Tout d'abord, je suis ravi de me retrouver parmi vous dans cette enceinte qui contribue à former celles et ceux qui feront l'Europe de demain. Avenir de l'Union européenne: entre crises et mutations". Tel est le titre de ma présentation.
J'imagine que celles et ceux d'entre vous qui sont pétris de la méthode enseignée depuis le 19ème siècle dans cette vénérable institution, ne seront pas surpris, au contraire, si je commence ma présentation en définissant les termes et les enjeux du sujet !
L'étymologie grecque du terme crise – krisis (jugement) – nous renvoie à la nécessité de décider et à un impératif de changement. En cela la crise – malgré son lot d'infortunes - est porteuse d'un avenir, d'un souffle nouveau, d'une transformation radicale. A l'heure où l'Union européenne affronte l'une des plus graves crises de son histoire - crise économique, financière, sociale mais aussi crise de confiance (j'y reviendrai) - nous sommes en droit de nous demander ce que cette crise porte en elle de changements en profondeur, ou de mutations.
Quel lien peut-on faire entre les forces du présent et le temps à venir? Si vous me permettez, j'aimerais faire ici appel à l'une des plus grandes figures françaises du siècle des lumières, Voltaire, qui affirmait – je cite: "Le présent accouche, dit-on, de l'avenir."
Cette expression me semble tout-à-fait pertinente pour expliquer pourquoi le futur est avant tout une promesse, porteuse d'espoir; pourquoi il convient de rester optimiste malgré les difficultés liées à la situation actuelle.
Let me repeat that quotation from Voltaire in English: "It is said that the present is pregnant with the future."
Being the cynic that he was, Voltaire no doubt intended to suggest that today's poor political judgements inevitably lead to tomorrow's disasters.
But for me there is another interpretation: if we can learn from today's mistakes, then we have a much greater chance of a better future.
In fact, it seems clear to me that both interpretations are relevant to the current crisis in Europe.
We can certainly say that we made mistakes in the past that later had harmful repercussions: for one thing, allowing countries to run up massive public deficits in breach of EU rules; for another, failing to clamp down sufficiently hard on those countries that broke those rules. The crisis is a clear illustration that EU is primarily ineffective where intergovernmental elements dominate. Let's be frank – that was true not only for the Stability and Growth Pact but also the Lisbon Strategy.
As a result, instead of keeping public finances under control, some Member States accumulated large private and public debts, structural reforms were postponed as a result, leading to loss of competitiveness and macroeconomic imbalances.
And we carried on making those mistakes: we failed to see that the cause of the crisis was one shared by all Member States, and that allowing each country to find its own solution would at best only tackle the symptoms. We had a monetary Union but acted as if monetary interdependence was sustainable without further economic integration and a genuine European budget. As the crisis vividly demonstrated we were wrong.
And we failed to see how our apparent inability to act would have such a detrimental effect on citizens, and on their trust in the EU as a whole.
So, you might say, not much reason to be optimistic! Well, this would indeed be true if we were still in this situation today. However, some progress has been made.
You will recall that not so long ago the doomsayers were all over the place, in the press, in Wall Street, on main street, predicting the demise of the euro, not to mention that of the Union itself.
The Cassandras have been proven wrong. If we are to believe the most recent forecasts, it seems that we are – slowly, but surely – managing to remove this economic trap, thus slowly getting out of the area of turbulence, with a tentative recovery foreseen for the start of next year. It is worth noting that despite the current difficult Europe's average debt-to GDP ratio is around 83%, compared to the US rate of 103% and Japan's nearly 230%.
And this is definitely not by chance. It is rather the result of an entirely different approach, adopted over the last three years, to tackling the crisis forcefully at EU level; an approach based on cooperation and solidarity, that we can now see slowly starting to bear fruit, slowly starting to deliver.
Of course we are not there yet, but there is certainly room for optimism.
I won't bore you with detailed explanations of everything that we have done at the European level to tackle the crisis, but I would like to mention one or two in general terms.
First, by putting into place the European Stability Mechanism, a 500bn euro firewall to break the link between bank and sovereign debts. As a result financial market conditions have improved substantially.
Second, tackling the deficit problem. The austerity measures introduced by many Member States are designed, among other things, to bring down excessive public deficits.
But these are only the symptoms: what needed to be done at the European level was to tackle the root causes.
That is why we agreed a series of measures designed specifically to make it far harder for countries to run up excessive deficits in the future.
For example, the so-called fiscal compact (agreed by 25 of the 27 Member States) sets out tough new rules on public debts, introducing national "debt brakes" .
These new rules are complemented by two others – the so-called "six-pack" and "two-pack" – EU jargon at its best ! - which are binding on all EU Member States.
The six measures in the six-pack also focus mainly on this issue of compliance with the rules (as that was where the principal problem was in the past) to enhance prevention and correction of excessive deficit and macroeconomic imbalances.
Meanwhile, the two-pack – on which I'm happy to say there was an agreement in principle between the European Parliament and Member States just last week, after months of negotiations – gives the European Commission a new right of scrutiny over draft national budget .
In addition over the past three years we have designed a new system of financial regulation in Europe, concerning banks, markets and credit rating agencies.
I think you'll agree that these are quite substantial improvements to the fiscal and economic governance framework in Europe, improvements that should ensure that the causes of the current crisis cannot be repeated in the future.
But perhaps even more importantly, they are improvements that would have been unthinkable just a few years earlier.
Member States have traditionally kept close control over their economic and budgetary affairs – as they had a perfect right to do under the terms of the Treaty.
But with all European economies – not just those in the eurozone – so closely interconnected, it is vital to ensure that decisions taken in one country cannot adversely affect those in others, as for example in the case of Greece.
That is why pooling sovereignty in this area, adding a new European dimension to the budget process, was the only way to proceed.
The European Semester through its orientation tools - the Annual Growth Survey and the Country Specific Recommendations –enable the European Commission to conduct a multilateral steering and surveillance of budgetary, macro-economic and structural policies of each Member State.
Thanks to the six-pack and the two-pack this surveillance mechanism is also given some teeth through the decision on incentives and sanctions. In addition, this annual cycle allows for differentiated approach to Member States who each face specific challenges. If growth deteriorates in an unexpected manner, a country may notably receive extra time, as has been the case recently with the programme countries, to correct its excessive deficit.
It is perhaps this new attitude of cooperation and integration on the part of Member States that gives me the most cause for optimism.
It goes to show that when push comes to shove, Europe is capable of taking tough decisions, for the benefit not just of one country's citizens but for all 500m people living in the EU.
A European banking Union with a central European bank supervisor, a single rule book and a single resolution mechanism to deal with banks in difficulty. We are moving fast in this area.
A European fiscal Union with not only stricter control over national budget but eventually an EU fiscal capacity proper based first on a new instrument – the convergence and competitive instrument – to help MS implement structural reform and, at a later stage, on the creation of Eurobonds to allow the common issuance of public debt and the creation of a European redemption fund as a means of reducing public debt exceeding the 60% criteria. The Commission has recently committed to set up an expert group (as part of the two pack agreement) to deepen the analysis on redemption fund and eurobills and present its final report no later than March 2014. In these areas too things are moving fast.
And finally a political union.
I will come back later in my presentation to these last two pillars – the economic and political union.
These objectives for EMU deepening have been endorsed by the Heads of State or Government of the EU countries in the December European Council.
Again, all this would have been unthinkable only two or even one year ago. History is accelerating and with it the prospect of deeper European integration.
Of course, it does not mean that everyone sees eye-to-eye on everything all of the time – far from it.
Nor that all Member States will be able (or as a matter of fact - willing) to participate at the same time in the proposed deepening of EU integration. If we look at the genuine EMU, it is likely that the Eurozone will become more deeply integrated more rapidly, but it should - and will - remain open to all other EU countries. In the end, all but two MS have a legal obligation to join the euro, and will have to commit to deeper integration in the future.
Finally this present and future integration has not reduced in any way the euroscepticism that continues to dominate political debate in several Member States. Quite the contrary.
As I mentioned before, we are – still – in the midst of a crisis of confidence. The opinion polls show that trust in EU and – I should add – national institutions is at an all-time low. This is also clearly reflected in the sheer number of changes in government: no fewer than 17 EU countries have seen a change of head of state or government since 2010, as citizens voice their concerns through their votes.
We need to go back to basics – to forcefully address the fundamental and daily concerns of Europe's citizens and the needs of businesses. To this end, we need to deliver on three fronts: sustainable growth and competitiveness, the social dimension of EMU and the building up of a democratic Union.
Perhaps the single most important measure when it comes to improving Europe's growth and competitiveness is the completion of the Single Market.
Between 1992 and 2008 the Single Market generated 2.77 million extra jobs in the EU and an additional 2.13% in GDP.
And yet barriers remain to the creation of a true Single Market, and in many of the areas with the greatest growth potential, such as services, energy and the digital economy, for example.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Michel Barnier, the Commission has adopted Single Market Act 2 proposals in October last year, focusing on these priority areas where action can be taken relatively quickly and where the potential benefits are substantial.
It is already 20 years since the Single Market was supposed to have been completed, but national vested interests have kept artificial barriers in place preventing us from exploiting the full potential of the Single Market. Once again, we have to make sure we learn from our mistakes.
We must also look beyond our borders, by embracing a forward-looking and pro-active trade policy. In the EU about 30 million jobs, more than 10% of our total workforce, depend on exports to the rest of the world. In that respect, the decision taken last week with a view to launching negotiations for a ground-breaking EU-US agreement – the transatlantic trade and investment partnership – has great potential to deliver.
Of course the US is not the sole focus of our international activities, in the multipolar world that we live in we also need to give priority to the BRICS, other emerging countries and the multilateral system.
Finally, growth and competitiveness will not come solely from structural reforms and removing barriers.
We also need to be able to invest at EU level in the policies and programmes that will create jobs, tackle unemployment and strengthen the economy.
At the European level, the chief investment tool is the EU budget - or the multiannual financial framework as it is formally known.
The heads of state and government have just reached a political agreement on the next seven-year MFF (2014-2020) , as I am sure you are aware, and while it was not the budget the Commission had hoped for, we recognise that it was the best deal that we were going to get, given the political stakes in many Member States. I'm glad to say that most of the key areas for growth and jobs proposed by the Commission were maintained in the budget agreement, even if in some cases with reduced funding.
The MFF forces us to focus on the most urgent priorities, where EU funding can bring real added-value and real benefits to citizens.
In particular, the European Council endorsed our commitment to tackling what has been called the 'crisis within the crisis' – the issue of youth unemployment.
We have proposed creating a new €6 billion Youth Employment Initiative aimed specifically at tackling this problem which is endemic in some Member States.
The youth unemployment rate across the EU is around of 25%, roughly twice as high as the adult rate. Around 5.5 million young people are unemployed. Aside from the obvious social cost of this situation, there is also a very real economic one as well: currently estimated at 1.2% of EU GDP!
That's why the Commission proposed youth guarantees that would ensure that young people receive a quality offer of employment, further education or training within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
