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Channel Programs, Storage
StorONE announces first channel chief and partner program as it looks to build out channel
by Mark Cox • June 15, 2021
Channel veteran Bill Cordero takes over channel leadership at StorONE, as the company looks to expand its new channel with the aid of a newly-designed channel program.
Bill Cordero, vice president of worldwide channels, StorONE
Storage software vendor StorONE has announced the appointment of Bill Cordero as their vice president of worldwide channels, while simultaneously announcing the launch of their PartnerONE Program. The moves are designed to drive market penetration of the company's S1 Enterprise Storage Platform, which has been shipping for about a year.
StorONE launched in late 2017. Gal Naor, their CEO and co-founder, founded dedupe vendor StorWIZE in 2004, and sold it to IBM in 2010 for $140 million.
The StorONE software-defined S1 Enterprise Storage Platform dramatically reduces costs with a simplified storage infrastructure that is protocol independent including fibre, iSCSI, NFS, SMB and S3. All protocols are supported in the same locations, in a seamless layer.
Cordero, who has managed channels at a large number of companies, including Yellowbrick Data, Diamanti, Blue Medora, Rubrik, Tegile Systems, StorSimple, Data Domain – and StorWIZE – has been brought on board because while the company has always had a 100% channel strategy, the time has become optimal to build that channel out.
"StorONE has been shipping since mid-year last year," Cordero stated. "Before that, they were an engineering company. This is typically the time when I come into a company, once they have figured out the swimlanes, and it's time to build a channel to develop scale, to get it in front of the end user."
That involves making some changes in how StorONE works with partners.
"Our channel strategy until now has been piecemeal and opportunistic," Cordero said. "I inherited about a dozen VARs, with whom we had been working direct. We are shifting away from that to a sole source model where partners will work through distribution. That will be Climb Solutions, which used to be Lifeboat. They are very good at bringing new brands to market. I worked with them when I was at Data Domain and Rubrik."
StorONE has had a distribution relationship with Tech Data since 2019, and that continues, but Cordero said it hasn't really expanded their partner base.
"Tech Data didn't play a big role in reseller recruitment for us," he noted. "They have been more of an integration partner."
While some ad hoc arrangements existed before, the PartnerONE Program is StoreONE's first.
"There were bits and pieces before, but it was not a formal program," Cordero noted. "There were some reseller agreements, but nothing was formalized.
The new program is still being built out, although some core components are in place.
"The portal is up and running, and deal registration is up as part of that," Cordero said. "Our web developer developed it, and did a very nice job of it. We are also quite close to having a sales and technical curriculum ready." The plan does not include certification, at least at this stage."
Cordero has used both select and broad channel strategies in the past.
'With Tegile and Data Doman, the channel was limited, but with Rubrik it was wide open," he said. "The choice is really 'do you have a direct and clear competitor?' Rubrik had one with Cohesity and we wanted to land and expand as quickly as we could. Nobody is doing what we do at StorONE the way that we do it. Limited distribution will give us a higher yield per partner.
In addition to the 12 partners when Cordero arrived three months ago, another 12 have been recruited since.
"We are looking to have 50-75 partners worldwide at the end of this year," he said. "Then we will assess and determine whether we add more or hold steady."
StorONE has a global presence, in Asia, EMEA and LatAm as well as North America.
"We are definitely looking at Canada," Cordero indicated. "Climb has a significant presence in Canada."
← Western Digital unveils new Ultrastar Edge server family
ViewSonic moves on from Finch Club with refreshed ViewSonic Partner Program →


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Just when I thought these three ladies couldn't get into any more trouble. WRONG… The authors once again have written a great storyline that will have you laughing, smiling and wanting to shake our heroine a time or two as you read book two of the Charity Case Series. While this is Chelsea and Dean's story, all the main characters of the series as well as a few from the last series are all present and the author let us catch up on their lives as well - I absolutely LOVE this touch.
Chelsea and Dean have a past, a short lived married past that is. They married in Vegas and well youth and Vegas don't always mix and divorce soon followed. Fast forward 5 years. Dean is no longer the hopeful pro jock but is a successful tax attorney. A tax attorney that just happens to be doing pro-bono work for RISE, Chelsea's place of employment. Coincidence or planned on his part? Needless to say when they bump into each other Sparks fly…. both the good kind and the bad, but one thing is for sure the pull between them is still there. A feeling Dean wants to explore but Chelsea refuses. To Chelsea, old sparks are not enough for a new beginning or 2nd chance, one broken heart is enough for her, not to mention, old tigers don't lose their stripes, do they?
The authors will take you on a journey of love, heartbreak and mending while you laughing, cry and smile through the pages. 2 Thumbs up for a great read. One that I highly recommend. If you haven't read book 1, Manic Monday, I highly recommend reading it first. While it's not a Have to, it will sure make this great read flow a lot easier. Kudo's to the authors for another amazing job well done and I am soooooo looking forward to Hannah's story (book 3 in this delightful series).
Afternoon Delight is a proper title for this book as it was a total Delight to read. Not only is reading Chelsea and Dean's story a wonderful read, but it was so much fun catching up with the characters from two other series who are intertwined in some way or another, into this story. This story line, as is with all of Piper Rayne's stories, is brilliantly written, giving you so much more than just words to carry you through the story, it brings you through the life of the characters, no matter how stormy, how heartbreaking, how stressful, how angst filled, or how funny it is. The words bring the characters to life, bringing you into their inner circle, making you a part of their lives. Chelsea and Dean's story is no different. You find yourself siding with both of these characters as they try and find their way back to one another, even if at first, Chelsea wanted nothing to do with the beautiful man she was once married to. But sometimes, you can't keep the past buried completely and feelings that were once deeply buried, or have turned into anger, will not stay where you put them and you find them resurfacing and not in a way you would have wanted. First loves die hard, and true love will always find a way.
These characters are beautifully written and well defined, yet a bit complex. Dean is handsome and has grown into a new man, a wonderful man, who has changed so very much from the young man, a kid really, when he was married to Chelsea. He has changed very much and has to try and prove to Chelsea that he is a much better man today than he was when they were together the first time. Chelsea is beautiful, strong, smart and has never lost the love for her former husband. She's just kept it dormant, until Dean begins pushing his way back into her life and begins to show her just how much he has changed. But there are still some things in their past that needs to be brought out and dealt with before their Happily Ever After can actually happen. Can they move past these things or will on thing in particular be what ends them forever? All we can do is hold their hands and walk the path with them through their story.
This is a wonderful story! One that will reunite you with the characters you loved from previous series and will not only give you these two character's story, but will update you on Victoria and Reed's life and bring a bit more of Hannah's story that is to come next. I adored this story and I cannot recommend it highly enough. I hope that you will read the Bedroom Games and the Modern Love series before this one, if only to know who the other characters are that will join in on this story. It's not necessary, but it will make you enjoy this series that much more. Go ahead, click that button and get them!


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'Cinema's Exiles'Rise of Hitler sent a tide of talent to Hollywood
By Toby Tabachnick	December 29, 2008, 4:39 pm 0 Edit
In a PBS documentary on Isaac Stern she produced several years ago, Karen Thomas used some old footage of Stern accompanied by an unidentified man standing at a piano.
After the program aired, Thomas got a call from a man asking where she got that footage.
"From under Isaac Stern's bed," she told John Waxman, son of composer Franz Waxman, who recognized his dad as the gentleman by the piano.
Thomas, who at the time knew nothing of Franz Waxman, or his incredible story, met with his son, and heard a tale she decided was definitely worth telling.
Franz Waxman's journey as one of over 1,500 writers, composers, directors and actors exiled from Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1940 is the subject of Thomas' "Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood," which will air on WQED at 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 1.
Thomas, an award-winning producer, has written, directed and produced this new documentary examining the experiences of these artists in exile, and their effect on the Hollywood culture which absorbed them.
"John Waxman told me the story of his father, who was the orchestrator of 'The Blue Angel, (a classic film starring Marlene Dietrich) " Thomas recalled. " Franz Waxman was walking home after work one night [in Berlin], when he was dragged into an ally by Nazi thugs and beaten up." He immediately fled Berlin for Paris, and eventually landed in Los Angeles, where he went on to score over 200 films including "Rebecca," and "Sunset Boulevard."
Thomas discovered that hundreds of Hollywood notables, including Billy Wilder, Peter Lorre and Hedy Lamar also escaped to Hollywood during the Nazi occupation of Europe, and went on to enrich American cinema in new and innovative ways.
"This [documentary] is really about the effect of the Diaspora on the receiving culture," said Thomas. "It's basically about the impact on the country that's taking them in. What's really fascinating is how people on the outside make us look a little differently on ourselves."
