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The 16 Discovering Start–Ups 2015 (DS15) finalists announced today will pitch their disruptive technologies and business plans to a panel of over 30 judges including angel investors, venture capitalists (VCs) and industry experts from the likes of Samsung, Qualcomm Ventures, MediaTek Labs, Deloitte, IBM, Telecom Italia and Google. The finals takes place in London on 21st October sponsored and hosted by Deloitte, the business advisory firm.
A total of 80 start-ups spanning seven countries including the UK, France, Italy, Sweden, Ukraine and the Netherlands entered the competition in its first year open to European companies. Competition organisers Cambridge Wireless and SETsquared narrowed the entrants down to 16 innovative start-ups.
This year's finalists are;
Thingful: A search engine for the Internet of Things (IoT) indexing across public data sources to allow users access to information on geographical location, data ownership and use of connected devices.
PurrMetrix: A product that utilises simplistic and affordable sensors to monitor heating, ventilation and air conditioning performance.
Sensory Media: An intelligent lighting system that projects music to lighting, creating ambient experiences at a lower cost.
Crypta Labs: Developing a quantum Random Number Generator capable of being installed on all mobile devices including mobile phones, tablets, smart– watches and IoT products.
RFMOD: Showcasing BeanIoT ™, a multi-sensor, system-configurable, IoT hardware platform adaptable to a variety of markets including smart homes, asset tracking, health monitoring and agritech.
1248: A device manager that reduces the operational costs of scaling up connected devices.
Gene Adviser: A flexible, powerful online marketplace for genetic testing, giving patients and doctors access to genetic testing from leading laboratories across Europe and Worldwide.
ZapToBuy: A software and app combo that allows consumers to easily call up product information and purchase items they see on screen.
GiveVision: A sophisticated software suite that powers smart glasses to be used as eyes for blind people.
Notifyed: A secure one-way group messaging app for teachers to students and parents.
Nwave Technologies: Enabling IoT devices to transmit real–time data over distances of 10km in urban environments using extremely low power and operating off a single battery for several years.
Undo Software: a reversible debugger to find the root cause of bugs, allowing developers to see everything a program has done including every memory access and every instruction executed.
Ubitech: Innovative technology that provides self-organised wireless device communication protocols that have the ability of cognition.
Cyberlytic: Software product using machine learning and adaptive rules to provide real–time risk assessment of cyber-attacks.
Senseye: Advanced predictive analytics and machine learning, bringing companies the benefits of condition based maintenance in an easy-to-use way.
Converge: Building low power connected sensor networks for use on construction sites and detecting anomalies on machinery in manufacturing plants.
"From wearables, apps and the IoT to predictive analytics and cyber security, this year's finalists reflect the direction in which the technology industry is heading. These are areas of the marketplace where innovation and disruption are in abundance.We had a huge pool of talent and ideas to choose from with the 2015 start-up entrants from across the UK and overseas, which is a testament to the strength of these 16 exceptional start-ups." says Simon Bond, Innovation Director of SetSquared.
DS15 is kindly sponsored and hosted by Deloitte along with Qualcomm Ventures, Google, IC Resources, Provence Partnership, MediaTek Labs, Breed Reply and supported by St John's Innovation Centre, Tech City UK, techUK, Wayra, New Entrepreneurs Foundation, Telecom Italia, UKTI and Cambridge Wireless Business SIG Champions.


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I keep hearing people say that "throughout history" the first thing every despot/tyrant/dictator does is silence the voices that oppose them, including discrediting any form of free press. Then today I saw the following:
Besides the obvious question of the accuracy of the above list, this got me wondering in larger terms if there are any historical studies of the sequence of steps taken by various authoritarian leaders prior to imposing an an autocracy onto a society? Is there in fact a specific pattern?
I am not looking for a list of horror stories but rather a list of specific strategies employed as a means of rising to power.

subset: commoncrawl


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A lot of people wonder on how to bunny hop with their mountain bike and a lot of them just cannot find the easy way to learn this trick. Without needing any ramp or lip, lifting your bike in air is called as bunny hop and once your learn this method, you will be able to explore new fun, you will be able to jump over logs and the ride will be safer and faster. It is very important to become an expert before you try this on road for your and other's safety. Control over your body and bike integrally is the main trick behind bunny hope method. Do not worry if you are still not able to grasp this trick and just read this article to learn bunny hop with your mountain bike.
Step by Step Guide
- The first step towards learning the bunny hop is to learn how to do manual. You may have to practice this for a long time to become an expert. What you have to do is get up your front wheel and roll for a second. You have to move your body weight backward and downward. During this process pull the handles backward as well. Keep doing this until you are comfortable with this. Remember not to paddle during this process.
- How, to get the lift you need to provide a push forward on the handles to get a forward thrust which will eventually lift the rear tire of the ground. During this process do not lean your weight backward. Instead bring your weight forward and push using your feet and try to stand tall which reduces the weight on the bicycle and helps to lift it more.
- When your front tire got full lift, try to push the bars farther forward which helps the back side of the bike to get more lift. You can also scoop up by putting your toes down and bringing the feet upward and backside. Practice this process again and again to overcome bad timing.
- While jumping over something you can land on your front tire first or on your back tire first. For mountain bikes it is OK to land on your front tire first as you get a bigger wheel base. Try this on small obstacles.
- The range of your jump and the angle depends on few factors like how well you are doing your manual, how good you are in lifting the back end of the cycle using your feet and how well you balance and distribute your weight through the whole process. So in short, it depends on how well you practice the whole thing.
Remember to start from small thing and make your way up with a lot of practice and expertise. It is not necessarily for the sake of your safety, it is mostly for the sake of your rear wheel. If your back wheel touches or impacts on the thing that you are jumping over and you are not comfortable or smooth enough during the landing, you might end up with flat tires and the reams will be totally destroyed. Of course if you have a spare bike then you are not going to care much about this.
Do not pull your bike straight up during the lift, which looks wired and gives bad viewing experience for the people who are looking at you doing bunny hop. Always try to push the handle bar forward during landing.
So, that's all and we believe that following these steps and remembering the key points, you will be an expert in bunny hop. So go ahead and learn how to do bunny hop and enjoy! Thanks for reading the article.


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So last night I felt like I was living with Mad-eye Moody,
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
'I see no ships'
So last night I felt like I was living with Mad-eye Moody,
12 comments:
- Catalyst said...
One "bravo" for the pirate!
- 4:43 pm
- Sabine said...
Cheers! All will be well.
- 8:34 pm
- Zhoen said...
Yay, Tom!
- 2:00 am
- Rouchswalwe said...
Looking good! Prost, Tom!
- 3:05 am
- Nimble said...
He looks pretty jolly despite the patch! My mother just had her second eye done. She was quite anxious before the first procedure. Then when she experienced her new sight she was positively eager for the second one to happen.
- 4:26 pm
- Lucy said...
Thanks dears.
Come to think I sometimes feel a bit like I'm living with Mad-eye Moody anyway...
Everything seems to be fine after a ceck-up today, except of course now the eyes are wonky till he gets the second one done, distance is better but reading difficult, so a bit frustrating, but hopefully his brain will get to work adjusting things, and we're very pleased and grateful such things are possible and painless.
- 7:40 pm
- Stella said...
There is a funny sort of response by the lenses to flourescent and other types of lighting, almost like a strobe light. When I asked the doc about it, she told me that she can see it in the eyes of someone who is experiencing it.....wow, I thought that was pretty neat and the other night I saw it for myself as we all exited a theatre. I noticed the eyes of the woman alongside me.....flash! We were all of a certain age and anyone without specs likely have had their lenses installed.
I am reminded that when I was 12 and a student of vocal music, we learned and performed Le Marsailles as well as another French song about Burgundy I think. If you prompted me, I think I could still sing both.
- 12:51 am
- Natalie d'Arbeloff said...
Does Robert De Niro know you've shown him here? And with an eye patch? The lawyers are comming after you!
- 1:44 am
- Roderick Robinson said...
I can't believe I've ignored Box Elder for four whole days, but must have. I'd have remembered this pic.
Obviously they do things differently in France. No bandages for me but on reflection this may be the more humane option. Occasional Speeder picked me up and I remember travelling slumped down in the passenger seat in a state of mild depression. First, my pupil wasn't operating properly (still anaesthetised) and there were still two or three hours to go before Epiphany. Second, all surgery causes trauma which manifests in some form of shock; I felt defective physiologically and spoke gloomily.
Did someone hold Tom's hand? An attractive (female) nurse in my case but not to provide sexual reassurance. I was to squeeze if I felt a sneeze coming on. Since I didn't sneeze I was able to regard her dry muscular fingers as a source of comfort.
- 12:10 pm
- Tom said...
In response to Robbie's comment, no pretty (female) nurse held my hand. In fact the only time a nurse (female) held my hand was when - many years ago - I had a vasectomy. As the nurse was of a smilingly, motherly disposition, nothing embarrassing happened. TMI?
- 1:47 pm
i'm so glad it went well--for both your sakes as well as very selfish reasons: i face the same surgery in a year or two--hopefully more--but who knows? as my very positive thinking doctor says.
- 11:03 pm
- the polish chick said...
i remember my grandma having this done and exclaiming (in an uncharacteristically positive fashion) that she could finally see the flowers properly again.
hope it continues to improve, tom! i like the dashing pirate look!
- 5:29 pm


