadly, this applies to everyone. Police officers don't wanna be held to a high standard, my children don't wanna be held to a high standard, I don't particularly like being held to a high standard myself. It is a truism of I suppose human existence that people like other people to be held to a high standard, [00:03:00] but prefer not to be held to a high standard themselves. And so the issue of regulation is a very important one in human societies, because it sort of defines how we relate to one another, and if there's one thing the trickle downers love to say it is that the rich and the powerful and big companies shouldn't be constrained by regulation, and if we do that, that it kills jobs and growth and wages and everything else. Again, taking this [00:03:30] claim, taking the Canonical form of trickle down economics that if we in any way constrain the rich or the powerful that will be bad for everyone.
Paul Constant: You know, if you look at the historical record, there's just things that now, you know you might hear oh, I don't know, say Andy Puzder, the former head of Carl's Junior and Hardee's chain of fast food restaurants claim that-
Andy Putzer: If your concern is to create entry-level jobs for young Americans, then a $ [00:04:00] 15 minimum wage is something you should be protesting against.
Paul Constant: But if you look back, you'll see the Putzer's of their day saying if they weren't allowed to have children work in their factories, that they would go out of business and nobody would have any new clothing. My favorite one is somebody who represented a dentist organization saying that if the government forced dentists to wear masks when they performed oral surgery on their patients that they would lose the patient-doctor bond that comes from being able [00:04:30] to see someone's face. It sounds ludicrous now, but at the time, people took it seriously. I believe that speech was before Congress, or a lawmaking body of some sort.
Nick Hanauer: You know the truth is they just didn't wanna spend the money on the masks.
Paul Constant: Right yeah, a paper mask, that's a summer home eventually.
Nick Hanauer: You know, and the thing that's so interesting is that when people make contemporary arguments against regulation, they are often plausible because you don't know [00:05:00] the future. Right, that's the thing, you actually do not know the future. But when you go back in history and mine for these quotes, they are always ridiculous. My favorite of course is the objection to the Fair Labor Standards Act, which was passed in 1938. I'm looking at a quote right here that said that the Fair Labor Standards Act would create chaos in business never yet known to us. It sets an all time high in crackpot legislation. This is a quote from 1937. [00:05:30] Again, the thing is is that nothing happened to the economy after the FLSA passed, other than we created the American middle class. And multiple generations of huge amounts of shared prosperity. It's so interesting to contextualize these quotes in history, because the more of them you look at, the more ridiculous the contemporary claims tend to be. But I think what's important is to sort of deconstruct for [00:06:00] people why regulation matters and why it's not bad for growth, it actually is the thing that creates growth in market economies.
To do that, you have to think back to earlier episodes where we learned about what true prosperity really is. So, to be fair, if in the Neo-liberal framework, where GDP, which is basically any kind of economic activity is the way in which you judge [00:06:30] whether the economy is improving, then anything you do to restrict any kind of economic activity at all, is bad. Is bad for growth, and therefore bad for everybody. But once you see prosperity as improving welfare, like actually improving people's lives, and the way we've characterized that is solutions to human problems, then you instantaneously can see that some economic activity [00:07:00] actually solves problems, but lots of economic activity actually creates more problems than it solves. And the point of regulation is to encourage economic activity that improves welfare and to discourage economic activity that doesn't, that destroys welfare. And there are no successful economies in the world that aren't highly regulated. In fact, you can basically stack rank the countries in the world from most prosperous to least [00:07:30] prosperous, and what you quickly see is there are no libertarian paradises in the world where nobody pays any taxes, nobody follows any rules, and everybody lives like a king.
And 100% of the highly prosperous, stable and secure economies in the world are highly regulated, high tax states. There are 205 simultaneous experiments in this going on in the world, and empirically, the evidence is super, super obvious.
Paul Constant: That's an interesting [00:08:00] point that I don't think gets made enough, is that the GDP doesn't measure the difference between a diesel burning truck that spews CO2 into the air and an electric car. They're of equal value. So … why wouldn't you choose the one that doesn't destroy the planet? But to the GDP, it's the exact same thing.
Nick Hanauer: Right, from the point of view of GDP, the companies that manufacture cigarettes are judged in [00:08:30] the same way as the companies that manufacture the products that repair the damage that cigarettes do to the human body. And, therefore, it makes little sense to not regulate the things that create lots and lots of human harm, and to try to encourage the things that create lots and lots of human benefit. Obviously, reasonable people can disagree in the gray areas around what's a benefit and what's a harm. If you own a night club in [00:09:00] a neighborhood, and would prefer, and your customers would prefer for that night club to be open til 4:00 AM in the morning, that's understandable. The people who live in the neighborhood may have a different view about how late that night club should be allowed to stay open, and say okay, yeah. But they, you know, people need to sleep, and that's a legitimate countervailing view. The point of democracy, and the function of democracy is to sort those conflicts out. And [00:09:30] high functioning democracies use regulation to adjudicate these conflicts, which are often not clear. You know, Paul, I've had a lot of personal experience with the issues around regulation, because I grew up in a profoundly dishonest business, which was the pillow business.
Paul Constant: The pillow business?
Nick Hanauer: The pillow business is a profound, at least was, a profoundly dishonest business, that would have benefited enormously [00:10:00] from regulation, and here's why. A good pillow made out of white goose down, is actually very expensive to make, because white goose down, real white goose down costs someplace between $20 and $30 a pound to make. And so a good pillow will have a pound or a pound and a half of white goose down in it, and so the manufactured cost is gonna be $30, $35 and then you have to have profit on top of that, and then you sell it to a store, and they wanna sell it for twice as much as that again. [00:10:30] And so, a good pillow is really, needs to cost in the range of $50 to $75.
But it turns out that you can grind up chicken feathers, and … put them in a pillow, and ground up chicken feathers only cost about a dollar a pound. And the thing is is that, on the first day, certainly most consumers, 98% of consumers would never be able to tell the difference between a pillow that had ground up chicken feathers in it, versus [00:11:00] white goose down. And many of the companies that we competed with in the pillow business preferred to make their white goose down pillows out of ground up chicken feathers. And this is not surprising, right? Because if the wholesale price of a white goose down pillow is $35, and you can make one for $3 … you can make an enormous amount of profit selling those $35 pillows that only cost you $3 to retailers.
Paul Constant: And so these chicken feather pillows, these are the ones that I [00:11:30] had in my early 20s that were like crunchy when I put my head on them essentially right?
Nick Hanauer: Yes, and made you sneeze, and went flat instantly, and blah blah blah blah blah. And so in our industry, which was very, very, very lightly regulated, because it was a small industry. There was an enormous amount of cheating. And when you went to a store, and bought something, the chances were very, very high that you were not getting what it was labeled. And as a consequence, consumers were harmed, and the industry [00:12:00] was harmed too, because your experience of a white goose down pillow was that it was a piece of crap. Instead of the really amazing product that it is when it truly is what it is. And so my little industry was a microcosm of the dynamics of regulation, and the way in which it's so important for market economies to be regulated in a way that prevents cheating, and solves the collective action problems in that industry [00:12:30] and encourages a race to the top rather than a race to the bottom.
Molly: When you're an employer that wants to do the right thing and wants to pay living wages and everybody else isn't spending nearly as much as you are on labor, it makes it really hard to feel competitive.
Sara: Hi, I'm Sara Lee Bobitz, a producer on Pitchfork Economics. And that is Molly [00:13:00] Moon Neitzel. She's a small business owner here in Seattle, and believe it or not, also a fan of regulation.
Molly: I own Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream. We are an ice cream company that has been in Seattle now for a little over 10 years. I have seven ice cream shops in Seattle and Redmond, and we like to say that we're making the world better one scoop at a time. There were a lot of folks involved in labor and in workers rights [00:13:30] who were very much interested in increasing the minimum wage in Seattle, and I was a small business owner who was really concerned about the low minimum wage in Seattle and how it wasn't creating a very good environment for employees and it wasn't creating an even playing field for small business owners that wanted to pay people living wages. And so I was very much excited about raising [00:14:00] the minimum wage, and concerned about the how it got done.
Sara: As Nick and Paul pointed out, business owners and government officials have been fighting over regulations for centuries. They warned about child labor standards, and discrimination acts. And literally every other form of regulation you can think of. They frame it as something that will bring small businesses to their knees, that'll stop the economy in its tracks and destroy every job America's ever had. [00:14:30] When Molly backed the minimum wage increase in Seattle in 2015, she heard a lot of those arguments.
Molly: A lot of restaurant owners and people in the food industry were just saying we flat out can't afford it, and that's what tips are for, but I saw some restaurant owners in particular get really nasty and say that their employees didn't deserve a higher wage. It was a really … it was a really emotional and difficult conversation I think for Seattle [00:15:00] to have and I know a lot of restaurants are still trying to figure out how the last couple of years of the seven year transition is gonna look, but I do think the conversation has gotten a little less emotional, and a little more fact based now that we're more than halfway through the transition.
Sara: But that regulation did pass. Seattle has a $15 minimum wage. So, why are we still talking about this? Or, regulation in general? [00:15:30] Didn't we get what we wanted here in our little corner of the country? Why don't we don't just enjoy our little regulation and move on to other topics? Well, as Molly points out, increasing the minimum wage didn't just like suddenly lead to a happy society without any problems.
Molly: In the beginning of the seven years, we made a plan to raise wages to $15 as our entry level wage [00:16:00] in five years. I wanted to give ourselves plenty of time, but I also wanted to kind of beat the timeline of small businesses. And we're not the smallest kind of business in Seattle. What we found is that over the last five years, the discrepancy between tipped workers and non-tipped workers has only gotten worse in our company, and I think throughout Seattle. People at Molly Moon's were scooping ice cream, and it was there very first job, and they were 18 years old, were [00:16:30] making like $26, $27 an hour, and folks who had been working in kitchens for two or three or five years were not making anywhere close to that, so the front and back of house discrepancy was really tough. So on December 31, of 2018 we eliminated tips from our company, and we raised starting wages from, we were at $13 an hour, we raised all of our starting [00:17:00] wages in front and back of house to $18 an hour, and then all of our leads, which is the majority of our front of house service employees start at $23.50 an hour.
Sara: It'd be easy for one of those business owners who disagreed with Molly to point at those issues and say, "Look, it didn't solve anything. It just made more problems." But, that's an oversimplification. Raising the wage to $15 an hour, as Molly said evened the playing [00:17:30] field. It created room to analyze and research what actually worked best for employees. To create a more just payment system that actually benefited its workers. Like any good regulation, it opened the door for more necessary changes. It's a starting point. And Molly's taken that idea, that regulation is helpful and allows small businesses to grow to heart.
Molly: So one of the regulations [00:18:00] that I'm most excited about, and I helped to lobby for in Olympia a couple of years ago was Washington State's new paid family leave law. And it's really exciting that this year, 2019, all businesses and workers are paying into a state run program to run paid family leave, and starting January 1st of next year, every single worker in the state will be able to take paid family [00:18:30] leave when they bring a child home through birth, fostering, or adoption, or when they're really sick, recovering from surgery, or caring for a loved one who's really sick or recovering from surgery. It's structured very much like unemployment, or like an insurance program, and so it's costing employers and employees this tiny payroll tax, which almost none of us will notice, and employers who have 50 employees or less aren't even required [00:19:00] to participate at all, but every worker, no matter where you work and no matter how long you've been somewhere can take the benefit. Because you file for the benefit with the state. You don't go ask your employer if you can take the paid leave. You file with the state, which means it's just gonna be a far more equitable system and men and women can take it in equal ratios.
Sara: Molly realizes what a lot of business [00:19:30] owners fail to acknowledge, that good regulations help businesses. Help them grow and evolve and better serve their communities. That ultimately, those business owners who fought against child labor standards or whatever, weren't on the right side of history. Or, on the right side of the economy.
Speaker 11: I say gentlemen, that you must investigate what effect it would have on the mills of North Carolina not to [00:20:00] allow children of 13 to work in the mills. [crosstalk 00:20:03] Not to allow children of 16 years of age to work …
Speaker 12: But even if it, the equal pay act could be administered and enforced, no evidence is presented demonstrating a need for it.
Speaker 13: The Fair Labor Standards Act would create chaos in business never yet known to us. That's an all time high in crackpot legislation. Let me make it very clear that I am not opposed to this sort of thing …
Speaker 14: Too many people are missing the forest through the trees when they look at this bill. What's most significant about is it not its impact on homosexual workers, or religious employers, [00:20:30] or whether it covers cross dressers. It's the ratcheting up of federal government interference in the free market. Peter Sprigg, 2013.