The exiled artists were "predominately but not exclusively Jewish," Thomas said. "Some were anti-Fascist. Some had Jewish spouses. It is fair to say they were all really quite secular. They came out of the Bohemian culture in Berlin and Austria. They kind of didn't understand the religious angle. And they didn't become more religious once they came to the United States."
Thomas noted that these creative immigrants were able to contribute greatly to many genres of movies, especially film noir.
"Film noir is really about the dark side of human nature," Thomas said. "Every single one of these people lost someone in the concentration camps. And they all worked on film noir pictures."
Because of the influence of opera, and more dramatic staging techniques in Germany, the artists were able to introduce elements new to American film.
"If you look at the early horror pictures before 1933, if there's music, there's very little. When they [the immigrants] came, you have scoring from beginning to end. That's a huge contribution," said Thomas.
"Also, the dramatic lighting for the horror pictures comes strongly out of the German tradition. Now, it's all part and parcel of what we think of as our American cinema."
Narrated by actress Sigourney Weaver, the documentary uses film clips, and eyewitness accounts. Behind-the scenes archival footage of director Fritz Lang in Germany, and many previously unseen home movies and personal photographs that were provided by the families of the artists, are also featured.
"One of the incredible things about the generation that followed," said Thomas, "is the length to which the children go to honor their parents. It's really wonderful. Everybody is happy to participate in getting the story out because they are so proud of what their parents and grandparents accomplished in their struggles."
(Toby Tabachnick can be reached at tobyt@thejewishchronicle.net)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Last year's theme was "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus".
The fact is that long before you turned your eyes on Jesus he knew everything about you and watched you in love.
The moment your eyes meet you'll meet him for the first time.
As you get to know him deeply you will get to know yourself,maybe for the first time,and you will be set free.
Jesus first "saw" his first disciples, then he called them to follow him.
As the disciples saw him and heard his voice they instantly followed him.
Today Jesus is looking at you,he's calling you and waiting for you to say "yes" to him.


Hi there. I'm Trina, an 'on-location', life-style photographer based in Richmond Hill, ON. I'm wife to an amazing husband, mother of two wonderful children, self-proclaimed mini-van driving soccer mom, and of course the photographer behind 'Trina Hoadley Photography'.
I have always been fascinated by photography, and when I became a mother it was apparent how truly special photos are in documenting priceless candid moments. It was then when my love for photography grew and continues to grow.
Other passions of mine include: Getting the perfect picture on the first click; working with children who have various special needs; and obsessing over Pinterest.
If you are looking for a photographer with East Coast charm who is willing to roll up her sleeves to capture the perfect moments, I'm your gal! I want your images to make you smile, so you admire them for years to come.


Delicate details and pleasing patterns make this trio of doilies truly charming. But don't let their lighter-than-air appearance fool you! Because they're knitted, you get a denser fabric than you would with crochet. That means these doilies need only a minimum of starch to help them hold their shape. Knit the Shasta Daisy, Dahlia, and Heliotrope doilies using bedspread weight cotton thread in your choice of colors; then get ready to hear lots of compliments on your lacy, lovely creations. Leaflet - 16 pages by Leisure Arts.
©2004 - 2019 Candle on the Hill. All rights reserved.


One of the largest and best-preserved ghost towns in the U.S., Bodie, California, has been a state park and a National Historic Landmark since 1962.
One of the largest and best-preserved ghost towns in the United States, Bodie, California, has been a state park and a National Historic Landmark since 1962.
Photographer Matthew Christopher visited Bodie to document its remaining structures, including a church, the school, a funeral parlor, hotels, the general store and parts of the jail.
The website Abandoned America documents defunct and decaying sites across the USA. In previous months we've shared images of faded factories and industrial sites, abandoned churches and photos from a trolley graveyard.
You can also follow Christopher on Twitter @abandonedameric and see more from Abandoned America in the books "Dismantling the Dream" and "The Age of Consequences."


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Nov. 4, 2021 - Susan T. Burtch
Karen Petrou is the author of Engine of Inequality: The Fed and the Future of Wealth in America. Recently featured on NPR's "On Point" program, banking insider Petrou maintained that the Federal Reserve is a powerful driver of inequality that has avoided real scrutiny. As it formally flexes its power on interest rates and inflation, it has hindered economic growth.
Or, as explained in a recent New York Times article, "Conventional wisdom has it that the lower a central bank sets interest rates, the faster the economy grows. But the longer rates stay ultra-low, it's not the economy that grows – it's inequality."
Could – or should -- that change?
Jeffrey Lacker, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and distinguished professor of economics at VCU School of Business, was asked to weigh in with his opinion. While agreeing with Petrou that it's time for the Fed to step back from intervening in markets, Lacker feels skeptical about the Fed as a primary driver of inequality. Historically, he posits education and technology have been the primary drivers.
Petrou maintained, "In December the Fed pumped more liquidity into the markets than in 2008 during the financial crisis, but that has not fixed the economy. Markets are up 35% and millions of Americans are out of work, even though inflation is running rampant."
Lacker countered, "The Fed is an independent agency. It is accountable to Congress for outcomes of monetary stability. It should not have a mandate for inequality." Using an easily understood metaphor, he suggested that the Fed's independence is like putting your credit card in the freezer. It might be of benefit in the short run, but is probably not in your long-term best interest.
So, concluded podcast narrator Megna Chakrabarti, "There are choices the Fed can make. But will it?" As long as there are economic heavyweights like Petrou and Lacker focused on the issue, at least there will be intelligent discussion.
WBUR - On Point
Hear the NPR On Point podcast in its entirety.


Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves as he arrives at a house party in New Hampshire.
Real-estate magnate Donald Trump's presidential campaign appears to be costing him even more than he anticipated.
The billionaire Republican and television personality is losing business relationships left and right after he used harsh rhetoric to describe Mexican immigrants.
Macy's canceled its Trump clothing line. NBC said Trump will no longer be allowed to host "The Apprentice." Univision, NBC, and a host of celebrities dropped Trump's Miss Universe Organization beauty pageants, including the upcoming "Miss USA" show. Even a mattress company announced that it would halt its Trump-branded products. And the businessman's critics are amping up pressure on his other endeavors.
It's impossible to precisely determine how much money these hits have cost Trump — especially because there's a lot of disagreement about how much his brand is worth.
When he announced his campaign last month, Trump published a document that pegged his net worth at roughly $9 billion, with more than one-third of that coming from "real estate licensing deals, brand, and branded developments." Forbes disagreed at the time, valuing his personal brand at $125 million and Trump-branded hotels' management fees at $128 million.
However, there are some estimates at how much Trump has lost since his controversial campaign launch, when he blasted Mexico for supposedly sending "rapists" and drug runners to the US.
Notably, The Wrap published a story Wednesday estimating that Trump has already lost "somewhere around $50.5 million." Business Insider couldn't independently verify the number, but we've reached out to Trump representatives to see if they disagree and will update this post if we hear back.
"Trump's royalties from his licensed Macy's menswear line came in at $3.2 million between 2005 and 2007. It is reasonable to presume that those figures have held steady."
"Trump himself places a $14.8 million value on the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants, which he co-owns in a joint venture with NBCUniversal. Those will be far less valuable without a network TV home."
"In 2011, it was reported that he makes $65 million per year on 'Apprentice.' At the time, NBC said his real compensation isn't even in sniffing range of that number. ... [G]iven NBC's heavy balk at the $65 million figure, let's cut that number in half and put Trump's 'Celebrity Apprentice' fee at approximately $32.5 million."
If that number is accurate, $50 million would just be a tiny fraction of Trump's massive personal fortune. However, it could effectively double the cost of his presidential campaign, which he is self-funding.
Past self-financed presidential campaigns, which have largely been unsuccessful, exacted a bit under $50 million from the candidates.
According to The New York Times, Republican businessman Steve Forbes spent $69 million total in both the 1996 and 2000 presidential races. The same report said Ross Perot's two third-party White House campaigns cost the Texas businessman $71 million. And The Washington Post reported that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) spent $45 million on his failed 2008 bid.
For his part, Trump has repeatedly insisted that his remarks about Mexican immigrants shouldn't be especially controversial. He noted Wednesday that President Barack Obama reportedly referred to "gangbangers" crossing the border, for example, and he frequently says pressure is only being applied to his business ventures because his political agenda promises to shake up the status quo.
In a Wednesday night Fox News interview, Trump also said his candidacy is proving true the argument that it's challenging for successful businessmen to run for president.
"I've always said that if you're a very successful person ... it's very hard to run for political office, especially the office of president, OK? I'm proving that," he said. "Because Macy's chokes and NBC is weak and they choke. And I understand that."
