Motherhood gives you immense responsibilities to keep you busy forever! Transforming a house into a home and running it on well-oiled wheels is a stressful job. Moms have been doing it for ages. At times, we tend to overlook the effort, time and energy required to do this.
Effective organization is the first step towards successful completion. Would you like a little help to organize? We are lucky to have excellent resources that make it easy. Thanks to technology!
I love making lists. I also love technology that simplifies the process. Here is a list of apps for you to explore.
Cozi is an organizer app for moms. It is a tool to add all activities, schedules, appointments and trips on the calendar for the whole family. By setting reminders you never miss an appointment. My daughter has her foot-ball practice every Tuesday in school. She needs a white uniform for this. I added ' white uniform' every Sunday and used the repeat feature.
In the notes section you can add the relevant information to share with the family.
HomeRoutines is an excellent app for the repetitive tasks. You can create lists of tasks or routines based on their frequency. Chores are broken down by days of the week and time of any day. So you have a list of daily tjasks at specified time, morning/evening.
You get a gold star after completion of any task. The focus zone feature assigns certain days to clean specific areas like bedroom kitchen, etc.
OurGroceries Apps helps in synchronizing grocery lists on all smart phones of your family. As you add any item to your list, it gets saved in the app and is used to create a list. Multiple shopping lists in several categories can be generated. Sharing the lists with family members is possible by linking your accounts and comes handy when you are at a store to buy things.The recipe section lists the ingredients of recipes and saves. You have a ready shopping list when required.
ChorePad is for mothers and teachers. Available on both iPhone and iPad, it can be used both at home and a classroom. It is a great tool to teach kids to be responsible. Kids are rewarded stars after accomplishing the tasks. A system of rewards can be created based on the number stars accumulated by a child.
• A parent mode makes it kid friendly.
RemembertheMilk or RTM is an excellent tool to list your tasks. It has a great interface with many repeating options. Email reminders help in getting a priority list for the day.
I use RTM for home, work and shopping. By checking my mail every morning, I know the routine, urgent and other tasks. At the end of the day, most of the work gets done. Any incomplete task is added to another day. However, the free option allows one sync, per day on an Android phone.
Before deciding to go for paid version, download the free version and use it for some time. If you find the app suitable buy it.
I like the groceries list that can be synced with all phones in the family. Thank you Nupur!
Many thanks Dagny, Yes these apps help in organizing our schedules and to-do lists.


that enrich lives and elevate communities.
We are drawn to work with clients who are making a difference and doing extraordinary work within our neighborhoods. We are humbled and excited to partner with positive change-makers. This is how we become part of the thread that connects the right people and services together. It is important to us to invest in our clients and the community organizations that align with our values.
At E Creative, we are stewards for our clients, serving them through meaningful and thoughtful branding and marketing strategies that work for them. Knowing that our work has a far greater reach is a responsibility we take to heart.
Relationships, they are everything to us.
Being authentic and successful at everything we do.
Creativity that makes a lasting difference in people's lives.
How we make people feel through design.
To see the world through others' eyes.
To always go deep into our creative work.
To create meaningful work with people we enjoy—and the double whammy of doing it for clients who are making valuable contributions to the world.
In watching our families and partners-who-are-friends grow and thrive.
In reaching people in a remarkable and unforgettable way.
When our clients confide in us.
When our professional relationship becomes a personal friendship.
DO WE SOUND LIKE YOUR KIND OF PEOPLE? REACH OUT AND LET'S TALK!


text:
BARMM facilitates return of 496 Filipinos from Sabah
HELPING HAND. A social worker (left) from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) helps returnees from Sabah as they arrived in Tawi-Tawi recently. Since last year, the MSSD-BARMM has helped facilitate the return of 2,559 Filipino migrants from Sabah. (Photo courtesy of MSSD-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY: Another batch of 496 Filipinos stranded in Sabah have returned home recently through the efforts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Minister Raissa Jajurie of the region's Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) said Wednesday that 352 or 70 percent of the returnees are from the BARMM provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan.
Four registered social workers were earlier deployed onboard the ship to Sabah to conduct intake interviews and debriefing sessions.
It was the ninth batch of returnees who have been facilitated on May 22, 2021 by the MSSD since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.
"Since 4 July 2020, a total of 2,559 individuals have returned to the BARMM from Sabah," she said in a statement.
Some of the returnees were detained for various offenses while others were migrant workers who sneaked into Sabah to look for greener pasture.
Jajurie said MSSD and the BARMM government are committed to providing "comprehensive, consistent, and substantial interventions" to support the return of Bangsamoro constituents to the homeland.
Philippine News Agency
May 27, 2021 May 26, 2021 Sitti Rohanisa Noor YahyaBangsamoro Region, MindanaoBARMM, Latest, MSSD-BARMM, PNA, Provincial, Sabah, Tawi Tawi
Previous Post 61 Maguindanao households on lockdown
Next Post Global Covid-19 cases fall by 14% over the past week: WHO
Buadipuso Buntong among Conditional Passers for 2018 Seal of Good Local Governance
Vinta leaves Lanao del Sur heaviest damage in ARMM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Will Canceled Watch Shows Lead To Death Of Shows? New Product Release Dates? And Who Cares?
Roberta Naas / March 4, 2020
Show floor at SIHH 2019
Last week when Watches & Wonders Geneva (formerly SIHH) canceled its 2020 show, the watch world gasped. Naturally, the show organizers were doing the responsible thing and taking into account the potential risks of travel with the spread of COVID-19. A couple of days later Baselworld canceled (technically, it announced to "postpone") its show until January 2021 — after a mandate by the Swiss government for no gatherings over 1,000 people. Again, the watch world went on a small rant.
Questions abound: Will this be the death of the shows? Will we realize that we can live without watch shows? How will the brands communicate about their new products? Will they do live video presentations? Will they hold their own small fairs? Will they join other fairs around the world? Will brands just visit countries individually? The list goes on and on. Still, answers also abound.
This is not the death of shows
Shows are a gathering and a meeting place. Ask anyone who had to miss one Fair for a year how isolated they felt, how out of touch with the new products they felt. No matter how much digital technology comes our way, we are people. We crave interaction, face-to-face communication. And, if we are being honest, this is a touch and feel industry. In fact, in an interview I gave to Associated Press (APNews), where I was quoted in their article about the closing of shows (cars, wine, art, watches and more), I said exactly that. We — journalists, bloggers, retailers and consumers — need to hold a watch in our hands to appreciate its beauty, its craftsmanship, its tick.
The brands will find ways to communicate about their products
Some already are. Several announced they would band together in Geneva for Geneva Watch Days — showcasing in boutiques and hotels as in the past. While this is predominantly an option only for locals in Switzerland or Europe, this is a smart concept that can be emulated around the world. Why do all of the watch brands have to pick a different day to come to a big city and show their wares? Why can't they band together and pick a couple of days and make it easy on all who want to see, touch, feel watches?
Other watch brands are taking advantage of some of the not-yet-canceled shows — such as here in America the CoutureTime show the first week of June. I have had at least half a dozen brands reach out and ask me if this show is viable option for them. (Of course, we have to wait to see what COVID-19 looks like by the first week of June in America.) By the way, this willingness to join another show is a good example of the fact that congregating in one place to discuss industry matters, showcase product and forecast concepts for the year is still vital.
Yet other brands have announced that they will hold video presentations of their products and create digital videos to launch on YouTube. Again, though, for the luxury brands this option is least appealing. I, for one, cannot claim to speak authoritatively on a watch that I haven't examined via a loupe, spoken to the designers about and more.
A Shifting of Product Releases
However, given the fact that the brands are fairly ready to show their products, and that they need to get them in front of retailers to be prepared for fall, I, as a journalist, question why there are still embargoes. I have at least half a dozen or more embargoed products in my lineup to write about when the embargo lifts — typically on the first day of Watches & Wonders Geneva and Baselworld. Why are we still adhering to these embargo dates when the shows are now non-existent on those dates? Why cluster dozens of new product unveilings into a single day – where they all have to share the limelight — instead of spreading out the news?
Some brands are shifting their product release dates.
In fact, after many conversations with brands, one truth has emerged: they are all rethinking dates. In fact, we are already seeing a shift in product releases as a result of the canceled shows. Events that were supposed to be "unveilings" are being held until summer or perhaps even fall. Product releases planned for spring and summer are being pushed to late summer — often in response to a slow down in buying and in response to not being sure yet how to introduce the product. Many brands are still examining ways to bring new watches to the people on local levels so that the reviews are real hands-on reviews and so that there is some emotion or life breathed into the articles about these ticking wonders — life and emotion you can't really get from a press release.
And then there is the COVID-19 virus. Some say we are callous to be talking about watches when people are getting sick and dying. Others in other industries are doing this, though — talking, planning, rethinking and wondering if it's callous. I am in several group chats where this topic has come up. Every phone call I make — and I make a lot of them — the conversation is prefaced or concluded with discussions about what will happen. None of us knows, but the fact of the matter is, the world keeps turning. Individually we all experience our own fears, grief and confusing emotions, but collectively, we all still have a job to do. Still, humanity and compassion should come into play.
The one thing I am sure of in this uncertain environment is that we all have it in us to give a little more. To be supportive to those who unsure about travel, not scoff. We all have it in us to make an extra effort to be positive on a gray day. We all have the chance to make things right instead of being antagonistic. Recently, I sat with industry legend Jean-Claude Biver, who — for those who know his talk of love — has added the word "forgiveness" to his much-anticipated, often dramatic monologs about time and watches. He says — and I agree — that forgiveness is a part of the circle of life and love. Maybe during these tough times, it is a good chance to forgive others, to embrace kindness and to stop being petty.
Yes, I did just digress from watches to people — but we are all doing that these days. And it's a good thing.
PreviousPrevious post:The Demise — And Possible Resurgence — Of RJ WatchesNextNext post:Casio G-Shock Joins Forces with Mischief Streetwear Brand
Veteran watch journalist and author of 6 books on watches.
jlc side
watch seduction
Visit our Sister Blog: For Women Only
watch museum
Analog Shift | World Tempus |


PJSC Gazprom opened a representative office in Azerbaijan.
"The representative office of PJSC Gazprom in Baku was registered by the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan on December 12, 2018," a departmental newspaper reported to the Ministry of Taxes of Azerbaijan.
The official representative of the company is a Russian citizen Maksut Anderzhanov.
As previously reported, the Board of Directors of Gazprom in October 2017 approved the opening of a representative office in Azerbaijan.
By the end of 2018, Azerbaijan imported almost 1 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia. However, this year Azerbaijan no longer plans to import Russian gas, since the country's gas production will continue to grow.