Speaker 15: No evidence is presented demonstrating a need for it. Norman Simler, Council of Economic Advisers 1963.
Speaker 16: And in operation, would be much more destructive than constructive to the very purposes which is designated to serve. Representative Arthur Philip Lamneck, 1937.
Speaker 11: You might as well sweep that mill out of existence. [00:21:00] Unnamed mill owner, 1906.
Nick Hanauer: But the thing is, not every business person is dishonest. Most are honest and wanna do the right thing. But in any industry, if the worst most dishonest actors are not called to account, they drag the entire industry down with them. If you have a competitor that is making white goose down pillows that cost you $30 [00:21:30] for $3, and in every sales competition, they're undercutting your price by $5, even though their costs are $20 less than you, and you're losing all the business to them, then you're forced eventually to either go out of business, or start competing in the way that they do. And so this is super corrosive to any industry or circumstance, because it creates basically a death spiral. And I would tell you that, in [00:22:00] our company, for whatever reason it was my dad who was a very very honest man. He's just like, we were never gonna cheat, and we're just gonna try and make it that way, but we ended up, because we could never get the federal government to allocate the resources it took to actually regulate these things. Which means you have to go into retail stores, buy pillows, which are expensive, open them up and test them, which costs a lot of money. So it's hard to keep an account of this.
But we turned ourselves into what our competitors derisively called [00:22:30] the down police. So we ended up being the police force of our industry. And we went around and we bought products from ourselves and our competitors, and we sent them to independent labs. And we outed people. And we sent the results to their retail customers and to the press and so on and so forth. To humiliate them and to put the fear of god into them. And for sure, for the retailers, it created a huge liability because now they were being fraudulent in their-
Paul Constant: Right, once they knew they were selling chicken feathers-
Nick Hanauer: Yeah, yeah, yeah, once they [00:23:00] knew they were … and you know, over time we turned the industry from this horrific cheating morass into a reasonable industry. But, you know, you couldn't do it without some form of regulation, and in our case we had to pay for it ourselves, but in most industries, it's not possible or feasible to do that, which is why government regulation is so essential.
Paul Constant: One of the greatest weapons in the arsenal against trickle down economics [00:23:30] is professor Robert Reich, who was Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton, so he's been dispelling trickle down myths for probably longer than some of you have been alive. So we called him up to talk about regulations.
Robert Reich: Hi, hello.
Paul Constant: Hi there. Professor Reich?
Robert Reich: Yeah, hi Paul.
Paul Constant: We tend to think of trickle down as working [00:24:00] in three tiers. The transfer of wealth from the 99% to the top 1%. We think of wage suppression and lower taxes for the wealthy, but I feel as though deregulation slips through the cracks, and I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about how that functions in terms of income inequality.
Robert Reich: It is a form of trickle down economics. If you define trickle down economics, it is giving benefits to the wealthy on the [00:24:30] supposition that somehow those benefits are gonna trickle down to the middle class and the poor. They haven't with regard to tax benefits. We've had now years starting with Ronald Reagan in which we've seen that tax benefits that go to the wealthy don't help anybody. They don't actually end up raising wages for people in the middle or at the bottom, and we've also seen it with regulations. Particularly under the Trump [00:25:00] administration where regulation after regulation has been either repealed, curtailed, or not enforced on the supposition or on the province that somehow the economy is going to grow, these businesses are going to be doing better without the regulations, and everybody therefore is going to be better off. Well, every step along that so called logical pathway has been proven wrong. You get rid of some of these very important regulations that are really [00:25:30] protections of public health, like the clean coal regulations with regard to coal plants and energy sources, or regulations that are governing or have until now been governing education and the financing of education where we basically said as a country, no we are not going to continue to provide a lot of money to [00:26:00] private for-profit educational institutions that are not really educating them, that are just in the business of raking in money.
Those student loans are not going to be given any longer, they're not going to be honored, that was the regulation and the Trump administration is in the process of getting rid of it, the Trump administration is also rolling back Dodd-Frank, which was a very important regulation for separating investment and commercial banks, [00:26:30] and therefore not repeating the financial crisis that we had in 2007, 2008. The Trump administration is rolling back not just environmental but also very important public health regulations. Having to do with asbestos, and many other chemicals. These are all being doing at the behest of industries, and industry lobbyists who are now very often positions of political [00:27:00] power, in the Trump administration, on again the very flimsy public excuse that they will increase corporate profits that will make everybody better off.
Well they are increasing they are increasing corporate profits, corporate profits, the combination of the tax cut, the corporate tax cut, and also these regulatory rollbacks have increased corporate profits dramatically. And the stock market has done extraordinarily well. But average American's [00:27:30] ae bearing the risk. Average American's are going to be doing worse off, and are doing worse off because all of these protections that they have relied on are no longer in place. And they don't have much of the stock market, it's not that average Americans are benefiting from a huge surging stock market. The richest 1% owns over 40% of the entire value. Of the stock market. The top [00:28:00] 10$ of Americans, the richest 10% have over 80% of the value of the United States stock market, so nothing is trickling down except the risks and the burdens and the costs and the future risks.
Paul Constant: It seems as though, even though it doesn't benefit the majority of Americans, regulation is a dirty word to a significant portion of the American voting public. Do you think this is a successful messaging campaign by conservatives [00:28:30] or is there sort of a deeper meaning behind the animus that many Americans have to the idea of regulation?
Robert Reich: Well it's been a message campaign for republicans for much of the past 50 years, and you know, to some extent there's a kernel of truth. I am not in favor of any regulation who's benefits are less than their costs. But you've got to ask, benefits for who? And costs for whom? If they're just costs on business, [00:29:00] and businesses, major investors and executives, but the benefits are for most Americans in terms of health, or safety, or labor protections, or protections against fraud, well then it's a different kind of cost benefit analysis you wanna do. You wanna make sure that most Americans are protected. And instead of using the word regulations, we oughta use the word protections. Because that's what regulations are. Regulations become a bad word, [00:29:30] well it's time to use the real meaning, which is protections. If those protections are worth while, if they're important, even though they may cost the company a lot of money, well we should say they have to be in place. If they're going to protect workers from losing their limbs, or their lives, then those regulations are important, even if they cost companies a lot of money.
Paul Constant: That sort of brings a new meaning to the phrase rule of thumb. When you were Labor Secretary for [00:30:00] Bill Clinton, can you talk a little bit about some examples that you might have had with considering whether a protection was good for the people or bad for the people and sort of the cost benefit analysis that you had to do?
Robert Reich: Oh sure. Let's take a very common worker safety regulation, which requires that if workers are cleaning complicated machinery, they've got to be able to shut down those machines completely [00:30:30] so that the machinery does not start up accidentally and cause grave injury to those workers. Well a lot of businesses complained. They said they didn't want to attach those automatic shutdown systems and valves, it was just too expensive, and they made a case to Congress, and there was a lot of pressure brought to bear upon me, when I was Secretary of Labor. But then i looked at the data. And the data showed that at times when businesses violated this [00:31:00] rule, the result was an increase in worker deaths. And an increase in loss of limbs, because these pieces of machinery would start up accidentally, and when workers were inside them trying to clean them.
My reaction was not only are we not going to get rid of this regulation, but we ought to enforce it more heavily, and then post higher fines on businesses that essentially ignored [00:31:30] these regulations. It's not just a matter of whether you have a regulation in place or not, it's also out of whether it's enforced. And one thing that the Trump administration's done, and certainly big American businesses don't wanna pay these costs, have done it time and time again, is that they have made sure that Congress does not appropriate the money necessary for enforcing regulations that are on the books if the businesses can not [00:32:00] get rid of the regulations simply through the legislative process. If they don't have a enough clout to repeal the regulations or get rid of them, legislatively or even administratively, they just make sure there's not enough money to enforce them.
Paul Constant: What do you think that hopefully a future democratic administration could learn from past democratic administrations, the Clinton and Obama administration in terms of protections and how to enforce them and how to communicate to the people about the important of them.
Robert Reich: [00:32:30] Well first of all, I think that progressives and future administrations whether they're republican or democratic, ought to be talking about regulations as protections. Health protections, worker protections, protections against fraud, protections against injury, and so on. They're all protections. If a cost benefit analysis shows that the costs for average people have much greater than the benefits for average people, then there's no reason to have a regulation. [00:33:00] But you shouldn't just look at the costs for business and measure them against the benefits for average working people or average consumers, we're also talking about consumer regulations or consumer protections because you see there are these people in different positions in terms of income and wealth. Businesses, shareholders, top executives, top investors, they may [00:33:30] have to pay a little bit more in order that average working people or consumers or your small investor is adequately protected. So it's not enough to do just cost benefit analysis, you also wanna be examining who's benefiting it, who's costs and risks are going up?
Paul Constant: And if people listening to this podcast are just hearing about you for the fist time, it think probably the easiest [00:34:00] way to learn about you would be to checkout Saving Capitalism on Netflix. And I was wondering if you could maybe talk a little bit about that project?
Robert Reich: Yeah, it emerged from a book I wrote a few years ago called Saving Capitalism. The purpose of that book project was to look at the reality of the economy and see where the economic rules governing the economy were coming from. And it turns out not surprisingly, [00:34:30] that as more and more wealth and income and power that comes with wealth and income accumulate at the top. The rules of the economy, the actual rules that make the economy and govern the economy are more and more skewed in the direction of helping the people at the top and not helping the average person, or the person in the bottom 50%. And that was, basically, the purpose of the book was to eliminate the mythology of the free market. That the whole [00:35:00] choice was between free market and government. It's not. You can't have a free market without government, and the real issue is who's making the rules? Who's influencing the rules? Where are the rules coming from? And how can the rules be adopted and changed so that the market works for the vast majority instead of a small group at the top.
And then we took, I took that book and along with Jake Kornbluth we did a movie, a documentary that is now on Netflix called Saving Capitalism, [00:35:30] and coincidentally, the first documentary we did with Nick Hanauer. Nick is in it. Called Inequality for All, is also on Netflix now.
Paul Constant: Okay. Well, thank you so much for your time Professor Reich it's really an honor to talk to you. You're just one of the leading lights in economics and one of the best messengers we have on it, so it's really great to talk to you.
Robert Reich: Well thank you [00:36:00] Paul. Bye bye.
Paul Constant: Take care.
Nick Hanauer: So Paul, regulation. It's a thing.
Paul Constant: It is, it is. And I think an interesting thing about regulation and politics is you get a lot of politicians, even good progressive politicians who treat regulation like it's a necessary evil, and I think that what I hope we've [00:36:30] proven here is that it's not a necessary evil.
Nick Hanauer: It's an indispensable part of creating prosperity in human societies. Absolutely. And just playing it back, regulation is what solves the collective action problems which are inherent in any economy. It's the thing that prevents cheating. And by preventing cheating it prevents industries or circumstances turning into essentially [00:37:00] death spirals, right? A race to the bottom. And encourages a race to the top. Regulation is what holds us to ever higher standards. And it's what enables trust. If regulations are good, companies can trust other companies, consumers can trust the products that they buy, and trust leads to higher and higher levels of cooperation, and as we learned in earlier episodes, it is cooperation [00:37:30] that enables complexity which is the source of all prosperity in human societies. Regulation is what encourages economic activity that produces prosperity and it discourages economic activity that destroys prosperity for the broad public, and it's why, well is certainly true that there are bad regulations or counterproductive regulations in general the more complex a society becomes, the more regulation you need to hold it all together and [00:38:00] to hold it to an increasingly high standard.
Paul Constant: On the next episode of Pitchfork Economics, we will knock down another trickle down pillar, the lie that higher wages kill jobs.
Sara: Pitchfork Economics [00:38:30] is produced by Civic Ventures. The magic happens in Seattle in partnership with Larj media. That's L-A-R-J Media, and The Young Turks network. Find us on Twitter and Facebook @ CivicAction, and follow our writing on Medium at Civic Skunk Works. And you should also follow Nick Hanauer on Twitter @NickHanauer. As always a big thank you to our guests, and thank you to our team at Civic Ventures. Nick Hanauer, Zach Silk, Jasmin Weaver, Jessyn Farrell, Stephanie Ervin, David Goldstein, Paul Constant, Nick Cassella, and Annie Fadeley. Thanks for listening.
BONUS: Why Howard Schultz would make a terrible president
Do higher wages kill jobs? (with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Alan Krueger)
© 2022 Pitchfork Economics. All Rights Reserved.