He added, "Fortunately it doesn't have any impact on me because it's not big stuff, monetarily. But I will tell you something: People, they're just not able to handle the pressure."
Asked who he expects to cut ties with him next, Trump rhetorically shrugged.
"I don't know," he said. "Whoever it is, it is."
Click here to read the full report at The Wrap.


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By TJ AJ RJ / IV the V - United States - San Diego
Today, my boss flipped me off in traffic on my way to work. FML
Late term
BO Central
By maybe next time? - Australia - Greystanes
Today, I was participating in an activity to join a program which I really wanted to join. One of the teachers in charge seemed to notice my efforts and asked if I wanted to join the program. I said yes, thinking I had a chance. She laughed, shook her head before saying no and walking away. FML
By Poorfish - United States
Today, my fish's tank was all green and nasty, but I had no time to clean it because I woke up late, so the job was left to my mom. When I came back, the water level seemed high, and the fish looked a little strange, so I asked my mom what she did. She said "I cleaned the tank with chlorine!" FML
By - - United States
Today, my daughter got engaged. Her fiancé is not only 25 years older than her, but was her teacher in middle school. FML
By randomjulz - United States
Today, my husband asked me to come see his turd. After saying no, he said, "What kind of wife are you?" FML
Today, I had to explain to a coworker that even though, yes, I'm Polish and, yes, my family's from Poland, that, no, we're not from The North Pole. We're not from Antarctica either. FML
By catgiraffegirl - United States
Today, I had to inform my roommate that dry shampoo, deodorant, and perfume are not the same as a shower. It's been two weeks. FML
By huh? - United States - Monterey Park
Creepy Dick Pic
Today, my ex-boyfriend sent me a photo of him getting head from a gorgeous woman. He captioned it "Jealous?" with smiley emojis. I'm not sure what's creepier, the fact that he sent it, that he even has my new number or that we broke up more than 8 years ago. FML
By Alex - United States
Today, I had to run a mile in gym class for fitness training. If it takes longer than 10 minutes to run the stretch, you have to re-take it. My time was 10:02. FML
By Leo_RxXx - United States
Today, I was getting off of work, talking to my boss and I asked if I could get a ride home, since my usual ride was too lazy to come get me. He said, sure, but to be really careful since he just had his car detailed. I was getting in the car, tripped and threw my hot cocoa all inside of his car. FML
By Pinkie - United States
Today, I had to announce to the whole house that I was going the bathroom, because the lock on the door is broken. Before I had the chance to wipe, my dad loudly burst through the door, stark bollock naked, to take a shower. FML
By poop - United States
Today, my boss decided to post a photo of a piece of crap on Facebook. He tagged me in it. FML
By DeadBroke - United States
Today, I broke up with my boyfriend of 2 years because I was tired of his childishness and anger, so he decided to send me 540 random text messages of scrambled letters in order to mess up my phone as well, as make me pay 20 cents for each message. FML
By Anonymous - Norway - Mo I Rana
Today, I accidentally let a huge one rip while tending to an older patient at the nursing home where I work. The patient passed away shortly thereafter. Coincidence? FML
By ambiiii - United States - Marble Falls
Today, my niece started crying because she thought that someday she'll look like me. FML
By Job Seeking - Australia - Melbourne
Today, I was cleaning at work when an elderly gentleman walked towards me, paused, and with a wink said, "That's what I like to see: a girl on her knees." This is the same workplace where another old man informed me that my yellow uniform made me look like a "suggestive cheesecake." FML
By BrianP - Netherlands
Today, I came home to found all of my belongings out on the street. My roommate, who is also my brother, apparantly neglected to pay his part of the rent, and we got evicted. FML
By Anonymous - United States - Newtown Square
Today, after hearing the results of my spinal tap, following several scans, my doctor said discovering that I have Multiple Sclerosis was a "happy accident". FML
Today, as part of the treatment for my bulimia, my doctor informed me that I will not be allowed to go to the bathroom unsupervised. Meaning there will have to be another person in the bathroom with me at all times. I have a nervous bladder. I couldn't go if I wanted to. FML
By dysfunctional_ravenclaw - United States - Houston
Today, I made the egregious mistake of going on RateMyTeachers. My students think that, while I'm a good teacher, I have constant "wardrobe malfunctions" and spill my "bloody ass tampons all over the place like a bitch". I teach 6th graders. FML
By Anonymous - Canada - Toronto
Today, I came across some bubble wrap. Turned out it was a special type of bubble wrap that cannot be popped. FML
Today, I got a phone call from my boss, who'd hired me after two months of waiting and begging for this position. A week into the job, the company is closing our store. FML
By Anonymous - France - Belloy-en-france
Today, dressed in my sexiest nightie, I asked my boyfriend in the most sensual voice possible what he'd like me do to for him tonight. His eyed widened, he started clapping wildly and then shrieked, "SPAGHETTI CARBONARA!" FML
By SendHelpAndBleach
Today, I decided to surprise my parents who I haven't seen in a while. They weren't home, but I still have a key so I let myself in. When I went to my old room to put down my bags, I was greeted by a sex swing. FML
By Stilljobless - United Kingdom
Today, I got a missed call from a job that I really really want. I completely forgot that my answer machine message was a ridiculous and rude poem that I recorded previously when I was drunk. Somehow I don't think I'll be getting a call back. FML
By KlutzyFarmGirl - United States
Glamorous...
Today, I went into the farm where I work. Within the first 30 minutes I slipped on a fresh cow pie and broke my ankle. FML
By feel so dirty
Today, I asked my husband when he first knew he loved me. He replied, totally honestly, that I was the easiest girl he'd ever managed to talk into a one night stand, only instead of doing the walk of shame the next morning, I stayed so long we ended up married with kids. FML
By floff
Today, I broke a toe. It was not too bad and I can still walk, but the doctors had to tape it to the next toe to help it heal. Turns out I am allergic to the glue on the tape. The pain of the blisters covering two toes and the itch is worst than the break. FML
By Anonymous - United Kingdom - Barry
Today, I had to sneak out of work to get my daughter from her school. Apparently, she had thought that hurling a bowling ball down the stairs during the lunch hour rush would make her cool. In actual fact, it made her expelled. FML
By that guy - United States - Atascadero
Today, my girlfriend told her parents that she's pregnant. We have never even come close to having sex, but she told them I'm the father. Not only is my girlfriend cheating on me, but her father now wants me dead. FML
By thefuck - Ireland - Ballyjamesduff
Today, my house was egged while I went out shopping. When I told my dad about it, he immediately and casually admitted to being the one who did it, asking, "You got a fucking problem with that, son?" I don't know if he's just messing with my head, or if he really did do it. FML
By Anonymous - United States - Arlington Heights
Today, I went to a café and got some soup. When I was done, a nice waiter came over and offered to take my mostly empty soup bowl. I quickly at the last of it, looked up smiling and said "thanks". The soup dribbled out of my mouth and onto his hand. FML
By Anonymous - United States - Meredith
Today, I tried to impress my girlfriend by vaulting over the side of a stairway rail parkour-style. Now I feel like I almost broke my legs, and judging by her hysterical laughter, she considers me more of a fool than a stud. FML
By scubai - United States
Today, I was giving my boyfriend head. As I was beginning to enjoy and really get into it, I heard him say, "Oh my god, this is good shit." I looked up sexily, only to find that he was eating a Twinkie. FML
By bad luck Bianca - United States - Houston
Today, I saw a stick in my car and picked it up to throw it out the window. The "stick" turned out to have eyes. It was a dead lizard. FML
By 14YearOld - United Kingdom
Today, I found out my parents have a list of everything I have ever Googled. FML
By Fluory - United States
Today, my boyfriend asked me why I chose to date him. After going on for five minutes about how unique and funny he is, I ask him the same question. His reply? "You were the first person to ask me out." He then rolled over and fell asleep. FML
By IB6UB9 - United States
Today, I woke up and looked in the mirror and noticed that my face was covered in glitter. I asked my wife about it and she said she put it on me while I was sleeping so that I would sparkle like Edward from Twilight when I'm in the sunlight. FML
By lynn - United States
Today, I found out my cousin - who suffers from bipolar disorder - shot herself in the chest and has only a 20 percent chance of living. I told my boyfriend, while crying, and he held me for a few minutes. As soon as I got quiet, he pulled out his iPhone and started playing a shooter game. FML
By Can't Spell Worth A Damn - United States
Today, I was writing an email to our entire company regarding a fundraiser we are taking part in for children and adults with disabilities. I was rushing to get the email out and hit send before I realized that instead of "Best Regards" I had typed "Best Retards" as the closing line. FML
By DeniedAgain - United States
Today, I walked into a gas station and saw some $.25 gum. It looked good and I thought I'd had a quarter in my pocket. I find no change in my pocket once I get to the register, so I pull out my credit card. The cashier laughs a few seconds later. My card was declined for a piece of gum. FML
By _Peppermint_ | 34
#6124480 - Friday 21 November 2014 15:44
You should've taken a picture.