The proposed budget will also maintain investment in research and innovation through the Horizon 2020 programme (€71bn) and in helping small and medium-sized enterprises through a new programme called COSME (€1.9bn), to name but a few instruments.
Of course, some areas could still get an investment boost if the European Parliament decides to substantially alter the European Council's proposal. The Lisbon Treaty gave new powers to the EP in this area. As the Commissioner responsible for relations with the other institutions, I know first-hand just how important it is to build consensus with European representatives of the people, even when it is arduous and challenging.
Another major challenge, drawing on youth unemployment, is the social dimension. The Euro project may irreversibly lose support from EU citizens if it is perceived as a purely economic and fiscal endeavour and does not take into account the challenges faced by the European social model and the structural level of unemployment at EU level, with more than 26 million people unemployed. The lack of opportunities, particularly for the young and long-term unemployed and the rising inequalities undermine the social cohesion and trust. This in turns translate into political instability at national and EU level.
Thus if more financial and economic sovereignty is shared, this will inevitably lead to a more integrated framework for social coordination and convergence. Failing that, we will witness fiercer competition between the Member States, social dumping (lowering of social standards) and ultimately the lowering of the social model.
This greater coordination is currently taking place primarily through the European Semester cycle. To tackle unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis is one of the key priorities of the 2013 Annual Growth Survey.
To this end, fiscal consolidation should allow for growth friendly investment, that is key expenditure covering employment services, active labour market policies, training and what I mentioned before as the youth guarantee schemes.
It is also essential that the resilience and dynamism of labour markets are increased through more effective labour market transitions from one job to another and with decent wages not overburdened by too high taxes.
The Commission has recently proposed a social investment package which sets out a framework for policy reforms to render social protection more efficient and effective and to invest in people's skills and capabilities, including active inclusion strategies at MS level.
Finally, to complete the monetary union with a genuine social agenda, the European Council has mandated both the President of the European Commission and of the European Council to present before the end of this semester important measures to develop the social dimension of the EMU, including social dialogue.
We are thus preparing proposals to reinforce the scope and frame for employment and social coordination, notably based on the instrument of the European Semester. We can already think about possible paths such as the involvement of social partners, the reconciling of fiscal objectives with employment and social ones, the extension of macroeconomic surveillance to social surveillance (on unemployment rates, poverty, social exclusion, access to healthcare etc.), the setting up of basic social standards and benchmarks, a genuine solidarity mechanism that would help address the social consequences of the crisis and much needed labour market reforms.
Another gap that needs to be filled is the political dimension of EMU. The political challenge is just as great – we need to ensure that all these decisions are taken in complete transparency and, vitally, with the requisite level of democratic oversight.
This has been a recurring theme among my many discussions with national parliaments over the last two-and-half years, and I am sure it will be on the agenda tomorrow when I go to visit a number of French ministers as well as the French Parliament in a few weeks.
And of course it is quite right that national parliamentarians are concerned by these issues. They, along with the European Parliament, have a vital role to play not only in representing the people of Europe but also in holding their governments to account for what they do.
"No taxation without representation" – so the saying goes since the American Revolution.
A few centuries later, it is now the turn of the EU to deepen the democratic fabric of its multi-level system by reinforcing the role of parliaments at both national and European level. How to do this – not whether, but how - is currently being debated with governments, national and European Parliaments alike.
And we are moving into rather unchartered territory. On the one hand, we have to respect the Treaties but on the other we are moving into new areas of cooperation and depth of integration that we have never seen before.
First we need to ensure that accountability for decisions taken fall precisely at the level where the decision is made, whilst also taking due account of the level where the decision has an impact.
Second, in deepening economic and monetary integration, we must ensure that the level of democratic legitimacy remains commensurate with the degree of transfer of powers from Member States to the European level.
For these reasons the Commission has committed to stepping up the dialogue with national and European Parliament on the Annual Growth Survey and the Country Specific Recommendations. While the Commission would remain naturally accountable to the European Parliament, national assemblies would thus play a defining role in the crucial juncture between the European and the national Semester i.e. in the second half of the year during which budget and reform programmes are proposed by governments and adopted by national parliaments.
Thus when the time comes for the big decisions on EMU to be taken, national parliaments will be pivotal in ensuring that those decisions are the right ones, the ones that benefit the citizens of Europe, and I will continue to remind them of this important task at every opportunity.
Because as I said at the beginning, the crisis is not just one of job losses and austerity measures, of economic losses and budget cuts. It's also a crisis of confidence – confidence in the entire European project, confidence in the ability of politicians to take the tough political decisions and to work together towards common goals.
Restoring confidence will only come if we can show ourselves capable of taking those right decisions. But we have to do so in complete transparency and democratically – especially when it involves pooling sovereignty.
This is not an easy proposition to sell to the people of Europe, even in the most Europhile countries, and if it is seen as simply another power grab by Brussels we will have failed in our efforts, regardless of how effective they might be economically.
All this needs to be debated, discussed and citizens must have their say. As you may know, this year has been consecrated as the "European Year of Citizens". In this framework the Commission is coordinating open debates in Member States with the participation of national governments, national parliaments, political parties and citizens about the Europe they would like to have by 2020.
Another landmark occasion will be the 2014 European Parliament elections. With this in view, the President of the European Commission has pressed European Political Parties to come up with a candidate for the post of President of the Commission and propose to their electorate an EU-wide programme and vision for the future of Europe. There could be a real energising effect in a political campaign which would put one leader in the seat of President of the Commission. To that end, European Political parties have a key role to play – as recognised by the Treaty – in helping to reconnect citizens with European politics and institutions. This is why the Commission has also proposed a European Statute for European Political Parties that I am currently negotiating with the co-legislators.
In the meantime, new tools of transnational democracy must also be put into place. Since April last year seven citizens residing in seven MS of the EU can launch a European Citizens' Initiative. By collecting at least one million signatures across at least 7 MS, they can directly propose to the Commission that it submits a legislative proposal. More than 10 initiatives are currently collecting and one is very much advanced.
This, in the evolving technological age, notably with the development of digital signatures and social networks, has great potential to foster direct participatory democracy, contribute to the development of a European public sphere and involve citizens more closely in the policy-making at EU level.
I see that in this field too Sciences Po students are pioneering. Some of you have embarked, as I am told, in making an experimentation on this novel tool – I very much look forward to hearing from your experience. A year ago, other Sciences Po students had already launched the "sign" network – with the genuine ambition to help citizens use and launch ECIs. I very much welcome this.
To conclude: I firmly believe that what we have experienced over the last few years, our present, has made us stronger and more ready to face what will come. The crisis has underpinned the financial, economic and social agenda that the European Commission is pushing today.
Europe's economic recovery may, after all, come as a result of the fact that the crisis acted as a catalyst for change, growth and reform.
In other words, in our present we have the seeds of a far better future.
Of course, I'm not saying that we are out of the woods quite yet, or that there won't still be more troubles ahead. Nor am I naïve enough to believe that the new found commitment to deeper integration won't experience a few hiccups of its own along the way.
The EU must – which does not mean that it necessarily will – become a test-case for transnational democracy. We need to be able to use the relays and tools, including interparliamentary cooperation, political parties and the citizens' initiatives to involve citizens better in the shaping of political action. This will be good for both democracy and policy making. More generally, failure to establish democratic channels will fuel even further the populist and extremist phenomena present today across the continent. This is one of the biggest challenges ahead of us.
But not the only one: the EU – its Member States and supranational institutions – must also respond to the challenge of solidarity and fairness. The EU social model is a strength that underpins our competitiveness. In his State of the Union speech last autumn, President Barroso recalled that "the EU countries with the most effective protection systems are also amongst the most successful and competitive". This is behind the idea of inclusive growth in the Europe 2020 Strategy and the social investment pack that I have mentioned.
This brings me to another point: the EU is first and foremost a Community of values that go beyond the borders of its Nation States. Values like human dignity, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms are enshrined in our treaties and will remain at the core of governmental action. At the end of last year the Nobel Prize reminded us so vividly of the EU's noble, unprecedented and relentless fight for achieving enduring peace, freedom and justice. Now looking at the EU as an international actor: in addition to being a fervent defender of human rights on the international stage, Europe is consolidating its position as the biggest trading bloc in the world - with a share of the world market that, contrary to the US and Japan - has been preserved at nearly 20% (against 13% for the US). The EU share in the global economy (GDP, purchasing power parity) is also stable – around 20% - and bigger than that of the US (18%) and China (16%). The EU is also recognised as the world's largest aid donor. Member States, despite of some rhetoric's to the contrary, are all acutely aware that in the multipolar world, "l'Union fait la force" (as we say in French). The EU "soft power" is undoubtedly its greatest asset. As mentioned above, it covers a wide panoply of policies. We could add the enlargement policy, with the prospect of accession acting as a major catalyst for reform in neighbouring countries.
And for the first time in decades, the enlargement of the EU – to the Western Balkans or beyond - is being conducted in parallel with further economic integration. It seems to me that we have reached a juncture where deepening and widening are effectively being pursued together.
For all this to be pursued, we must put our minds and our combined efforts to it. In an increasingly interconnected world, as we learnt from the crisis, we need to provide transnational solution to cross-border problems like economic shocks, climate change, food security, biodiversity, terrorism, illegal immigration or access to scarce resources.
To the "declinists" – to those entangled in the belief that Europe is bound to decline, I therefore say : there is no fatality, just look at what the economic crisis has taught us. Today's Europe, for all its trials and tribulations, is a shining example of what can be achieved through collective political will. I hope I have made the point that we need more, not less Europe, to tackle the challenges ahead.
So, rather than passively listening to the alarmist predictions, I would say – let's act collectively. Let's act on the democratic front, let's act on the economic front, on the social front, on the environmental front etc. Stemming from a critical analysis to learn from our mistakes, both past and present, and looking optimistically at what can be done to influence the course of future events. "Le pessimisme de l'intelligence allié à l'optimisme de la volonté" – a few 19th and 20th century authors have referred to this adage which, nowadays, would qualify as a recipe for change management.
Bottom line: the future is in our hands, and more importantly in yours, that of the future leaders, opinion shapers, decision-makers, analysts, practitioners of EU affairs and, perhaps even more importantly, active citizens.
With this in mind, I will stop here and listen to your interventions.


