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The Walking Dead saves not being recognized by game
I had been attempting to run TWD at full screen on a second monitor, and after being successful TWD no longer recognized previous saves. The saves have not been deleted, and are still in the Telltale folder. Furthermore, when I attempt to run the game on my original monitor the saves are no longer recognized as well. Any suggestions or fixes for getting TWD to recognize my saves?
Try the "prefs.prop" fix where you copy it to Pack/default from the telltale folder.
Try reverting to a previous version of prefs.prop
Try verifying the game cache.
Try rebooting Steam and your machine.
Try running the application as an administrator.
Try changing the compatibility to Windows 98/ME.
If none of those work, welcome to my boat.
If they do, awesome, I'm happy for you. | {
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Website Marketing
Without a marketing strategy, your website might languish at the foot of Google and you are left scratching your head as to why the enquiries or sales are not flooding in. There are a few ways in which we could help. Here are a few questions that you might want to ask yourself:
Are you getting the right visitors?
It’s no use getting a skip load of visitors who are never going to use you. If you are a plumber, you might have some great content attracting international attention, but would you install a boiler in Iowa? We have tools to get you the right visitors.
Are you asking the right questions?
You can lead a horse to water, but if you are not closing the sale, you are working for your competitors. We can write engaging copy that will help you capture that enquiry.
Are you measuring your results?
By looking at where you are doing well and where you could use a bit of improvement, marketing your website is a constant honing process. Keep working it, and it will keep working for you.
Could you use some help?
You could. And we can help. With tools like email marketing, copywriting, direct mail, lead capture, Google Analytics, Social Media & online ads, we can put a package together for you. Prices start at £99 and go up to £600 per month. | {
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Modern Production and Warehouse Facility
with Office Space for Lease in Pärnu, Estonia
80 parking spaces for cars, with the additional option to park cargo transport near the warehouse
Benefits:
Conveniently located with developed infrastructure
Distance from:
Railway – 1 km
Pärnu Harbour – 7 km
Pärnu Airport – 7 km
Tallinn-Riga Highway – 0,2 km
24MW CHP plant – 0,6 km
110 kV power distribution – 0,1 km
The total land plot of 34,884 m2 enables additional expansion up to 5,500 m2 of buildable area. The detailed plan allows a construction of a 1-storey industrial building with a max. height of 12 meters. | {
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Estonia has renewed its contract with Milremin, a Patria subsidiary, to maintain the Patria XA-series armored vehicles operated by the Estonian armed forces. (Patria photo)
The Centre for Defence Investment has renewed the public contract with Milrem LCM, provider of defence vehicle lifecycle management, for repair and maintenance of the Patria XA-180 and XA-188 armoured vehicles. Milrem LCM is part of Patria Group.
“Since 2014, the [Estonian] Defence Forces have worked closely with Milrem for better management of the lifecycle of our defence vehicles. Our partnership has been effective. The knowledge that there are efficient Estonian defence companies with growth potential provides confidence that we can face the challenges in all circumstances,” said Marek Sügis, Head of the Technology Section of the Support Command at the Estonian Defence Forces.
“The renewal of this contract shows that close cooperation can lead to the best results in meeting the needs of the Defence Forces. All parties to the contract—the Centre for Defence Investment, the Estonian Defence Forces, and Milrem—are interested in continuing to work together to provide the best possible support to the units of the Defence Forces,” said Margus Padjus, Head of the Armament Procurement Bureau, Centre for Defence Investment.
“Milrem wants to be a strong and reliable partner for the Defence Forces of Estonia, both in peace and at times of conflict. We want to develop and become an increasingly strong benchmark for military competence in Estonia and, therefore, the Defence Forces’ strongest partner,” said Kuldar Väärsi, member of the Milrem LCM management board. “Since the majority owner of Milrem LCM is Patria, the original equipment manufacturer of the XA vehicles, we now have an even better engineering know-how to further improve our life cycle management capabilities,” he added.
The contract held by Milrem LCM in question is a public contract awarded in October 2013. Under the contract, Milrem has been providing lifecycle management services for the Defence Forces’ Patria XA-180 and XA-188 armoured vehicles since 2014. The contract was initially awarded for four years, with an option for renewal for a further four years. The first four-year period expired at the beginning of this year. The second contract period will expire at the beginning of 2022.
Milrem LCM’s owners are Finnish Patria Group and Kuldar Väärsi through OÜ Sinrob. | {
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International
Yule Log
Traditionally, the Yule Log is brought in from the cold and immediately burnt on the hearth. Instead we brought our elm branch in, put it through a 3D scanner and made our festive buche, which we finished with white chocolate for a finish of fresh snow. 50% milk chocolate praline with hazelnuts and crisped rice, it's sliceably soft for that effortless carving-the-log moment, and serves 14. Just add friends, family and fireplace!
Weight: 420g / 14.8oz
For allergens see ingredients in bold. May contain traces of other tree nuts and peanuts. Suitable for vegetarians. Alcohol free.
£20.00
We always want your items to arrive in perfect condition, which is why we take enormous care in the design of our packaging and devote so much attention to the delivery of your order.
Delivery Option
Item Qty
Cost
Details
UK Standard delivery
1 item
2 or more
£3.95
£4.95
Order by 18.00 GMT and we'll deliver your order in 3-5 working days. You can also order items for delivery by a nominated date using the 'Standard to arrive by' option at checkout.Please note an extra day is required for deliveries to the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and remote parts of the UK such as the Highlands and Islands.
UK Nominated & Next Day
1 item
2 or more
£4.95
£5.95
Order by 18.00 GMT for Next Day Delivery or for delivery on the nominated date of your choosing (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays). The option of Nominated Day AM delivery is also available and additional charges apply (1 item £6.95, 2 or more items £8.95). Please note an extra day is required for deliveries to the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and remote parts of the UK such as the Highlands and Islands.
UK Saturday Delivery
1 item
2 or more
£4.95
£5.95
Order by 18.00 GMT on Friday for Saturday delivery (excluding Bank Holiday Friday).Please note Saturday Delivery is unavailable to the Channel Islands, Northern Ireland and remote parts of the UK such as the Highlands and Islands.
UK FREE Click & Collect*
Any
FREE
This service is free if all items in your order are available from store stock.
If any items are not available from store stock we will send the items from our warehouse, which will incurr a charge.
UK Click & Collect*
1 item
2 or more
£3.95
£4.95
If the item you are ordering for Click & Collect is NOT available from store stock, we will send the item from our warehouse. This standard service incurs a charge and your item(s) won’t be available for immediate collection. Please see the Click & Collect table below for timings.
In these circumstances, Standard (1 item £3.95, 2 or more items £4.95), Nominated & Next Day (1 item £4.95, 2 or more items £5.95) and Saturday (1 item £4.95, 2 or more items £5.95) services are available.
UK Same-Day Delivery
Any
From £5.95
Need a delivery today? Order by 15.00 GMT and our same-day Shutl courier service guarantees delivery of items within 90 minutes, or within a designated timeslot of your choice. Delivery costs will vary and are based on distance from one of our stores and the size of the parcel.
Please note this service is dependent upon stock being available within the local store, and the delivery address being within a 20 mile radius of the store fulfilling the order. If stock is unavailable, or a product ineligible, this service will not appear at checkout.
Denmark Standard Delivery
1 item
2 or more
£3.95
£4.95
Order by 18.00 GMT and we'll deliver in 3-8 working days.
Europe Standard Delivery
1 item
2 or more
£7.95
£9.95
Order by 18.00 GMT and we'll deliver in 3-8 working days.
Rest of World Standard Delivery
1 item
2 or more
£14.95
£16.95
Order by 15.00 GMT and we'll deliver in 5-8 working days.
* Items available and in stock in store can be collected within 2 hours of the order being placed. Please note that FREE Click & Collect is not available for station store collection or sale items.
Click & Collect orders coming from our warehouse will be available from the following timings:
Order before 18.00 UK time
Available for collection from midday
Mon
Fri
Tues
Mon
Weds
Tues
Thurs
Weds
Fri
Thurs
Sat
Fri
Sun
Fri
International Delivery Exceptions
Whilst most of our products can be sent overseas, occasionally there are a few exceptions whereby local customs restrictions are in place. Typically this will affect products containing alcohol or liquids. Also, some seasonal items that may contain small explosives are excluded from delivery outside of the UK (don’t panic, the small explosives are only included in our festive crackers!). If appropriate, we will make you aware of any international delivery restrictions when you proceed through the checkout.
Tasting Club Delivery
Please allow 12 working days for delivery from receipt of your order. All orders are subject to stock and availability.
Additional Information
Delivery Instructions
At the time of ordering you can also provide us with a contact telephone number and delivery instructions that may help us with your delivery. Typically, this could include leaving an order with a neighbour or perhaps in a safe place if you are not home. We will pass your contact telephone number and delivery instructions on to our carrier to aid delivery – who will then either call the contact number provided or leave a card to let you know where to find your order if it has been left, or what to do next if we have missed you. Please note the contact number you provide will not be used for marketing purposes.
Please note we would recommend that you do not send your order to a PO Box (larger or multiple item orders sent to a PO Box address may not be delivered).
Delivering to BFPO addresses
We will make every effort to deliver your order to any given BFPO address.
The British Forces Post Office (or British Field Post Office) (BFPO) is an agency that provides a postal service to HM Forces, separate from that provided by Royal Mail. BFPO addresses are used for the delivery of mail in the UK and around the world.
When sending mail from the UK to a member of HM Forces serving overseas, the sender must address it to the appropriate BFPO number and not to the country in which that person is based.
Packing Your Order
Gift Box Orders: Every gift box / hamper will be delivered in our protective, specially printed packaging to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition. Our gift boxes / hampers are made to order by our dedicated team, and may take slightly longer to prepare during our peak trading times. Whilst we will make every effort to despatch all gift boxes / hampers when requested, we cannot guarantee Next Day Delivery if ordered after 14.00, or if the quantity is over fifteen. For Corporate gift box / hamper enquiries please contact the corporate team on 03444 93 10 10 10.
We make every effort to ensure your order arrives in perfect condition. This may include the use of Ecoflo; a unique packing material designed to protect your goods whilst in transit. Afterwards, you can re-use, compost or recycle it in accordance with current environmental regulations.
Tracking Your Order
To track the progress of your order please visit your Order History under My Account and view the order details. We will also tell you of any changes or important delivery details affecting your order. Alternatively, our team are ready to help here.
Adverse Weather Conditions
We will always make every effort to deliver your order on time. Occasionally, we are affected by factors that are beyond our control, such as bad weather. Should this happen, we will update our website with details of any delays we are experiencing.
If you’re sending a gift to a lucky loved one or to a colleague, you can make it even more special with a personalised Gift Messge Card and / or a stylish Gift Bag or Gift Box. Gift Message Cards are FREE, whilst Gift Bags cost £2.50 each and Gift Boxes £5.00 each. Just select your option at the Gifting Options stage during checkout – they make the perfect finishing touches!
Our gift boxes are made to order by our dedicated team, and so may take slightly longer to prepare at our busy times. Whilst we will make every effort to despatch all gift boxes when requested, we cannot guarantee Next Day Delivery if ordered after 1pm, or if the quantity is over fifteen gift boxes. Other hamper gift sets cannot be included in a “made to order” gift boxes and some alcohol products cannot be sent overseas. Otherwise usual delivery restrictions apply.
See below for an example of how your gifted items will arrive with a Gift Message Card and Bag.
Please keep an eye out for future exciting additions to our gift options.
Sorry! We expect these to be back soon, so enter your email address below if you’d like us to tell you when they become available. Please note your email address will not be used for marketing purposes.
Thank you
We'll send you an email as soon as this item becomes available online.
No Stock Data
We're sorry but unfortunately we're not able to tell you the current stock level of this item in store. Please contact your store directly for an update. Contact details can be found on the store page under Our Locations.
Out Of Stock
Unfortunately this item is not currently available in this store.
Limited Stock
Good news! This item is available to purchase in store now; however, stocks are low and the item could sell out within the next few days. | {
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One who fights oppression, atrocities is not a terrorist, says Geelani
By Reader Correspondent on February 9, 2016Comments Off on One who fights oppression, atrocities is not a terrorist, says Geelani
Picture for representation
SRINAGAR: Paying homage to Raqib, Hizbul Mujahideen militant who was killed in an encounter in Pulwama, Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Geelani, on Monday called for differentiating between terrorists and the people who fight “atrocities and oppression”.
In a statement issued here, Geelani said not drawing a line between the two would be an “extreme kind of injustice”.
“Picking up weapon for the people and picking up weapons against the people are two different issues. The world should definitely differentiate between these two things,” Geelani said.
“India’s forced militarily occupation and the atrocities of its army and SOG is motivating our beloved youths to choose this path (of picking up guns). It is a natural reaction from a person who is not allowed to live a dignified life or is pushed to the wall.”
Paying tributes to slain Pulwama militant Rakib, Geelani said the people’s participation in funeral prayers of “our brave-hearts” was a proof that they were not anti-social
“They have nothing to do with terrorism as India is trying to project. They are people’s heroes fighting for their freedom and dignity,” he said.
Hurriyat (G) chairman said the funeral processions of militants gave a clear message that those who kill innocent people are terrorists and hated by everyone while those who fight atrocities and oppression “are brave-hearts and loved by all”.
Geelani said Kashmiris were neither “war-mongers” nor do they harbour any enmity against the people of India.
“We believe in live and let live ideal and in human values. At the time of partition, when the whole subcontinent was swayed by communal tensions, this region created a history by showing the meaning of brotherhood to the world,” he said.
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Launched in May 2012, Kashmir Reader is one of the leading English language newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir. It’s published daily from Srinagar by Helpline Group, which earned a name and fame in serious journalism
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy | {
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So the 30 odd slugs collected last night (there were literally hundreds) are now happily infecting each other. Unfortunately, I read to the end of the method and discovered it actually takes 2 weeks for the potion to be ready but once it is, it gives up to 6 weeks slug protection so I might need to check out the ‘beer method’ in the meantime, lest the rhubarb & parsley don’t make it!
I saw a fascinating article on mashable about veggies you can re-grow from scraps and it said that
“Ginger regrows itself if you plant it in soil. Make sure you pick rhizomes with green buds on them, as they have the highest chance to grow. You can also dig up the root, taking off pieces as need be, and then replant it afterwards.” | {
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Support World Evangelism
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We use PayPal for accepting online donations. If you have any questions about online donations, please contact us.
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Please specify the amount you wish to donate (in US dollars). Please note that a portion of your donation pays for a credit card processing fee (currently 2.9% of the donation plus 30 cents). For example, a $100 donation would incur a $3.20 processing fee, resulting in an actual $96.80 donated. If you wish to cover this fee yourself, adjust your donation accordingly.
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Please select whether your are making a one-time donation or making a recurring donation. | {
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The Role of Advanced Practice Nursing Internationally
Navigation
Do Nurse Practitioners provide equal care as medical doctors?
This topic has always been a strong place for debate. Unfortunately it can be very difficult to discern through inconsistency, personal opinion, and bias. Here are several resources that demonstrate the evidence on answering this question: | {
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2 2134 Timber Ridge
Beautiful 3 bedroom town home nestled in scenic Whistler. Just a couple of minutes from Whistler Village this town home is perfectly set up for short term rentals. Amazing return on this town home. # bedrooms up and spacious living and dining areas on the main floor. Good sized garage and a generous laundry room. Enjoy magnificent views from the balcony off the main living area. Does not get much better than this. Book your showing today.
This representation is based in whole or in part on data generated by the Chilliwack & District Real Estate Board, Fraser Valley Real Estate Board or Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver which assumes no responsibility for its accuracy - Listing data updated on February 21, 2018 | {
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With a little help from Lorde
Back in 2014, New Zealand synthpop duo Broods made a huge splash with their ethereal track “Bridges” and later with their debut record Evergreen. Now, Georgia and Caleb Nott are back with a new song and a new sound. The brother-sister duo’s first single off of their upcoming album is called "Free," and it's an anthemic, pulsating pop track that shows the band moving away from their stripped-down songs. Instead, Broods’ focus this time around was on creating songs that would soar during live performances. The band’s newfound sound is in part due to the help of Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer Joel Little, who has worked with Lorde, Sam Smith and Ellie Goulding, just to name a few. As the release of their sophomore record nears, we spoke to the band about their new single, taking a new approach to recording this time around, and how they ended up working with Lorde.
How did you approach your sophomore record differently than your debut?For one thing, we had more time to write it. The first record we did, we had five weeks in the studio in between touring and we kind of fleshed out as many songs as we could.This time, we had time off, so we had gone into the studio throughout the past year and a half. We’ve been writing since we finished the tour. It gave us a chance to experiment and put out stuff you’d really want to put out on the record.
You wrote with Lorde and Ellie Goulding this time around. What was that like?It’s a pretty tight-knit industry. The [music] industry is very concentrated. So, with the music industry back home, everyone kind of supports everybody and knows everybody. We happened to be in the studio, Lorde had the day off, and we wrote one song. It happened randomly. It was an awesome experience.
Is your upcoming record a concept record? What will people notice that’s more unique?There’s not really a theme or anything, but it doesn’t sound like the last record. It’s not as stripped back as Evergreen was, which is cool. We definitely wrote it with playing live in mind. When you start playing shows, those songs you play [live] become your favorite. I think it’s a lot more honest, lyrically than the last record. It’s very straightforward.
Is there anything you worry about when it comes to putting out your second record?I think it’s hard not to at first when you’re taking on a second record and figuring out your sound. There are a bunch of songs that we thought could have gone on our second record. We wanted to develop our sound and evolve as artists. We did a lot of experimenting before we got there. However [putting out your second record] is scary because you want to please the people that supported you. You want the people that loved your music to love the record, but you want to do something different—even if it’s in a small way. It’s something you create from your own experiences and opinions. That’s why I feel pressure and feel nervous. When you care about something, you’re gonna be nervous about it.
What were you listening to when you were making this record?I like the same kind of singer-songwriter music that I always do. I was listening to a lot of Lykke Li and KATE BOY. KATE BOY is this Australian chick and two Swedish guys. They make insanely cool pop music. Caleb has been listening to Kanye West and KATE BOY as well—really this electronic, industrial stuff.
Tell me about the first single off of the new record, “Free.”“Free” is an industrial electronic track. It’s a song about a situation where you want people to know that you’re not going to compromise yourself, your creativity, and your values for the sake of material. It’s just trying to make it obvious that you don’t need all of these consequences of making good pop music. You don’t need the wild side of it to define the music you’re making. When we were in a lull, we were trying to figure out what direction we're trying to go in. We tried to think of the reasons why we did music and started releasing music. Then “Free” happened.
Do you feel like there’s a lot of competition in the electropop scene? Does that affect you guys when you make music?I think there’s always competition in whatever industry you work in. Whether it’s a genre of music or whatever else, there’s always competition. The way we think about it is that we wanted to find stuff that was 100 percent true to us and what we wanted to do as artists. It’s totally honest to who we are and what we feel.
Who would you love to collaborate with coming up?I’d love to work with some of the female pop artists. I’d love to work with Julia Michaels—she works a lot with Selena Gomez. She’s an amazing top writer. She wrote that song “Love Myself” by Hailee Steinfeld. | {
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Central Kitsap Reporter, July 13, 2012
Central Kitsap Reporter, July 13, 2012
July 13, 2012 edition of the Central Kitsap Reporter
R epoRteR C entRal K itsap FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2012 | Vol. 27, No. 44 www.CENTRALKITSAPREPORTER.COm | 50¢ Empty marina Brem. Marina continues to receive $365K subsidy annually Page 8 By KEVAN MOORE [email protected] Buffalo Bill, Summer Santa and the old man from Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea” were all on hand in Bremerton Saturday for the North American Beard and Mustache Championships at the Elks Lodge. Put on by the local Whiskers Club, the biannual event raises thousands of dollars for various charities and brings together guys with mustaches in categories with titles such as Natural, English, Dali, Imperial, Hungarian, Freestyle, Natural Goatee, Chinese and Muskateer. There’s no shortage of categories when it comes to full and partial beards, either. One of the zaniest is the freestyle beard group which In pursuit of the hirsute Kevan moore/staff photo California resident Aarne Bielefeldt, left, and Matthew Fortin of Sumner, Wa. take a break during the North American Beard and Mustache Championships in Bremerton this past weekend. Judge H. Emily Moshy, below, and all her fellow judges gave Bielefeldt the day’s only perfect score. SEE BEARD, A9 By BREtt CihON [email protected] Randy Bragge stood smiling at the far end of the firing line at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club as men and women along the line pre- pared for a “liberty volley,” a minute-long shootout. Bragge set up his gun, a LAR Grizzly BIG boar .50 cal. BMG rifle, and cautioned a few spectators not to stand too close. “Don’t stand near the shock waves,” Bragge said of the gasses that escape the flash suppres- sor at the barrel tip of the gigantic rifle. Bragge was part of the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club’s annual Fourth of July celebra- tion. The celebration, attended by 40 to 50 KRRC members, featured a membership pot- luck, the hoisting of two new large flags up the club’s flagpole, the reading of the Declaration of Independence, the liberty volley and other events. Typically, the Fourth of July celebration has been one of the more popular events. But after two years of decreased membership and consistent problems with the Kitsap County Prosecutor’s Office and surrounding neigh- borhoods, attendance at the Fourth of Embattled gun club celebrates Independence Day with ‘liberty volley’ SEE GUN CLUB, A11 Tentative legal future worries some members Brett Cihon/staff photo Robert Carpenter, a Port Orchard resident, fires a handgun during the annual Liberty Volley celebration at the Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club. | {
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This is the next book in the series after Anything Goes and, like the previous book, it features Lily and Robert Brewster, a brother and sister who have inherited a large house in the middle of the Great Depression, but not the money to keep it going and live in the style to which they used to be accustomed.
This time around, they hit on the idea of trying to make some cash by inviting well-known people to stay and then getting other people to pay to spend the weekend with them. After a couple of disappointments, the Brewsters manage to snag the services of a bad-tempered writer whose books draw strongly on the horrors of the Great War - their scheme seems to be paying off, till one of the guests is found dead and then another disappears.
In the Still of the Night is another well-written story that makes you want to know what's going on, and though I figured out some of the overall mystery from the hints that are dropped quite early on, it's not as clear-cut as all that. The series continues in Someone to Watch Over Me, for which I shall be keeping an eye out. | {
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Smithers Pira forecasts the metal packaging market to reach $128 million by 2021
Smithers Pira forecasts the metal packaging market to reach $128 million by 2021
After a significant slowdown in the late 2000s, the global market for metal packaging has recovered its growth with the highest rates registered in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In its new report, The Future of Metal Packaging and Coatings to 2021 Smithers Pira estimates the market will grow by around 3% in 2016 to reach $106 million, driven mainly by increasing demand for metal packaging in emerging and transitional economies at a time when demand in more mature markets is likely remain flat. Going forward, the global market metal packaging is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of 4% to reach $128 million by 2021.
In terms of global trade, many developing countries such as China, India and Brazil have long been associated with significant manufacture and international exports, providing goods for the world, but not consuming them domestically. This is no longer the case.
“Whilst bulk metal packaging and export-related packaging has slumped slightly in emerging markets, growing social mobility coupled with an expanding middle class, China is seeing private consumption grow by more than 20% year-on-year as disposable incomes, especially in urban areas, are rocketing. As a result, many of the economic powerhouses have begun increasing domestic consumption, creating major growth opportunities for local businesses. Nuances of consumer taste in these regions, such as the Indian preference for food cans over rigid plastic packaging, and Brazil’s unique traditional beverages have introduced an exciting new growth opportunity that relies more on local brands and domestic trade than mass imported and exported delicacies.”
Dan Rogers Head of Publishing at Smithers Pira
A major development in metal packaging market is smaller volume, higher value craft beers and ales. This emergence from the beverage can market represents a wider shift in otherwise highly saturated regions such as France or Germany. Smaller breweries and soft drink providers cannot sell the significant bulk that larger companies can, and instead opt to use the relatively cheap 330ml and 500ml beverage cans as a canvas for complicated 360o designs, holographic logos, and bespoke packaging designed to appeal to a niche consumer. Digital printing technology has allowed can manufacturers to produce these smaller quantities without significantly increasing the per-can cost. Larger companies have begun embracing this shift into bespoke products in the FMCG market with more variance of design on cans, limited edition cans to commemorate specific events, and targeted marketing campaigns that aim to make the most of this new freedom within the beverage can market.
Consumers are more aware than ever about environmental issues, and there has been a strong trend towards reusing metal packaging such as beverage cans and aerosols, especially in Europe. The European Commission has imposed challenging targets for recycling, and landfill sites have seen increased taxes. European recycling has increased its metal packaging recycling rate steadily in recent years, and in 2013 reached around 75% recycling of rigid metal packaging, and the industry’s target objective of 80% metal packaging recycling in Europe by 2020 is on track. Other regions, such as North America, are lagging behind this goal, with only around 35% recycling of metal packaging in 2013 from the US. This is still an improvement on previous years though, suggesting the trend is present, if not as dramatic. Technology strides are still being made to further lightweight rigid metal packs, continuing to reduce the amount of material used, mainly steel and aluminium. | {
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A Java ME implementation Android applications are written using the Java language,
but they are not run within a Java ME (Mobile Edition) VM, and Java-compiled classes and
executables will not run natively in Android.Part of the Linux Phone Standards Forum (LiPS) or the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA)
Android runs on an open-source Linux kernel, but, while their goals are similar, Androids
complete software stack approach goes further than the focus of these standards-defining
organizations.Simply an application layer (such as UIQ or S60) Although Android does include an application
layer, Android also describes the entire software stack, encompassing the underlying
operating system, the API libraries, and the applications themselves.A mobile phone handset Android includes a reference design for mobile handset manufacturers,
but there is no single Android phone. Instead, Android has been designed to support
many alternative hardware devices.Googles answer to the iPhone The iPhone is a fully proprietary hardware and software
platform released by a single company (Apple), whereas Android is an open-source
software stack produced and supported by the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) and designed
to operate on any compatible device.
Im kind of guessing you are new to Android. Honestly though, if you are interested in development this forum probably isn't the place. It is focused more on end users and getting the most out of specific devices.
Im kind of guessing you are new to Android. Honestly though, if you are interested in development this forum probably isn't the place. It is focused more on end users and getting the most out of specific devices.
Click to expand...
You can say, I am new for this! I am in android development since last 6 months and wanted to be an expert of it.
Android has expanded beyond a pure mobile phone platform to provide a development
platform for an increasingly wide range of hardware, including tablets and televisions.
Put simply, Android is an ecosystem made up of a combination of three components:
A free, open-source operating system for embedded devices
An open-source development platform for creating applications
Devices, particularly mobile phones, that run the Android operating system and the applications
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Abstract
In recent years, Chinese private companies have improved a lot in corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance, especially in the philanthropic area. However, private companies’ awareness and performance of social responsibility still have a big disparity with SOEs. And private companies’ policy of social responsibility is subjective and preferential. To explain this contradiction, this paper tries to introduce political connection and, based on stakeholder salience theory, to test how political connection changes managers’ perception of stakeholders’ relative importance and cause changes in stakeholders’ satisfaction level of social responsibility requirement. The result shows that (1) political connection has positive influence on private companies’ CSR; (2) companies with political connection are significantly better than the ones without political connection in society-oriented and customers-oriented responsibility; (3) two kinds of companies have no significant difference in investors-oriented responsibility; (4) as for government-oriented and employee-oriented responsibility, companies with political connection are worse than ones without political connection. These findings are significant for China’s future construction of competition system and private companies’ choice of stakeholders and future investment.
Keywords
Political connectionCorporate social responsibilityStakeholder salience theory
Introduction
Chinese scholars’ discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) developed rapidly from the 1990s. The Chinese government gradually implemented a series of laws, regulations and guidelines. The newly-amended Company Law in 2005 first defined CSR on a perspective of law and pointed out clearly that a company should improve the awareness of social responsibility when pursing profitability. China’s SASAC issued the Guidelines for Central Enterprises to Fulfill Social Responsibilities in 2008, which is the first normative document of CSR issued by the ministry. The same year the Shanghai Stock Exchange issued the Announcement about Strengthening Listed Companies’ Performance of Social Responsibility, which encourages listed companies to publish their concrete performance towards stakeholders’ social responsibility and appeals to companies to issue corporate social responsibility reports. Government’s efforts encouraged companies’ positive response. According to the Research Report on Corporate Social Responsibility of China (Huang et al. 2014) issued by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the CAGR of Chinese CSR development index reached 16.80 % since 2009.
An important component of China’s economy, private companies have become an important power that is spurring China’s economic development expanding employment, and improving people’s well-being. In recent years, a private company’s performance of social responsibility is heading in the right direction. CSR’s content is richer and includes charitable donation, fund raising, environment protection, and etc. (Xiao & Xu 2011). Private companies are the backbone of donation. According to Annual Report on China’s Philanthropy Development (Yang 2009), the proportion of private companies’ total donation is more than half of all companies’ donation. What is the motivation that is pushing private companies to increase their investment in CSR? Compared to state-owned companies and foreign-funded companies, private companies have been treated unjustly in terms of laws and regulations for a long time. With a limited ability to obtain resources, private companies’ survival and development space are relatively small. During China’s economic transition, marketization has been low, and government’s intervention in the economy has been strong. Key resources which are vital to companies’ development are controlled by government. Under these disadvantages, private companies would, therefore, prefer to build and maintain connections with government to advance their development. In order to maintain political connection, based on the reciprocity theory, companies should meet government’s needs. Politically connected companies will increase its investment in CSR as the government focuses on social responsibility.
However, private companies’ awareness and performance of social responsibility still have a big disparity with other types of companies, especially SOEs. Private companies’ CSR lacks systematization and purposefulness, and does not possess a fixed management team that handles social responsibility (Gu 2015). All these make private companies’ policy of social responsibility subjective and preferential. For example, when private companies get actively involved in philanthropy, they also become the subject of labor trouble, security incidents, and quality issues. According to the Report on Chinese Social Opinion and Crisis Management (Lian 2014), more than 40 % of financial and economic events are about private companies. Faced with the contradiction of private companies’ performance in CSR, this paper wants to provide an explanation from the stakeholder theory. As business development’s process involves many stakeholders, which are vital to companies’ survival and development, companies should bear relative obligations and responsibilities (Clarkson 1995). If companies fail to deal with the different stakeholders’ relationships, companies’ sustainable development will be affected. However, due to enterprises’ limited resources, firms cannot satisfy all stakeholders’ needs. Donaldson & Perston (1995) consider that not all stakeholders’ requirements are reasonable. Therefore, firms should balance among diverse stakeholders and satisfy stakeholders’ social responsibility requirement selectively based on stakeholders’ importance. Mitchell et al. (1997) defined stakeholders’ salience theory based on their characteristics, legitimacy, power, and urgency, which provide a theoretical basis for this paper. Stakeholders’ salience is dynamic. And, stakeholders can change managers’ perception of salience through the use of political power and the foundation of alliances. For private companies, the introduction of political connection may change managers’ judgement toward stakeholders’ relative importance, and, then, change the different stakeholders’ satisfaction level of social responsibility.
In summary, this paper attempts to answer the following questions: (1) Under the background of economic transition, what is the impact of political connection on private companies’ performance of social responsibility? (2) Whether the introduction of political connection changes managers’ perception of stakeholders’ relative importance and, then, cause changes in stakeholders’ satisfaction level of social responsibility requirement.
Literature review
Definition and measurement of Corporate Social Responsibility
The researcher, who first proposed the concept of CSR, is Oliver Sheldon. He defined CSR as a businessman who satisfies the internal and external requirements. Before the 1960s, scholars used Social Responsibility of the Businessman as the CSR undertaker, not the company. Bowen, who is the Father of Corporate Social Responsibility and who first systematically defined CSR, also pointed out that the businessman has the responsibility to develop policies in accordance with established social goals and values, and a businessman’s voluntary performance of social responsibility is the effective method to improve the economy and achieve economic goals.
Until the 1970s, scholars tried to define CSR more precisely and change the CSR undertaker from the businessman to a company. To further define the content and object of CSR, scholars formed two definition methods.
(1)
Levels of Analysis. Carroll’s interpretation is a classic in a related field. He divided social responsibility into economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibility and philanthropic responsibility. These four categories of CSR might be depicted as a pyramid from bottom to top. Economic responsibility, which is the foundation of the other three responsibilities means that companies have the responsibility to manufacture, make profit, and satisfy customers’ needs. Legal responsibility means the company should comply with the laws and regulations promulgated by federal, state and local governments as ground rules. Ethical responsibility embraces those activities and practices that are expected or prohibited by societal members and embodies those standards, norms, or expectations that reflect a concern for what consumers, employees, shareholders, and the community regard as fair, just, or in keeping with the interests or protection of stakeholders’ moral rights. Philanthropic responsibility encompasses those corporate actions that are in response to society’s expectation that businesses be good corporate citizens (Carroll 1979 & 1991).
(2)
Stakeholder Perspective. This method is based on the stakeholder theory that gained popularity in the second half of the twenty-century. The combination with stakeholder theory helps CSR research provide a more clear definition and precise measurement method. It also provides a theoretical foundation. Stakeholder theory is called by scholars the most closely related theoretical framework within CSR. The method, levels of analysis, verifies the content of CSR; however, it does not solve the problem of whose responsibility CSR should be. The word “Social” in CSR has not been clearly defined for a long time, giving a simple understanding among people. The introduction of CSR clarifies the meaning of “Social” (Carroll 1991).
The following is a discussion of stakeholder-oriented responsibility. In order to define related stakeholders of CSR, scholars have done a lot of research. Most scholars agree that investors, employees, and customers compose stakeholders. Besides the above three, Freeman used a stakeholder map to include competitors, unions, and suppliers (Edward 1994). Based on the balance of stakeholders’ urgency, power and legitimacy, government was incorporated by Agle & Sonnenfeld (1999). According to Carroll’s philanthropic responsibility, Li incorporated society (Li 2006). With the extension of sustainable development, the environment and community relations were incorporated (Waddock & Graves 2009). In addition, women and minority groups, product or service quality are sometimes mentioned (Greenley & Foxall 1998).
Based on data availability and according to a Shanghai Stock Exchange’s document, the Announcement about Strengthening Listed Companies’ Performance of Social Responsibility, which mentioned shareholder, employee, customer, creditor, community, and government, this paper selects society, investors, customers, employees and government as the five core stakeholders to discuss political connection’s influence on different stakeholder’s required responsibility. This paper defines CSR as part of companies undertakings related to economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities to core stakeholders, and positive impact on stakeholders as described in Table 1 below.
The rational investment in R&D, production, sales, and after-sales according to customers’ requirement in daily production activity.
The compliance of laws and regulations and the payment of taxes on time
Responsibility to society:
Green production and charitable donation.
There are three commonly used CSR measuring methods. (1) Content Analysis: This method mainly determines score or numerical value of various aspects of social responsibility through collecting and analyzing companies’ published reports, especially the annual reports. (2) Reputation Index: This method calls industry veterans to evaluate companies’ CSR policies and then sort the sample companies. (3) Grade of Professional Institutes: This method refers to the CSR database created by professional institutes. The KLD index given by American KLD Company is the most accepted and widely used. In China, the authoritative and widely used database is given by Rankings CSR Ratings (RKS).
Chinese scholars primarily use grades from professional institutes. However, when combining stakeholders with CSR, Chinese scholars mainly utilize the questionnaire method and the content analysis method based on financial reports for the lack of professional database from the perspective of stakeholders such as the KLD database. For questionnaires, the samples are always small and the cost is high. So content analysis is mainly used. Later, I summarize the research results that use financial indicators to measure CSR.
Research based on government’s formulas
There are two basic formulas. One is the social contribution rate given by China's Ministry of Finance in 1995. The other is the social contribution value per share given by the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2008. Social contribution rate means that the company creates a contribution to society with certain assets. The more contribution the company creates with the same amount of assets, the higher the economic and social benefits of the company. The formula is shown as follows:
Social contribution value per share means the sum of profits for shareholders and for other stakeholders. The higher the index, the better CSR performance a company has. The formula is shown as follows:
Many scholars modify the above formulas to calculate CSR and stakeholder-oriented responsibility. For the social contribution rate formula, (Cheng 1995) used sales income instead of total average assets to make it more suitable for companies’ social achievements. Chen & Ma (2005) used the data based on cash system of accounting instead of the numerator based on accrual basis to make the formula attract more users’ attention, which is shown in Table 2.
According to previous researches, Zhou, Wang and Liu calculated stakeholder-oriented social responsibility based on Carroll’s division of CSR and quantifiable and accessible data as seen in Table 3 (Zhou et al. 2008).
The advantage of this method is calculations based on government and relevant organizations’ formula, which has a certain authority. The disadvantage is that it does not consider stakeholders’ discrepancy of significance and influence on a company.
Weights endowed method
This method calculates total CSR based on the weight of different stakeholders. However, the complexity and data availability hinder the use of this method.
(CSRi is the indicator of stakeholder-oriented responsibility. Wi is stakeholder’s weight)
Gao and Peng calculated stakeholders’ weight from the dynamic life-cycle perspective. According to companies’ period of founding, growing, maturing, and declining, companies pay different attention on the same stakeholders (Gao & Zhou 2011), shown in Table 7.
(Wi is the recognition level of stakeholders in different life-cycles.)
The above research results show that when measuring stakeholder-oriented responsibility, the chosen indicators do not have an impact. To measure a company’s contribution to society, scholars use donation expenses in non-business expenditure part. To measure company’s contribution to employee, scholars use the wage and welfare rate and wage growth rate. To calculate the government-oriented responsibility, scholars use tax ratio. For customer-oriented responsibility, operating cost ratio and sales growth rate are used. For investor-oriented responsibility, net asset value per share, earnings per share, and asset-liability ratio, are used. The specific calculation method of this paper will be introduced in Chapter 4.
Definition and measurement of political connection
Researches on political connection began in the 1970s. Krueger pointed out that entrepreneurs could build connection with government officials to bring economic benefits (Krueger 1974). The definition of political connection has not reached an agreement. In a narrow sense, political connection is when corporate executives or major shareholders have government working experience, or have a close connection with officials (Faccio 2006). In a broad sense, political connection is when a company has a close connection with government actively or passively to pursue self-development. Recessive political connection based on entrepreneurs’ social relationships is also included in political connection (Sun 2012). Considering the difficulty and inscrutability to measure recessive political connection, scholars mainly focus on the narrow sense. The following summarizes several measurement method of political connection depending on the background of each country.