Meranda Writes » Blog Archive » Staff and wire reports, eh?
Staff and wire reports, eh?
Does it ever get to be less weird to read your writing spliced into another's story?
I mean, I understand the "localize this" and see the point. But as I've discussed before, it's weird and interesting to see your words intermingle with someone else.
Case in point, some story about the new eStadium project at Jeff High School from eSchool News Online.
It's a cool project and a great opportunity for local kids. I wrote about it a few weeks ago. In fact, several paragraphs from my article are in that eSchool story. (I'm guessing that's the 'wire' part of the "From eSchool News staff and wire service reports.") It's just weird to me how the story is framed and what is used and not used, especially as it appears they did do a bit of original reporting (or at least calling my sources for additional/different quotes).
This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007 at 12:38 am	and is filed under Journalism, Lafayette, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.


text:
Bastards & Brothers
ORDER NOW ON AMAZON! (Hardcover, paperback or E-book)
Or you can order an author-signed copy here
Bastards & Brothers tells the dramatic story of 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment (3/2) — aka the "Betio Bastards" — fighting in the wild west of Anbar Province, Iraq in 2005.
In the spring and blazing summer of that year, 3/2 took on the gathering forces of Al-Qaida in Iraq (the precursor of ISIS), hunted and engaged arch-terrorist Abu-Musab al Zarqawi, withstood fanatical suicide bombers and defeated the enemy in several major operations and hundreds of firefights.
At the same time, they also forged an unlikely partnership with former insurgents among a local Iraqi tribe. In the middle of a deadly battlezone, and despite prevailing guidance, young Marines found a way to talk with tribal leaders who joined forces in the struggle against Zarqawi and AQI. This tentative alliance was the first time an Iraqi tribe openly sided with the Marines and the coalition, ultimately sparking the historic Anbar Awakening in 2006 which in turn paved the way for the success of the surge in 2007.
This is an untold story, overlooked by other writers and publishers, that covers a true pivot-point in the Iraq War. It is the product of deep research, including over 200 author interviews with veterans from 3/2 and others who were there, ranking from the most junior "boot" Marines to the battalion and regimental commanders. While these first-hand accounts are the beating heart of the text, the author has expertly folded in operational and strategic context, making this a unique book in its genre.
Bastards & Brothers has already gained praise from high-profile reviewers:
Bing West, bestselling author, Vietnam vet and former Marine says, "Iraq veteran and former CIA officer Ajax Trueblood has written a finely-researched account of the complex, grueling nature of the post-Saddam insurgency… Clearly demonstrates that Marine efforts to win over Sunni tribes succeeded many months before the "surge" in 2007… Does a great service to the grunts who persisted and turned the tide of the war.
H.R. McMaster, Lieutenant General (retired) and former National Security Advisor, says the book "should be required reading for NCOs, junior officers and senior leaders…Brings readers into the command post and into the streets for house-to-house fighting… Describes in compelling detail tactical level actions and tough decisions with strategic consequences.
Owen West, award-winning author of The Snake Eaters: Counterinsurgency Advisors in Combat, describes it as "Top notch history that is simultaneously hard to put down. A rare combination… Bastards & Brothers is critical to understanding the Marine victory in Anbar, Iraq's toughest province."
3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines and the fight for Al-Qaim, Iraq

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I Paint My Life Here. Can you see?: Heaven!!!
Gues what? i missed my lappy so much. to blogged and to surf freely. haha. now im home. i can blogged anytime on this last two weeks before holiday end. hmm there's a lot of things to share actually, but i dunno how to start. hehe. i just miss my site and visitin others. so that i will go through to my friend's blogs aftrwrd.
U know how i felt, i was sick enuf of cudnt even eat whatever i want too while i was so damn hungry! OMG, it was a terrible moment.
sis, rajin2 la p view my blog.