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It was a beautiful afternoon and I had an unusual long break so I decided to make use of it by going to eat at a restaurant with some of my study mates. We walked to a restaurant not too far from where our class was located and I'll say that was a beautiful decision.
LE ROCK is a beautiful restaurant with a welcoming environment, the waiters were extremely polite and friendly…. the service was fast, well coordinated and satisfying.
My taste buds fell in love with every single thing I ate.. I tried a dish called PAN ( cabbage, potato,chicken, mushroom, cheese, tomato, onion) and it was amazing!! I also had a piece of my friends Belgian waffles made from potato (chicken and grilled vegetables topping) and it was worth it. The others had rock dog, Caesar salad and pan… I could tell they enjoyed it from the satisfactory look they had while eating.
The highlight of the day for me was their lemonade (apple and kiwi). It worth every penny I paid to get it.
LE ROCK is a place I'll recommend to anyone who loves good food and efficient service… it's affordable and easy to access (located at the city center). Personally I spent $3 and collectively we spent $19.
All pictures were taken with my phone and edited by me. Let me know if this post was helpful to you in the comment section below. Till my next blog post remain FABULOUS!!!


text:
Koch Docs
The Koch Empire
990s/Tax Filings
Top Documents
About Us, the Curators
ONLINE VIDEOS & DOCUMENTARY FILMS ABOUT THE KOCH EMPIRE
Charles Koch and Brian Hooks at Global Philanthropy Forum, Jane Wales (2019)
Charles Koch and Brian Hooks discuss a variety of issues, including an attempt to appear to support climate change research. Hooks is Mr. Koch's latest right-hand–essentially replacing Richard Fink–as CEO and chairman of Koch's "Stand Together" umbrella group, president of the Charles Koch Foundation and Charles Koch Institute. Hooks is a director of Freedom Partners, and director of both of the Koch-controlled think tanks at George Mason University–the Mercatus Center and the Institute for Humane Studies.
Trump, The Koch Brothers and Their War on Climate Science, The Real News Network, Danny Glover (2018)
This documentary short, narrated by Danny Glover, reveals how the longstanding campaign of Koch Industries against the reality of climate change has shaped Donald Trump's presidency.
Watch Charles Koch's Opening Remarks At His Private Donor Retreat In Palm Springs, CNBC (2018)
Charles Koch welcomes attendees of the first of his twice-annual political donor summits of 2018, in January. According to reports, donors must pledge at least $250,000 in political or extra-political spending in order to attend these events, which establish spending goals amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars per election cycle.
Lee Fang: Billionaire Koch Brothers Have Extracted "Laundry List" of Victories from Trump Admin, Democracy Now (2018)
Democracy Now interviews Lee Fang who reported that the Kochs' secured a number of policy victories from the Trump administration.
The Doubt Machine: Inside The Koch Brothers' War on Climate Science, Real News Network (2017)
This documentary, narrated by Emma Thompson, sheds light on the efforts of Charles and David Koch to thwart governmental action to try to mitigate the dangerous climate changes that are underway.
Historian: Republican Push to Replace Obamacare Reflects Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America, Democracy Now (2017)
Following the release of her book Democracy in Chains, Nancy MacLean sheds light on the Kochs' relationship with right-wing economist James Buchanan, in this interview on Democracy Now.
The Koch Brothers' "Dark Money," interview with Jane Mayer, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (2016)
Jane Mayer discusses her book Dark Money, with particular focus on Koch Industries, its CEO Charles Koch, and vice president David Koch.
The Kochs & the Nazis: Book Reveals Billionaires' Father Built Key Oil Refinery for the Third Reich, Democracy Now! (2016)
Democracy Now interviews Jane Mayer after the release of her book Dark Money revealed that Charles Koch's father, Fred Koch, built refineries for Nazi Germany.
How the Kochs Tried (and Failed) to Discredit Reporter Jane Mayer After She Exposed their Empire, Democracy Now (2016)
Jane Mayer discusses how Koch operatives hired a private investigator in an attempt to discredit her in response to her 2010 reporting on the Koch network.
Charles Koch interview with Fortune Magazine, Fortune Brainstorm Tech forum, Alan Murray (2016)
This 2016 interview (full version here) with Charles Koch is tame overall, but informative. The video includes a question & answer section at the end, including two questions pressing Koch to acknowledge the science of climate change (which Koch half-heartedly affirms before denying the extent to which scientists understand and attribute the problem to industries like Mr. Koch's).
ABC News interview with Charles Koch, Jonathan Karl (2016)
This interview with ABC News pressed Charles Koch on the large wealth gap between rich people and poor people in the United States. Mr. Koch avoids answering many questions directly, without much pushback from Jonathan Karl, but some critical questions are included.
Koch Industries' mysterious 'internal bank' in Switzerland, The Guardian (2015)
This video accompanies an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) into "Arteva Europe, a Koch Industries company whose Swiss branch makes hundreds of millions of dollars in interest income, pays very little tax, and – mysteriously – has no staffing costs."
Merchants of Doubt, Robert Kenner and Participant Media (2015)
This documentary film by Robert Kenner depicts how a group of industry-funded pundits use the tobacco playbook of propaganda to obscure the truth, misleading the public about the dangers of climate change by sowing doubts about the science demonstrating the cause of the devastating climate changes that are underway. The movie is heavily based on the book Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway,
"How the Koch brothers turned into political power brokers," PBS Newshour, Gwen Ifill (2015)
PBS Newshour interview with Washington Post reporter Matea Gold on the political spending activities of Charles Koch's network of donors.
Billionaire Charles Koch on fighting in the political arena, CBS Sunday Morning, Anthony Mason (2015)
CBS Sunday Morning interview with Charles Koch at his Wichita home and from the headquarters of Koch Industries. This interview is not particularly critical, and Charles Koch's statements largely go without attempts to fact check. CBS was allowed into Koch Industries headquarters, providing some useful visuals.
Charles Koch and David Koch interview on Morning Joe, MSNBC (2015)
Viewer discretion advised – this interview by Joe Scarborough and Mike Brzezinski was widely criticized for failing to ask critical questions or attempt to contrast Mr. Koch's statements with conflicting evidence made available by prior reporting. The hosts failed to disclose their attendance at a private gathering of Koch network donors earlier that year, which reporters can only attend by agreeing to self-censor aspects of their journalism.
Charles Koch interview on Morning Joe, MSNBC (2015)
Charles Koch speech to Koch network donors, Dana Point, CA (2014)
This recording was published by Lauren Windsor for The Undercurrent, with accompanying articles in The Nation. The recording is from the Koch network's June, 2014 donor summit in Dana Point, California. This recording was made years before Charles Koch started taking steps to make his speeches to fellow political donors public.
Welcome to Kochville, a.k.a. Wichita, Kansas, New York Times, Carl Hulse and A.J. Chavar (2014)
This documentary short by the New York Times examines the influence of Koch Industries on local political and cultural level in Wichita, Kansas.
Koch Brothers Exposed, Robert Greenwald, Brave New Films (2014)
This documentary film by Robert Greenwald illustrates explores Koch Industries' pollution in Arkansas, Koch-funded politicians, Koch-funded universities, and attacks on public schools, voting access, workers unions, and U.S. Social Security. This movie is explicitly critical of Koch, it is not tone-neutral.
The Kochs' Anti-Civil Rights Roots: New Docs Expose Charles Koch's Ties to John Birch Society, Democracy Now (2014)
Democracy Now interviews Lisa Graves on her investigation into Charles Koch's role in the John Birch Society, including his fundraising for it, at the height of its attacks on the U.S. Civil Rights movement. This report and source documents were published by the Center for Media and Democracy.
(Lisa Graves is a curator of this website.)
Barbara Walters interview with David Koch, ABC News (2014)
Viewer discretion advised – this interview is essentially an endorsement of David Koch with little in the way of critical questions, and no breaking information. ABC did not present any of the prevalent evidence of the Koch network's spending, activity and priorities that undermine the soft message of philanthropy and charity that David Koch promotes in this interview.
Citizen Koch, Carl Deal & Tia Lessin (2013)
Following the 5-4 ruling of the United States Supreme Court in the "Citizens United" case, Citizen Koch tells the story of former Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker's recall election and how Koch money influenced the outcome of that election and others. The movie faced financing issues and a delayed release thanks to David Koch's influence at PBS, as Jane Mayer reported for The New Yorker in 2013.
Greedy Lying Basterds, Craig Rosebraugh, One Earth Productions (2013)
This award-winning documentary film by Craig Rosebraugh tells the story of how and why special interests in the fossil fuel industry are casting doubt on climate change. The film has a distinct activist tone, and it is not exclusively centered on the Koch network.
"The Koch Brothers," Bob Abeshouse, Yasmine Qureshi, and Rebecca Kaufman, Al Jazeera America (2012)
In a short documentary that aired on Al Jazeera America, three filmmakers document the influence of Charles and David Koch and show how their efforts following President Obama's election in 2008 were ramping up in opposition to his re-election in 2012.
Thousands Protest Michigan's Anti-Union Law, But Deep Pockets of Right-Wing Backers Prevail, Democracy Now (2012)
In an interview with Democracy Now, Lee Fang details how the Kochs' Americans for Prosperity played a leading role in pushing anti-union "Right to Work" legislation in Michigan.
The United States of ALEC, Bill Moyers & Co. (2012)
This documentary, narrated by noted journalist Bill Moyers, explores how the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has dramatically changed laws in states across the country to advance the agenda of the corporate and special interests that fund it, including Koch Industries and other groups funded by the Charles Koch fortune that have a voice and a vote with state legislators on ALEC task forces.
Park Avenue: Money, Power, and the American Dream, PBS, Alex Gibney (2012)
This 2012 documentary by Alex Gibney compares multi-billionaire residents in Manhattan with low-income communities in the south Bronx, all living on Park Avenue. This film includes footage from the 1980 Libertarian Ed Clark-David Koch election campaign, political work of Americans for Prosperity, and an interview with David Koch's doorman.
Big Secret Bucks by Mark Fiore and CMD (2012)
In this short video, Pulitizer Prize-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore uses heavy satire to illustrate how the Citizens United decision has unleashed the Koch Brothers and other super-rich interests to create dark money groups to influence elections without revealing the sources of the "big secret bucks" being spent.
Billionaires' Tea Party, Taki Oldham, Larrikin Films (2011)
Was the Tea Party actually a spontaneous uprising of Americans angry about taxes in 2009 or was it a front group for billionaires upset about the election of President Barack Obama? Taki Oldham answers these questions and more in his depiction of the right-wing wave sweeping America that influenced the outcome of the 2010 midterm elections and putting the GOP leaders in key roles in Congress. Transcript available here.
ThinkProgress interviews David Koch, Part 1, Lee Fang, 2011
The first of a three-part video interview of David Koch and Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips on Capitol Hill to attend the swearing-in ceremony of John Boehner when he became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Interview by Lee Fang for ThinkProgress.
ThinkProgress interviews David Koch, part 2 (denying climate change), Lee Fang, 2011
The second of a three-part video interview of David Koch and Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips on Capitol Hill to attend the swearing-in ceremony of John Boehner when he became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Interview by Lee Fang for ThinkProgress.
ThinkProgress interviews David Koch Part 3 (Citizens United), Lee Fang, 2011
The third of a three-part video interview of David Koch and Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips on Capitol Hill to attend the swearing-in ceremony of John Boehner when he became Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Interview by Lee Fang for ThinkProgress.
The Koch Brothers & Their Amazing Climate Change Denial Machine, Taki Oldham (2011)
In this animation about the Koch brothers, Taki Oldham uses images to present the reality of the Charles Koch's climate denial machine and how he and his brother, David, have used their vast wealth to subvert the scientific consensus on climate change.
Scott Brown Begs David Koch For Money (2011)
This video was published by Brad Johnson for ThinkProgress in 2011. Then-Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts was captured on film asking David Koch for more campaign cash. Brown lost his U.S. Senate seat to Elizabeth Warren in 2012.
Charles Koch at the Philanthropy Roundtable Annual Meeting, Koch Industries (2011)
This video, published by Koch Industries, is the acceptance speech Charles Koch delivered to attendees of the Philanthropy Roundtable annual meeting in 2011. Koch was presented with the William E. Simon Prize for Philanthropic Leadership. The Philanthropy Roundtable is financed by multiple foundations controlled by Charles Koch.
David Koch - Evidence Of Direct Tea Party Link, Excerpt from Astroturf Wars, Taki Oldham, 2010
This except of Taki Oldham's 2010 documentary film, Astroturf Wars, reveals David Koch giving a speech at an Americans for Prosperity (AFP) event. David Koch was the founding chairman of the AFP Foundation at the time. The video contrasted Mr. Koch's public claim that he was unaffiliated with the "tea party" movement in the U.S. in 2009-2010, as several local AFP chapter leaders are seeing reporting their success in organizing tea party rallies directly to Mr. Koch.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
PM denies President's invitation to meet with the head of the opposition
TIRANA, June 27 – Albanian President Ilir Meta called in special meetings on Thursday Prime Minister Edi Rama and opposition leader Lulzim Basha "to talk about the political situation in the country" – an invitation which was rejected by Prime
Read Full Article▸
Council of Europe cancels elections' observation mission due to "uncertainty" and "security risks"
TIRANA, June 26 – The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe announced on Wednesday it has decided not to deploy a delegation to observe elections to Albania due to the uncertainty surrounding the date. "The
Quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I heard Austrian Ambassador Johann Sattler commenting on Albania's current political situation while he was in Shkodra. Among other things, he touched upon the infamous BILD wiretaps published last week involving Socialist Prime Minister
Albanian PM launches lawsuit against German journalist
TIRANA, June 26 – Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Tuesday through social networks that he authorized a German lawyer to launch a lawsuit on the BILD wiretap recordings alleging his government's implication into vote rigging. "I just handed the
Meta says Electoral College decision has "no effect" on Presidential decree
TIRANA, June 25 – President Ilir Meta issued a statement in response to the Electoral College backing up a Central Elections Commission decision not to deregister a political party from the June 30 local elections, a "no effect" decision. The
Electoral College: "Local elections will take place on June 30″
TIRANA, June 24 – Albania's Electoral College supported on Monday the Central Election Commission's (CEC), which decided the decree of President Ilir Meta cancelling June 30 as the local elections date is invalid and continued with the process preparation. The
President Meta calls procedure to dismiss him from office a "fake process"
TIRANA, June 23 – Albanian President Ilir Meta called the parliament's start of procedures to dismiss him from office after he signed a decree that cancelled June 30 as the local elections date a "fake process, blindly oriented politically." Responding
Opposition leader: "PM's resignation, non-negotiable condition to resolve political crisis"
TIRANA, June 22 – Head of Democratic Party Lulzim Basha said on Friday evening that the departure of Prime Minister Edi Rama remains a non-negotiable condition for resolving the country's political crisis. Speaking during the protest organized in front of
European integration: Searching for the enemy
TIRANA TIMES 4 YEARS AGO By Albert Rakipi The hopes and expectations for opening negotiations for Albania's accession to the European Union have taken a hard hit even for the most realistic and skeptical people for whom it was clear that
"Albania, press freedom is declining," seven int'l organizations report
TIRANA, June 22 – A delegation of seven international press freedom organizations published on Friday a preliminary report on the difficulties Albanian journalists face. The report stressed that press freedom in Albania has deteriorated and the government is not transparent,
◂Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 … 12 Next Page▸