(1)
Dummy Variable Method. Foreign scholars think if the controlling shareholders, directors, or executives are comprised of senators and ministers or have a close connection with politicians, the company is seen as having political connection, which equals to 1. If not, political connection equals to 0 (Faccio 2006; Francis et al. 2009). Chinese scholars think if the executives (chairman and general manager; chairman or general manager; the board of directors and general manager; directors, supervisors, and executives) are or have been government officials, NPC delegates, CPPCC delegates, Party Congress delegates, et al., the company is seen as having political connection which equals to 1. If not, political connection equals to 0 (Li 2010; Wang & Wu 2008; Yu & Pan 2008).
(2)
Political Level Valuation Method. To better measure the difference of political connection levels, some scholars give different levels numerical values, respectively. Political connection equals to 5 with national connection; equals to 4 with provincial connection; equals to 3 with municipal connection; equals to 2 with county-level connection; equals to 1 with township-level connection; and equals to 0 with no connection (Du et al. 2009; Wu 2014).
Besides the above three methods, political donation expenditure method (Goldman 2006), Suharto dependent index (Fisman 2001), geographical factors analysis method (Faccio & Parsley 2009) are additional methods used by scholars. Political donation expenditure is the lobbying spending or political donation. Geographical factors mean that the hometown of Congress members is the same as corporate headquarters. However, these three methods’ applicable range is limited.
Considering China’s actual condition and the availability of data, this paper uses the dummy variable method and considers whether chairman of the board or general manager is or had been a government official, NPC delegates, CPPCC delegates, Party Congress delegates, then political connection equals to 1. If not, political connection equals to 0. In the robust test part, this paper uses political level valuation method.
Motivation of Corporate Social Responsibility
Motivations of companies’ performance of CSR are complicated. To sum up, the motivations can be divided into internal motivation and external pressure.
(1)
Internal Motivation. Swanson considers internal motivation includes positive-duty and utilitarian. Positive-duty means that the company is willing to perform social responsibility whether there exists external factor or not. Utilitarian means that the performance of CSR is to pursue self-performance goals (Swanson 1995). Scholars after Swanson are based on his results. Even though the name is different, the connotation is similar. For example, Li et al. (2010) distinguished between value-driven factor and performance-driven factor; (Sánchez 2006) pointed out altruistic motive and profit maximization motive; and Aguilera et al. (2007) used moral motive and instrumental motive. Agent theory is applied to motivation research and forms over-investment hypothesis (Barnea & Rubin 2010; Goel & Thakor 2008; Gompers 2003). Executives may over invest in social responsibility in order to build their own social reputation when they are in charge of companies’ operation.
(2)
External Pressure. Negative-duty is an explanation of external pressure given by Swanson, which means CSR is companies’ passive response to external stakeholders (Swanson 1995). Stakeholder-driven theory (Li et al. (2010), political and institutional power motive (Sánchez 2000), relational motive (Aguilera 2007) are also mentioned by scholars.
The classification of internal motivation and external pressure is simple; however, there may exist some overlap, which is hard to distinguish. Godfrey (2005) used company strategic motives in CSR motivation analysis and combined utilitarianism with external pressure.
China’s CSR motivation researchers mainly learn from foreign research results and use external and internal methods. Sun and Zhong divided the motivation factors into economic motivation (including value-added driven and agent problem) and non-economic motivation (including politically driven and morally driven). SOEs’ CSR is mainly driven by agent problems, and private companies’ CSR is mainly driven by value-added and political protection (Su 2011). Zhang (2013) proposed the structure of “Competition-Commitment-Compliance” based on Swanson’s theory. Competition means that CSR performance is to satisfy companies’ target of self-profits and overcoming the competition. Commitment is companies’ or executives’ contribution to society based on their philosophy. Compliance means companies execute social responsibility according to external pressure (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1
CSR motivation
This paper treats political connection’s influence as the combination between internal utilitarian and external political pressure, which will be discussed in the next part in detail.
Political connection and Corporate Social Responsibility
Internal utilitarian
Based on resource effect of political connection, it is an important social capital. Companies can obtain required key resources through political connection, which is in accordance with utilitarianism.
Political connection’s resource effect researches are comprehensive and in-depth from basic theory to empirical analysis. For fund-raising, political connection can help connected companies to obtain bank loans more easily, especially long-term loans (Mian & Khwaja 2005). Connected companies can improve the ability of capital acquisition through a high corporate quality signal (Hu 2006). For government’s support and protection, political connection allows for s more tax preference for connected companies, and they would remove barriers more easily and then improve competitiveness and values (Faccio 2006; Wang & Wu 2008; Luo & Huang 2008). When facing difficulty, politically connected companies may obtain more government assistance. Political connection can also be the alternative mechanism for imperfections in the economic and legal systems to protect companies’ property from government damage (Sun 2005; Yu & Pan 2008).
External political pressure
According to social exchange theory, establishing, maintaining, and improving political connection require companies’ investment to meet government’s need. With government’s increased attention on CSR, companies are pressed to perform social responsibility.
Aronson, Wilson and Akert (2005) considered that political connection is a recessive contract. Based on reciprocity and fairness principle of social exchange, companies should help government solve problems when they receive help from government. In the CSR field, government tries to maintain society’s stability and development, and officials strive to increase their achievements. Therefore, they expect companies to bear relevant social responsibility through recessive contracts of political connection (Li 2010). To maintain and improve this recessive contract, a company may step forward to fill government needs and bear social responsibilities, which originally belonged to government (Zhang & Liang 2012). Thus, political connection has positive influence on companies’ performance on social responsibility. In fact, the higher the political connection level, the better companies take responsibility (Yi & Xu 2014).
In terms of the relationship between political connection with donation, researches show that politically connected companies are more prone to accept government apportions and have a higher propensity to donate. Jia and Zhang analyzed companies’ motivation to donate based on sample contributions after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. They proposed that maintaining and improving relationship with government is a main reason that causes companies to donate assets (Jia & Zhang 2010). Scholars also find that Chinese companies can build political connection through charity activities, and then get more loans, investing opportunities, etc. (Su & He 2009).
Political connection’s influence on enterprises, however, is not always positive. Close connection with government will sometimes spur a decrease in stock value and sales growth when the government is faced with negative rumors such as a leader’s health deterioration or death (Faccio & Parsley 2007; Fisman & Wang 2015). Some researchers found that compared with connected companies, non-connected companies demonstrate a better performance on sales returns and profit growth (Fan et al. 2007; Wang & Wu 2008). In the social responsibility field, some researchers pointed out that political connection may be a cause for companies’ immoral activities because government is less stringent on regulation. Fan et al. (2007) found that Chinese politically connected companies will use Guanxi to bypass labor protection laws and regulations to decrease cost and increase profit. Dong and Luo found that party organization in private companies does not improve employees’ wages from the perspective of the relationship between party and companies (Dong et al. 2014). Fisman’s and Wang’s research shows that the death rate of political connected companies is 2–3 times higher than non-connected companies, which is attributed to connected companies use of Guanxi to bypass government’s safety checks and regulations and decreasing investments in employees’ safe work environment and environmental protection (Fisman & Wang 2015).
Stakeholder saliency theory
Currently, researches on stakeholder theory can be divided into description analysis, instrumental analysis, and normative analysis. Description analysis mainly solves the question of who are companies’ stakeholders. In this paper, we choose investors, customers, employees, government, and society as the stakeholders. Instrumental analysis discusses stakeholders’ influence on business strategy and the stakeholder management strategy based on the analysis of the relationship between stakeholder management and traditional companies’ targets. It also includes the research of stakeholders’ analysis, which is the core of this paper. Normative analysis attempts to prove the rationality of stakeholder theory from an abstract perspective.
Instrumental researches consider that companies cannot satisfy all stakeholders’ requirement and companies should prioritize stakeholders based on their relative importance and then meet their needs tactically. The concept of salience is formed as a result of managerial evaluations of stakeholders’ priority levels when they deal with conflicting stakeholders’ needs. In other words, salience is the ranking of stakeholders from a manager’s perception (Mitchell et al. 1997). Salience is a comprehensive judgment of stakeholders’ value and distinguishes important and unimportant stakeholders. The stakeholder salience research is based on Mitchell, Agle and Wood’s achievement, which uses stakeholders’ legitimacy, urgency and power to determine salience. Power means the ability and method of a stakeholder to affect company’s decision. Legitimacy means a stakeholder’s obligations given by laws, regulations and social duty. Urgency means a stakeholder’s requirement or demand can be taken into account or solved by managers. Figure 2 shows the relationship among stakeholders’ three characteristics.
Fig. 2
Relational graph of stakeholder salience
Mitchell pointed out that if a stakeholder has at least one characteristic of the three, it can get the companies’ attention. Scholars apply this theory into CSR, discuss the importance of different stakeholders for CSR, and then devise CSR strategy. Agle & Sonnenfeld (1999) found that CSR is directly related to stakeholders. In addition, increasing consumer’s and government’s importance will increase the performance level of social responsibilit. Maignan and Ralston (Maignan & Ralston 2002) found that consumers and community are the most important participants that push companies to partake in environmental social responsibility. For SMEs, the most important stakeholders are government (Williamson et al. 2006), competitors (Jenkins 2006) and consumers (Perrini et al. 2007).
In conclusion, companies can judge stakeholders’ importance based on power, urgency and legitimacy. Furthermore, stakeholder salience is constantly changing without a fixed property. Stakeholders can use political power, the foundation of alliance, etc. to change their relationships to companies and change the perceptive salience (Mitchell et al. 1997). Take power for example. Power is a relative concept that needs to comprehensively compare stakeholder and companies’ resource capability. From a static point of view, a stakeholder holds the key resources that a company needs to survive and develop. This forces a company’s reliance on stakeholders, increasing stakeholder power. If this stakeholder’s needs are not satisfied, he may use power to control the inflow of key resources and force the company to do as he wants. From the dynamic point of view, if the company finds substitute resources or its self-capacity is gradually strengthened, the dependency on stakeholder would decrease and the stakeholder’s power would also decrease. Therefore, the relationship between company and stakeholders is interdependent, dynamic and unfixed (Svendsen & Laberge 2005). For private companies, the introduction of political connection will change managers’ perception of stakeholders’ relative importance and then influence companies’ satisfaction of stakeholders’ social responsibility requirement.
Hypothesis development
Political connection and Corporate Social Responsibility
Resource dependence theory holds that an organization is an open system and all resources that the organization’s needs cannot be fulfilled internally; therefore, these needs must be met externally.. The more important, scarce and irreplaceable the required resources, the deeper dependence of the organization are on an external resource supplier (Pfeffer & Salancik 1978). China is at the critical stage of economic transformation process, and government controls key resources companies need for survival and development Therefore, the government becomes the most significant source of dependence for companies. Compared with state-owned companies with close ties to the government and foreign-funded companies supported by government, private companies are treated unjustly in terms of laws and regulations. They are at a disadvantage because of this. To achieve sustainable survival and development, companies should build good relationships with local governments actively and positively. Based on this relationship, companies could get preferential policies, like financing, tax preference, etc. and survive in a fierce market competition. Most government policies are made by officials. They will cooperate with interest groups due to an interest demand and share the rent, which is called political rent creation. Sometimes government officials will use the method of promulgating bad policies to an interest group to exchange benefits, which is called political rent extraction (McChesney 1987). Based on this theory, politically connected companies should pay for this relationship to meet government’s needs when they accept preferential policies from the government. With economic development, government is paying more attention to companies’ performance of social responsibility and issued relevant laws and regulations to address this. Faced with government’s expectation, private companies will implement social responsibility to meet expectations. Hence, this paper makes the first hypothesis.
H1: Private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on corporate social responsibility.
Political connection and stakeholder-oriented responsibility
CSR is critical for companies’ production and development and is the foundation of sustainable development. Only performing social responsibility and coordinating stakeholders’ relations can companies realize gradual improvement and strategic targets. However, due to enterprises’ limited resources, companies cannot satisfy all stakeholders’ needs. Donaldson and Perston (Donaldson & Preston 1995) consider that not all stakeholders’ requirements are reasonable. Therefore, companies should balance different stakeholders’ requirements. According to stakeholder salience theory, companies and managers can justify different stakeholders’ importance to them based on stakeholders’ characteristics of legitimacy, urgency and power. Stakeholder salience is constantly changing without fixed properties. Stakeholders can use political power, and the foundation of alliance to change their image to companies and then change the perceptive salience (Mitchell et al. 1997). Therefore, the introduction of political connection will change managers’ perception of stakeholders’ relative importance and then influence companies’ satisfaction to stakeholders’ social responsibility requirement.
The following will discuss the detail relationship between political connection and stakeholder-oriented responsibility and make the second hypothesis.
Society orientation
Companies’ society-oriented responsibility use donations as the principal thing, which is defined as funds or goods that are voluntarily provided for free to government or related organizations by companies (Financial Accounting Standards 1993). However, the reality of practice and definition is very different. Companies’ beneficence is a purposive behavior to a large extent, which is called strategic philanthropy. Government has the function to maintain social stability, like helping refugees and vulnerable groups, which needs massive government spending and puts great pressure on public finances. Therefore, government needs to find a supplementary resource to remedy the lack of related investment. For politically connected companies, they would be willing to be the input-completer in order to improve government credibility, maintain the existing relationship with government and then get more key resources from the government. According to agency cost theory, managers need to obtain approval of the public and government, if they want to become an official. Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR thinks that philanthropic responsibility is at the top of the pyramid, which can more easily get approval and is the important channel for managers to build and maintain political connection (Ma & Parish 2006). Hence, this paper makes hypothesis 2a.
H2a: Private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on companies’ contribution to society-oriented responsibility.
Investor orientation
As companies’ main capital sponsor, investors are most concerned whether their capital will receive a corresponding return. Therefore, company’s responsibility to investors is to create more profits, guarantee investors’ capital safety, and pay dividends or interests on time. Political connection as an important social capital can improve companies’ ability to obtain capital to reduce entry barriers, and then help to improve competitiveness and values (Hu 2006; Faccio et al. 2006; Wang & Wu 2008). At the same time, political connection can strengthen controlling shareholders’ dominance of the board of directors, restrain executives’ opportunism behavior effectively, decrease the companies’ over-investment, and improve the efficiency of investment; thus, laying the foundation for attaining investment earnings (Chen & Zhu 2009). When facing difficulty, politically connected companies may obtain more assistance from the government, which protects capital safety to some degrees (Sun et al. 2005; Yu & Pan 2008). Hence, this paper makes hypothesis 2b.
H2b: Private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on companies’ contribution to investor-oriented responsibility.
Customer orientation
From private companies’ development history, one of the important reasons that they can compete with SOEs and foreign-funded enterprises without government support and become a new source of China’s economic growth is to maintain a consumer service orientation. Companies’ responsibility to consumers is a voluntary social responsibility. This can be communicated to the public with superior performance and a good social reputation, and then form competition superiority, which can also be a good way to build and maintain political connection. In recent years, product safety incidents have caught the attention of the government and consumers. Connected companies will be harmed more if they are linked to these safety concerns. Higher market share and better ability to enter barriers and obtain projects make politically connected companies invest more on consumers. Hence, this paper makes hypothesis 2c.
H2c: Private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on companies’ contribution to customer-oriented responsibility.
Government orientation
Companies’ contribution to government-oriented responsibility can be measured by the actual tax burden. According to political cost hypothesis, government would implement stronger regulation on larger-scale enterprises and make them bear a higher tax burden (Zimmerman 1983). For politically connected companies, they always have a larger assets scale and draw higher attention from the media, government, and tax department than non-connected companies, which makes connected companies’ tax position consistent with political cost hypothesis. However, according to political power hypothesis, larger-scale enterprises can obtain more resources and have a higher ability of revenue sharing and affect government’s formulation of tax policy, which can help decrease companies’ tax burden. Political connection can have the same influence as companies’ scale to decrease the effective tax rate (Feng 2012). This paper agrees with political power hypothesis. According to China’s reality of relation-based society, tax laws and regulations have a strong policy-based characteristic and government has a strong ability to determine companies’ payable taxes and tax preference, which makes officials’ power to create rent. Politically connected companies will use their political resources to build a favorable tax environment. Hence, this paper makes hypothesis 2d.
H2d: Private companies’ political connection has a negative influence on companies’ contribution to government-oriented responsibility.
Employee orientation
Companies’ contribution to employee-oriented responsibility states that companies should provide competitive wages and good benefits, ensure employees’ safety, and provide abundant opportunities for employees’ growth and development. However, some researchers found that political connection will cause companies’ moral cost. Politically connected companies will use Guanxi to bypass labor protection laws and regulations to decrease cost and increase profit (Fan et al. 2007), which may cause a higher death rate than non-connected companies (Fisman & Wang 2015). In recent years, labors’ income compared to the national income has decreased. China’s labor market is in buyer’s monopoly situation and dispersive labors are in a weak position when negotiating with employers, which makes companies’ tendency to reduce the investment in employees. For connected companies, political connection makes them have more channels to get resources and then decrease their attention on employees. Meanwhile, behavior of rent contribution may decrease the investment to employees. Hence, this paper makes hypothesis 2e.
H2e: Private companies’ political connection has a negative influence on companies’ contribution to employee-oriented responsibility.
Method
Data sources
In 2008, the Guidelines for Central Enterprises to Fulfill Social Responsibilities issued by SASAC and the Announcement about Strengthening Listed Companies’ Performance of Social Responsibility issued by the Shanghai Stock Exchange symbolized a new stage in Chinese CSR. Therefore, this paper uses the year of 2008 as a starting-point and chooses A-share listed private companies during 2008-2014 as original samples to make the empirical test.
Executives’ background materials are from Private Listed Companies’ Database in CSMAR and political connection data is manually collected through these executives’ resumes. Data of the institutional environment is from China's Marketization Index (2015) published by Fan and Wang. Data to calculate CSR are from the annual reports. Other financial data are from Wind.
This paper screens out some unsuitable samples based upon the following principles. (1) All financial companies including bank, securities, insurance, etc. are excluded because their substantial difference with non-financial companies. (2) Samples are excluded when executives’ information is not clear, main operation income is vanishing, total assets are zero, or owner's equity is negative. (3) Listed companies that are specially treated as ST and *ST are excluded. (4) In order to avoid IPO effect, sample firms listed in and after 2008 are excluded. Lastly, this empirical research has 2590 samples of 370 listed private companies in 7 years.
According to Industry Classification Benchmark published by the China Securities Regulatory Commission in 2002, the sample companies’ industrial distribution is shown in Table 8, and companies in the manufacturing industry, real estate industry and wholesale and retail trade industry occupy the first three positions.
Dependent variables: CSR
In the literature review part, we have summarized different methods to calculate CSR. Based on existing results and figures’ quantity and availability, this paper chose content analysis method to measure companies’ contribution to investor, consumer, employee, government and society’s required responsibility from companies’ expenses perspective.
Society orientation
Companies’ responsibility to society mainly means whether companies contribute their benefits to society during daily production and management. Therefore, this index selects the donation, sponsorship fee, environmental expenditure, etc. in non-business expenditure part of the annual report. The ratio of these figures’ sum to prime operating revenue is a measure of companies’ fulfilled degree to society. The higher the ratio, the better the companies’ society-oriented performance.
Companies’ responsibility to employees includes providing competitive wages and good benefits, ensuring employees’ safety, and providing abundant opportunities for employees’ growth and development. This paper chooses cash paid to employee and for employee and calculates the ratio of this index to prime operating revenue as the measurable indicator of companies’ fulfilled degree to employee. The higher the ratio, the better the companies’ employee-oriented performance.
Investor orientation
Company’s responsibility to investors is to create more profits, guarantee investors’ capital safety, and pay dividends or interests on time. This paper chooses cash paid as dividend and interest and calculate the ratio of this index to prime operating revenue as the measurable indicator of companies’ fulfilled degree to investor. The higher the ratio, the better the companies’ investor-oriented performance.
Customer orientation
Companies should perform their responsibility to consumers, which includes the rational investment in R&D, production, sales and after-sales, etc. according to consumers’ requirement in the daily production activity. Based on past researches, companies’ investment in consumer-oriented responsibility can be measured by prime operating cost, the ratio of this to prime operating revenue can be used as the measurable indicator of companies’ fulfilled degree to consumer. The higher the ratio, the better the companies’ consumer-oriented performance.
Government orientation
Companies should perform their responsibility to government, which contains the compliance of laws and regulations, and the payment of taxes on time. This paper chooses actual paid taxes and the ratio of this index to prime operating revenue as the measurable indicator of companies’ fulfilled degree in government. The higher the ratio, the better the companies’ government-oriented performance.
Aggregative indicator of CSR
As the whole CSR is not this paper’s research focus, so I chose the measurement method based on government’s formula, which neglect the proportion of each stakeholder. The formula I chose is the social contribution rate given by China's Ministry of Finance in 1995.
Many scholars use and improve this above formula. As aforementioned, Cheng (1995) used the sales income instead of total average assets to make it more fit for companies’ social achievements. Chen and Ma (2005) used the data based on cash system of accounting instead of the numerator based on accrual basis to make the formula attract more users’ attention. Based on these scholars, we can get the following CSR measuring formula.
Independent variables: political connection
In literature review part, we have summarized diverse methods to measure political connection. Combined with China’s national condition and the availability of data, this paper uses dummy variable method and considers that if chairman of the board or general manager is or was government official, NPC delegates, CPPCC delegates, Party Congress delegates, et al., political connection equals to 1. If not, political connection equals to 0.
Control variables
Combining existing researches, this paper chooses company scale, financial efficiency, duality, company growth and fixed asset ratio, and also controls for year and industry’s effect.
Company scale has an important influence on CSR. Gainet (Gainet 2011) found that in the European market company scale has a positive effect on CSR. However, Deng & Dart (1999) held that middle- and small-sized enterprises would be more inclined to respond stakeholders’ needs quickly to get more developing opportunities because they received fewer resources than large enterprises . As a result, SMEs would invest more in CSR. This paper will use the logarithm of total assets to measure company scale. Many researchers consider that financial efficiency has a close relationship with CSR (Helwege et al. 2007). This paper uses return on assets (ROA) to measure financial efficiency. President’s responsibility is to organize and supervise the companies’ operation and production. General Manager’s responsibility is to take charge of the specific operation and production. Researches show that duality would make the companies lack a balance mechanism that executives could make use of decision behavior to grab individual interests and potentially harm other stakeholders’ interests (Wang et al. 2015). To measure duality, this paper uses the dummy variable method. If there exists a duality situation, it equals to 1. If not, it equals to 0. From the growth perspective, companies would make different choices in investing and distributing profits in different development periods. For example, companies in growth period prefer to choose investing instead of sharing profits. This paper chooses revenue growth rate to measure company growth. From a fixed asset ratio perspective, the higher index means that companies invest more on fixed asset and then reduce companies’ cash flow and influence their CSR investment.
Model design
To test the two hypotheses, this paper uses the following regression models. To solve endogenous of political connection, company scale, financial efficiency and CSR, I use the first-lagged method (Lin et al. 2014).
Empirical analysis
Descriptive statistics
Table 10 lists samples’ political connection information. For overall samples, the non-political connected samples are dominant and political connected samples only occupy 26.06 % of the total. However, as time goes by, the number of political connected samples continues to rise.
Table 10
Descriptive statistics of samples by year
Year
Non-political Connection
Political Connection
2008
277
74.86 %
93
25.14 %
2009
277
74.86 %
93
25.14 %
2010
273
73.78 %
97
26.22 %
2011
273
73.78 %
97
26.22 %
2012
272
73.51 %
98
26.49 %
2013
272
73.51 %
98
26.49 %
2014
271
73.24 %
99
26.76 %
Total
1915
73.94 %
675
26.06 %
From whole set, the mean of CSR is 1.001, the minimum value is 0.396 and the maximum value is 3.816. According to the five core stakeholders we chose, companies invest the most in customer orientation, which is higher than the other four stakeholders’ orientation. When divided into connected and non-connected samples, through comparing the average, we can see that connected samples’ CSR performance is better than non-connected samples’. A similar situation is found in samples’ investment in society, investor, and customer’s responsibility. For the investment to employee and government, non-connected samples’ performance is better than connected samples’. Based on descriptive statistics, the results are consistent with H1 and H2 (Table 11).
Table 11
Descriptive statistics of the dependent variables
Samples
Political Connection
Non-political Connection
Mean
SD
MIN
MAX
Mean
SD
MIN
MAX
Mean
SD
MIN
MAX
CSR
1.001
0.433
0.396
3.816
1.061
0.457
0.396
3.816
0.980
0.423
0.396
3.816
SOCO
6.597
12.714
0.000
81.619
8.515
15.174
0.000
81.619
5.845
11.528
0.000
81.619
EMPO
0.111
0.095
0.006
0.540
0.094
0.082
0.006
0.540
0.117
0.099
0.006
0.540
INVO
0.054
0.062
0.000
0.410
0.060
0.069
0.000
0.410
0.052
0.059
0.000
0.410
CUSO
0.733
0.178
0.165
1.065
0.744
0.169
0.165
1.065
0.729
0.180
0.165
1.065
GOVO
0.071
0.081
−0.047
0.563
0.070
0.089
−0.047
0.563
0.071
0.078
−0.047
0.563
For control variables, connected companies’ company scale and financial efficiency are higher than non-connected companies’. The opposite situation exists for fixed asset ratio and companies’ growth rate (Table 12).
Table 12
Descriptive statistics of the control variables
Sample
Political Connection
Non-political Connection
MEAN
SD
MIN
MAX
MEAN
SD
MIN
MAX
MEAN
SD
MIN
MAX
SIZE
21.494
1.168
18.474
24.586
21.734
1.172
18.474
24.586
21.410
1.155
18.474
24.586
ROA
0.065
0.069
−0.161
0.338
0.069
0.064
−0.161
0.338
0.064
0.070
−0.161
0.338
DUAL
0.229
0.420
0.000
1.000
0.187
0.390
0.000
1.000
0.244
0.429
0.000
1.000
FIX
0.221
0.154
0.001
0.654
0.213
0.154
0.001
0.654
0.224
0.154
0.001
0.654
GROW
0.244
0.938
−0.796
7.766
0.241
0.937
−0.796
7.766
0.244
0.939
−0.796
7.766
Correlation analysis
To avoid multicollinearity problem, this paper uses Pearson two-tailed test to test the correlation among different variables.
For dependent variables, they are correlated at 1 % significance level and the coefficients are relatively high; however, they are not higher than 50 %. For other variables, most of them are correlated at 10 % or under the significance level and the coefficients are relatively low, the highest of which is 13 % (Table 13).
Table 13
Correlation analysis
CSR
SOCR
CUSO
EMPO
GOVO
INVO
POLC
INS
SIZE
ROA
DUAL
FIX
GROW
CSR
1
SOCR
0.137***
1
CUSO
0.130***
−0.216***
1
EMPO
0.192***
0.080***
−0.282***
1
GOVO
0.414***
0.282***
−0.441***
0.230***
1
INVO
0.424***
0.166***
−0.208***
0.126***
0.449***
1
POLC
0.067***
0.100***
0.037*
−0.119***
−0.010
0.045**
1
INS
−0.015
−0.042*
0.043**
−0.040**
−0.102***
−0.058***
−0.010
1
SIZE
0.045**
0.003
0.083***
−0.293***
0.044**
0.278***
0.124***
0.062***
1
ROA
−0.079***
0.082***
−0.299***
−0.024
0.117***
0.019
0.033
0.063***
0.109***
1
DUAL
0.008
−0.004
−0.019
0.081***
−0.010
−0.031
−0.062***
0.061***
−0.122***
−0.001
1
FIX
−0.271***
−0.089***
0.176***
−0.026
−0.269***
−0.176***
−0.033***
−0.079***
−0.058***
−0.112***
0.025
1
GROW
−0.048**
−0.010
−0.078***
−0.110***
−0.020
−0.089***
0.006
−0.014
−0.130***
−0.041**
0.007
−0.076***
1
***P < 0.01
**P < 0.05
*P < 0.1
Regression analysis on political connection and CSR
Based on the characteristics of samples, this paper chose pooled least squares method because the period of time is relatively short, just 7 years, and the independent variable, political connection, and range ability is relatively small. Meanwhile, in the test, there exists heteroskedasticity and this paper will use robust method to solve heteroskedasticity and later will announce robust standard error.
Regression results for H1 and H2 are shown below.
From Table 14, for CSR connected private companies’ performance is better than non-connected private companies’ at 1 % significance level and H1 is supported. From control variables, company scale and duality do not significantly influence CSR. Financial efficiency, company growth rate, and fixed asset ratio are negatively related to CSR at 1 % significance level. High return on assets and company growth rate mean that companies can make good use of assets and make high profit to receive rapid growth. To maintain and improve the current level, companies will invest more money on the daily operation or investing opportunities. The high fixed asset ratio means that companies invest more on fixed asset and then reduce companies’ cash flow and impact their CSR investment.
Table 14
Regression results of H1 and H2
CSR
SOCO
INVO
CUSO
GOVO
EMPO
Hypotheses
H1
H2a
H2b
H2c
H2d
H2e
POLC
0.058***
2.366***
0.002
0.014*
−0.006*
−0.014***
(0.019)
(0.665)
(0.002)
(0.007)
(0.003)
(0.003)
SIZE
−0.0120
−0.459
0.011***
0.012***
−0.002
−0.025***
(0.012)
(0.288)
(0.001)
(0.003)
(0.001)
(0.002)
ROA
−0.567***
14.217***
−0.000
−0.757***
0.139***
−0.023
(0.212)
(4.425)
(0.021)
(0.072)
(0.031)
(0.038)
DUAL
0.036
0.044
0.001
0.004
−0.002
0.002
(0.023)
(0.613)
(0.003)
(0.008)
(0.004)
(0.004)
GROW
−0.039**
−0.348
−0.006***
−0.013**
−0.005**
−0.015***
(0.016)
(0.413)
(0.001)
(0.005)
(0.002)
(0.002)
FIX
−0.560***
−6.131***
−0.033***
0.111***
−0.087***
−0.003
(0.071)
(2.062)
(0.009)
(0.024)
(0.013)
(0.014)
YEAR
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
IND
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
R2
17.85 %
7.29 %
25.97 %
27.36 %
24.57 %
26.43 %
Observation
2180
1790
2180
2180
2180
2180
() Robust standard error
***P < 0.01
**P < 0.05
*P < 0.1
For society-oriented responsibility, connected companies’ contribution is higher than non-connected private companies’ at 1 % significance level. H2a is supported in that private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on companies’ contribution to society-oriented responsibility. As control variables, company scale, duality, and company growth rate do not have significant influence, which is partially true because companies have not formed long-term strategic charity plan and most contribute to emergencies with great influence (Wang 2013). From a descriptive statistics part, we can see that companies’ performance of society orientation is highest in 2008. Furthermore, private companies’ philanthropic responsibility is closely related to entrepreneurs’ self-value and experience. The above two reasons can also be used to explain the relatively low R2.
For investor-oriented responsibility, political connection’s coefficient is 0.0017 and not significant, which means political connection does not have significant influence and H2b is unsupported. So there is no significant relationship between political connection and investor-oriented responsibility.
For customer-oriented responsibility, connected companies’ contribution is higher than non-connected private companies’ at 10 % significance level. H2c is supported in that private companies’ political connection has a positive influence on companies’ contribution to customer-oriented responsibility.
For government-oriented responsibility, connected companies’ contribution is lower than non-connected private companies’ at 10 % significance level. H2d is supported in that private companies’ political connection has a negative influence on companies’ contribution to government-oriented responsibility. This result supports the political power hypothesis.
For employee-oriented responsibility, connected companies’ contribution is lower than non-connected private companies’ at 1 % significance level. H2e is supported in that private companies’ political connection has a negative influence on companies’ contribution to employee-oriented responsibility, which supports that political connection will cause companies’ moral cost.
Regression results on political connection and CSR
From Table 15, political connection has a positive influence on CSR. However, when CSR is divided by stakeholders, politically connected companies’ performance is not better than non-political connected companies’ in any aspect. Companies will judge differently to satisfy stakeholders’ requirement according to their perception of stakeholders’ importance (Table 16).
Table 15
Test result of H1 and H2
Hypotheses
Dependent Variable
Content
Regression Result
H1
CSR
PC > NPC
PC > NPC(***)
H2a
SOCO
PC > NPC
PC > NPC(***)
H2b
INVO
PC > NPC
PC > NPC
H2c
CUSO
PC > NPC
PC > NPC(*)
H2d
GOVO
PC < NPC
PC < NPC(*)
H2e
EMPO
PC < NPC
PC < NPC(***)
PC Political Connection, NPC Non-political Connection
***P < 0.01
**P < 0.05
*P < 0.1
Table 16
Robust Regression Result of H1 and H2
CSR
SOCO
INVO
CUSO
GOVO
EMPO
Hypotheses
H1
H2a
H2b
H2c
H2d
H2e
POLC
0.017***
0.434***
0.001
0.005***
−0.002**
−0.004***
(0.004)
(0.158)
(0.001)
(0.001)
(0.000)
(0.000)
SIZE
−0.013
−0.467
0.011**
0.011***
−0.002
−0.025***
(0.011)
(0.291)
(0.001)
(0.003)
(0.001)
(0.002)
ROA
−0.570***
14.295***
−0.001
−0.757***
0.139***
−0.022
(0.212)
(4.418)
(0.021)
(0.072)
(0.031)
(0.038)
DUAL
0.036
0.021
0.000
0.004
−0.002
0.002
(0.022)
(0.617)
(0.002)
(0.008)
(0.003)
(0.004)
GROW
−0.039**
−0.339
−0.006***
−0.013**
−0.005**
−0.015***
(0.016)
(0.415)
(0.001)
(0.005)
(0.002)
(0.002)
FIX
−0.564***
−6.326***
−0.033***
0.110***
−0.087***
−0.001
(0.070)
(2.069)
(0.009)
(0.024)
(0.013)
(0.014)
YEAR
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
IND
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
R2
17.94 %
6.86 %
26.00 %
27.44 %
24.67 %
26.44 %
Observation
2180
1790
2180
2180
2180
2180
() Robust standard error
***P < 0.01
**P < 0.05
*P < 0.1
Based on stakeholder salience theory, companies can determine the salience through stakeholders’ legitimacy, urgency, and power.
For politically connected companies, after their connection with the government, government’s salience increases. From power’s perspective, connected companies’ dependence on key resources controlled by government increases and then the relative power also increases. From urgency’s perspective, government influences companies and make its requirements and problems seen easily by companies and government can also use key resources to threaten companies to increase authority. For government, it does not only ask companies to pay taxes on time, but also needs them to help solve problems, which cannot be totally solved by government and these problems mainly consist of society-oriented problems (Xin 2008). Carroll’s Pyramid of CSR thinks that philanthropic responsibility is at the top of the pyramid, which can more easily get approval and is the important channel for managers to build and maintain political connection (Ma & Parish 2006). Politically connected companies can use philanthropic investment to get more developing opportunities and tax preference from government in return. Therefore, compared with non-connected companies, connected companies will contribute more on society-oriented responsibility and less on government-oriented responsibility because of political power effect.
Employees, especially the talented, are essential to government’s survival and development. They are the main producer and producer of products and service. The creativity and initiative of employees directly affected companies’ level of competitiveness. They can use their resources to pressure companies to address their urgent requirements (Wang & Zhang 2003). However, when a company builds a connection with the government, its selectable channels to obtain resources increase and employees’ relative salience decreases because the relative power decreases and its urgency also decreases as employees’ requirement is less visible by the company and managers. However, for unconnected companies, in order to survive and develop, it must broaden its appeal to talents and build core teams with higher skills, which means increasing the investment in employee and employee’s salience to these unconnected companies.
For investors, as companies’ direct capital supplier, they have a close connection with companies and have an important influence on companies’ decision-making. They can use their capital to threaten companies and protect self-interests. For customers, as the direct creation of companies’ profit, private companies keep customer service orientation and pay close attention to customers to compete with SOEs and foreign-funded enterprises without government support. When introducing political factors, connected companies will get more customer and media’s attention. Their behavior of harming customers’ benefit will be enlarged. Therefore, customers have more power and ability to affect companies, which increase their salience. In sum, politically connected companies’ performance to customers is better than non-politically connected companies.
Robust test
To test the results’ robustness, this paper changes the measurement of political connection. For political connection, this part makes use of the valuation method by giving the different levels numerical values. Political connection equals to 5 with national connection; equals to 4 with provincial connection; equals to 3 with municipal connection; equals to 2 with county-level connection; equals to 1 with township-level connection; and equals to 0 with no connection (Du et al. 2009; Wu et al. 2014).
For H1 and H2, besides the significance level of political connection’s coefficients, customer orientation and government orientation increase, the other political connection’s coefficients’ sign and significance level do not change. From the regression results, when a company has a higher political connection level, it would contribution more to CSR and society-oriented and customer-oriented responsibility, and less on employee-oriented and government-oriented responsibility.
From above analysis, this paper’s regression model and results are robust.
Conclusion
This paper uses non-financial A-share listed private companies from 2008 to 2014 as samples and analyzes the influence of political connection on CSR under different stakeholder orientation. The paper finds that political connection has a positive influence on private companies’ CSR (H1). However, if we divide the companies' social responsibility by diverse stakeholders, we find that H1 is valid for some certain stakeholder-oriented responsibility, but for some other stakeholder-oriented responsibility,H1 is not valid. The above results partially support H2: political connected and non-political connected companies will choose and satisfy a certain stakeholder preferentially according to the importance of stakeholders. The companies with political connection are significantly better than the ones without political connection at society-oriented and customers-oriented responsibility. The two kinds of companies have no significant difference at investors-oriented responsibility. As for government-oriented and employee-oriented responsibility, the companies with political connection are worse than the ones without political connection. There are two reasons from the perspective of the dynamic stakeholder salience.
China is still facing many institutional environmental problems, which have a far-reaching influence on private companies. Private companies have faced unfair treatment for a long time and have no chance but to build political connections with government. It is more important for government to build a fair competitive environment and a sound legal system environment for private companies and guide them to establish a systematical social responsibility strategy. Specifically, improving the institutional environment and giving more attention to the relationship between the Chinese government and enterprises are necessary for an economic reform. Then, the government should guide private companies to establish social responsibility strategy, improve labors protection system and bargaining power, which help to crack down the "moral cost" issue caused by political connections. For companies, during the performance of corporate social responsibility, companies should distinguish the core stakeholders according to their own characteristics. Companies should know which stakeholder is most important and establish viable relationships to promote sustainable development.