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By accident vs on accident
Why is it by accident and on purpose?
It is synonymous with the traditional adverb accidentally, which means not on purpose . If you did not mean to spill a glass of milk, but you spilled it anyway, you would have done it by accident . Likewise, if you burned a batch of chocolate chip cookies, you would likely have done it by accident , and not on purpose .
Is on purpose grammatically correct?
"Purposely" and "Purposefully" Are Close in Meaning People who are predisposed toward grammatical hypercorrection often nitpick about the correctness of purposely, presumably because purposefully just sounds more " grammatical ." Yet, purposely can be the unequivocally correct choice when it means "on purpose ".
What does by accident mean?
1. by chance, without being planned or intended. Quite by accident , she came up with a brilliantly simple solution. Occasionally we would meet by accident in the corridor. Synonyms and related words.
Why do we say on purpose?
Why use the word "on" when we say "on purpose "? First, they have a meaning in their own right and can be used with other words to indicate a particular meaning. For example, on the chair, on the shelf vs under the chair, under the shelf.
Is mistake and accident?
Mistakes can be prevented, accidents would happen regardless. Accident is something that you do wrong for the first time, mistakes are doing the same thing again while knowing that it is wrong. Texting while driving is a mistake though, and it causes the accident . You know it is bad, which makes it a mistake .
Is on accident wrong?
A less commonly used variant of by accident , on accident is almost exclusively used in the United States. Even there, no one uses 'on accident ' in writing, its only a spoken English term. In fact, it is considered incorrect to be used in written form.
What does purposely mean?
Purposely is used to describe an action done intentionally, deliberately, or for a specific reason. The word purposefully means in a determined way or in a way that's full of purpose.
How do you use purposely in a sentence?
Purposely sentence examples She'd never purposely disappoint him. He did not purposely say things to please her, but whatever he was saying he regarded from her standpoint. She purposely kept her thoughts of what was to come—and her fear for Jule—at the back of her mind, instead filling it with her willingness to learn her trade.
What does it mean to act purposefully?
Something purposeful is done on purpose: it's meant to achieve an aim. Lots of things happen accidentally or randomly, but other things have a purpose. Such things can be called purposeful . Going to college, starting a family, giving to a charity, and adopting a dog are all purposeful acts.
What are 4 main causes of accidents?
8 Common Causes of Workplace Accidents Lifting. Many employees are prone to sprain, strain or tear a muscle by virtue of lifting an object that is too heavy for them to lift on their own. Fatigue. Failing to take a break is another common cause of accidents . Dehydration. Poor Lighting. Hazardous Materials. Acts of Workplace Violence. Trips and Falls. Stress.
What is accident and example?
The definition of an accident is an event that happens without being planned. An example of an accident is a collision between two cars. An example of an accident is when you bump into a friend unexpectedly at the park or when you find a $20 bill lying on the sidewalk.
What are types of accident?
Accident Types Accidents at Work. You may have been involved in an accident whilst at work. Slip/Trip Claims (public liability) Industrial Diseases and Illnesses. Road Traffic Accidents . Accidents Abroad. Accidents involving Animals. Sports Related Injuries. Clinical Negligence.
How do we use purpose?
On- purpose sentence examples If you win or lose, let it be on purpose . You were late on purpose today so we'd happen to stop by the stash house. It was done on purpose to get Konovnitsyn into trouble. Many pieces still in existence are wrongly ascribed to him.; yet it is doubtful whether a single one of them was composed on purpose to deceive.
Did it on purpose meaning?
If you do something on purpose , you do it intentionally, not by accident: I didn't do it on purpose – it was an accident. Synonyms.
What is it called when someone does something on purpose?
deliberately; on purpose ; intentionally; deliberate; intended; conscious; premeditated; wilfully; with intent; willfully; purposely; designedly; by choice; by design; advisedly.


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Head of Iran's Basij militia, Brigadier General Mohammadreza Naghdi, has downplayed all the Western sanctions in Iran. He also believes Iran might become an economic superpower by applying 'resistance of economy' policies first defined by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"By following the new economy model, Iranian nation can build a new world on the ashes of Western sanctions on its economy and this is the concrete way for Iran to become an economic superpower. We must follow all the orders issued by Supreme Leader since it is the best gift sent from god to Iranians." Brigadier General Mohammadreza Naghdi outlined during a summit with Basij forces in Tehran.
"We have increased the capabilities of our defensive systems. Now we can easily detect and arrest Israeli and American spies. Their authorities have previously confessed to our strengths in this field. Also our military and armed forces are among the most powerful armies in region and world." Mohammadreza Naghdi said.
Israel has threatened to take a military action against Iran over its disputed nuclear program which aimed to develop atomic weapons and bombs. Because of these dangers, the officials of Iran's armed forces have repeatedly responded to Israel's claims.


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Bellingham United FC Wraps up Ruffneck Scarves
Bellingham United F.C. recently wrapped up a great partnership with the nation's leading soccer scarf company, Ruffneck Scarves. Ruffneck has agreed to be a premier partner with the local semi pro soccer club for the next two years. Ruffneck Scarves and Bellingham United are quite familiar with one another as Ruffneck Scarves President Jeff McIntyre was the individual responsible for founding the club back in 2011 and seeing the squad come to reality as it took to the pitch May of 2012. For the first three years of the squad's existence McIntyre was involved in nearly all components of the club's operations. He never missed a BUFC home match. McIntyre on the extended partnership with BUFC, ""This was a natural partnership for the Ruffneck Scarves team. Bellingham United is our favorite club in the world! We are excited to be able to continue our involvement with the club and are now proud to also be active sponsors. Go Hammers! " Ruffneck Scarves has rapidly become synonymous with soccer scarves in America. Since the company's inception in 2007 Ruffneck Scarves has quickly grown to become the official scarf supplier for US Soccer, Major League Soccer, United Soccer Leagues and the NCAA. Along with national soccer involvement Ruffneck Scarves is the sponsor of the Northwest Division of the Premier Development League (PDL) Ruffneck Cup. The Ruffneck Cup is awarded to the Puget Sound based team, who has the overall best overall aggregate between four local clubs, Kitsap Pumas, Seattle Sounders U23, Crossfire and Issaquah Gunners. The Ruffneck Cup has become a prestigious competition within the league. . Marc Ronney, Bellingham United F.C.'s General Manager said "When Jeff had approached our organization (Whatcom Sports Commission) about taking over the operations for Bellingham United we were honored to carry on the great community tradition that he started. While he was managing the club, Jeff never put Ruffneck's name in front of the club. Partnering with a known national soccer entity like Ruffneck Scarves, is great for our club. What club wouldn't want to have Ruffneck on their team?" Bellingham United Football Club is a premier semi-pro men's soccer team based in Bellingham, Washington. The club plays year round. In the spring the club plays in the Evergreen Premier League-Washington (EPL WA). Bellingham United F.C. home matches are played at Civic Stadium in Bellingham with the season running late April through the end of July. In the winter months, the squad goes indoors playing in the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) playing their home matches at the Bellingham Sportsplex from November to February. Schedule and ticket information for is available at www.bellinghamunited.com.
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David Baas, the current NY Giants center, played three games last year. And he's missed substantial time for the last 3 seasons he has been with the Giants. He's now due about $5 million dollars and will count even more against the cap. The Giants 2010 offseason priority has become an albetross.
So – via the NY Daily News, the Giants are interested in bringing in New Orleans Center Brian de la Puente:
De la Puenta, 28, has been the starting center for the New Orleans Saints for the last three seasons and is one of the better centers on the open market. The 6-3, 306-pounder is expected to draw interest from several teams, though he might not get much from his old team who reportedly are ready to move Tim Lelito from guard to replace him.
Here's my thinking — the Giants should re-sign Kevin Boothe for two years because he has done EVERYTHING they've asked him to do. Draft a new Guard this spring, restructure Snee, and hope Brewer catches on this year in camp in the new offense. We cannot be paying the interior linemen this much money for injuries… it's not going to work. And Baas was NEVER that good gang. So instead of repeating this insanity of bringing in another teams castoff at a key position, let's reward our Giants right now… guys like Boothe who are ego-less, work hard, keep their head down, and do everything they've been asked to do halfway well.


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Weather concerns? Check My Amherst on the day of the event for delay or closure announcements.
City Year helps students and schools succeed. Fueled by national service, City Year partners with public schools in 28 urban, high-need communities across the U.S. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide research-based student, classroom and school-wide supports to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. Stop by this information table to chat with representative Jason Bonilla about this year's open full-year and mid-year opportunities and how to apply for them.
The full-year Position would start around the second week of August until the end of school year, while the mid-year City Year AmeriCorps member position is a unique opportunity to serve with City Year starting between November and January until the remainder of the school year. City Year is looking for qualified individuals to join their team and lead the second half of the year powerfully.
Please join Stephanie Hockman, Loeb Center program director for careers in business and finance, for a weekly informal discussion on any of your favorite Wall Street Journal articles. This informal lunch group will meet every Wednesday from noon – 1 p.m. in Terrace Room B on the lower level of Valentine Hall. Grab some lunch and join the discussion!
Did you know that on average recruitment managers spend 5 to 7 seconds analyzing a resume to determine if a candidate should be brought in for an interview? Come learn about the techniques needed to build a resume that best markets your unique skills and experiences to land summer internships and future job opportunities.
*This workshop will fulfill the Internship Preparation Workshop requirement for the Amherst Select Internship Program.
WH Trading LLC is a proprietary derivatives trading firm that provides liquidity to futures and options markets, including Interest Rate, Foreign Exchange, Agricultural Commodity and Energy products. Its proprietary software is built in-house for flexibility and speed, giving the firm an edge in an environment where microseconds often make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful trade.
As a proprietary trading firm, revenue comes from trading profits generated on physical open outcry exchange floors in Chicago and electronic markets globally. WH Trading does not serve customers, and its risk capital is provided exclusively by the firm's partners.
WH Trading believes in training its employees. Towards that end, several programs have been established – namely its 9-week summer internship program -- to ensure that new hires and interns receive the support they need to acquire basic skills and succeed in the trading industry. The firm's leaders also place a strong emphasis on work-life balance, encouraging staff to pursue both with enthusiasm.
Want to learn more about WH Trading's company culture, cutting-edge technologies, and training programs for interns and new hires? Attend this information session to hear from company representatives – including alum Rob Homchick '14 – to hear more.