For infants and children with developmental, learning, or behavioral problems, our developmental pediatrics team has the training and expertise to evaluate, diagnosis and care for your child. Our team takes a close look at the medical and psychosocial aspects of developmental and behavioral problems to offer appropriate intervention and treatment options.
Additionally, our team follows babies who experience certain complications before birth, or shortly after. The babies can occasionally experience problems with vision, hearing, communication, behavior, or delays in mental or motor development. Most at-risk infants develop and grow normally, suffering no lasting effects from the early complications. Those few who do develop problems, however, can be identified early through our regular screenings.
At Blank Children's Hospital, we offer a Developmental Center to help children in need of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for developmental-related conditions. Our multidisciplinary approach enables the collaboration of medical specialists, therapists, psychologists, and others to offer your family comprehensive care. Learn more about our Developmental Center.


text:
Linea 3  – linea della rete tranviaria di Alicante
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Atene
 Linea 3 – linea delle Cercanías di Barcellona
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Baku
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Barcellona
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Belo Horizonte
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Bilbao in Spagna
 Linea M3 – linea della Metropolitana di Bucarest
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Oleksiïvs'ka della metropolitana di Charkiv
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Città del Messico
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Nanakuma della metropolitana di Fukuoka
 Linea M3 – nome alternativo della linea Syrec'ko-Pečers'ka della metropolitana di Kiev
 Linea 3 – linea della rete ferroviaria del Lussemburgo
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Madrid
 Linea M3 – linea della metropolitana di Milano
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Arbatsko-Pokrovskaja della metropolitana di Mosca
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Tsurumai della metropolitana di Nagoya
 Linea 3 – linea del servizio ferroviario metropolitano di Napoli
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di New York
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Yotsubashi della metropolitana di Osaka
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Parigi
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Pusan
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di San Paolo
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Seul
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Shanghai
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Taegu
 Linea 3 – nome alternativo della linea Ginza della metropolitana di Tokyo
 Linea 3 – linea difensiva tedesca in Italia nella seconda guerra mondiale
 Linea 3 – linea della metropolitana di Valencia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Description: Big data developer responsible for getting the database and extract transform load (ETL) code for Fiber Store application in full compliance with security compliance waves (CART waves) as well as making database, code and application instance ready for offshore access for VDSI & vendor partners.
Strong experience with data modeling and implementation of security framework. Deliver model to secure the data based on users profile including sensitivity level clearance, originating business unit as well as the business objects that user group is authorized to access.
Candidate must be self-driven and able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.


Inspired by living in a border city Windsor Canada and Detroit USA.
Hand made in studio using upwards of 30 stencils. this piece was originally made for "Company of Thieves" a two man show with Ben Frost at Inner State Gallery in Detroit.


Here I shall address the last reason which is traumatizing 30 % of the employee population and their families(since work life balance of the individual directly impacts the family).
One must take a break from the drudgery of work. Be it a holiday or a relaxed day off at home, the rest truly makes a difference to the productivity of an employee.
Some of us actually believe in accumulating holidays so that we could avail leave encashment at the time of exit. Guys, let me tell you most leaves accumulated lapse beyond a certain period of time and unless you exit in the same year before they lapse, you won't get much benefit out of it. Additionally, a paid holiday is a day where you earn the whole amount where as in case of leave encashment, you get only basic and DA(if applicable).
Often employees believe that not taking leaves will ensure the employee stays in the good books of the boss. This is the biggest myth – leaves are employees' right and exercising a right should not depend on anyone's perception on you.
Employees burn out at a very early stage these days. This is primarily due to outrageous workloads and no worklife balance. This leaves the employee not feeling valued for all the hard work they do.
Personal health and relationships is priority. It is above everything else. While most of us realize it only with age, it is better if the realization dawns sooner in our lives.
Focused attention is directly proportional to higher efficiency.Dedicated hours at work ensure complete attention to the job , similarly focused attention to home and family ensure strengthening of the family bonding and personal relationships.
Fewer health problems – Stress can cause a variety of issues, personal health topping the list.From the overall health and well being to serious respiratory and digestive issues, it could pose a serious threat to one's life.


CAD 42,990 ? USD 32,105Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.
GBP 16,045 ? USD 20,854Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.
CAD 47,009 ? USD 35,106Program fees are indicative only. Speak to your IDP study counsellor to get up-to-date course prices.


The best quality hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer are all available when you come and see us. At Atlantis Medical, we are pleased to say that we have been operating in the medical recruitment industry for the past decade and in that time; we have developed a great range of contacts. All of which means that we are confident that we can provide you with the highest standard of hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer.
We believe that our role as a recruitment company which has seen us work closely with candidates and hospitals ensures that we bring the very best people and roles together. The work we have undertaken in the industry ensures that we are provided with many of the finest hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer. This means if you are looking for a job in a hospital, it makes sense to come and see us. With the best selection of hospital jobs Cambridge has ever seen, we are sure that we will have the role you need and want.
Looking for the best hospital jobs Cambridge has ever seen?
One of the strongest reasons why we are the company to trust when it comes to finding the finest hospital jobs Cambridge has ever seen is the fact that we listen to your needs. We are very proud to offer a bespoke service, so we take the time to get to know you and what you are looking for. If you want to feel as though you are being listened to and that a company is taking the time to help you uncover the most relevant hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer, come and speak to Atlantis Medical.
One of the most important things to remember about the widest range of hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer is that there is a need for employees at all hours of the day and night. Hospitals operate on a 24 hour basis, and this means that shift patterns and rotas need to be filled 24 hours a day. If you can only work certain hours of the day or on certain days of the week, come and see us. We have the best range of hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer and we are sure that we will find the job that is best for your needs.
Need help filtering the widest selection of hospital jobs Cambridge has ever known?
We also know that our candidates are looking for fair pay for the work that they do, and this is something that we work very hard to provide to all of our clients. If you are keen to find the best paid hospital jobs Cambridge can provide, get in touch and we will work closely with you. We offer different roles for different medical disciplines and with respect to different skillsets, so no matter what sort of hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer catches your eye, come and see us.
If you need any assistance in filtering through the full range of hospital jobs Cambridge has to offer, come along and see us. We are pleased to offer some of the best hospital jobs Cambridge has ever seen and if you need any assistance in finding the ideal job, contact Atlantis Medical by calling 0333 121 2010.