Want to develop an educational child development game like Preschool Palace?
Preschool Palace is a US based client's app specially developed for kids. This early education app is developed based on the medieval-themed kingdom of Everdream. We found the idea interesting & built an interactive game to engage toddlers & young kids. To let the children learn, play & party, the Preschool Palace features six different areas such as BARN, CASTLE, BLACKSMITH, GARDEN, BAKERY & MARKET.
How to play Preschool Palace?


text:
Women's Health Expo returns May 3
women's health expo
Ivy Larson, certified health fitness specialist and author of "Clean Cuisine."
Joy Bauer, nutrition and health expert for NBC's "The Today Show," is the main speaker.
Ellen Barrett, women's wellness expert and author of "28 Days Lighter Diet"
Photos provided The Women's Health Expo returns to Lake Katrine on May 3.
PUBLISHED: May 2, 2014 at 9:15 a.m. | UPDATED: July 21, 2021 at 11:12 a.m.
LAKE KATRINE >> One of the nation's leading health and nutrition experts, Joy Bauer, will be part of the stellar lineup in this year's Women's Health and Fitness Expo on May 3 from 8:30 to 4 p.m.
While some may not recognize the name, Bauer has made regular appearances on NBC's "Today" show and is the author of several New York Times best-=selling books, including "The Joy Fit Club."
This year's Women's Health and Fitness Expo is tackling unhealthy eating head-on and will feature speakers, workshops and demonstrations focused on this year's theme, "Creating the Healthy Kitchen: Eating Well to Live Well."
Of course, many may already know that eating a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins makes for a healthier body and mind, but even one simple change like adding more blueberries to one's diet might stave off heart disease and potentially prevent the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's later in life.
A recent Harvard Medical School study, showed that women who ate three or more servings of blueberries or strawberries per week were 34 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack, and other studies suggest that making berries a regular part of one's diet can help improve memory.
Information like this will be readily available to those who come out for the day-long event at the M. Clifford Miller Middle School at 65 Fording Place Road.
Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with the expo beginning at 9 a.m. with a "Wakeup and Workout" with FITWEEK Founder, Shana Schneider, who will be providing a unique and fresh perspective on how people can find time to work out by making it fit their lives.
She is the communications director for the Office of International Affairs at Yale University, a licensed Zumba instructor and a certified group fitness instructor.
Schneider has said that finding time to manage a demanding career, have a life and still work out, had helped her develop the FITWEEK approach she plans to share with attendees.
Later in the morning, Ellen Barrett, a women's wellness expert and author, will share some thoughts from her newly released book, "The 28 Days Lighter Diet."
The presentation , which will happen from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., will look at how the female body changes from week to week and why traditional diets and workout programs have never acknowledged this phenomenon until now.
Barrett also plans to discuss an innovative combination of modern research and ancient traditions that promote complete wellness for women, not just mere weight loss.
She'll outline core dietary suggestions, fitness guidelines and lifestyle recommendations for each of the phases of the menstrual cycle and how women should take care of themselves throughout the month.
Immediately following that, Dr. Ann Webster will present "Mind/Body Medicine: What Is It All About?" from 11 a.m. – noon.
Webster's presentation will be both didactic and experiential and teach participants all about mind-body medicine and how stress can affect overall health.
She will provide a "tool kit" of techniques for preventing illnesses and maximizing health, as well as sharing her expertise on stress physiology and warning signs and how her techniques can be applied to cancer, chronic pain, palliative care, and much more.
Bauer will take to the stage from noon to 1 p.m. and share her top picks for losing weight, boosting brain power, improving skin, fighting migraines and preventing and managing heart disease and type-two diabetes.
One of her goals will be to teach those in attendance how to whip up simple, delicious and powerful creations that will leave them feeling fabulous.
Of course, there will be plenty of other nutritionists and chefs on hand to complement the main speakers' presentations, including Roufia Payman, the supervisor of Outpatient Nutritional Education at Northern Dutchess Hospital; Bruce Paley, chef and owner of the Bowery Dugout restaurant; Linda Soper-Kolton, director of Compassionate Cuisine at the Catskill Animal Sanctuary; and Jennifer Stack, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and author of "The Diabetes-Friendly Kitchen 125 Recipes for Creating Healthy Meals."
Attendees will also be able to visit "The Healthy Kitchen" at this year's Expo to experience an array of delicious, healthy foods.
Additionally, there will be 150 exhibits, more than 20 free health screenings, informative seminars on health and wellness topics, private mini-consultations with specialists, fitness demos and a kid zone.
Later in the day, the presentations will shift to more of a medical focus with an address by Michael S. Sparer, the chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
He will be joined by Dr. Debra Karnasiewicz, founder and director of the Women's Health and Fitness Expo. The two will explore health care reform from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Immediately following that, Ivy Larson, author, cooking instructor and American College of Sports Medicine certified health fitness specialist, will present "Clean Cuisine," a long-term and sustainable answer to eating for optimal health, disease prevention, weight loss, vitality, longevity and good taste.
In keeping with the medical theme, a special booth called "The Doctor is In"EURwill offer private consultations with specialists.
There also will be spa treatments available and complementary disciplines like aromatherapy and stress reduction techniques.
Tickets for the full-day event are $7 if ordered online at www.womenshealthexpo.com or $8 at the door.
For more information, go to the above website or call (845) 802-7025.
Photos: Lego Club at the Hurley Library
Photos: The Ashokan Rail Trail Woodstock Dike Trailhead winter walk


If you are looking for the cotton attire, then try this Casey Bracket jacket that is available in green color which is one of the amazing colors that you can wear for a fascinating look. It is inspired by the upcoming film Predator in which Olivia Munn portrays a character. You will love to wear this appealing jacket for the casual event.
The Predator Casey jacket is prepared with cotton fabric that will surely give you best comfortable feeling throughout the day. The inner soft lining will make you feel amazing throughout the day. The features include shirt style collar with front button closure that will surely give you best fitting all the time. It has shoulder epaulets and button cuffs that will give you classy look. Else, check the front flap pockets in which you can keep your valuable things secure in it. Just have it now and get a charming look in front of the viewers.


Minted is by far my favorite company to work with when it comes to stationary. Creating our Christmas Cards this year was so much fun especially now that we have Luther.
Details are something I really enjoy when it comes to the holiday's. This is one detail I really enjoy making! Minted is such a great resource for any type of occasion they have so much to offer. Did I mentioned they have foil pressed options, I love that I went ahead and got the Rose gold foil option!


text:
Q: jQuery autocomplete frozen for initial few alphabets Below is the snippet which add an autocomplete suggestion to html input box holding the name of cities for a particular delivery purpose:
getAllActiveCitiesList: function(){
    js_script.script.cities_polling_count += 1;
    js_script.script.ajax_loading_message = "Fetching all active and approved citiess....give us a minute!"
    if(js_script.script.all_active_approved_citiess == null && js_script.script.cities_polling_count < 12){
        $.ajax({
            type: "GET",
            url: "some/url/to/fetch/data",
            success: function(data){
                js_script.script.cities_polling_count = 0;
                if(data.length > 0){
                    js_script.script.all_active_approved_citiess =  data;
                    for(index in data){
                        cities_data = data[index]
                        js_script.script.cities_to_id_map[cities_data["name"] +" ( "+cities_data["citiesId"]+" )"] = cities_data["id"];
                    }
                    // setup autocomplete
                    $("#mss_cities_id").autocomplete({
                       source: Object.keys(js_script.script.cities_to_id_map)
                    });
                }
            },
            error: function(XMLHttpRequest, textStatus, errorThrown) {
                js_script.script.flashPageBanner("Warning: Something went wrong with backend, auto-suggest for Citiess might not work ");
            }
        });
    }else if(js_script.script.cities_polling_count % 12 == 0){
        js_script.script.flashPageBanner("Something is wrong, auto-suggest for Citiess might not work ");
    }
}

Markup where this is assigned

        <input type="text" class="form-control text-uppercase" id="mss_cities_id" placeholder="Cities ID">

            <button class="btn btn-default refresh-cities-id custom-hover-tooltip" title="Refresh Citiess List - Use ONLY if something is wrong!!">

            </button>

Ajax response send a city data which contains both city names as well as city codes.
So far so good, ajax sets around 5000 values in autocomplete. My problem is that if we type slowly one or two alphabets the whole page is stucked in frozen mode and chrome sometimes would suggest to kill the page.
If we type quickly, generally no issue comes. My end users are people with slow typing skills and this feature is becoming more of a problem for them than solution.
One solution that comes to my mind is to stop the autocomplete lookup until, say, 4 characters are typed but this might fail the purpose as some of the cities (city codes) might have just 2 alphabets. Please suggest how can this problem be solved?
jquery version is 1.12.4

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Martadi is a town and seat of Bajura District Coordination Committee. It is also the headquarters of the Badi Malika Municipality.  At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4,618 and had 942 houses in the town but now it has increased by growth rate of 2.62 and reached 8807.