It's called "Help John find more bands to listen to." Seriously, I'd appreciate any help given lol. I'm just gonna name my favorite bands lately and you throw stuff out there that I should check out.
Hot Chip, MGMT*, Magnetic Fields (later stuff,) PlayRadioPlay!*, Foals*, New Pornographers.
*Listen to intensely as of late.
Or on the other hand let's not.
Contribute to the forum a bit THEN we might let you have a thread like this.


text:
Q: Two-Way Insertion Sort not sorting This is supposed to be a Two-Way insertion sort, but it's not sorting. I'm also supposed to print out the number of assignments for sorting, but right now I just want it to sort.
A separate output array of size 2n+1 is set aside. Initially x[0] is placed into the middle element of the array n.
Continue inserting elements until you need to insert between a pair of elements in the array.
As before you need to make room for the new element by shifting elements. Unlike before,
you can choose to shift all smaller elements one step to the left or all larger elements one step
to the right since there is additional room on both sides of the array. The choice of which
shift to perform depends on which would require shifting the smallest amount of elements.
I can't find much on the internet about this sort except that no one uses it.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

void printArray(int arr[], int len) {
    for (int j = 0; j < len; j++)
        printf("%d ", arr[j]);

    printf("\n");
}

int main() {
    FILE *in;
    int size_arr = 0;
    char ch;

    if ((in = fopen("data_a5.txt", "r")) == NULL) {
        printf("Error!");
        exit(1);
    }
    do {
        ch = fgetc(in);
        if (ch == '\n')
            size_arr++;
    } while (ch != EOF);
    rewind(in);

    int arr[size_arr];
    int sort_arr[2 * size_arr + 1];

    int n = 0;
    while (!feof(in)) {
        fscanf(in, "%d", &arr[n]);
        n++;
    }
    fclose(in);

    for (n = 0; n < 2 * size_arr; n++) {
        sort_arr[n] = 0;
    }

    sort_arr[size_arr] = arr[0];

    for (n = 1; n < size_arr; n++) {
        int index = size_arr;
        if (arr[n] <= sort_arr[size_arr]) {
            while (!(arr[n] <= sort_arr[index]) && sort_arr[index] != 0 && index >= 0) {
                index--;
            }
        }
        if (arr[n] > sort_arr[size_arr]) {
            while (!(arr[n] <= sort_arr[index]) && sort_arr[index] != 0 && index < 2 * size_arr) {
                index++;
            }
        }

        if (sort_arr[index] == 0) {
            sort_arr[index] = arr[n];
        } else {
            int next_R, next_L = index;
            while (sort_arr[next_R] != 0 && next_R <= 2 * size_arr) {
                next_R++;
            }
            while (sort_arr[next_L] != 0 && next_L >= 0) {
                next_L--;
            }
            int R_move = next_R - index;
            int L_move = index - next_L;
            if (R_move > L_move) {
                while (L_move <= index) {
                    sort_arr[L_move] = sort_arr[L_move + 1];
                    L_move++;
                }
                sort_arr[index] = arr[n];
            } else {
                while (R_move >= index) {
                    sort_arr[R_move] = sort_arr[R_move - 1];
                    R_move--;
                }
                sort_arr[index] = arr[n];
            }
        }
    }
    printArray(arr, size_arr);
    return 0;
}