Both CSR and stakeholders’ theories are complicated academic theories. Researchers have different views. This paper inevitably has some limitations, reflected in the following several points. Firstly, this paper’s design indicators for CSR are from a financial perspective. However, financial statements are disclosed by companies independently, which only reflects its operating and financial results. Consequently, it may be not comprehensive and objective enough to measure the performance of social responsibility. Secondly, this paper only considers political connections disclosed in executives’ resume and neglects recessive political connections. Although this paper values and studies different levels of political connections, it does not distinguish government-type officials and delegate-type officials and then study the influence of different types of officials on the performance of corporate social responsibility.
Based on the above problems, further research can focus on the following points.
(1)
Establish more comprehensive and objective indicators to measure the performance of corporate and stakeholders’ social responsibility.
(2)
Distinguish different types of political connections and discuss the influence of government-type political connections and delegate-type political connections on the performance of fulfilling stakeholders-oriented responsibility.
(3)
The degree of importance of different stakeholders perceived by companies and the difference for companies to meet stakeholders' demand at various levels are reflected in corporate operating performance. Operating performance can be added in future research. Further research can test whether corporate choice's change brought by political connections will improve corporate performance, a more realistic significance.
Declarations
Acknowledgements
As reviewers of the paper, I suggest Manhong Mannie Liu of Renmin University of China and Lu Hualiang of Nanjing University of Finance & Economic. Additionally, I would like to acknowledge the participation of Rene Schmidpeter of Cologne Business School for suggesting me to contribute a paper in this field. Please find their details enclosed in the submission portal.
Open AccessThis article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors’ contributions
HH suggested the concept and designed the framework for the paper while also performing the theoretical research. ZZ worked on the sample by collecting the data and conducting the empirical analysis. Both authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Xin, J. (2008). Research of corporate social responsibility from the perspective of stakeholder theory: based on a survey of 1400 corporations in Shandong province. Journal of Shandong University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 1, 120–126.Google Scholar
Yi, F., & Xu, E. (2014). The relationship between political connection of top managers and corporate social responsibility—an empirical study of Chinese listed companies. Research on Economics and Management, 5, 5–13.Google Scholar | {
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IBM made some pretty big announcements tonight. First of all, Notes and Domino will have a version 10 released in 2018. Yeah, I know. I am as shocked as you.
Secondly, IBM is now leaving all the development of the platform to their partner HCL. IBM has already a partnership with them on several other products in their portfolio.
So what does this mean? It means that the platform is not dead, something which we’ve heard since around 2002 from people.
It also means that for the customers, there will be no change in their relationship with IBM. HCL will do the development, and maybe a times help out IBM. But sales, support, PMRs, licensing, Passport advantage will all still be done via IBM.
So the biggest change is that HCL takes over the development. IBM and HCL are committed to make sure that support, development and continuation of the platform will not be disrupted.
The journey starts now, and thus far the next version of Notes, Domino and Sametime is going under the name “Proejct Sapphire.”
Other stuff to look forward to:
Domino will now support the Mail client for Mac as they already do for Outlook via Exchange ActiveSync
There will be constant development for the Domino platform, so that it will be easier to integrate with other platforms and solutions
IBM will hold jams (currently called Domino 2025) for ideas about the future of Notes/Domino where people will have meetings, talks and other ways to give IBM feedback
IBM Champions and the user groups will be invited to be much more involved in the future
The Think conference (taking over for Lotusphere/Connect) will have a much larger presence for Notes/Domino than what we feared
And just to be clear: This covers the entire family of IBM Notes, Domino, Sametime and Verse, both on premise and in the cloud.
Here’s the portfolio that’s a part of the HLC partnership:
IBM Notes and Domino
IBM SmartCloud Notes
IBM Notes Traveler
IBM Mobile Connect
IBM Verse
IBM Mail Support for Microsoft Outlook(IMSMO)
IBM WISPR
IBM Enterprise Integrator (LEI)
IBM Sametime portfolio
IBM Connections Chat/Meetings
IBM Client Access (ICAA)
I was today on the IBM Champions call where we were introduced to this. And some of the questions raised in the Q&A was: Is this too little too late? Will we be able to get customers to invest in Notes/Domino? Will the platform be relevant?
Finally I get around to summing up day 2 of the Norwegian IBM User Group’s spring meeting that took place 21st and 22nd of May this year. This was also the day that I would give my presentation about my company’s introduction of IBM Connections, so read on to know about that.
It was a late night for some of us, but thankfully I turned down the invitation for nachspiel, which the German’s from Panagenda finds amusing since the word means something entirely different in their language (and don’t get me started on the German meaning of vorspiel…) so I managed to get up at a reasonable hour. Here’s a short summary of each session during day 2:
Become a Connections AdministratorGabriella Davis, The Turtle Partnership
Gabriella Davis
Let’s face it: IBM Connections is a bitch to deploy and administer. It takes days to install and it’s very hard to control. At least it’s hard when you have several other assignments at work and can’t devote your full attention to it. So Gabriella Davis’ presentation on how to become a Connections administrator was something I was really looking forward to. Her main points where:
Fight for your resources, IBM Connections demands a lot!
Have a deployment server
You can then choose to have one server for each application in Connections, or not
A Connections installation is only as good as its LDAP source, be sure to have a good one
People needed in a setup: Network admins, server admins, firewall admins, designers and the marketing department
Make sure you have all fix packs and files needed before starting a setup
Always install a test-server that mirrors your production server
A short summary on how you perform an installation and how to administer Connections:
Download the software
Install in this order: Websphere, Connections and then Internet HTTP Server (it will work without the latter but that’s not recommended) where the SSL certificate will be
Your database source can be Oracle, SQL or DB2. Choose the latter if you do not have your own database administrators
Remember Connections consist of at least 20 databases, so make sure you have plenty of memory
File attachments should be available for all servers. This is achieved via Connections Shared Data, use UNC paths
XPages is a technology used for easily adapting your IBM Notes (formerly Lotus Notes) applications to web browsers on all platforms, as well as making them available on mobile platforms. The programming model is based on web development languages and standards (Javascript, Ajax, Java, CSS and so on). It was launched with huge fanfare 7-8 years ago and was hailed as the thing that would save Notes/Domino. The problem is that this has not happened.
I know that Donnelly is a clever guy who is very good with Xpages, but even though he works for the company, IBM themselves shows no interest in Xpages. The only ones keeping Xpages alive these days are the people behind OpenNTF. If you think this means I’ve no belief in Xpages, you are quite right. There are some people in the Domino community still going on about how wonderful Xpages is and that a lot of people use it. The latter is false. The number of Xpages projects in OpenNTF and the number of downloads (a few thousand) is a clear sign of that. Also: Compare the number of classes given or projects done with other (and much easier) web technologies than Xpages, and you will see that Xpages doesn’t even have a percentage of the market.
Also: Almost every single company using Notes/Domino that I am in contact with, and that’s quite a few, don’t use Xpages, and have no plans for it either. The same goes for every single company I talked with at the conference. TINE, who presented their new Ipad Solutions for their Domino sales databases, used absolutely no Xpages in their project. They used HTML5, Javascript, Ajax and REST. And that’s what we are going for in our company as well. So far we’ve done no development in Xpages.
But I still went to this presentation with an open mind. Unfortunately Donnelly didn’t say much more than what I already knew about Xpages, so after a while I stopped paying attention and did the final preparations for my own lecture. He did introduce me to the Single application wizard, which I will try out a bit, as I might have a few Notes solutions that could benefit for a very quick mobile conversion. But I’m not sure.
Configuring a Single Sign On Experience For Your Notes ClientsGabriella Davis, The Turtle Partnership
Gabriella Davis
Gabriella again! The presentation was a bit similar to her presentation given the day before. A short summary:
Notes shared logon:
Removes the password from the id-file
You log on to Windows and then start Notes. Notes downloads from the id-vault (which means the first time you log on you have to write the password), removes the password from the ID file and stores it encrypted on the PC
For every logon the password will be decrypted and read
You must have an ID-vault.
You do not need to configure anything in the client, but you must create a security policy
What it doesn’t do: It does not synchronize with the http password
Can’t be used for Citrix or roaming profiles
LDAP authentication:
You only need one password and no synch tools
The user logs on to Notes/iNotes, Domino then checks if the password is the same as the http password stored in the person’s document in the Domino address book
Even if it doesn’t recognise the password, it will still check on the LDAP server and the LDAP server will determine if you are allowed to log on
Use Tivoli to change username, it can write directly to AD or Domino from there
SPNEGO:
A user logs on to Windows and AD generates a token
When a user tries to access Domino or a Domino web-site, a SPNEGO token is sent to Domino, Domino then checks with AD if the credentials are ok
AD is needed and this will only work in Windows and Internet Explorer (or in Firefox with a plugin)
You have to set up SSO or MSSO on Domino
The clocks on the servers must be synchronised
Run Domino with a specified service account and not the local system account
SAML:
Supports multiple OS-es and clients
Needs and ID-file in an ID-vault
User logs on and the logon attempt is sent to ID-provider. After confirmation you are sent the the original site via SAML Service Provider to decide if the user should be granted access
The user will not have to enter a password at any time
You must have ID-provider. IBM supports ADFS and TFIM. Others can be used, but check with IBM first
Requirements:
ADFS 2.0
IIS-server with SSL-certificate
ID-vault
Security policy in Domino
IDPCAT-database based on the idpcat.ntf template
Domino 9.0.1
Time and patience
Other:
Most complicated setup so far. Not in complexity but this involves 150 steps!
Remember to check that the ID-vault template is upgraded when the server is ugpraded
Unfortunately Traveler, Sametime and Connections are still not supported
No passwords are sent between the systems, so nobody can snap it up on unsecured connections
NO MORE VPN!
You still have the ID-file, so there’s no problem with being offline in the Notes client, however: Notes will ask for a password, it’s not recommended to combine with shared login
How Brunvoll learned how to be connectedHogne Bø Pettersen, ICT Teaching Manager, Brunvoll AS
Hogne B. Pettersen
Then it was my turn! I was invited to do a talk about Brunvoll’s (my employer) introduction of IBM Connections, or bConnect as we have decided to call it (be connected or Brunvoll connect, take your pick). I’m responsible for integrating and adapting bConnect into our infrastructure. While I’m partly doing that on the technical side, my main job is to train ours users to integrate Connections in to the regular working day. The goal is that bConnect should be the starting point every morning instead of your mailbox. Here are the main points:
I struggled with adapting our company to using the intranet or other collaboration solutions instead of email until new CEO arrived in 2011
I talked about partnering up with IBM for installation, and then later Item
I talked about the huge technical problems we had, and not all of them are solved yet
I mentioned that the integration og FileNet (CCM) and the use of libraries had made it impossible for us to move to a new installation
I talked about the complexity of administering Connections
I talked about user adoption and how it’s not a race, but more like an orienteering marathon
The importance of having the CEO and management group onboard
I emphasized that this is not an IT tool, and that the IT department really should not be the ones doing the user adaption, but in Brunvoll that was a necessity since I’m also the firm’s instructor when it comes to IT-based systems
You have to improve your users work day, this sometimes makes it necessary to do things a little bit more heavy handed than before, but in the long run it’s worth it
Train your users. Then train them again. And train them some more!
Have super users as your allies and as a second line of support between you and the users
Visit the users to get a feel of their working day and hold workshops
Use the plugins for Office, Notes and Explorer!
You can read the rest in my presentation, but I was very adamant to point out that this is a long, long process, and that sometimes it’s easy to lose hope. There’s also an age gap when it comes to who adopts very easily to this way of working instead of relying on email and network drives. The younger crowd grew up with systems like these, they didn’t learn about them long after their education.
My talk was very well received. I was a bit apprehensive about meeting with some of the IBM folks afterwards, since I had made some negative (but true) remarks, especially about FileNet. Even if I had emphasized that bConnect so far has been a success for us the negative things often sticks out. Thankfully Louis Richardson came up to me afterwards and thanked me, said it was a great presentation and that they needed to hear about problems like that.
I attended the Norwegian IBM User Group (ISBG) spring meeting from on the 21st and 22nd of May. Just like last year, it was held in the city of Larvik, in a spa resort called Farris Bad. Farris is a very famous brand of mineral water that is bottled in this city.
My arrival was one day before, and thankfully other people were there, and I spent an enjoyable evening, being treated with beers from the Panagenda guys. This, while I really should have been preparing my own presentation for the last day of the conference…
I will here give you a short summary of each session I attended on day 1:
Keynote: How Smart are You?
Louis Richardson
Louis Richards, Storyteller & Enthusiast, Social Smarter Work – IBMRichardson’s talk was about how conventional we become with age, and how divergent thought is less and less encouraged as you grow older.
He referred to a Dutch study showing that children, when asked where they wanted a third eye, always said “on one of my fingers,” whilst adults wanted to have it in the back of their head. People who don’t go by the book shouldn’t always be held back. Let the rebels be rebels. They aren’t always trouble makers.
It’s not Social Business, it’s Just Good BusinessLouis Richards, Storyteller & Enthusiast, Social Smarter Work – IBMRichards also held the next presentation. He is not fond of the word social. – It’s not social, it’s just good business, was his mantra. – We have always built relationships at work and we communicate. It’s just that we are now able to do it digitally, and preserve it.
He encourages everyone to start sharing their knowledge:
Do not frown upon people sharing things via blogs or other media
Share your knowledge and encourage others to do the same. If you die, your knowledge and skills should be easy for others to get hold of
Don’t ask people for the information, search for it in the blogs, wikis, files and forum postings (if you have such tools)
Do not force people to report all the time. Let them do their jobs and then share their information with you
Like me he abhors meetings. – Too much time is wasted on meetings. The way to go about it is this: Share a file. Invite people to a meeting and refer to the shared file. If a very few, or nobody downloads the file, cancel the meeting.
Einar Ellingsen, ICT System Consultant, TINE SATine is Norway’s biggest producer of dairy products and the company is owned by the biggest farming organizations. They have been running Notes/Domino for years, and on the very same day that we attended the conference, they launched their brand new intranet, running on IBM Connections.
Einar showed us a very impressive solution running both on Ipad and Iphone. It could also run on other solutions since it’s 100% web based. Before 2008, TINE had loads of paper forms that needed to be filled out for each order. In 2007 they started a project where Lotus Notes databases where used. These were replicated locally to each sales person’s computer.
The entire solution was developed by Einar, and I was very impressed. Here are some key elements:
Every sellers has their own calendar for appointments
There’s a built in chat function so that sellers within a region can communicate easily
You could snap a photo of an exhibition in a store and upload it directly
You could use a scanner to read the barcode for any product
You could generate KPI’s for a region, for a store, for a certain product within a store and so on
Orders are generated and sent to a mailin database. From here they are generated to XML files and sent to the EDI-server
There are help files and movies that the users can look at for assistance
Technology used:
SQL
HTML5 (no framework, just best practice)
Lotusscript and Java agents
Google Chart Grid
Google Maps
REST
Cumulus
FTP for transferring of orders to the EDI server
Ajax
Pic2Shop for reading barcodes
A-PDF Text Extractor
ImageMagick
The API in IBM Connections
Einar finished his talk by showing us the new Tine intranet, which is 100% IBM Connections.
Simplifying the S’s: Single Sign-On, SPNEGO and SAMLGabriella Davis, The Turtle Partnership
Gabriella Davis
Let’s face it: IBM Notes and related products is a nightmare when it comes to having one username and one password. We all know this, and we have fought with this limitation for years. And the users hate having to log on several times after logging on to their computer.
Gabriella described the three techniques that we can use:
Single Sign-On: The Notes client is using the Windows AD credentials.SPNEGO: The user logs on in Windows and AD generates a SPNEGO-token. When a user tries to access a Doino web site the web browser will send this token to Domino, which in turn contacts AD for validation of the token. If the token is valid, the user name will be returned, and since it found the user’s name, the system knows that access should be granted.SAML: This is the future. It works on all platforms, not just windows, and it’s a standard. A user logs on to Notes. The user will then be sent to an Identity Provider which will ask for credentials (if the user is already logged on the credentials will be returned). The user is then sent back to Notes with all the SAML information. Notes will then use the SAML-service provider to check this information, and whether access should be granted.
The drawback with SAML is that it’s still not supported by IBM Sametime or IBM Notes Traveler. A solution can be to combine SAML with SPNEGO, because SPNEGO is supported by both Sametime and Traveler.
She also described using OAuth to let IBM Connections communicate with third parties like Facebook, LinkedIn and so on.
Christopher Adler, PanagendaPanagenda has a great product called the Marvel Client, which we unfortunately don’t use at my company. However, Christopher’s talk was on more general topics. He talked about a company’s attitude towards Notes.
He also touched upon the fact that in the past you were a Notes/Domino administrator. Today you are responsible for a whole bunch of collaborative solutions. And all of them communicate with Notes!
He also talked about the importance of continuous upgrades and that whenever someone talked about changing email systems, you had to be aware of the fact that a lot of solutions in Notes are tightly integrated with the Notes mail template. Quite a few companies have burnt themselves on that fact.
And with that, the first day was over, for me anyway. I couldn’t partake in this year’s competition or murder mystery. I had to finally prepare next day’s presentation and I therefore also missed the spa bit. I did go down to dinner, and it was magnificent!
IBM has launched IBM Connections 4.5.1. To promote how you can work better with the product, they have created a demo which quite brilliantly demonstrates how you can work much more effectively in your organisation instead of relying on just email.
Via blogs, where users can come up with suggestions and ideas that can be voted on, document review processes, chat and status updates, you can work in a way that is much more user friendly, immediate and more meaningful than what you do via other more traditional tools.
Check out the demo in the video below. Note that you can click on the video to watch it in full screen mode. The video is in HD quality, so that you can see all the details.
The licensing model is simplified. There’s now three models: Sametime Communicate, Sametime Conference and Sametime Complete, where you can get an additional module for Sametime Unified Telephony.
If you have a standard Sametime license today you will be able to get Sametime Complete, which contains everything of the already existing Sametime Standard, Sametime Advanced and Sametime Unified Telephony Lite
The menus have been simplified to reduce the number of clicks
In video conferences all video images are showing, instead of like it is today where only the active speaker is shown
Scaleable Video Quality: No more lagging. The client tells the server how much bandwidth it will need
Maximum 6 video feeds at any one time, but hundreds of people can take part in a meeting
You can now run a presentation from a Community in Connections.
Easier to integrate chat solutions on web pages, this makes it easier to create chat solutions for customers and agents
IBM will come to your company and hold a 4 hour free workshop on how to upgrade
So what’s the catch? Well, this:
The server setup is even more complex than before! You’d think this would be impossible, but I’m not kidding.
In addition. the SVC makes it necessary for you to have two more servers! AND: THEY HAVE TO RUN LINUX!
The video conference solution for pads and cell phones is not ready yet, but will be released sometime during Q4
There are currently no plans for integration with Files in IBM Connections
Bo gave a good demo on both a PC and on mobile devices to demonstrate the functionality, and I’ll give Sametime 9 this: It really does work and looks great!
Geno is owned by ca 10 500 Norwegian farmers. Their main task is breeding and developing the NRF-cow (Norwegian red cow). Tore Søgård, IT manager at Geno, and Erik Borse from Item Consulting gave a great presentation on how to introduce IBM Connections into your organisation.
This was very useful for me, since I’m in charge of the training and I have the responsibility of introducing our users to the product. I got a lot of great input for our own approach to this, as well as a confirmation that we are on the right track.
Also: Item is our new partner on our IBM Social Collaboration tools, and it seems that we are in good hands. I did an entire blog posting on my internal IBM Connections blog at work on this presentation alone.
Now it was my turn. I gave an hour long pep talk about all the cool features of the IBM Notes client, as well as how one should go about training ones users. My point is that a lot of people hate the Notes Client because it’s either badly administrated, or that people have no training using it (and sometimes it’s a combination of these two.) If someone put you in front of a complicated CAD program, or gave you Photoshop, and just said: “Get to work,” you wouldn’t be very productive.
I also think a lot of companies sin when it comes to Microsoft Office and Outlook as well. There are tons of hidden features in those products that would enhance your users productivity if they were just told about them. Train your users!
My presentation, was very well received, and people told me that they had both learned new features after having been Notes users for years, as well as been give ideas on how to train their users better. This reception made me very happy. Not least that a lot of people liked the idea of doing what I do at my company: A weekly Notes tip blog posting.
After this IBM treated us to dinner and Paul Withers and I struck up a chord and sat talking during dinner, and continued on the train to the airport. We also took in a cup of coffee (hot chocolate for me) before our planes took off. Paul is a great guy and I think OpenNTF is in good hands.
As I left for my gate I realised that I had been sweating like all hell for a few hours, but everyone had been telling me it was cold. On the plane in the seat next to me, was a nurse. She cast one glance at me and said: “You got a fever!” Then she told the stewardess she would take care of me during the flight. Nurses are heroes! | {
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Reports out of Minneapolis reveal that CeCe McDonald, a Black transgender woman who was allegedly attacked with racist and transphobic slurs, has accepted a plea deal to second-degree manslaughter due to negligence.
Supporters have rallied at the courthouse all week, saying that her case is a blatant example of institutional biases against Black and transgender people. The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading Black LGBT civil rights organization, stands in solidarity with CeCe McDonald and community members.
“CeCe’s case is a sad reminder of the injustices transgender women of color face,” says Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “Where do we get off blaming the victim in what was clearly a hate- and bias-motivated attack? It’s unthinkable and it’s un-American.”
Just yesterday, NBJC released a statement about the charges in the hazing death of Robert Champion Jr., a gay drum major at a Historically Black College and University that was pummeled to death:
The sad reality is that justice drags its feet when a Black life is at stake. There’s even less outcry when it is the life of someone Black and gay. That is why we must continue to proactively advocate on behalf of Black LGBT people who are victims of violent crimes.
That unfortunate reality rings true in McDonald’s trial and represents a larger system of violence towards Black transgender women. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs has found that violence against LGBT people is up 23 percent, with people of color and transgender women as the most likely targets. Of the victims murdered in 2010, 70 percent were people of color while 44 percent were transgender women.
“It is unfortunate that in this case, as in so many, the hate crime itself is overlooked entirely," explains Kylar Broadus, NBJC Board Member and Executive Director of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), a national organization that promotes the interests of trans people of color. “We must continue to rally for fair and equal treatment for our Black trans sisters who are disproportionally targeted and killed because of who they are.”
###
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. NBJC’s mission is to eradicate racism and homophobia.
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Web 2.0 Entails 'Sleeping Giant' Security Risk
By John K. Waters
10/30/07
As increasing numbers of enterprises climb aboard the Web 2.0 bandwagon, it's more important than ever for software developers to keep security in mind during the development process. So says Danny Allan, director of security research at Watchfire, the Waltham, MA-based Web-app security company acquired by IBM in July. Allan was in Santa Clara, CA to speak at this year's AjaxWorld show, and he took a few minutes to talk with me before his presentation.
"CSS is nothing new," he said, "but the attack vectors and the way in which it is used in Web 2.0 applications is very different and much more dangerous. And CSRF is the sleeping giant. It hasn't been exploited much to date, but it's looming large on the horizon."
CSRF is a malicious Web site exploit in which an attacker fakes a request to a site. CSRF is similar to CSS, but where CSS requires crackers and malicious hackers to inject unauthorized code into a Web site, CSRF simply transmits unauthorized commands seemingly from a user the Web site trusts.
"In a cross-site attack, a malicious individual attacks a victim," Allan explains. "Say you're on your banking Web site, and I get control of your browser. I can essentially force you to log into your banking application and transfer funds to my account. Request forgery provides the site with a legitimate request; it exploits the way the Web works, which performs actions based on input from trusted and authenticated users without requiring the user to authorize a specific action. The challenge for organizations is, they don't know when the request is legitimate or it has been forced upon them."
Web 2.0 makes all of this a bit worse, Allan said, because every interaction isn't initiated by the user. The AJAX framework underneath makes many of these requests, so it becomes more and more difficult to tell whether the request came from the user.
The attacks are new, but the causes haven't changed.
"I think one of the problems is that we focus too much on the latest Web 2.0 attacks, and not on why that attack worked," Allan said. "The 'why' hasn't changed. If we build security into the software development lifecycle and consider things like input validation stringently and output encoding--all these things we've all been talking about for 15 years--we'll solve these problems."
One of the best things the industry has done to improve application security, Allan says, is implementing mature frameworks, like Java EE, .NET, and Struts. One of the challenges in the Web 2.0 world is that the frameworks for that environment have yet to achieve that same level of maturity.
Allan advises Web 2.0 developers to shift their approach to security essentially in the same way that many have shifted their approach in the overall development process: from a traditional waterfall approach to what amounts to an agile or lightweight approach. And his advice for app-dev managers who want to get their developers to be more security minded: Don't try to "boil the ocean" and test for everything. Pick the top couple of security risks--say, CSS and CSRF--and do an incremental rollout.
"You don't want to fire hose the developers with too many security tests," he said. "It becomes overwhelming and they end up not doing anything. If we do incremental and ongoing iterative testing, it's manageable." | {
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About iSIKHNAS
iSIKHNAS is Indonesia’s animal health information system. The system uses everyday technology in simple but clever ways to gather data from the field and make it immediately available to users and stakeholders in ways that are readily useful and meaningful.
iSIKHNAS puts the field staff at the centre of the system because they are in closest touch with the livestock, owners and their communities. Their role is crucial to the success and strength of iSIKHNAS. Their record of the cases they see, the actions and decisions they take as well as the outcomes of cases is quickly, simply and easily transmitted to iSIKHNAS and then iSIKHNAS goes to work to manage, report and analyse the data. Farmers benefit from the system by receiving better and more rapid service from the field staff. The field staff benefit because they can offer a better service, target their efforts better, keep better informed and stop spending so much time doing administrative work. iSIKHNAS supports para-vets to build stronger relationships with livestock owners, vets can target the priorities and resources better, and management can make better decisions based on accurate and up to date data. It is a win-win-win for everyone.
In addition, iSIKHNAS integrates several existing information handling systems to make them more efficient and available to more users. The integration of these systems will make their data all the more powerful and will greater support the work of our decision makers at all levels.
Indonesia has several existing systems which have managed data for single purposes including InfoLab for laboratory data and the original SIKHNAS for field disease reports. These systems lacked real power because they were not connected. iSIKHNAS is bringing these systems together so that their data is able to be more efficiently managed and shared by all stakeholders. The data will be made available to authorised users through a variety of means such as the iSIKHNAS website or via the reports, charts, spread sheets and maps created by the system and sent by email or SMS to staff who require them.
Using iSIKHNAS, we will be able to link laboratory submission data with disease reports, maps with movement data or outbreak reports, slaughter data with production and population data, and all smoothly and automatically. That is great for decision makers at every level and good for everyone who is working in the animal health sector.
iSIKHNAS is Indonesia’s new animal health information system. The system uses every day technology in simple but clever ways to gather data from the field and make it immediately available to users and stakeholders in ways that are readily useful and meaningful. | {
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Vietnam: 6,000 workers involved in wildcat strike at clothing factory
Inhumane conditions and low wages have led to approximately 6,000 workers going on strike at a garment factory in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam.
The strike started on Wednesday 6th September after a supervisor confiscated the offcuts of fabric workers used for comfort during their lunch break and instead made them lie down on the ground. Initially around 2,000 workers stopped working but they were later joined by almost 4,000 other factory workers to protest the company’s current policies.
Currently the factory workers are penalised for taking sick leave or other emergency absences. At the moment, if an employee needs to take leave due to bereavement or sickness they are required to inform the company three days in advance. There is only one day of paid leave per month.
The supervisor responsible for the incident on Wednesday has since been fired, and the company has agreed to consider some of the worker’s demands after meeting with the Thanh Hoa General Confederation of Labor and Thach Thanh District authorities.
Currently, all Vietnamese workers are required to join the union of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, a government-run organisation which rarely condones strike action. As a consequence, nearly all strikes in the country are unauthorized wildcat strikes. While strikes have been legal in Vietnam since 1994, no strike has ever actually been treated as legal. There are several bureaucratic hoops involved in registering a strike with the state-led union, hampered by the fact that in many cases the union representative is not a worker but a member of company management.
The company has been identified as an affiliate of Sae-A Trading, a South Korean clothing manufacturer.
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At Zeiss, Rich gave us an update on their latest two zoom lenses, as well as a look at an early version of a forthcoming line of premium prime lenses for photo, and (hopefully) video soon after. In there is also an interesting discussion on 4K sensors and lenses for them. | {
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Why Nebraska?
You shouldn’t judge a person by where they’re from. But we’d be okay if you did.
The proof’s in the people. We’re not ashamed to say our largest attraction isn’t a 60-story building or the sound of ocean waves. It’s our people. There’s a reason we’re known for a strong work ethic, honest business operations, and intelligently grounded minds.
Expenses are easy to measure. They’re numbers. We’ll show you how low your expenses can be here. But what about the less quantifiable? The cost of safe neighborhoods. The cost of a friendly atmosphere. A family atmosphere. The cost of a good life.
Ours aren’t tricky bait with mysterious allure. Our incentives are just meant to provide further motivation for economic development. And they are constantly enhanced to meet the needs of business expansion. Pretty simple.
We’re right in the middle of it all, making for a perfect transportation hub. Railroads, ideal interstates, and arguably America’s busiest intercontinental highway—it’s all right here. So, whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll find it fairly easy here.
Ask ten Nebraskans why they love Nebraska. Nine will say, “quality of life,” and one will say something synonymous. It may not be the number one reason for moving here. But we guarantee it’s the number one reason for staying here. | {
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Welcome! Veteran Owned!
We're still serving, but for the last 25 years we've been serving, tuners, families, enthusiasts and petrol heads! | {
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This study’s main aim was to determine factors that influence the viewership of local content
in Kenya. Companies are interested in knowing about consumer preference towards their
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Filming my Dog In His Sleep IS So funny
Filming my Dog In His Sleep IS So funnyThese cute little puppies need a loving home.Their faces move and they even breathe, just likea real animal. These super adorable pups are just waiting to be adopted by you!
Puppies barking in this dog barking videos compilation. Also try out other funny videos on the channel.Animals are so funny you just can't stop laughing so a funny animal compilation will make you laugh.Subscribe for the greatest and funniest animal moments because animals and pets are humorous and hilarious
You have little knowledge of the human race other than sometimes, they might throw over a bite of food for you,but most of the time, they don't bother
You are snared and placed into a crate ending up at a strange place where they poke you with needles, stick a probe up your butt, take your blood, removeyour testicles and give you funny pills that upset your stomach. You are then picked up by a transport van anddriven to your new unfamiliar temporary home where excited humans who seem like aliens greet you with loveand compassion. | {
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City Hall1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, CA 94102-4689City and County of San FranciscoLegislation DetailsFile #: Version:2161230Name:Accept and Expend Grant - Fiscal Year 2016 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal - $1,430,000Status:Type:ResolutionPassedFile created:In control:11/8/2016Clerk of the BoardOn agenda:Final action:12/16/2016Enactment date:12/16/2016520-16Enactment #:Title:Resolution retroactively approving the Fiscal Year 2016 Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal Grant; and authorizing the Mayor, on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, to accept and expend the City’s Fiscal Year 2016 HOPWA Permanent Supportive Housing Renewal Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $1,430,000 for the period of December 1, 2016, through November 30, 2019.Sponsors:MayorAttachments:1. Leg Ver1, 2. Grant Info Form 092116, 3. Grant Budget, 4. Award Ltr 070516, 5. Award Ltr 081716, 6. Grant Agrmt, 7. Grant App 091216, 8. Form 126, 9. Comm Pkt 113016, 10. Leg Ver2, 11. Board Pkt 120616, 12. Form 126 Final, 13. Leg Final
Action ByDateActionResultVer.RECEIVED AND ASSIGNEDPresident11/8/20161AMENDEDBudget and Finance Committee11/30/20161PassRECOMMENDED AS AMENDEDBudget and Finance Committee11/30/20162PassADOPTEDBoard of Supervisors12/6/20162PassAPPROVEDMayor12/16/20162 | {
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Standard large bore single acting, double rod version of the NCQ2 compact cylinder. The large bore NCQ2 is available in bore sizes from 125mm to 160mm. It comes standard with male or female piston rod threads. For mounting flexibility, it is possible to mount auto switches on any of the 4 surfaces. | {
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The Ankle Pick To Take The Back Against The Turtle Position
Introduction: Using The Ankle Pick To Take The Back From Top Turtle Position
In this post, we are going to learn a simple way to open up the turtle position.
For those of you who do not know what the turtle position is, your partner is basically on his knees and elbows, he has his head tucked down, and his elbows are super close to his knees. When your partner is in the turtle, you don’t have a lot of options. You can’t get a choke hold or any other submission until you open the turtle, and from that, you get more options to attack. For this reason, knowing how to effectively attack the turtle is an important skill for the back attack specialist.
The method we are going to use here to accomplish this is the ankle pick.
The ankle pick itself is basically an old-school wrestling move that has been adapted to fit the purposes of jiu jitsu.
We’re going to learn a way to open the turtle called the ankle pick.
Step 1: Sprawl and shuffle to the side
Start from a basic sprawl position. This is always a good place to start because it is a common way of having your opponent end up in a turtle position.
Keep your legs back and your hips down to keep him from getting a grip on your legs.
Next, shuffle to one side, put your bottom knee under his belly and reach over his near shoulder – which is the one that is closest to you. If your partner is wearing a gi, you can get a hold of that or you can just keep your hand on whatever piece of clothing you get ahold of in a street situation. Make sure you have a firm grip here, and that you are heavy on your opponent’s back to keep him from getting up and away.
Step 2: Pick the ankle, switch the legs, and pull the opponent up on one side.
From here, reach over and grab your partner’s far ankle. Get a good strong grip on his ankle, then switch your feet. By this, I mean cross your legs over, and your feet should be pointing in the same direction your opponent’s feet are pointing in.
Now, use your partner’s ankle as a handle and your grip on his collar, pull him onto his side. This opens his turtle position up and makes him vulnerable.
Step 3: Get the seatbelt and hooks to complete the back mount
There are two schools of thought here. Some teach to insert the hooks right away. To do so simply hook your foot over the arm that is grabbing his ankle. The point is to not let go of the opponent’s ankle until the hook is inserted. Once the hook is in, you can complete the back mount.
The other school of thought is my preference. It’s based on an important back attack principle that upper body control is more important than lower body control. You can keep a back mount with just a seatbelt control and no hooks, but you cannot keep that same position with hooks alone.
Hence, once the opponent is on their side, immediately shoot for the seatbelt first. Once you have the seatbelt, then you can set your hooks.
Then you can finish the fight with your favorite choke.
Summary of taking the back with an ankle pick from the turtle position:
So, the first thing to do when you are doing the ankle pick is shuffle to one side. Next, stick your hand over the near shoulder and get a grip somewhere on his clothes or his gi.
Now, you can use your bottom hand to reach down and grab his ankle and pick it up off the ground. From here you need to switch your feet and pull.
The turtle is now opened and you can get a seatbelt grip and hooks and then finish the fight with any one of the chokes you can use from the back mount.
Father of eight, Dr. Scott Sullivan is the chief instructor at Bam Bam Martial Arts in Houston, TX. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas and is a seasoned martial arts instructor with over 30 years of experience. A firm believer that martial arts really does help people become more fit, safe, and happy, he remains vigilant about helping people improve their lives through martial arts.
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Bam Bam Martial Arts Academy is Houston's premier martial arts program specializing in helping people become the best version of themselves through our unique training program for kids and adults!
If you live in the following areas; Pearland, Bellaire, West U, West University, Sugar Land, Southside Place, Meyerland, Galleria, Midtown, Missouri City, River Oaks, Rice University, Rice Village, the Medical Center, or anywhere in the Medical District you are close enough to come train with us! | {
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SEATTLE (March 23, 2009) - 3TIER, one of the world's largest independent providers of renewable energy assessment and power forecasting services, today announced the expansion of its global operations with new offices in Germany, Australia and India. This announcement closely follows 3TIER's global expansion of its FirstLook® Prospecting tool, which provides free access to average wind speed ranges anywhere in the world through a dynamic, online 5 km resolution map.
To navigate the map and find out more about FirstLook Prospecting visit: http://firstlook.3tier.com.
"These offices put us in front of the rapidly growing markets of Europe, the Pacific Rim and India," said Pascal Storck, Ph.D, president of global operations for Seattle-headquartered 3TIER. 3TIER also has offices in Panama and Washington D.C. "We are growing our presence in key geographies where we foresee tremendous growth in the development of renewable energy projects and strong demand for the Renewable Energy Information ServicesSM we provide."
"These offices provide a 'local' presence for financiers, developers, operators or governments who need 3TIER's expertise in wind, solar and hydro assessment and forecasting," he said. "In these countries, we will also be partnering with a range of business advisory and consulting groups, research and development facilities, as well as government agencies to help leverage their core capabilities in a high-growth renewable energy sector. 3TIER's entrée into these markets has been eagerly anticipated by many industry insiders, and now that has come to fruition."
3TIER's office in Wetzlar, Germany is strategically positioned as a central location to serve the rest of the European Union. The office is staffed by a team of highly experienced scientists and business development representatives, already connecting with developers and financiers in the area. Maurice Bowness is the managing director and has held leadership positions in technical and renewable energy companies throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
"In Europe, wind and solar power are already integral to the energy equation," said Storck. "3TIER serves a wide range of European-headquartered clients, such as Spain's Iberdrola Renewables, for whom 3TIER provides services in the United States. As we expand our operations to meet Europe's growing demand, our presence also will provide immediate customer support for clients who, like Iberdrola, have global operations."
3TIER is entering the Pacific Rim market with an office in Hobart, Tasmania and a satellite office in Melbourne. 3TIER's Pacific Rim office will be led by Cameron Potter, Ph.D., who has played a key scientific role at 3TIER North America and has valuable expertise in weather forecasting, research science and renewable energy project management.
"In Australia, the renewable energy industry is gaining quick momentum, and a mandatory renewable energy target of 20 percent green power by 2020 is driving the country to find effective ways to diversify its energy grid," said Storck. "Billions of dollars are expected to flow into wind power development - the cheapest alternative to coal and gas. As developers and financiers look to Australia's untapped renewable energy resources, our scientifically backed tools will help them evaluate potential sites for further investment."
India is one of the top four wind-power markets in the world and the most developed market in Asia. 3TIER's office in Bangalore, India is a critical location in meeting the industry's growing demands in the rapidly developing nation.