Send a private message 68 4 Reply
By silvercamaro | 22
Flip him off at work
PeopleLikeGrapes | 12
And what? Report it to his boss? ;)
redstone7693 | 29
#6124930 - Saturday 22 November 2014 2:16
snitch...
touch_the_sky_77 | 22
I could totally make a Harry Potter reference right now...
Axipiter | 24
Forget Harry Potter... Top Gun. Flip him the bird while you're inverted right above him, and take a Polaroid.
Cr1spyBacon8r | 7
#6637761 - Monday 27 June 2016 17:04
#41, I don't think most people get the reference... This saddens me.
garrett_8614 | 14
Something tells me that's not a good idea
By TanzWolf | 26
At least he'll know why you're late?
TanzWolf | 26
I was saying because he's in traffic, and the fact that his boss flipped him off means he's mad, because he's going to be late. Just an assumption.
SystemofaBlink41 | 27
I know I would, #13.
By everton99 | 16
This guys name!!! Best Key and Peele sketch ever.
By jimmer23 | 21
Ehh, people do worse things to each other in cars than just flip you off. He could have mooned you. Can't come back from that level of awkwardness.
razoray9 | 21
#6125608 - Sunday 23 November 2014 0:36
Yes because it's possible to moon someone while driving a car
By Sports_guy3 | 28
Better act like you didn't notice it at work.
By Sakuraashita | 15
Maybe he couldn't tell it was you? Better park in the back lot for a while...
By DenverTyrrell | 13
Wow...fun day at work then?
By MattM95 | 16
I'm guessing OP's boss has some road rage issues. Sounds like a fun day at work!
Send a private message 2 11 Reply
By TheGolfGTI | 24
I don't take to kindly to those sort of things. I would have flipped out.


text:
MediaVigil, Journal of Global Communications and Justice
Without the right to communicate and democratisation of communication, the right to life, justice, freedom of speech and expression is meaningless. Since 2004 MediaVigil attempts to keep track of traditional offline and digital media that faces the onslaught of monopolistic tendencies and is wary of regressive localisation of media. MediaVigil invites narratives and write-ups on truth about covid19. E-mail: krishnagreen@gmil.com For Details: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/mediavigil/info
Waste follows the path of least resistance
By mediavigil - November 04, 2007
Note: Are Hazardous Wastes and Hazardous Materials Synonymous? No, said Supreme Court and Basel Convention.
Yes, says Ministry of Environment & Forests even as its proposed Hazardous Rules make India least resistant to global waste flow. Startled by the proposed Draft Hazardous Materials (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2007 of Ministry of Environment & Forests currently headed by the Prime Minister, environment and public health researchers and activists have termed it as a gross act of linguistic corruption to satiate hazardous waste traders' naked lust for profit.
Unlike what is being attempted by the Ministry, the classification into hazardous waste is based on the system for the classification and labelling of dangerous substances and preparations, which ensures the application of similar principles over their whole life cycle. It is an effort to undo whatever good has been by the Supreme Court and its committees.
The Draft Rules (available at http://www.envfor.nic.in/legis/hsm/HAZMAT_Draft.pdf) propose to redefine "hazardous waste" as "hazardous material", contrary to the definition provided by the Supreme Court and UN's Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal was adopted in Basel, Switzerland on 22 March 1989 and entered into force on 5 May 1992 with its Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.
India is a party to this Convention. (http://www.basel.int/text/documents.html)
As per a notification signed by R.K.Vaish, Joint Secretary, Hazardous Substances Management Division, Ministry of Environment & Forests and dated 28 September 2007, the Ministry has announced its motive to amend the existing Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 that too has been amended from time to time imposed restrictions and prescribed procedures for management, handling and disposal of hazardous wastes as per Supreme Court's directions. The notification says, "after expiry of a period of sixty days form the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette; The objections or suggestions which may be received from any person in respect of the said draft rules before the period specified will be taken into consideration by the Central Government. Any person desirous of making any objection or suggestion with respect to the said draft rules may forward the same within the period so specified to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan, Central Government Offices Complex, New Delhi-110003."
In manifest contempt of court's directions, the proposed Rules entails exempting the transit countries from providing prior informed consent for all shipments of hazardous waste to India. What is baffling is that the proposal states that as long as a material contains less than 60% contamination by a hazardous constituent, then it is eco-friendly and safe for our ecology. Waste asbestos imports are banned unless they are embedded in the structure. The proposed Rules are a product of those Development fundamentalists who advocate "Economic Growth at any cost"-by poisoning and polluting human body, wildlife and environment- due to the dictates of unbridled market forces and trade.
The apex court in its landmark judgement made the position unambiguously clear. It says, "Hazardous Wastes are highly toxic in nature. The industrialization has had the effect of generation of huge quantities of hazardous wastes. These and other side effects of development gave birth to principles of sustainable development so as to sustain industrial growth. The hazardous waste required adequate and proper control and handling. Efforts are required to be made to minimise it. In developing nations, there are additional problems including that of dumping of hazardous waste on their lands by some of the nations where cost of destruction of such waste is felt very heavy. These and other allied problems gave birth to Basel Convention. The key objectives of the Basel Convention are: " to minimize the generation of hazardous wastes in terms of quantity and hazardousness; to dispose of them as close to the source of generation as possible; to reduce the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes."
The court further noted, "…the hazardous wastes situation in India is fairly grim. Hazardous wastes, found dumped in the open environment have been the cause of widespread pollution of ground water, creating drought-like situations in areas traditionally not lacking in water suppliers. Public hearings conducted by the High Power Committee on Hazardous Wastes (HPC) in several cities brought forward pleas and representations of distress from affected victims and harsh complaints about lack of response from statutory authorities. The authorities appear to have ignored several warnings, reports, investigations and studies that highlighted zones of ecological degradation due to indiscriminate dumping and disposal of hazardous wastes. The High Power Committee on Hazardous Wastes noted that there was a lack of policy and vision at the highest level. This has resulted in a very poor management system. This situation cannot be allowed to continue."
In effect, the proposed Rules is a formal announcement of globalization of the toxic chemical crisis. The co-opted silence and self-serving lip-service of a section of environmental outfits who swear by environmental justice is starkly evident. As long as there is corporate funding to political parties such unjust and barbaric acts of quid pro quo will always be attempted.
It creates a unique moment for all the environment, public health, human rights and civil rights institutions, academicians, activists, NGOs and trade unions to join hands in opposition to toxic trade in toxic wastes, toxic products and toxic technologies, that are sought to be exported from rich countries to India and to resist a similar trend within the country as well.
There is no alternative to corporate accountability; waste management through clean production and reduction in the use of toxics chemicals through life cycle assessment, precautionary principle, eco-design, extended producers' responsibility and polluter pays principle bu the same is sought to be undermined by the proposed Rules.
This Rule intends to legitimize the illegalities currently being practised. Providing a perspective from Malaysia on the illegal traffic of Blue Lady (SS Norway) Hilary Chiew has authored Hazardous shipyards and has taken stock of "Appalling working conditions and widespread pollution are common in India's ship-breaking yards"in her piece published on 13 November, 2007 in The Star newspaper. Norwegian Cruise Line and its parent company Star Cruises Ltd (SCL) has refused to assume decontamination responsibilities for Blue Lady. Malaysian authorities appear unconcerned over the matter since the vessel had departed in May 2006. Department of Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have not responded to calls from campaigners who urged Malaysia to exercise its rights to compel Germany to recall the ship and to abide by its obligation to prevent the illicit trade. It is learnt that the authorities are seeking legal advice. A spokesman from SCL said "the company is unable to comment at this point in time".
Given is the full story
Hazardous shipyards
Appalling working conditions and widespread pollution are common in India's ship-breaking yards.
ON A stretch of beach in the state of Gujarat, western India, impoverished Bhojpuri- and Oriya-speaking workers are salvaging whatever valuables they can find from an 11-deck cruise ship.
Anchored in Alang waters since June 2006, the 46,000-tonne Blue Lady (formerly the luxurious trans-Atlantic liner SS Norway) has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle in the Indian Supreme Court. A breakthrough for the ship-breaking industry came on Sept 11 when the apex court gave the green light for it to be dismantled.
The Supreme Court has ruled on grounds of fait accompli: the situation has become "irreversible" since the vessel has beached but it has asked that precautionary measures be taken in dismantling the ship.