A: I'm not sure this solves all problems but it is a problem you must fix.
This code
    int next_R, next_L = index;
    while(sort_arr[next_R] != 0 && next_R <= 2*size_arr)

has undefined behavior as next_R is uninitialized.
Maybe you want:
    int next_R = index, next_L = index;
                 ^^^^^
    while(sort_arr[next_R] != 0 && next_R <= 2*size_arr)

In any case you have to initialize next_R before using it.
I also find this line strange:
printArray(arr, size_arr);
           ^^^

Seems you are printing the original array instead of the sorted array.
May be you want:
printArray(sort_arr, size_arr);
           ^^^^^

A: like this
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>

void printArray(int arr[], int len){
    while(len--)
        printf("%d ", *arr++);
    printf("\n");
}

int main(void){
    int size_arr = 10;
    int arr[size_arr];
    int sort_arr[2 * size_arr + 1];

    for(int i = 0; i < size_arr; ++i)
        arr[i] = -50 + rand() % (100 + 1);
    puts("before:");
    printArray(arr, size_arr);

    int left, right;
    sort_arr[left = right = size_arr] = arr[0];

    for (int n = 1; n < size_arr; ++n){
        int v = arr[n];
        if(v <= sort_arr[left]){
            sort_arr[--left] = v;
        } else if(v >= sort_arr[right]){
            sort_arr[++right] = v;
        } else {
            int L = left, R = right, M, MV;
            while(L <= R){
                M = L + (R-L)/2;
                MV = sort_arr[M];
                if(MV < v)
                    L = M + 1;
                else if(v < MV)
                    R = M - 1;
                else
                    break;
            }
            //M: insert position
            enum { LEFT, RIGHT } CHOICE;
            if(v == MV){
                int ML = M, MR = M;
                while(sort_arr[ML-1] == sort_arr[ML])
                    --ML;
                while(sort_arr[MR] == sort_arr[MR+1])
                    ++MR;
                if( ML-left >= right-MR){
                    M = MR+1;
                    CHOICE = RIGHT;
                } else {
                    M = ML;
                    CHOICE = LEFT;
                }
            } else if(v > MV){
                ++M;
                CHOICE = M-left+1 > right-M;// ? RIGHT : LEFT;
            } else {
                CHOICE = M-left-1 > right-M;// ? RIGHT : LEFT;
            }
            if(CHOICE == RIGHT){
                memmove(sort_arr + M+1, sort_arr + M, (right-M+1)*sizeof(v));
                sort_arr[M] = v;
                ++right;
            } else {
                memmove(sort_arr + left-1, sort_arr + left, (M-left)*sizeof(v));
                sort_arr[M-1] = v;
                --left;
            }
        }
    }
    puts("after:");
    printArray(sort_arr + left, size_arr);
    return 0;
}

A: There are some problems in your code:

*

*when you scan the file in the first pass, you should count the number of integers instead of the number of characters.

*when inserting, your loops are off by one: the tests should read while (L_move < index) and while (R_move >= index)

*while (!feof(in)) is always wrong, you should instead write while (fscanf(in, "%d", &arr[n]) == 1) {...

*you should probably allocate the arrays arr and sort_arr instead of defining them as VLAs with automatic storage to prevent undefined behavior on large input files.

*you should use binary search into the sorted portion, otherwise your algorithm has a basic complexity of O(N2) that dwarfs the small gain obtained from the minimisation of the insertion phase.
Here is the code:
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

void print_array(const int arr[], int len) {
    for (int j = 0; j < len; j++)
        printf("%d%c", arr[j], " \n"[j == len - 1]);
}

int main(void) {
    FILE *in;
    int size_arr, n, start;
    int value;

    if ((in = fopen("data_a5.txt", "r")) == NULL) {
        printf("Cannot open input file %s\n", "data_a5.txt");
        exit(1);
    }
    for (size_arr = 0; fscanf(in, "%d", &value) == 1; size_arr++)
        continue;

    rewind(in);

    int *arr = calloc(2 * size_arr + 1, sizeof(*arr));
    if (arr == NULL) {
        printf("Cannot allocate memory for %d entries\n", size_arr);
        exit(1);
    }

    start = size_arr;
    for (n = 0; n < size_arr && fscanf(in, "%d", &value) == 1; n++) {
        /* insert value into the sorted array */
        int a, b;
        for (a = start, b = start + n; a < b;) {
            int mid = a + (b - a) / 2;
            if (arr[mid] < value) {
                a = mid + 1;
            } else {
                b = mid;
            }
        }
        /* insert value at offset b */
        if (b - start < start + n - b) {
            /* shift left portion to the left */
            for (int i = start--; i < b; i++) {
                arr[i - 1] = arr[i];
            }
            b--;
        } else {
            /* shift right portion to the right */
            for (int i = start + n + 1; --i > b;) {
                arr[i] = arr[i - 1];
            }
        }
        arr[b] = value;
    }
    fclose(in);

    print_array(arr + start, n);
    free(arr);
    return 0;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


These days a bride and groom's expectations are higher and hen and stag parties often involve several nights away to be the memorable occasion they are looking for.
But you don't need to travel abroad, with the hassle of additional travel, passports and potentially a lot more expense.
Instead you can grab a few days, or a long lazy weekend away in Cornwall, where you can enjoy time partying or simply relaxing with the rest of the group.
With the rise of Airbnb you can rent a whole house or apartment for as little as £200 per night and you can even find a gem that has cinema, a games room or swimming pool.
Here is our pick of the top nine currently available through the online site.
George24 is an uber chic self-catering property in the heart of Newquay and is designed to provide social and spacious living space.
Whether you are planning to paint the town red, go surfing or simply kick back and relax, this venue has it all. The hosts can arrange a variety of activities like surfing, coasteering, or a cocktail making workshop – and even a home visit from a beauty therapist.
There is an open plan kitchen/dining/living room with a separate cinema style lounge and you can access Sky movies, Netflix and Lovefilm or play a range of PS4 games.
In additional it has a six person hot tub, sauna and a private terrace garden with a barbecue – a great space where you can enjoy the sea views.
This site in Davidstow offers an 'alternative' hen or stag experience.
Up to 17 people can stay on the site, in its six sleeping tents set within three 'camps' with their own garden areas and a fully equipped kitchen cabin.
A bar and recreation tent offers board games, dressing-up clothes and a football table – you just need to bring your own drinks.
There is a camp fire and barbecue area and the hosts, who are musicians, can sometimes be persuaded to sing songs with guests around the fire.
They will consider accepting laid-back 'alternative' hen and stag weekends with chilled people who appreciate the peaceful setting outside of the school holidays.
Larger parties may choose this self-catered, spacious house in Newquay which sleeps up to 20 people.
Among the features are a games room with a dart board and pool table, cinema room, private terrace garden, six person hot tub, barbecue and 3D television as well as access to Sky, Netflix and Lovefilm.
If you want to venture away from the property and all it has to offer, then it is close to the town's beautiful beaches where you could surf or swim, or just sunbathe and its pubs and clubs for a great night out.
There is a team available around the clock to help visitors book surf lessons, recommend restaurants, hidden beaches or travel arrangements.
Made up of two large houses in the heart of the Cornish countryside, you can hire the whole estate to cater for up to 17 people. There is an additional stand-alone apartment The Love Loft, available for larger parties.
There is an indoor swimming pool and sauna at one of the two houses, while within the grounds there is a private leisure suite building housing the games room with darts, a pool table and table tennis, sauna, wetroom and pool.
The hosts work with Do-Cornwall for fun packed outdoor activities including surfing, coasteering, and archery.
When it comes to front line properties, the Beach House is the epitome of seaside venues.
Situated in the village of Port Isaac, you can soak up some incredible sea views from the property, which has a chic interior and relaxing atmosphere, which include a 40ft conservatory, games room and sauna.
Outside there's a Chablis balcony, sun terrace, courtyard and a large garden.
If you have ever fancied staying in your own castle, or want to walk in the footsteps of the cast of Dawn French series Delicious and stay at the 'Penrose', this is your chance.
Multi-award winning, the castle set in 2,000 acres on the banks of the River Tamar and with 55 acres of woodland gardens – complete with a mausoleum and picturesque bathing hut – it's the ultimate getaway.
The castle accommodates a maximum of 20 guests in nine luxuriously double en-suite bedrooms and a twin attic bedroom. It has a number of rooms you can enjoy including a games room, while outside is a solar heated swimming pool, terrace and crouquet and boules lawn.
You'll find lots to do in the castle and around the scenic 2000-acre estate and a variety of activities can be arranged.
This house, with breaktaking views, can sleep up to 22 people in ten bedrooms – nine of which are en-suite.
It has a good size kitchen and living space where you can gather and enjoy each other's company, along with pool and darts in a games room.
There is also an enclosed garden where you could unwind and have a barbecue.
This incredible, contemporary house, which sleeps up to 16 is a perfect pad for either a private, relaxing weekend away or as a base to go out and explore.
It has unparalleled views of the Camel Estuary and surrounding countryside, is just a minute's walk from the Camel Trail and close to some of the best eateries, including Rick Stein's Seafood restaurant in Padstow.
The property, which has a box-like open plan top floor to give uninterrupted views, has a media room, gym and cedar hot tub, along with a fire pit..
This house, which was featured in the Times Newspaper 'top party house' list, has everything you need for a hen or stag party.
It is close to the beaches of Newquay and the town centre, where you can also access tennis courts and a swimming pool.
Back at the house, which can sleep up to 22, everything is wired for fun, with high spec equipment including a 42-inch 3D TV, surround-sound audio, full Sky TV, Netflix and Lovefilm. Inset touchscreen head unit and an ipod/iphone docking station control your sound track.
There is a snug room with chill sofa and bright funky seats with access to a private terrace complete with six-person hot tub and barbecue, wall inset speakers and MP3 docking station.