"With more than 420 million people with no access to electricity, India is exploring ways to leapfrog over fossil fuels and fully integrate renewable energy projects into its energy portfolio," said Storck. "The country's southern and western states are abundant in wind resources, and there exists an enormous untapped potential for solar and hydro power. We believe there is an urgent need in this country to find new sources of power - and that India offers a tremendous opportunity for 3TIER to help developers and the government accelerate the adoption of renewable energy."
3TIER's services in India already are contributing to the growth of its renewable energy sector. In 2008, the Archean Group, an Indian wind energy developer and Independent Power Producer, engaged 3TIER for a variety of FullView® Assessments, which provide in-depth analysis of wind resources for a specific location. 3TIER also has partnered with two renewable energy consultants - IT Power India and the Resurge Group - to help developers leverage 3TIER's complete suite of renewable energy assessment and forecasting services.
Nikhilesh Singh, managing director of 3TIER's Bangalore office, has more than 17 years experience in commercial development, project finance, project implementation and monitoring, resource assessment, conceptual design, and site infrastructure across multiple renewable energy types in India. He is multi-lingual and holds an MBA and a degree in electrical engineering.
3TIER helps clients save money and time through a full suite of assessment and forecasting products for wind, hydro and solar energy projects. 3TIER uses its knowledge about weather and climate and their impacts on weather-driven renewable energy resources to help clients make better decisions about their investments - before, during and after their projects are built.
ABOUT 3TIER
3TIER is one of the largest independent providers of wind, solar and hydro energy assessment and power forecasting worldwide with offices in North America, Europe, Latin America, India and Asia. People around the world turn to 3TIER when they want the best scientific information to make decisions about renewable energy projects — from the prospecting stage to operations. For more information, visit www.3TIER.com.
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About
Hello ,
Here I will share my Programming knowledge and experience with you all…..
I make video tutorials and post it on YouTube and my Blog. These tutorials where about Programming and I did enjoy making them.
I have Always been asked to share my code which I use in my video. Answering people’s questions is great, and the feeling you get when you solve a problem always felt good. The only problem I have is making tutorials is a little bit time consuming. It requires planning the subjects that need to be covered, recording the tutorial, editing the video, rendering it and finally uploading it on YouTube.
So I need your help in Collecting All the codes at one place. I made a website Codebind.com for sharing my code and other programming stuff. But I alone can not do this. So Ask you guys to become contributor to this site. Just Share the code Which you learn by watching Programming Knowledge or You can simply share your Programming Knowledge with others.
What is your Benefit?
1 – Together we can collect all the codes of All my videos and share it with others.
2 – Sharing Knowledge is the biggest learning. By sharing You can understand the concepts better.
3 – If your posts are really good and has mass appeal, then I may choose some of you as paid contributors also.
What You need to do?
Just Message me on this page and I will make you the contributor on my website and then you can share your codes and other programming knowledge there.
So please Help us to help others.
Partner Sites
Hi,
I have 4 different LinkedList, how can I save my linkedlist in Sqlite?
thanks for your perfect videos and helping.
techguru
hi sir how to add progessbar and activate button in andriod application i need code for final year project……;)
the code should be in such a way that it should be linked with progressbar and activate button as soon as it reachs the 50% or 100% it should popup as ask do you want to activate yes or No pls help me with this
send code to mail :- [email protected]
Rohan Varma
Hello,
My name is Rohan and I am a Computer Science major at Carnegie Mellon University working on an online education platform for video based learning. I have watched many of your videos on programming and found them extremely helpful.
The platform we are building allows Youtube educators, like yourself, to manage your educational videos much better than Youtube currently allows. For instance, we are trying to implement a better in-video question answering experience for students as well as a post-video quizzing system to help students see if they learned what they were meant to from the video. Also, we noticed that you are having trouble distributing code samples and believe we could implement features to help there as well.
Given your vast experience in Youtube education, we would be extremely grateful if you would have some time to answer questions over email or chat briefly so we could find out what needs you have and hear your opinions/advice. If possible, please contact me at [email protected].
Thanks for your great videos and your time!
Rohan
Li2Cue2
Hi,
Please upload/post the tutorial: How to Convert a Website into Android Application using Android Studio.
Thanks
Smart Ejeka
Hello sir, how can i code java android with raspberry pi. I have a project to design a medicine alarm system connected to a medicine pillbox.
From Smart
Luis D
Hi. sr of ProgrammingKnowledge.
I have a problem with programation in “qtcreator3.2.1 based on 5.3.2”
the problem is, I have to set a text and play a sound, but when I execute the program, the audio plays before than the text appears.
the intructions are: first (setting the text in a qlabel and before play a soun Hi. sr of ProgrammingKnowledge.
I have a problem with programation in “qtcreator3.2.1 based on 5.3.2”
the problem is, I have to set a text and play a sound, but when I execute the program, the audio plays before than the text appears.
the intructions are:
first (set the text in a qlabel and later play a sound with qmultimediaplayer)
but work upside down…
Thanks for your soon reply..
Ram
Thank You So Much Sir.
For Proma Project i.e, In Netbeans its very awesome .
And i have a humble request that if you should add a javafx project that would me very thankful to me if you.
Thanking You So much.
Ram
Dhanushka
what is .dll file ,
What is uses it,
How can we write them
Afzal Hassan
Change your youtube cover to new one and clear.Because people judge book by covers.
Sruthin
Hi Codebind,
I am new to android development and I need some help with my new application. I am unsure of few concepts and wanted to clarify with somebody as experienced as you. Can you please help?
Sruthin
Also, I am no pro in this but I can try my best to contribute to this site if you think I am eligible for this! 🙂 | {
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The life and wonderings of a follower of Jesus
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Friday Night Fun
So…I was writing my Christmas letter (it was due yesterday for publishing and mailing so don’t think I’m ahead of the game!). I was sitting by Cameron. I was trying some stream-of-consciousness warmups for my brain before writing a document worth mailing out.
Here’s what I have:
“Ho! Ho! Ho! Have a jolly good year!”That’s what Cameron Henderson (“emphasis Henderson”), my sixth-grade friend recommended I write to you.I am staying with him and his brother Tristan this week as their parents are out of the country.We are having a grand time in our second hour of dinner…apparently eating chicken is hard work.
In reality, it is a gift to have family away from my family on that side of the ocean.Sometimes, that means Tuesday night dinners.Sometimes, it means guardianship during international trips.Often, it involves trying a new dessert recipe Marla has concocted.Yum!
So dear letter recipients, this text will not arrive in your inbox or mailbox come December. If you’re not on the mailing list but want to get these amazing letters (ha!), shoot me an email. 🙂 You never know what you’re gonna get! | {
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diamondangel37
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About diamondangel37
Hi everyone
As well as being a dedicated Muse fan; how awesome were London and Manchester - roll on Birmingham - I am doing a MSc at the University of Nottingham. I have a short online survey looking at how individual differences influence our choices of dating partners but I am not sure if it would be appropriate to post a link on this site as it is a bit off topic. I would welcome and thoughts as don't want to offend any fellow fans. Angela | {
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Millions of people around the world live in other countries than their countries of origin. In many developing countries, remittances sent home by migrants are a vital part of the economy. Transnational entrepreneurial activities by migrant entrepreneurs, also called diaspora entrepreneurs, involving resources from both the home and the host countries, can contribute to socio-economic value creation of both countries. ICT solutions can play an important role in facilitating and supporting such entrepreneurial activities. This chapter outlines the relevant context of migration, remittances, transnational diaspora entrepreneurship, and innovation systems, and discusses prerequisites and challenges of such ICT solutions.
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Lund University, School of Economics and Management.
Ramirez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
This paper employs an inductive case study to explore the relevance of the family functions in the opportunity creation process by immigrant entrepreneurs. We employ the perspective of the opportunity creation process and the family functions for theory building purposes. We conducted four cases of immigrant entrepreneurs who established businesses in Sweden and that have their origins in Lebanon and Syria, Cameroon, Mexico, and Syria. The paper identifies three family functions -- or family ways of working -- facilitating the opportunity creation process: (I) changing family roles, (II) family (acting) as a springboard, (III) family (acting) as trusting bedrock. These family functions were not static features rather processes influencing the opportunity creation process. The functions were connected to a specific opportunity creation process in the same order: (I) the triggering process, (II) the exploration of an entrepreneurial idea and (III) the exploitation of the entrepreneurial idea. The family functions changed as needed during the opportunity creation processes. Such change was however limited to the pool of resources available to the immigrant entrepreneur and the family in the home and host countries.
6.
Evansluong, Quang
et al.
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration.
Ramirez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO). Lund University, School of Economics and Management.
Ramirez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration.
Ramirez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
This paper conducts an inductive case study to build a theory on the role of family in both the host and home countries in immigrant entrepreneurs' attempts at creating entrepreneurial opportunities. We used the perspectives of the opportunity creation process and family social capital. We relied on data collected from four cases of immigrant entrepreneurs from Lebanon, Syria, Cameroon and Mexico who have established businesses in Sweden. The paper identified three sources of family social capital: family duties, family trust and family support as being relevant for creating opportunities. While family duties triggered the process of forming an entrepreneurial idea, this process was advanced by the existence of family trust. Family support was then the building block for launching an entrepreneurial idea. By identifying these three sources of family social capital, we show that families in the host and home countries contribute to immigrant entrepreneurs' opportunity creation.
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Lund University School of Economics and Management.
Ramirez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO). Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration.
This paper conducts an inductive case study to understand how the opportunity creation process leads to integration. It examines four cases of immigrant entrepreneurs of Cameroonian, Lebanese, Mexican and Assyrian origins who founded their businesses in Sweden. The study relies on process-oriented theory building and develops an inductive model of integration as an opportunity creation process. The model identifies entrepreneurial ‘breaking’ actions occurring in the integration process. This entails that immigrants act when they are socially excluded and discriminated in the labour market by developing business ideas and becoming entrepreneurs. By practicing the new language and accommodating native customers’ preferences, immigrants then reorient their entrepreneurial ideas. Finally, the immigrants tailor their ideas to suit their new customers by strengthening their sense of belonging to the local community. The suggested model shows immigrants’ acculturation into the host society via three successive phases: breaking-ice, breaking-in, and breaking-out. In the breaking-ice phase, immigrants trigger entrepreneurial ideas to overcome the disadvantages that they face as immigrants in the host country. In the breaking-in phase, immigrants articulate their entrepreneurial ideas by bonding with the ethnic community. In the breaking-out phase, the immigrants reorient their entrepreneurial ideas by desegregating them locally. The paper concludes by elaborating theoretical and practical implications of the research.
10.
Evansluong, Quang
et al.
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration.
Ramírez-Pasillas, Marcela
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
Entrepreneurial opportunities are frequently noted and addressed in the literature of immigrant entrepreneurship; however, little is known about how these entrepreneurial opportunities come into existence and how immigrant entrepreneurs create such opportunities. The purpose of this thesis is to examine why and how immigrant entrepreneurs create entrepreneurial opportunities through embedding processes in the home country and the host country.
Sweden was chosen as the country of residence of immigrant entrepreneurs from Lebanon, Syria, Cameroon and Mexico. Four cases were selected in this study. Each case illustrates an opportunity creation process in a different industry, between a different home country and Sweden as the host country and by immigrant entrepreneurs with different backgrounds.
By using the mixed embeddedness perspective as the theoretical lens in combination with the literature on entrepreneurial opportunity and immigrant entrepreneurship, this thesis develops a model of entrepreneurial opportunity creation as an integration process. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial opportunity creation can be considered as a process of local integration by immigrant entrepreneurs into the host country and a re-integration of these entrepreneurs into the home country. At the beginning of the opportunity creation process, immigrant entrepreneurs feel socially excluded in the host country. Throughout the opportunity creation process, immigrant entrepreneurs interact with different actors in the host country and gradually move from being socially excluded to socially included, which illustrates a local integration process. In this process, immigrant entrepreneurs become localized through different activities that embed them in the local context. The process of entrepreneurial idea and business concept development and the refinement of the business concept in this thesis illustrates an ongoing and non-linear process of: being locally integrated through creating trust in the local people, acculturating and creating a sense of belonging; and being re-integrated to the home country through maintaining and establishing new links to the home country.
The study contributes to the mainstream entrepreneurship and immigrant entrepreneurship in several ways. First, it contributes to studies on immigrant entrepreneurship by investigating why immigrants embark on a journey to be entrepreneurs and how immigrant entrepreneurs create entrepreneurial opportunities through embedding processes in the home and the host country. The study demonstrates how an entrepreneurial opportunity is created as a social integration process.
Second, the study contributes to literature on entrepreneurship and immigrant entrepreneurship by incorporating the entrepreneurial opportunity creation process with acculturation strategies. It illustrates how the entrepreneurial opportunity creation process intertwines with the four strategies of acculturation.
Third, the study contributes to the mixed embeddedness perspective by adopting the process approach and proposing mixed embedding as a new concept which centers on the interplay between the home and the host country’s influences on immigrants’ business activities; by extending mixed embeddedness from the national level of the home country or the host country to the transnational level between the home country and the host country; and by proposing an alternative way to view an entrepreneurial opportunity as a creation process instead of being discovered.
Fourth, the study contributes to the immigrant entrepreneurship literature in Sweden by furthering the understanding of entrepreneurial opportunity creation by immigrant entrepreneurs in Sweden.
Furthermore, the study suggests some implications for practice. The study proposes some embedding mechanisms which can be implemented in business support programs for immigrant entrepreneurs and in integration programs for immigrants in general. The design of the business support programs can aim to help immigrant entrepreneurs to: create credibility through contacts and experiences that they establish and gain in the local community; create familiarity to the local community through associating business concepts with well-known values; engage in the local life to understand customers’ mindsets, master the local language to understand local customers’ needs; and establish new/strengthen connections to the home country. The design of integration programs can aim to undertake activities that help immigrants increase the interaction between the local people and themselves. This type of interaction could be increased by organizing meetings and activities in which immigrants are introduced to different local sports clubs and hobby clubs. An approach in which the host country’s language is practiced and mastered anywhere and anytime should be adopted in the integration programs.
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Center for Family Enterprise and Ownership (CeFEO).
Evansluong, Quang
Jönköping University, Jönköping International Business School, JIBS, Business Administration. Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, United Kingdom. | {
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[Continuance of] The Governor's Council on Workforce Policy [to advise the Governor on workforce development strategy and policy, perform the duties prescribed for the state Workforce Investment Board under Public law 105-220, and establish, in...
Opinion 47-056. 2 pages (PDF version) file size: 111.69 KB. Letter to the Department of Public Instruction, stating that the provisions of 1939 Ariz. Code Anno. 56-105 would prohibit the non-voting member from taking any part in the proceedings...
Renaming and Expanding [the scope of] the Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism [previously named the Arizona Commission for National and Community Service] [to advise and assist in the development and implementation of a comprehensive,...
[Establishing the] Governor's Brown Cloud Summit [to identify and examine strategies to improve visibility in the Valley of the Sun and consider all control measures recommended in the 2/17/98 Report of the Governor's Air Quality Strategies Task... | {
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Pace Performance - Engine Components
Everyone’s heard the saying “more bang for your buck”. Here at Pace Performance, we can help you increase your horsepower and torque with even the smallest of budgets. We offer camshafts, cylinder heads, crankshafts, intake manifolds, lifters, serpentine systems and so much more. We have even created our own PACE package deals to offer a variety of all-in-one kits for easy installation and to save you money. If you want to upgrade the appearance under your hood we have what you need for that also. We carry many accessories in a variety of finishes from chrome to polish to black crinkle. Whatever your engine component need is, we’ve got you covered. | {
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Archive for April 2010
I walked out the door and discovered that the butterfly iris are blooming.
Now those are well named. They are like bright butterflies on their long stems. Their pot, however, was not very photogenic, so I used the clone brush to block it out. You can tell if you look closely, but it was kind of a learning experience. The closeup, though, needed no work.
I didn’t realize I’d immortalized an ant, though.
I discovered a really nice gardening site; Dave’s Garden at http://davesgarden.com/ . There I learned that the Batik iris, like the one I featured when it bloomed, is the second most popular iris, and the most photographed iris — at least on their site.
I can see why. No two are alike; this one is almost spotted rather than streaked. One pictured at Dave’s was completely white on top, with streaked falls. They are tough (have to be, to survive my pots) as well as beautiful.
It was an interesting morning. I got a call from Rich O’Neill, of the Kern Parkway, letting me know that there was going to be a photo op at Panorama Vista, and did I want to help represent the equestrian community? Sure I would. So a bunch of us got the opportunity to be snapped by the very talented Casey Christie of the Californian. The article will be in the Bakersfield Life magazine that comes with the paper, sometime soon. It’s nice to see Panorama Vista, and the work of Rich, Andy, Sasha, and all the others, getting some attention — and maybe a few more volunteers.
By the way, there is another work day on Saturday. They can (hint, hint) use all the help they can get!
It had been a blustery night, with intervals of rain. The storm had largely passed over, though, when the phone rang just before seven. It was Andrew. One of the big cottonwoods in front of his mobile home had just gone down.
That must have . . . startled . . . him considerably.
There wasn’t much to be done at that point, so we had breakfast and then I went down, camera in hand, to record the event.
It was impressive.
The trees in the background show that the wind was still blowing pretty hard at that point. Luckily, it had been from the north; otherwise, there might have been a lot more damage.
It just barely missed the tractor parked there.
Looking at the root ball, it seemed it couldn’t have had much of a tap root. David and Andrew had been noticing that it seemed to have heavier branching one one side, and discussing whether to cut a few branches, a couple of days ago.
You might think at first glance that it’s an iris or even an orchid, but it’s a cactus. A Bakersfield cactus, to be exact.
Marion came in from a ride and said the cactus (in a Never To Be Named location) were blooming, so I hiked over there to get a picture. They were nearly done. I got this from the base of the dry slope that is their home, with the help of the telephoto.
That didn’t seem satisfactory, so I started to scramble up the slope, braving the foxtails. It’s very dry and hard, so I slipped and wound up lying on my side; not a bad position from which to get this picture.
I used the telephoto to get the closeup at the top. Then I started trying to get up; and found that scrabbling madly with my feet only resulted in sliding down the hill on my backside hip, collecting foxtails on the way. When I arrived at the bottom, it took quite a bit of wallowing around to get on my feet. My socks and pants were full of dirt — and foxtails.
When I downloaded the pictures, after changing my clothes, I discovered that I had accidentally taken a fourth shot as I scooted down the hill. It’s almost — but not quite — identical to the first one.
I’m going to be a while picking foxtails out of my clothes before they can go in the washer. You have to, though, or they’ll wind up sharing themselves with all of the rest of the wash.
Oh, well; it was worth it. But I wish I had a picture of myself, with my legs waving in the air like an overturned turtle, trying to get up.
Lurking by the window and trying for an oriole (still), I got this fellow instead.
We are well supplied with ground squirrels around here. They are under the tackrooms and trailers, and everywhere else that provides a spot where dogs find it difficult to dig them out. Not many, however, have enough nerve to come up on the porch and steal birdseed. This little guy, however, is the reason I have had to store my bags of seed inside.
Ground squirrels don’t seem to have the same cute factor as their tree-dwelling cousins. I guess this is because their burrows are, frankly, a pain. People tend to think of them as extra-large gophers. Still, they are bright-eyed, cheeky little devils, and I kind of like them.
This one appears to be behind a bank of pink flowers, but it’s actually a small pot of Mexican evening primrose that I bought the other day.
There are a lot of these around Bakersfield. They are pretty, easy to grow, love the heat — and reseed freely. Right now they’re scattered all through the lawns up on the Panorama bike path. I don’t know why they call them evening primroses; they bloom all day. Come to think of it, I bet they’re not true primroses, either. They should think of a better name for them; maybe “pink sundancers”?
Here are a couple of the pictures Emily sent me from their neighborhood in Webster Groves, Missouri, near St. Louis. Weather seems so much more extreme in the Midwest.
Here is a tree that fell in a neighbor’s yard. Notice the neighborhood school in the background. Emily said that it just lost a sign.
And here is a nearby house where a tree fell. I see they are already starting the cleanup.
It looks like a really cute little house, too. I hope they manage to save it.
There must be a lot of work for tree services in Missouri, especially after a storm like this. We lost a tree during that last windstorm ourselves, but it wasn’t near any buildings. And when Andrew moved in, we had them take down one cottonwood that was leaning a bit too far towards the mobile home. We don’t like to do that, but it was going to fall eventually anyway.
And it’s supposed to be windy — again — here, too, tomorrow and the next day. Let’s hope it’s not as windy, and no duststorm!
Marion and Rogelio went to L. A. yesterday (When I was a little girl, I thought there were two places; Los Angeles and somewhere called Ellay) and brought back pictures of wildflowers near Gorman. This is my favorite.
The wildflower season is nice and long this year, what with all of the extra rain. There hasn’t been a show like this for years.
I got an e-mail from my niece Emily, back in St. Louis. They had quite a storm there, probably the same one that devastated Mississippi. She sent pictures of the damage in their neighborhood; I’ll feature them tomorrow.
I spent about an hour and a half this morning helping to plant trees on the Panorama Vista Preserve. It’s part of an attempt to restore this area along the Kern River to its pre- Isabella Dam state. They were talking three thousand trees; and this is just part of the entire plan.
The area had been supplied with drip lines for the baby trees, and planting holes had been drilled earlier with an auger. All that was left was setting them out and planting. There were quite a few volunteers, but more would have been helpful. This is not a high-profile project.
This gentleman is setting out young sandbar willows at the end of the drip line. Volunteers (including me) ferried them to their designated holes.
Because of the drip lines, the trees and bushes had to be planted in rows. But by carefully planning how they were placed along each line, they will appear to be grouped naturally as they grow. That’s why each plant had to go to its labelled hole. All the volunteers had to do was to go down each line, looking for “sandbar willow” or its number, and leave their plants. Then others could actually put them in. Here are some sandbar willows ready to go in.
And some cottonwoods.
A trailer full of blackberries. You really need gloves for them!
And the finished product; a little arroyo willow nestled into its home.
It was a beautiful day for it, and not as hot as it’s supposed to get Sunday and Monday. I was only good for about an hour and a half, but Andrew and Courtney were coming in as I was leaving, so I was replaced.
I’ll be back next time. And I’ll see if I can’t scare up a few more helpers. | {
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The Congress: Brookhart Out
Thousands and thousands of ballots cast by lowans in November, 1924,
were on trial. Nearly half were for extremely radical Republican
Brookhart for Senator, nearly half for Democrat Steck. Iowa had counted
Brookhart elected, but Steck protested, and the Senate Judiciary
Committee began months ago investigation of the pieces of "opaque
paper" which collectively were designed to express the sovereign
will of the people of Iowa.
When they came to disputed ballots — there
were some 16 different kinds of them — the committee tried... | {
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Molly Ringwald
During the mid-1980s, Molly Ringwald was the uncontested queen of teen movies and the poster child of suburban adolescent angst. As a member of the so-called Brat Pack - which included fellow stars An...
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Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy relived their youth at the South by Southwest festival in Texas on Monday (16Mar15) by teaming up to host a 30th anniversary launch of John Hughes high school classic The Breakfast Club. The two actresses greeted fans at the Paramount Theatre in Austin prior to a question-and-answer session about the 1985 film. Their appearance was in anticipation of a series of planned screenings for the film that will hit cinemas across America next week (begs23Mar15).
The remastered movie, which will be shown at select theaters on 26 and 31 March (15), will feature interviews with Sheedy and her co-stars Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall.
Ringwald recently told America's Today show she's amazed the film is still a hit 30 years after its initial release: "I always loved the script, and I loved the movie, but I never imagined that we would be talking about it 30 years later."
Not Another Teen Movie came out 14 years ago but it's still extremely relevant - and hilarious - to this day. High school movies are so played out.
1. This magical 10 Things I Hate About You reference will never get old:
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"Sing a song with her name in it."
2. This very meta Pretty In Pink moment:
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3. No 80's teen movie was safe:
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4. This movie perfected the arrogant, star jock:
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5. And the unique girl who didn't "fit" into any high school clique:
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6. It really calls out what it means to be popular:
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7. It had very appropriate teenage reading materials:
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8. This was Chris Evans greatest acting achievement to date:
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9. Or maybe it was this one:
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10. It had the tortured artist mourning the loss of a parent:
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11. And cheerleaders who definitely did not steal this routine:
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12. They were the cheerleaders that knew how to bring "it":
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13. Jake's dad had the perfect way to cheer him up:
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14. It made fun of how people actually use slang words:
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15. This movie even had the "token" black guy:
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16. This punch sequence is now infamous:
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17. It nailed every movie makeover ever:
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18. It perfectly got how we all feel about teen movies:
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What's your favorite quote from Not Another Teen Movie? Tweet us your answers!
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Evan Rachel Wood and Rumer Willis are teaming up for a cabaret show based on the films of John Hughes.
The actresses will star in For the Record: Dear John Hughes, alongside Tracie Thoms and Lindsey Gort. The musical will run from 6 February (15) to 4 April (15) at a West Hollywood theatre to be confirmed. For the Record will mark the 30th anniversary of Hughes' Brat Pack movie The Breakfast Club. The Hughes tribute will simultaneously play in Chicago, Illinois - the director's home town.
Former child star Molly Ringwald is helping to revive beloved children's cartoon character Rainbow Brite by signing up to voice main antagonist The Dark Princess. The actress joins Hannah Montana's Emily Osment as the titular character on the revamped series, about a young girl with magical powers who strives to save Rainbowland from evil forces. The revamped show will begin streaming on online service Feeln next month (Nov14), 30 years after the original TV series premiered.
Mel Brooks, Molly Ringwald and Richard Dreyfuss were among the stars who turned out to pay tribute to director Paul Mazursky at a memorial service in California on Friday (05Sep14). The Oscar-nominated moviemaker passed away on 30 June (14), aged 84, after suffering a cardiac arrest, and his friends, family and former colleagues gathered at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills, California on Friday to pay their last respects.
The memorial service was attended by famous faces including Nick Nolte, Ed Begley, Jr. and Elliott Gould, while a number of celebrity guests also gave tributes to the late director.
Speakers included actors George Segal, Michael Greene and Molly Ringwald, who called Mazursky the "best director I ever worked with," before singing I'll Be Seeing You, accompanied by her father Bob on piano.
Jaws star Richard Dreyfuss, who starred in three Mazursky films, explained how he idolised the filmmaker, saying, "When I was around Paul, I wanted to be Paul. And I like being Richard. But I wanted to be Paul."
Mel Brooks took to the stage last and used his tribute to compare Mazursky to legendary directors including Federico Fellini and Vittorio De Sica, telling the audience, "In my assessment, he was our Fellini, our De Sica. The best capturer of human behaviour on film was Paul."
The service ended with a montage of film clips and a performance by singer/actress Ellen Greene, who gave a rendition of Goodbye, My Friend.
"I’ve never seen Sixteen Candles (but) I have met Molly Ringwald and discussed it with her." Thompson Twins frontman Tom Bailey on the John Hughes movies that features his song If You Were Here, which the now-solo star is performing as the headliner on the U.S. Retro Futura tour.
Actor Jeff Goldblum is set to make his New York debut with his jazz band, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, next month (Sep14) after booking a mini-residency at the Cafe Carlyle. The group, which is known for playing improvised versions of classic jazz standards, will perform from 16 to 20 September (14), before making way for actress/singer Rita Wilson, who will take over the stage from 24 September to 4 October (14).
The Breakfast Club star Molly Ringwald is also set to show off her musical skills with a set at the same legendary venue from 7 to 18 October (14).
Cafe Carlyle is known for its big names - director Woody Allen stages a weekly jam session with his jazz band at the lounge from September (14) to December (14).
Celebrities including Molly Ringwald, Joe Jonas and Christina Perri headed to the Dodger Stadium on Sunday (10Aug14) to see Sir Paul McCartney's first Los Angeles performance in four years. The former Beatles star graced the stage at the sports ground for the first time since the Fab Four's gig at the venue in 1966.
His hotly-anticipated return was watched by a number of celebrities who shared pictures and videos of the set on social media.
Jonas uploaded a video of McCartney's firework finale display and filmed the crowd going wild while The Breakfast Club actress Ringwald made a commentary about the performance on Twitter.com.
She wrote, "Listening to Paul McCartney sing a love song to John Lennon. Totally got me," later adding, "Sir Paul knows his way around a great singalong. #PaulMcCartney #heyjude"
She also uploaded a picture of the rocker singing his fellow Beatle George Harrison's song Something, while playing Harrison's ukelele.
Perri uploaded a video of the legend singing Let It Be and wrote, "Only paul can make me sob and smile at the same time."
The concert was part of McCartney's Out There tour. He last played a gig in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Bowl in 2010.
Universal Pictures via Everett Collection
Is there anything as relatable and resonant as the coming-of-age film? Throughout our lives, select few of us will ever save the world, fall in love with a computer, or beat back an ape rebellion in blockbuster fashion. But almost everyone knows what it feels like to grow up. The joys, pain, wonders, and hard truths coupled with growing older are universally felt. The best films in the genre can make us feel like they have a direct line to our souls, and the experience of watching our own truths play out on screen is something special. In celebration of Boyhood, Richard Linklater's childhood epic 12 years in the making, our staff members share their favorite coming of age films, and why they mean so much to them.
The Breakfast Club, Julia EmmanueleI wasn't yet a teenager the first time I watched The Breakfast Club, but I still remember thinking that for the first time in my life, it felt like someone really understood what growing up was like. Whether it was the terror of growing up or their struggles to be who they wanted to be, rather than what their parents expected, or the facades they put up to fit in or keep other people out, I saw some of myself in every one of these characters; I still do, despite all the years that have passed since. And even though it never alleviated my fears about becoming an adult, it did give me five people who felt the same, and that’s been enough.
Thirteen, Cory MahoneyThirteen is probably the scariest movie of 2003. Co-written by 15-year-old Nikki Reed, the film opens with two 13-year-old girls high from huffing and hitting each other. Dealing with topics from teens cutting, partying, and sexual experimentation to parents with addictions and unconventional families (to say the least), the film was at once terrifying and relatable. The memorable lines ("No bra, no panties" or "The Itsy Bitsy Spider dropped acid in the park"), like this film, will always remain in my teen memories, whether I want them to or not.
Stand By Me, Jordan SmithThe saddest part in Stand by Me is that after that epic summer day filled with leech attacks, random deer, evil Keifer Sutherland, and boyhood intimacy, Richard Dreyfuss’ voiceover explains how the four main characters couldn’t stay friends forever. How life pulled them in different directions. It’s a brutal lesson to punctuate the film with, but a vital one. Life changes. It always does. It has to. But when you’re young, everything feels like forever. All those little moments and tiny tragedies felt so sacrosanct. I swore I’d know my childhood friends forever. Who knew years later, I’d be fumbling for their names.
City of God, Shannon HoustonWith the incredible non-linear storytelling, the stunning cinematography, and all of the gangsta stuff going down, it’s easy to forget that City of God is really a coming-of-age story. I connected on so many levels with Rocket when I was 17 years old and first saw the movie in theatres. Cleveland isn’t the City of God, but I was a budding artist hoping for a way out. Watching him defy the odds, risk his life, and use his talents as a photographer to tell an incredible story that mainstream journalism couldn't tell was both empowering and inspiring.
The Goonies, Cyndi CappelloI’ll always remember the first time I watched The Goonies. Not only did I have a massive crush on Mikey, but everything about the storyline pulled me in. The older I got and more times I watched it, the more it spoke to me. I kept to myself when I was younger, and seeing the amount of trust the characters had in each other made me want to find relationships like that more than anything. Seeing the bond develop between the variously aged characters from the beginning to end of the film made me realize that you can find friendships in anyone. Thanks to The Goonies, I realized that friends can truly become part of your family.
Breaking Away, Michael ArbeiterAppropriately enough for the theme, Breaking Away is probably the only film recommendation that my mother ever gave to me. Her suggestion of the flick was inspired by my preteen proclivity to speak exclusively in Spanish and Italian phrases around our non-Spanish/Italian-speaking household, but more substantially by the "aimless, big dreaming loser" motif that she knew I'd be able to empathize with. In its paradoxical erratic lull, Breaking Away is one of the best illustrations of the graduation from childhood that we've seen on the big screen... a sweet, sad, answer-less picture that appreciates what it means to have no idea what's next.
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Cast in the ABC Family series, "The Secret Life Of The American Teenager"
Was a regular on "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
Made appearance on "The New Mickey Mouse Club" (ABC)
Appeared in first French-language film, "Seven Sunday"
Moved to Paris, France
Made TV movie debut, "Packin' It In" (CBS)
Co-starred in independent American film "Office Killer"
Created controvery when she appeared nude in the film "Malicious"
Feature acting debut, "Tempest"
Summary
During the mid-1980s, Molly Ringwald was the uncontested queen of teen movies and the poster child of suburban adolescent angst. As a member of the so-called Brat Pack - which included fellow stars Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson and Ally Sheedy - her three-picture run with filmmaker John Hughes in instant classics like "Sixteen Candles" (1984), "The Breakfast Club" (1985) and "Pretty in Pink" (1986) established Ringwald as a teen kindred spirit who awkwardly navigated secret crushes, school dances and bitter clique wars, inching closer to adulthood by the time a triumphant pop song signaled the end credits. However, like all child and teen stars, the redhead's flame never burned quite so bright as those important years which launched a brand new genre of youth filmmaking. After several failed efforts to segue into adult romantic comedies, the actress moved to France where she appeared in foreign films and occasionally made stateside appearances in made-for-TV movies. After a long absence from the public consciousness, Ringwald resurfaced in 2008 as part of the cast of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager" (ABC Family, 2008- ), in which her career came full circle as she appeared as the mother of a pregnant high school student on the controversial drama series. Though she was relatively quiet later in her career, Ringwald nonetheless remained synonymous with the 1980s despite occasional efforts to reinvent herself.
Name
Role
Comments
Danny
Companion
Ringwald reportedly lost her virginity to this man; she was 15 and he was 26
Introduced by Zappa's sister Moon Unit; Dated during the filming of "Pretty in Pink" (1986)
Education
Name
Lycee Francaise School
Notes
"John [Hughes] was the first person who broke my heart. I adored him. That sounds like we had an affair or something, which isn't the case. Of course I didn't have an affair with him. But it was definitely the strongest relationship in my life at the time, my teenage years, when everything that happens sort of prepares you for life." - Ringwald quoted in Movieline Magazine, September 1995
"Being famous at a young age is hard for anyone to go through, but my family was really protective of me, and within all that craziness, I had a sheltered existence." - Ringwald to TV Guide, June 30-July 13, 2008 | {
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Manslaughter charge in fatal Rt. 5 accident last summer
After an extensive investigation by the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the Seneca County District Attorney’s Office an Oswego man is facing manslaughter and other charges after a fatal car accident last summer. The accident occurred near the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge on New York State Route 5.The accident occurred on August 9th when Ralph C. Brown, 57, of Oswego was operating his 2007 Ford F350 in the westbound lane while his ability was impaired. Investigators say that Brown crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic striking a 2008 Ford F150 that was being operated by Josiah Robin, 20, of Locke. The vehicles struck head-on in the eastbound lane. Brown’s vehicle came to rest on State Route 5 and Robin’s vehicle left the roadway and came to rest in the south ditch after turning over onto the driver’s side. Investigators say the Robin’s vehicle caught fire after coming to rest in the ditch, and as bystanders — as well as New York State Police — worked to extricate him, the vehicle became fully-engulfed. Those on scene were unable to extricate Robin from the vehicle before it became fully-engulfed and he died from injuries sustained during the fire and accident. Brown’s passenger was treated and released from Upstate Medical. However, Brown was hospitalized for a period of time. The roadway was closed for several hours as investigators worked to reconstruct the scene and accident.Brown was charged with manslaughter in the second degree — a class C felony, criminally negligent homicide — a class E felony, assault in the second degree — a class D felony, and assault in the third degree — a class A misdemeanor. He was also charged with additional traffic offenses. Those charges include reckless driving, driving while ability impaired, failure to keep right, failure to use designated lane and failure to yield one half of roadway.The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office reports that Brown was arraigned before Seneca County Superior Court Judge Bender on April 4th at 2 pm where he was ROR’d and is to appear at a later date for further court action.The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the York State Park police, Seneca County District Attorney’s Office, north Seneca ambulance, Magee, Seneca falls and red jacket fire departments, Seneca County Fire coordinators, Seneca falls police and state police. | {
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29.08.2017 15:57:53 – At Brother Printer support services provider find all solutions to any and all technical fault met. Brother Printer are high quality and best brand name in world offering quality results. (live-PR.com) – At Brother.
This toll free Number is for good services. DIAL :1{800}-681-7208 for brother.
PCWorld readers ranked Brother. printers among the most reliable, with high marks for overall satisfaction in a 2011 survey aimed at scoring leading brands for features, service and support. Even dependable printers can develop.
You just run off the code on a special DNA printer containing cartridges filled with liquid. the kind of thing that required high-tech machines and years of trial and. | {
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Chandigarh: Commercial and other establishments in some places in Punjab remained shut on Thursday following a bandh call given by some Sikh organisations to protest against the desecration of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, and the violence on Wednesday that left two people dead and several others injured.
Sources said that the effect of the shutdown could be seen in Faridkot, Muktsar and some parts of Moga districts.
Sikh organisations protesting the desecration of the Sikh holy book and the subsequent violence in some places this week called the bandh (shutdown).
At least two people were killed and nearly 70 injured, including police officials, on Wednesday in bloody clashes between police and Sikhs protesting against the desecration of the Sikh holy book, near Kotkapura town in Punjab’s Faridkot district, 230 km from here.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordered a judicial probe into the desecration of the Sikh holy book and the violence later.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday announced a Rs 1 crore reward to anyone giving information about those involved in the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari village in Faridkot district.
In a joint operation, Border Security Forces (BSF) troopers and the Punjab Police have recovered 22kg of heroin in Punjab’s Ferozepur sector following exchange of fire with Pakistani smugglers near the international border, a BSF officer said on Saturday.
The encounter took place late on Friday following a tip-off that smugglers were trying to send heroin consignment into India.
At least one Pakistani smuggler was injured in the exchange of fire as blood stains were found during search of the area on Saturday, BSF officer D.S. Rajpurohit said.
The BSF recovered a pistol and one Pakistani Sim card.
The BSF also arrested three Indian smugglers who were waiting close to the border fence to collect the heroin consignment.