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Law Enforcement Black Box Recorder
Law Enforcement Black Box Recorder
$299.00 each
Product Number: 734
This product has a very sensitive microphone that can pick up sounds in a 10 meter (30 ft) radius.
$299.00 each
Product Number: 734
This product has a very sensitive microphone that can pick up sounds in a 10 meter (30 ft) radius.
Exceptional endurance statistics, deployment possibilities, and other features set the Law Enforcement Black Box Recorder apart from our other spy voice recorders making it the perfect stand-alone audio recording solution for a room, inside a car, or other vehicles.
Easy to Operate - Deploy Inside a Vehicle
his black box device is extremely simple to use in every way. After giving the internal lithium battery a charge, it is simply a one-switch operation to set the device recording before deploying it into your chosen situation. The Black Box Recorder has the option of powerful magnets being attached, which, for example, makes it ideal for attaching to the metal framework on the underside of a car seat or maybe an office desk.
Voice Activation - Large Storage Capacity
When not recording the unit draws very little power from the battery, which means that essentially it can remain powered in standby mode for over 76 days! However, when the device is actually recording it takes far more power, but still is able to record for nearly 72 hours before it requires a recharge. With voice activation as standard, this means that when placed in an environment where there is only a matter of maybe 2 hours of so noise during a day, the recorder could remain active for possibly weeks if required. Add onto all of this the fact that the Black Box Recorder has a superb 144 hour (4GB) recording memory and it is easy to see why we regard this as possibly the best stand-alone recorder available. Each time the device's microphone picks up a sound, a recording will start and will stop and save the file when there is no noise for at least a minute. It should be noted that the operating system of course cannot distinguish between a human voice, sound from a TV or car stereo, or even road noise from a vehicle on the move.
Discreet Operation - Sensitive Microphone
This product has a very sensitive microphone that can pick up sounds in a 10 meter (30 ft) radius. When activated it does not give any audible indication of the secret recording taking place, so it is totally discreet in operation. Offloading audio recordings is very easy. There is no special software required. It is simply a matter of connecting the unit to your computer using the supplied USB lead and then the sound files can be played back through the computer speakers using the computer media player.
Contains time and date
Black Box long term recording solution manufactured in the UK
Perfect for discreet deployment in a variety of circumstances
Voice (sound) activation as standard
Very high quality audio recording capability with auto level control
Records at MP3 format at rate of 64Kbps
Incredible standby time of over 76 days (that's 2.5 months!)
Impressive recording mode battery life of up to 72 hours
Audio recording memory capacity of 288 hours (8GB)
Sensitive microphone with up to 10 metre (33 feet) sound pick up radius
Discreet LED light shows for two seconds when recording is activated
In-built lithium battery - Charge time of 4 hours (LED indicator showing charge status)
Optional magnets ideally suited firmly to attaching the device to steel objects
Optional extended microphone version available with or without magnets
Dimensions: 66mm (80mm including switch) x 30 x 19mm (24mm with magnets option)
Compatible with Windows and Mac computers - No special software required
Ideal for long term room surveillance or covert deployment as a room or car bug
The Spy Store – For All Your Spy Equipment Needs Including; Cameras, Recorders, Radios, Night Vision, And Other Security Products.


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Sell your house fast in Fitzrovia!
Surrounded by the slightly more well-to-do central London districts of Marylebone and Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia is made up of many small irregular streets and has a population of around 8,000 out of which 1,500 are students. Compared to the more luxurious areas nearby, Fitzrovia has still retained some of its edgier, more bohemian feel of the past with its many restaurants and cafes. It is not an area popular with families and has a lower than average percentage of children making up its population.
Have you found yourself in a situation where you need to sell your home quickly due to moving abroad for work, divorce or bereavement, a broken chain, repossession or some other kind of financial difficulty? If that's the case, we could be your perfect solution.
At the Property Project we can offer to buy your home quickly as a reliable buyer, allowing you to concentrate on what is really important at this crucial time. Following an assessment of your home by one of our experienced team, we will compile all the relevant information to make a fair offer.
As we are an independent company that has our own funding there will be no delays due to mortgage lenders as with other quick sale companies. Unlike the process of using estate agents, our friendly team are able to work closely with you and to your timescale and needs.


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Thursday, April 7, 2011
Just Another Rant To Make Me Feel Better
We have a budget. We need to balance the budget. If we have to live on our income, then the Govt should do the same.
We need compromises. We don't need grandstanding. We need cuts in spending and we need increased income. Simple economics.
The problem seems to be the options.
Social Security is in need of some help. Eliminate it and give it to Wall Street.
Medicare has problems. Hand it to the insurance companies.
I just don't understand why we would want to do this.
Tax cuts were supposed to be grandfather out. Don't you want to increase your income to allow you to increase spending. Isn't that how you balance the books?
They want to keep tax loop holes for companies that are having massive profits at my expense and companies that pay no income taxes.
Just what is it that I am not seeing here.
I see the need for increasing regulations to prevent another Gulf oil spill. I see the need for increased drilling. I don't see the need for increasing the toxins these companies are placing upon our earth. If they can't police themselves, then they need more regulating.
They convert our food crops into fuel and food prices go up.
We have switch grasses that can be used for fuel. ....Helllooo. .........Switch grasses that are that are not part of our food supply. And switch grass provides an better decrease in Green House emissions than corn.
What am I not seeing here. Is it only me that is having a problem with this. Am I not seeing the world from your prospective?
Help me out here Give me what I am missing. Show me the light. Lead me into the promised land.
There now, I feel so much better.
7 comments:
- Gorges Smythe said...
Bobby, somehow you seem to expect Washington to be logical, yet average American morons vote even worse morons into office. SURELY you don't expect anything good to come out of Washington!
- April 7, 2011 at 7:28 PM
- Unknown said...
What your rant describes in some part is "Cronie Capitalism" at work with Big Government. Big Brother is never the answer to the problem--less government influence is. And "health insurance" is a myth--Health Care is a personal responsibility--not a right of social justice. Welcome to my blog. Right or wrong, I will stir the pot!
- April 8, 2011 at 9:35 AM
- Bobby said...
Gorges, I realize it's foolish expectations. The taxpayer gets the shaft again and nothing gets done. Of course we know that the morons are the ones that don't vote. It may only be a right, but it should be a duty. The percentages of people who are willing to be led by someone they don't know,is unfathomable. Get out of the cocoon. Get educated on the issues. And then vote! If you don't vote, I don't want to hear you complain.
Scott, "Cronie Capitalism" seems to be "Whose hand is in whose back pocket" Not saying it's true, but I have a feeling that one or more of these office holders are being paid for their votes.
BTW thanks for the welcome. Found your blog through Eye of Polyphemus through the Lazy Farmer. It seemed like a nice place to go to.
- April 8, 2011 at 12:17 PM
- Woodsterman (Odie) said...
- April 9, 2011 at 7:01 PM
- The Griper said...
ok, bobbie, a few questions;
if you want government to live within its means then you must have representatives who will vote for it. that means that the people must vote for change. that also means that the people must be willing to deny themselves of all of the goodies that the government offers them. where are you going to find these voters?
oil spills by their nature are accidental acts. and regardless of how much regulation there is they will inevitably occur. so you tell me what kind of regulation there is that will prevent these accidents from occuring?
as for food turned into fuel my question is who encouraged these companies to invest in the idea in the first place other than government with their big tax writeoff laws and regulating the other sources of energy?
- April 9, 2011 at 7:14 PM
- Bobby said...
Kinda agree that we won't find the voters. And we will not be able to deny ourselves what we have already. Nobody wants to give up food stamps. or disability check. There are probably a few veterans who couldn't give up their benefits. We have to pay bills. What I can see is a line item veto power for the president. If everything in the bill is good, then it should still be a worthy bill without some items. Like that bridge to no-where.
Oil spills are accidental, but the killing of people due to negligence, is not. The Gulf Oil Spill left many questions about the data reported and how it was being used. The laws need better teeth in them. Make the following of the existing regulations more cost efficient than not.
As for food. Looks like Monsanto is now in the food and fuel markets. Could it have been planned that way? Until we close the tax loop-holes and make companies pay their fair share, we won't get much better.
Getting us out of three wars would go a long way toward balancing the budget. But then the Military/Industrial lobbyist would be upset. So I guess that will never happen.
- April 10, 2011 at 4:55 PM
- Bob West said...
Very Interesting blog. I am now a follower. I thought you might want to check out Paradox Principles as well.
All the best, Bob West
- April 16, 2011 at 6:31 PM


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Alex Brock is a sound designer and engineer from Greenfield, Indiana, currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio. She will be relocating to New York City this fall.
Alex has worked with the Great River Shakespeare Festival, the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Indiana Repertory Theater, Bay Street Theater, Syracuse Stage, Chautauqua Theater Company and New York Stage and Film. Alex is also an early career member of TSDCA.
Alex has just completed her third and final year at University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in pursuit of an MFA in sound design. As a graduate assistant, she aided in facilitating the sound shop, which included equipment maintenance, production prep, and supervising work calls with undergraduate students. In her time at CCM, she also filled the roles of production engineer, assistant/associate designer, and lead sound designer.
In her second and third years, she taught Sound Workroom Practicum I and II, which are the introductory sound courses for theatre design and production students.
Alex is also a graduate of Ball State University's Department of Theatre and Dance, and spent her years there heavily involved in their rigorous educational production seasons, filling the roles of designer, mix engineer, and shop crew lead.
As a lifelong lover of music, Alex values its use in theatre as a way to help audiences connect to characters and their stories. She aspires to design for musical theatre.