Sam Allardyce has predicted a "massive turnover" of the Sunderland squad this summer as he looks to end the cycle of annual struggle.
Allardyce will hold detailed discussions with chairman Ellis Short over Sunderland's transfer business next week, but the Black Cats boss believes there will be a hefty quantity of incomings and outgoings after the club secured their Premier League status on Wednesday night.
The futures of loanees Yann M'Vila, Ola Toivonen, Dame N'Doye and DeAndre Yedlin are uncertain, with Allardyce due to hold talks with the quartet prior to Sunday's trip to Watford.
But they are not the only players with a question mark hanging over their heads, with veteran defender Wes Brown out of contract, and midfielders Seb Larsson and Jeremain Lens both potentially departing after limited first-team football under Allardyce.
After the January transfer window proved to be so successful for Allardyce, the Sunderland boss will want to bring in more of his own players, with the Black Cats known to be admirers of Bordeaux midfielder Clement Chantome, available on a Bosman this summer.
January targets Lamine Gossama – the Lorient right-back who is another out-of-contract player at the end of the season – and Swansea winger Andre Ayew could also come back onto Sunderland's radar.
"I think there'll be a massive turnover if we do the job right," said Allardyce.
"There's lots of players here on loan or out-of-contract, so there's a question of what we do with them and how many we keep.
"There's also some of the players who we've already got who will say to me 'gaffer I'd prefer to move because you haven't played me as much as I'd want'.
"That's natural. I would expect them to say that.
"I haven't got a problem with that whatsoever.
"But, like everything else as a manager, I'm a good wheeler-dealer.
With Allardyce at the helm, Sunderland have been tipped to embark upon a more stable era after four successive dramatic escapes from relegation.
The ex-West Ham boss hopes that proves to be the case, with little question now that he plans to stay for at least the remaining year of his Sunderland contract.
"I think the future will be determined by me and Ellis going forward together," added Allardyce.
Get the new Sunderland Echo app and always be first with the news from our city and SAFC.
You can download our FREE app on most devices and it can be found on your app store by searching for 'Sunderland Echo'.
Sam - sign M'Villa please.
I would like him to sign M'Vila, but will he want to sign.
Sam's best three midfielders over the last few months were Catts, M'Vila and the classy Kirchhoff. However, the weakness in playing those three is that they are all naturally holding midfielders and it was the lack of an attacking and creative midfielder that showed us with a lack of cutting edge in that area.
I am sure Sam would rather play a 4231 formation with the three providing an attacking and goal scoring threat. So, which of the three become two. On skill and ability Kirchhoff and M'Vila for me, but Catts showed that his drive and determination, when needed, are a fantastic attribute. Sadly, he did not and does not show that drive all season. The three may have to accept that a certain amount of rotation and injury/suspension cover is needed and that they won't play every week.
I think Sam will be looking for a creative midfielder who can play in behind the striker and chip in with goals.
M'Villa is the proverbially no brainer and we need both Catts and Kirchhoff.
Full back we need both a LB and a RB. Yedlin has done okayish so has Jones but neither convinces and PvA can be hopeless ay defending.
JoS for one moe year if he wants or a coaching job? We need and a CB, striker and creative midfielder.
I think I have just spent the new TV money!
Well maybe...PvA must be there or there abouts, one on the best attacking LBs in the country...his defending continues to worry, who ever is Left Wing has to be able to cover for him when he goes foraging upfield. I would like to see the number of goals we conceded that originated on our LB position, most sides for most of the season concentrated down that flank, he was seen by other coaches as a weak link Sam is the man to make him a better defender.
Now that were safe can we finally get Moses & Nzogbia.
Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce has admitted to the Chronicle that he expects to have a problem with agents in the summer transfer window.
With the wealth of the Premier League continuing to grow, English clubs can now afford to pay over the top amounts for players to convince them to move.
And Allardyce admits that finding the right players and a reasonable price is going to be a struggle in the upcoming transfer window.
"One of the problems is it is going to be so much more competitive because the agents are already ringing up booking their next Rolls Royce because they are gong to make so much money, charging so much for the players you want to buy," he said. "And you will have to pay them so much to get the players because if we don't do it, someone else will.
"We have an open tap with no plug. It comes in one end and goes out the other. So we have to live with that.
Allardyce has already done some excellent business at Sunderland, and he will hope that the summer transfer window can be as productive as the one the club experienced in January.
The Black Cats brought in the likes of Lamine Kone, Jan Kirchhoff and Wahbi Khazri in January and all three were crucial to their survival.
Sunderland are expected to invest heavily in the coming months, as they aim to move forward as a club.
Sunderland have been perennially struggling against relegation in recent times, and Allardyce has already spoken of a desire to start seeing his side push up the Premier League table.
Allardyce says that Sunderland can no longer continue to celebrate simply avoiding relegation, and he has big plans for next season with the Wearsiders.
No, we won't get to know the details of what happens, but we should get a rough idea by the targets we go for .
vinkel wrote: No, we won't get to know the details of what happens, but we should get a rough idea by the targets we go for .
I don't think Sam is fooling anybody but he is going through a compulsory press interview. He was part of the agent system and I believe his son is still one.
At least he knows the ropes and may have some inside information already. China will be the biggest obstacle to signings going by their determination to build football up over the next decade. All the big multi billion companies are on board with the government in bringing quality players to them.
On 19 September 2006 the BBC current affairs television programme Panorama broadcast a special investigation into corruption in English football which had begun filming in August 2005.
"Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets" included footage shown of meetings between agents, managers and high ranking football club officials, filmed undercover by Knut auf dem Berge, a freelance coach posing as a prospective football agent. This footage purported to show agents and managers accepting backhanders and illegally "tapping-up" players under contract to other clubs.
That Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, and his agent son Craig were alleged to have accepted "bungs" (bribes) from agents for signing certain players. Two agents, Teni Yerima and Peter Harrison, were secretly filmed, each separately claiming that they had paid Allardyce through his son. Allardyce denies ever taking, or asking for, a bung.
Then Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is secretly filmed discussing the possibility of buying the Blackburn Rovers captain Andy Todd with agent Peter Harrison, which is illegal under FA rules. However, the programme merely showed Harrison approaching Redknapp and asking direct questions which Redknapp answered.
Then Portsmouth first-team coach Kevin Bond, first team coach of Newcastle United when the programme was aired, is secretly recorded admitting he would consider discussing receiving payments from a proposed new agency involving agent Peter Harrison. This was the programme's description; it did not seem explicit from the extract broadcast. Bond was suspended and then sacked by Newcastle as a result of the allegations.
Chelsea director of youth football Frank Arnesen is secretly filmed making an illegal approach or "tapping up" Middlesbrough's England youth star 15-year-old Nathan Porritt. Arnesen offers a fee of £150,000 spread over three years as an incentive to move, although he had been advised that it was 99.9% certain that Porritt would leave Middlesbrough. Both of these allegations are illegal under FA rules. Officials from Liverpool and Newcastle United were also implicated in attempts to sign Porritt.
Agent Peter Harrison told the undercover reporter that, to secure transfer deals with Bolton, he bribed Sam Allardyce by offering to pay his son Craig. Harrison is a FIFA-listed agent, who is based in the north-east of England.
That three different Bolton transfer signings involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce, some when he was contractually banned from doing any Bolton deals. Panorama alleged Bolton's transfer signings of defender Tal Ben Haim, midfielderHidetoshi Nakata and goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi involved secret payments from agents to Craig Allardyce. Allardyce's son quit the agency business in summer 2006, and has admitted in newspaper interviews that his working as an agent might have cost his father the chance of becoming England manager.
Agent Charles Collymore, is secretly filmed in the Panorama film, saying: "There's managers out there who take bungs all day long. I would say to you comfortably there's six to eight managers we could definitely approach and they'd be up for this no problem."Later, Collymore is named publicly for the first time by Luton Town manager Mike Newell as the agent who offered him an illegal payment. Collymore also represents England cricketer Simon Jones.
The programme also claimed to have set up a 'sting' involving handing a cash payment to an unnamed Premiership manager, but the alleged manager did not turn up at the rendezvous. The programme claimed that he had been scared off by Mike Newell's claims being revealed that same day.
On 3 March 2006, The Football Association established an enquiry to be headed by Lord Stevens, former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and former head of an enquiry into corruption in cricket. The initial findings of Stevens' report were announced in December 2006.
On 20 September, The Football Association asked the BBC to provide all of the collected evidence and announced that it would investigate these allegations. It was to investigate allegations of illegal approaches involving Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen,Liverpool, Newcastle United and Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, along with allegations "relating to players' agents and connected activities" involving Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce, son Craig Allardyce, Newcastle United assistant manager Kevin Bond, and agents Charles Collymore and Peter Harrison.
Sam Allardyce: said that he had placed the matter in the hands of his lawyers. He also confessed: "As a father it is painful to watch your son talk tall and exaggerate his influence for financial gain." On 25 September he announced that after lengthy discussions his lawyers had advised that "I have a very strong case in relation to the programme, and I am planning to sue the BBC over the false and highly damaging allegations. I have therefore instructed my lawyers to prepare my case against the BBC."Allardyce added that he would discuss the matter with Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, as well as his wife before he took any final decision. Allardyce has not yet filed any legal action against the BBC, meaning the allegations remain legally unchallenged.
Nostalgic wrote: I don't think Sam is fooling anybody but he is going through a compulsory press interview. He was part of the agent system and I believe his son is still one.
At least hez knows the ropes and may have some inside information already. China will be the biggest obstacle to signings going by their determination to build football up over the next decade. All the big multi billion companies are on board with the government in bringing quality players to them.
Sam Allardyce expects to hold talks over the future of Sunderland's loan players this week, report the Shields Gazette.
The Sunderland manager's first job is to see whether loanees Yann M'Vila, DeAndre Yedlin and Dame N'Doye will be back at the Stadium of Light next season after all featured in the 2-2 draw at Watford.
"I have spoken to their agents and said you will be contacted very quickly, in the next few days or so to see what lies," he said.
"We should be talking about Yann M'Vila, DeAndre Yedlin and Dame N'Doye more than anyone (from the Watford game).
N'Doye hasn't shown enough for me. I think Sam is brilliant for Sunderland but that doesn't mean I wouldn't question any of his decisions and if he bought N'Doye it would certainly cause raised eyebrows. All hypothetical at the moment though.
Of course Sam is not beyond criticism but right now none of us know what will happen.
cyprussyd wrote: Of course Sam is not beyond criticism but right now none of us know what will happen.
N'Doye agree . not cos you're the boss, no its cos we both have fantastic football knowledge .
I was listening to Marco last night (briefly) whilst driving.
He said NDoye had a fantastic game at Watford.
According to The Sun, Sunderland are making a £10m bid for Swansea City forward Andre Ayew, as they look to fend off interest from West Ham United.
The Black Cats managed to pull off the great escape and secure their Premier League status with a 3-0 win over Everton last week, and ended the campaign with a 2-2 draw with Watford on Sunday.
The key to Sunderland's survival was that manager Sam Allardyce made three key signings in January; defender Lamine Kone, midfielder Jan Kirchhoff and playmaker Wahbi Khazri, all of whom played key roles in the final stages of the season.
Now, manager Allardyce is looking for major additions to boost his squad again, and is this time looking to raid a Premier League rival in the process.
The Sun report that Sunderland will make a £10m bid to sign Swansea City star Andre Ayew, who impressed with 12 goals in his debut Premier League campaign.
The Ghanaian international only joined Swansea on a free transfer from Marseille last summer, but questions are being asked about his future already - leading Sunderland to test Swansea's resolve with a big bid.
It's suggested that Ayew's wages will be no problem for Sunderland, but one issue they may face is interest from Premier League rivals West Ham United.
The Hammers failed in a move for Ayew last summer, but the report claims that Slaven Bilic's men are interested in signing him again, with a possible reunion with his former Marseille team-mate Dimitri Payet on the cards - which could be appealing for Ayew.


A Q&A approach to the initial assessment and management of major trauma in the emergency department.
There's been a nasty car crash with a death at the scene. Are you ready to deal with the survivor? A Q&A approach to trauma teams, preparation and the big picture.