The 44-year-old Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vessel is at the centre of an international outcry against the dumping of toxic wastes on the shores of South Asian sub-standard yards that have no decontamination facilities.
The 315m-long ship was retired from the fleet of NCL in May 2003 after an engine room fire and explosion in Miami. It was later towed to Bremerhaven, Germany, for repairs but was relocated to Port Klang in August 2005. NCL was acquired by Malaysian Genting Group's Star Cruise Ltd, the world's third largest cruise company, in 2000.
Bangladesh, the original destination, rejected the ship in February 2006 as its contents are harmful to the environment and human health. The ship was eventually towed out of Port Klang in May 2006 for repairs in Dubai. However, the vessel instead entered the Gujarat port a month later, triggering a series of court actions.
The Indian Supreme Court allowed the vessel to enter Indian waters on humanitarian grounds when the purchaser Haryana Ship Demolition cited "difficulties due to monsoon storm". But campaigners claimed the owner and purchaser had timed the ship's departure to coincide with monsoons after an eight-month wait in Malaysia. (The ship has since been sold to Priya Blue Shipping Ltd.)
NGOs Platform on Ship-breaking, a grouping of Greenpeace International, Basel Action Network, Ban Asbestos Network of India and nine other groups, has since appealed the decision which it claimed has violated the same court's ruling five days earlier. On Sept 6, the court had banned the entry of contaminated vessels and asked the government to produce a comprehensive ship-breaking policy.
Gopal Krishna of Ban Asbestos Network India alleged that the about-turn was due to collusion between government officials and the steel lobby that is desperate to keep the business alive at the notorious beach.
The ship is believed to contain 1,200 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated materials, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), radioactive materials and other hazardous substances that could endanger the lives of nearly 700 workers and some 30,000 villagers.
The dismantling is expected to take one year and will be done by uneducated migrant workers with little safety training and equipment.
Permission to beach the vessel was granted on Aug 1, 2006, by the court following inspection by the Technical Committee. NGOs Platform said the inspection did not comply with international and national laws.
It said the inspection team failed to quantify and identify the location of asbestos and PCBs on the ship, and failed to address the absence of technical capacity of the Alang shipyard to manage the dangerous materials and protect the workers. It pointed out that the government ignored an offer from a salvage company to refloat the vessel.
Under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, ships that have outlived their service are considered hazardous waste and unless decontaminated, are forbidden from being exported. The convention was designed to curb the dumping of toxic wastes from developed countries to developing nations, which often have less stringent environmental laws.
The Blue Lady saga mirrors the case of the Danish ship Riky in 2005, which was dismantled amid accusations of violations of both the convention and a court order that demanded decontamination and an inventory of hazardous materials onboard. In early 2006, French aircraft carrier Le Clemenceau was allowed to enter Indian waters laden with toxic substances until the French government, under intense public pressure and legal actions, recalled the ship.
Appeals by NGOs Platform urging the ship owner, Norwegian Cruise Line and its parent company Star Cruises Ltd (SCL) to assume responsibilities for Blue Lady went unanswered.
NGOs Platform also claimed that SCL withheld vital information from the German authorities when it sought permission to leave Bremerhaven. It said as early as December 2004, NCL had devalued SS Norway to a scrap value of US$12mil and was aware of the hefty cost to remove the wastes, rendering the sale for reuse unlikely. Hence, the intent to dispose was formed but not disclosed to the German and Malaysian authorities.
Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities appear unconcerned over the matter since the vessel had departed in May 2006. Department of Environment and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have not responded to calls from campaigners who urged Malaysia to exercise its rights to compel Germany to recall the ship and to abide by its obligation to prevent the illicit trade.
It is learnt that the authorities are seeking legal advice. A spokesman from SCL said "the company is unable to comment at this point in time".
In an analytical article in Frontline "The dilution of a principle" V. Venkatesan argues that "The Supreme Court judgment permitting the dismantling of Blue Lady reverses key milestones in environmental jurisprudence. "
In "Shipload of trouble" Lyla Bavadam submits, "The Blue Lady case is a litmus test of the Indian government's stand on hazardous wastes" in the November 03-16, 2007 issue of Frontline.
The Environment Ministry, at least since 1995, has been guilty of numerous acts of omission and commission
After hazardous wastes, now it's municipal and hospital wastes. It is not that we did not know about it but the condemnation from the Union Health Minister is noteworthy since it shows how waste is flowing from the North to the South as a global trend.
This underlines the importance of Prior Informed Consent. Although the custom officials of the Kochi port deserve appreciation unlike the officials at Alang port in Gujarat who have continued to let hazardous waste enter Indian waters with impunity. In Kochi, three containers sent from New York based Belsun Corporation in the name of recycling had medical wastes, municipal, surgical, bio-medical and even e-waste.
As in Kochi, at Alang too the ship named Blue Lady (SS Norway) that was allowed anchorage on humanitarian grounds admittedly has a huge amount of hazardous wastes such as asbestos, radioactive material, incineration ash, ballast water, PCBs, heavy metals.
But due to the lame and hollow excuse of the supposed irreversibility of the ship offered by Gopal Subramaniam, Additional Solicitor General, it remains there, although Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Chairman, High Power Committee on Hazardous Wastes, had recommended that it be sent back. In this case the company in question is Star Cruise Ltd that has so far successfully attempted to escape its decontamination cost in the aftermath of boiler explosion of 2003 in Miami.
In March 2007, Bhagvatsinh Haubha Gohil, sarpanch of Sosiya, Tehsil Talaja, Gujarat, filed an application on behalf of 12 sarpanchs and 30,000 people who live within the distance of 1 to 25 km from the ship breaking yard at Alang before the Justice Balakrishnan bench, which listed the matter for hearing before the Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice S.H. Kapadia bench in the Blue Lady case.
These people largely depend on seafood that is under threat from ship-breaking. The ship in question contains a large amount of asbestos that poses a huge risk to the villagers. Their application is yet to be heard although the final orders were passed on September 11. The 45-year old, 315-metre long and 16-storey asbestos laden toxic ship still has radioactive material at more than 1,000 places.
Accident rate
The hazardous waste generating ship-breaking industry is already known to have a higher accident rate (2 workers per 1,000) than the mining industry (0.34 per 1,000). This is considered the worst in the world, and 16 per cent of the workers here are suffering from asbestos related diseases. In its order on September 11, the Supreme Court advanced "the concept of 'balance' under the principle of proportionality applicable in the case of sustainable development…" and ruled:
"It cannot be disputed that no development is possible without some adverse effect on the ecology and environment, and the projects of public utility cannot be abandoned and it is necessary to adjust the interest of the people as well as the necessity to maintain the environment. A balance has to be struck between the two interests. Where the commercial venture or enterprise would bring in results which are far more useful for the people, difficulty of a small number of people has to be bypassed. The comparative hardships have to be balanced and the convenience and benefit to a larger section of the people has to get primacy over comparatively lesser hardship."
This is the logic advanced by the Union Environment Ministry that makes India a dumping ground of developed countries. At least since 1995, this Ministry has been guilty of numerous acts of omission and commission that endanger environmental health. It is the respondent in the hazardous wastes case and has been fined by the apex court for dereliction of duty.
By not hearing the matter of gross illegality committed by Riky, the Danish ship and by condoning the entry of Blue Lady in Indian territorial waters in violation of court's own orders of October 14, 2003 and September 6, 2007, all relevant international laws such as the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal have been violated besides international labour conventions and treaties — that govern the breaking of contaminated ships — to all of which India is a signatory.
The condemnation by the Health Ministry makes a case for the merger of the Environment Ministry with it because it is more concerned about the environmental health of the citizens.
November 04, 2007 The Hindu
P.S:Refusing to learn any lessons from its past failures, Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is promoting obsolete waste treatment technology by misplaced claims of Rakesh Mehta, currently Power Secretary, Delhi Government (foremer Commissioner of Municipal Corporation Delhi about Carbon Credits from Incineration of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) that is based on combustion of municipal solid waste. It is reliably learnt that the Timarpur-Okhla Waste Management Co Pvt Ltd (TOWMCL), the Special Purpose Vehicle between Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd. (IL&FS) and has received registration for its integrated waste to energy CDM project by the CDM Executive Board of UNFCCC although Indian incineration based waste to energy projects are quite manifestly business as usual projects, therefore, they do not meet the additionality criteria. It has received registration in November, 2007. This integrated project hopes to generate 2.6 million Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs) over a 10 year crediting period beginning 2009. The proposed project includes two MSW processing plants at Okhla and Timarpur. The Okhla plant will also include a 16MW power plant using RDF and biogas derived from waste to be used as fuel for renewable power. Average RDF is about 225 TPD at both locations. A biomethantion plant with 100TPD capacity is also planned at Okhla in New Delhi. A significant point to note is that in India, income from CERs are not taxed. They wish to receive CERs for this project to earn revenue by selling those CERs.