CTA BW44 (ex-CMC 518)760 viewsCTA work bus BW44. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA BL1321 (ex-CMC 1266)781 viewsCTA work bus BL1321. The BL designation meant bus locker; these buses were parked at construction sites for use as storage sheds. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA BA194 & BA183 (ex-6613 & CSL 6515)792 viewsCTA work buses BA194 & BA183. These buses were used to remove sleet from trackless trolley wires - note the addition of poles on the roof. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA 8012649 viewsCTA #8012 working route 56A-North Milwaukee at the Jefferson Park terminal. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA 7240660 viewsCTA #7240 working route 85-Central at Central & Montrose Avenues. Photographer unknown; collection of Mel Bernero.
CTA 7234736 viewsCTA #7234 working route 81-Lawrence at Lawrence & Clarendon Avenues. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA 7200691 viewsCTA #7200 working route 81-Lawrence at Milwaukee & Lipps Aves. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA (ex-CMC) 689835 viewsCTA #689 by the Douglas Park 'L'. Photographer unknown; collection of Joe Testagrose.
CTA 5094708 viewsCTA #5094 working route 73-Armitage. Photograph taken by Mel Bernero.
CTA 3678686 viewsCTA #3678 working route 18-16th/18th at 18th Street & Damen Avenue. Photographer unknown; collection of Mel Bernero.


text:
Category: An Arm and a Leg
'An Arm And a Leg': How a Former Health Care Executive Became a Health Care Whistleblower
Can't see the audio player? Click here to listen.
Former health care executive Wendell Potter spent part of 2020 publishing high-profile apologies for the work he used to do — the lies he said he told the American people for his old employers. These days, he said, he's also trying to debunk myths he once sold.
"What I used to do for a living was mislead people into thinking that we had the best health care system in the world," Potter said.
In this episode, Potter talks about his transformation from health care executive to health care whistleblower. His is also a story about the long, messy process of change — whether that's changing your own life or trying to change a bigger system.
Here's a transcript of the episode.
"An Arm and a Leg" is a co-production of Kaiser Health News and Public Road Productions.
To keep in touch with "An Arm and a Leg," subscribe to the newsletter. You can also follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. And if you've got stories to tell about the health care system, the producers would love to hear from you.
To hear all Kaiser Health News podcasts, click here.
And subscribe to "An Arm and a Leg" on iTunes, Pocket Casts, Google Play or Spotify.
This story can be republished for free (details).
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Health Care Costs, Health Industry, Multimedia, Podcasts
'An Arm and a Leg': A Look Back at 2020 — What We Learned and Where We're Headed
Posted on January 6, 2021 by Nile
This episode turns the tables: Host Dan Weissmann gets interviewed about what he learned in 2020 and what's ahead for the show — with T.K. Dutes, a radio host and podcast-maker who is also a former nurse, so she knows a thing or two about the health care system. She chronicled her career transition in an episode of NPR's "Life Kit."
During their conversation, Dutes shared stories about life before and after health insurance. She coins what could be a new tagline for "An Arm and a Leg": "Where there's money, there'll be scams."
For more of Dutes' work, check out "Open World," a podcast she published recently with Rose Eveleth. The first episode features a reading by and discussion with the writer N.K. Jemisin, who won a MacArthur "genius" award the day after the show came out. (Clearly, the MacArthur folks were listening.)
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Health Care Costs, Health Industry, Insurance, Multimedia, Podcasts
'An Arm and a Leg': Shopping for Health Insurance? Here's How One Family Tried to Pick a Plan
When host Dan Weissmann and his wife set out to pick a health insurance plan for next year, they realized that keeping the plan they have means paying $200 a month more. But would a "cheaper" plan cost them more in the long run? It depends. And the COVID pandemic makes their choice a lot more complicated.
After trying to puzzle it out, Weissmann debriefs with Karen Pollitz, a health insurance expert at KFF, who knows about the angst of medical bills from personal experience.
Health insurance can be painful, but the alternative ― not having health insurance ― is so much worse. If you want to go deeper on health insurance, you might want to check out these episodes from the first season of the podcast:
In "Why You (and I) Will Likely Pick the Wrong Health Insurance," we learn: Smart economists have proved it's actually super hard — even they aren't sure they'll pick correctly.
In an episode inspired by KHN reporter Jenny Gold, we learn about insurance companies' price-gouging. And often we end up paying the price.
In the first-ever episode of this show, Weissmann's family confronts the big puzzle: Can we even get insurance that'll work for us?
In "A 'Deal' on Health Insurance Comes With Troubling Strings," we go on a journey with a kinda-famous "financial therapist" who says she gets rattled when it comes to picking health insurance. And she's pretty uncomfortable — morally, personally — with some of the choices she's made. (Also, Weissmann's family makes another cameo.)
And here are some other helpful big-picture takes:
Listener Anna Jo Beck made a really great booklet explaining how health insurance works. You can read it online.
Weissmann borrowed some core insurance-picking advice — consider what a health plan does for you if you get hit by a bus — from this story by Zachary Tracer at Business Insider, spelling out how he picked his insurance.
Want to go a lot deeper? Especially if you're actually looking at buying health insurance, maybe on the Obamacare exchange?
Weissmann found healthcare.gov to be super usable this year, way better than the last time he checked.
"I punched in the answers to a few questions, and got to quickly tell it which doctors our family sees (and what meds we take) … and it provided a clear list that showed which plans cover our docs, how much they would cost us, etc.," he said.
Subsidies are available for Affordable Care Act plans. KFF has this explanation of how they work. It's a slog, but thorough. Print it out, grab a snack and settle in. This bit of research explains that a lot of people qualify for a plan with no premium. (KHN, which co-produces "An Arm and a Leg," is an editorially independent program of KFF.)
KFF has a whole database of frequently asked questions about the ACA. Hundreds of Q's and A's, including 180-plus in Spanish.
Also great, also very thorough: The Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms has a whole site full of resources for navigating the ACA. (It's actually for "navigators" — folks who help civilians understand the sign-up process.)
That's a lot, right? Picking a plan can be overwhelming. But don't let it get you down.
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Federal Exchange, Health Care Costs, Insurance, Multimedia, Podcasts, The Health Law
'An Arm and a Leg': Obamacare Alum Andy Slavitt Takes Stock of the COVID Pandemic — So Far
Andy Slavitt has spent much of 2020 talking with almost everybody who knows anything about the COVID-19 pandemic — and sharing what he learns in real time, first on Twitter, then on his pandemic podcast, "In the Bubble."
To do our own podcast episode about what we've learned so far and what we might expect next, Slavitt was the person to speak with.
He is a former head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the final years of the Obama administration.
Slavitt shared some of the cost-side realities of vaccines and testing. Then there was an uncomfortable guest-host moment about the characterization of his role as founder of a venture capital firm — before the conversation got back on track and he shared thoughts on the role of profit and health care.
"We've created some of the worst excesses, and we're not getting the basic job done. Health care is not affordable to people," Slavitt said.
Given the choice, he said, he would pick a health system that covers everybody even if it were a little worse than the current system, versus one that is very expensive and leaves many people without health care.
"I'd be, 'I'm all over the socialist side,'" he said. "If you asked me, though, what do I think are the ingredients to a successful health care system? I would say it includes innovation."
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, CMS, Cost and Quality, COVID-19, Health Care Costs, Multimedia, Obamacare Plans, Podcasts, public health
'An Arm and a Leg': How to Avoid a Big Bill for Your COVID Test
Posted on November 30, 2020 by Nile
Tests for the coronavirus are supposed to be free. And, usually, they are. But sometimes … things happen. Here's how to keep those things from happening to you.
New York Times reporter Sarah Kliff has been asking readers to send in their COVID-testing bills. She's now seen hundreds of them, and she ran down for us the most common ways things can go sideways, and how to avoid them.
First off, she said: "I don't want people to think, 'Holy crap, I should just not get tested for coronavirus because it's going to cost me a ton of money.' You absolutely should. And the odds are that you will not get a surprise bill, and it will cost zero dollars." Still, if only 2% of people end up with a surprise bill and a million people a day are getting coronavirus tests, that's a lot of surprise bills, she noted.
Kliff's top tip is to avoid getting a test in an emergency room, where you might get charged a "facility fee" that your insurance doesn't cover.
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Health Care Costs, Multimedia, Podcasts
'An Arm and a Leg': For Your Next Health Insurance Fight, an Exercise in Financial Self-Defense
A listener asked: 'How do I remain cool when calling insurance companies?" So we called veteran self-defense teacher Lauren Taylor for advice. She leads Defend Yourself, an organization that works to empower people against violence and abuse.
As Taylor teaches it, self-defense involves a lot more than hitting and kicking. It's about standing up for yourself in all kinds of difficult situations. Striking that posture includes using your words, and we asked Taylor to talk us through her top strategies. This year, she used them in her own health insurance fight.
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Health Care Costs, Insurance, Multimedia, Podcasts
'An Arm and a Leg': David vs. Goliath: How to Beat a Big Hospital in Small Claims Court
Posted on November 2, 2020 by Nile
When Jeffrey Fox and his wife got an outrageous medical bill for a simple test, he said to his wife, "No way am I paying this." In a classic — and hilarious — David vs. Goliath story, Fox takes on a huge hospital, and wins.
He's a bit of an expert in using small claims court to get satisfaction and shared detailed instructions with the rest of us.
Fox doesn't only take on big opponents. He said even his small wins are a way to get better at standing up for himself.
It's pretty good practice for us all.
Want more? Here are some extras:
Our episode Can They Freaking DO That?!? describes how some folks have used just the threat of small claims court to get outrageous bills lowered.
Law professor Christopher Robertson describes some of the legal theory behind this method in this post from a Harvard Law School blog.
Fox posted documents from his case and a brief narrative.
Finally, here's this episode transcript.
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Cost and Quality, Courts, Health Care Costs, hospitals, Multimedia, Podcasts
'An Arm and a Leg': Vetting TikTok Mom's Advice for Dealing With Debt Collectors
TikTok mom Shaunna Burns used to be a debt collector, so she knows a few things about what's legal and what's not when a company contacts you to settle a debt. We fact-checked her advice with a legal expert: Jenifer Bosco, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center.
Bosco said most of Burns' advice totally checks out.
A recent report from ProPublica shows that debt collectors have thrived during the pandemic; they're out in force to get people to pay up. But we have rights. Scroll down for some consumer protection resources.
You don't need to have heard our earlier episode about Burns and her story; you can start right here. (Both conversations contain lots of strong language, so maybe listen when the kids aren't around.)
Meanwhile, here are links to resources:
The National Consumer Law Center, where Jenifer Bosco works, publishes the book Surviving Debt. It's free to read online at https://library.nclc.org/sd
Consumer-finance expert Gerri Detweiler, who helped fact-check a big question for this episode, has a very useful-looking site called Debt Collection Answers. She just published a new article with answers to questions like "Can medical bills be sent to collections if you're making payments?" (yep) and "How do I dispute a medical bill in collections?"
Burns' Dealing-With-Debt-Collectors TikTok Videos
Be sure to note Jen Bosco's legal caveats, but Burns will get you in the fighting spirit.
Rapid-fire advice: Debt collectors can't just call whenever they want. There's a statute of limitations on debt. You can — and should — demand documentation.
If they can't document that the debt is valid … you have options.
You're under no obligation to give them any information.
If the debt is valid, be nice. Take the calls. You may eventually be able to work out an OK deal.
'An Arm and a Leg': TikTok Mom Takes On Medical Bills
Shaunna Burns went viral on TikTok, partly because of a series of videos dishing out real-talk advice on fighting outrageous medical bills. She said the way to deal with medical debt is to be vigilant about what debt you incur in the first place.
"What you can say is I don't want you to run any tests or do any procedures or anything without running it by me," she said.
Burns has three children of her own, and she has become the virtual mom that thousands of Gen Z followers love. She's funny, smart and relatable — and she has stories that'll make your hair stand on end. Oh, and she can swear like a sailor. So maybe listen to this episode when the kids aren't around. Also, some of her stories are kind of intense.
(You can first check the transcript to see if this episode is one you want to share with your kids.)
'An Arm and a Leg': How to Fight Bogus Medical Bills Like a Bulldog
After Izzy Benasso had knee surgery, she and her dad received a letter from a surgical assistant giving notice that he "had been present" at the procedure.
The surgical assistant was out-of-network and seemed to be laying the groundwork to get the Benassos to pay his fee.
Steve Benasso wrote a letter right back, basically telling the guy to buzz off: He had no intention of paying the surgical assistant. Because the bill was a surprise, Benasso suggested that the surgical assistant try to get the money from the insurance company, or negotiate for some part of the knee surgeon's payment.
Benasso first shared his story with KHN and NPR for the Bill of the Month series.
There are two explanations for Benasso's chutzpah.
One: "Steve is the kind of person to check every receipt twice and argue over any discrepancies he finds," his daughter said.
Two: He had lots of experience haggling over medical bills in particular. As a human resources director, he specializes in defending his colleagues against bogus bills and unfair insurance denials.
"I am a bulldog on this stuff," he said. "I do it every month."
In this episode, learn how Steve became such a bulldog, and the tips he has for the rest of us.
"An Arm and a Leg" is a co-production of KHN and Public Road Productions.
To hear all KHN podcasts, click here.
Posted in An Arm and a Leg, Bill Of The Month, Cost and Quality, Health Care Costs, Health Industry, Multimedia, Podcasts, Surprise Bills
'An Arm and a Leg': Financial Self-Defense School Is Now in Session
When you need medical care, it can be a lot like entering a casino — playing for your financial life with the deck stacked against you.
But in this episode, reporter Celia Llopis-Jepsen offers insight and tips no dealer will divulge. She got a health care executive to talk honestly — maybe more honestly than he realized — about how his company and others are playing the game when they send patients huge bills.
When she investigated one man's $80,000 bill, here's what Llopis-Jepsen found:
Providers who took some of the $175 billion in pandemic-related bailout funds that Congress authorized in March had to promise not to ding patients with surprise bills for COVID-related care. But don't expect your provider to merely tell you if that rule applies in your case. (That $80,000 bill did not include a footnote that said, "Once insurance pays us, you can forget all about this.")
If you get a bill for COVID treatment, you can look up the provider yourself. Llopis-Jepsen found a government database where you can see if your provider took bailout funds.
She also has a tip sheet for pushing back against your medical bills.
And this story — which shows you don't always owe what you are charged — is packed with insight, too.
Podcast Scheduling Announcement
From here on out, look for financial self-defense lessons from "An Arm and a Leg" every two weeks, instead of occasional seasons. Because it is always a good time to learn how to stand up against unfair medical bills.