The town and surrounding area is under the jurisdiction of the Martadi District Police.

Population
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 8,807(4,101 Female & 4,706 Male) people living in 1,290 individual Households.

Colleges and schools in Martadi
 Bajura Multiple Campus
It has been conditioning the bachelor level programs with affiliation to Tribhuwan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
 Badimalika English Boarding School
 Converse Academy
 Shree Malika Higher Secondary School

Gallery

References

Populated places in Bajura District

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
By Carrie R. Mitzel on	 January 9, 2022 Hamburgers
by Beth
We take our food very seriously here in Ohio. Whether it's a family recipe handed down for generations, a place with the best food in town, a fine dining restaurant or maybe something else, the culinary scene of Buckeye State could really impress anyone. This is even true of our local fast food chains. The Kewpee Burger, for example, has been nothing short of a staple since its inception in 1928. It's so good, in fact, that the recipe hasn't changed for almost 100 years. Learn more about the legendary Kewpee Burger in Ohio.
In these uncertain times, keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket-to-visit list at a later date.
Kewpee Hamburgers may have made their debut in Michigan; However, Ohioans have also enjoyed this fast food staple since 1928.
Under the ownership of Hoyt "Stub" Wilson, the first Kewpee burgers opened in Lima, where the head office is currently located.
Have you ever wondered where the name Kewpee comes from? It's the name of a carnival prize, a kewpie angel doll, which has become the restaurant's mascot.
The restaurant reached its peak in the 1940s, with nearly 400 stores. However, ingredients and supplies became more difficult to find during World War II, and many of these stores were forced to close.
Fortunately, the stores that were able to stay in business remained popular, and you can still enjoy the same classic burger today.
Today, there are five Kewpee burgers left, including three in Lima.
If you've never tried a Kewpee Burger, you will have an unforgettable experience. The burger is about as classic as it gets, and options for toppings include cheese, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onions, relish, lettuce, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce.
There is something else totally unique about a Kewpee Burger: the patties are square!
So, the next time you're craving a fast food burger, you'll want to take a trip to Kewpee Hamburgers, where you'll experience a fascinating piece of Ohio history.
When was the last time you visited Kewpee Hamburgers in Ohio? What did you think We'd love to hear all about your culinary adventures in the comments below – be sure to tell us! For more information on Kewpee Burger, you can visit the official website or follow Kewpee Burger on Facebook.
Address: 1350 Bellefontaine Ave, Lima, OH 45804, United States
Address: 111 N Elizabeth St, Lima, OH 45801, United States
Address: 2111 Allentown Road, Lima, OH 45805, United States
Find the best Chinese burgers at Xi'an Taste in Kaka'ako
Chester's Hamburgers Responds To 'Outrage' Over 'Don't Buy From Chinese' Marquee
'Hazard loves burgers and Courtois has a big ego' – Bulka lifts the veil on former Chelsea team-mates
Table Talk: Arnold's Old Fashioned Hamburgers reopens in Crystal City | To eat
Everyone Goes Crazy For Burgers At Charlie Joseph In Georgia


Dr. Jodie Ward is the Team Leader of NSW Health Pathology's Specialist DNA Laboratory at the Forensic & Analytical Science Service and she is passionate about using forensic science to help make a difference to people's lives.
Having established this laboratory in 2015, she has since created a specialist DNA service for the identification of human remains, being used nationally by the police and armed forces.
Jodie previously worked for the NSW Police and Australian Federal Police. She is also a Forensic Biology Lecturer at the Canberra Institute of Technology and supervises postgraduate research in her role as Adjunct Professional Associate at the University of Canberra.
In 2015, she was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship to investigate specialist DNA techniques and DNA-led programs for identifying unknown human remains. This opportunity has informed recommendations for establishing an Australian DNA identification program for missing persons.
Jodie's current research interests include massively parallel sequencing applications for the DNA identification of compromised human remains - the next frontier in this field.
Dr. Ward has a PhD in forensic molecular biology from the Australian National University, and postgraduate qualifications in management and higher education.
She is a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences, International Society of Forensic Genetics, and a committee member of the NSW Branch of the Australian & New Zealand Forensic Science Society.


text:
Die USS Oregon City (CA-122) war ein im Februar 1946 in Dienst gestellter Schwerer Kreuzer der United States Navy. Das Typschiff der aus insgesamt vier Einheiten bestehenden Oregon-City-Klasse hatte eine aktive Dienstzeit von lediglich 22 Monaten. Im Dezember 1947 kam die Oregon City in die Reserveflotte. Dort lag das Schiff mehr als 25 Jahre lang, ehe es 1973 abgewrackt wurde.

Geschichte
Die Oregon City wurde am 8. April 1944 als Typschiff ihrer Klasse in der Werft von Bethlehem Steel auf Kiel gelegt und lief am 9. Juni 1945 vom Stapel. Das für den Einsatz im Pazifikkrieg konzipierte Schiff erlebte den aktiven Kriegseinsatz nicht mehr, die Indienststellung erfolgte am 16. Februar 1946 unter dem Kommando von Captain Burtnett Kent Culver, der bis zur Ausmusterung des Kreuzers dessen Kommandant blieb.

Ihre Probefahrt führte die Oregon City zur Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. Anschließend wurde sie im Juli 1946 zum Flaggschiff der United States Fourth Fleet. In dieser Rolle führte das Schiff Trainingsmanöver mit Reservisten vor Philadelphia aus und unternahm im Oktober ebenfalls mit Reservisten an Bord eine Reise nach Bermuda.

Nach weiteren Übungen lag die Oregon City von März bis Juni 1947 im Hafen von Boston, ehe sie für eine Trainingsfahrt in die Karibik aufbrach. Diesen letzten Einsatz beendete das Schiff im August 1947 in Philadelphia.

Nach Ende des Zweiten Weltkriegs bestand weniger Bedarf an großen Kriegsschiffen wie der Oregon City. So wurden mehrere geplante Einheiten ihrer Klasse nie fertiggestellt, sondern nach Kriegsende in der frühen Bauphase verschrottet. Während ihre drei fertiggestellten Schwesterschiffe durch Umbauten und Modernisierungen weiter im aktiven Einsatz blieben, wurde die Oregon City nach nur 22 Monaten Dienstzeit ausgemustert und der Reserveflotte zugeteilt. Dort verbrachte das Schiff mehr als 25 Jahre. 1970 erfolgte die Streichung aus dem Naval Vessel Register und im September 1973 der Verkauf zum Abbruch an die Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation in Kearny (New Jersey).

Weblinks

 Eintrag zur Oregon City auf navsource.org (englisch)
 Eintrag zur Oregon City auf navysite.de (englisch)

Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation


These ballsy Spektre Memento frames combine a classy look with a killer attitude. Spektre could not have chosen a better name, Memento Audere Semper, which is an old latin saying for: Remember to always be bold. The ruby red acetate is equipped with custom light mirrored Zeiss optics.
The choice of Latin names for sunglasses is nicely linked to the strong influence of Italian art, not surprisingly as this is an inspiration source for Niccolò. What we love about Spektre are their vibrant colours and mirror glasses. The colour choices are interesting combined with well-shaped frames. Spektre doesn't follow market or care about it, they just do what they like.


Hi, I am a 54yr old male, looking for a lady 25/35,I have a town house here in Pattaya, I like to keep fit, go to the gym, I like to spend time relaxing at the beach, swimming etc, I think I have a fairly good personality, like to have fun, dont drink much, I am an old fashioned romantic, like to spend time with a lady, romantic evenings spent together, my ideal lady would be attractive, but not a model type, be fun loving, romantic like me, personality and most important be loyal, trustworthy and not butterfly! So if there are any ladies out there and I know there are who fit this description then I would love for you to contact me !!