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The first 'new wave' of participatory budgeting in Germany is slowly but surely fading out. A considerable number of municipalities has been continuing its participatory budgeting process for several years and is now facing numerous unsolved questions. One of these is seeking an answer to the question of how more citizens can be motivated to participate. Municipalities are also asking how the budgeting process can become a citizens' project with a more prominent role for civil actors.
Some municipalities have found the answer to their questions in the introduction of neighborhood funds as a complement to the traditional citywide participatory budget. They are hoping for a more motivated and engaged citizenry who is getting the chance to administer its own projects over which it holds the financial and administrative authority. The experiences gained in the direct neighborhood are supposed to motivate the citizens to become more active on the next level, and shape and co-develop the citywide participatory budgeting process. The idea behind this strategy is to make participatory budgeting a bottom-up process, which picks up as many citizens as possible along the way making it their own project.
A look towards Brazil: which role do neighborhood funds play across the Atlantic?
Brazil is the living example for effective and efficient neighborhood funds. In Recife, the birthplace of participatory budgeting, participation is organized as multi-step procedure starting in the direct surroundings of the neighborhood up until the citywide level. In the words of Alexander Koop (Bertelsmann Stiftung), an expert for participatory budgeting in Brazil: "Recife acts as role model for successful participation, citizens are included in the process right from the start while results are made visible for all those involved. As a result more individuals feel affected by what´s happening even if it doesn´t take place in their immediate surroundings." The German municipalities Senftenberg and Eberswalde look back at similarly positive experiences with neighborhood funds.
Discussions on the introduction of neighborhood funds in Darmstadt
The implementation of neighborhood funds in Germany can best be observed in Darmstadt. During the third workshop on the participatory budget of Darmstadt in October, the ombudswoman Imke Jung-Krohn presented her version of a neighborhood fund. It is meant as additional offer for citizens in order to anticipate a decline in the number of participants. According to the German online magazine Echo, Jung-Krohn is suggesting to place a certain budget at the disposal of each neighborhood with which it shall implement projects oriented towards the common good. The size of the budget shall depend on the number of residents in the respective district, which could range around 50 cents per resident, according to the views of the ombudswoman. Nevertheless, as depicted by Jung-Krohn, funds may also be allocated independently of a particular project given that certain conditions are fulfilled. Provided that the project is publicly accessible, oriented towards the common good, fostering local cohabitation and supported by a minimum of 20 people, the proposal for financial support may be brought forward. Once the administration has verified the costs and has considered the feasibility of the proposal, a citizens' jury shall decide on the implementation of the project. The jury shall be composed of randomly selected citizens determined by representative criteria and a quota.
Citizens' reactions to the concept of neighborhood funds in Darmstadt were mixed. The strong focus on the neighborhood received positive feedback as the funds were assumed to strengthen the citizens' identification and feeling of responsibility for their own neighborhood. The low bureaucratic effort for making the funds available was considered another positive aspect.
Negative feedback was voiced with regard to the decision-making process. Participants of the workshops questioned the decision-making competences and legitimacy of the citizens' jury. Another point of critique was mentioned with regard to the structural conditions in Darmstadt. As reported by the newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau on its website, some districts do not even have the necessary meeting points to realize the envisioned participation. Echo-Online demanded to put priority on the regular participatory budgeting by improving the existing processes. The news portal criticized the lack of transparency over the status of the accepted proposals of participatory budgeting.
Nevertheless, despite the diverse opinions about the introduction of neighborhood funds, city treasurer André Schellenberg is arguing in favor of a pilot project in a selected district: "I feel positive about the whole idea. Once citizens start to realize the useful aspects, they will soon accept the concept itself."
Neighborhood funds and participatory budgeting: complimentary or contrary?
Does the strategy of Darmstadt play out? Experts on participatory budgeting both support and reject the city´s approach. Interviewed by the Stiftung Mitarbeit, Prof. Dr. Roth speaks in favor of local budgets which in his eyes are an effective way to establish participatory budgeting in a community. Dr. Märker on the other hand points out that neighborhood funds must not serve as an attempt to overcome the challenges encountered by citywide participatory budgeting processes. In the eyes of Dr. Märker, neighborhood funds downgrade the relevance of citywide budgeting procedures and function decoupled of the entire procedure. In a commentary on buergerhaushalt.org he criticizes the lack of transparency and legitimacy of allocating the funds. He sticks the finger at the question of who is made responsible for the decisions of the citizens' jury. He suggests fewer district-specific budgets in favor of an improvement of the existing budgeting processes by connecting them to the political-administrative structures.
The discussion comes down to two options: more decision-making power for the neighborhood or greater efficiency for the existing participatory budgeting processes.
The future will show which way yields the desired result of bringing participatory budgeting closer to the citizens. Once again, results in Brazil hint at how the future may look like.
A closer look at numerous examples across the Atlantic shows: the introduction of neighborhood funds often results in the establishment of a representative structure where elected delegates from the citizenry coordinate and implement the proposals by the citizens first on the level of the neighborhood, then the district and lastly the entire city. This structure resembles the thoroughly institutionalized linkages between the very local and the citywide level that closely collaborates with the political-administrative authorities. The institutionalization may be the reason for the overwhelming success of the entire procedure: the cooperation between the civil and political representatives anticipates the risk of decoupling of neighborhood funds and citywide participatory budgets. At the same time, the fair and equal collaboration between citizens and politicians ensures an efficient tie to the administration of he city. As another positive effect it closes the previously criticized legitimacy gap on neighborhood level.
The transfer of the Brazilian example to the German case practically results in the election of civil representatives from the neighborhood. These representatives function as permanent intermediaries between the neighborhood and citywide politicians. At the same time the participatory budgeting processes enable citizens to stay in touch with their city´s administrative and political procedures opening up the opportunity for neighborhood funds to result in an overall improvement of participatory budgeting.


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We are a Company for persons seeking to maintain, develop or build residential and commercial property in Jamaica. R&G Property Solutions have formed a working partnership with reliable & trustworthy professional industry specialists, that will assist at all levels of your property requirements.
Services include: Property Maintenance, land registration, architecture, building supplies, transportation and much more!


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Iran claimed Tuesday that Israel's arrest of an alleged Iranian spy was a "repetitive scenario" aimed at ending what it called the Jewish state's "isolation" within the international community.
Just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left for Washington on Sunday, Israel's Shin Bet security service announced the arrest on September 11 of a man it said was an Iranian spy carrying photographs of the US embassy in Tel Aviv.
Related stories:
- Police: Top echelons behind spy's exposure
- Shin Bet: IRGC spy arrested in Tel Aviv
- Mission: Establish Iranian intelligence cell
"This is a repetitive scenario by the Zionist regime. Even Western media said the timing of the arrest and Netanyahu's leaving (for the US) was a plan to end its isolation," foreign ministry
spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said in her weekly press briefing.
She was referring to President Hassan Rohani's recent diplomatic push in New York to mend Iran's international ties on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
"Such desperate scenarios stem from anger, and we cannot assess them," Afkham said, adding that Israel was also isolated for its aggressive policies regarding Iran's nuclear drive.
Along with Western powers, Israel accuses Tehran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon,
despite repeated Iranian denials.
The Jewish state has occasionally threatened to attack Iran's nuclear installations to impede the program.
Shin Bet charged that the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Ali Mansouri with a Belgian passport, was sent to Israel by Iran's Revolutionary Guards and arrested at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion international airport.
It said Mansouri had enrolled in a "special operations unit of the Revolutionary Guards responsible for numerous terrorist attacks around the world".
He had been using the fake identity Alex Mans after being recruited last year, the agency said, naming his four alleged handlers as senior Iranian officials.
Shin Bet said that, under questioning, the suspect said he had been promised $1 million to use his position as a businessman to set up companies in Israel on behalf of the Iranian intelligence services to "harm Israeli and Western interests".
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Here are some up to date statistics on New Zealand's productivity from Grant Cleland of the Parliamentary Library in Wellington. He looks at the productivity of Labour, Capital and Multifactor.
Labour – is measured as a ratio of output to labour input. The change in labour productivity can also be broken into its component parts:
– The amount of capital available to be used by the labour force; and
– A change in multi-factor productivity (the change in output that cannot be attributed to a change in either capital or labour inputs).
The recent reduction in capital per worker (or, capital shallowing) could be the result of the recession, in that firms would have been unwilling to upgrade capital plant or invest in new plant when the demand for their goods and services was uncertain.
Capital – is measured as a ratio of output to capital input.
Multifactor – is growth that cannot be contributed to either capital or labour, such as an improvement in knowledge, methods or processes. An increase in multifactor productivity is commonly referred to as a technical change or efficiency growth.