Founder of YouNeek Studios and the creator of the graphic novel 'Malika: Warrior Queen' Roye Okupe is now hoping to turn it into an animated series. Malika: Warrior Queen is set in 15th century Africa and it features fictional characters in real life locations such as the Oyo Empire, Timbuktu among others.
To do this, the writer has decided to launch a Kickstart campaign to raise $15,000 for the production of its pilot episode.
A little over three years ago I quit my full-time job to start YouNeek Studios. I did so because all my life I've wanted to create stories that are inspired by African history, culture and mythology. Until this point, I have fulfilled this goal successfully by publishing graphic novels.
My books have been successful due to an amazing group of fans that constantly support my projects. Everything I've created and achieved up to this point has led me to this moment. I know that it is now the time to move into the realm of animation!
Animation? Yes, you heard that right! YouNeek Studios has decided to officially move forward with production of the Malika: Warrior Queen animated pilot/episode one.
The animated series is important, as it will allow black children — particularly black girls — to see themselves as heroes.
See the teaser trailer for the pilot episode below.


text:
Welcome To Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Parish Schools
Parish Boundary Map
Website Development Log
PUBLIC ACTS OF WORSHIP IN CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH RESUMED ON 2ND DECEMBER2020
A TOUR OF THE CHURCH
There has been a church in the village of Clifton for around 1,000
years and its existence was noted in the Domesday Book. At the time of
the Reformation the village church became part of the Church of England
It was not until 1966 that the Clifton Catholic community once again had
a permanent place of worship. Corpus Christi Church was officially
opened on 29th March 1966 by Bishop Ellis.
Formation and Early Years of the Parish
In 1956 Bishop Ellis asked Father McGuinness, (later to become the
eighth Bishop of Nottingham), to form the new parish of Clifton.
For the ensuing ten years the parishioners worshipped in many different
places. Their first site was a Wimpey builders' but which served as a
kitchen for the builders during the week. When the hut was burned down
by vandals, the congregation moved to a building owned by the
Nottingham Co-operative Society and used a billiard table as an altar.
Father McGuinness also celebrated Mass and christenings in a
converted garage in Ruddington Village and finally in Blessed Robert
Widmerpool School when it was built on Listowel Crescent.
Construction and Design of the Church
Work began on the construction of the church in November 1963. Due to
difficult site conditions, the church was built on a reinforced concrete
base with a structure of precast concrete frame and beams. In the
finished building these give the effect of a vaulted roof.
The church has a side chapel, known as the Lady Chapel, where Mass is
offered on weekdays.
The original Baptistry is housed beneath the Church Tower. No longer
used as a Baptistry, it is now the Ringing Room. High in the tower there
is a single bell, electronically operated. Much lower in the tower are
six bells hung for manual ringing.
A choir gallery is set at the rear of the church. The gallery also contains
the organ. Above and behind the gallery is a fine modem stained glass
window, designed by the Stephen Walsh studio in Dublin .
The architects were Messrs Reynolds & Scott of Manchester and
Nottingham and they also designed the adjoining Presbytery. The
builders were Messrs Varley of Langley Mill.
The Foundation Stone was laid on 24th June 1964 by Bishop Ellis.
First Service in the New Church
The first service in the church was Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
1965 when a congregation of over 600 filled the church.
The occasion was notable for the choir of the day. It was the first time
that they had been accompanied by an organ.
The first organ in the church came from Birmingham. The second was
rescued from the Odeon Cinema on Angel Row in Nottingham. The
present organ came from the Mary Ward Teacher Training College when
it closed (now the British Geological Survey Headquarters in Keyworth).
Consecration of the Church
The church was consecrated by Bishop McGuinness on 2nd June 1983.
The Church Bell
The bell tower houses a single bell that was cast by John Taylor & Co of
Loughborough in 1964.
It has a diameter of 698 mm (27.5 inches) and weighs 211 Kg (4 cwt 16
Ibs).
The waist of the bell bears the inscription "MARIA".
The electrically operated bell; thought to have been silent for 27 years,
was restored to working order in December 1999 for the Millennium.
It now calls the faithful to prayer once more and chimes the Angelus at
9 am, noon and 6 pm each day.
Priests who have served at Corpus Christi
Father James McGuinness was the first Pansh Priest of Corpus Christi.
He came to Clifton in 1956 and stayed until 1972 when he was
consecrated Coadjutor Bishop with the light of succession by Bishop
Ellis.
Father McGuinness was assisted by Father Joseph Maguire (1965 .68)
and Father Cahill (1968 -72)
Father Patrick Blackwell took over as Parish Priest in 1972 and
remained until 1977.
Father Eamonn O'Hara was Father Blackwell first assistant (1972 –
74), followed for a brief spell by Father Gerald Kitchen (1974) and
Father Gerry Murphy (1974 -79)
Father Joseph McGovern followed Father Blackwell in 1977 and was
Parish Priest until 1993.
Father Philip Ziomek became Assistant Priest in 1979 and stayed with
us until 1982.
There was no Assistant Priest in the parish from 1982 to 2007.
Monsignor Joseph F Phelan replaced Father McGovern in 1993 and
was the Parish Priest until September 2002.
Father George Woodall was appointed Pansh Priest in September 2002
but was requested to assist in Beda College Rome in September 2003.
Father Christopher Thomas became Priest in Charge in September
2003. He was also appointed Chaplain to Nottingham University at that
Father Thomas was appointed Parish Priest in September 2005. He
left us in September 2014 to become Secretary to the Catholic
Conference of Bishops of England and Wales.
Father Philip O'Dowd was appointed Assistant Priest in September
2007 and remained in the parish until his death in 2009.
Father Philip McBrien was appointed Parish Priest in September 2014
and left the parish in October 2017.
The parish was without a resident priest from October 2017 until
In March 2018 the Religious Congregation of the Sacred Heart
Fathers of Betharram took over the responsibility of the pastoral care
and Father Wilfred Pereppadan SCJ was appointed Parish Priest.
Brother John Dawson SCJ joined the parish in October 2018.
Father Peter Phirote SCJ became Assistant Priest in December 2019.
(some dates given am best estimates).
Copyright © 2019 Corpus Christi Catholic Church. All Rights Reserved. Corpus Christi Catholic Church is Part Of The Diocese Of Nottingham, (NRCDT); the Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Which Is A Registered Charity No. 1134449 And A Private Limited Company By Guarantee Without Share Capital Use Of 'Limited' Exemption; Company No. 7151646. Corpus Christi Catholic Church Is In The Care Of The Congregation Of Priests Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus Of Bétharram Which Is A Registered Charity No. 233335. All Rights Reserved. Registration Number of Data Controller with ICO: Z2144106.
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Clocks on Sunday will turn back by one hour for the start of Winter Time, in what could be the last time the twice-yearly seasonal clock change is implemented.
The change will happen at 4 a.m., when clocks will turn back to 3 a.m.
The European Union announced last September it will scrap the practice from October 2019, allowing member states to decide by April whether they will stick permanently to summer or winter time.