text:
TUC rings alarm on outsourcing giants' dividend payments after Carillion collapse
Three months after the collapse of Carillion, organisation says outsourcing firms' operating models require greater scrutiny
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady Credit: PA
The Trade Unions Congress has warned that more outsourcing firms could face Carillion-style collapses after its analysis revealed that the UK's biggest contracting firms saw their collective shareholder dividends rise by 67% in recent years despite pre-tax profits falling by 31%.
It said the research, published to mark the three-month anniversary of Carillion's plunge into liquidation, was evidence of a "fundamentally flawed" business model that prioritised short-term shareholder interest over "sound stewardship" of public services.
The umbrella group for unions looked at dividend and profit figures for G4S, Capita, Babcock, Carillion, Interserve, Serco and Mitie for its analysis. The numbers showed combined shareholder dividends had risen from £386m in 2010 to £642m in 2016, while their combined profit before tax fell from £1.218bn to £880m.
Cabinet Office urged to lead regulatory reform after Carillion collapse
MoJ creates government-owned facilities management company to take on Carillion work
For whom the bell tolls: what does the collapse of Carillion mean for the future of public services
Of those firms, Babcock – which provides a range of services to the Ministry of Defence – marked the biggest increase in dividends (249%), although its profit before tax increased by 186%.
Capita's dividends rose by 101% over the six-year period despite profit before tax dropping by 76%, the TUC figures indicate. The firm, which issued a profit warning earlier this year, has a host of contracts across the public sector, including electronic tagging for the Ministry of Justice and running Department for Work and Pensions enquiry lines.
Serco, whose chief executive Rupert Soames earlier this year called for a new era of "fair dealing" for outsourcers, did not pay a shareholder dividend for in 2015 and 2016 according to the TUC figures, but saw its profit before tax drop 86% between 2010 and 2016.
The TUC said the dividend-to-profit analysis underscored that Carillion, which increased its dividends by 34% between 2010 and 2016 at a time when its profit before tax dipped 13%, was not an "isolated example" in the world of public sector outsourcing.
It said its data had showed some companies even had years between 2010 and 2016 when they continued to pay dividends despite making a pre-tax loss and called for the government to take a range of measures outlined in a lessons-learned report on the Carillion experience, which details what the union argues are endemic problems with the UK outsourcing market.
Among its calls are for the Cabinet Office and the Crown Commercial Service to work with public-sector commissioners to promote a "more dynamic approach" to social value procurement and require all public-service contractors to meet the Committee on Standards in Public Life's seven principles of public life.
It also wants to see the creation of a "Domesday Book" of all significant public-sector contracts to increase transparency on who runs services, the value of the contracts, their length and their performance.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said the Carillion experience should be treated as a wake-up call for the government to fundamentally rethink its approach to outsourcing.
"It put the spotlight on private firms hoovering up public services contracts with little public scrutiny," she said. "It showed how these contracts line shareholders' pockets instead of serving the community. And when Carillion failed, the government had to clean up the wreckage.
"We need to get back to running public services for the common good. Frontline staff work hard and aim high because they care about the community they serve. That should be the motivation for public service managers and boardrooms too, Most services would be better off back in public hands. And the government must reform outsourcing and corporate governance rules so that all services are run for the long-term benefit of the communities that depend on them."
The TUC's report, What lessons can we learn from Carillion – and what changes do we need to make?, suggested that maintaining or increasing the level of shareholder dividends was a key way UK-listed companies kept their share prices high and protected themselves from takeover.
However it said a situation that required directors promote the success of a company for the benefit of shareholders encouraged board-level decision-making that was skewed towards short-term financial returns, rather than investing in long-term and sustainable company growth.
"It was this toxic combination of relentless growth through new contracts and acquisitions and the need to provide short-term financial returns to shareholders that drove the aggressive accounting practices and reckless debt accumulation that led to the downfall of Carillion," the report said.
It also observed that most of Carillion's shareholders had not picked up on the problems the company was facing before it issued a profit warning in July 2017, questioning the level of oversight of the businesses' "precarious situation" they had been able to exercise.
Read the most recent articles written by Jim Dunton - Closure of some departments' second HQs 'almost inevitable', MPs told
Business and industry Employment Parliament Partnership working Transparency & Open Data
Civil Service Reform Economy Education Finance Fraud, Error Debt & Grants Government Tax Profession HR Operational Delivery
02 Feb HR
No 'regional jobs ceiling' at Treasury's Darlington base but 'accelerator' roles lacking, MPs told
01 Feb Civil Service Reform
'One crisis and I will be homeless': view from the civil service picket line
Civil service strikes: PCS chief rules out 'pay-for-conditions' deal
Civil servants speak up about expenses fraud
02 Nov 2022 by Civil Service World staff
The CSSC Games return to promote wellbeing through sport
28 Jul 2022 by Civil Service Sports Council


Well, despite my best efforts, it looks like my all in one network box just isn't up to the job, even on a small house network like this – the port forwarding is shonky, and it falls over under anything that remotely resembles load.
A router with built in firewall, DHCP and NAT.
If you can recommened me a different all in one box to the one I'm using (A Netgear DG824M), that you've used in anything resembling a serious manner, than that's good too. My requirements aren't vast, you understand – I wanted to hang a low-traffic server and network of a couple of personal PCs off the back of it, and be able to copy up to say, half a gig of data at a time from one machine to another without the whole thing grinding to a halt – I don't even need the data to move fast, just to not kill the whole network. That's all.
Suggestions for the nerd on a budget?


text:
In der Antike wurde auf zwei Landschaften der Begriff Iberien angewandt:

 das vom Hiberusfluss (Ebro) durchflossene Land, also die Iberische Halbinsel,
 ein Land südlich vom Kaukasusgebirge im Südosten des heutigen Georgien, siehe Iberien (Kaukasien).

Siehe auch:
 Hispanien
 Iberia
 Paniberismus


text:
Gernert: What's doin' in Winter Haven — 1951
Bob Gernert News Chief correspondent
A snapshot of Winter Haven in 1951 is provided by a small promotional brochure called "What's Doing In Winter Haven" published by the Winter Haven Herald. The monthly magazine was distributed free-of-charge to visitors. Information in this week's column is from the April edition.
The cover featured three water-skiing aquamaids from Cypress Gardens as photographed from the boat. Hundreds of visitors sit on the grassy knoll of the ski show circle with the Garden's offices and Terrace Restaurant visible in the background.
The brochure touts the city's "97 spring-fed lakes" (our lakes are not spring-fed). It referred to the then-popular slogan "City of 100 Lakes" but cited another nickname for Winter Haven as "The Fishing Hole of America" (a claim perhaps graciously buried in the sands of time). The population of the city limits was estimated at 9,000 (approximately 35,000 in 2015) with 17,500 in the "trading area" (approximately 125,000 currently).
The Ritz Theatre was showing such films as "The Great Missouri Raid" with Wendell Corey; "Prince of Peace" with Ginger Prince and "Tarzan's Peril" with Lex Barker. The Grand Theatre on Fifth Street advertised "Three Husbands" with Eve Arden, "Mr. Music" starring Bing Crosby and "Watch the Birdie" with Red Skelton."
The Winter Haven Community Playhouse was presenting "The Closing Door" at the Woman's Club Building on Grand (now Pope) Avenue at Lake Howard Drive. Tickets were $2. The copy noted that the "Little Theatre group featured local amateurs and a full-time director (whose ability in turning out polished performers from rank amateurs never ceases to amaze audiences)."
Recreational activities noted the Shuffleboard Clubhouse and 12 new courts in City Park with players' equipment provided. The Civic Center located on Lake Silver (now Senior Center) touted a "lounge with easy chairs and card tables." There were eight tennis courts and a "Skish Club" inviting "all interested in this new sport to use the targets in Lake Silver opposite the Civic Center." (Evidently this was a passing fad here as there have not been Skish targets in Lake Silver in recent memory.)
For fishing and boating on the Chain of Lakes, visitors could find boats, fishing equipment and outboard motors available at the Jaycee Boathouse located at the City Park on Lake Howard.
The Fifth Annual Dixie Water Ski Tournament was scheduled to be held at Cypress Gardens. Fifty of the nation's ski title-holders (plus several from foreign nations) were to compete in jumping, slalom and trick skiing. Radio star Tom Moore was expected to arrive early and "practice in earnest." Moore had headlined the Citrus Exposition for several years and was an accomplished skier. Defending champions included Dick Pope, Jr., (son of Gardens founder) who was a junior at Rollins College at the time.
Advertisers of the day supporting the brochure included: Wis-Flo Hotel; Park Cafe on Central Park; Vandever-Johns Pharmacy; Ree-Bee's Shoe Box; The Playshop Gifts for Children; Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home; Frederick's Mens Shop; George Price Studebaker; Recker's Exclusive Ladies Shop; Race De-humidifiers; Key Drug Store; John Boland Hardware and, of course, beautiful Cypress Gardens.
About the series: Early in Winter Haven's history, a large Chinaberry tree grew near the middle of Central Avenue at the corner of the Snell Bank (now the Times Square building). It was beneath this tree that early residents shared the news and solved the challenges of the day.
The Museum of Winter Haven History is closed for the summer. Group visits are available by appointment. Contact Bob Gernert at 863-206-6855 or bobgernert@gmail.com.
— Bob Gernert is a student of Winter Haven history and founded the Museum of Winter Haven History. If you have questions or information to share he can be reached at bobgernert@gmail.com or 863-206-6855