Barcelona/Munich, February 22, 2016 Fujitsu's most secure 2 in 1 device is launched today. The new STYLISTIC Q736 features different types of security technologies including Fujitsu's unique PalmSecure palm vein biometric technology – which is more accurate, faster, easier and more hygienic than other biometric authentication scanners.
The new 33.8 cm (13.3-inch) tablet – which also converts instantly into a classic clamshell notebook through the connection of a dockable keyboard – enables security authentication with biometrics or SmartCard technology, also including support for contactless SmartCard via NFC (near-field communication) technology. Furthermore, the STYLISTIC Q736 features encrypted drives and Intel's TPM1, which provides secured storage for security keys and passwords, further protecting against unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Fujitsu takes a no holds barred approach to providing outstandingly secure tablets. A powerful combination of performance and security elements ensure that the Fujitsu STYLISTIC Q736 is perfectly suited to vertical industries where it is equally important to ensure that data already on the device is secured – for example, patient records in healthcare, or bank account details in financial services – as well as ensuring only secured access to the tablet itself.
The new STYLISTIC Q736 also ensures that users – once quickly and securely authenticated – can access corporate data from anywhere, anytime. The tablet features enterprise grade connectivity including 4G / LTE communications and built-in GPS.
The STYLISTIC Q736 is a true all-rounder with an all-day2 battery life. The Microsoft Windows 10 Pro operating system ensures native compatibility with enterprise networks and applications. Standard features include a digital pen to fully digitalize handwritten note-taking, and the incorporation of Intel Pro Wireless Display to connect to an external monitor wirelessly. With Fujitsu offering the device as a notebook replacement, it also comes with an optional docking cradle for use at a desk.
The STYLISTIC Q736 is available globally, from March 2016. Pricing is according to region and specification.
The STYLISTIC Q736 features up to the latest, 6th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 vPro™ processors, and a high-resolution 33.8 cm (13.3-inch) IPS full-HD anti-glare dual digitizer touchscreen display (1920 × 1080 pixels). This big-screen tablet can be combined with options such as a keyboard docking station providing additional interfaces and a second battery option, as well as an expansion cradle.
The STYLISTIC Q736 tablet weighs less than 1 kg, putting it among the lightest terminals with an anti-glare, multi-touch display in this form factor. The embedded dual digitizer also works with a digital pen.
1 Intel Trusted Platform Module (TPM) protects a PC system start-up process by ensuring it is tamper-free before releasing system control to the operating system.
2 The STYLISTIC Q736 long-life battery lasts approximately 9.5 hours of continuous operation, and up to 15 hours with the second battery option.


Meet our new class representatives! They've already been involved in some decision making, and shared their classes ideas on changes that could have a positive impact. Meetings will be fortnightly.
As well as being excellent class and school representatives, the School Council have also been setting a good example as Eco Warriors.
The School Council led our Great Big School Clean assembly on Friday 9th March. They also took part in a school litter pick and found a surprisingly large amount of litter! There was a mixture of different materials – plastic, cardboard, foil and fabric.
We know that litter should be recycled wherever possible. Each class wrote a poem about litter to submit to the Eco Schools Litter-acy competition. We are really proud of all of the entries. Fingers crossed!
Following on from The Big School Clean Up, our School Council decided that they'd like to make this a regular event.
Mrs Parker, our school caretaker, kindly offered to help the School Council pick litter twice weekly in the school grounds.
This week it's Year 1's turn. They were delighted to find a butterfly garden ornament in the bushes, which they are going to upcycle.
Meet our elected School Council! Following on from our in-school elections, candidates were elected for 2017-18.
They have been busy already, giving feedback on how our Playground Buddies programme is working, and ways in which they can help raise the profile of local and global environmental issues. Watch this space!


text:
_About & FAQ
_Social Media Links
__Movie Reviews
__Movies on Netflix
__Must-See Movies
_TV
__TV News
__TV Reviews
__Best TV on Netflix
__Playlists
__Music Reviews
_Streaming
__Netflix
__Amazon Prime Video
__Acorn TV
_Subscribe
Eclectic Pop
TV Reviews? You Got It.
Like Jonas on "Dark," take a deep dive into Eclectic Pop's past with an assortment of TV reviews. Click on the pic to travel through the wormhole!
@EclecticPop
Tweets by EclecticPop
TV Rundown: April 6 - 7 | Oliver's Real Agenda is Revealed on 'Arrow' as 'The Blacklist' Gets Down to the Wire!
Arrow: "This is Your Sword" | This episode could've been titled "Yee of Little Faith" and it would've been an accurate description of Team Arrow's bungling loyalty. It's been brought up before in this column that Team Arrow has a bad habit of losing faith in their supposed leader at the drop of a hat and they continued that pattern in "This Is Your Sword".
Yes, Oliver has definitely done enough to warrant a few concerns over the state of his fealty, however he's only been exposed to Ra's' indoctrinations for two weeks. Expecting that he's suffered a complete break from his former life in such a brief period of time is a bit outlandish.
Felicity held out longer than the others, though she eventually succumbed to believing Oliver had betrayed them as the fumes of a fake out poison rendered her unconscious. As valid as Diggle's anger over Oliver's use of Lyla in his scheme to convince Ra's of his loyalty was, he should have at least heard his old friend out. Oliver has been backed into a corner. Not to mention; Felicity, Roy and Diggle all went behind Oliver's back, not even two episodes ago to fake Roy's death. There's a little hypocrisy lying beneath the surface of the team's latest indignation. Despite his solid plan, Oliver apparently made the wrong choice in trusting Malcolm to have his back in all of this. Why he chose Malcolm of all people to serve as his accomplice, might be an indication that his mind isn't exactly operating at 100% yet.
Side Notes/Burning Questions: Where was John Hiatt's rousing anthem "Have a Little Faith in Me" when Oliver needed it? Roy acted with great chivalry by letting Thea go so she wouldn't be burdened with a life on the run. Why can't Malcolm act in a courageous or honorable manner for at least one entire episode? Isn't it obvious that Oliver switched out the vile to something that would just knock the gang out as opposed to killing them? Will the flashbacks on "Arrow" ever end? What will it take for them to finally be over?
The Blacklist: "Karakurt" | The penultimate episode of the NBC drama, followed the FBI on their hunt for Russia's most lethal assassin, Karakurt. During their search, collateral information about Liz's mother came to light as doubt was cast as to whether the woman she was identified to be, ever really existed. This episode pretty much laid the groundwork for the season finale, complete with a last minute cliffhanger that served up a potential game changer. A season's worth of plot points are coming to an exciting boil and while the series has suffered a sophomore slump, it's been showing signs of recovery, gaining significant traction as it heads into its last leg.
The preview for the season finale teased that Liz's long repressed memories would finally surface. Whether that means her true ties to Red will surface along with them, is the million dollar question. It feels like a long shot though. Lastly, a TV Rundown on "The Blacklist" would not be complete without a Tom/Liz reconciliation update.
Tom/Jacob suggested a "Love Affair" type arrangement that would allow them to learn where they stand with each other. Unfortunately Liz was too busy saving the world to show and stood Tom up. Why she couldn't send him a quick text to let him know she wished she could be there (if she did) is anyone's guess.
Side Notes/Burning Questions: Will Liz figure out that Red is her father? How long will she be on the run? In the episode "Leonard Caul (No.62)" Liz asked Tom to tell her everything he knew about Red. What did he share? Red should be powerful enough to get Harold the medical assistance he needs so he doesn't have to rely on the shady "Cabal".
Arrow . television . The Blacklist . TV . TV Rundown
'Absentia' Season 2 Finale Explained: That Ending, Alice, And Everything Else
The ending of "Absentia" Season 2 finale ensures the Amazon series going out with a vengeance. Ten…
'Bonfire of Destiny' Ending: How It Set Up Season 2, Explained
"The Bonfire of Destiny" (originally "Le Bazar de la Charité") left viewers with a lot to contempl…
'Black Spot' ('Zone Blanche') Season 2: That Ending And Theories That Could Explain It
The ending of "Black Spot" ("Zone Blanche") Season 2 takes viewers down more twists and turns in V…
'Unauthorized Living' Season 2 Ending On Netflix: Did It Satisfy?
What a ride. "Unauthorized Living" ("Vivir sin permiso") took viewers on a wild one as it hurtled …
Spotlight On:
'Last Man Standing' And 2 More TV Shows To Binge Before 2021
Writer. Dreamer. Doer. Not always in that order.
Britt is a freelance writer, who formerly contributed to CinemaBlend in the TV division. She is the sole contributor to Eclectic Pop. When Britt is not writing, she is watching movies and TV with her beloved dog, trying to figure out the latest plot twist.
Eclectic Pop .
design + code lovelogic


Notifications in respect of premises, contained uses and significant changes (including derogations) require the scrutiny of technical information and therefore attract a fee. There is no charge for notification of administrative changes, accidents or transfer of contained uses.
How do I pay the notification fee?
There are several ways to pay for a notification - BACS, cheque or you can request an invoice.
You must indicate on the form that you have made arrangements to include the appropriate fee for any notification. Payment can be made in several ways but invoicing is the preferred and quickest option.
HSE are often asked if we charge VAT, or for details of the VAT number. The Crown does not charge VAT for a statutory function (of which GMO notifications is one) and subsequently there is no VAT number.
Bank: NatWest Bank, London Corporate Service Centre, CPB Services, 2nd Floor, 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4RB. Account Name: HSE Main Account, Account Number: 10005889, Sort code: 60-70-80 (when a payment is by BACS, a remittance advice usually accompanies the notification. Payment should be made payable to the Health and Safety Executive).
Invoices can be requested via the notification officer and should be made at the time of submitting your notification.


You are a poker player, but you are not yet enrolled in an online poker room? Well, it is time for you to become member of Titan Poker, a top parlor in the online casino and poker field, which is now offering a very attractive bonus program. The prestigious poker room has set aside 20.000$ exclusively for new members – the prize pool of a free poker tournament freeroll, earmarked monthly for new players' awards.
The generous endowment of this tournament, combined with a deposit bonus, allow you to boost your bankroll from the beginning and to make a convenient start on Titan Poker. Download the Titan Poker software, create your own account, make your first deposit and you may collect your bonus. Three days after your initial deposit, you will receive tokens, which are valid for 3 months. So enjoy, because it would be a pity not to benefit of this unique opportunity! In fact, these tokens will be yours tickets for a moneymaking journey. Therefore, use these incentives for exercising and prepare you for the next challenge: the New Depositors Freeroll Satellites.
To reach the grand monthly final, all you have to do, as new member of the poker community, is to participate in the weekly freeroll tournaments organised under the name New Depositors Freeroll Satellites. These tournaments run every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 20h. They allow you to compete against players from around the world.
Each of the New Depositor Freeroll Satellites offers 50 places for the finals to be held monthly – at the end of each month, at 20h. This corresponds to approximately 1.000 seats available for the final event and, consequently, to more chances for you to reach the finals.
So, enjoy this wonderful welcome offer, because it is not going to repeat and you are new member only once! And, even if you don't win the contest, there is no need to worry. Titan Poker is a generous poker room and you will have many others opportunities to take advantage of! Titan Poker offers indeed freerolls pretty regularly throughout the year and that will give you more chances to win nice amounts of money.