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This week is Fire Safety Week! This observance has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 9, 1871 and in two days destroyed half of the existing city and left 300 dead and 100,000 homeless. While we have better safety procedures today, it's important to be educated about fire safety and prevention. This year the focus is on preventing kitchen fires.
However, did you know that half of all home fires are caused by faulty wiring?
In the spirit of fire safety and prevention, here are some tips to observe Fire Safety Week:
1. Check your smoke detectors!
According to the National Fire Protection Association, having functioning smoke detectors cuts the risk of dying in a fire in half.
2. Create an escape plan.
Draw a map of your home and identify all the doors and windows. Teach children how to escape through windows in case the situation calls for it and practice the plan both in daytime and nighttime.
3. Address any wiring concerns.
Test your outlets for proper wiring and voltage and be aware of the warning signs for electrical problems. Do not wait to call in a professional to assess and repair any wiring issues.
Since this year's Fire Safety Week focus is on kitchen fires, here are a list of safety tips to preventing kitchen fires.
- Do all frying, grilling, broiling, or boiling food in the kitchen!
- If you must leave kitchen during cooking, even for a short period of time, turn off the stove.
- Regularly check anything that is simmering, baking, or roasting food, and use a timer to remind you.
- If you have young children, use the stove's back burners whenever possible. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the stove.
- Watch your sleeves when you cook. Try to wear tight-fitting ones if possible or roll them up.
- Keep potholders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper and plastic bags, towels, and anything else that can burn, away from the stovetop.
- Clean up food and grease from burners and stovetops.
- Store a fire extinguisher near the kitchen exit and learn ahead of time how to operate the extinguisher. Remember that fire extinguishers are never a substitute for calling the fire department, even if a fire is small.


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As part of Bazaar.com's #NudeWeek, we look at the political power of nudity in art.
At the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July, 100 naked women will stand facing the Quicken Loans Arena holding large, round mirrors. They'll be part of artist Spencer Tunick's latest large-scale art installation: "Everything She Says Means Everything."
The New York-based artist has been planning this project since 2013—back when Donald Trump was little more than a hyper-rich businessman and reality-TV personality.
More From Harper's BAZAAR
"I could never have imagined there would be such a heightened attention to the male-versus-female dynamic of this Cleveland juggernaut of a convention," Tunick says. "But I feel like doing this will sort of calms the senses. It brings it back to the body and to purity."
Tunick has been creating large-scale nude installations since 1994 when he organized a project at the United Nations. He's staged them around the world and, for his largest undertaking, gathered 18,000 people in Mexico City. Lady Gaga wrote her NYU undergraduate thesis about Tunick's influential—and at times controversial—work, arguing: "Tunick challenges traditional ideas of intimacy, and asks us to free the body of sexuality and view it aesthetically for the purpose of his art."
Because public nudity is so rare, Tunick's pieces often draw attention and sometimes pushback and criticism.
"I think as a society, we're so used to seeing nudes on the Internet and on TV in the movies that we sort of think that it's a very open society but once the nude body goes outside of an enclosed environment, it becomes the equivalent to a crime or violence," explains Tunick, who has been arrested five times while attempting to work outdoors in New York. "The body in public space is very much taboo still, but it's something worth fighting for."
Tunick usually invites both sexes to participate. But for Cleveland, it'll just be women. It will be a powerful display considering the Republican party's difficulty connecting with women: Seven out of 10 women say they have a negative impression of Trump, the party's presumptive nominee, according to a recent poll.
"I have two daughters—9 and 11—and I want them to grow up in a progressive world with equal rights and equal pay and better treatment for women, and I feel like the 100 women lighting up the sky of Cleveland will send this ray of knowledge onto the cityscape," Tunick says. "I think it will enlighten not only the delegates but set the vibe of the weekend, set a tone."
Tunick announced the project and put out a call for unpaid volunteers on May 10th. To pull it off, he'll work with a location manager, volunteers from local art schools, and his wife. Early in the morning on July 17, the day before the convention, the women will meet across from the arena on private property to get into formation, rain or shine. He estimates the volunteers will be nude for about 15 minutes. Each participant will receive a limited edition print of the project.
While Trump events have drawn violence from his supporters and protesters, Tunick hopes his project will be a unifying one.
"We really are reaching out to people of all parties. This is a work Republican women can participate in. It's not so much a protest as it is a representative artwork," says Tunick, who went to the New York Military Academy, which Trump attended as well. "Who knows what will happen."
When asked if he's concerned about police intervention, Tunick says: "I hope police participate in the project, too. I've had a lot of cops participate in the past."
The artist is no stranger to protestors or threat of arrest. In 2002, after facing hundreds of protestors in Santiago, Chile, 5,000 nude volunteers turned out for a massive instillation. "The people used my work as a catalyst to send a message to the government that they're free and the government doesn't own their bodies," he says. That year, Tunick was named the country's Man of the Year by a local newspaper.
While facing threat of arrest by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, the owners of Grand Central Station closed it down for him to host 400 women for an installation. The case against Tunick went to the Supreme Court. In 2000, the court ruled in favor of the artist.
"I ran into [Ruth Bader] Ginsburg at a museum after that and I thanked her," Tunick says. "She said, 'Just don't do it on the steps of the Supreme Court.'"


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My last post delved into the issue of LDI and the risks that LDI is supposed to be protecting us against. Interest rate risk and inflation risk are the two that are typically focused on with LDI hedging strategies.
Hedging is all about mitigating risk. If you have a risk and you don't like the potential impact, and the cost of hedging is reasonable compared to the potential risk, then you might hedge out that risk. When looking at interest rate risk and inflation risk, the next thing I would question is: How big is the risk today? What is chance that the risk might materialize?
Current Government of Canada bond yields are 3.38% for 10 years and 3.80% for 30 years, at March 3, 2011. Will they go lower? – maybe. Will they go higher? – in my opinion – probably!! Without any sophisticated analysis it seems rather obvious to me that the risk of substantially lower interest rates is a pretty modest risk and the risk of higher rates is rather large.
The latest all items Canada CPI was 1.8%, which is low and leaves room for it to move higher. Central banks are printing money, governments are running huge deficits, and the global economy appears to be getting some positive traction. Energy, food and other basic material prices are rising rather rapidly. While I won't forecast imminently higher inflation, it seems like the risks are rather large and rising.
The last piece of this puzzle, well the last piece for today's blog, is about costs.
How can the risks be hedged and what is the cost, or opportunity cost? There is no clear cut answer, as you can't walk into a 7-Eleven and buy an interest rate or inflation hedge. Of the two, interest rate hedging is easier. Match the duration of fixed income assets with the duration of the liabilities and you're done. There really isn't a direct cost as the fees or commissions are minimal and the impact of changing rates will be equal on both the assets and liabilities – that is the point.
Is there an opportunity cost? I would say yes, and a maybe a big yes! Being unhedged, or mismatched, is taking a big risk. Having an asset duration of 5 years (WCB- Alberta) and a liability duration of 10 years (WCB- Alberta) and 12+ years for most DB pension plans, is a very big mismatch. It is a big exposure to changing interest rates. If rates move lower, there will be economic losses, and if rates move higher there will be meaningful gains.
Bottom line for us is that at this point in time, with interest rates this low, we are willing to take this risk as we believe the risk/return tradeoff is tilted in our favor by a large margin.
Inflation risk is a different situation. As mentioned above, I believe there is risk out there for inflation to surprise on the upside. Don't know for sure that it is coming by any means, but that there is a lot of risk, I have no doubts. This risk is a real cash flow risk that, if it transpires, will mean increases in cash payments out the door. These are cash payments that will need to be paid for with investment returns. This is a risk that we very much want to hedge away if we can. The challenge is in how to hedge. Canada real return bonds are yielding barely over 1% real and the implementation using other inflation sensitive assets is much more complicated.
Stay tuned – more musings on inflation risk and inflation hedging are on their way soon.


text: benwest 13th January 2016 Blog England the Scottish Co-operative Party Energy and Environment Local Government Share Tweet FREE PICTURE: Former BBC Scotland's Heather 'The Weather' Reid launches Edinburgh Schools Community Solar Power Cooperative Project, Tues 29/9/15: Former BBC presenter Heather 'The Weather' Reid brought some welcome sunshine to Gylemuir Primary School in Edinburgh today at the launch of the Edinburgh Community Solar Cooperative major new solar energy project. Pictured with Heather is Gylemuir pupil Abi Kinloch (correct, aged six). Capital residents are being encouraged to buy shares in the scheme – run by the Edinburgh Community Solar Cooperative – to install solar panels on up to 25 schools, community and leisure centres owned by the City of Edinburgh Council, including Gylemuir Primary. (All children pictured with parental and school's permission). More info from: Neil Davidson, PR consultant to ECSC - 07545 735 402 firstname.lastname@example.com OR: Louisa Alonso, Communications Officer, The City of Edinburgh Council - 0131 529 6152 email@example.com Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography - www.colinhattersley.com - firstname.lastname@example.com - 07974 957 388. Social enterprise Energy4All, which helps communities develop renewable energy schemes, has announced that its four recent community share offers have raised over £5.5 million in investment. This response shows continued public appetite and strong enthusiasm for community-owned renewable energy. It follows an announcement by the government in November which slashed the financial support available to these types of schemes, including reductions in the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) rate, and the removal of Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) for community solar. One of the schemes supported, a 500kW hydro scheme at Rumbling Bridge in Kinrossshire will be the largest community owned hydro scheme in the UK, while Edinburgh Solar, which is being championed by Edinburgh City's Co-operative Council, is one of the largest urban solar schemes in the UK. Many of these existing schemes have been made possible by the previous package of support, which they will continue to benefit from. However, those still in the pipeline will have to contend with far lower levels of financial support, and may no longer be viable. Given the commitments on climate change made at the Paris Agreement, and such clear public support, the government's decision to put the brakes on future projects is baffling. In a letter to the Shadow Chancellor, Co-operative Party Parliamentary Chair Gavin Shuker warned that the changes represented a 'significant blow' to the sector. Research by Co-operatives UK shows that potential member-owners may now be 40% less likely to invest. In announcing the investment milestone, Mike Smyth, Chairman of Energy4All Ltd acknowledged the threats faced by the sector, saying: "Thanks to the previous system of pre-accreditation our current projects have the benefit of the higher rates of feed in tariff dating from last Autumn which means they are viable although margins are tight. The new rates of feed in tariff and other changes to the scheme which the Government announced just before Christmas and the uncertainty of whether these rates will actually be obtainable in my opinion will prevent the typical school project from proceeding". Spread the word: tell the government to end its attack on community energy Case study: Edinburgh Solar Former BBC Scotland's Heather 'The Weather' Reid launches Edinburgh Schools Community Solar Power Cooperative Project Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op raised a total of £1.5million to install solar panels on up to 25 publicly owned buildings in the city. The energy generated by the panels will be used by the Council, saving it nearly a thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. All the profits generated by Edinburgh Solar will be used to help make Edinburgh a greener city. "We've been delighted by the public response to our share offer, with more money raised than we were aiming for. This is despite changes in the UK Government's rules which meant we had to close the offer early. The scheme will get going in the New Year and we expect to put a minimum of £1m back into community energy projects over the lifetime of the project, so that everyone in Edinburgh has a chance to benefit." Richard Dixon – Chair Edinburgh Community Solar Co-op and Director of Friends of the Earth Scotland