text:
Canton (Ohio) Accommodation
Canton (Ohio) Hotels, Apartments, Motels, Holiday Parks
Searching for hotels in Canton (Ohio) (United States) or Canton (Ohio) accommodation? Canton is located in the north eastern part of Ohio. It is the main political and economic seat of Stark County and considered as the adopted home of former president William McKinley. Pro Football Hall of Fame is only found in Canton.
Although football is the main contributor for its progress, Canton has much more to offer with regards to attraction and recreation. One would see the First Ladies National Historic Site which includes the names of the First Ladies in the US and their husband's contribution to the country. There is also William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum and the Mckinley National Memorial that provides education both to residents and visitors.
Strategically lying on the Middle and West Branches of Nimishillen Creek, Canton County was developed into manufacturing hub because of its constructed railroads which leads to several neighboring places. Right now, Canton City has two airports which provides access to more attractions such Lake Township, Massillion, Canal Fulton and Wilmot.
Some of the hotels that you can find in Canton include The McKinley Grand Hotel, Residence Inn by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Canton Inn, Quality Inn and Suites Airport and Betram Inn.
- Browse the Canton (Ohio) Map or compare Canton (Ohio) accommodation from Hotels, Motels, B&Bs, Lodging & Hostels to Holiday & Caravan Parks.
Canton (Ohio) Hotels & Accommodation
Top Canton (Ohio) Hotels
McKinley Grand Hotel
Comfort Inn Hall of Fame
Canton Inn (Ohio)
Hilton Garden Inn Akron Airport
Quality Inn & Suites Airport
Glenmoor Country Club
Parke Suites
Dublin (Ohio)
Toledo (Ohio)
Mansfield (Ohio)
Athens (Ohio)
Marietta (Ohio)
Cambridge (Ohio)
Akron Canton Regional Airport
Canton (Ohio) Holiday Information - Things to Do & See
Resources, Information and guides on Canton (Ohio). For things to do, attractions, restaurants, holidays and sites refer below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton,_Ohio http://www.10best.com/Canton,OH/locationDetails.html
About Page: Canton (Ohio) Motels, Family Packages, Holiday Stays, Caravan Parks, Apartments, Hostels, Last Minute Canton (Ohio) accommodation, 5 star Luxury to 2 star Budget hotels and resort deals. Compare Canton (Ohio) hotel reservations, bookings and cheap rates.
Canton (Ohio) Accomodation, Canton (Ohio) Accomadation, Canton (Ohio) Accommadation, Canton (Ohio) Accommodations, Accomodations, Accom
Search Hotels in Canton (Ohio).
Canton (Ohio) Hotels


BY TERRY founder Terry de Gunzburg drew upon her own lifestyle and beauty needs as a modern working woman to create her now globally renowned luxury beauty brand.
Mahi Aramideh, co-founder of The Elixir Clinic, talks wellness, beauty and the key to healthy living.
Need a Christmas party makeover? This December, we have partnered with London-based beauty booking app Ruuby on two exclusive makeup looks.
As the countdown to Christmas begins, blogger and stylist Peony Lim shares her favourite festive beauty and fashion looks.
This autumn sees the launch of our first brand collaboration with professional lash company Sweed Lashes. We speak to Terry de Gunzburg and Sweed founder Gabriella Elio about this exciting partnership.
With the launch of our new Cellularose Liftessence Neck Cream, a daily lifting and firming intensive concentrate which fights against signs of ageing, skincare specialist Jasmina Vico shares her expert tips and techniques for achieving younger-looking skin.
This September marked the launch of our new Expert collection, created for all women who are masters of their own beauty. Someone who has never been afraid to express her personal style and individual beauty is one of our official brand ambassadors for the range, Lydia Millen. She sits down with us to discuss her backstage beauty, fashion and lifestyle tips at Paris Fashion Week.
As Christie's holds its flagship auction of Audrey Hepburn's personal collection this September, we pay tribute to the actress' timeless beauty.
Having worked for 15 years at YSL, Terry de Gunzburg understands that are the worlds of beauty and fashion are inextricably linked. It was while working for one of the most revered haute couture fashion houses that the BY TERRY founder invented her unique concept of bespoke beauty, which has come to define her eponymous brand.
Take an exclusive look inside founder Terry de Gunzburg's exquisite homes around the world, which are filled with her impressive collection of precious objects and artwork. Carefully curated over the past two decades, the vast collection highlights the founder's innate eye for beauty.


The RWMA held their first annual Winterfest last Friday and it was an absolute success!
The Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Color Guard, and Winterline all performed pieces from their competitions this semester.
Thank you to all the parents that came out to support the RWMA! From ticket sales, concessions sales and food donations to t-shirt sales and overall logistical support, this night could never have been possible!


Resume Template: 45 Fantastic Template Resume Word Download Picture Ideas. Best Resume Word Format Examples. Sample Resume Word Template. Download Games For Pc Gta 5. Template Resume Word Download Free For Pc Windows 10. Resume Word Format Free Download For Windows 10.
Friday 11th, January 2019 07:47:17: AM, Resume Template.
Template resume word download bestrmat examples free games full tor pc windows sample document. Windows sampleme word template free plants vs zombie download game for professional mac. Fantastic template resumed download picture ideas indesign free templates creative nmdnconference com example modern for.
Resume template format free to download word templates photo microsoft for pc windows sample. Template ideas curriculum vitae word templates resumermatr sample cv uk download pdf free 1920x2485 game. Sample resume word format download best microsoftlates inspiration of cv original fantasticlate picture ideas creative. Resume template wordad microsoft for mac templates resumes free windows.
Resume template fantastic word download picture ideas cv ms lara expolicenciaslatam co curriculum vitae samples in new awesome format gallery sample. Letter format free download resume templates for microsoft word job template cover best in how to write windows sample games. Sample resume format for fresh graduates single page free games full to download pc professional wordte gta printable.


Tom Steiner van den Ouweelen is a Technical Instructor Trainer living in Gozo, Malta. His passion is teaching technical diving and cave diving either in backmount or sidemount configurations. After 36 years in the water Tom's extensive experience provides students with the most interesting and demanding courses they could possibly ask for. The training is tough but it creates very good divers.
Tom Steiner van den Ouweelen was born in 1965, in Switzerland, 1 km from Bulle (which means Bubble in French!). He speaks and writes seven languages fluently (EN, F, D, SP, NL, I & HUNG) and also has a working knowledge of Arabic. Tom started diving while on holiday in 1979 with an intro dive in Barbados. After returning to Switzerland, he decided to start his diving education in Lake Geneva, (Montreux). 90% of all of Tom's diving education took place in the Swiss lakes with the other 10% in the Mediterranean Sea followed by Egypt, Maldives, USA and Gozo. He started with CMAS adding additional agency certifications with PADI, TDI, SDI, EDA, NRC, IANTD, BSAC, PROTEC, ISE and ANDI Instructor. After over 25 years of professional diving, Tom has now completed over 12,000 dives and a total of 2,500 hours on rebreathers. He has worked in the diving industry all over the world and has also presented seminars on technical diving at a number of international dive shows and events. He is an EDA Examiner, CMAS Course Director & Examiner, TDI, SDI, PADI TECREC Instructor Trainer, INNERSPACE Explorers Instructor Trainer, PADI Master Scuba Instructor, RAZOR Official Instructor and Master Freediving Instructor and finally a BSAC, ANDI & IANTD Instructor.
In addition to his work as a technical diving instructor, Tom has been involved in providing dive safety at a number of high profile events. In 2000, he organized the AIDA Freediving World Championship at Lake Geneva where his team was responsible for the safety of 48 freedivers. During this event his team had to endure four hours non- stop underwater at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius. Tom has personally acted as a safety diver for world renown freedivers Loic Leferme, Fred Buyle, Şahika Ercümen and Sarah Campbell. He has also provided safety diver services to Pascal Bernabe (former world deepest dive record holder at 330 meters), assisting him during his training sessions and deep trimix courses and dives.
Tom has been involved in a number of prominent marine movie projects including "330 Metres Below the Sea", "22 minutes", "BELOW". He has written and translated books on Rebreather and Nitrox Diving and developed the first Tec Sidemount course in the diving industry. He moved to Gozo in February 2012 after having spent 16 years diving and working in Sinai, Egypt. In Egypt, he was the Manager of Dahab Divers Lodge and then the owner of two tec dive centers; Fantaseatec and Dahab Divers Technical.
Tom is located in Gozo, Malta from March to the end of October and teaches technical diving courses around the world during the northern hemisphere winter.
Training agencies : TDI/SDI, INNERSPACE Explorers, GOSIDEMOUNT and PADI at this date.


text:
Barry James Anderson Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more
Net Worth: $1,176,000 Approx.
Barry James Anderson's Net Worth & Wealth History:
Barry James Anderson's Earnings & Income History:
How much money does Barry James Anderson have?
How much Barry James Anderson earn per Hour?
What does Barry James Anderson do for living?
How much is Barry James Anderson's worth?
Is the Barry James Anderson Rich?
The estimated current Net Worth of Barry James Anderson is $1,176,000, which mostly depends on the estimated income and salary of $344,736. According to our research, Barry has estimated to earn wealth mainly as a Actor.
Net worth history of Barry James Anderson are here. Current net worth is $1,176,000, while in 2021 Barry had a net worth of $1,046,640. In 2020, Barry was estimated to have a net worth of $931,510. While performing as Actor, Barry James Anderson had a net worth of $791,783 in 2019 and $673,016 in 2018. Dtails are in table below.
2022 $1,176,000
Barry James Anderson's income & salary history details are here. The current estimated income of Barry is $344,736, while in 2021 Barry was earning $324,052 and in 2020, earning was $298,128. Based on our research and study, Barry James Anderson had an income of $286,203 in 2019 and in $266,168 2018, utilizing the skills as an Actor. Dtails are in income history table below.
Barry has approximately $1,176,000 as wealth.
Barry James Anderson earns approx $1,436 per hour.
Barry James Anderson earns his living as Actor, earns approx $344,736 per month and it is the Barry's main source of generating money.
Barry James Anderson has net worth of $1,176,000 approx.
Barry James Anderson generated $1,176,000 till now, with his talented skills being Actor.
Lee Lin Chin Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more
Ernie Johnson Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more
James 'Sonny' Moore Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more
Alex Bennett Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more
John Glenn Net Worth 2022 | Details about Salary, Earning, Wealth and more
Aidan Gillen Net Worth 2022 | All about Salary, Earning, Wealth and more
Byinfosec	 November 12, 2021 November 12, 2021
Ed Hyman Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Salary, Earning, Wealth and more
Frank Williams Net Worth 2022 | All about Income, Earning, Wealth and more