Italy loves its "King of the High Cs," so much so it will mark the death of tenor Luciano Pavarotti with a series of concerts, film screenings, photographic retrospectives and other commemorative events at its cultural centers around the globe. The events begin the week of Oct. 6, a month after Pavarotti's death from pancreatic cancer.
They include video clips of Pavarotti interviews screened at the Italian cultural institute in Lima, Peru; concerts in Budapest, Hungary; Copenhagen, Denmark and Lyon, France; a viewing of a "Traviata" performance in Montevideo, Uruguay, and a series of Saturday screenings of Pavarotti operas in New Delhi.
In New York, a photographic exhibition and a series of concerts is planned, while in Seoul, South Korea, the National Opera is planning a commemorative evening.
The Eagles will perform during this fall's Country Music Association Awards for the first time, a nod to the success of their new single, "How Long," on country radio. The song is from the group's first new studio album in 28 years, "Long Road out of Eden," due Oct. 30 (in Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores only). The single is No. 26 and rising on the Billboard country chart.The 41st annual awards show airs Nov. 7 from Nashville on ABC.
"Cavemen" has undergone a pre-debut evolution.
A new first episode with a new setting -- San Diego instead of Atlanta -- will air when the sitcom begins 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Tonight's offerings -- "Ugly Betty" (8 p.m. ABC). Cute Betty tries to bounce back after last season's hurdles. "The Office" (9 p.m. NBC). You think your office is bad; Michael thinks his is cursed. "Big Shots" (10 p.m. ABC). Four successful buddies deal with women, business and degrees of not wanting to settle down.


text:
Home » News » Maine regulators give thumbs up to offshore floating wind project
Maine regulators give thumbs up to offshore floating wind project
Source: Elizabeth Harball, E&E reporter • Posted: Thursday, January 16, 2014
Stressing the project's potential benefits for the local economy, Maine regulators have approved the terms of a pilot offshore wind development spearheaded by the University of Maine, a significant step forward for the industry in the state's deep but windy waters.
Maine Aqua Ventus 1 GP LLC, a consortium including the University of Maine and two partner companies, Emera Inc. and Cianbro Corp., plans to construct two 6-megawatt floating wind turbines 12 miles off the coast of Maine at a cost of $120 million. Last June, the group installed the first grid-connected offshore turbine in the United States, a 1:8-scale prototype of its floating wind technology.
The Maine Public Utilities Commission yesterday voted 2-1 in favor of the project's terms, which include ratepayer support once the turbines are connected to the grid in 2017. During yesterday's deliberations, Maine PUC Chairman Thomas Welch said that the decision was in line with the Maine Ocean Energy Act, passed by the state Legislature in 2010 to encourage local development of both on- and offshore wind, and that the project could help boost the local economy.
"There is a strong commitment here to reinvest in Maine," Welch said.
Maine Aqua Ventus is one of seven demonstration projects selected by the Department of Energy in 2012 to receive an initial $4 million in funding. Now that the project has the state PUC's initial approval, it can move forward with a power purchasing agreement and is therefore more likely to be selected by DOE to receive an additional $47 million this year (E&ENews PM, Dec. 12, 2012).
"It's really good to see that the Maine Public Utilities Commission is using the program that was developed by the Legislature to attract investment in offshore wind [and] is actually moving forward with that program to the benefit of the industry as well as the economy of Maine," said Paul Williamson, director of the Maine Ocean and Wind Industry Initiative. "It's an extraordinarily important investment that will reap great returns for the state of Maine when this technology becomes commercially viable."
Is Maine Aqua Ventus better for the state than Statoil?
The development of floating wind turbines is considered a key step for the future of offshore wind in America because much of its coastal waters, especially those off Maine and the West Coast, are too deep to accommodate conventional offshore wind turbines (ClimateWire, Oct. 9, 2013).
But Maine Aqua Ventus is not the first DOE-supported floating wind turbine project to reach an agreement with the Maine PUC. In January 2013, the commission approved a similar term sheet proposed by the Norwegian company Statoil ASA, which aimed to install four floating turbines in the Gulf of Maine with a total capacity of 12 megawatts.
Last September, however, an Associated Press investigation revealed that Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) and his administration worked to obstruct Statoil's project due to concerns about higher electricity costs, pushing the state Legislature to allow the University of Maine to submit its own proposal. In response, Statoil backed out of the project in October (Greenwire, Sept. 23, 2013; Greenwire, Oct. 16, 2013).
Despite the fact that Maine Aqua Ventus' proposed ratepayer costs are not substantially different from Statoil's (the Norwegian company's contract price was 4 cents higher), LePage's administration has thrown its support behind the University of Maine's project.
"The Maine Aqua Ventus technology was developed by Maine students and Maine companies, and has attributes designed to bring offshore wind to economically competitive levels," Maine Energy Director Patrick Woodcock said in a statement following the commission's decision yesterday. "We will continue to support advancing the research and development of this Maine grown technology."
Building local wind energy expertise
Maine Aqua Ventus' proposed terms include a 20-year contract with Maine ratepayers at a base price of 23 cents per kilowatt-hour, with an annual energy cap of just more than 43,000 megawatt-hours. Today, Maine residential customers pay about 14 cents per kWh. The higher cost of wind energy was raised as a concern by Maine PUC Commissioner Mark Vannoy, who voted against approving the project.
"The fundamental issue in the ocean engineering community has never been one of technical capability but rather one of economic viability," Vannoy said during yesterday's deliberations. "The question is, can it be competitive with other forms of energy in the New England market?"
Vannoy also said he was uncertain that the project will attract enough outside investment for Maine Aqua Ventus to construct a 500 MW, utility-scale project in the Gulf of Maine, as it has suggested it will do if the pilot technology proves successful.
But PUC Chairman Welch argued that even if an offshore wind farm wasn't ultimately constructed in Maine, the project would still create job opportunities for residents because it would develop local expertise in the wind industry.
"If Maine in fact became a center of expertise in this area, it may well be that Maine will benefit significantly, wherever in the world these things are put in place, which I actually think may distinguish it from the Statoil situation," Welch said.
Maine Aqua Ventus has aggressively promoted the project's potential economic benefits to the state. In its term sheet, it estimates that close to 60 percent of the project's capital expenditures on development and construction would be awarded to Maine-based businesses and that it would generate about $10 million in annual local labor income during the three-year construction process.
After the commission reached its agreement yesterday, Jeff Thaler, co-counsel and permitting lawyer for Maine Aqua Ventus, said his consortium was pleased with the commission's approval.
"We're also pleased because the majority of the commission agreed that this project represents a significant step forward for the state of Maine both in terms of economic opportunity, research and development, intellectual capital opportunity, as well as producing energy from carbon-free sources," Thaler said.


Comments: Price does not include tax, title, license, or dealer added options. Price does include: $2,500 - Retail Bonus Cash. Exp. 04/30/2019 Turbocharged, Sport Tech Pkg, Option Grp 04, leather seats, panoramic sunroof, 7-speaker Infinity premium audio, blind spot detection w/rear cross traffic alert, heated & ventilated front bucket seats, proximity key w/push button start, Lane Change Assist and High Beam Assist area few features in this new 2018 Hyundai Elantra GT Sport hatchback.
This Elantra GT Sport will get loads of compliments and turn heads everywhere you go. While it has a sporty look with an upscale twist, it's also very practical. A comfortable ride shouldn't be a luxury, but often it seems like it is. You have not only comfortable spacious seats in the Elantra, but also a smooth ride. Need a practical vehicle with versatility? It's a hatchback, which means it has more cargo space that expands when you fold the rear seats. When the seats are all up, there's room for five and 24.9 cubic feet of cargo of space. Fold the back seats down and that space grows to 55.1 cubic feet of space.
You'll love the get-up-and-go of the potent turbocharged engine that won't cost a fortune at the pump. The Elantra averages 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. That's a huge check mark in the practical column! The Elantra also has high safety scores and an exceptional warranty. You'll love the engaging handling that makes getting behind the wheel a pleasure. It has everything you'll love and you'll know it the minute you take a test drive.