The smugglers were trying to smuggle the heroin consignment using a plastic pipe across the border fence. | {
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BSA - (Aug/14/2005 )
When do immuno, What do BSA and goat serum target respectively. If we have added BSA for blocking, why need goat serum then.
-xiaoben-
The BSA will block non-specific protein interactions and is traditional blocking method for IHC and IF. The serum added should match the species in which the secondary was made in (ie. use goat serum for goat anti-mouse/rabbit secondaries). Some people prefer not to use it. It will likely block Fc receptor binding and non-specific binding of IgG in your secondaries to your sample - this is because the serum contains "non-immune" IgG up to 10 mg/ml.
It is essential though to add some of your block to your antibody diluent. Otherwise you may get your antibodies binding to the blocking agents!
QUOTE (xiaoben @ Aug 14 2005, 09:28 PM)
When do immuno, What do BSA and goat serum target respectively. If we have added BSA for blocking, why need goat serum then.
-MaximinaNYC-
What do you mean by "It will likely block Fc receptor binding and non-specific binding of IgG in your secondaries to your sample "
In our protocal , goat serum is diluated by Ab dilute buffer which contain BSA.So I'm confused why these two are applied together. Which one will block the non specific binding?
By the way , will the BSA bind to goat serum IgG or goat serum bind to BSA IgG? If the former one exists, goat serum seems of no use.
-xiaoben-
They both will block non-specific binding.
Once again, the goat serum contains IgGs which will potentially block any Fc receptors you have in your tissue, if they aren't there in your tissue or cells then it isn't applicable.
BSA is albumin and acts as a non-specific blocking agent. Goat serum is just whole fraction serum and contains many proteins so will also block non-specific binding but because it has IgG may block specifically FcR binding. In addition, since it is the same species as that which your secondary is made in it will block any sites that your secondary may non-specifically bind to.
BSA will not bind to goat serum or vice versa. I use both all the time with no problems. Sometimes people do not like to use serum though as it contains unspecified proteins.
QUOTE (xiaoben @ Aug 15 2005, 08:04 AM)
What do you mean by "It will likely block Fc receptor binding and non-specific binding of IgG in your secondaries to your sample "
In our protocal , goat serum is diluated by Ab dilute buffer which contain BSA.So I'm confused why these two are applied together. Which one will block the non specific binding?
By the way , will the BSA bind to goat serum IgG or goat serum bind to BSA IgG? If the former one exists, goat serum seems of no use. | {
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Description
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is fast acting and potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It is used to treat acute pain associated with Osteoarthritis and Menstruation. It is also used to treat mild to moderate pain caused due to sprains and strains of joints and muscles. However, it should not be given to children below 12 years of age.
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Nimek 50 MG Suspension
Acid or sour stomach
Stomach discomfort and cramps
Dizziness
Skin rashsevererare
Nausea and vomiting
Elevated liver enzymessevere
Blood clotting disorderssevererare
Stevens-Johnson Syndromesevererare
SEVERE
Contact your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms are experienced on a regular basis.
RARE
Observed in a small fraction of population.
This is not an exhaustive list of side effects. Please inform your doctor if you experience any adverse reaction to the medication.
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Highlights
Commonly asked questions for Nimek 50 MG Suspension
Onset of action
The effect of this medicine can be observed within an hour of oral administration.
Duration of effect
The effect of this medicine lasts for an average of 5 hours.
Safe with alcohol?
major
You should avoid consuming alcohol while taking Nimek 50 MG Suspension. Symptoms like fever, chills, rashes, joint pain and swelling, excessive weakness, nausea should be immediately reported to the doctor.
Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendencies were reported
Usage in pregnancy?
This medicine is not recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in near future. This medicine can cause harmful effects on the developing fetus especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. Consult your doctor and consider the potential benefits and risks before taking this medication.
Usage while breast-feeding?
This medicine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding an infant. There is a lack of conclusive evidence from scientific studies and hence the use of Nimek 50 MG Suspension should be avoided. You should consult a doctor before taking this medicine.
Substitutes
List of substitutes for Nimek 50 MG Suspension
Below is the list of medicines, which have the same composition, strength and form as Nimek 50 MG Suspension, and hence can be used as its substitute.
What is it prescribed for?
Uses of Nimek 50 MG Suspension
Acute Pain
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is used to relieve pain and swelling of joints and muscle in adults.
Osteoarthritic Pain
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is used to relieve the symptomatic pain associated with Osteoarthritis in adults.
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is used to relieve acute pain associated with menstruation.
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When not to use?
Contraindications of Nimek 50 MG Suspension
Allergy
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is not recommended for use if you have a known history of allergy to it.
Liver disease
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is not recommended if you suffer from any liver abnormalities.
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Dosage
Missed Dose
Nimek 50 MG Suspension is usually taken as and when required. If the medicine is taken on a regular basis, then the missed dose should be taken as soon as possible. You should not take the missed dose if it is time for taking the next scheduled one.
Overdose
An overdose of this medicine can cause harmful effects to the liver and other vital organs. You should contact a doctor immediately if an overdose is suspected. Signs and symptoms like skin rashes, severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and fall in blood pressure after taking this medicine should be reported to a doctor on priority.
Interactions
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcoholmajor
Description
- Consumption of alcohol can cause severe and potentially irreversible side effects on the liver when taken along with this medicine.
Interaction with Medicine
Disease interactions
Liver Disease
severe
Nimek 50 MG Suspension should be given with extreme caution if you have impaired liver functioning. Symptoms like nausea, fever, rashes, darkened urine should be reported to the doctor on priority. Clinical monitoring of the liver function should be done at regular intervals.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
This is not an exhaustive list of possible drug interactions. You should consult your doctor about all the possible interactions of the drugs you’re taking.
General Instructions
Nimek 50 MG Suspension should not be used if you are allergic to it. Usage duration should be kept minimal and should never exceed 15 days in a single treatment course.
It should not be given to children younger than 12 years of age.
Symptoms like skin rash, headache, swelling etc should be promptly reported to the doctor.
Warnings
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
- This medicine is not recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in near future. This medicine can cause harmful effects on the developing fetus especially during the last trimester of pregnancy. Consult your doctor and consider the potential benefits and risks before taking this medication.
Breast-feeding
- This medicine is not recommended for use while breastfeeding an infant. There is a lack of conclusive evidence from scientific studies and hence the use of Nimek 50 MG Suspension should be avoided. You should consult a doctor before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Gastro-intestinal bleeding
- Nimek 50 MG Suspension can cause bleeding of the gut and hence should be used judiciously. Any incidence of a condition leading to bleeding in the stomach and intestine should be reported to the doctor immediately.
Heart disease
- Nimek 50 MG Suspension is to be used with caution if you suffer from heart or valve disorder. Any such incidence should be reported to the doctor on priority.
Liver disease
- Nimek 50 MG Suspension can cause moderate to severe side effects on the liver. Any abnormalities of the liver, active or in past, should be informed to the doctor to ensure safety.
Elderly
- The side effects of Nimek 50 MG Suspension can be more severe in old people. Caution is advised in such cases. The risk of adverse effects on the heart, liver and the kidneys should be given due consideration before taking this medication.
Kidney disease
- Nimek 50 MG Suspension is known to cause adverse effects on the kidney especially if the usage duration is long. Report the incidence of any kidney abnormalities to the doctor so that appropriate substitute can be suggested.
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Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&Chere. | {
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Dark Horse Books and Nintendo team up to bring you The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, containing an unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda franchise. This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link's adventures from the creators themselves! As a bonus, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia includes an exclusive comic by the foremost creator of The Legend of Zelda manga - Akira Himekawa!
Dark Horse Books and Nintendo® team up to bring you the limited collector's edition of The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, containing an unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda™ franchise. This handsome book contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! The limited edition of Hyrule Historia looks like it could have been pulled off the shelf of one of the sages in Hyrule. The faux-leather hardcover bears the symbol of the Gate of Time, debossed, on the cover, and gold gilded pages.The limited collector's edition of The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is perfect for the hardcore The Legend of Zelda™ fan!
I have the Japanese one too and am wondering if I should get this one. I can read the translations online but I'm more or less wondering about the quality- not to knock on Dark Horse, but I'm just wondering as to how the Japanese version will compare to the US version.
And I hope that's no the cover. The Japanese version is so much classier.
By providing links to other sites, CheapAssGamer.com does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to CheapAssGamer.com. CheapAssGamer.com is owned and operated by CAG Productions, LLC.
Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy before using CheapAssGamer.com. | {
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Can Eating Tomatoes or its Seeds Cause Kidney Stones?
Tomatoes are widely used in India as salad, to complement curries, vegetables and in ketchups. They enhance the taste of Indian dishes especially breakfast items.
Some people think that consumption of tomatoes or its seeds leads to the formation of kidney stones. Here we will discuss whether they can cause kidney stones or not and the effects they have on our body.
To understand the link between tomatoes and kidney stones, we have to understand what kidney stones are
About Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are small hard deposits of minerals and acid salts that are formed inside our kidneys. They are solid pieces resembling stones. Oftentimes, they cause so much pain when they pass through urinary tract but they rarely cause permanent damage. Stones that are small can be treated with personalized and specific diet. But bigger stones need treatments like extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in which shock waves are used to break the stones. In some cases, even surgery is needed.
Can Eating Tomatoes or its Seeds Cause Kidney Stones?
This is the question which strikes almost everybody's mind as tomatoes are linked with kidney stones. Because of this, many people have fear about the effects they have on their body.
The reason behind this is that the foods rich in oxalate can cause kidney stones and tomatoes contain oxalate. But the quantity of oxalate in tomato is too low to cause kidney stones. They do not harm until they are consumed in huge quantity every day. So, setting up a link between tomatoes and kidney stones will be a long shot.
Advice for People Already Suffering from Calcium Stones:
Almost 75% of kidney stones are calcium stones. The oxalate combines with calcium and forms these stones. People suffering from calcium stones are advised to regulate the consumption of tomatoes as excess amount of oxalate can harm their kidneys. But limited consumption of tomatoes is safe.
Can Eating Tomato Seeds Cause Kidney Stones?
Some people believe that seeds of tomatoes and other fruits get solidified in the kidneys. As a result, kidney stones are formed. This is purely a myth. When we consume tomatoes, they travel through our stomach and digestive system. In this way, the nutrients from them are absorbed into our system. The cells lining our intestinal tract absorb the fluids from tomatoes and then the fluid enters our bloodstream. After that, our blood gets filtered through our kidneys and extra water then moves to the bladder where it is excrete as urine. So, it is not possible for seeds of tomatoes to get stuck in the kidneys.
Sometimes we are blinded by some myths about certain food items. But Before jumping to any conclusion, we should do some research and know the actual facts behind these myths.
We should not avoid consuming tomatoes because of the oxalate present in them. Tomatoes are packed with nutrients and have numerous health benefits. They are good for our bones, eyes, heart, skin and hair. Tomatoes contain antioxidants and anti-cancer properties and have the power to reduce the damage caused by smoking.
Most of the fruits and vegetables are healthy if we take them in the correct quantity. Same is case with tomatoes! They are super healthy for our health when added correctly in our diet. | {
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The National Open in Las Vegas is happening this weekend, “…one of America’s longest running, premier Open tournaments.” Boasting an $80,000 prize fund and good chances for players of all levels, many Hawaii players make the trip to Vegas every year. This year is no different, and Hawaii is well-represented with at least 7 players from Hawaii competing.
Open
Cornelius Rubsamen (2264)
U2000
Tristan Kaonohi (1957)
U1800
Guy Ontai (1668)
Peter Mertvago (1639)
U1600
Jon Neet (1534)
Dustin Honda (1426)
U1200
Ed Hayes (1101)
Some games are being broadcast live online. One can also play through finished games that were broadcast on the site. Below is Cornelius Rubsamen’s first round draw (!) against very strong Grandmaster, Alejandro Ramirez (2667). | {
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Posts Tagged ‘less expensive weddings’
February 14th is only a few day’s away and many people are beginning to plan how they are going to pop the question to their significant others; Would you be my valentine for life? Yes, this would be a marriage proposal most likely. If you have already planned how your asking one of the most […]
Have you ever thought of having mini food stations at your wedding? As opposed to the usual sit down lunch or dinner set up that is very appropriate for a wedding or related event and would be most couples first choice, but if you’re looking for a more casual, cocktail arrangement then mini foods could […]
If you are thinking about having a destination wedding in Los Cabos, and you love the beach and sunny days, read our article and discover the most beautiful beaches in Cabo. Los Cabos has miles of golden beaches, natural wonders and unique climate. In fact, Cabo is one of the most popular destinations in the […]
This week we will talk about these elegant and sexy versions of the wedding gowns. We know that every bride desire to look spectacular on her wedding day. The style and every aspect of the gown she chooses determine how she will appear like, to be feminine, sophisticated, casual, modern or classy. Backless wedding dress […]
The wedding venue usually takes a big part of your wedding budget, so you might want to figure out ways to save costs. The “venue,” if you’re unsure, is basically where you hold your ceremony and reception. Here are some savvy ideas! Choose an off-season date. Los Cabos high season is January, February […]
Margarita Popsicles During the post-ceremony cocktail hour or late night surprise your guests with a Mexican Popsicle Cart. Margaritas & Fruit Punch Popsicles and Mexican Vanilla Ice-creams would be greatly appreciated by your guests. Summer Signature Cocktail Take advantage of the great flavors of the season and ask your caterer to create […]
Famous designers have opted for blush color wedding dress designs. While wearing a red, blue, or gold wedding dress this year will align your look with the season’s most contemporary designs, opting instead for a blush gown (in shades from peachy-pink to strawberries-and-cream) will keep your colorful wedding dress look ultra-modern without letting apart the […]
If you are planning a Cabo Beach Wedding, one of the most fun and sweet subjects to select is the Wedding Cake Décor. Whether you prefer contemporary, traditional, or even whimsical – the most important thing is that you pick a look that you love – and then you make it your own. […]
These tips would provide you on how to reduce wedding costs, but still get your dream wedding event! Limit the number of guests Most of the cost of a wedding involves the reception – food, drinks, table decorations, etc. Be creative with replies Ask guests to reply online or by telephone. […]
If you are planning your Cabo Wedding Ceremony and you are thinking what would be cool to throw out or release during the recessional, here are some great ideas! Rice Rice grows abundantly and quickly, therefore it is a symbol for fertility. Guests would throw rice at the couple to ensure prosperity and fertility. Wedding […] | {
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Eating our own farm financial cooking
One winter evening in 1999 I was sitting in on a Farm Beginnings class being held in the southeast Minnesota community of Plainview when a local banker stood up and made a statement that about knocked me out of my chair. “We need to eat our own cooking,” said the banker, Dean Harrington. The statement wasn’t about food, at least not directly. It was about how we look to ourselves instead of Wall Street when investing in the future of our rural communities. A few weeks ago, I had a chance to chat with Harrington at another LSP meeting. As the podcast that came out of that conversation demonstrates, he’s still banging the same “home cooking” drum. Radical economic theory? Actually, it’s as no-nonsense as a banker’s gray three-piece suit.
Harrington is a fan of David Brophy, a long-time business professor at the University of Michigan who uses the phrase “eating our own cooking” as a metaphor for putting our resources into local enterprises rather than national and global investment markets.
“What we need to do is figure how how to capture more of the dollars that would normally flow out of a community,” says Harrington. “It’s not that we can produce everything that we need—that’s not realistic. But I think there are more things that we can produce and finance locally if we’re alert to them and are willing to work at it.”
And there’s nothing more local than farming enterprises based on producing food that’s consumed within a few miles of the field or barn. That’s why Harrington is excited about the economic potential that could be had if more lenders recognized the potential of diverse, small- and mid-sized farms that are using innovative production and marketing techniques.
In fact, he sees such farms as a way of avoiding risk, something lenders are always (or at least should be) on the lookout for. That’s why it’s no accident that the LSP meeting I ran into Dean at recently was focused on how we can get more innovative beginning farmers on the land in communities like Plainview. Just by his presence, the banker was making it clear he sees more farmers, not fewer, as the key to long-term community health.
“We maybe have trouble valuing the characteristics of mid-size farms and smaller farms in a financial sense, and that’s what I’d like to see us work on is valuing those elements that really are stabilizer type elements,” Harrington, who is president of the First National Bank in Plainview, told me. “One of those is diversity — we should be able to value that as something that does reduce risk.”
He concedes that banks and other lending institutions tend to shy away from anything considered “new” or untested—and sustainable farming practices still fall into that category for many. In some ways, not much has changed since 2002, when LSP surveyed farmers and agricultural lenders on the subject of credit. Lenders polled in Minnesota and Wisconsin were overall skeptical of organic and other sustainable farming practices, and most had only vague ideas of what these practices were even about, let alone the profits and other benefits they can produce in a community.
To be fair, back then some of the lenders’ views were colored by pessimism about the future of agriculture in general, not just the alternative kind. Such negative attitudes about conventional ag have switched a bit lately, given the profitability being generated by high commodity prices.
Harrington feels lenders are starting to warm up to alternative farming systems as well. He hearing from a growing number of farmers utilizing sustainable systems who have excellent relationships with bankers and other creditors. He’s not alone. Recently, I’ve run into a slew of situations where farmers involved in everything from pasture-based livestock production to organic vegetables talk about the positive role lenders are playing in their businesses.
And it’s not just banks and similar credit firms that are opening doors to sustainable ag—increasingly the USDA’s Farm Service Agency is getting a reputation for having an open mind on what kind of farming enterprises it will help out financially.
As we’ve mentioned in this blog before, one of the more exciting examples of lenders seeing the potential of farming that’s a bit out of the norm is in Wisconsin’s Jackson County. In that area, agricultural loan officer Loren Rausch has been won over by organic grass-based dairying because of its ability to reduce the cost of a major input—feed, in this case—and it’s ability to garner premium prices in the marketplace on a consistent basis.
“With organics you can build your cash flow and build a marketing plan,” Rausch told me. “Initially, people thought organics was going to be a fad, but there’s a real demand in the market sector. That’s what you look for.”
“These [organic dairy] loans cash flow very well—they are building equity,” says Paul Dettloff, a Wisconsin veterinarian who serves on the board of directors of the bank Rausch works for.
The lending community’s willingness to give sustainable ag a fair shake can be partially traced to recent research that is documenting the profitability of such systems. A study done by the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Profitability found that on average organic dairy farms retained 21 percent of their business earnings, once the bills were paid (extensive use of managed rotational grazing increased earnings even more). Conventional confinement dairy farms retained 14 percent of the farm’s total income, according to the study.
And the results of a long-running Iowa State study released just a few weeks ago show that on average, organic cropping systems return roughly $200 per acre more than their conventional counterparts. Started in 1998, this particular study is one of the longest running replicated comparisons between organic and conventional cropping systems in the country.
Agricultural lenders pay attention to such research, and don’t underestimate the power of a farm town banker when it comes to influencing what kind of production systems are adopted and continued. A U of M Extension educator in the Red River Valley once told me that bankers were the ones who started encouraging farmers to approach experts like him about alternative cropping systems such as organics. These lenders were frustrated with financing unprofitable conventional operations perennially wracked by disease and volatile markets.
But a lot of this thaw in relations between lenders and sustainable farmers has to do with good old-fashioned one-to-one relationships. Rausch says he loaned money to one young organic farmer because he had a good business and marketing plan, but also because the banker sensed this guy “had what it took” to be a successful farmer and good member of the community.
In the end, that’s what really counts. If ag lenders only cared about numbers, then they’d all pack up and move to Brazil, where they could loan millions to operations that measure their soybean rows by the linear mile. No doubt some have taken their cues from Wall Street and have such a myopic view of the relationship between agriculture and credit—and look where that has gotten us.
But the ones like Dean Harrington who live in the rural community they do business in have a vested interest in making sure the money they loan out supports the long-term health of their hometown. And increasingly diverse, innovative farms with smart business plans and a growing demand for their product look like the kind of operations that can not only offer a good home-cooked meal, but make sure as many local folks as possible enjoy its results.
Tweets from TC Daily Planet
Today’s top stories
Ojibwe activist and Honor the Earth executive director Winona LaDuke detailed in an article for The Circle News the historical and cultural contexts Standing Rock water protectors' fight, as well as the battles still to come around the Dakota Access Pipeline.
As many celebrate the recent success of Standing Rock's water protectors and the Obama Administration's announcement that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not grant an easement for the final piece of the Dakota Access Pipeline, we also look back and celebrate the activists and elders who laid the foundations for organized resistance.
In case you missed it
The opening of the Seward food co-op on 38th and 4th Avenue is probably the biggest non-governmental development to hit 38th Street in at least 50 years. But it has brought into sharp relief the under-utilized and under-appreciated business districts along the rest of 38th Street.
Council Member Elizabeth Glidden has been tirelessly organizing community meetings to encourage neighbors to remember the old neighborhood and imagine new possibilities for the street. The first three meetings had visits by former residents who have left the ‘hood and become famous, like Judge Lajune Lange and Gary Cunningham.
Besides being married to the mayor, Gary Cunningham is the executive director of the Metropolitan Economic Development Association and a member of the Metropolitan Council. A picture of the Bryant-Central co-op hangs on his office wall. He says it is one of his sources of inspiration.
Recent stories published by the Star Tribune about the MUL ("Did Urban League get paid twice?" April 13, and subsequent stories) have created a false specter of financial impropriety, have distorted the organization's history in delivery of contracted services and, as a result, have undermined the reputation of a long-standing community organization.
The tweet above by a friend who attended the Governor's buffer initiative meeting in Worthington was fleshed in a Worthington Daily Globe article by Julie Buntjer, Dayton's buffer initiative targets water quality:A New Ulm-area farmer was the first to speak up, saying that of the 55 million acres in Minnesota, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages more than 5 million acres, and 27 million acres is in production agriculture.“I foresee this as a land grab,” the man said. “My ancestors settled in southern Minnesota in 1858. They removed the Native Americans from this property to gain access to it, and now I look at our government moving us off of our land.”Moerke noted in a message that this statement caused some in the audience to groan. Buntjer reports on the governor's response:“We’re not trying to take your land away, but when it comes to runoff and stuff going into the water, that’s a different story,” Dayton responded. | {
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With 40 percent of the world’s 7,000 languages in danger of extinction, researchers David Harrison a...
When it comes to language, Americans are woefully behind. The share of bilingual Americans is about half that of Canada and the U.K., and about a third of Europe’s average. Spanish is on the increase, even while many Americans are slow to adopt a new tongue. But Americans’ stubbornness may have considerable opportunity costs, as new research suggests bilingualism has some significant neurological benefits, especially in children.
A slew of recent studies from Northwestern, Princeton, and elsewhere have found that bilingual children are better at concentrating, multitasking, and are faster to empathize with others, says New Scientist (May 8, 2012). One reason, researchers said, is the fact that learning and speaking multiple languages can be very demanding on the brain. Without an off-switch on their language centers, bilingual brains have to constantly evaluate what language they’re hearing, and how they should interpret it. The increased activity helps bilinguals achieve sharper focus when performing any number of tasks.
And when they grow up, bilingualism may even stave off the effects of aging, dementia, and Alzheimer’s as it keeps the brain active and vital. Until very recently, most parents (and even doctors) thought exposing young children to multiple languages could be damaging. Teaching children to be bilingual, the thinking went, would leave them without mastery of any one tongue.
In fact, infants are well-designed to take on more than one language, says Psychology Today (April 16, 2012). Researchers at the University of British Columbia have found that infants can process and react to sounds of multiple languages. This means they can learn the rudiments of two languages over the same time-frame that their monolingual peers learn one. Most bilinguals acquire their languages in sequence, but the fact that a child has the capacity to do otherwise is a significant finding. The best part? Even as an adult, it’s never too late to learn. | {
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Arizona Diamondbacks
Recent Transactions
Sent RHP Micah Owings to the Reds to complete their 8/11 trade for 1B/OF-L Adam Dunn.[9/12]
For the full text of this Transaction Analysis, subscribe to Baseball Prospectus
Optioned RHP Billy Buckner and INF-R Jamie D'Antona to Tucson (Triple-A); activated LHP Doug Slaten from the 15-day DL. [8/13]
For the full text of this Transaction Analysis, subscribe to Baseball Prospectus
Placed 2B-L Orlando Hudson on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of OF-L Jeff Salazar from Tucson (Triple-A); transferred RHP Edgar Gonzalez from the 15- to the 60-day DL. [8/10]
Acquired LF/1B-L Adam Dunn and cash from the Reds for RHP Dallas Buck and two PTBNLs; transferred 2B-L Orlando Hudson from the 15- to the 60-day DL. [8/11]
For the full text of this Transaction Analysis, subscribe to Baseball Prospectus | {
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Busch, Quakes team up for Navy SEAL Foundation fundraiser
Club will offer a special Saves for SEALs Supporters' Section at its June 29 match at Stanford
April 23, 2013
Earthquakes Media Relations
SJEarthquakes.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. – The San Jose Earthquakes and goalkeeper Jon Busch have partnered to offer fans a chance to give back to the United States Armed Forces with a special Saves for SEALs Supporters’ Section package for the club’s June 29 match against the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium.
The ticket offer includes four seats in Section 125 (rows D-H) as well as four T-shirts and a post-game meet and greet with Busch. The veteran goalkeeper will watch the post-game fireworks extravaganza alongside fans in the section and then pose for photos and sign autographs. The price of each package is $200 with proceeds benefiting the Navy SEAL Foundation.
In addition to the Saves for SEALs Supporters’ Section, Busch will wear a pair of adidas Predator LZ TRX FG boots emblazoned with “8/6/2011” and “Honor and remember.” He will also don a pair of his own gloves (www.hpgoalkeeping.com) with a Navy SEAL patch. The cleats and gloves will be available to purchase through a charity auction. All proceeds from the auctions will again benefit the Navy SEAL Foundation.
Fans can also help the cause by making a donation to the Saves for SEALs program. For more information on how to submit a donation, contact the club’s community relations manager, Alison High, at [email protected].
Busch is an avid supporter of the United States Armed Forces. For the second year in a row, he is donating $50 for each save he makes to the Navy SEAL Foundation. In 2012, he and the Earthquakes Community Fund raised $8,100 through the Saves for SEALs program.
About the Navy SEAL Foundation
The Navy SEAL Foundation stands behind all U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) support personnel, and their spouses and children. The Foundation coordinates closely with NSW commands to support critical needs of active-duty operators while also providing resources for NSW veterans. Our work is focused on three key areas: family support services, educational programs, and legacy activities. The Navy SEAL Foundation's mission is to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. | {
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} |
I think its time somebody with an accurate map of the middle east calculated exactly how many neutron bombs need to be dropped on which location to kill every inhabitant of the Middle East outside of Israel. If this is not feasible, then Isreal should be evacuated and the entire MidEast carpet bombed with a bunch of these babies
Seriously, its time we face the facts that "Mohammed" was actually Satan himself, fueling the fires of a weak-moraled people to his own cause, and that the Koran is in fact The Devil's own handbook. Until this theory gains hold, feel free to check out Mohammed's Believe It Or Else! | {
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} |
Please Note
Rates displayed above are only a guide. Rates vary depending on number of guests, meals included (basis), season and length of stay and will be confirmed by Amaka Private Game Reserve on receipt of your quote request.
Rates shown are based on two (2) persons sharing the room/unit per night. Hover over the rate to view alternate occupancies.
Rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR). Subject to change without notice.
Pertinent Policies
Travelling with children?Children under the age of one and over the age of 15 are welcome.
How to confirm?Deposits are required to confirm a booking, usually 50% but sometimes as high as 100% depending on season and time till check-in. | {
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} |
Organ Music
The Ceremonial of Bishops, the most recent complete liturgical document from the Holy See addressing the issue, instructs that the organ remain silent during Funeral Masses, except to accompany singing.
There should be no flowers on the altar, and the music of the organ or other instruments is permitted only to assist the singing. [#824]
Hence organ preludes and postludes should not be played.
Liturgical Hints & Ideas
Liturgical music at funeral Masses is always difficult to program.
So much of the congregation may be non-Catholic or from other Catholic parishes.
Choose simple, familiar music if the congregation is expected to sing responses and hymns.
Never force people to sing; this is a difficult time for the family.
They may be able to pray better through listening than through active (and perhaps awkward) participation.
A cantor/soloist or a funeral choir can be very helpful in providing inspiring music, but should at all cost avoid sentimental selections designed to do no more than elicit tears. | {
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} |
Becky was a stay-at-home wife and mother of two. When on vacation in an artsy community, she discovered wire-wrapped jewelry in a shop. She was determined to learn how to wire-wrap. After taking a basic wire-wrapping class, she was inspired to master this art. She made this her passion since then and has done more than a dozen shows annually from Ohio to Florida. She uses basic hand tools to make bracelets, pendants, earrings, and rings. She makes use of sterling silver and gold-filled wire and beads, gems, and semi-precious stones in her creations. She is a member of the Sheltowee Art Guild, Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsman, and Kentucky Crafted. She has served as President of the...
"After a few years’ hiatus to work around the recession with our successful line of patinated copper and brass jewelry, we are once again actively creating a broad range of custom home interior works. Drawing from the roots of Dale’s background in jewelry making, industrial stainless steel, and copper design and production, and my skills in design and marketing, we create items featuring patinas on copper and brass such as jewelry, counter-tops, back-splashes, doors, tables, range-hoods, lighting and other large scale art. We spare no detail of craftsmanship, or expense in materials so each project scintillates with luxury and finesse, and yet doesn't look “machine... | {
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} |
I had Juvederm Voluma 5 wks ago-I am experiencing hardness & swelling but I was fine right after!
Doctor Answers 3
Side Effects of Voluma
January 26th, 2016
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I love Voluma and inject it daily in my office. However, the side effect that you are describing is not normal and I would definitely return to your treating physician for examination and treatment. Please keep us posted. Best, Dr. Green
Voluma -- Delayed Swelling
December 22nd, 2015
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Thank you for submitting your concerns about delayed firmness 5-6 weeks after Voluma injection. Did you have a recent dental procedure? Did you have a recent illness (flu or cold)? In Houston, I am often referred unusual complications after filler, neuromodulator (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin), and laeser treatments. I have seen delayed granuloma and infections with symptoms as you described. Based on your symptoms, I recommend revisiting your board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon as soon as possible.
Treatment with voluma in the face is associated with the risk of swelling and hardness the could last for just few days to few weeks.
When swelling and harness in the area treated with voluma last for more that 2 weeks it could be secondary to underlying bruising (blood accumulation in the deep tissues at the site of the voluma injection). This sometimes is evident with delayed discoloration of the skin ( usually yellow, green or brow discoloration typical of buses).
Patients with prolonged swelling and hardness after voluma treatment should be evaluated by their primary licensed cosmetic core practitioner to determine the safest management if necessary.
Related content
Voluma Pictures
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as
a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you
have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute
or initiate a patient/doctor relationship. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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Advertisement
Follow the Clinton Daily News play-by-play on Twitter @Clintondnsports. Like our Facebook page to see the live postgame interview. Subscribe to The Clinton Daily News in print, online at www.clintondailynews.com or download the app.
-Murley takes D.A. position; Hammans up-Big civil trial set Nov. 27-Beckham County race unchanged by recount-Bond looks for chances to help program-Clinton basketball set for fantastic season-Plus see local pictures | {
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FREE TRADER'S ASSESSMENT
Waiting for Bernanke
An article in the Washington Post suggesting that Fed Chair Bernanke is unlikely to promote any significant new initiatives in his Jackson Hole speech on Friday is generating some comment in the FX market, and negative vibes in equities.
The durable goods report for July, which was just released, came in much higher than expectations at +4%, and +0.7% ex-transportation. Some elements of the report were less robust, but on balance it should be encouraging for longs.
The French bank SocGen, which has a sizable hedge fund practice, estimates that hedge funds are net short 71,000 S&P futures contracts. Many of those are no doubt hedges against other longs, but it does suggest that if there is is a positive catalyst, short covering alone could give stocks a nice pop higher.
In FX, the Japanese set up a $100 billion fund that’s basically designed to compensate for the effects of a very strong Yen. Participants in the FX market are assuming that this means that they’ve given up on the idea of using intervention to try to force the Yen lower. Players are looking for a quick retest of 75.95, as long as someone else goes first. I would expect a lot of piling on should that level be broken.
The other notable piece of business going through in FX this morning was the work of a couple of large and determined buyers of EUR/GBP, one an institution doing some portfolio rebalancing ahead of month end, the other a corporate name. The push higher in EUR/GBP propelled GBP/USD lower. The old joke about GBP is that it’s “an escalator up, an elevator down”, and the truth of the saying was borne out this morning, as the move was quick and brutal.
Spot Gold has recovered some ground this morning, as the overall tone is definitely more cautious than yesterday’s “Risk on, Pal!” I don’t think that there’s enough confidence to keep those who got long yesterday, and remained that way overnight, holding on if their profits start to erode. Best of luck today. | {
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} |
Do you know the number for ? alpha pharma online check Now that the Middle East Peace Process is back "on track," it is important to understand the continuing impact of irredentist and Jihadist roots of Palestinian nationalism. Armed with such an understanding, a two state solution in the region would appear substantially less attractive to both Israel and the United States. This is because a "successful" outcome of the current Obama/Kerry effort would be a greater Israeli vulnerability to aggressive war and terror.
Go travelling imwellhealth.com Does Godell need the owner’s permission to offer voluntary tests? Do the owners need league permission for voluntary tests? I wouldn’t think so….. So let’s set up voluntary tests at every team’s HQ, say on Wednesday and Saturday every week. Those who voluntarily take the tests and come up clean every week will be clean. Those who refuse to take the test will have to suffer the insinuations that come from their choice.
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How much notice do you have to give? westpalmmedicalgroup.com Last month, the space agency awarded Bothell, Washington-based Tethers Unlimited $500,000 toward a project to use 3-D printing and robots to build massive antennas and solar power generators in space by 2020. It replaces the expensive and cumbersome process of building foldable parts on Earth and assembling them in orbit. | {
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October 20, 2013
Some years ago I had the great honor of working under the direction of Joanna Quinn at her studio -Beryl Productions- on one of their animated commercials. This one was for Charmin Toilet Paper. I did the rough animation after which the crew at Beryl took over to do clean-up and rendering. All this was done on paper and cells back then.
I had a great time working on it and after many years I am still very proud to have been part of this production.
October 17, 2013
Here are a couple of commercials I animated a while ago for Zwitsal and Comic House. The animation was based on the well-known logo by Zwitsal and I had to animate the rest of the body in the same style and with the same graphic quality, which was a challenge because the logo is very flat and abstracted and the body had to have a somewhat more plastic, or spatial, quality to be able to do what the client wanted.
The result is a bit quirky, I find, but there it is.
(The quality is funky but, forgive me, this is the best I could do.) | {
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StringStream in C++ for Decimal to Hexadecimal and back
Stringstream is stream class present in C++ which is used for doing operations on a string. It can be used for formatting/parsing/converting a string to number/char etc.Hex is an I/O manipulator that takes reference to an I/O stream as parameter and returns reference to the stream after manipulation.
Here is a quick way to convert any decimal to hexadecimal using stringstream:
// CPP program to convert integer to
// hexadecimal using stringstream and
// hex I/O manipulator.
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
usingnamespacestd;
intmain()
{
inti = 942;
stringstream ss;
ss << hex << i;
string res = ss.str();
cout << "0x"<< res << endl; // this will print 0x3ae
return0;
}
Output:
0x3ae
If we want to change hexadecimal string back to decimal you can do it by following way:
If you like GeeksforGeeks and would like to contribute, you can also write an article using contribute.geeksforgeeks.org or mail your article to [email protected]. See your article appearing on the GeeksforGeeks main page and help other Geeks.
Please Improve this article if you find anything incorrect by clicking on the "Improve Article" button below. | {
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} |
Ill Lehigh Valley children get magic trip to North Pole to see Santa Claus
Nonprofit Dream Come True, LVIA and Allegiant Air team up to help ill children feel Christmas spirit.
December 22, 2012|By Steve Esack, Of The Morning Call
Snowflakes swayed from the ceiling in the dimly lit airplane as it climbed through the wind and clouds Saturday morning.
Then it happened. Cracks of light flooded the cabin.
"I see window peekers," an adult said politely yet sternly.
Shoop, shoop went plastic window shades as children's hands moved quickly to shut out the light and keep the man they soon would see from putting them on the naughty list.
But then it happened again. More light as Capt. Shannon "Compass" Lane and First Officer Robert "Vixen" Adams leveled out the Allegiant Air plane at about 35,000 feet on its 6,327-mile flight from Lehigh Valley International Airport to the North Pole.
"No peeking," another adult warned.
How could they not? Every child wants to see what Santa Claus' house looks like and so more fun-filled peeking continued on what children and adults thought would be a long trip aboard Dream Come True's North Pole Express Flight 2012.
But then the captain let his passengers in on a secret. He was going to fly fast. Real fast.
"Here we go, everyone ready?" Lane announced. "Ludicrous speed!"
The engines kicked into overdrive as the plane surpassed warp speed and locked into the swiftness of reindeer, making what should have been a roughly nine and a half-hour flight last 22 minutes.
When they landed, there were Santa and Mrs. Claus, waving greetings to about 40 children, like 7-year-old Lillian Hercik, who is beating back leukemia, and 12-year-old Stefan Quinones, whose sight is being stolen by a tumor.
"It was awesome, it was awesome," Stefan said. "It was going super fast; you could feel it. It felt like a roller coaster."
It felt like love, too.
It always does when LVIA, an airline and dozens of other volunteers host the annual trip with the local nonprofit Dream Come True, whose mission is to finance trips, toys, scholarships and celebrity visits for chronically or terminally ill children.
"It enlightens the spirit," said Martin Rosario of Bethlehem, whose 9-year-old daughter Hannah had a tumor removed from near an eye. "The focus is mainly on the kids."
Families arrived at the main terminal at 7:30 a.m. to the sound of the Liberty High School Grenadier Band's bagpipe and drum corps and the sight of costumed cartoon characters and team mascots. After checking in and going through security, children picked up gifts from nine reindeer stations, staffed by student council members from St. Anne's in Bethlehem and other schools. Then they walked past the Parkland High School Chorale singing Christmas carols and into the waiting area of Terminal 11, where Radio Disney blasted pop tunes.
"All the people here volunteering their time for our kids," said Jeff Hall of Lehighton, whose epileptic and autistic 8-year-old son, Brandon, was going on his first flight. "It's got to cost thousands and thousands of dollars."
"It's amazing," said Christina Steirer of Nazareth, whose 5-year-old daughter, Gianna, had her last leukemia treatment in January 2011. "It's just a great day to relax for the kids to have fun and be kids."