As I travelled by train from Sondrio to Malpensa airport I reflected on the holiday that was ending and on what seemed to have been the most recurring topic of conversation during my stay: food, Italy's national obsession. The first day of the holiday my husband and myself arrived at the beach in Pesaro to 'Bagni Bibi' a place my friends rent every summer along with umbrella and deck chairs. There is also a bar with veranda, changing huts and showers which makes it a very civilized beach-bums kind of experience, the very opposite to the Irish style: wind-swept and cold where very brave people go armed with just an all-purpose towel to use after a fast dip-and-freeze swim. Here at the Bagni we were warmly greeted by the group of local regulars who recognized us as 'the Irish who come back every year' making me feel foreign in my own country but then, after taking a look at my white sun-starved skin, who could blame them for bunching me up with the North Europeans?
As we were creaming up before going for a walk along the shore I could hear them exchanging tips on the best way to grill vegetables while just a few metres away two people, standing knee-deep in water were discussing tomatoes "so you slice them across first and then you fill them with…" with what I'll never know because the wind carried away that particular, precious ingredient. A woman wearing a bright colourful swimsuit was walking fast talking loudly on her mobile "In the oven" she shouted "You put them in the oven!" Who? What? Another lost opportunity!
Solitary men and women were walking slowly in the shallow water, head bent staring into the sand looking for clams which, once found, where stored in a plastic bag that they were carrying for that purpose. Later on at home they'd use the clams to make a quick savoury sauce for a lunchtime spaghetti dish. One morning my friend Bruna announced that she was going to pick up vegetables at Maria and Augusto's place because once a week the couple prepare bags of goodies full with the product of their hard work in the much loved vegetable plot. Would I go with her? Sure.
The plot turned out to be a huge field entirely cultivated with vegetables of all sorts, which Maria and Augusto divvy out amongst relatives and friends for free."Let me do the cooking " I insisted not wanting Maria to cook as well as providing the food. "How are you going to make them?" she asked suspiciously. "In my mamma's style" I said not wanting to compete with the local recipe. She smiled politely but a worried shadow crossed her face. At the dinner they appreciated my roast (or so they said) but Maria could not refrain from declaring that the local recipe, which involves the use of wild fennel was surely the best. "You can't beat it!" she declared. "And how do you cook it?" I asked to please her.
You need a rabbit cut into pieces including liver and kidneys, white wine, 200g streaky rashers finely sliced, olive oil, wild fennel, garlic, rosemary and sage, salt and pepper. Put the rabbit pieces into a bowl and cover with white wine for a couple of hours and then drain. Put a couple of spoons olive oil on the bottom of a roasting pan and cover with slices of bacon. Arrange the pieces of rabbit on the bacon, including liver and kidneys; spread the herbs and garlic roughly chopped on the meat, season with salt and pepper and some more oil. Cover the rabbit with another layer of bacon. Seal the pan over with aluminium foil and put it in the oven gas mark 7 or 220C for about 1 hour. Remove the foil and let brown well. Serve with roast potatoes. Once started on the sharing of recipes there was no stopping it. Two hours went by and during that time many topics were covered: how to marinate olives, how to make a special cake called crostata, what to do with an excess of plums, of courgettes, of tomatoes, what's the best way to fry sage leaves which, by the way are delicious.
For this preparation you need 20g big green and healthy looking fresh sage leaves with stalk, 100g white flour, 125ml beer or sparkling water, 1 egg, salt and oil for frying. Put the flour in a bowl and mix in the egg. Add the beer or the sparkling water (either must be very cold from the fridge) and mix well. Add the salt and keep mixing until smooth. Cover the bowl with a tea towel and let rest for a while. Wash and pat dry the sage leaves. Heat up the oil in the frying pan. Dip the sage leaves one by one in the mixture holding them by the stalk and fry until golden. Drain and arrange on a serving dish covered with paper towel, season with salt and serve hot.
Over the next two weeks we gorged on ice cream, watermelons and succulent peaches. Our friend Irene joined us from Modena and every night we either cooked for a small crowd (but everybody also brought something special to share) or we were invited to eat with a crowd. On the last evening we walked up to the village to join the locals in a fund-raising event to help a young woman go to Peru for a month to work with a small community there. The event, needless to say, was a dinner, a 3 course meal for roughly 100 people cooked by the local women in the village hall for the amazing sum of €12, wine included.
At the end of the week my husband returned to Ireland and I took the train north to join my cousins in the Alps in our mothers' village. Here the menu changed drastically in content but not in quality. As soon as I arrived I was informed that the mirtilli, a local variety of blueberries, had been spotted in a valley nearby and, without delay, we set off armed with baskets after promising our cousin Edilio that we would be back the following day with a cake. All he would have to do was to brew the tea.
Make a shortcut pastry mixing 150g white flour and 150g corn flour (the type used for polenta), 120g unsalted butter, 1 yolk, 100g sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder. Cool it in the fridge for 20min and then roll out. Line a cake tin with the pastry and spread a layer of blueberry jam on top. Mix 60g butter with 60g of sugar and 1 egg; add 150g of white and buckwheat flower in equal measure mixed together and blend into the mixture. Pour the mixture over the pastry and the jam. Bake for 40min in the oven, gas mark 5 or 180C. When the cake has cooled sprinkle with icing sugar. Once the mirtilli-picking task was done and dusted, it was the turn of wild mushrooms picking; a much harder task because the competition from other mushroom gatherers was fierce. One morning we spent four hours scouring the side of the mountain, climbing a steep slope with no paths, trying to keep upright while looking at the ground and keep loosely together so as not to get lost in the thick of the forest. I didn't mind much about finding the mushrooms because just being there amongst the pines and chestnut trees and hearing the sound of the birds and the stream running by was enough reward. The smell of the forest was invigorating and the solitude precious to the point that I was even enjoying the tiredness, the aching legs and the sweat. My body was alive, all my senses were alert and the three mushrooms I found were well worth the effort. We ate them the following day in a risotto dish.
300 g fresh porcini mushrooms cleaned but not washed (or 25g dried previously soaked in warm water), 2 medium garlic cloves crushed, 1 small yellow onion thinly sliced, 4 big handfuls risotto rice (1 handful per person plus 2 for the pot), olive oil, butter, small pot of broth (vegetable or meat), splash of red wine, salt to taste. In a small pot heat your broth and keep simmering on low. In a pan, heat 2 tablespoon olive oil with the crushed garlic cloves until the garlic is fragrant and starts to become golden. Remove the garlic cloves. Keeping oil on medium heat, add the sliced mushrooms. Add a splash of wine and a sprinkle of salt and cook on a low flame until the mushrooms darken and the liquid mostly evaporates. This should take around 6 minutes.Turn off heat and set aside. Some cook the rice and mushrooms together. In a low saucepan or large pan, heat 3 tablespoon olive oil, and then add sliced onions and cook until softened. Add the rice and toast until fragrant, and then add half a glass of wine. Using a ladle, add broth until the rice is well moistened and almost covered with liquid. Start stirring with a wooden spoon, and keep stirring until it is ready to serve. Whenever the risotto starts to dry out, add another ladle or two of broth. After about 10min add the cooked porcini mushrooms. Cook until the risotto is 'al dente', tender, but with some almost crunchy firmness, and salt to taste. Before serving you will want to do the 'mantecatura', which is to stir in a knot of butter. This creates a beautiful creamy texture. You can also stir in a handful or two of chopped parsley at this point. Serve hot, top with freshly grated parmesan.
At the end of each day as the sun gloriously set behind the mountain tops, clouds would gather quickly and a storm would break out with an abundance of rain that drove the locals mad because you are not meant to have so many summer storms in July! Their dramatic outbursts only added to the one being played over the valley. In vain I tried to point out the beauty of all those layers of greys, to teach them to admire their subtleties, something I said to them that living in Ireland taught me to appreciate. They weren't having any of it. So we would resort to playing cards in the kitchen, whoever lost would pay the coffees next morning at the bar where all the cousins would gather to exchange the news of the day and… recipes.
Looking back I found that I spent that week in the mountains looking at the mountains for hours on end, enjoying the nightly storms, walking in the forests, driving to refuges and alpine passes. Yet the most challenging and rewarding day came towards the end of the week when I went on a hard trek up to San Stefano's dams at 2,000mt above sea level.
My cousin Vanda and myself set out early in the morning and slowly but steadily negotiated the three-hour climb until we reached the first dam, which was shrouded in mist. From there we walked to the shepherds' hut and sat down to exchange a few words with them and to catch our breath. They had just finished making the cheese of the day and the room smelled pleasantly of fresh milk. Having rested enough we decided to continue and to go see the glacier taking the path along the side of the mountain. When we arrived at our destination we finally sat on the bench and looked at the glacier in all its majesty both of us speechless. Only after a long while I took out of my rucksack the very special panino I had prepared early that morning. I ate it with great gusto and flushed it down with gulps of crystal clear water from the stream.
I used a soft, bap-like rye bread cut in two halves. I coated one side with some mayonnaise and topped it with tuna and quarters of artichoke hearts under oil and covered it with the other half of bread. It is my favourite panino ever!