text:
What a terrific game! Writes Sunil Gavaskar after watching FIFA World Cup final in Qatar
What a terrific game! India's former-cricket-captain Sunil Gavaskar said, after witnessing the FIFA World Cup final in Doha.
By IANS On Dec 21, 2022 0
Doha (Qatar): What a terrific game! Yes, indeed it was, it was none other than India's former-cricket-captain-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar, who wrote on his Instagram page after witnessing the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Qatar in Doha on Sunday.
The former Indian captain knows a thing or two about a terrific win, as he was part of the history-making Indian team which won the Cricket World Cup at the Lord's Cricket Ground in 1983 under the leadership of Kapil Dev, a win which would change the face of cricket in the country.
It was a final which was an absolute thriller, with six goals scored in 120 minutes, a late fightback from France, not once but twice and then the penalty shoot-out which decided the title winner.
Nearly four decades back Gavaskar and his teammates were rank outsiders against the then high and mighty West Indies, but they pulled off one of the sensational wins in the low-scoring final over the Caribbean cricketers.
The win on Sunday was a thriller albeit on a football field.
The Mumbai-born 'Little Master' took sheer delight in the matches of the football showpiece event and watched two semifinals and the final.
He took time to post a picture with former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who was part of the FIFA Technical Study Group of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Gavaskar was not the only Indian cricketer in Qatar for the World Cup, two other former India captains, Ravi Shastri and Saurav Ganguly were also there for the final.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), General Secretary Jay Shah also witnessed the final.
A post shared by Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskarsunilofficial)
The 29-day football fiesta brought the Jogo bonito into the spotlight but cricket continues to be the most followed game in Qatar, thanks to the large Asian communities who are based in Qatar.
The Sri Lankan community rolled out the red carpet to former World Cup winner Sanath Jayasuriya, and also to another former international Farveez Maharoof, both of who watched some group matches before heading back to the island country.
Bangladesh, which has several people working in the cricket game in Qatar, saw the former captain of the national team Habibul Bashar, Akram Khan, who is the chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, Mohammad Sanwar Hossain and Tamim Iqbal witnessing the high-intensity matches in Qatar.
Among the current players, Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were the two who were in the spotlight obliged by posing for selfies and pictures with the Asian community in Qatar.
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen was also in town and followed most of the matches of the Three Lions. He is not new to Qatar having been to the country a decade back at the invitation of a businessman, who wanted to promote cricket in Qatar, but those plans did not materialize.
Those failed plans, there are many in the pipeline that the current office-bearers of Qatar Cricket Association headed by Sheikh Abdulaziz Bin Saoud Al Thani want to take forward,
The Qatar national cricket team, both men's and women's, consists of players who were born in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and occasionally someone from Nepal and Afghanistan, A few younger players are those born in Qatar but to parents who were born in Asia.
The game is not of much interest to the Qatari youths although the President of the Qatar Cricket Association is a Qatari and has some long-term plans to promote the game among the Asian communities especially with Qatar hosting the Asian Games in 2030.
The QCA officials who are working under Sheikh Abdulaziz, hailing from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are trying to use the star appeal of some of the former cricketers from India and getting feedback to improve the game.
The QCA which earlier rolled the red carpet for Virat Kholi, ahead of the Asia Cup in Dubai, did this time around for Ganguly and Shastri, what transcribed between the QCA officials and the Indian cricketers remains confined to the four walls as like all things the QCA officials rarely communicate with the media and the lower rung personnel are not authorised to give information to the press.
But one thing is certain none of the Qatari youngsters are interested in the game and no plans are made to get them into the gentleman's game in Qatar by QCA.
All the efforts to promote the game are by private clubs owing allegiance to some private companies, some who are employed with the companies and some working elsewhere and playing the game on the weekends as a hobby.
Syed Rafi, hailing from the Indian state of Hyderabad a cricket and music promoter and who also dabbles as a content creator says most of the players play the game as a hobby.
"On Fridays, which is a holiday in Qatar, they start matches at 5.00 am, when the sun comes out. They do not play with the hard ball but with the hard tennis ball and there are some 60 to 70 clubs in Qatar," said Rafi.
"We have three to four grounds in different parts of Qatar where you can play leather ball cricket and a number of grounds at Losail, where the QCA holds the league," he added.
"I have never come across any Qatari playing cricket in my 16 years in Qatar," added Rafi, who witnessed a few football matches in Qatar during the World Cup and is waiting for the top cricket action.
With most of the Qatari players being amateur, they are eagerly awaiting contracts from QCA, which they are hopeful of getting in the months ahead with Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia handing short and long-term contracts to their players, who incidentally trace their roots to Asia with an occasional native player thrown in.
FIFA World CupSunil Gavaskar
Mild earthquake felt in these places of Odisha!
Odisha: Youth detained for selling liquor dies in custody


U.S. stocks ticked lower on weak earnings from industrial giant General Electric. Roselle Chen reports.
U.S. stocks closed in the red, dragged by General Electric. The company's shares tanked after it reported nearly sixty percent drop in its second-quarter profit. Other industrials, such as Caterpillar and 3M, went along for the ride. Ken Kamen, president of Mercadien Asset Management: (SOUNDBITE) KEN KAMEN, PRESIDENT, MERCADIEN ASSET MANAGEMENT (ENGLISH) SAYING: "Well, General Electric has really been going for a quite a number of years, not only had businesses that have not done what Wall Street had hoped, they had activist investors go after them, they now are having a big management change, so things are very much in flux, and that's kind of obvious, but I think the thing that might be a bit less obvious for people is that, when a company, certainly any size, but certainly as big as GE, goes through that kind of management change, often times you see a new chief come in and lower expectations, so it's kind of a lower bar to start beating it, and I think Wall Street that the story coming out of GE over the next month or two might be about 'here is what the old guy did, but here is what we're gonna do to fix it up, so give us a chance." Microsoft fell despite strong fourth-quarter results that came in on Wednesday after the close. EBay was down after warning that its adjusted profit could come in below analysts' forecasts. On the flipside, Honeywell raised its profit forecast and the stock traded higher. Visa rose as well after boosting outlook. Oil prices fell after a consultancy group issued a forecast of a rise in OPEC production for July, despite the group's pledge to cut output. In Europe, stocks closed in the red.


news site template joomla joomla news portal template free news portal template.
download by tablet desktop original size back to manual invoice template manual invoice template manual receipt template manual invoice template then manual receipt template.
detailed lesson plan format best of high school lesson plan template detailed lesson plan template sample detailed lesson plan in english grade 4 detailed lesson plan format unique better home lesson.
new software evaluation template excel assessment project management plan best investment software evaluation document template asana templates ideas software project management template.
security assessment security assessment template dod security assessment plan template security assessment plan template.
mobile device agreement form company mobile phone policy template unique company cell phone template mobile device policy template mobile device policy template uk mobile device agreement form sample.
free rental lease application forms landlord editable word documents download residential form online template design best free online rental application template free online rental application forms.
free phone tree template emergency telephone tree template phone tree template word free phone tree templates ms word excel a template lab.
3 4 mckinsey consulting report template free powerpoint templates ideas resume sample.
accordion fold brochure template 4 panel brochure template indesign cv templates ideas accordion fold brochure template.


Class 104 DMU images identified by Vehicle No.
An official image of M50420 + M59132 + M50424, probably at Wirksworth. British Railways .
On a snowy winters day Buxton based BRC&W class 104 dmu headed by the first of the class, M53420 with M59152, M53474, stand in my home village of Furness Vale, with a Buxton-Manchester Piccadilly service, 27th January 1985. Andrew J Crowther .
Buxton based BRC&W class 104 dmu (M53420, M59152, M53474) breezes through Heaton Chapel with a Buxton-Manchester Piccadilly service, overtaking 25kv class 304 emu 304013 as it slows for its station stop. 9th March 1985. Andrew J Crowther .
Two three-car BRC&W sets operate the 4.30pm Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton service on April 5th, 1964. Seen near Lyme Park, Disley, M50421 leading. Michael Mensing .
Several 104s at Buxton in 1982, 50421 closest. On Tour With the Class 13 Army .
On the approach to Manchester Piccadilly is Buxton based BRC&W class 104 dmu M53421, M59148, M53487 arriving with a service from Buxton, 26th January 1985. Andrew J Crowther .
A six-car set, headed by set BX481 and M53421 (presumably with M59148 + M53487), enters Manchester Piccadilly on 17/8/85. Malcolm Clements .
M53421 enters it's platform at Manchester Piccadilly on 17/8/85. Malcolm Clements .
53421 of set BX481 is stabled beside a Class 108 in Buxton station on the 13th October 1985. Chris Lings .
A White roofed Buxton based BRC&W class 104 3 car dmu BX481 (M53421 + M59148 + M53487), climbs the 1-60 bank up towards Norbury Hollow level crossing whilst working a Manchester Piccadilly - Buxton service, 22nd December 1985. These units truly worked nationwide, but it was the Buxton route which they became synonymous with. Andrew J Crowther .
53421 / 53529 are seen at Normanton on 19/3/88 while working the 15:43 Leeds - Sheffield. Stuart Mackay Collection .
Golden light at Newton Heath Depot at dawn as the sun illuminated first generation DMU cars stabled on September 15th 1990. In the foreground are withdrawn Class 104s, M53421 & M53464, with out-of-service M53493 & M53444 on a parallel siding, the units being separated by a 20 Ton Brake Van. In the left background is a split 2-Car Class 101, with the DMBS having some bodyside damage. Also present were two Class 116 Suburban DMU cars, 53839 & 53842. Martyn Hilbert .
A pair of DMBS 1957 BRC&W built class 104 dmu's are seen at Buxton, M50428 in the centre road and M50423 on the right in platform 2, 13th August 1981. Andrew J Crowther .
Blue-grey liveried set BX486 arrives into Manchester Piccadilly on the 1st April 1984. The formation is believed to be 53424 + 59207 + 53434. Dennis Taylor .
SC53424 in Crainlarich station on May 31st, 1985, while working the Oban - Crainlarich shuttle. Hamish Stevenson .
Stabled in the yard at Oban along with a YCV Turbot open ballast wagon are two former Buxton allocated 'White Roofed' class 104 DMU power cars, which now form 104325 'The Mexican Bean' and allocated to Eastfield Depot as their SC53424 and SC53434, for services on the 42 mile Crianlarich to Oban branch for the summer tourist traffic, they worked three summer seasons for ScotRail and the Highlands & Islands Tourist Board being taken out of use in the autumn of 1987. 1st June 1985. Andrew J Crowther .
The "Mexican Bean" (53424 / 53434) glimpsed at Dalmally from a passing train while working an Oban to Crianlarich shuttle on a rainy day in August 1985. John McIntyre .
Class 104 BR&WC 2-car DMU 104 325 (DMCL 53424 + DMBS 53434) in Mexican Bean livery, stabled at Oban in October 1985. On Tour With the Class 13 Army .
Seen at Oban on 11/08/1986, 104325 consisted of vehicles SC53424 + SC53434 and was painted in this so-called "Mexican Bean" livery of maroon and white for use on the Oban - Crianlarich summer shuttle services. It was often attached to the rear of a loco-hauled service to be taken back to its home depot of Eastfield (ED), Glasgow, for servicing / refueling. Note the white West Highland Terrier symbol on the bodyside, representing the said depot. Graeme Phillips Collection .
Withdrawn "Mexican Bean" Class 104 set 53424 and 53434 stored at Thornton Junction on 08/12/90. Stuart Mackay .