The central problem with the Timarpur proposal is that waste burning technology cannot automatically be deemed a renewable energy project. If anything, MCD and TWMCPL's attempt to classify the WTE plant as a CDM project is far fetched and misleading. Waste incineration is itself a greenhouse gas emitter and cannot qualify as CDM project. Incineration of waste violates Kyoto Protocol because as per the Protocol waste incineration is a green house gas emitter.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) allows industrialised countries to meet their emission reduction targets by paying for green house gas emission reduction in developing countries. Say that a company in India switches from coal power to biomass and that the CDM board certifies that by doing this, the company has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 100,000 tonnes per year. The company will be issued 100,000 Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs). One CER corresponds to reduced green house gas emissions by one tonne of carbon dioxide per year.
For example, if a project generates energy using wind power instead of burning coal, and saves 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, it can claim 50 CERs.
Under the Kyoto Protocol, for instance the United Kingdom (a developed country) has to reduce its green house gas emissions by 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. Continuing with the example above, if the UK purchases the 100,000 CERs from the Indian company, its target goes down from 1 million tonnes/year to 900,000 tonnes per year, making the goal that much easier to achieve. Developed countries are expected to buy CERs from developing countries under the CDM process to help them achieve their Kyoto targets. CERs are therefore a "certificate", like a stock and help achieve trading of emissions credits.
Aqaba Express has been renamed a MV Al Arabia. Following an alert by Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI), Indian Express reported on 6th November, 2007, "Another ship docks in Alang, another toxic, asbestos alert"
Close on the heels of the Blue Lady controversy, another ship has landed in Alang to be dismantled.
This time, the UN's Basel Secretariat has written to the Indian Government warning that the ship, Aqaba Express, containing asbestos and other hazardous material may be on its way to shipbreaking yards. The ship anchored in Alang on October 27.
The letter from the UN says that the vessel was arrested in Spain for operating under a certificate that indicated it was on a final voyage for demolition in either Alang or Chittagong. "The results of the lab tests showed that the vessel contains hazardous substances such as asbestos and PCB. However, the ship was subsequently allowed to leave upon issuance of new documentation that showed it was en route to Romania for refurbishment," says the letter.
When the letter was written on October 2, the ship had crossed the Suez Canal and was in the Indian Ocean. Built in 1975, it was earlier called Beni Ansar. It's registered in Moroni in Comoros, off the coast of Africa. The Basel Secretariat has asked the government to ensure that the standards of the Basel Convention are met. According to this, the ship must receive "Prior Informed Consent" as a notification indicating that it does not contain hazardous substances. This requires sampling and testing of onboard materials. This ship has none of these. The owner of the yard where the ship has beached was unable for comment.
In the last two years, this is the third large vessel to land. First was Le Clemenceau, recalled by France, then came Blue Lady. The Supreme Court passed an order on Sept 6 laying strict guidelines for dismantling of ships in Alang.
Lawyer of Aqaba Express says that the owner has been required to give
guarantee enough that the ship will go to Constanza. About this, they said, /Guarantee enough is an absolutly abstract term, without legal definition so they understand that guarantee enough is:
/ * /Repairing contract.../
* /Classification certificate, in the annex of which is mentioned
that the ship is authorised to go to Romania/
And they add:
/"It must be taken into account that not to comply the contract by the owners will allow the repairing company to start a legal case in London, under English legislation. So the owner has no intention to break the contract......"/
/"The State which flagged the ship, through the Classification
Certificate allows the ship to go to Romania, and this should be
understood as guarantee given by a sovereign state..."/.
Shipload of trouble
The Blue Lady case is a litmus test of the Indian government's stand on hazardous wastes.
Controversy is not new to Blue Lady. The 76,049-tonne luxury liner, formerly known as SS Norway and before that SS France, was once the largest passenger ship in the world and has a colourful history.
The ship's first encounter with controversy was in 1974 when trade unionists commandeered it in an attempt to prevent its sale and also to secure wage increases for the crew. The bid failed and the ship was sold. The following years saw more controversies as the ship aged and its owners thought of ways to make it more profitable.
In 2003, a boiler explosion on the now renamed SS Norway killed seven of its crew and injured 17 in the port of Miami. That was the final straw. The ship was withdrawn and towed first to Germany and then to an anchorage off Port Klang in Malaysia. This was the beginning of the controversy that continues to dog the ship even as it lies beached at Alang in Gujarat.
When a ship leaves a port of origin it is mandatory for the master to present the onward plan. The plan given by SS Norway was that it was being taken to Malaysia to be made into a floating hotel. This, Gopal Krishna of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Ban Asbestos Network of India (BANI) says, was "clearly fraudulent [considering the severity of the boiler explosion on the 44-year-old vessel]". But the German port authorities did not challenge it. By now, the ship had changed ownership from Norwegian Cruise Lines to Haryana Ship Demolition Pvt. Ltd. This in itself is an indication that the floating hotel plan was merely a charade. But this was probably not known at the time since it was a proxy buyer who bought the ship.
The ship left German waters in May 2005 and docked in Malaysia. Then it left for Dubai, citing a need for repairs, but actually moved towards Bangladesh where it was refused entry. It was then steered towards India in May 2006, but a timely application in the Supreme Court by Gopal Krishna prevented it from entering Indian waters. With the impending monsoon, the ship's owners (Haryana Ship Demolition Pvt. Ltd.) pleaded humanitarian grounds and the Court permitted anchorage at Pipavav port near Alang. After getting this permission, the ship sailed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and returned after 25 days. What it did in that period remains a mystery. On its return it was beached at Alang.
The Supreme Court had given it permission only to anchor off Pipavav for the monsoon and not for beaching. The contention that a beached ship cannot be refloated has been contested in a letter sent by the U.S.-based Crowley Maritime Corporation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, offering to refloat the vessel.
The master of Blue Lady had given a false declaration saying that there were no hazardous materials when there were 1,100 locations on the ship that held radioactive matter. Blue Lady had close to 1,700 tonnes of hazardous material – two and a half times more than that in the aircraft carrier Clemenceau, which France recalled in February 2006 from Alang, says Gopal Krishna. Besides, the ship did not carry papers saying it had been decontaminated. This should have sufficed to send the ship back since India is a signatory to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
Proxy buying is a common business in shipping. It is a convenient loophole that permits both seller and buyer to evade laws that would result in huge expenses. In the case of Blue Lady, were it to be dismantled, the owners would have had to decontaminate the ship in Germany itself under the Basel Convention. However, decontamination in Europe of a ship the size of Blue Lady would have cost nearly 30 million euros, according to reliable estimates.
In August 2006, Norwegian Cruise Lines sold the ship to Bridgend Shipping of Monrovia for scrapping. The ship was renamed Blue Lady. The bill of sale says the vessel was sold for $10! The ship was to go to Bangladesh for scrapping but the government in Dhaka refused entry because of the vast amount of asbestos on board. It was then sold to Haryana Ship Demolition Pvt. Ltd., which claimed to be the bona fide owner but could not show documents of proof. In July 2006, the ship was sold to its current owner, Priya Blue Industries Pvt. Ltd. in Alang, which, too, has been unable to produce the papers of ownership.
Clemenceau's sale was also supposed to have been via the proxy buyer system but in this case it failed. A particular clause in the proxy system says that ownership will be transferred after dismantling. The benefit of this clause extends to both the buyer and the seller. If the buyer manages to break the ship, well and good; if he does not, then it returns to the port of origin. The basic idea is to avoid the heavy cost of decontaminating a ship in a Western port of origin. An owner who has to do this attaches the cost he has borne to the sale price when he sells a ship to a ship-breaker. Thus it is suitable to both the seller and the buyer to try and evade decontamination in Western countries.
The proxy buyer comes in at this point. Simply put, the proxy buyer permits a shipowner to dump a vessel without the onus of decontamination costs. This is how it worked for Blue Lady. Norwegian Cruise Lines sold SS Norway to Bridgend for a ridiculous amount, but there is no way to find fault with Norwegian Cruise Lines since it can sell its ship for whatever price it chooses. Of course, it does not take much imagination to figure out that the real price is paid off the record, which explains why proxy buyers are also known as cash buyers.
Once the deal is made, the proxy buyer usually changes the ship's name so that the original owner can further distance himself from the affair. In this case, SS Norway became Blue Lady. The next step towards dismantling was easier – Bridgend sold the ship to Haryana Ship Demolition, which in turn sold it to Priya Blue. Thus, the role of the proxy buyer is primarily to enable shipowners to keep their reputation and also avoid the cost of decontamination.