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Mueang Nonthaburi is a city in Thailand, which is considered as part of the suburbs of Bangkok or the greater Bangkok area. It is often referred to as the "rural side" of Bangkok, often because it has over half a million inhabitants. Many roads and expressways provide easy access to the capital, and many people make their way to work in Bangkok and then commute back home to rural areas of Thailand. However, if you live in Nonthsabura, you will find that life develops much more slowly when you arrive here.
You must report to the Nonthaburi Immigration Department for 90 days and have a 10-year visa for non-Thai citizens and a 30-month visa for foreigners to Thailand.
If you are serious about durians, you will find them everywhere in Bangkok, but you will also find durian at Nonthaburi Durian Farm, one of the most popular places to hang out in Non Tha, Thailand. The farm is not a Thai fruit farm I visited some time ago and which is a tourist attraction, but a farm with a quiet garden where you can eat ducks. Enjoy the peace and don't be such a bad dog in life, because he licks his shells.
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat is a beautiful royal monastery on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. While enjoying the local culture in Nonthaburi's temples and shrines, it is also fun to visit the beautiful temples of Chiang Mai, Chulalongkorn, Thammasat and Chonburi, as well as the famous temples in Bangkok.
In 1549 Nonthaburi was named capital of the Baan Talat Khwan district, which was famous for its orchards. When the district of Pak Kret was founded, Koh Salakun was called Mon Koh Kred by the Mon Koh and is still called a sub-district in the sub-district, whereby the word "Kred Tret" means a small river that was dug out of a large river. The oldest city of Ayutthaya is located on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and is the capital of the country. Here is one of the oldest temples in Thailand, the Chiang Mai Temple.
A trip to Bangkok cannot be incomplete without exploring the streets and alleys of the charming province of Nonthaburi.
Do not miss to visit these highly valued places in Nonthaburi and experience them during your trip to Thailand. Here are some of the places to visit and explore in this stunning province of Thailand! Take a private guide for a leisurely bike ride while visiting the beautiful city of Chiang Mai, the province's most popular tourist destination. You can also take private bike rides to cycle through the rural areas along the banks of Chao Phraya.
The man-made islands north of Bangkok are home to the Mon tribe, known for their famous pottery. The islands of Ko Kret and Koh Kred, which swim on the Chao Phraya River, are easily accessible from Bangkok and clear enough to earn their own tourist attraction.
Wat Chaloem Phra Kiat is one such temple, where you can experience the practice of Thai traditions. The European-style building has become one of the ancient remains of Thailand, while the present-day Town Hall is located on Rattanathibet Road. Travelers come from all over the world for the beautiful architecture, ancient temples and beautiful scenery.
Italian place, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nonthaburi, where I live and work. It also houses some of Thailand's most famous restaurants, such as the famous Nang ngam Nong Phra Kiat Restaurant, and is a popular destination for Thais and Thais alike - Americans. Make sure you know what you want, as they also sell a wide range of delicious Thai dishes, from rice and noodles to fresh fruit, vegetables and seafood.
If nothing else is left, it's fun to drive a rickshaw through Nonthaburi's green streets or grab a table in one of the many riverside restaurants. This is a local market that contains almost everything you would expect from a market in Thailand. Many items are already inexpensive, but prices are significantly cheaper than in tourist areas, so buy authentic, high-quality goods and shop on this market. Nonthsaburi has a wide selection of restaurants to choose from, as well as a wide selection of shops and shops to shop. There are many options If you are in Thai, you can find them all in one place - but this is a place you should not miss during your stay in Non tha nonth aburi.
It should take a minute for expats living in Thailand who are interested in taking out health insurance to receive an offer from a trusted expat in their partner's office.
Although it has been open for many years, this park is surprisingly unknown to tourists, only Thai locals play here and are about to get married. The name means "house with balcony over the water" in Thai and is called River Tree House.


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Last time in China we couldn't see our blog (it was on blogger.com, and that site is still blocked). We're now using Word Press and hosting it on our site, so perhaps that's why we can see this blog.
Can't access Facebook or Twitter, though. It's like I've been taken back to the internet circa 2005, an ancient land of isolation!


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Editor's Note: Donna Brazile, a CNN contributor and a Democratic strategist, is vice chairwoman for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. She is a nationally syndicated columnist, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and author of "Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in America." She was manager for the Gore-Lieberman presidential campaign in 2000. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Story highlights
Donna Brazile says to solve this border crisis, Congress and the administration must work together
Thousands of children from Central America have flooded the U.S. border seeking refuge
Brazile: This is more about who we are as a nation -- a nation of immigrants
We are proud that we are a country that people run to, not from, she says
Together we can commemorate a great milestone and power forward to a better and brighter future for all Americans.
When asked why he didn't visit the border, the President responded (and please, fellow commentators, let's get the quote and the context right): "…there's nothing that is taking place down there that I am not intimately aware of and briefed on. This isn't theater. This is a problem. I'm not interested in photo-ops; I'm interested in solving a problem. And … the suggestions of those who work at the border, who visited the border, are incorporated in legislation [that I've already sent to Congress] that we're already prepared to sign the minute it hits my desk."
Context: There's a time and place for photo-ops, and a time and a place to get things done. Hello, Congress?
This current immigration crisis is less about who these child refugees from the drug wars are, and more about who we are as a nation – a nation of immigrants.
As Americans, we are proud that we are a country that people run to, not from.
Our national symbol is not a Border Patrol guard with a gun. It's the Lady with the Lamp:
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me."
In 2008, just before leaving office, President George W. Bush signed a law that Congress passed almost unanimously, requiring unaccompanied border-crossing minors from countries other than Canada and Mexico to have a fair hearing before an immigration judge. The American Civil Liberties Union and immigrant rights groups have filed a class-action lawsuit, trying to force the government to supply legal counsel for undocumented minors facing deportation.
President Obama, rightly, is upholding the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. His administration announced that it would prioritize the immigration cases of recent arrivals, particularly unaccompanied minors and families.
The government will add and reassign immigration judges to focus on recently arrived children and families, whose cases would jump ahead of all the others in line.
In addition, in a balanced approach, President Obama has asked for $3.7 billion to deal with the immediate crisis. Half the money will go to proper facilities for child refugees and more immigration judges. The other half will go to increased border security.
Obama has a strong record on immigration enforcement, outdoing both Republican and Democratic predecessors. He has deported over 1 million immigrants, focusing on those with criminal records. As documented by many nonpartisan sources, by 2011 Obama had reduced illegal immigration crossings to net zero. He doubled the number of border guards from what they were in 2004.
Indeed, Obama's Justice Department has been so aggressive in deportations, the City of Los Angeles refused to hold detainees past their release dates, as requested, citing constitutional protections.
But Congress, rather than confront the immigration problem with a legislative solution or consider Obama's request for emergency funds, has jumped headfirst into the photo-op rabbit hole.
Sadly, unless Congress acts, we will likely send most of the children back – back to the drug-fueled gang violence from which they fled.
In his request for emergency funds, Obama recognizes the dangerous, abusive conditions these children face in their Central American countries. He has designated some of the money to Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, where most of the children come from, to crack down on gang violence and support tougher penalties on smugglers. Money will also go to build better holding facilities for children.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that human rights organizations filed a complaint for 100 refugee children, saying they were denied necessities, including diapers, were subjected to racial insults, and were confined in "squalid" US detention centers.
This "do-nothing" Congress needs to do something. These are children we're talking about.
Congressional opposition to immigration reform or emergency funds doesn't stem from any philosophical objections or differences of principle. It stems from a calculated, petty, selfish rejection of anything Obama proposes. Four years ago, the President remarked, "If I said the sky was blue, they'd say no. If I said fish live in the sea, they'd say no."
It's only gotten worse.
It's time Congress channel the spirits of the late Senate Republican Leader Howard Baker and the late President Lyndon B. Johnson, both of whom practiced the art of bipartisanship, and to recall the saying from Scripture, "Come let us reason together."
It's time Congress got spiritual, considering there's "near universal" religious support across our nation for Immigration Reform. Conservative Evangelicals, Protestant organizations across the spectrum, Catholics, and Jewish organizations have formed coalitions urging Congress to implement comprehensive Immigration Reform. They were shunned.
Elie Wiesel once wrote, "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation."
Why is Congress silent?
Where, my fellow citizens, are our acts of goodness and kindness?
For God's sake, these are children we're talking about.
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One of the key reasons for the momentum behind upgrading the smart grid is because of the smart grid's potential to reduce the environmental impact of our energy use. Now that the smart grid rollout is well under way in Illinois, ComEd, with the help of the Environmental Defense Fund and our partner, Citizens Utility Board, have begun to collect data to help the utility understand if it's achieving this goal.
Last March, ComEd adopted a system for how to track the environmental impact of the smart grid. According to Midwest Energy News, "Just one month after announcing the metric, ComEd quietly issued preliminary data from its emissions tracking efforts, showing that in 2015, residential ComEd customers with smart meters emitted roughly 161,000 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than residential ComEd customers without smart meters." That's a huge difference! And that's not all. The company also reported that the smart grid infrastructure helped them reduce the transportation emissions from their trucks, since fewer customers needed to get their meters read.
The process of collecting data about the smart grid and relating it to environmental impact is complex — so utilities are still working through how to do it well, and not all Illinois utilities have jumped on board. In the meantime, ComEd's data certainly gives us a lot of hope about the future of the smart grid for keeping our planet green!
P.S. For more information on this story, check out this article on Midwest Energy News, a Smart Power Illinois partner.