text:
Return to the Knowledge Center
World Insurance Associates Acquires KPB Insurance Services, Inc. of Pennsylvania
TINTON FALLS, NJ, October 1, 2019- World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA), a Top 100 Insurance Agency, announced today that it acquired KPB Insurance Services, Inc. of Warminster, Pennsylvania on September 1, 2019. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1982, KPB Insurance Services provides insurance and financial solutions to individuals, families, and businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Agency is committed to building a solid relationship with its clients through practical solutions and excellent service.
"Adding the KPB team to one of our Pennsylvania operations adds valuable depth in that region.
"We are excited to join the World team and to bring the organization's resources, technology, and exclusive programs to our customers," said Albert J. Pandolfo, AAI.
Albert and his associates will join WIA's Feasterville, Pennsylvania office which will allow for greater collaboration and servicing of client accounts.
About World Insurance Associates LLC
Headquartered in Tinton Falls, NJ, World Insurance Associates LLC is a nationally ranked, full-service insurance brokerage providing world-class asset and lifestyle protection with risk management, insurance, and benefit consulting services for individuals and businesses. Since its founding in 2012, WIA has completed 47 acquisitions and serves its customers from 31 offices in 10 states. WIA has been named one of The Most Successful Companies in America by Inc. 5000, is a Top 100 P/C Agency by Insurance Journal and Business Insurance, a four-time honoree by NJBIZ Fast 50, and a Business Insurance Best Place to Work. For more information, please visit www.worldins.net.
Rich Eknoian, CEO
richeknoian@worldins.net
GET STARTED WITH A FREE CONSULTATION
Creating a custom benefits package is critical for companies of all sizes.
World Insurance to Purchase Insurance Agency
Specialty Business Insurance Products That Protect Your Business
Business protection from third-party lawsuits
Learn More: General Liability Insurance
Insurance coverage for your vehicles
Learn More: Auto Insurance
View All Products: View all Business Insurance products


These are the same superb oil paints that we use in our studios. Jack Richeson and Co. is justifiably famous for their high quality professional artists' materials. Thirteen color set includes a warm and cool of each primary color plus a few other colors we find essential for our palettes. 1.25 oz. tubes. Set includes: Cadmium Red Scarlet, Alizarin Crimson Permanent, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Yellow Light, Cobalt Blue, Ultramarine Blue Deep, Quinacridone Rose, Transparent Red Oxide, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, Viridian Green, Ivory Black and Titanium White.
Click the button below to add the John Hulsey Oil Paint Set by Richeson to your wish list.


text:
Port Huron residents fret over leaf pickup delay
This week was supposed to be the last Port Huron's new refuse collector picked up leaves. Part of that delay, officials said, is because of the weather.
Port Huron residents fret over leaf pickup delay This week was supposed to be the last Port Huron's new refuse collector picked up leaves. Part of that delay, officials said, is because of the weather. Check out this story on thetimesherald.com: https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/port-huron/2018/11/28/city-residents-worry-over-leaf-pickup-delay/2126239002/
Jackie Smith, Port Huron Times Herald Published 2:26 p.m. ET Nov. 28, 2018 | Updated 3:08 p.m. ET Nov. 28, 2018
Bags of leaves on Wall Street await pickup by Emterra crews on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018, in Port Huron. Residents in the city have complained about the delay and performance in leaf pickup this year. As an alternative to raking piles, leaves can also be put in yard waste bags or containers with an X for pickup on regular trash collection days through Dec. 14.(Photo: Jackie Smith/Times Herald)Buy Photo
Alan and Kathy Skinner have an inch-thick packet of flyers from the city of Port Huron bound by two large metal clips and displayed on the side of a cabinet in their kitchen.
In much of that packet are annual leaf pickup flyers going back several years.
The couple has lived in their home on Stone Street for decades, and with all the city's literature readily at hand, they said they remember what services have been like in that time.
Now, they're among the slew of residents across town who've said they're noticing a big difference in the leaf pickup this year — and they aren't happy.
"My complaint is they say, 'Put them on the boulevard,' so we put them on the boulevard, and if you go (look), they've taken maybe this much off," Kathy Skinner said Tuesday, holding her hands out in front of her. "Maybe a foot. If you're not going to do the whole boulevard, you're doing … not a good job."
This week was supposed to be the last that Emterra picked up leaves.
Split into two zones, each side of the city was slated to get two chances to unload leaves in a four-week period. On Wednesday, however, Public Works Director Eric Witter said Emterra Environmental was just beginning its second pass through zone one, which represents the eastern half of the city.
"Then, they're completing the first pass-through of zone two as we speak," he said.
The delay, officials said, was caused by the weather.
Meanwhile, residents say they want the mess left over finally cleaned up.
Port Huron leaf collection begins Nov. 5
UPDATE: Fort Gratiot OKs Marcotte bid for trash pickup
Freed: Trash company's tactics 'pretty disgusting'
Local officials saying no to pot businesses
Emterra won a bid for a five-year contract with the city last spring with the lowest bid by $1.2 million — over the city's previous contractor Marcotte Disposal.
Residents have consistently reached out to the city and aired their complaints on Facebook since the contract began, noting differences in multiple services between Marcotte and Emterra.
Some talked about picking up mattresses and others recycling. More than either this month has been leaves. A message to Emterra operations manager Fred Longtine, who has addressed city officials at a previous council meeting, was not returned.
During Monday's City Council meeting, City Manager James Freed responded to complaints. Kathy Skinner, who's also contacted the city by phone, Emterra and even the Times Herald through TalkBack, addressed the board during public comment.
Freed agreed, adding, "You are correct. It looks terrible out there," before explaining November's early snow and high precipitation has made Emterra's job more difficult.
He later said communities across the state that have leaf collection are likely to be facing similar challenges.
On Tuesday, Freed reiterated that the complaints the city has gotten over Emterra, in general, have been similar to what they heard about Marcotte several years ago because the service provider was new. The collector, he's said, is still getting used to its new routes.
But on this issue, the city manager said, "They are bringing up soupy leaves. It takes twice as long as long with soupy leaves." In some years past, he said Marcotte may have had "bone-dry weather." Port Huron, he said, hasn't had this kind of snowfall that impacts pickup in the last seven years.
Witter said that city officials are "in contact continuously every day" with Emterra. He said if there's an issue, a supervisor will evaluate the area.
"The first pass, they explained that the leaves fell so quickly and all at once," he said "… But with the second pass, (they) will clean that up."
Marcotte crews pick up leaves Monday, Oct. 31, 2016, on Woodstock Drive in Port Huron. (Photo: ANDREW JOWETT, TIMES HERALD)
Officials also said Emterra has also adjusted staffing and its response, adding another truck to the three slated to pick up leaves.
The Skinners have only seen one of their two pickups on Stone Street. They live in zone one.
A couple of weeks ago, they said that the company picked up a pile of leaves in front of their yard but left leaves along the curb and in the street.
"All the way down Stone Street," Kathy Skinner said, "and we never had that with Marcotte."
Jamie Frashier, who lives on Tenth Street, also had issues with her leaf pickup.
"They didn't pick up at all, and apparently they kind of picked it up yesterday," she said Wednesday. "But you can't even tell. They're over two weeks late."
Frashier was among the residents to question the $25 fee assessed for pickup services.
The fee, which also goes toward yard waste pickup and recycling, was projected to raise an additional $245,000 for current operations, according to the city's 2018-19 budget packet.
Frashier said she's called the city and Emterra about the issue. She added that as residents wait longer for pickup, leaves blow into neighbors' yards — such as hers, which she said has fewer trees than others.
"A lot of people don't understand we're paying for these services to be done, and they're not being done," she said. "I think this week is supposed to be our last week for leaf pickup, and some of us haven't had our first (real) pickup yet. If you go out there, it really looks like crap. That's not counting the future damage to the gutters."
Some residents have given up on the issue.
Wall Street resident Joshua Vanalstine said he raked both his leaves and his neighbor's — the latter of which was bagged and ready for pickup Wednesday morning. He said he wasn't going to bother bagging those from his yard or rake more leaves to the curb.
"I'm just going to let the winter take over," he said.
Others haven't had quite the same problem with Emterra.
Although she's heard "half the town is still covered in leaves," resident Katie Schlaufman said her street "doesn't look bad, honestly."
And the barrage of complaints, she said, has begun to seem excessive.
"That's all I see (on) the Port Huron (Facebook) page," Schlaufman, who lives on Howard Street, said in a message. "It's honestly getting annoying. If it's such a problem that there's leaves on the ground, then go out and bag them. I get that there are elderly and disabled people who probably can't do it, but everyone else can, and they can offer to take care of the leaves of the elderly and disabled. In my opinion, I say leave the leaves alone, and let nature do its thing. Better yet, instead of bagging the leaves, why not start a compost pile and get great soil for planting flowers or a garden in the spring?"
Still, other residents said they shouldn't have to take matters into their own hands.
"Last night at the meeting, Mr. Freed, bless his soul, said, 'Oh well, the weather's been really bad,' and I said I've lived here for 30 years in this house. It's never been this bad …" Kathy Skinner said. "They're blowing back into the yard. So, like I said last night, how many times do you want me to rake these leaves?"
She said she's 68.
Alan Skinner said he wasn't sure it would get better even with the still-to-come second pickup.
"I'm going to take a snow shovel here tomorrow to scrape the first bit of leaves that fell that weren't within the pickup schedule that got wet, dried and decomposed," he said. "They're stuck to the pavement. You have to scrape those up."
But Witter said officials do believe most of the issues reported by residents can be cleaned up in Emterra's second pass through town.
"That's our expectation and that's what they have told us," he said. "So, we'll continue to monitor their performance."
Freed added, "They will continue circling the city until it's picked up — even in the snow."
For more information, contact Emterra at 1-877-609-6753 or the public works department at (810) 984-9730.
Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.
Read or Share this story: https://www.thetimesherald.com/story/news/local/port-huron/2018/11/28/city-residents-worry-over-leaf-pickup-delay/2126239002/
Friends tried to save man presumed drowned in St. Clair River
Boats, crowds, festivities, oh my!: Here are the top 5 things that make Boat Week fun
Marine City, Algonac plan to use creative play grants on outdoor instruments
Search for missing boater to resume this afternoon
Fort Gratiot Light Station showing off restored keepers' quarters
Bond set at $150K for 4 accused in Fort Gratiot jewelry heist