text:
UK government launches plan to accelerate growth of green finance
New measures will build on the UK's global leadership in green finance as part of the move to a low carbon economy.
New measures to accelerate investment in clean growth by building on the UK's strength in green finance will be set out later today by Climate Change Minister Claire Perry at the opening ceremony of Climate Week in New York.
Green finance includes private sector investments in technologies, infrastructure and innovative start-ups that can create jobs and allow businesses to expand, boosting economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Between 1990 and 2016, UK GDP has grown by 67%, while carbon emissions have fallen by 42%, proving it is possible to reduce emissions and grow the economy.
Although the green finance agenda has gained global momentum in recent years, the market must accelerate to meet climate change commitments. An estimated $13.5 trillion of investment is needed between 2015 and 2030 in the energy sector alone, for countries to meet their Paris Agreement targets. The Government recognises that much of this investment will come from the private sector and wants to use the UK's green finance capabilities to provide a real national economic boost and help meet global challenges.
Claire Perry, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry said:
"Britain has already shown the world that a strong economy and efforts to tackle climate change can, and should, go hand in hand. Now is the time to build on our strengths and cement our position as a global hub for investment in clean growth."
"The transition to a low carbon economy is a multi-billion pound investment opportunity and a key part of this Government's Industrial Strategy. Developing standards to promote responsible investment in sustainable projects and establishing the Green Finance Taskforce will help ensure businesses across the UK take full advantage of it."
Britain's financial sector is already a world-leader in green finance. Enabling this sector to develop further will not only assist the transition to a low carbon economy but also ensure London remains the world's leading global financial centre.
It is important for public and private partnerships to work together and the Green Finance Taskforce announced today will bring together a top team of financial experts, including leading figures from Aviva, Barclays, HSBC, Legal & General and the Bank of England, as well as academics and sustainability experts.
The Taskforce, chaired by Sir Roger Gifford, former Lord Mayor of London, will be given six months to deliver ambitious proposals to accelerate investment in the transition to a low carbon economy, creating high-value jobs and opportunities for UK businesses. It will examine a range of interventions, from making infrastructure investment more sustainable to scaling-up green mortgages.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Barclay said:
"Financial services are a British success story and the sector has the power to drive green and sustainable development."
"It is a priority of mine that people are able to access financial products that support their values, whether that be sharia-compliant loans or green mortgages that have a positive environmental impact. This taskforce will keep the UK at the forefront of green finance and help deliver choice for consumers."
The Government is also announcing work with the Green Finance Initiativeand the British Standards Institute to develop a new set of voluntary green and sustainable finance management standards, working closely with industry. The British Standards Institute will have completed the necessary standards scoping exercises and have the first standard in production by the first half of 2018.
The Government has also officially endorsed recommendations published by the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures and encourages all listed companies to implement this new, voluntary framework to align climate-related risk management and financial governance. These recommendations represent a key milestone in the global low carbon transition, and have been backed by over 100 businesses worldwide with a market capitalisation of more than $3 trillion.


The Division 1 semi-finals are both down for decision this weekend.
The case may affect prisoners who apply for temporary release on grounds of ill health in the future.
Nowlan Park will host the last four clash of 2018 All-Ireland finalists Dublin and Cork.
The Rebels won today but the sides meet again in two weeks time.
The companysaid that its original handling of this incident did not meet its own standards.
Five-time All-Ireland winner Róisín Phelan has moved to St Brigid's – Noelle Healy's former club.
The same problems persist at club level around the country.
People in Cork, Limerick and Waterford will get to vote on the issue in May.
The people of Cork, Waterford and Limerick will vote on whether they want a directly-elected mayor in May.
The 2017 Player of the Year joined Ciara and Doireann O'Sullivan in the Mourneabbey forward line after transferring clubs.
The national average price in the first quarter of the year was €261,000.
Cork will be the latest area to become a so-called place of sanctuary – making it part of a wider national, and indeed international, movement.
Gardaí from Cork took part in the exercise at the ASSERT Centre in UCC today.
Clúid Housing and Cork City Council have purchased Leeside Apartments.
Marie was pronounced dead at the hospital last Monday. It's understood she may have suffered a seizure while feeding her son.
An investigation into the deaths is under way.
Brian Hurley is not expected to be sidelined for more than a month.
Gardaí investigating the incident said they had arrested the teenage boy today.
They are unhappy they did not get to meet Minister David Stanton when he visited the centre yesterday.
An investigation is underway and the cause of death is currently unknown.
A tough spring for those in Division 2 set to compete in a province where Kerry rule.
A win over Armagh could not prevent Cork going down to Division 3.


I want to make some video's of my trips. Starting with London in about 2 weeks. This is a short video I've made in Playa del Carmen, Mexico of Basico. This is their lovely rooftop terrace. What do you think? Good idea or not? And do you want to see me in front of the camera? Or only interior?
Private beach with a lot of colour. When I was in Mexico everybody was talking about Al Cielo – a 20 minutes drive from Playa del Carmen. This is a hotel with only 4 rooms, a small restaurant and a cool beach. Why cool? The water is clearblue, but the daybeds are covered with colourful shine through sheets which gives you an immediate happy feeling. You can only come here if you make a reservation. Perfectly done to keep the mass away.
The furniture. It's a mix of vintage chairs which gives this beachclub in the far north of Playa del Carmen beach a bohemian flavour. The girls who work here are all beautiful tanned (yes ofcourse, they work on the beach all day) and they wear a sort of American Apparel jumpsuit that you immediately want to have for yourself. The owner looks like Jesus (the ex of Madonna not the son of Josef and Maria) and he takes care that you enjoy the fish taco's. Made by a chef who once works for Nobu – the famous sushi restaurant. You can sit here all day – if not your whole holiday.
Located on the northern end of Playa del Carmen beach. You can find them on Facebook.
The 15 rooms. Basic as Gwyneth Paltrow without make-up. You can see the electricity cabels and the water taps running. The curtains are made of rubber and the floor in the lobby is made of old tyres. The rooms all have floor-length windows so if you like being watched, you will like it here. If you're not staying here, you can also come up for a cheap lunch.


branch: master

project: chromium/src

description: Initial upload

Checkout: git fetch "https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src" refs/changes/02/1536502/1 && git checkout FETCH_HEAD

Cherry Pick: git fetch "https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src" refs/changes/02/1536502/1 && git cherry-pick FETCH_HEAD

Pull: git pull "https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src" refs/changes/02/1536502/1

repo: repo download "chromium/src" 1536502/1

url: chromium/src

kind: REWORK

status: NEW

subject: Import wpt@41cb5b6a73661d1c98dd9b55932e5c138dbdaa92


All orders placed through shop.kdhptea.com are processed with a very short turnaround time and hence cancellation of orders are not possible.
Orders once shipped may not be returned. However, If you happen to receive a defective product, you can raise a returns and replacement query by sending an email to [email protected] within 2 days of the receipt. Be sure to attach an image of the item received so we can evaluate its condition.
Products acknowledged as 'damaged' or 'defective' will be replaced by us on receipt of the damaged product. Once we receive the item at our facility we will verify its condition and initiate the process of refund/replacement accordingly.
Orders once placed shall not be refund. however in genuine cases, you can contact us by email to [email protected] or in the phone number available in the home page on the same day before shipment of the order.


Soft surface structure, medium hard, helps maintain correct body posture and improve spine mobility.
Made of polypropylene, the Massage Double Ball inSPORTline Duobol are two joined, relatively hard balls with a soft, plastic surface texture. It helps maintain correct body posture and relieve muscle tension. However, it also helps improve spine mobility and relieve the pain of the muscle plexus (nervous plexus) in the lumbar area, hips, neck and spine. This ball is recommended for those who put stress on their spines (e.g. people who have been sitting all day at work), those who suffer from discopathy (a spinal disc herniation) or those with a low fitness level. You can use the ball when exercising on the floor or you can lean it against the wall. Thanks to its small size and light weight you can use the Massage Double Ball inSPORTline Duobol virtually anywhere.


This room was also likely where the pool's pumps and filters were located. Approximately the "ground floor" of the cabana building. Notice the significant overgrowth even though the hotel has only been vacant for about 2 years.