But not all of the children had the chance.
"We had two die yesterday and 13 die this year," said Rayann Vasko of Bethlehem Township, Dream Come True's executive director. "It's not been a good year."
But Vasko never let her internal despair show. She wore the Christmas spirit as well as an elf costume. On the plane, she was the loudest passenger.
"Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?" Vasko cheered.
"Santa, Santa," little voices responded.
When the plane touched down, children met their parents, who had taken another form of ludicrously fast transportation to the enchanted site where Santa and Mrs. Claus provided lunch and laps.
Lillian, of Bethlehem Township, planned to ask Santa for a mosaic kit to make art. Jack Knudson, 9, of Emmaus, who had a brain tumor, was hoping to ask for Playmobil sets. Kaitlyn Mericle, 11, of North Whitehall Township, who has cerebral palsy, said she wanted Lego Friends.
Stefan, however, wasn't sure what to ask for. The Allentown boy said he has all he needs: family.
"My dad, my mom, my brother mean the world to me," Stefan said. "They are just all I need." | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Blog Archives
WELCOME to my sixth driver performance scoring chart of the 2012 Formula One season which covers how I thought every driver did in the 2012 Grand Prix de Monaco:
PASTOR MALDONADO
I can’t decide whose stock went down more significantly in the last week; Facebook or Pastor Maldonado. He had a horrible weekend and all of it was self-inflicted. The hero of Barcelona was docked ten grid places for some foolish driving in Saturday morning, when he drove into Sergio Perez. Seeing red mist, he went onto crash on his next lap at Casino Square and only decisive work from his mechanics got the Venezuelan out for qualifying. Ninth place became 19th, then last after a gearbox penalty. His race didn’t even last a lap after whacking Pedro de la Rosa into Ste. Devote. The damage meant he didn’t turn into Loews hairpin and that was that. A dramatic fall from grace. 4/10
FERNANDO ALONSO
Once again, Fernando Alonso showed his skill to maximise his race result. Strong from the outset in practice on Thursday, a slightly cautious approach from Ferrari in qualifying cost them a shot at the pole. Alonso was lucky to not suffer any damage off the startline after some wheel-banging with Romain Grosjean. He survived, managed his super soft tyres brilliantly to close up on Lewis Hamilton, then jump him by staying out a lap longer. Faultless as ever and now, the sole championship leader. 9/10
KIMI RAIKKONEN
Kimi Raikkonen’s return to the Principality was fairly lacklustre. He was on the backfoot from the outset, when a steering adjustment ruled him out of FP1. Playing catchup, eighth on the grid wasn’t bad considering he flirted with elimination in the first part of qualifying. Lost out to Sebastian Vettel on the first lap, then held on under pressure from Michael Schumacher as his super soft tyres wilted. Lotus decision to keep him out for as long as possible cost him a higher finish but ninth was probably the right result. No doubt that Kimi still has that sheer pace but Barcelona aside, hasn’t been able to string together a trouble-free weekend so far in 2012. 6/10
ROMAIN GROSJEAN
A weekend that started out so promisingly but delivered very little. Romain Grosjean’s consistency and confidence on Thursday made him favourite for pole position in qualifying. Lotus had problems with tyre temperatures all weekend and this left the Frenchman in fourth on the grid. His race lasted six seconds, involving three elements of contact with three different drivers and broken rear suspension meant he didn’t even make turn one. Disappointing outcome and some foolishness with this DNF but the speed is definitely there. 7/10
SERGIO PEREZ
Whenever Monaco arrives on the calendar, Sergio Perez must dread it. An incident packed weekend but for the wrong reasons. Totally blameless in the incident with Pastor Maldonado on Saturday morning and had a near altercation with Nico Hulkenberg too. Perhaps feeling a bit stressed, he crashed heavily at the Swimming Pool in the first few minutes of Q1. Later, a steering problem was blamed for his early demise. Struggled to pass Marussia cars, then collected a drive-through for baulking Kimi Raikkonen in the pitlane entry. Narrowly missed out on points and fastest lap shows it was another case of what might have been for Perez. 6/10
NICO ROSBERG
Quiet beginning to the weekend but Nico Rosberg came on form on Saturday and continued his consistent scoring approach as a result. Fastest in FP3, Nico maximised the car’s potential in qualifying and ended up on the front row. Kept Mark Webber on his toes all afternoon in the race but Webber didn’t crack under pressure, so he had to settle for second place. Rosberg has now scored the most points out of anyone since Malaysia and on this evidence, has to be seen as a potential championship contender. 10/10
BRUNO SENNA
Bruno Senna kept his Williams pointing in the right direction to score a point, something his team-mate Pastor Maldonado had major problems doing all weekend. Senna was rather oblivious all weekend although he looked all at sea on Thursday in the wet. 13th on the grid was better in comparison to recent events and made his way through the turn one carnage to run ninth in the first stint. Got his point through persistance and Toro Rosso’s failed gamble on intermediates for Jean-Eric Vergne. Williams will expect more though as the season progresses from Senna and they will be disappointed that he was beaten by both slower Force India cars. 6/10
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
The years rolled back on Saturday when Michael Schumacher produced a special lap to land a surprising pole position. Back in sixth following his Spanish grid penalty, contact with Romain Grosjean before turn one ended the Lotus driver’s race and delayed Schumacher to run behind Kimi Raikkonen for the first stint. Got past Raikkonen by staying out longer but had no chance on improving from seventh until a fuel pickup issue limited his top speed and ultimately cut out the engine. Difficult to pin any blame on Michael this time, just another luckless weekend. 7/10
LEWIS HAMILTON
McLaren look to be losing some of their early season speed and Lewis Hamilton knows it more than anyone. Wrestled his car to third on the grid, as the team struggled to match the Mercedes and Ferrari teams all weekend. Bad start was the trigger to what happened behind between Romain Grosjean and Michael Schumacher although Hamilton kept third. The team kept him out too long on the super soft and he lost track position to Fernando Alonso and later, Sebastian Vettel. Only highlight of a boring race for Lewis was being hit by objects from his pitwall. It was a frustrating day but still scored solid points to stay firmly in the championship hunt. 7/10
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
Fourth place at the finish was a save for Sebastian Vettel and he can count himself slightly fortunate. Practice pace was poor and even needed super soft tyres to escape Q1. Ran out of the option by Q3 so settled for ninth. Romain Grosjean’s wayward Lotus nearly took him out at the start but Sebastian narrowly missed him to run sixth and wait for the others to pit before exposing his pace on the prime tyre. Spent 12 laps heading the field and there was a time when the race looked to be heading into his grasp. Unfortunately, the tyre lost grip and forced a slightly earlier pitstop than planned. The longer strategy got him ahead of both Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa though so a good job to collect 12 points on a weekend where he was second best throughout to Mark Webber. 7/10
JENSON BUTTON
Two points from three races and a very unconvincing performance from Button, who isn’t out of the championship hunt but needs to stop the alarming slide in fortunes. Didn’t seem happy again from Thursday, although he set the fastest time in FP2. Pace flattered to deceive and he exited qualifying before the pole position shootout again, lining up 12th. Unlucky to be hit by the flying Kamui Kobayashi in the Ste. Devote fracas and this dropped him behind Heikki Kovalainen. It is tough to pass around Monaco but the speed differential between the McLaren and the Caterham meant that Button’s performance was dismal. How he spend all afternoon behind the Finn is a mystery. Spun out at the Swimming Pool attempting an ambitious pass on Kovalainen. Needs a big score to regain confidence in Canada. 4/10
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
Kamui Kobayashi badly underperformed when the car was capable of so much more. Like Jenson Button, disappointing to see the Japanese driver be knocked out in Q2 and his race didn’t last long. If Kobayashi had taken his initial plan of shortcutting the first corner, he would ducked in behind Sebastian Vettel in seventh. Instead, he decided to take the longer route and the result was, flipped airborne by Romain Grosjean’s spun Lotus. Damage to front suspension ended his event after five laps and not much symphony from me on this one. 5/10
JEAN-ERIC VERGNE
I think we have to admit that Jean-Eric Vergne is a better Sunday driver than Saturday driver. Again only escaped Q1 thanks to the misfortune of another driver and his own accident at the start of Q2 meant he couldn’t do any better than 17th. Smart move to change tyres on lap 17 allowed him to leapfrog the midfield that were trapped behind the tyre hungry Kimi Raikkonen. Seventh place was his until the team gambled the lot by pitting for intermediates with six laps to go in a rain shower. It didn’t work and left the rookie in an unlapped 12th. He wasn’t happy but should be encouraged with his consistent race speed. Urgently needs to work on qualifying form now. 7/10
MARK WEBBER
Mark Webber’s twin brother must have been present in Spain because the real Webber turned up in Monaco. In a car that didn’t deserve to win, he showed his might around the streets to record his second Monte Carlo victory in F1. Struggled on Thursday but strung a mega lap together in qualifying which earnt him pole position, once Michael Schumacher was moved back down the grid. Perfect start and made no mistakes throughout on raceday to lead home Nico Rosberg and Fernando Alonso. His consistent approach makes him another championship contender. 10/10
NICO HULKENBERG
Perhaps not quite as eye-catching as at Williams but Nico Hulkenberg is looking better since the Grand Prix scene returned to Europe. Missed out on the top ten shootout by just over a tenth of a second and had no problems running in close company with the likes of Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen on Sunday. Jumped by team-mate Paul di Resta in the pits but took full advantage of Raikkonen being unfairly blocked by Sergio Perez to chase di Resta home. Eighth was an excellent result, considering the car is still not at the team’s best liking yet. 7/10
FELIPE MASSA
Felipe Massa’s job is safe for now at least after a committed and charging Monaco weekend. Threatened the frontrunners throughout free practice and was fastest in Q2. A couple of mistakes on his qualifying lap left him seventh on the grid, when third was definitely possible. Strong start saw him chasing Fernando Alonso hard and only the late rain shower dropped him off the back of the top five. Still less than seven seconds behind race winner Mark Webber, sixth place is a massive boost for Massa, both in confidence and psychological terms. 8/10
PAUL DI RESTA
Qualifying 14th was a disappointing result for Paul di Resta but his fourth points finish already of the season shows that he is almost the complete racing driver now. Kept it out the barriers with consummate ease and although I’d say he was lucky to beat his faster team-mate Nico Hulkenberg on raceday, you can see why teams such as Mercedes GP are interested in his future services. 6/10
DANIEL RICCIARDO
Daniel Ricciardo is turning into another average driver. So far, he hasn’t delivered in a car that looks difficult to drive but probably would achieve better results if either Sebastian Buemi or Jaime Alguersuari had been driving it this season. Beating Vergne in qualifying is a regular achievement now but race pace is not good and was running behind Heikki Kovalainen when he retired with a steering problem. Must do better to prove his worth to the team in the coming races. 5/10
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
The street fighter that is Heikki Kovalainen threatened to steal a point at the weekend, proving his quality is being masked by the chassis at his disposal. Thursday was a nightmare as an engine failure and a spin meant he had to climb out of his Caterham in both sessions earlier than anticipated. Bounced back on Saturday to only wind up a tenth slower than Jean-Eric Vergne’s Toro Rosso. Then ran brilliantly on Sunday to keep Jenson Button and Daniel Ricciardo behind him in faster cars and with little trouble too. A messy battle with Sergio Perez cost him a front wing in the closing stages and meant 13th looks like a mundane finish. Has plenty to be pleased though with his race performance. 9/10
VITALY PETROV
Looked fast on Thursday and had potential to shock Toro Rosso in qualifying and make Q2. The Russian underperformed on Saturday and ended nearly a second slower than Heikki Kovalainen. Delayed by Kamui Kobayashi’s flying antics in the first corner chaos and an intermittent electrical problem meant he was a regular pit caller until withdrawing on lap 15. 5/10
TIMO GLOCK
Had the measure of Charles Pic throughout the weekend, although on a better day, could have punished Vitaly Petrov for his tame qualifying effort on Saturday. Had little option to shortcut Ste. Devote at the start to avoid the multiple accident and made his car had to pass against the likes of Sergio Perez and Jean-Eric Vergne. When they got past, had a lonely run to 14th. 6/10
PEDRO DE LA ROSA
Claimed his qualifying lap on Saturday to be his best ever around Monaco and by beating Charles Pic, would have pleased the HRT bosses. Unfortunate to be clouted heavily by Pastor Maldonado while attempting to avoid the St. Devote carnage and the resulting rear wing damage meant it was retirement in the pits without completing a lap. 6/10
CHARLES PIC
Done well for most of the season but Monaco seem to overwhelm Charles Pic. Struggled in qualifying and ended up on the back row and half a second behind Pedro de la Rosa’s slower HRT. Promoted up thanks to grid penalties for Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez and evaded the first corner mess well. Made little impact in the race and retired for third successive race with an electrical problem on lap 64. 4/10
NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN
Kept it out of the wall this season in Monaco and credit to Karthikeyan to finish the race, only two laps down and in 15th place. It is hard to judge the HRT team’s merits in Formula One but if their drivers finish the race, that’s all that can really be asked. 6/10
It won’t be pole position, thanks to a grid penalty but Michael Schumacher rolled back the years in Monaco (Yahoo)
THERE is life in the veteran yet as Michael Schumacher rolled back the years in qualifying this afternoon for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix. In an unpredictable and cracking session, the 42-year old German ended as the fastest driver and in normal circumstances, would be celebrating his first pole position since the 2006 French Grand Prix. However, a five place penalty for causing a collision with Bruno Senna at the Spanish Grand Prix means it is only a moment of glory. Consequently it will be the 2010 winner in Monaco, Mark Webber who will start from pole position.
The day started quietly but burst into life with a dramatic final 15 minutes in FP3. Paul di Resta damaged his front wing against the guardrail exiting the tunnel, whilst Sergio Perez was baulked in a dangerous position by Nico Hulkenberg’s dithering Force India. The Mexican, returning to the venue of his terrifying crash in qualifying last year was in the thick of the action today. He was involved in another incident with Spanish GP winner Pastor Maldonado, for which he was totally blameless. Out of the way in the Portier complex, Maldonado deliberately turned in and connected with the Sauber, leaving Perez furious. The stewards agreed with the Venezuelan’s ridiculous driving and slapped him with a ten place grid penalty. Maldonado then went on to dismantle his Williams at Casino Square shortly afterwards, giving his mechanics a real headache ahead of qualifying.
The drama wasn’t all over for Perez when he clouted the barriers in the Swimming Pool chicane five minutes into Q1. It initially looked like a simple driving mistake but BBC commentator David Coulthard spotted damage to the Sauber’s front steering, with the left-front tyre not responding to Perez’s steering movements from inside the cockpit. Perez was out in Q1 and required a trip to the medical centre as a precautionary measure. If the damage was caused by his earlier clash with Maldonado, no doubt the bill will be going to Maldonado’s bank manager!
Q2 saw Jean-Eric Vergne wipe his front wing and damage his rear suspension against the barrier before the Nouvelle Chicane. It led to a near miss between him, Daniel Ricciardo and Felipe Massa as the Frenchman was recovering his battered Toro Rosso machinery to the pits. Having only been a tenth quicker than Heikki Kovalainen in Q1, then this incident, Vergne’s qualifying struggles continue. Another driver suffering with qualifying at the moment is Jenson Button. The Brit never looked on the pace and was eliminated in Q2 for the second successive event, lining up 12th. World champion Sebastian Vettel battled his car and scraped into Q3. Having ran out of super soft tyres, he sat the final session out and begins from an uncompetitive ninth. His issues were highlighted by some team radio in Q2; “We need to add more front wing Rocky, because the car is jumping around like a rabbit!”
One unhappy world champion at Red Bull and McLaren but Lewis Hamilton’s focus continues to impress everyone. Watched on by Men in Black film star Will Smith and girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger, Hamilton looked at ease with his car on his way to third on the grid. He said afterwards to Sky Sports F1; “It’s going to be so tough with the two guys ahead, they are very quick, and very, very fortunate that Michael has his penalty, but he did a great job today and it was great actually to see Michael performing so well. I have no idea how tomorrow’s going to go. I hope the weather stays good but if it rains a little I’ll be grateful for it.”
After the first set of runs in Q3, it was the fastest driver this morning, Nico Rosberg top of the timesheets, followed by Romain Grosjean. Webber managed to string together a lap with all three sectors to record a laptime of 1.14.381, less than a tenth quicker than Rosberg. Grosjean and Lotus struggled to get tyre temperature into both sets of Pirelli compounds today and leaves him back in fifth, still a good effort. Kimi Raikkonen only just escaped Q1 and was a distant eighth in the final session. Ferrari took a cautious approach to qualifying, with both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa only doing one run in the final session. The rejuvenated Massa set the benchmark in Q2 and starts seventh, easily his best performance of 2012 so far. Alonso was just over a tenth faster and two places better off.
This paved the way clear for Schumacher to storm around the principality and set a lap of 1.14.301, fractionally quicker than Webber and Rosberg. Sadly the Spanish penalty denies him the top spot but it was a metroic lap and reminds everyone, including yours truly that he still has the ultimate speed on a flying lap. Following his penalty, Schumacher will begin from sixth, so Webber heads Rosberg, Hamilton, Grosjean and Alonso on the startline tomorrow. Ross Brawn told BBC Sport his surprise at Schumacher’s lap; “I have to confess it took a little tear from my eye. He’s been in good shape all weekend. It all came together in qualifying. The penalty is frustrating but that’s the way it is.”
Qualifying turned out to be an intense and storming session and the race could turn into another special. As many as eight drivers could count themselves to be serious contenders for the victory and over 78 laps, with unpredictable weather forecast and a high chance of Safety Cars, who knows what might happen tomorrow.
AS IN Barcelona two weeks ago, it was Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button who shared the spoils of ending up fastest in the first two practice sessions for a Grand Prix. Alonso set the pace for Ferrari by nearly half a second in FP1 and Button managed to squeeze in a run on the super soft tyre in the afternoon session on a disjointed opening day of the Monaco Grand Prix meeting. Sunday’s race is likely to be decided by qualifying positions and once again, durability of the Pirelli tyre compound and little was given away today.
This is because all the teams were affected by the lack of dry running. Persistent rain showers in the second practice session meant Monaco looked more like Britain did in April. The weather gods seem to have given us in the UK the traditional weather at the moment reserved for Monte Carlo in late May! Despite the lack of dry running, Lewis Hamilton has an inklin of who will be setting the frontrunning pace at the weekend. He told formula1.com; “I think today we got a bit of an understanding of how quick people are. The Lotus looks pretty quick and I am not quite sure what Red Bull is up to. Ferrari looks fast and so do we. So first you have the usual suspects, but we have seen before that it would be dead wrong to underestimate all others.”
Hamilton was impressed by Lotus and it looked like the Enstone team have the most consistent and best handling car so far around the Princiapality. Romain Grosjean put in a string of fastest laps together in the first practice session and ended an impressive second in both sessions. Grosjean has a good record from his GP2 days and has to be considered as a contender, providing he keeps it clean for the rest of the weekend. He said afterwards to BBC Sport; “I like Monaco. I like the track; it’s good fun. The car is going well at the moment and let’s see what we can do later on. It is important to have a car you are confident with.” Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen had a very frustrating day, failing to set a time in the first session after the team made a steering rack adjustment in the pits that didn’t go to plan. With just an installation lap under his belt, the rain wrecked Raikkonen’s hopes in FP2 and he is now playing catch-up going into Saturday’s sessions.
The Ferrari looks mighty and had much better aerodynamic and mechanical grip, which was a clear weakness in the early season races. Alonso is a double winner around here and can’t be counted out at whatever cost. He set the pace in the first session, which was held under bright blue skies. Under fire Felipe Massa had a much better day today, finishing sixth and third in the two sessions. His car seemed to still be a handful and a little kiss with the wall in FP1 at Tabac allowed race engineer Rob Smedley to produce another of his great soundbites on the team radio; “A kiss is needed in Monaco, you need to do a nice kiss!”
There was only 20 minutes of dry running in FP2 and Button had the time to see how the super soft tyre would work. Trailing by 16 points in the championship, Jenson will be keen to make up for a difficult time in both Bahrain and Spain and his afternoon time of 1.15.746 was the fastest of the day. Only the Sauber drivers and Pastor Maldonado managed time on the super soft tyre before the heavens opened in the afternoon and none of those three looked to have the pace Button did on a single lap.
World champions Red Bull continue to be a mystery as neither Sebastian Vettel or Mark Webber looked like challenging the top times. Seventh for Webber in FP2 was their best effort today and if the Milton Keynes team isn’t lucky, they could be looking at another mediocre weekend.
Kovalainen gets out of his blown up Caterham engine in FP1 (Planet F1)
As ever, Monaco caught many drivers out with Mirabeau being a real handful in the damp conditions. Massa, Sergio Perez and both Williams drivers were caught out, although none hit the barriers. The Nouvelle chicane saw many cars cut part of it off as they tested the braking limits of their cars; Narain Karthikeyan being a notable offender for HRT. The first session was also brought to an unscheduled early end when Heikki Kovalainen’s Caterham Renault engine blew up spectacularly in the tunnel, dumping contents of oil and coming to a halt on the tunnel exit.
It was a day where little could be judged on prestigious pace and only in FP3 should it remain dry can we begin to see who are the genuine contenders for pole position in qualifying.
THE elder statesman in Formula One, one of the greatest ever is going through another barren period in his failed comeback. If some say Kenny Dalglish’s second return to the Liverpool FC dugout was unsuccessful, as he was sacked this week, what does this say about Michael Schumacher’s return.
Statistics can sometimes make viewpoints ridiculous but these facts don’t lie. Two and a half years into his return and it reads; no wins, no pole positions, only twice in the top three in qualifying, no podiums and a series of desperate crashes which indicate that reactions are getting slower and speed is being lost. True, form is temporary and class is permanent but Schumacher has shown evidently little in his return and after five races in 2012, he sits a dismal 18th in the championship, with three non-finishes and just two points to show for his efforts. This is Schumacher’s worst start to a Formula One season and there will be those in the paddock will be questioning his motivation to continue.
The second Michael Schumacher certainly is a lot more relaxed than the first version and there can be no doubt that there is some enjoyment in him competing. However he isn’t delivering the results expected and no excuses about the car in 2012 should be allowed. The Mercedes was the class of the field in China, as shown by new race winner Nico Rosberg. The team probably aren’t getting the full potential out of the chassis at the moment but whereas Rosberg has finished fifth and seventh in the last two events, Michael has only managed a fortunate tenth and another DNF in Barcelona last weekend.
In their previous two years at Mercedes together, it was notable that Rosberg had been comprehensively outperformed by Schumacher at the Circuit de Catalunya, with Michael achieving fourth and sixth place finishes in that time. The tables were turned last week and his performance was simply forgettable. He only just scraped into Q3, lagged behind Rosberg on raceday and then had a clumsy accident with Bruno Senna which ended his race after just 13 laps.
Another misjudgement from Schumacher in his failed comeback last Sunday (BBC Sport)
The incident occured entering turn one, as the Mercedes had a great run on the Brazilian’s tyre-hungry Williams. At the braking zone, Senna moved but only slightly to the inside to protect his line. Despite having not pitted, this was a battle for position. Schumacher completely misjudged his braking point and smashed into him. It was an error you’d expect to see a rookie driver make, not a seven-time world champion. A five place grid penalty for Monaco next weekend is deserved and with Monte Carlo being so difficult to overtake on, his chances can’t be that good to improve on his points score. What made me laugh even more was the way he called Senna an ‘idiot,’ over the radio. Those with small memories should remember Adelaide, Jerez, Hungary 2010 when he tried to put ex-team-mate Rubens Barrichello in the pitwall. You have to admit your mistakes or you don’t improve as a driver and these are testing times for the German, who might have produced some masterstrokes in the Ferrari days but is only tainting his own reputation and status as one of the greats.
While panic stations shouldn’t be alerted now and others like Felipe Massa could be only one race away from the sack, attention must turn to 2013 and what the Mercedes GP board do. Schumacher’s contract expires at the end of the season and I think he has an intention to carry on. Ross Brawn wasn’t present in Barcelona but he won’t want more performances like this from an experienced head. Ross has got a tough decision to make, especially considering the success the pair have had at Benetton and Ferrari together. Loyalty is a big commodity to have but how far can you go? Rosberg has a long-term deal, is now a race winner and looks extremely settled and Mercedes will want a second driver who can deliver the goods on a regular basis. I’m afraid Schumacher isn’t ticking this box at the moment.
Who should Mercedes go for then? Lewis Hamilton is believed to be stalling on a new deal at McLaren, works closely with Mercedes anyways and has a great relationship with Rosberg. There’s Paul di Resta who is producing consistent performances again at Force India and is groomed by Mercedes through his successful DTM days. Although he has struggled initially in 2012, Nico Hulkenberg is German and would fit well into the marketplace, plus he has talent. Jaime Alguersuari is Pirelli test driver and would bring lots of tyre knowledge to the team for next season and although there are grave uncertainties about his full fitness, a Rosberg/Robert Kubica partnership would be dynamic, considering the Pole is out of contract now following his injuries in the past couple of seasons. There are options and Schumacher’s future looks like being an integral part of the 2013 drivers market.
I hope we see more of the best from Michael Schumacher and there have been gradual improvements, particularly in qualifying performance but there are too many troughs and issues to iron out. He might love his racing for sure but I don’t think that is going to be enough to keep him in a drive with Mercedes GP next season, unless he starts scoring points regularly and matches what Rosberg can do. It is time for Michael to step up and answer those doubters and Monaco is the perfect place to begin a fightback in his fortunes, both in the short and long term.
MCLAREN’s glaring error in not having a fuel sample to show to the FIA has seen Lewis Hamilton be stripped of his hard-fought pole position during an intriguing qualifying session for tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix. This means that Pastor Maldonado will start the race from an unlikely and sensational pole. Maldonado becomes the first Veneuzeulan driver to start a Grand Prix from the front and is the perfect present for Sir Frank Williams, celebrating his 70th birthday. It is the team’s first dry pole position since Nick Heidfeld at the European Grand Prix on Germany’s Nurburgring in 2005. Fernando Alonso produced another special performance to put his Ferrari on the front row for his home race.
Throughout qualifying, Hamilton seemed to be the only driver who was consistently at the front as many of his closest and more predominant challengers fell by the wayside. Team-mate Jenson Button complained all day about hapless amounts of oversteer and when the team made changes to the front end of the car for his final Q2 run, understeer crippled his chances. Button vented his frustration on the team radio afterwards; “The car has too much understeer now, work that one out guys!” With a face like thunder, he has to accept tenth on the grid following Hamilton’s demotion.
Another big casualty in Q2 was Mark Webber. The Australian is battling the effects of a heavy cold this weekend and Red Bull were caught out by a solid first run which saw Webber initially in second place on a 1.22.977. He sat in the garage as the track made significant gains and dropped out of the top ten for the first time since China last year. Felipe Massa also made his now customary exit from Q2 and was the slowest driver in the session, fighting his Ferrari furiously, it looked like a car that was akin to a golfer having little control on his swing and ending up in a predictable bunker!
Maldonado had looked quick in the final practice session before qualifying and was consistently fast throughout the session, looking to improve on a career best of 8th place from previous attempts. His team-mate Bruno Senna looked all at sea and chucked his Williams into the gravel after looking down at his lap delta, misjudging turn 11 and spinning off backwards at the end of Q1. To see Senna down in 17th with his team-mate on pole will make him feel as sick as a parrot. Narain Karthikeyan failed to make the 107 per cent cut-off time but has been given special dispensation to race due to a number of technical issues that have hindered his weekend. There were also solid efforts from Charles Pic and Vitaly Petrov to outqualify their team-mates at Marussia and Caterham, Timo Glock and Heikki Kovalainen respectively.
The final part of qualifying was a slow burner, with several runners including world champion Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher running system checks rather than go for pole position. Neither set a competitive lap time and consequently start 8th and 9th. A technical problem at the end of Q2 left Kamui Kobayashi stuck out on track and the Japanese driver couldn’t run in Q3. Sergio Perez underlined Sauber’s strong pace to set the sixth fastest time, quicker than Chinese Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg. Romain Grosjean bounced back from a fuel pressure problem this morning which limited his running to continue his impressive return to the sport. Grosjean will begin third, one place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen as Lotus lockout the second row and with formidable race pace from Friday’s simulations, could be in the driving seat for tomorrow.
As ever, Alonso got the absolute maximum out of his car and a front row start is a miraculous effort. Maldonado’s lap was marvellous and considering his strong pace all weekend, maybe not so much of a surprise after all. Hamilton was in a class of one, so its a shame that his team decided to let him down again.
Fireworks, drama and tactics are sure to be part of the elements tomorrow at the Spanish Grand Prix, don’t miss it!
POS
DRIVER
TEAM
LAPS
BEST TIME
1
PASTOR MALDONADO
WILLIAMS RENAULT
14
1.22.285
2
FERNANDO ALONSO
FERRARI
15
1.22.302
3
ROMAIN GROSJEAN
LOTUS RENAULT
14
1.22.424
4
KIMI RAIKKONEN
LOTUS RENAULT
13
1.22.487
5
SERGIO PEREZ
SAUBER FERRARI
14
1.22.533
6
NICO ROSBERG
MERCEDES GP
17
1.23.005
7
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
RED BULL RACING RENAULT
14
NO TIME IN Q3
8
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
MERCEDES GP
15
NO TIME IN Q3
9
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
SAUBER FERRARI
14
NO TIME IN Q3
10 (Q2)
JENSON BUTTON
MCLAREN MERCEDES
13
1.22.944
11 (Q2)
MARK WEBBER
RED BULL RACING RENAULT
8
1.22.977
12 (Q2)
PAUL DI RESTA
FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
14
1.23.125
13 (Q2)
NICO HULKENBERG
FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
13
1.23.177
14 (Q2)
JEAN-ERIC VERGNE
STR FERRARI
11
1.23.265
15 (Q2)
DANIEL RICCIARDO
STR FERRARI
11
1.23.442
16 (Q2)
FELIPE MASSA
FERRARI
12
1.23.444
17 (Q1)
BRUNO SENNA
WILLIAMS RENAULT
8
1.24.981
18 (Q1)
VITALY PETROV
CATERHAM RENAULT
8
1.25.277
19 (Q1)
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
CATERHAM RENAULT
8
1.25.507
20 (Q1)
CHARLES PIC
MARUSSIA COSWORTH
8
1.26.582
21 (Q1)
TIMO GLOCK
MARUSSIA COSWORTH
8
1.27.032
22 (Q1)
PEDRO DE LA ROSA
HRT COSWORTH
6
1.27.555
23 (Q1)
NARAIN KARTHIKEYAN
HRT COSWORTH
4
1.31.122
24
LEWIS HAMILTON
MCLAREN MERCEDES
17
EXCLUDED
LEWIS HAMILTON EXCLUDED FROM QUALIFYING AND SENT TO THE BACK OF THE GRID
MCLAREN’s Lewis Hamilton has been stripped of his pole position and will start tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix from the back of the grid. After setting his pole time on the Circuit de Catalunya, Hamilton failed to complete his in-lap back to parc ferme and was told to stop his car on the circuit by the team.
Although the initial reason wasn’t given, with Martin Whitmarsh being very coy in interviews afterwards, it was later revealed by race stewards that Hamilton didn’t have enough fuel left in his car for a standard FIA sample. This effectively declared the car as underweight and therefore, illegal.
Hamilton was thrown out of qualifying once McLaren’s argument of a fuel rig issue had been dismissed by the FIA stewards. Johnny Herbert, a driver representative on the FIA stewards panel from previous races told Sky Sports F1 his lack of symphony with McLaren; “The penalty is not harsh. The rules state that you have to have enough fuel in the car. It’s a horrible thing as they’ve done it before. It is unfortunate but it’s in the rules, its black and white and is yet another bad mistake by McLaren.”
In the very complex FIA technical regulations, this is what is stated under Article 6.6.2
“Competitors must ensure that a one litre sample of fuel may be taken from the car at any time during the event. Except in cases of force majeure (accepted as such by the stewards of the meeting), if a sample of fuel is required after a practice session the car concerned must have first been driven back to the pits under its own power.”
This ruling was brought into force following a similar incident happened after Hamilton had taken pole position for the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix. That time around, McLaren got away with a reprimand but they weren’t so lucky today.
McLaren have reluctantly accepted the decision with technical director Paddy Lowe tweeting tonight; “To all our fans: so sorry about this error. We are more gutted than anybody. An amazing performance by Lewis throughout Q, ruined.”
The stewards decision means Pastor Maldonado will start from his maiden pole position for Williams Renault tomorrow with Fernando Alonso alongside on the front row for his home grand prix.
REFLECTING on Nico Rosberg’s crazy and unecessary swerves on his rivals in Bahrain, I wanted to share my opinion on the state of defensive driving in Formula One and how lucky there hasn’t been any serious accidents because of this for a while.
Schumacher's attempt failed at Jerez in 1997 (f1wolf)
There was a time in Grand Prix racing where turning into your rival early or deliberate attempts to take a competitor out of the race seemed to be okay. Ask Michael Schumacher, who did it at Jerez in the 1997 title decider and received a very leninent penalty for the crime. Then we had the debate about weaving excessively to keep track position in defence. Damon Hill did this in Canada 1998, which upset Schumacher greatly afterwards. The boundaries continue to be pushed in the element to be totally successful.
Driving etiquette in Formula One needs to be looked at because the standards in defending a position seem to be getting worse. Any driver doesn’t want to get into a position like Jarno Trulli used to; ‘There’s a green arrow, pass me on the inside.’ However, today’s drivers need to respect their competitors more and know when track position is gone.
Rosberg’s moves on Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso in Sakhir were dangerous and he didn’t get penalised. Luckily no contact was made in either incident but they were lucky escapes. In the first incident with Hamilton on lap 10, Rosberg dived inside the McLaren as Hamilton was exiting the pits from his first pitstop. As Hamilton got into the slipstream, the Mercedes driver went to defend the inside and started to move across the road. As the Brit dived out from underneath the rear wing, Rosberg squeezed him completely off the track. Lewis had to take to the concrete asphalt to avoid Rosberg’s late direction movement and actually got infront. He might have exceeded track limits but it was either that or have an accident. I would have given Rosberg the benefit of the doubt, maybe give him a reprimand for this as he isn’t a regular offender in Formula One.
The second moment with Alonso was even more dangerous, as the Spaniard had to get out of the throttle to avoid being launched over the Mercedes car. The extra speed used thanks probably to some KERS use from the Spaniard looked frightening. Rosberg continued to move from the traditional racing line and although his direction change wasn’t quite as brutal as it was with Hamilton, he didn’t give Alonso an option and sensibly, the double champion took a safe choice and backed out of the attempted overtake on lap 25. On this occasion, I would have added some time onto Rosberg’s finishing position, maybe 5-10 seconds as there seemed to be more of a thoughtful decision in what he was doing rather than a sudden movement or rush of blood. It was risky and very severe, uncalled for actually.
No-one wants a repeat of Mark Webber’s terriyfing accident in Valencia 2010. The race stewards in Bahrain had their chance to send out a message of no nonsense and this they failed to do. Rosberg’s manoevures were not the worst ever seen in Grand Prix racing but it deserved a time penalty even if that just dropped him behind the two drivers affected in the final classifcation. He could count himself lucky to have not been sanctioned for the incidents.
On his team radio during the race, Alonso said; “He pushed me off the track. You have to leave a space, all the time you have to leave a space.” Later that evening, he posted on his Twitter page when finding out Rosberg would not be punished,“I think you are going to have fun in future races! You can defend position as you want and you can overtake outside the track! Enjoy! ;)))” It is very true but I find his reaction to this hilarious. Pot, kettle, black spring to mind Fernando. Weren’t you the driver who squeezed Sebastian Vettel onto the grass during the Italian Grand Prix last season? Vettel criticised the move and rightly so, he was brave to make it stick too.
The FIA Sporting Regulations say this under Article 20.4;
“Manoeuvres liable to hinder other drivers, such as deliberate crowding of a car beyond the edge of the track or any other abnormal change of direction, are not permitted.”
Sounds like Rosberg was guilty then but no action was taken. The defending ruling changed at the start of the season where a competitor will be penalised if they moved across the road more than once in an overtaking scenario. This ruling was brought in after the feisty scrap between Schumacher and Hamilton at Monza last year. Is it a ruling or just a guiding? After last Sunday’s incidents, you can’t help but agree to some form with Fernando Alonso.
The decision was made and at the end of the day, all the drivers have pushed the regulations of driving etiquette to the brink on occasion. Schumacher has done it all throughout his career, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton have both made questionable track movements in the past in an attempt to defend their position and even the world champion isn’t perfect. Vettel has shown his ruthlessness at times. Remember giving Jenson Button minimal space at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix last season. These examples show I’m not singling out Nico Rosberg but I reckon that a precedent has to be set, starting from the annual drivers meeting before practice for the Spanish Grand Prix on May 11. I worry that in the top line of motorsport, we have got to a point where the standard of defensive driving is getting to a very dangerous stage. Make it hard and competitive of course but fair and responsible too.
FORMULA ONE crowned a new winner today as Nico Rosberg joined the elite of winning a Grand Prix. He won the Chinese Grand Prix from Jenson Button by over 20 seconds to become the first new winner since Mark Webber triumphed at the Nurburgring in 2009. Not only that, the result sees the first triumph for Mercedes GP since their return as a full manufacturer two years ago. The last time a Silver Arrow was first past the chequered flag came at Monza in 1955, when Juan Manuel Fangio took the honours. Rosberg’s drive was through a combination of managing his tyres in another classic on the Shanghai International Circuit and steady pace throughout the 56 laps. Another third place for Lewis Hamilton saw the Brit claim leadership in the drivers championship for the first time in nearly two years.
The Mercedes cars lead the pack through the first few bends (formula1onlive.com)
Although there was no sign of rain spicing up the action, cooler track temperatures played right into the hands of the Mercedes team who have struggled with significant amounts of rear tyre wear on raceday in the past. Rosberg made no mistakes from his maiden pole position yesterday and made the perfect start. He left the rest trailing into the first corner, with team-mate Michael Schumacher keeping the chasing pack behind. This enabled Rosberg to build an early three second cushion and let the German, starting his 110th race this weekend into an early rhythm. Further back, Button gained two positions and Kamui Kobayashi dropped from his fantastic third on the grid into seventh by the end of the first lap. There was minor contact between Bruno Senna and Felipe Massa whilst world champion Sebastian Vettel had a nightmare first lap and looked completely out of contention in 15th place during the early laps.