Now that Blue Lady is beached and the Supreme Court has permitted its dismantling, a 12-point guideline for worker safety has to be adhered to. This includes procedures for decontamination and correct disposal of toxic waste. Dismantling has not yet started because the ship-breaker has not been able to comply with all the requirements.
It is estimated that Blue Lady has close to 1,700 tonnes of waste such as asbestos, asbestos containing material (ACM) and radioactive material, namely Americium-241. Even its owner Priya Blue confirms this. According to the United States Environment Protection Agency, Americium-241 can stay in the human body for decades if ingested or inhaled or if there is direct external exposure to its alpha particles and gamma rays. Exposure to Americium-241 poses a cancer risk.
It is now acknowledged that dismantling of ships has effects that go far beyond causing harm to those who are in immediate contact with the materials. Air, surface water, groundwater and soil have been contaminated over the decades. Local villagers have decided that enough is enough. Bhagvatsinh Haluba Gohil, sarpanch of Sosiya village in Bhavnagar district, and the sarpanches of 12 other villages, have filed an application in the Supreme Court to halt the dismantling of Blue Lady, on behalf of 30,000 villagers who live within 25 km of Alang.
They argue that "the dismantling of the ship would have hazardous effect on the residents of the villages near the Alang ship-breaking yard as the ship contains large amounts of asbestos". They have submitted that Rule 12 (i) of the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, bans the import of asbestos. The court is yet to deal with the application.
"We don't want to stop ship-breaking because that would mean loss of jobs for hundreds of people. All we are asking is that it be done in a responsible manner and our lives and earnings are not affected," says Gohil.
AMIT DAVE/REUTERS
A decommissioned ship being dismantled at Alang. Local people say that the work at Alang has contaminated air, water and soil.
He adds that the open dumping of waste into the sea has affected the fishing community too. "Fishermen are forced to go out into the sea beyond five or six kilometres because of the waste oil that spreads over the water and ruins their fishing," Gohil says.
Speaking to Frontline, Gohil explained what prompted the villagers to take the legal step. "For the past 15 to 20 years we have been noticing a diminishing of our crop. It has not been easy to pinpoint this but we have now come to the conclusion that it is related to air, water and soil contamination brought on by the work at Alang."
The livelihood of the villages comes primarily from horticulture, and Gohil says that the trees are now far more susceptible to insect attacks than before. He says farmers' expenses in the purchase of pesticides have gone up considerably.
Years of ship-breaking in Alang has meant that the toxic materials have slowly leached into the ground. Gopal Krishna says the report of the Technical Experts Committee on Hazardous Wastes relating to Ship-breaking confirm that the groundwater in Alang is heavily polluted. This admission by an official report is part of the irony of the fight against hazardous waste. On the one hand the government accepts that material like asbestos are hazardous to health and the environment but, on the other hand, the policies of the government do not reflect this concern.
Vidyut Joshi, the former Vice-Chancellor of Bhavnagar University, has made a study of ship-breaking in Alang. His conclusion is that it should not be the business of the Gujarat Maritime Board to supervise industry operations at Alang. This should be given to the Industries Department, which is better equipped in terms of skills to handle labour issues, detection of hazardous materials, and so on. The present system has the Maritime Board subcontracting everything to consultants.
The Blue Lady case will be a sort of litmus test not only for the Indian government's stand on hazardous waste but also for Europe. At present the position of both is suspect.
Earlier, Clemenceau was allowed into Indian waters though it had flouted Indian laws. France recalled the ship only because of intense public and legal pressures in that country. Last year, the Riky, another asbestos-laden vessel, left Danish waters under misrepresentation and was dismantled in Alang. The Danish government is pursuing the matter and has initiated criminal proceedings against its owner.
This is in direct contrast to the reaction of the German government, which has refused to take any responsibility for Blue Lady. The ship left German waters under conditions that could have been (but were not) challenged by the German government, and now Germany is refusing to accept any responsibility for the ship, saying it is not a state-owned vessel as Clemenceau was. This is irrelevant since the Basel Convention dictates terms on the basis of the hazardous nature of the waste and not on the basis of ownership.
LYLA BAVADAM
http://www.flonnet.com/fl2422/stories/20071116505108300.htm
Spain writes to India on toxic-laden ship
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi: A few days after United Nations (UN) officials alerted India about the November 16 resence of a toxic-laden ship MV AI Arabia at a Gujarat port, Spain too expressed similar apprehension, saying that the vessel has reached there "illegally". In a letter written to the Department of Shipping, the Spanish Ministry of Public Works and Economy said the ship had been officially dispatched in August from the port of Almeria (Spain) to Constanza (Romania) where it was to undergo repairing. However, the ship has reached the port of Alang awaiting breaking since October, he said.
The Spanish Ministry further pointed out the ship was subjected to a detailed inspection in the maritime district of Almeria prior to receiving permission to sail. "The objective was to check the navigability and safety conditions of the ship and to prevent possible contamination," the letter said.
However, subsequent monitoring of the ship detected its course had changed, said the letter adding that "it appears that during the journey the ship has twice changed the name, firstly to the 'Aquaba Express' and most recently to 'AI Arabia'. The Spanish Ministry has also offered to provide information about the vessel, which it said may be required "in view of the potential problems which may arise from the irregular conduct of the ship." (PTI)
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Cover-up Commissions
By mediavigil - April 13, 2006
In every step where an attempt is made to unravel the conspirators behind the assassinations and killing, there is an attempt to subvert it and suppress it. By the way will CPI-ML and others tell how often have the Commission's unearthed the truth? Why is CPI-ML and other political parties interested in the lies or half truths which Commission's give birth to? Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose continues to be in news 60 years after his disputed death. A BBC poll named Netaji the third most popular leader in South Asia after Jinnah and Gandhi. Netaji is supposed to have died at the end of Second World War. Netaji went missing while waging war for India 's freedom and in heart of hearts all Indians wish to know what happened to him. Nehru did institute the Shah Nawaz Khan Committee in 1956 after the Indian newspapers broke the news (based on agancy reports) on August 25, 1945 that Netaji had died in a freak plane crash in Taipei (Taihoku) on August 18th, 1945 . Nehru'
Public Statement on Prashant Bhushan's contempt case
By mediavigil - August 17, 2020
Statement to the Supreme Court and to the Public of India at large. We, the below named, practicing members of the bar in India, have noted with dismay, the judgment of the Supreme Court, in Mr. Prashant Bhushan's contempt case. An independent judiciary consisting of independent judges and lawyers, is the basis of the rule of law in a Constitutional democracy. Mutual respect and the absence of coercion, are the hallmarks of a harmonious relationship between the bar and bench. Any tilting of the balance, one way or the other, is deleterious both to the institution and the nation. An independent judiciary does not mean that judges are immune from scrutiny and comment. It is the duty of lawyers to freely bring any shortcomings to the notice of bar, bench and the public at large. While some of us may have divergent views on the advisability and content of Mr. Prashant Bhushan's two tweets, we are unanimously of the view that no contempt of court was intended or committed especially
Obama Administration Releasing New Rules To Expand Ability To Hold Citizens' Data
By Krishna - March 23, 2012
By EILEEN SULLIVAN 03/22/12 09:36 PM ET WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence community will now be able to store information about Americans with no ties to terrorism for up to five years under new Obama administration guidelines. Until now, the National Counterterrorism Center had to immediately destroy information about Americans that was already stored in other government databases when there were no clear ties to terrorism. Giving the NCTC expanded record-retention authority had been called for by members of Congress who said the intelligence community did not connect strands of intelligence held by multiple agencies leading up to the failed bombing attempt on a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas 2009. "Following the failed terrorist attack in December 2009, representatives of the counterterrorism community concluded it is vital for NCTC to be provided with a variety of datasets from various agencies that contain terrorism information," Director of National Intelligenc
Aadhaar database
AarogyaSetu
Araria gang rape case
Attack on Journalists
Chief Secretary
communal bias
Contempt of Cour
Contempt of Coure
Contempt of Course
COVID-19 treatment in Telangana
Covid19 disaster
lawyers letter to Patna High Court Judges
lockdown life style
misreporting
Monstrous killings of journalists
Naked Bias
non- mandatory for admission
Over-reactive corporate media
Paid News
Prashant Bhushan
private treaties
PUCL
reverse migration
Rivers as living entities
SEBI on private treaties
Sexual crimes in the Araria District Court
UID/Aadhaar
Unfairness of medical response


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MasterCard Reaches Settlement With Heartland Payment Systems To Provide Issuers Worldwide Up To $41.4 Million For Data Breach Claims
Home / MasterCard Reaches Settlement With Heartland Payment Systems To Provide Issuers Worldwide Up To $41.4 Million For Data Breach Claims
MasterCard Worldwide today announced it has reached a settlement with Heartland Payment Systems (Heartland) to resolve claims by MasterCard and its issuers in connection with Heartland's previously announced data security breach.