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Barbados Property List
Barbados Property List is a one-stop shop for real estate property listings in Barbados. Updated daily, our listings offer detailed and quality listings for Barbados real estate sales, rentals and holidays. We connect you directly with local real estate sales agents and property owners.
31 Aug 2009Blog
Property abroad: Bet on Barbados | This is Money
by Jonathan
The British make up at least 36% of buyers, and Richard Eames, of estate agents Savills, estimates an astonishing 95% of his clients are from the UK.
'The market is like the South-East of England,' he says. 'The high end, which is for properties above £3.2m, is still active, though prices have come down by about 25-30%. That's mainly because ours is a predominantly UK market, which has been affected by the drop in the pound against the dollar as well as the global downturn.' Property abroad: Bet on Barbados | This is Money.


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David Bowie hit it on the nose when he sang, "Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs." All right, so maybe he wasn't exactly speaking of the canine species, but we couldn't help the reference since deBoulle Diamond and Jewelry is hosting the second annual deBoulle Goes to the Dogs. The fund-raising event benefits Operation Kindness, the nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter. Patrons are invited to visit the store from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with their pooches, make a donation to the shelter and peruse an exhibition of photography by Deborah Samuels and Vincelee Stevens (known for their animal portraiture). OK's orphaned dogs and kitties may not get actual rocks on their paws or collars, but they'll no doubt appreciate deBoulle's efforts to keep them healthy and happy in rawhides and toy mice. DeBoulle Diamond and Jewelry is located at 6821 Preston Road. Call 214-522-2400.
Friday, June 10
It's Black Music Month, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is celebrating loud and strong with two major events. First comes the annual African American Festival Concert on Friday. With guest conductor Leslie B. Dunner and pianist Jade Simmons, the DSO presents An Evening With the American Masters. Featuring 75 years of American composition, the concert covers George Gershwin to today's Woody Woods. Before the music begins, check out a DISD student art show and the district's step team. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St., and will get everyone primed for the second installment of Black Music Month on June 24--a collaboration between the DSO and the Potter's House mass choir called African Portraits. Admission to the African American Festival Concert is free, but tickets are required. (Tickets for the upcoming African Portraits are also available for $35.) Call 214-692-0203.
Saturday, June 11
High-stress jobs dealing with crime and general mayhem may be rewarding, but think of the emotional exhaustion that comes with them. Every so often, a hero's gotta have a good time, and hockey seems a perfect release. Dr Pepper StarCenter Euless, 1400 S. Pipeline Road, hosts the Irving 9-1-1 Cup Hockey Game pitting the Fire against the Police. It's the hoses versus the holsters! The trucks against the cruisers! The huge protective helmets against the small tidy hats! The sirens versus the, uh, sirens! But anyway...On Saturday at 3 p.m. and for just $10 ($5 for kids 5 to 12), fans can watch goals, checks and possibly a hat trick or two between the proud and the uniformed. Proceeds benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Irving Police Athletic League. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 214-223-3157.
Sunday, June 12
You're a beer-drinking sports fan. She's a cultural encyclopedia of wine, art and pretty much everything else. (Or vice versa--we support the equal opportunity hypothetical, after all.) It'd be easy to just chalk it up to different worlds and let it go, but you might be missing out. Instead, oh simple hops-head, why not dazzle with a Sunday night of wine and dance? Phoenixdancetheatre presents Tango After Dark, an edgy performance that emphasizes the "surrender and release" of Argentine Tango in the unusual venue of The Wine Therapist, 1810 Skillman St. at LaVista Drive. Tickets are only $15 and include a glass of wine, so not only will your image get a cultural boost, but your wallet won't lose all its padding in one place. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so for reservations, call 469-235-0601.
Monday, June 13
When we found out about Cathey Miller's Just Visiting exhibition at IR Gallery, 830 Exposition Ave., we also discovered something very unusual about her. According to the gallery, Miller believes in an alternative universe called "Cathedonia," of which she is the queen. Now that's kind of odd, but it isn't so difficult to understand that if one--an artist, no less--believed in such a zany place, she'd want to paint it. We envy her, really. Our imaginary world fell by the wayside about the time we stopped getting school-sanctioned nap times. Miller's practice is childlike, imaginative, and it's gotta be an awesome escape. Coupling acrylic paint with magpie tendencies, Miller paints her world and embellishes it with fake jewels, sparkly stuff and shiny goodness, then she presents "Cathedonia" and its inhabitants visiting here on Earth with the flair of sideshow poster art. Now if only we could remember what that magical world under our couch-cushion fort was like. The show runs from June 10 through July 8 with a reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 18. Call 469-951-7323.
Tuesday, June 14
Three things that make the Texas Rangers versus the Atlanta Braves a not-so-scary opposition: The Washington Nationals just beat the Braves for two of three games, and may we remind you it's the Nats' first year? The Braves have trouble with the pitching. Call us crazy, but even though re-Cub-ed Greg Maddux is in the dreaded area of age 40, we're thinking the Braves wish they had him back. Rangers shortstop Michael Young is kickin' it in his new-ish post (A-Rod who?) and making quite the sweet team with second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Good timing equals double plays, boys, and we love 'em. Now with any luck, Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. game at Ameriquest Field, 1000 Ballpark Way at Interstate 30, will offer a great reason for the fans to bring out the brooms Wednesday. Sweep it, fellas, and then if you could, take it all the way to the playoffs. Tickets are $5 to $75. Call 817-273-2100.
Wednesday, June 15
We'll be honest. The offer we're writing about here is the only way we'll ever be able to afford dinner at Smith & Wollensky. We're writers, remember? And writers with big bubbling cauldrons of debt like ours don't often get to partake in classy dinners where even appetizers are priced with two numbers before the decimal point. Until, that is, S&W started the Pay Your Age Dinner offer. Now, we can go any night starting at 8:30 and get an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert for an amount equal to our age (proven, of course, with proper identification). The lowest price is $25 (sorry, teens), but Granny gets a deal because the prix fixe is capped at $65. And let's just say that even $65 is a steal for three courses of completely delectable S&W fare. We even have our dinner picked out already. We'll start with Wollensky's Famous Split Pea Soup and follow with...well, you get the idea. We're not giving away our age or our caloric intake, thanks very much. Smith & Wollensky is located at 18438 N. Dallas Parkway. Call 972-930-9200 and don't forget your ID.


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Negotiations Underway Over NY Medical Marijuana
The lead sponsor of a measure to legalize medical marijuana in New York says negotiations are underway with the governor's office and the Assembly in hopes of having an agreement by Monday.
Sen. Diane Savino's comment came Thursday as Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he's open to the so-called "Compassionate Care Act," but has reservations about the drug being exploited.
While the Staten Island Democrat met with reporters, the bill moved from the finance committee to the rules committee, its final stop before a vote in the Republican-led Senate.
John DeFrancisco, chairman of the finance committee, has said he wouldn't allow the measure to be brought to a vote
Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos has reservations about allowing marijuana to be smoked, but is open to ingestion in other forms.
© 2014 Associated Press


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FAYETTEVILLE — A popular Cumberland County road that was damaged during hurricane season has reopened.
Manchester Road was closed when flooding from Hurricanes Floyd and Irene washed away a portion of it.
The culvert repair work was completed this week.
Gravel has been put down on the road with the final paving to take place in January.
The repairs allowed Pope Air Force Base to reopen its Manchester Gate.


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AZ Foodie presents Smoked.
Smoked is a food event with a theme. Everything there will be smoked. And who doesn't love smoked food and cocktails?
About the event:
AZ Foodie, Diana, has gathered some fantastic chefs across the Valley to present special smoked dishes at Smoked on Saturday, March 23rd from 1 until 4PM at Ocotillo in Downtown Phoenix.
VIP access starts at Noon.
These will be dishes not featured in these chef's restaurants. AZ Foodie tells us she wants the chefs to showcase their talents. So the dishes will offer a great variety. Some will be cooked over charcoal. There will be ribs, game hens, smoked french fries, smoked ramen to name just a few.
Smoked is going to be a great time, hosted at a great event by AZ Foodie. She knows the Valley food scene as well as anyone.
To get tickets go here. VIP tickets are $50. Regular access is $35. That includes food, cocktail samples and desert.
Catch Rob's chat with Diana above. See you on March 23rd at Ocotillo.