Mark Webber’s decision to pit as early as lap seven to get rid of the graining soft tyres inspired his race and gave the event added dynamic. Drivers like Button and Hamilton pitted soon afterwards, indicating that McLaren were planning on making three tyre stops. Other teams such as Mercedes GP and Sauber went on a two stop strategy. There would be no benefit for Schumacher though, as he made his second early departure from three races in 2012. The seven-times world champion made a scheduled pitstop on lap 12, but a problem on the right front wheel meant a brief delay. The nut wasn’t tightened before the green light was given for Michael to leave the pits. He felt the problem into turn three on his return to the track and wisely pulled off the road. Mercedes would be fined for the unsafe release after the race. Schumacher told Lee McKenzie from BBC Sport; “I noticed it in Turn 3 once I started to load the front right tyre. Already by Turn 6 there was quite a bit of smoke and damage and I thought it was better to stop.” He would be the only retirement from a dramatic afternoon.
It started as a slow burner, but the Chinese Grand Prix was about to come alive from half-distance as cars on different strategies scrambled for track position. Those planning to make the extra pitstops were rejoining in traffic all the time. Both Hamilton and Button lost crucial time in the traffic; Hamilton enjoying a brief scrap with his old adversary Massa before making a clean pass. Button’s strategy meant he had a brief stint in the lead. However he never got the gap higher than the nine second mark and any lingering hope of catching Rosberg disappeared when an issue with the wheel gun on the right rear tyre led to a lengthy nine second stop during his final pit visit. It dropped Button into the traffic and left him fighting for second.
Kimi Raikkonen was part of the scrap, as the Finn planned on only making two pitstop visits. It didn’t work out as his tyres simply ‘fell off the cliff’ with nine laps remaining. In one lap he was swamped by the pack and was relegated from second to tenth. Eventually Raikkonen finished a distant 14th. The two stop strategy plan didn’t work for the Sauber drivers or Massa but it did for the two Williams cars. Bruno Senna finished an excellent seventh and Pastor Maldonado achieved his best ever result in Formula One with eighth. This included the best dice of the race with Romain Grosjean. Both survived the wheel-to-wheel entertainment and it was the Frenchman who prevailed, taking sixth place at the chequered flag for his first ever points in F1. Following Raikkonen’s drop down the field, Vettel held a surprising second place. World champions aren’t immune to tyre trouble though and just like last year, Sebastian couldn’t hold on against the more tyre friendly McLaren drivers. On the penultimate lap, Webber got past around the outside to take a satisifying fourth place.
Nico Rosberg finally becomes a Grand Prix winner (Telegraph)
The day belonged to Rosberg though as he cruised across the line to take a fantastic first victory in the sport. Button and Hamilton completed the podium positions with Webber finishing fourth for the third successive race. After the race, Hamilton said to Planet F1; “We knew Nico would be really quick, and we knew if he got away it would be hard to catch him as it proved. First pole and first win is always special so congratulations.”
Behind Vettel, Grosjean, Senna and Maldonado was Fernando Alonso. Despite racing Hamilton closely during the event, the double world champion struggled passing the two stoppers with his equipment and had to settle for ninth place. After their Malaysian success, Ferrari have been brought back to reality. Kobayashi set the fastest lap and took the final point ahead of Malaysian hero Sergio Perez, Paul di Resta and Massa.
At long last Nico Rosberg has managed to fulfil his longstanding promise. Sometimes in sport, good things do come to those who wait. Next up is the Bahrain Grand Prix in seven short days time where hopefully the action on track in Sakhir will take the headlines rather than the off-track events in the country.
MICHAEL Schumacher went quickest in the second practice session on a quiet opening day for track action in China. The German followed up a second fastest slot in the first session which was led by Lewis Hamilton. It was a day where racing on the Shanghai International Circuit was at a premium, as matters off the track dominated the headlines. This was because the FIA released a statement in the early hours of the morning to confirm the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled next week (see later story tonight for further details).
The first session was punctuated by mixed conditions, with smog and drizzle meaning there was a lack of clear indication in who looks the fastest pacesetters in China. Only in the last ten minutes did meaningful times get set; Hamilton leading the way ahead of Nico Rosberg, Schumacher and the star of Malaysia, Sergio Perez. Hamilton’s fastest lap was a full second quicker than anyone else but he does carry a grid penalty for changing a gearbox between Malaysia and this weekend. McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh confirmed to BBC Radio 5 Live this morning that Lewis was using the cracked gearbox today and the change will happen overnight. Test drivers Jules Bianchi, Valeri Bottas and Giedo Van der Garde got minor running in for their teams as Paul di Resta, Bruno Senna and Heikki Kovalainen sat out FP1 respectively.
Schumacher set the pace after a tepid start to the action this weekend (Eurosport)
A dry second session promoted more decisive running. The cooler track conditions mean that it will be a gamble to guess how the Pirelli tyres will handle in what is likely to be a warmer race circuit come Sunday afternoon. There was more action in FP2, as drivers attempted to make up for the lack of running in FP1. di Resta spun on the pit straight and Timo Glock had a late off into the barriers at the first corner, minus his Marussia Cosworth’s nosecone. A late effort from Schumacher was enough to deny Hamilton a clean sweep of the fastest times. World champion Sebastian Vettel was an encouraging third and Mark Webber backed up a radical Red Bull improvement with fourth. Championship leader Fernando Alonso had a quiet day and was a meagre tenth fastest in FP2, as Ferrari were brought back to reality after their shock Sepang success. Lotus also had a bad day, Kimi Raikkonen propped up the timesheets in FP1 after technical problems intervened.
On a day when politics ruled the sport again, Mercedes and McLaren again looked fast out of the blocks but little has been given away ahead of qualifying tomorrow morning at 7am UK time.
SHANGHAI hosts the third round of the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship. The Chinese event has now been a fixture on the Grand Prix calendar since 2004. Although it has struggled to maintain a decent attendance from the Chinese locals, the circuit is enjoyed by the drivers and with the various mix in weather conditions, the event has thrown up many special races.
The inagural event in September 2004 was won by the Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello. It was a popular win for Rubens, on a weekend where Michael Schumacher had one of his worst weekends ever at Ferrari. Schumacher had a technical problem on Friday, spun off into the gravel in single lap qualifying and in the race, had a clash with Christian Klien, another spin and a puncture. Schumacher finished a lap down and back in 12th place. Jenson Button made a two stop strategy work to finish a close second for BAR Honda whilst Kimi Raikkonen completed the first ever podium at the Chinese Grand Prix.
2005 was the season finale and there was a close battle for supremacy between Renault and McLaren Mercedes for the constructors championship. Renault carried a two point advantage and thanks to more powerful engines, dominanted the weekend. Fernando Alonso coasted to his seventh win of the season in which he became the man to knock Schumacher off his perch. McLaren’s cause to win the teams battle wasn’t helped, when Juan Pablo Montoya hit a loose drain gully, which wrecked his front suspension. Raikkonen’s second place wasn’t enough for the Woking team whilst a pitlane infringement by Giancarlo Fisichella in the sister Renault handed Ralf Schumacher a surprising podium for Toyota. Narain Karthikeyan spectacularly crashed out in the last event to witness a Jordan Grand Prix entry and Schumacher Snr had another mere in China. He unbelievably crashed into Christjian Albers on the way to the grid and then spun off behind the Safety Car. A year later, he conquered those demons.
On a wet and windy weekend in 2006, the teams running Michelin tyres had a significant advantage. All of the Bridgestone shod users like Williams and Toyota struggled with the conditions. Schumacher wrestled his Ferrari around to sixth on the grid, then put an immense drive on Sunday. He was helped by a technical retirement for Raikkonen and some poor tyre strategy from Renault which meant early leader Alonso lost a comfortable 15 second lead. The team decided to use Fisichella in an attempt to win the race, but he couldn’t hold back Schumacher’s relentless charge. The German won his 91st race in Formula One and it was one of his most unlikest successes. The delight he showed in parc ferme afterwards summed up his delight. As we stand now, this is his last win and last podium in the sport.
Tyres played a crucial role in 2007 too. Lewis Hamilton arrived with the possibility of winning the title in his stunning maiden season. He was 12 points clear of team-mate Alonso and 17 ahead of Raikkonen, now driving for Ferrari. He took a brilliant pole position and drove away effortlessly from the field in the opening laps. When the first pitstops arrived, McLaren elected to keep him on worn rubber. Raikkonen closed him down and passed him comfortably. Rather than back off and save his worn rubber, Hamilton attempted to keep pushing and the team were very reluctant to bring him in, hoping for another rain shower. It didn’t come and when he did pit, the tyres gave up their final bit of grip. Lewis agonisingly slid into the gravel trap and got beached. His race ended and with Raikkonen winning from Alonso, the championship shootout went all the way to Brazil. There was also a noticeable drive to fourth place in the unfancied Toro Rosso from a certain S. Vettel!
After the nightmare of 2007, Hamilton arrived for the penultimate event of 2008 under pressure. This followed a diabolical drive at Fuji seven days earlier. He was receiving stinging criticism from his rivals, with Alonso and Robert Kubica very outspoken about his aggressive approach. Hamilton did his talking on the track and produced a disiplined drive to an easy victory. In a race that lacked excitement, Ferrari had to play the team orders game with Raikkonen to allow Felipe Massa two extra points for second place. Kubica’s outside championship hopes ended when he was knocked out in Q2 and struggled to sixth place for BMW Sauber.
From 2009 onwards, the Chinese Grand Prix has moved from a season ending race to one of the early flyaways. Torrential rain in 2009 halted the Brawn GP march towards both championships. Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello finished third and fourth, but couldn’t match the ultimate speed from Red Bull Racing. Despite a driveshaft issue in qualifying, Sebastian Vettel took pole position and controlled the race with supreme composure, on a day when many of his rivals were sliding off the road for fun. He took Red Bull’s first ever Grand Prix victory and Mark Webber followed him home in second place. It was the start of things to come for the Milton Keynes empire.
Red Bull had a bad day in China 2010 though, trailing in a distant sixth and eigth thanks to some awful pitstops. Button got it right on the day in changeable conditions, to lead new team-mate Hamilton home for a McLaren 1-2. It was Button’s second win in four events for his new team and cemented his move from Brawn GP over the winter. Nico Rosberg produced a strong race to finish third and Alonso recovered from a blatant jump-start to record fourth for Ferrari. His fightback included a bold overtake in the pitlane entry on his team-mate Massa.
Seven different winners in seven years, but the run ended last year. Hamilton produced a metoric display to pass Vettel with four laps to go and record a brilliant victory. This was despite an engine issue nearly prevented him the chance to start the race. The 2011 race has gone down as one of the all-time classics ever in history. A fuel consumption issue blew Rosberg’s chances of a shock victory and he wound up a frustrated fifth. Poor strategy decisions from Ferrari cost Massa a deserved podium and left him trailing in sixth, but nearly half a minute clear of Alonso. Button made a meal of his first pitstop, by stopping in the wrong pitbox! He finished fourth, overwhelmed in the dying stages by the incredible Mark Webber. The Aussie finished third having started a miserable 18th on the grid.
2011 provided passing galore thanks to DRS and the Pirelli tyres. Throw in the unpredictable weather elements and I’m sure we will be in for another Shanghai stunner at the weekend.
LEWIS Hamilton will not be starting Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix from pole position. The 27-year old Brit confirmed to Sky Sports News this morning that his McLaren team have to change his gearbox following an issue was discovered by the team after the race in Malaysia three weeks ago.
Hamilton won't be starting from the front at the weekend (Guardian)
Hamilton revealed to Sky Sports F1 reporter Natalie Pinkham that the team will change the gearbox on Saturday morning. It means he will have a fresh gearbox for the race on Sunday, but at a cost of starting no higher than sixth for the race. Current regulations in Formula One mean a driver has to have a gearbox that lasts for four successive races as part of bduget restrictions. A free gearbox without grid penalty is only allowed if a driver failed to finish the last race, so that could apply to both Kamui Kobayashi and Romain Grosjean here as they recoreded DNF’s in Sepang.
Hamilton had been on pole position for the first two races of 2012 but has only managed to convert them into two podium finishes so far. With a significant upgrade brought by McLaren to Shanghai this weekend, he will be hoping for one of his famous charges to the top step of the rostrum on Sunday.
BRITAIN’s fantastic start to this season’s Formula One world championship continued in Malaysia today, as for the second successive Saturday, two British drivers take the front row of the grid. As in Melbourne last week, Lewis Hamilton took his second pole position in a row by a small margin from Jenson Button. Michael Schumacher achieved his best ever position of his second comeback, lining up third for Mercedes GP. The race tomorrow is set for an interesting battle involving looking after tyres in sweltering track and air temperatures.
The first qualifying session saw Jean-Eric Vergne ending up as the surprise casualty from the midfield, despite some threatening pace from Toro Rosso on Friday. Heikki Kovalainen will start last on the grid, following his penalty that he picked up in the race in Albert Park for overtaking cars behind the Safety Car. The Finn revealed to Sky Sports F1; “To be honest, the balance of the car wasn’t as good on the soft tyres as it was on the harder tyres. I don’t know why and whether it is the same for everybody. Even with my penalty, I reckon I will be up to my normal position quite quickly.” Kovalainen will begin behind both HRT’s, who both escaped the 107 per cent ruling and will start the event tomorrow.
In Q2, Felipe Massa failed to make the top ten, although he was a more slender 0.3secs behind Fernando Alonso. Although Alonso made it into the pole position shootout, eigth and 12th on the grid highlights Ferrari’s fundamental issues. Urgent development is required on the car before the next event in China which is on the 15 April. Also dropping out was Pastor Maldonado who created some headaches in the Williams garage by an early excursion into the gravel at turn 11, damaging barge board components.
The remains of Lotus hospitality unit after a fridge fire last night (Crash.net)
In the final session, Lotus backed up their solid pace shown throughout the weekend so far. Despite a major fire in the hospitality suite they were staying in last night, which lost them millions of pounds in equipment, the team bounced back with Romain Grosjean impressing to sixth. Kimi Raikkonen actually set the fastest time in Q2 and ended up in fifth on the timecharts. However, he will start tenth following an overnight gearbox change. Red Bull opted for split strategies on their two cars. Unhappy with the balance on the option tyre, Sebastian Vettel elected to stick on the prime tyre. Fifth place was a good save although the world champion did look deflated in the media pen afterwards. Mark Webber stuck with the traditional route and came fourth quickest, lapping fastest in Q1 and proving that the team does have some one lap pace.
As expected, McLaren and Mercedes GP set the majority of the running. A couple of basic errors on his one lap in Q3 left Nico Rosberg languishing back in seventh place. Schumacher was an amazing third fastest, lapping consistently throughout qualifying. The previous Achilles heel of his comeback seems to be put to bed. Hamilton’s great lap in the opening stages of the session was good enough, despite two attempts from Button that ultimately left him just 0.149secs behind his team-mate.
Tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix promises to be a real stormer of a race.
LEWIS Hamilton set the standard in practice for Sunday’s Malaysian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver looked comfortable on the Sepang layout throughout the day and ending up topping the timesheets today in both sessions. In the morning session, he lapped a full half a second faster than world champion Sebastian Vettel in very humid conditions. A few hours later, Michael Schumacher was the Brit’s closest challenger, but still 0.4secs slower. Although thunderstorms are forecasted for the rest of the weekend, Hamilton will start tomorrow’s qualifying session as an overwhelming favourite for pole position.
Having looked decidedly unhappy with his podium in Albert Park last Sunday, there were questions being raised about Hamilton’s attitude. However, he came across as a happier individual in the paddock today and looks in formidable form. Team-mate Jenson Button was playing down the pace of the car today, admitting to BBC Sport that this year’s regulations are making the circuit configuration harder for everyone. “It is always tricky around here. Compared to last race, there is far less grip around here. It’s working ok, but compared to last year, the new regulations make it far more difficult around here.”
Mercedes GP were McLaren’s closest rivals today, with Schumacher and Nico Rosberg featuring prominently in the top four in both sessions. Vettel, who expressed that the balance was not perfect over the team radio in the second session wound up a slightly frustrated tenth. He is normally cool, but even the young German seemed to be feeling the heat of Kuala Lumpur after his struggles this afternoon.
There was plenty of drivers who made use of the wide asphalt areas, although only Narain Karthikeyan stopped out on track today and that was after only eight laps in the first session thanks to a hydraulic glitch on the struggling HRT. The one driver who suffered the most was Paul di Resta, who went off the road twice. His first execursion was caused by a brake duct issue, which punctured one of his front tyres. The second mistake was down to driver error, although the Scot did keep the car out of the barriers.
Ferrari have brought a new chassis to this event for Felipe Massa, although the Brazilian made no impact on the times. Team-mate Fernando Alonso experimented with a new front wing in second practice and finished a solid sixth, after finishing up behind Massa in session one. There was a new driver in the car today, as GP3 champion Valterri Bottas took over from Bruno Senna this morning for Williams. The youngster accredited himself well, outpacing Pastor Maldonado before handing back driving duties to Senna this afternoon.
There was a blow for Kimi Raikkonen, when his gearbox which had been damaged by some off-roading in Australia overheated in the sweltering conditions. He will lose five grid positions for the race by getting a new gearbox. Raikkonen told Sky Sports F1; “It was a frustrating day. We struggled to get a good set-up and it felt quite slippery. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow.” Fellow Finn Heikki Kovalainen will get a five place drop too following a Safety Car infringement in Melbourne.
Raikkonen also mentioned about high levels of tyre degradation and the boss of Pirelli, Paul Hembrey has admitted that three stops are likely for most drivers on raceday. So, Mercedes GP look like a contender for top grid positions, Red Bull have work to do and McLaren certainly seem to be the leading force again. Weather permitting, Hamilton has to be confident for his chances tomorrow.
WELCOME to my first driver performance scoring chart of the 2012 Formula One season which covers how I thought every driver did in the 2012 Qantas Australian Grand Prix from Albert Park in Melbourne;
SEBASTIAN VETTEL
A quiet start to Sebastian’s season, but he showed his championship class on Sunday afternoon. By his standards, he had a messy build-up to the weekend and a costly off in the last 15 minutes of FP3 left him short of track time for qualifying. A mistake on his second lap left him down in sixth position on the grid, but he proved he could race with an aggressive start and superb early pass on Nico Rosberg. He hunted down the McLaren’s in a car that doesn’t look perfect yet and granted, there was luck in the Safety Car getting him ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Nevertheless, an excellent start to his season with second place and useful points to take to Malaysia. 8/10
MARK WEBBER
Fourth place is Mark Webber’s best ever result in Melbourne which shows his struggles in his home event before. He was the stronger of the Red Bull drivers on Friday and Saturday, even battling a KERS failure in qualifying to admirably outqualify his team-mate. A dreadful start took him out of the running for victory, recovering well to finish less than a second behind Lewis Hamilton. 7/10
JENSON BUTTON
Champagne spraying for Jenson, while Lewis preferred to taste his bubbly (McLaren.com)
Jenson Button is in such a fantastic place at the moment. He has made McLaren his own team and a controlled performance saw him ease to victory at Albert Park for the third time in four years. Fastest in the very first session of the season, the standard was set. An excellent qualifying lap saw him get within 0.1secs of Hamilton’s incredible time on Saturday. From the moment he guided his car into the lead at the first bend, there was little doubt who was going to win. A superb and faultless beginning. 10/10
LEWIS HAMILTON
At least Hamilton looked happier after grabbing a pole position (remember his Korea reaction last October.) However, his rueful look on the podium suggested he was unhappy about how his race went. He called his start ‘shocking’ which was a bit harsh, considering he only had to give way to his team-mate. McLaren stayed out fractionally longer in their first stints and Button was always going to be serviced first, thanks to track position. The Safety Car played into Sebastian Vettel’s hands, but Hamilton couldn’t get on terms with the German in the last 15 laps. He must take the positives from a solid 15 point opener, despite things not going his way on raceday. 8/10
FERNANDO ALONSO
Ferrari feared the worst when they arrived in Australia and qualifying really showed their weaknesses. However, had he not spun into the gravel in Q2, Fernando Alonso would have probably still made the top ten. His usual metoric start had him upto eighth and until half-distance, was a factor for a potential podium. Pace on low fuel and worn tyres suggest the team is still a long way off, but in Alonso’s hands, he once again got the absolute maximum out of a car that looks well off-form. 8/10
FELIPE MASSA
How can you lap three seconds off your own team-mate in the same car? Felipe Massa had a shocker in Australia. Making a basic error and spinning off at turn nine in the first practice session set the tone for his horrendous showing. Had it not been for a timing error by Lotus, he would have made an embarassing exit from Q1 with the F1 backmarkers. Although he made up six places on the first lap, he went backwards rather than forwards and looks like a driver who has admitted defeat before the season has even begun. His exit came after a silly collision with Bruno Senna when he had lost the corner to the Williams driver. Carry on like this and he won’t even see out the season with Ferrari, let alone getting a new contract for 2013. 2/10
NICO ROSBERG
Rosberg had a frustrating weekend in Australia (eMercedesBenz.com)
Australia 2012 was a frustrating weekend for Nico Rosberg, not captialising on Mercedes progress made in the winter. He trailed Michael Schumacher all weekend and a scrappy qualifying session left him seventh on the grid, when third was possible. Despite a brilliant start which saw him leap upto fourth, Rosberg struggled with chronic tyre wear. He gamely held on against Mark Webber and Pastor Maldonado, but the Safety Car cost him positions and a clash with Sergio Perez on the last lap left him out of the points. 6/10
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
Schumacher looks hungry and might have a car that will see him as a threat in 2012. He was fastest in Friday’s second practice session and looked comfortable all weekend with his new chassis. Fourth in qualifying was the best performance of his comeback on a Saturday and he held off Vettel easily until an unfortunate gearbox problem saw him make an early departure. He was struggling with rear tyre wear too, but the pace of Alonso’s final stint indicated that fifth place was a likely finish. Despite no points, plenty of encouragement for the seven-time world champion. 7/10
KIMI RAIKKONEN
The ‘iceman’ returned to F1 and his humorous team radio comment about blue flags suggested the hunger is back. Raikkonen’s weekend started badly with a power steering problem compromising his practice sessions on Friday. A mistake on his best lap and timing errors from Lotus meant Kimi was a surprising casualty in Q1 but he raced well. He will have taken great satisfaction in passing his former team-mate Felipe Massa and his overtake on Kamui Kobayashi in turn four was quality. Frustrated with seventh but it was a strong comeback. 7/10
ROMAIN GROSJEAN
Having looked all at sea on Friday, Romain Grosjean stunned the paddock with a magnificent performance in Saturday qualifying to line-up a magnificent third on the grid. His race was very brief and with a bit more experience, probably should have backed out when he lost position to Pastor Maldonado on the second lap. However, the contact was slight, so the Frenchman was unlucky to have suffered broken front suspension. He will learn from this and come back better for the experience. 7/10
PAUL DI RESTA
Second season syndrome for the Scot perhaps as di Resta was outshone by Nico Hulkenberg all weekend. Nevertheless, he kept battling away in a car that didn’t have the pace that testing had predicted and he showed his guile from year one to pull off a pass on Jean-Eric Vergne in the last corner and steal the final championship point of the afternoon. 6/10
NICO HULKENBERG
Hulkenberg looked composed on Friday to come second fastest in changeable conditions during afternoon practice. He qualified a solid ninth and made a great start too. Unfortunately, a knock from Mark Webber in the first corner melee damaged his steering and meant its two visits to Melbourne and no laps completed in either race. 6/10
KAMUI KOBAYASHI
Having gone fastest in Q1, Kamui Kobayashi underperformed in the second qualifying session and lined up an unlucky 13th. He had a great dice with Kimi Raikkonen in the race and despite being passed brilliantly by the Finn on lap 24, overtook him again after the Safety Car period. Benefited from Maldonado’s late crash to finish an unexpected sixth. 7/10
SERGIO PEREZ
A gearbox failure detected after his first run in qualifying left Sergio Perez at the back of the grid. He tried a risky one-stop strategy, which unlike 2011, won’t have worked had the Safety Car not intervened. He was seventh on the last lap, but a touch with Rosberg left his car wounded in the final few corners, leaving him powerless to defend against Kobayashi and Raikkonen. Considering all that, eighth place completed a strong start to the campaign for the Sauber team. 6/10
DANIEL RICCIARDO
Home nerves didn’t get to Daniel Ricciardo, who fought back well after a tricky beginning. Having qualified in the top ten, an iffy start left him part of a midfield melee and contact with Bruno Senna in the first corner left him needing to stop for repairs. Like Perez, the Safety Car brought back onto the tail of the midfield group, but he pulled off an aggressive pass on his team-mate to finish a creditable ninth and take round one in the Toro Rosso battle. 7/10
JEAN-ERIC VERGNE
There were rookie mistakes, but the Frenchman equipped himself pretty well on his debut. He only narrowly missed out on Q3 and despite two trips into the gravel during the race, might have taken a point. Only denied by a more experienced Ricciardo and di Resta pipping him in the last lap midfield frenzy. Still, plenty of potential here. 6/10
BRUNO SENNA
The Senna name is back at Williams, but Bruno had a tough time in Australia. He was a distant 14th in qualifying and got clobbered by Ricciardo on the first corner, leaving him with a puncture. Didn’t see a lot of him after that before another racing incident, this time with countryman Massa, left him with another puncture. Ultimately, suspension damage put paid to his chances of registering a finish. 5/10
PASTOR MALDONADO
If only for another half a lap! Pastor Maldonado was my surprise package of the weekend. The Venezuelan seems to excel on street circuits and he looked set for sixth place when he clobbered the wall hard on the last lap. Eighth place in qualifying, a lovely pass on Romain Grosjean early on and he kept up with the likes of Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso with consummate ease. If he cuts out the basic errors, Maldonado could well cash in on a far better Williams later in the season. 8/10
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
Less than 0.7secs behind Kimi Raikkonen in qualifying proves that Caterham have made progress over the winter. The trouble is, everyone else has too. Heikki Kovalainen was delayed in the first corner and ran behind his team-mate Vitaly Petrov until an unspecified technical problem forced his retirement. An unseen infringement behind the Safety Car costs him a five place grid penalty for this weekend’s race in Kuala Lumpur. 5/10
VITALY PETROV
The star of last year’s race – Vitaly Petrov’s debut for Caterham will be one he will want to forget. Although he ran ahead of Kovalainen in the race, it was a steering problem that ended his day early and caused the deployment of the Safety Car. At least it added to the mixture in the closing stages. 5/10
TIMO GLOCK
Timo Glock battled well against the odds all weekend. He kept his head down and finished the race in 14th, only a lap adrift on his birthday. He got good mileage for Marussia and leaves the team with a shade of encouragement after a miserable pre-season. 6/10
CHARLES PIC
Charles Pic didn’t quite get to the end of the race, as high oil pressure saw him park up in the pits with five laps to go. Like Glock, the race was only going to be an extended test session, so 53 laps extra under his belt will no doubt help for future challenges. 5/10
As they didn’t qualify, I will not be rating the Hispania drivers this weekend.
On the first weekend back, plenty of excellent performances, some will be frustrated will how it went and others will seriously need to raise their game very quickly, starting in Malaysia this weekend.
JENSON Button made the dream start to the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship this morning. The Brit took his third Australian Grand Prix victory in Melbourne, leading from the start in a dramatic season opener. The 32-year old Brit started on the front row of the grid, but took full advantage of a wheelspinning start from team-mate Lewis Hamilton to lead into turn one and control proceedings in Albert Park from there. World champion Sebastian Vettel used a Safety Car period to leap into a fortunate second place, ahead of a rueful Hamilton, who looked disappointed with his final result of third.
Hamilton may have started on pole position, but conceded his Saturday advantage in an instant when he made a poor start. Button drew alongside his team-mate and even shifted into second gear earlier than he should have, which nearly threw away his early advantage. Michael Schumacher made an excellent start to move into third place, whilst Nico Rosberg charged into fourth from seventh on the grid as Romain Grosjean lost early positions in his Lotus. Further back, another slow start from Mark Webber triggered the traditional chaos into Albert Park’s tight first corner. Both Toro Rosso’s were involved in the meleee, with Daniel Ricciardo launching Bruno Senna’s Williams into the air. Both pitted for damage repairs at the end of the first lap. Meanwhile, a knock from Webber ended Nico Hulkenberg’s return to F1 before the lap was out. The order was Button, Hamilton, Schumacher, Rosberg, Vettel and Grosjean.
Grosjean’s race didn’t last much longer as contact with Pastor Maldonado on the second lap put the Frenchman into early retirement. Grosjean blamed his rival for the incident, telling Sky Sports F1; “I think Maldonado wanted to overtake me and braked miles too late and I couldn’t give more room. He hit my front wheel so it’s very disappointing.” Actually, the Williams driver was passed and it was only glancing contact that terminally broke the Lotus front suspension. Ultimately, a racing incident but nothing else that Maldonado could have done. Moments before, Vettel pulled off an outstanding pass on Rosberg to inherit fourth and chase after the sister Mercedes of Schumacher.
On lap six, an uncharacteristic error from Vettel saw him slide off in the first corner, luckily not losing a position. Five laps later, Schumacher copied the move, but a gearbox problem put paid to the Mercedes GP driver’s strong weekend. After the first round of pitstops, Button maintained his position at the front and by half distance, he had stretched his advantage over Hamilton to ten seconds. The McLaren team did leave their cars out when the softer Pirelli tyres ‘hit the cliff.’ Hamilton did an extra lap longer and this allowed Vettel to seriously reduce the seven second deficit between the pair. Fernando Alonso was showing that Ferrari did have some strong pace on heavier tanks of fuel, with the Spaniard in fourth ahead of Rosberg’s tyre hungry Mercedes GP and the recovering Webber. Further back, Kimi Raikkonen was entertaining the crowd as the returning Finn got into a feisty dice with Kamui Kobayashi. He also produced one of the early soundbites of the season on his team radio, when he said; “Why am I getting all the blue flags?” Race engineer Simon Rennie’s cool response was; “The blue flags are for other drivers, they are not for you Kimi!”
A double pitstop from McLaren on lap 36 looked set to have cemented the team’s 1-2 position, but Vitaly Petrov stopped his Caterham on the start-finish straight seconds later. With the Russian’s car in an tricky position, the Safety Car made its first apperance this season. Crucially, Vettel headed for the pits and didn’t have to slow down under the SC delta time given to all the drivers. Hamilton did and this enabled the champion to move into a dangerous second place, much to Hamilton’s frustration. At the restart, Button caught the rest napping and opened up a three second lead which never looked troubled as the race entered its closing stages. Attention soon focused on the battles behind and a dramatic final lap.
Chasing down a struggling Alonso, Pastor Maldonado had driven a sensational race and was on course for sixth place, which would have been his best ever result. On the final lap, the Venezuelan exited turn six and dropped a wheel on the astroturf. The lack of grip from his worn tyres meant he had no time to react and the result was a smashed Williams into the barriers. It was a sorry end to a stunning performance. Yards later, Sergio Perez and Rosberg touched in the fast turn 11 chicane. Both cars were hobbled and it allowed for some furious scrapping and a frantic finish for the final points positions. Ultimately, it was Daniel Ricciardo who benefited the most – vaulting up from 12th to 9th on the final tour.
Amidst all that last lap drama, Button crossed the line to secure a brilliant victory from Vettel, Hamilton and a fired up Webber, who recorded his best ever result in the Australian Grand Prix. Alonso did drop half a minute in the closing stages but salvaged fifth on a very difficult weekend for Ferrari. His team-mate Felipe Massa frankly drove like a pig on rollerskates all afternoon! He never got higher than ninth and his shocking performance ended following a messy tangle with Senna entering turn four. Although a stewards investigation was launched, neither driver was penalised. In the final lap melee, Kobayashi wound up an excellent sixth, followed by Raikkonen, a damaged Perez, Ricciardo and Force India’s Paul di Resta, who sneaked past Vergne to take the last point on the final corner of the race. A crestfallen Rosberg limped home 12th, leaving team principal Ross Brawn frustrated. He told BBC Sport; “Both drivers reported trouble with the tyres very quickly and we had to manage them all race. Michael’s gearbox problem was an added disappointment and Nico reported Perez hadn’t been fair, which added salt into the wounds.”
On the team radio, Button said; “Fantastic, what a brilliant way to start the season. You know, it shows what the winter does. The car is beautiful and the car is the quickest.” He is confident and on top of the world, both in morale and the early points leaderboard. It was a superb opener and we only have to wait seven days for hopefully more of the same in Malaysia. | {
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This item is out of stock.
The drop front work surface of this desk is TOO heavy not to have any additional support. I read several reviews before purchasing. We used the hinges enclosed by the mfg AND installed a piano hinge. I still felt that the worksurface would not withstand much weight or pressure. But, before I could decide how to handle it, I was moving the assembled piece (with furniture movers underneath the legs) and the door came open on its own causing the screws in the mfg supplied hinges to be pulled out of the wood, mollies and all.!! So, in my opinion this is a very bad design. When I called Overstock, I was instructed to disassemble & return the item. I don't have the boxes (since all parts were there we put them out for the trash) and our local UPS store said it would cost me approx $100 to buy right size boxes. Last time buying large furniture items online, just too much hassle unless they have a gold glove delivery option allowing for assembly, delivery & pick up if not satisfactory !!! In my opinion this desk could actually be dangerous.
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school
CBSE set to Reform Class X and XII Exam Pattern from 2020 Onwards According to reports and the media, the Central Board Secondary Education has decided to make some changes in the examination pattern of class 10 and class 12 from 2020 as part of an overhaul that would include changes in the examination schedule […] | {
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Nice Idea for an MMORPG, but lacks in EVERYTHING!
While this seems like this will be a great game, it lacks a lot of important features. First, a walkthrough of the controls, it took me quite a while to even understand what i was doing! Second, an understandable map. One can see where the exits are, but you don't get much else help from it. Third, there is no direction to the game. I played for two weeks, actually gained levels from the imposible to find monsters, and still (in addition to not understanding what to actually DO in the game) the game never told me to do a quest or talk to anyone! Don't even play this game, unless your a fan of good graphics, and this game still lacks that a little.
Other Helpful Reviews for PlaneShift
This is it, the game for all those who don't want to spend money to have fun! Planeshift is still a working progress but you can tell its going to be No.1 in the Role Playing community. It is already showing signs of co... Read Full Review
Gameplay: The movement is easy, but you need to learn how to use game commands to succed in PlaneShif world, you can customize your commands to your needs. If you are a newbie, I'll recommend you to find a mentor who can... Read Full Review | {
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} |
An embarrasment of riches
Keith Vaz has been widely pilloried in recent months as a parliamentary investigation into his affairs detailed his ownership of a string of homes. But why are Labour MPs so susceptible to these housing 'scandals'? And why do we care what properties they own? Andy McSmith reports on wealth, power, pride and prejudice
Home alone: Keith Vaz makes his speech to the Commons on 13th February, after being suspended for a month
MINISTERS in this New Labour government seem to run into a lot of difficulties over where they live. Since taking power in 1997, there have been so many outcries about where ministers choose to reside, the homes they own and how they came to buy them that it is almost as if property transactions are doing for Labour what the Paris Ritz did for the Conservatives.
The latest in a long line of embarrassments is Keith Vaz, who three days ago was suspended from Parliament for a month after the publication of Elizabeth Filkin's damning report on his conduct. An earlier investigation by Mrs Filkin, the departing Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, generated immense press interest in Mr Vaz's business affairs and home-ownership.
It was revealed that he owned two, adjoining, semi-detached houses in his Leicester East constituency, which are thought to be worth £55,000 each, a flat in Kennington, south London, worth about £300,000, and a flat in Pimlico, close to Westminster, worth about the same. He and his wife Maria, a solicitor, had also bought a four-bedroom, detached house in Stanmore, Middlesex, now thought to be worth about £400,000. A few months ago, Mr Vaz, his wife, and his mother were also negotiating to buy a London townhouse for £900,000.
As the details of this portfolio emerged, Mr Vaz's career drowned under a tidal wave of speculation about how he could have made so much money; an MP's annual salary was just £18,500 when he entered Parliament in 1987 and although it now stands at £51,800, Mr Vaz had collected the extra ministerial allowance, which would bring him up to £82,700, for only 18 months.
Under this pressure, he found it difficult to do his job as Minister for Europe. He fell ill and resigned after the election. Since returning to Parliament last summer, he has, according to Mrs Filkin, refused to co-operate with her inquiry and subsequently been found to have committed "serious breaches" of the MPs' code of conduct.
Mr Vaz has been unrepentant, refusing to divulge the details of his multiple home-ownership. The seeds of the scandal were sown after it emerged that he had transferred the Kennington flat into his mother's name before replying to questions on how many properties he owned.
Furthermore, that flat and his Stanmore home appeared to have been occupied by people other than the Vaz family for several years although no rental income was declared in the MPs' register of interests. Nevertheless, Mr Vaz has struck a curiously uncowed pose since her findings were made public, launching an outspoken attack on the day and maintaining to the House that he had co-operated with her investigation "in every possible way".
It is this lack of humility which seems to be at the core of New Labour's property PR problems. Take Shaun Woodward, the Labour MP for St Helens. Since the former Conservative MP defected to Labour, we have heard endlessly about his £8 million Oxfordshire mansion, Sarsden Hall, and his £4 million Kensington townhouse. Both were bought with money accrued by Mr Woodward when he married Camilla Sainsbury and the London property was shared with Peter Mandelson while he was between homes.
When Mr Woodward decided to sell his London home, the column writers sharpened their pencils and fell about with glee, for his choice was not a property on a more modest scale, but four staggeringly ostentatious flats across the capital including a £3.2 million penthouse overlooking the Houses of Parliament. "These homes are all for the private use of my family and they are our private business," Mr Woodward declared. "We are selling our house in Queen Anne's Gate and it is nobody's business where we now choose to live."
And whereas newly elected MPs are normally praised if they go to the expense of buying themselves a home in their constituency, Mr Woodward's acquisition of a £56,000, red-brick house overlooking a glassworks chimney in St Helens brought him nothing but ridicule, even before it was revealed he had never even bothered to visit it. He is now understood to be lavishing a further £120,000 on the place to make it meet his needs.
Mr Woodward's case seems to suggest that double standards apply: it seems acceptable for Conservative politicians to own property, but not for Labour ones. We seldom heard, for example, about the enormous wealth of Sir Tim Sainsbury when he was a Tory minister. Similarly, little was said about the great wealth that Shaun Woodward acquired when he married Sir Tim's daughter - at least, not while Mr Woodward was a Conservative MP. All that changed when he switched sides.