text:
Brexit / Economy / Europe / Independence / Politics / Video
by Editor · August 8, 2022
Stories abound of people who when asked how they would vote in a Scottish independence referendum say they would vote No. Why, they are asked. Shrug. Just because. Just because what? Just because they would. Some of these people are just not interested in politics and the world around them beyond Strictly and Love Island. Others have been brought up in families that always voted Labour, or Tory. There was little thought involved when casting a vote. Their cross went where it had always gone. Others still are scared of change and cling to the status quo.
My computer dictionary defines status quo as: "the existing state of affairs, especially regarding social or political issues: they have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo."
Unsurprisingly many vote for a certain party (usually Tory) because they believe they have a 'vested interest'. These people believe their business, social standing, land ownership, potential for being awarded a peerage or other honour will be harmed by voting for another party. They fear socialism as that spells huge losses to them personally, so they will do everything within their power to stop Labour getting into power.
When it comes to the SNP the situation is even worse. The SNP stands for whisking the traditional rug from under their feet, taking away all they have worked hard to achieve, leaving them penniless, friendless outwith their precious Union, bereft. They fear what taxes might be imposed to impoverish, reduce income and returns on investments; what might happen to the acres owned for centuries or more recently purchased; the promised business contracts and honours; their chairmanship (often lucrative) or membership of this or that body or organisation? A lurch leftwards would threaten comfortable lives. A lurch into independence would, they believe, see their world come crashing down.
A step into the unknown
For others the status quo is something to which they desperately cling because change is a step into the unknown. Change might affect their job, their pension, their prospects, their lives. Change is feared because it can't be controlled, often can't be anticipated, and results in feelings of powerlessness and trepidation.
Some pensioners fear independence because the meagre pension, the lowest in north-west Europe, might be at risk. If this is relied on to put food on the table and pay the bills then naturally there is terror at the prospect of losing it.
Pensioners were told by Labour in 2014 that their pension would be at risk, might not even be paid in an independent Scotland. Visions of the workhouse, which not so many generations ago was where many ended their days. Others were told by their bosses that with independence they would lose their job, the company would pack up and move south. It might not even survive. And how despicable were those who pedalled the story that with independence desperately ill children would no longer be able to receive specialist treatment in London.
Change is natural
Change equals fear. The prospect of change engenders more concern and apprehension than anticipation and welcome of new challenges. Yet change is natural. The world around us changes all the time. We just have to look at old family photos to see that change – in clothes, housing, food, jobs, living conditions, modes of travel, holidays, education, health. And while it's understandable many people fear losing what they have, their comfortable lives, everything the status quo as it now is delivers, the changes in the Tory pipeline are much more likely to put lifestyles at risk than independence. Independence is now the safest option.
The status quo of today means higher food and fuel bills. Ofgem's decision to alter the price cap every three months means annual bills could exceed £4,200 – a sum very many can't afford. We also have a plummeting pound, average wages falling at the fastest rate for more than two decades, soaring transportation costs, children living in poverty, and benefits, such as pensions, under threat as Tories determine to cut back – cuts which will affect the lower paid and retired whilst benefitting the well off. The gap between those who have much and those who have little has never been so great.
The status quo – in 2014 and today
In the Guardian John Harris writes about fuel poverty, when energy costs exceed 10% of a household's net income. In the financial year 2019-20, just under 20% of UK households were in that category. That figure could escalate to well over 50% by the start of next year, with 60% in fuel poverty in Scotland, a country which has produced billions in oil and gas and now renewable energy revenues. Harris writes: "the immediate future will be defined by skyrocketing energy prices, economic woe and a profound social emergency – and power will be a grinding matter of crisis management." We need to question whether Truss or Sunak are up to this.
Harris concludes;
"The unavoidable truth is that the United Kingdom is in such a fragile, frayed state that it can no longer keep its people warm or adequately feed them."
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/07/britain-social-emergency-leaders-political-vacuum?CMP=share_btn_tw
So the status quo today is very different from the status quo in 2014. Then we were still in the European Union. We could travel easily between 28 countries, holiday there, attend university, work there, marry unhindered by red tape and governments determined to send you home. For 34p per person per day (£124 per person per year) we enjoyed freedom of movement, basic medical cover with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and no limitation on stays. Plus the benefits of EU membership to business and trade, legislation on working hours, holidays, maternity leave and a whole raft of other social issues which the two vacuous contestants for Tory leader want to ditch completely.
Today's realities
Now, in the present status quo, we have an imminent recession, lorry queues of an enormous length waiting to get papers checked to cross the Channel, businesses relocating to EU countries, insufficient workers to keep the health service functioning, industries and agricultural businesses going broke, sparse supermarket shelves and inflation heading to 13% and perhaps more. Today, everything you buy from bread to electricity to new shoes to mortgages and rent is more expensive, whilst what you are earning has declined. By 2024 household incomes will have declined by 5% – the largest fall since records began more than half a century ago.
And judging by the utterances of the two candidates vying for Tory leadership very many changes, most of which will be enormously drastic and damaging to the lives of ordinary people, will soon be coming down the line whichever is elected. Both, along with most other Tory, and some Labour MPs, welcome a privatised health service for which health insurance is required. That would see many who can't afford, or are unaccepted by insurers because of health issues, with at most basic healthcare provision. Cradle to grave healthcare will be replaced by chequebook care.
Meanwhile the Labour opposition sits on its hands, abstaining when it should be challenging, wanting to make Brexit work rather than persuade that a return to at least the single market would be in the UK's best economic and social interests.
List what you have
So if you fear change then maybe sit down and list in one column what you had in 2014. In a second column list what you might have by the end of this year under the leadership of either Liz Truss (backed by American-praising ultra right-wingers) or Rishi Sunak (backed by American and other financiers and bankers as well as US healthcare companies). In a third column list what you could have in an independent Scotland. Yes, that column will be a bit empty at present. But think of the style of government we have at Holyrood, the mitigations of Westminster policies (such as the bedroom tax) put in place, the determination to help families with young children (with measures adopted lowering child poverty in Scotland), the compassionate way in which those benefits devolved to the Scottish parliament are being implemented, free health and social care, free university education. These are an indication of the type of country the Scottish government envisages for an independent Scotland.
The Scottish government's measure to help reduce child poverty are having a positive effect with Scotland now with the lowest child poverty numbers in the UK.
Your voice will matter
If you still fear what an independent Scotland might bring, then remember you will also have a say. Your voice will be heard, will matter. Come independence you will be able to vote for the party you want in government – whether that be newly formed Labour, Tory and LibDem parties, registered in Scotland and focussing on Scottish rather than Westminster issues, or the SNP or any other party that might win seats in the Scottish parliament. Remember 1999 and 2004 when, because of a system of proportional representation, we had Scottish Socialists, Independent MSPs (Dennis Canavan and Margo MacDonald), Scottish Senior Citizens and Save Stobhill Hospital MSPs. It was your votes, your choices that put these MSPs into Holyrood to pursue the policies you wanted. In Westminster, by comparison, the voices of people in Scotland matter not a whit. We are outvoted, ridiculed and demeaned. Just watch Prime Minister's Questions on television for a sickening flavour of this.
The Scottish Government's paper, Building a New Scotland confirms that independent countries, of a size similar to Scotland, and with fewer resources than Scotland, have built fairer, more equal societies, while Scotland's potential has been held back by damaging Westminster Tory governments that we've rejected since 1955. What's more, the Tories are now raking back powers from Holyrood, to make it appear ineffective, irrelevant, giving an excuse to close it down completely.
Nice Parliament you've got there, Scotland. Be a shame if anything happened to it.
Professor Michael Keating on how Westminster is chipping away at Scotland's power. #Scotland pic.twitter.com/dXsBbtNM91
— Phantom Power (@PhantomPower14) August 7, 2022
Professor Michael Keating FBA FRSE FAcSS is a political scientist specialising in nationalism, European politics, regional politics, and devolution. He is Professor of Scottish Politics at the University of Aberdeen and Fellow of the Centre on Constitutional Change at the University of Edinburgh.
So, time to decide or at least reconsider, have a think about whether it will be Yes or No come the referendum. Will you continue to shrug and hope for the best whilst the UK you know crumbles around you. Or will you look at your three lists and come to the conclusion that independence may be scary, but that an unknown future in which you have no say in a Tory UK will be even worse.
Surely the decision isn't too difficult.
Tags: change equals fearfuel povertyIndependence now safest optionScottish independencestatus quo
James Kelly on recent polls
by Editor · Published December 8, 2019
Union of Equals?
Next story "We are family"
Previous story No longer a happy family


text:
Islamist gunmen attack African Union base in Somalia
(Reuters) - Eight Islamist gunmen infiltrated the main African Union (AU) base in Mogadishu on Thursday and killed three peacekeepers and a civilian contractor, the AU mission in Somalia said.
Somali militant group al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which lasted several hours, and said it had killed 14 peacekeepers. Witnesses reported hearing bomb blasts and volleys of gunfire through the day.
"We targeted the enemies at a time they were celebrating Christmas," Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab's military operations spokesman, told Reuters.
The raid showed al Shabaab's ability to carry out high-profile attacks in the capital even as it is losing territory in rural areas to AU peacekeepers who have launched two major offensives this year.
"The terrorists, some of whom were disguised in Somali National Army uniforms, breached the base camp around lunch hour and attempted to gain access to critical infrastructure, during which five of them were killed and three others captured," the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia, AMISOM, said in a statement.
It did not disclose the nationalities of the peacekeepers and civilian contractor killed in the attack.