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Thursday, November 22, 2007
Me too ...
See also this: CALCULATING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT.
"... woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."
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Overseas Investment Act 2018
Unless you have been living under a rock, you would probably have heard that the current Labour government has introduced changes to the Overseas Investment Act (OIA) that restrict certain overseas buyers of property in New Zealand. This has been done by classifying all residential land as "sensitive land" in the OIA and these changes came into effect on 22 October 2018.
If you are a New Zealand citizen most of the below will not apply to you directly but you may want to gain a better understanding of how the act could affect potential buyers who do not hold New Zealand citizenship.
Am I an overseas person?
You are considered an overseas person if you are not a New Zealand citizen, or 'ordinarily resident' in New Zealand (To be considered ordinarily resident you must have a Residence class visa, have lived in New Zealand for the past 12 months, have been present in New Zealand for at least 183 days of the past 12 months, and be a tax resident). A company or a trust can also be an overseas person.
There are some exceptions for citizens of Australian and Singaporean, but anyone who is not a New Zealand citizen or 'ordinarily resident' in New Zealand, is considered an overseas person.
Residence class visa holders as well as Australian and Singaporean permanent residents that are not ordinarily resident in NZ can apply to the Overseas Investment Office for consent to buy one home to live in.
Do all properties in New Zealand need consent to purchase?
The overseas investment legislation affects sales that include sensitive land, this includes residential and lifestyle land. This means that most New Zealand land is included in this category but there are different rules depending on the type of land. You need to be aware that sale timeframes may be affected if you need to obtain consent. If you are an overseas person planning an investment, seek assistance from a professional adviser as early as possible to help ensure a smooth transaction.
How do I know if land is sensitive and requires consent?
Sensitive land is determined by the types of land and area thresholds detailed in the legislation. Land that is categorised as residential or lifestyle in the District Valuation Roll is sensitive. You can ask the local council if a particular piece of land is sensitive. For other land, you will need to read and understand the legislation to determine if land is sensitive. Sometimes determining sensitive land is quite straightforward, however often significant legal and land expertise can be required required, particularly if there are any nearby waterways.
What if my spouse or partner is a New Zealand resident – Do I need consent?
No, you are exempt from the requirement for consent as an overseas person if your spouse or partner is a New Zealand citizen or ordinarily resident in New Zealand, and:
- the securities or rights or interests to be acquired are or will be relationship property (as defined in the Property (Relationships) Act 1976).
- the overseas person acquires property as a result of division of relationship property.
Find out if your partner is considered ordinarily resident (for land that is sensitive, but not residential).
I'm planning to buy a personal residence or holiday home in New Zealand. Do I need consent?
Yes, if you are considered an overseas person and the land is considered sensitive. However, if you can demonstrate your intention to reside in New Zealand indefinitely, then you may be eligible for consent without satisfying the benefit to New Zealand criterion.
I'm an Australian resident. Do I need consent?
Yes, if you are neither a New Zealand citizen or resident, then you are considered an overseas person. Australian citizens and the holders of a current Australian permanent residence visa or current Australian resident return visa will normally be eligible for consent on this concessional basis.
Note that Australian residents migrating to New Zealand will normally be granted a New Zealand residence visa on arrival.
How do I apply for consent?
All applications can be made online. The application templates and the online form can be found on each of our consent type information pages on the LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) website. We would recommend seeking legal advice for assistance with this.
If I am an overseas person, how can I obtain consent?
Overseas persons can obtain consent to buy residential land (that is not otherwise sensitive) in certain situations:
- Increasing housing on residential land test – if they would be developing the land and adding to New Zealand's housing supply;
- If they would use the land for non-residential purposes or a residential purpose relating to a core business purpose; or
- Commitment to reside in New Zealand test – if they hold an appropriate visa (i.e. New Zealand resident visa or Australian or Singaporean citizens and permanent residents) and could show they have committed to reside in New Zealand.
The Eligibility Flowchart at the bottom of the page will help you figure out whether you need to apply for consent from the Overseas Investment Office.
If you would like to discuss the implications of the amendment and how it might affect you, pop in to see us or call one of our experienced sales team. All of our sales team have been trained in the implications of the OIA and if there's anything that we don't know, we'll be able to put you in touch with a legal expert.


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Relaxation and Guided Imagery are methods that teach people how to become deeply relaxed. When sensory images are added via guided exercises, the healing properties of these images are experienced as lived states in the body and promote healing and coping. The body treats these images as if they are happening. Relaxation and Guided Imagery becomes a powerful ally that you can use to improve coping, learning or healing. It is an empowering process of letting go of stress and learning to allow yourself to find responses rather than force yourself or command yourself to cope or heal. Dr. Miriam Franco now offers all of her products through her mobile app, ImageryWork, with a subscription plan that gives you access to all of her GI programs, blogs, podcasts, videos and audio tracks.


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February 12, 2018
— 2018 Ford Focus RS
by Jim Corbran
I came away from this year's Buffalo Auto Show with a short list of things to buy if I ever win the lottery. If I ever start playing, that is. Over the next few weeks we'll take a closer look at my choices, in no particular order.
This week we'll focus (tee-hee) on a strikingly electric blue entry from the blue oval folks which sat in the corner of the upstairs exhibition hall— the Focus RS.
I don't imagine I fit into the usual demographic that the marketing people envisioned when they unleashed the latest RS model to the public. But here I am, loving those side-hugging Recaro® heated leather-trimmed seats, those 19-inch black-painted alloy wheels, and the 2.3L EcoBoost engine which puts out 350 hp. Even better that it's connected to Ford's Performance All-Wheel Drive with dynamic torque vectoring.
A couple of things we should probably mention here. With an MSRP of $41,995 it's not exactly cheap (especially when compared to another car on my wish list, the VW GTI). But the list of standard equipment is longer than the patch of rubber you'll lay with the RS: besides what we've already mentioned above, Ford includes a six-speed manual transmission, dual-zone climate control, heated outside mirrors and leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Sony audio system with voice-activated touchscreen navigation and SiriusXM with HD, Ford's SYNC 3 voice-activated technology, fog lamps, Michelin Super Sport summer tires... the list really does go on.
Except for paint color. Someone at Ford decided that the only two colors which would interest potential RS buyers are Racing Red and Nitrous Blue (about the bluest blue in all of car-dom). And they also assume you're okay with a monochromatic black interior. Yes, it all looks good, but a few more choices wouldn't kill them.
I'm not usually one for zoomy rear spoilers, but the one on the RS is much less obnoxious (IMO) than those on the Honda Civic R and Subaru WRX STI, which in my mind are getting close to Plymouth Superbird territory (bottom of page). The good news is, for 2018 Ford is painting the spoilers gloss black, which makes them even less visually obtrusive.
The all-wheel drive makes the Focus RS an ideal candidate for year-round driving. Ford offers a winter tire package for $1,995 but shopping around will probably find you a better price than that. The package is one of the very few options even offered on the RS (thus its high MSRP). As a matter of fact, the only other extra-cost option I could find while building my own RS on Ford's website was a power moonroof ($895).
The bad news is (hey, where there's good news you know there'll be bad news!) Car and Driver magazine tells us in their RS report that 2018 is the final year for the Focus RS, and there will be only 1,000 produced for the U.S. market, along with another 500 for Canada.
I'd better start buying those lottery tickets now.
Build your own Focus RS, and get more details, at ford.com
Next week: Honda Ridgeline
The post "FORD'S HOT HATCH
— 2018 Ford Focus RS"
first appeared on buffalocars


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What it is: Affinity Publisher is a low-cost but highly capable desktop publishing program that rivals Adobe InDesign.
Adobe sells some of the best graphics and desktop publishing programs in the world. Unfortunately, Adobe products are also expensive and require a subscription service. For anyone who wants the results that Adobe products can create but without the expense of buying an Adobe subscription, look at Affinity Designer, Affinity Publisher, and Affinity Photo instead.
Affinity Designer is a vector graphics program similar to Illustrator while Affinity Photo is similar to Photoshop and Affinity Publisher is similar to InDesign. Best of all, each program costs around $40-$50 with no ongoing subscription fee. Once you buy it, it's yours to use for as long as you wish without paying any additional fees.
Naturally, if you're already familiar with Adobe products, you may not want to switch to a rival product. However, if cost is a major factor, Affinity's product line can easily replace Adobe's products for all but the most sophisticated users.
One particularly useful feature of Affinity Publisher is its live link option to Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer. This means that if you need to edit a graphic image within Affinity Publisher, you can access Affinity Designer or Affinity Photo right within Affinity Publisher.
With Adobe products, you might be editing a graphic image in InDesign, which would require you to load Illustrator or Photoshop, and then edit that graphic image. Then you'll need to add that edited graphic image back into InDesign again. By eliminating this process, Affinity Publisher makes it easy to edit graphics without leaving your desktop publishing document in Affinity Publisher.
Although Affinity products are much less expensive than Adobe's products, they offer the features most people need, even experienced graphic designers. Before spending money on Adobe, take a close look at Affinity product line to see if they might match your needs instead.
For anyone learning graphics and desktop publishing on a budget, Adobe's products are out of reach so look to Affinity's product line instead. Once you understand the basics of using Affinity's products, you can easily apply those same principles to using Adobe's software if you wish.
The bottom line is that Adobe's software is just too expensive for most people, even professionals. Look at Affinity's products. They may be all that you need after all.