The settlement agreement calls for Heartland to fund up to $41.4 million of "alternative recovery offers" to be made to eligible MasterCard card issuers to settle their claims for operational costs and fraud losses alleged to have been incurred by them as a result of the breach. Issuers accepting their offers must agree to certain terms and conditions.
"We feel that this settlement represents an appropriate and fair resolution for our issuing financial institution customers and will enable them to avoid uncertainties and delays associated with potentially protracted litigation," said Wendy Murdock, chief franchise officer for MasterCard Worldwide. "The agreement underscores MasterCard's continuing efforts to maintain the integrity of payment card industry standards and mitigate the impact of account data compromise events."
Under the terms of the settlement, MasterCard card issuers that filed timely claims for reimbursement of operational expenses or to recover fraud losses on certain accounts processed by Heartland during 2008 will be eligible to receive a specified dollar payment with receipt expected during the third calendar quarter of 2010, if they choose to accept their offers.
The settlement is contingent upon, among other things, MasterCard card issuing financial institutions representing at least 80 percent of the claimed-on MasterCard accounts having accepted their offers by June 25, 2010.
Issuers that choose to accept their offers must agree to forgo any other remedies or recoveries they might otherwise be able to obtain from Heartland and its acquirers by reason of the Heartland data security breach, and to release MasterCard, Heartland and Heartland's acquirers from all legal and financial liability associated with the breach.
Issuers that elect not to accept their offers will have their claims determined pursuant to MasterCard's internal processes. They may receive more or less than the amounts they were offered, or nothing at all, depending on various factors, including MasterCard's determinations of their claims and the outcome of any litigation that Heartland may file, and has threatened to file, to challenge claim awards that exceed certain amounts.
All MasterCard card issuers eligible to participate in the settlement should expect to soon receive notification from MasterCard with full details of the settlement and the steps necessary to accept their offers. Eligible issuers will have until June 25 at 5 p.m. ET to accept their offers before the offers expire.
MasterCard: Most banks agree to breach settlement
Heartland Payment Systems and Visa Inc. Announce…
Proposed VISA/Heartland Data Breach Settlement May…
Heartland pays Amex $3.6M over 2008 data breach
Heartland Payment Systems, Discover Agree To $5 Mln…


Volleyball is one example of excellence at Strathcona. With the help of dedicated coaches, athletes and the parent community we have excelled. We have represented SCONA in the city finals multiple times at both the senior and junior levels. The Junior Women and Junior Men are the current 2016-17 City Champions. Our Senior athletes have been to multiple provincials in recent years, with the Sr. Women's program medalling 4 times (2 silver and 2 bronze) and the Sr. Men medalling (silver) while also finishing 6th a few years back.
We strive to put quality long term coaches in front of our young athletes to ensure that they develop to their full potential. It is our goal to graduate disciplined, well-rounded student athletes from our program with the hopes that they receive an opportunity to continue to play at the next level.
Find out how to become a Lord by contacting the coaches at strathcona@epsb.ca or contact the school and ask to speak with the school's athletic director.


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Q: I have been asked a question by someone of the following matter. Just setting out the case. The person needing the advice is a businessman who is dealing with an agent of another party. The agent comes with a tender to provide in bulk an item for the third party. By agreement the businessman tells the agent of the third party that he will give him 7.5 percent commission on the amount of the bulk. In order to give the 7.5 percent commission, the businessman inflates his usual price of the item in order to incorporate the 7.5 commission i.e if the businessman would usually sell an item for R10 000 he would now quote the price as R10 750 so that the agent of the third party can get the commission of R750 from the businessman . The way in which this works is that the agent will get the quotation approved to the amount of R10 750 and get the cheque to that amount of which he will give R10 000 to the businessman and will retain the R750 for himself and the goods will then be supplied. Bare in mind that the businessman still only makes an actual invoice of R10 000 and the transaction takes place only between the businessman and the agent of the 3rd party in which the 3rd parties information is not disclosed to the businessman. Is such business practice permissible? If not, what is the way forward in keeping this business relationship, again baring in mind that if the businessman does not give any incentive to the agent the agent will no longer transact with the businessman and together with that the businessman does want to lose out on the profit based on his normal prices and hence inflates the price to provide an incentive to the agent of the third party. I am an academic and I need more insight on the islamic perspective and permissibility of such a case and what is the best course to follow.


Abingdon, Virginia – The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail presents Kitty & Jared and Tori Bartfai in concert on Thursday, July 10th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Heartwood in Abingdon, VA. The concert is part of The Crooked Road's Youth Music Series.
Kitty Amaral lives in Grayson County and began fiddling at age five. An outstanding classical violinist and old time fiddler, she has a unique collection of songs and tunes ranging from Southwestern Virginia and the Carolina Appalachians to Oklahoma, Ozarks, and beyond. Claw-hammer banjo player Jared Lane Boyd is from Laurel Fork, VA, and comes from a family with a history of playing old time music. Jared's grandfather, Jimmy Boyd, has been a huge influence on his banjo playing, and continues to be as Jared makes his way into the world of old time music. Kitty & Jared both have active musical schedules, and have recently been playing together as a duo highlighting each other's unique talents, repertoire, and playing styles.
Victoria "Tori" Bartfai, a 17 year-old from Cedar Bluff, VA (Tazewell County), has been pursuing her passion of playing the guitar for six years. She has studied music in New York City, and is currently studying guitar with Ben Addison. Tori enjoys playing and learning techniques from various genres including bluegrass, rock, jazz, and classical guitar.
The Crooked Road Music Series features youth music performers and showcases venues of the Crooked Road region. These events, along with open jams on the 1st, 3rd, (and 5th) Thursday of every month, are hosted at Heartwood. A complete schedule for the music series is available on The Crooked Road website at www.thecrookedroad.org and at www.heartwoodvirginia.org. The music series is sponsored by The Crooked Road, Heartwood, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Heartwood: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway is located off I-81 at Exit 14 in Abingdon, VA, and features food, music, and craft of Southwest Virginia. Admission to the concert is free and donations will be accepted for Crooked Road Traditional Music Education Program (TMEP).
For more information on The Crooked Road Music Series call (276) 492-2409 or email: info@thecrookedroad.org.
Photos of Kitty & Jared (photo - Vickie Boyd) and Tori Bartfai (photo - Tammy Bartfai) are attached.


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This amazing dish is perfect for Easter Brunch or Easter supper, my Zucchini Tomato strata can be made ahead! This strata.....really a savory bread pudding is amazingly easy and can be made the night before and baked in the morning!!
Gruyere cheese, plump tomatoes, tender zucchini and fresh herbs flavor this rich breakfast or dinner side. Delicious!
A French take on strata, or savory bread pudding, this simple dish contains zucchini, onion and tomatoes layered with slices of baguette, then baked with chicken stock and a little cream.
So, let's hop to it!
Arrange the baguette slices on a large baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil. Salt and pepper the slices and bake for 6 minutes, until golden brown.
In a 10 inch oven proof skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Add the zucchini, onion and fresh thyme, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat, stirring a few times, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of the broth and the heavy cream, simmer over moderate heat until the mixture slightly thickens, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and transfer half of the zucchini to a bowl, reserve.
Spread the remaining zucchini in an even layer in skillet. Sprinkle with 4 tablespoons of Gruyere and 2 tablespoon of Parmesan, top with a layer of toasted baguette slices. Spread the reserved zucchini mixture over the toasts and sprinkle with 4 tablespoons Gruyere ad 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle remain cheeses and season with salt and pepper. Carefully pour the remaining 1/4 cup chicken broth around the edge of he skillet and over the top.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes, until the top is browned and the tomatoes have released their juices. let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Make ahead- Assemble up to bake time the night or morning before, then pop into the oven the next day. The strata can also stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours safely. Reheat in a 350° oven for about 10 minutes, just until warmed through.
Easter is almost upon us! Do you need to make your child an Easter Basket? Go to How to make a cute Easter Basket!
To make an adorable Bunny Cake with "Surprise" inside, go to How to make a Bunny Cake!
How to make a beautiful Easter Table arrangement is "A beautiful Table arrangement for Easter"!
I made this strata last night and everyone loved it. I thought the zucchini would get mushy, but it didn't, it was perfect. My Mother noticed the baskets, and decided she was going to make them for my girls. They are adorable!