When Mr and Mrs Thatcher bought a house in Dulwich for £400,000 in 1985, then resold it seven years later for a reputed £595,000 without ever having lived in it, people were interested, but not scandalised. Tony and Cherie Blair, by contrast, sold their Islington house as soon as they had moved into Downing Street seemingly to avoid any outcry - a shrewd but very expensive decision because, one day, the couple will have to buy back into the London property market. Mrs Blair is said by friends to resent deeply the financial loss.
Why, though, should these domestic arrangements be so fraught with political risks? Labour politicians appear much more trouble-prone than Tories when it comes to property. When the Blairs took their holidays in a Tuscan villa owned by Geoffrey Robinson, they ran into so much criticism that they now take pains to pay in full for their holidays. Yet Margaret Thatcher was able to borrow the late Woodrow Wyatt's Tuscan villa without any such fuss, even though she appointed Lord Wyatt to a very well paid post as chairman of the Tote.
The problem is that such behaviour does somehow seem worse among Labour MPs. The example that everyone remembers is Peter Mandelson's former residence in Notting Hill, purchased with the help of a secret loan of £373,000 from his colleague Geoffrey Robinson. The failure to declare his indebtedness to someone whose business activities were then investigated by the very department which Mr Mandelson headed caused his first resignation from the Cabinet.
Mr Mandelson is not the only one to have found that property ownership can turn into a form of political negative equity. Michael Meacher, the Environment minister, is also a multiple home-owner: together with his wife, he has at least eight properties. In his case, there is no mystery about why he can afford them, because his wife is wealthy. He says there is no legitimate public interest in how the family invests its money.
Some critics, however, have accused him of hypocrisy because of the suggestion he made at the Labour conference two years ago that the rights of those able to buy second homes should be curtailed where they interfered with the rights of poor people to buy low-cost homes locally. The idea was never government policy.
John Prescott also ran into trouble over a flat in Clapham, south London, which he has rented for decades. He had kept it on after he acquired two grace-and-favour residences as Deputy Prime Minister. In the meantime, he allowed his son to use it. This became controversial while Mr Prescott was in charge of transport, because the flat is owned by a transport union and leased at below market rent. However, he was cleared by a parliamentary inquiry and has since bought the flat, earning himself the nickname "Four Pads".
Chancellor Gordon Brown's reputation has remained relatively untarnished by sleaze while in government, but he was shown up as having found a London flat at a knock-down price - again with help from the ever-accommodating Geoffrey Robinson, who served in Mr Brown's Treasury with the somewhat suggestive title of Paymaster General. Mr Brown also used to borrow Mr Robinson's seaside flat in Cannes.
The post of Lord Chancellor comes with a very desirable official residence in the Palace of Westminster, designed by Augustus Pugin, so, for Lord Irvine, the embarrassment was not where he lived, but what he put in it. This included a £14,000 dining-table, eight mirrors costing a total of £32,768, and £57,233 worth of handcrafted wallpaper - all at public expense.
In April 1998, when the £590,000 worth of restoration and refurbishment was complete, the residence was opened to selected visitors. One of them, Stephen Bayley, remarked: "Pugin himself would have deplored the pompous extravagance of Irvine's restoration. You can pay your respects to Pugin without this gormless interpretation."
So is it simply unfair that Labour MPs run into such dreadful difficulties over their property affairs or do they bring the trouble on themselves through sheepishness about their arrangements? Whether we are talking about the former First Minister of Scotland, Henry McLeish's sub-letting of his Edinburgh offices, Peter Mandelson's home loan or Keith Vaz's many properties, a secrecy seems to surround them. A deeper explanation may be that Woodward, Meacher, Mandelson, Vaz and the rest are victims of changing times.
During the property boom of the 1980s, the public objected less than it does now to conspicuous wealth. Then it seemed that almost everyone would have a chance to join in. Now, as more and more people are unable to scramble on to the property ladder, many voters are more inclined to empathise with words written by a rising politician nearly 20 years ago: "Housing is not, or should not be, a status symbol, an object of conspicuous consumption, or a source of market power or wealth. It is a place where individuals and families should be able to live and inter-relate in mutual happiness. Too many people have second homes or too large homes for their needs, while too many others are homeless or overcrowded or even lacking basic facilities."
Those noble sentiments appear in a book called Socialism with a Human Face, by Michael Meacher. The change in mood makes what Mr Meacher said then more easily acceptable than what he does now, and has brought about a shift in the balance of political power. The Labour Party has gained from this and if a few well-off Labour politicians have suffered consequent embarrassment, they cannot really complain.
Andy McSmith is chief political correspondent of 'The Daily Telegraph'. His first novel, 'Innocent in the House', is published by Verso (£13). | {
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Monday, May 23, 2011
The Monday After the Packing
So my Butterfly In The Attic Shop is all packed up and ready to go. I am really out of shape because that little bit really wore me out. But on the upside Postcards In The Attic is still up and running strong and it will give me a chance to give it a little bit more love. It has been kind like the middle child and needs some TLC. So to kick off this new dedication here are a few of the treasuries featuring some of my fun postcards in them. Please take a little time to check them out. They offer beautiful handmade jewelry, amazing organic soaps, and other wonderful treats. I am absolutely addicted to shopping at ETSY. | {
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FAQ
How long will it take for my order to arrive?
Worked directly with distributors in the United States. Will process and ship your order the same day. Shipping time will vary based on your location, as we can't control the speed. The arrival time is between 1-3 business days.
Why are you guys giving away free stuff?
All of our "free stuff" are promotional products. Many customers think it's too good to be true there must be a catch. The only catch is that the shipping will be at your cost.
Why are a lot of products on sale?
We work with many distributors to find the best deals for our customers. | {
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June 12 2017
Letter from your board through the 2017 A OK president: John Robinson (1)
Theme for 2017: Fiber is Our Harvest. Make it the best fiber possible.
We had a very successful first half of 2017 with A OK board election meeting, Dr. Norm Evans education seminar, OYE, shearing, successful participation in national shows by A OK members and now it is June.
What is in store for members in the second half of year 2017:
In a word, lots!!
June-July: Ongoing A OK show committee and board meetings to coordinate events and benefits for members. All active members and members to be are encouraged to volunteer..open door policy. Go to Alpacas of Oklahoma Website and contact a board member, better yet call a board member and volunteer to help promote our state’s Alpaca industry.
Toppriorities for board: 1. organize 2-4 annual activity/education events for members. 2. Increase the benefit to cost ratio for our A OK members. 3. Create ways to increase membership for the A OK organization. 4. Create and utilize better social/media communications with members. 5. Explore ways to use social media to enhance public awareness of our Alpaca industry in Oklahoma. 6. Build relationships with the state’s Agritourism and Made in Oklahoma initiatives. (4H included in these initiatives via OYE). 7. Ask for sponsors to help promote our industry’s education events. The more sponsors we have, the lower the cost can be for our participating members.
Top priority for hard working show committee: get the show ready to open and communicate the exciting changes in 2017 Alpaca Show and Holiday Shopping Blastoff. Members watch for e-mails and post cards with details.
September 30th: Membership meeting to be held at Greg and Lynn Summers, Greg, a new board member in 2017, and Lynn have graciously agreed to host our Saturday meeting: Pot Luck. Show kickoff. We are working on a Oklahoma Department of Agriculture representative to make a short presentation to our attending members. (Agritourism, Made in Oklahoma, and the SHOW Good Stuff!!)
October: A OK has participated in the Edmond Oklahoma WINGS Pumpkin Patch event during the past two years. Participation is pending at this time. Board members are investigating details. More later.
November 10th, 11th, 12th: It is here. The A OK Alpaca Show and Holiday Shopping Blastoff. This year at Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, Shawnee, Oklahoma. We are excited to be back at this venue. The area offers nearby hotel accommodations, entertainment sites, more restaurant choices and EASE OF ACCESS; right off 4 lane highway 177, south of I 40. The challenge: Every member of A OK bring at least one animal for the Blastoff and invite someone you know to bring an animal. Share a stall. But come to the show!!! (let’s target level III show – 300 animals??)
A OK Board 2017
1. John Robinson 1, President
2. Sheila Robinson, Vice President
3. John Robinson 2, Treasurer
4. Al Boyce, Secretary
5. Kerry Bates, at large
6. Greg Summers, education coordinator
7. Karla Moore, at large
Special Thanks to
1. Mazuri Feed (sponsor for Dr. Norm Evans)
2. Prairie States Insurance (sponsor for Dr. Norm Evans)
3. Bobby and Diane Dickerson (sponsor for Dr. Norm Evans)
4. ALL Volunteers, board members, show committee members for the HOURS spent preparing and promoting A OK’s annual events.
Thanks to all our members who participate and share the love of the business called Alpacas. Let’s grow together. | {
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} |
A similar rumor surfaced in late April saying that Chrome OS laptops would be available for $10 to $20 per month. The earlier rumor did not mention a student program. Forbes says its information is based on discussions with a "senior Google executive."
It's not clear what the new Chrome OS hardware would look like or how similar it would be to the 12.1-inch CR-48 proof-of-concept device distributed to journalists and select users in late 2010.
Current rumors suggest Chrome OS netbooks from Samsung and Acer are under active development. The Samsung device is rumored to have a 10-inch screen, 1.5 GHz Atom N550 dual-core processor, and 2GB RAM. Google has said all Chrome OS netbooks will use solid-state drives to offer a small amount of onboard storage.
Hardware refreshes?
The older Chrome OS subscription rumor, reported by Neowin, said the package would include periodic hardware refreshes, but it's not clear how often subscribers might be offered a new laptop. Google would also replace a subscriber's device should the hardware fail, according to the older rumor. Chrome OS laptops would also be offered to regular consumers for a one-time fee, according to Neowin, something that Google has been promising for nearly two years. The previous rumor also said Chrome OS laptops would be available in June or July.
Online services?
It's not clear what Forbes meant by the $20 student package combining both "hardware and online services." Google Web apps such as Google Docs and Gmail are already free for individual users and would be available with or without a Chrome OS laptop. Perhaps it means you will have access to enterprise versions of Google's online productivity apps through your university, but that is just speculation. Forbes expects Google's student offering is a pilot project before Google starts selling Chrome OS hardware subscriptions to enterprise customers.
Google gears replacement?
Another interesting tidbit at the end of the Forbes report is the claim by the unnamed Google executive that a replacement for Google Gears is close to release. Google Gears is a browser plug-in that caches recent data from Gmail and Google Docs to give you offline access to Google's Web applications. Google announced in early 2010 it had stopped active development of Gears, promising an HTML 5-based replacement in the coming months. | {
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My Bookshelf
Heather Barbieri has written a novel about loss, and finding yourself- about moving on and moving up.It is the story of Kate, a young American, steeped in heartbreak. She takes the trip of a lifetime to Ireland, and makes friends with...
Sarah Addison Allen's third book is another flight of fancy into the world of small town America.
It is the story of a teenage girl coming home to live with the grandfather she never knew, and learning the secrets behind her mother's d...
This books is filled with seasonal ideas for family togetherness. The ideas are sweet, some are based on Victorian traditions, some are based on more recent ideas. Her seasonal living traditions are worth looking at, and some are even wor... | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
[TowerTalk] Pouring concrete
Jim McDonald wrote
To: <[email protected]>
> Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2001 21:30:07 -0700
> From: "Jim McDonald" <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Pouring concrete
>
> Brad,
>
> How far is it from the spot where you'd stop the truck to the holes?
Would
> a concrete pump work? I'm thinking of the type you might have seen in
> commercial work, pouring highways or big slabs. They use a LONG boom of
> several sections of tubing and an auger that pushes the concrete from the
> truck into and through the tubing.
>
Pumping is probably the tidiest method but don't forget that at the end of
the pump you still have all the concrete in the pipeline to dispose of.
Depending on the length and internal diameter of the pipeline you could have
up to a cubic yard of concrete to dispose of. More barrowing required!!
Offer it to your neighbour for free. No worries about TVI then!
ps - As a construction engineer I've designed and supervised thousands of
yards of pumped concrete on major projects.
Mike ZL1BNB (RE, MIPENZ and BE (Civil) - something like your PE's)
List Sponsor: ChampionRadio.com - Trylon self-supporting towers,
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-----
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: [email protected]
Administrative requests: [email protected]
Problems: [email protected] | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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Graphic Design Major
1. Expand technical knowledge by using a variety of computer software and hardware including multimedia and web design.
2. Master problem solving skills through the exploration and extensive us of graphic design software.
3. Gain an appreciation for the principles of visual communication by studying typography and design theory as well as designers who have contributed to our overall understanding and application of visual design.
4. Develop confidence in presenting work that is output from a computer through traditional graphic design studio presentation techniques.
5. Prepare for an entry-level position using a multitude of design tools and techniques by preparing a professional design portfolio for career proposes.
Core Art Requirements: 33 Credits
AR 101 Drawing 1
AR 114 Introduction to Graphic Design
AR 209 Photography 1
AR 222 Color and Design
AR 223 Graphic Design 1 (Typography)
AR 224 Graphic Design 2 (Type and Image)
AR 300 Graphic Design 3 (Art of the Poster)
AR 314 Impressionism to Now
AR 325 Printmaking 1
AR 371 Three Dimensional Design
AR 400 Graphic Design 4 (Thesis and Packaging)
Technology Required: Nine Credits in elective courses
IS 243 Multimedia Development
IS 245 Website Design and Development
IS 443 Advanced Multimedia Design
Business Requirements: Three Credits
BU 301 Consumer Behavior
BU 390 Advertising
Co-op Requirements: Three Credits
AR 295
AR 395
AR 495
Notre Dame College
Consistent with its mission, Notre Dame College's curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts with majors that are characterized by depth, breadth, and contemporary scholarship. Our small classes are led by a dedicated faculty who are committed to guiding students as they work to develop and achieve their personal, academic, and professional goals. | {
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Approved Cooperatives List
Welcome to the City of Columbia's Cooperative Purchasing Warehouse
Cooperative procurement (or piggy-backing off another government agency's previously solicited contract) has been proven to reduce administrative and product costs, increase efficiencies and stretch shrinking budgets during difficult times. Cooperative procurement aggregates the purchasing power of multiple government agencies in order to entice the vendor community to offer deeper discounts on goods and services. Cities, counties, states and school districts across the country, including Columbia, MO, are demonstrating "improved operating results" (IOR) and cutting their bottom line by utilizing cooperative procurement on a larger scale.
Please browse the numerous governmental cooperatives the city may utilize listed in our "warehouse". If you wish to utilize any of the coops please contact purchasing for assistance. If you find a coop you wish to purchase from, which is not listed, please let purchasing conduct the proper research for competitive bidding, insurance and prevailing wage, as it may apply as well as document retrieval prior to initiating a purchase.
Under the Cooperative Purchasing Program, state and local government entities may purchase a variety of Information Technology (IT) products, software, and services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedule 70, Information Technology, as well as from contracts under the Consolidated (formerly Corporate Contracts) Schedule containing IT special item numbers. State and local government entities may also purchase alarm and signal systems, facility management systems, firefighting and rescue equipment, law enforcement and security equipment, marine craft and related equipment, special purpose clothing, and related services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedule 84, Total Solutions for Law Enforcement, Security, Facility Management Systems, Fire, Rescue, Special Purpose Clothing, Marine Craft, and Emergency/Disaster Response.
Under the Disaster Recovery Purchasing Program, state and local government entities may purchase a variety of products and services from contracts awarded under GSA Federal Supply Schedules to facilitate recovery from a major disaster, terrorism, or nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attack.
When a Public Health Emergency (PHE) is declared, state, local, tribal and territorial governments can now benefit from the speed, savings, and ease of use of the Federal Supply Schedules. These eligible ordering entities are now authorized to access all Federal Supply Schedules for the purchase of supplies and services when expending federal grants funds in response to Public Health Emergencies (PHEs) declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Services Act, codified at 42 U.S.C. § 247d.
Section 1122 of the fiscal year 1994 National Defense Authorization Act established the authority for states and units of local government to purchase law enforcement equipment through federal procurement channels, provided that the equipment is used in the performance of counter-drug activities.
U.S. Communities is a government purchasing cooperative that pools the purchasing power of public agencies to provide lower cost of goods and services to local governments, public schools, and non-profit organizations.
PSS is non-profit cooperative purchasing organization that is a division of the Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing. The PSS provides discounted contracts to public entities across the country.
The APS is a group purchasing organization affiliated with Missouri Hospital Association and the Kansas Hospital Association. The APS serves organizations in Missouri and Kansas by providing members access to more than 50 contracts mainly focused on the needs of medical organizations.
The KCRPC is a local government purchasing cooperative and a partnership of the Mid-America Regional Council, the Mid-America Council of Public Purchasing (MACPP) and local governments. The KCRPC is managed under a steering committee made up of city and county managers and purchasing officials.
H-GAC is a regional council of local governments governed by board of officials from governments in the region. All of the contracts are awarded by the board then made available for any state, local government or qualifying non-profit. HGACBuy contracts focus on capital intensive goods and services ranging from emergency vehicles to financial consulting services.
BuyBoard is the result of collaboration between various state boards of education through the National School Board Association. The cooperative serves school districts and all other public entities as well by posting catalogs of vendors online and by assisting in the purchasing process.
The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS/TAPS) is sponsored by the Region VIII Education Service Center (ESC8) located at 2230 North Edwards, Mt. Pleasant, Texas and is governed by the Region 8 ESC Board of Directors. The Interlocal Purchasing System is available for use by all public and private schools, colleges, universities, cities, counties, and other government entities.
At its core, NJPA is a Member-driven service cooperative with a Membership now exceeding 30,000. NJPA offers a multitude of products, equipment and service opportunities to education, government and other non-profit entities.
WSCA is a cooperative purchasing group composed of 15 states, that also allows states outside of the group to use their contracts. WSCA employs a “Lead-State” model, instead of providing a vendor list. One state takes the lead on the procurement process for a particular contract, owns the contract, and makes it available to other public entities.
MMCAP is a voluntary group purchasing organization operated by the State of Minnesota serving government-authorized healthcare facilities. The goal of MMCAP is to provide member organizations the combined purchasing power to receive the best prices available for pharmaceuticals, hospital supplies, and related products.
National IPA is a cooperative purchasing organization, established through a collaborative effort of public agencies across the United States with the specific purpose of reducing procurement costs by leveraging group volume.
The NPP is a group purchasing organization that serves both public and private entities. The NPP is owned by the Virginia Mason Medical Center, and partners with other regional and national associations to strength their purchasing power.
KPN is a cooperative purchasing program that offers schools and other public entities nationally available contracts, regional contracts for the AEPA in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, and line item bids for Pennsylvania.
The Cooperative started as a non-profit cooperative purchasing corporation selling recycled paper. Today the corporation is for profit and has extended its contracts to include numerous recycled and environmentally friendly products.
Surplus Property is a part of the Procurement Services Department that is responsible for the disposal, re-distribution, and/or sale of used equipment/property that the University of Missouri and other Mid-Missouri government agencies and educational institutions no longer use. The sale of this equipment is handled through public auctions, sales, or online.
MVE is a section of the Department of Corrections that uses employment, work, and job skills trainings as a means of rehabilitating inmates and increasing their ability to find work when they are released.
The State of Missouri's Office of Administration Purchasing Division is authorized to provide procurement services through a joint purchasing program to political subdivisions and quasi-public governmental bodies. | {
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The news arrives from Eye on Comics, which has been following recent developments in the case. An online search of Connecticut Superior Court records confirms the guilty plea.
Rivera was arrested in May 2011 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, following a July 2010 incident in which police say he mistakenly gave a funeral home director a thumb drive containing 33 files classified as child pornography instead of the one containing photos of a deceased relative. Police later seized Rivera’s computer and found 153 files of suspected child pornography.
According to Connecticut law, “A person is guilty of possessing child pornography in the second degree when such person knowingly possesses twenty or more but fewer than fifty visual depictions of child pornography.”
As Justiniano, Rivera had penciled such titles as DC Comics’ The Creeper, Day of Vengeance and Countdown to Mystery, as well as Chaos! Comics’ Chastity: Rocked and Evil Ernie: Straight to Hell. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 5. | {
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Handicrafts
Handicrafts are those items which are made with hands; these could be showpieces, slippers, embroidery, pottery, handicrafts items are made with simple tools and we make sure to use those items which don’t affect the environment. We offer you a wide range of Natural handicraft items to decorate your home and office. | {
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Surefire
Surefire M300 Mini Scout Light M300C-Z68BK
Product Code : 084871324670
Available Online
Secure online ordering
The SureFire M300 Mini Scout Light, powered by one 123A lithium battery, is an ultra-compact and powerful LED WeaponLight that mounts securely to any MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail via an integral thumbscrew clamp. Its M300's recoil-proof LED emitter is focused by a TIR lens to create a high-intensity 300-lumen beam with plenty of reach for close- to medium-range applications with enough surround light to optimize situational awareness. This ultra-compact model minimizes added weight, frees up rail space for other accessories, and increases weapon maneuverability compared to larger weapon lights. It comes with an installed click-type tailcap pushbutton switch -- press for momentary-on, press further to click constant-on. The switch is shrouded to minimize the chance for accidental activation. The Mini Scout Light is machined from high-strength aerospace aluminum with Mil-Spec Type III hard anodizing that s built for combat conditions without weighing your weapon down. | {
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YogaPilates at The River Bourne Health Club
YogaPilates at The River Bourne Health Club
A challenging body work class suitable for all levels. This class combines the best movements and exercises from Yoga and Pilates to improve flexibility and core stability simultaneously. All fitness levels welcome!
A challenging body work class suitable for all levels. This class combines the best movements and exercises from Yoga and Pilates to improve flexibility and core stability simultaneously. All fitness levels welcome! | {
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If you didn’t know any better you would think my husband has one eye. We can’t get through any family event without having it fully documented on camera. But I really can’t complain as the end result is all the best moments of our life beautifully preserved for the future.
I have started dabbling in photography here and there, mainly so we can get some pictures of Daddy in the mix as well. However, if I am going to do it, I’m going to do it in style. After all “the only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”-Steel Magnolias.
Learn it, live it, love it.
Check out these gorgeous camera straps from Modstraps.
With more than 20 patterns you can go from fancy and frilly to funky and
hip. A little functionally doesn’t hurt either. This premium collection
is adjustable, durable and has a quick release feature that lets you
disconnect your camera easily.
There’s even cool little camera bags and more, to add an affordable but personal touch to any camera-giving this holiday season.
With all the family
gatherings and fun filled parties ahead this could be exactly what
you were looking for. Also a great gift for the token family paparazzi.
Say cheese! – Stephanie M | {
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Why wolves & dogs?
The core of our scientific interest is the ability and the readiness for cooperation in wolves and dogs, and what kind of intellectual strategies they are using in doing so. In short, we investigate the cognitive and cooperative abilities of wolves and dogs, particularly in context to their social relationship among fellows and human partners.
This concerns a fascinating subject of research and is of high relevance, for it’s still mysterious, why – in particular the wolf - became in the manifold shape of dogs the closest animal buddy of man. This long-term relationship may be result of the similar lifestyles of both species, being hunter and gatherers as well. Wolves like humans show close cooperation in hunting and in caring for their offsprings within their clans, but also in partly cruel conflicts with their neighbours.
Human beings are conditioned for cooperation nearly always and everywhere: we help good friends, when they are moving the flat, look after their children and build houses together. In economy we often cooperate with even unknown partners. This cooperative attitude of man starts developing already in the early childhood and distinguishes us from all other kinds of animals, thus supposed so far – or maybe not?
Our interest in wolves results not only in their manlike cooperative „attitude“, but primarly, however, because the wolf is the ancestor of his domesticated descendants – the dogs. Therefore we want to investigate, what happened to the cognitive and cooperative characteristics of dogs during domestication in comparison to wolves. “domestication” means to us all genetic alterations, primarly due to the selection oftamemess, which led to an adaption to a specific way of life in a environmentdominated byhumans.Human socialised growing up does notcountfor domestication. Thus our wolves are in spite of their social relation with us humans “domesticated” in no way; they are tame wild animals.
Dogs as domesticated wolves became important partners, allies and assistants of men. In our life they play different roles, not only because of their sensory performance, but mainly because of their exceeding ability of learning and adaptiveness to our social life as well.
Dogs are not at all mere adaptive slaves. They are able to use their mental abilities also in an independent way, make their own decisions and thus distinguish themselves as genuine partners.
The ability and the will to cooperate is presumed to be the base and the core of human social systems, as well as in the social systems of some canidae, e.g. the wolf, the African wild dog or the Indian wild dog = dhole. Thus wolves and dogs are excellent model systems, to investigate the cooperation with their conspecifics as well as with man and to find out to what extent the domestication respectively living together with man influenced these abilities.
Thereby wolves and dogs are likewise good mirrors of the “condition humana”. For only in comparing the extraordinary cooperative abilities of man with those of animals, we are able to understand following key characteristics of man in a better way:
the social and psychological mechanisms of cooperation
the evolutionary origin
and the functional relevance (who is profiting when? ...).
Plenty of unanswered questions
What turned wolves into the most successful top-predators before repressed by man? Was it due to their intelligence, their social solidarity, their ability to cooperate? And was „becoming a dog“ from the wolves triggered by the similar social life styles, the shared interests and the disposition to cooperate of early man and wolves? Or did – quite contrary to that - the great likeness to „brother wolf“ by stone-aged hunters and gatherers lead to competition and elimination of the wolves?
A lot of people are very much interested in understanding, why and how wolves turned into dogs and why in particularly dogs became the closest animal buddies of man. And there’s also a lot of people with not yet clear reasons for being keenly interested in wolves – actually why? Our scientific research on wolves, dogs and humans will contribute to answer these questions.
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Some of our essential questions are:
Do the "wolf-in-dog"-characteristics enable dogs to their outstanding and spontaneous cooperation with man? Or is it due to domestication and thus new gained socialabilities? Or is it rather a mixture of ald and new features?
By what are dogs discriminated from wolves, and what do they have in common?
In which way are the intellectual and the cooperativeabilities of wolves and dogs associated on one side with their social relationships among themselves and on the other side in the relationship to their human partners?
And how does the relationship between dogs and man depend on early socialization and training of the dogs as well as on the social features of the human partner?
Which attitude is shown by humans against wolves compared to that against dogs?
Our special interest focuses on the influence of the social relationships on the intellectual capacities of dogs and wolves, and how they affect the disposition of the animals to cooperate.
Questions upon questions – but we’ll try in the coming years to get „harmonious“ and in terms of scientific methods valid answers, thus generating plentyof new and exciting questions. Because also “objective research“ will still remain an interaction between the „what is“ and the recognitional need and ability in individuals as well asin thesociety.
Our aims of research
At the Wolf Science Center we want to concentrate on the most relevant questions for basic research (see above). It will be the answers thereto, that would contribute to a better understanding of wolves, dogs and the man-dog-relationship. The chief aim therefore is to get comparable data concerning intellectual and cooperative abilities of wolves and dogs. And how these abilities are interwoven with the relational level as well as the reciprocal perception of wolves, humans and dogs.
As a consequence thereof we contribute to the comprehension of the human key-characteristics:
Social intelligence,
Ability to cooperate and
Social (relational) psychology.
It becomes more and more important for the human society to look in an objective way atthewolf and at the man-dog-partnership. And that with regard to an improved education of dogs and a better forming of man-dog-teams as well as a rational base in using dogs in Animal Assisted Therapy, as search-dogs in catastrophes, police-dogs, etc.
Wether there will be sustainable living together of wolves and man in Austria ever again depends mainly to the attitude of man towards wolves. We took in hand to gather data of these attitudes and thus to provide factual correctives for the image of the wolf.
We also expect a positive influence of our work in practical domains, such as
The choice and the training of dogs,
The man-dog-partnership,
The use of dogs in the field of various therapies and also
On the attitude of the society towards dogs and wolves.
Comparable conditions for wolves and dogs
To achieve the aims of our research it is extremely important to create the same conditions for wolves and dogs. As you don’t want to compare apples and oranges, you can’t compare in no way pet-dogs – living 24 hours together with their mistress or master – with wolves in an enclosure. Not even, if the latter come into daily contact with man as in the WSC.
Pet-dogs make complete different experiences – they go along with us to town, to work, to visit strangers, sleep on the sofa (or even in the bed) and are educated and trained in a complete other way by the permanent presence of „their“ humans than animals in an enclosure. Wolves in an enclosure normally don’t make these experiences and therefore will react totally different in many situations than our pet-dogs would do. Nevertheless these different reactions must have no bearing on genetic differences, but perhaps could be explained just by other experiences.
It's therefore most important for us to keep dog-packs as well, raised and trained most likely to our wolves -– for this is the only way to get valid conclusions about the differences, which were watched by us and figured out in our tests, to the genetic differences in the animals.
It is one of the great achievements at the WSC to work with indeed comparable wolves and dogs - one reason for its worldwide unique and exceptional status. | {
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Soviet Spy To Be Freed From U.S. Custody After 30 Years
A former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) employee convicted in 1986 of spying for the Soviet Union is set to be freed after three decades in federal custody.
U.S. government prison-release records show that the sentence of Ronald Pelton, 74, expires on November 24.
Pelton, a former NSA intelligence communications specialist, was arrested in November 1985 on charges of selling signals intelligence to the Soviets for $35,000.
U.S. prosecutors have said a Soviet KGB defector tipped authorities off about Pelton, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced in 1986 to three life terms by a federal judge who said he had betrayed a "special position of trust."
The KGB agent who fingered Pelton later returned to Moscow, The Associated Press reported.
The secrets that Pelton sold to Moscow included information about Operation Ivy Bells, a plan by U.S. intelligence to tap Soviet communications cables that had been laid under the ocean.
A U.S. Bureau of Prisons spokesman told The Associated Press that Pelton was transferred during the past year from a federal prison to a halfway house and then to home confinement.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press and the Washington Free Beacon | {
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A self-complete measure of health status for chronic airflow limitation. The St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire.
Abstract
A need was identified for a fixed-format self-complete questionnaire for measuring health in chronic airflow limitation. A 76-item questionnaire was developed, the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Three component scores were calculated: symptoms, activity, and impacts (on daily life), and a total score. Three studies were performed. (1) Repeatability was tested over 2 wk in 40 stable asthmatic patients and 20 patients with stable COPD. The coefficient of variation for the SGRQ total score was 19%. (2) SGRQ scores were compared with spirometry, 6-min walking distance (6-MWD), MRC respiratory symptoms questionnaire, anxiety, depression, and general health measured using the Sickness Impact Profile score. A total of 141 patients were studied, mean age 63 yr (range 31 to 75) and prebronchodilator FEV1, 47% (range 11 to 114%). SGRQ scores correlated with appropriate comparison measures. For example, symptom score versus frequency of wheeze, r2 = 0.32, p less than 0.0001; activity versus 6-MWD, r2 = 0.50, p less than 0.0001; impact versus anxiety, r2 = 0.38, p less than 0.0001. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SGRQ scores summed a number of areas of disease activity. (3) Changes in SGRQ scores and other measures were studied over 1 yr in 133 patients. Significant correlations were found between changes in SGRQ scores and the comparison measures (minimum r2 greater than 0.05, p less than 0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that change in total SGRQ score summed changes in a number of aspects of disease activity. We conclude that the SGRQ is a valid measure of impaired health in diseases of chronic airflow limitation that is repeatable and sensitive. | {
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Ticker
Transparency will determine Brexit success, EU says
The European Union repeated that it does not want talks with the UK on its departure from the EU to be secret, in a draft document cited by Bloomberg. "Ensuring that the negotiations are conducted in a transparent manner will be one of the keys of their success," the paper titled: Guiding principles for transparency, dated 15 May, reportedly said. In contrast, the UK government wants more secrecy. | {
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Q&A: TUNGHØR
Published January 3, 2020
Tunghør take over Culture Box Saturday 4 January and invited the Dutch duo Hush & Sleep to play and help us kick off 2020 with a proper dose of techno. We’ve asked them of their work as a party collective and what we can expect from the night.
Q&A: DANIEL SAVI
Published December 19, 2019
Daniel Savi, main man behind the C.U.P. label, is hosting the last club night at Culture Box before Christmas, Saturday 21 December. We asked him a couple of questions, trying to get to know this house aficionado a little better. | {
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Tuesday, 6 June 2017
Blog Tour ~ Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
Jaffareadstoo is delighted to host today's stop on the Ginny Moon Blog Tour
It's a real pleasure to be able to share this second excerpt from the fabulous Ginny Moon
You can read the first part of the chapter at On My Bookshelf and then read the rest here
HQ Stories
1 June 2017
Everyone is looking at me. All of them. My Forever Mom next to my Forever Dad on the other side of the table with her hand on her big round belly. I don’t know what strikes and shakes are but no one asked a question so I keep my mouth shut very tight.
My Forever Dad takes out a piece of paper. “The computer said the doll was hit eighty-three times and shaken four,” he says. He puts the paper down. “Ginny, did you hit the baby?”
“The plastic electronic baby,” I say even though it’s a rule that We do not correct.
“It doesn’t matter whether the baby was real or not,” he says. “We asked you to try taking care of the baby. We can’t—”
“Brian,” says my Forever Mom. Then to me she says, “Ginny, it’s not okay to hit or shake a baby. Even if the baby isn’t real. Do you understand that?”
I like my Forever Mom a lot. She helps me with my homework every night after supper and explains things when they don’t make sense. Plus we play Chinese Checkers when I get home from school. So I say, “When I was in the apartment with Glo—”
“We know what happened in the apartment,” she interrupts. “And we’re very, very sorry that she hurt you. But it’s not okay to hurt babies, ever. So we need you to start seeing Patrice again. She’s going to help you get ready to be a big sister.”
Patrice is a therapist. An attachment therapist. I haven’t seen her since the adoption in June. I lived with my Forever Parents at the Blue House a whole year before that. That was when I started going to my new school too.
Which reminds me again that Gloria is on her way right now. I don’t know how long it will take her to get here. I don’t know if she’ll get here before I go to see Patrice. And that’s important because I need to know when things are going to happen so I can count and check my watch and make sure everything works the way it’s supposed to.
I pick hard at my fingers.
“When will I see Patrice?” I ask.
“We’ll call her on the phone today and see when she’s available,” says my Forever Mom. “Probably early this next week, if she has some time in her schedule. I bet she’ll find an opening, for you.”
There's so much I want to say
about Ginny Moon. How she's tough and strong, and yet as vulnerable as a
kitten. That she's feisty and funny and will make you laugh out loud, but be
warned she will also make you cry so many tears that your hanky will be all screwed
up and soggy in your hand. She's special in so many ways but to tell you even a
smidgen more would be to spoil Ginny's story forever.
So what I will say is that from
the very start of the story, as Ginny settles in with yet another forever mum
and dad, is that there are still elements of the lost child about her. A
child made wise beyond her fragile years, and who once had more responsibilities
heaped upon her vulnerable shoulders by an errant birth mother who should have
known better.
I loved Ginny; I wanted to bring
her home to live with me. I wanted to give her grapes and milk. I wanted to
make her safe from all harm and more than anything I wanted life to be kind to
her and for her to find a proper place with people who loved her just for being
her quirky little self.
It's a very clever author who has
the ability to instill such a sense of character whilst still maintaining the absolute
integrity of the novel. I believed every word that Ginny uttered, her voice is
strong, her personality cleverly controlled so that she never becomes a
caricature of the quintessential 'troubled' child. Her forever parents are
another matter altogether, but there again, I'll let you find out for yourself,
about just how they all cope as their lives start to fall to pieces.
Ginny Moon will stay in my heart for a good long time. I hope that she can stay in your hearts too...
Benjamin Ludwig is a middle school language arts teacher, who has been teaching both children and adults since 1997. He believes strongly in supporting the voiceless and the displaced, especially their need for attachment. Shortly after he and his wife were married they became foster parents, and adopted their first placement: a teenager with autism and developmental disabilities.
Ginny Moon was inspired in part by conversations he had with other parents at Special Olympics basketball practices. He hopes to adopt again after his daughter transitions into adulthood. Benjamin lives in New Hampshire. | {
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Breaking News
PICTURES: 2014's Most Beautiful Photos Of Cornwall
Published
by
the Pirate FM News Team at 5:50am 16th December 2014.
(Updated at 9:35am 16th December 2014)
Pictures of Fistral, Fowey and Sennen make it to a top twenty of the best photos of Cornwall 2014.
You can see them all below.
They have been shared online by visitors to the Duchy.
The images have been handpicked by Visit Cornwall from more than 300 images shared via its Instagram account @LoveCornwallUK during 2014. They include images posted by residents and visitors using #loveCornwall or #livefromCornwall, as well those taken by local attractions and Visit Cornwall itself.
The photos are taken on the same day they are shared, giving users around the world a taste of Cornwall as it happens whilst showcasing the variety and diversity of Cornwall's natural beauty.
Spokesperson Lauren Hogan said: "Imagery is vitally important and communicates what is distinctive and unique about Cornwall, stimulating the senses through engaging observations and rich, vibrant colours and textures.
"We are surrounded by exciting landscapes and stunning vistas - the photos we post in our live Instagram diary capture and share the spirit of Cornwall." | {
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Russia to Resume Space Tourism in 2018
MOSCOW (AP) - Russia officials say they will resume space tourism in 2018 after years of sending into space only professional cosmonauts and astronauts.
Russia had sent seven paying guests to the International Space Station since 2001 before curtailing the program in 2009. Sending a tourist has been all but impossible since 2011 when the United States shut down its Space Shuttle program and had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets in order to get into orbit.
Russia, however, has made an exception for British soprano Sarah Brightman who is due to blast off on Sept. 1.
RKK Energia, a state-controlled rocket manufacturer, said in a quarterly report released on Tuesday that it plans to make up for an expected drop in demand for manned flights by resuming space tourism in 2018. | {
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Emma W
Summer Babysitter Available
Sitter
in Burlington
My name is Emma and I have been babysitting for 7 years now. I am looking for a full time babysitting job for this summer or maybe longer. I am available June 14th but can't work June 16th or 26th but am avaiable every other day. I am available all hours during the summer and look forward to finding the right family!
I have over 1000 hours in Childcare experience and have experience with all age groups of children. I am able to babysit for large families as well. I have many references avaiable for each age group and also a police check. I will be CPR qualified by the end of the school year. | {
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Sunday, July 26, 2009
back.
i love to travel. i love to sleep in a new bed, with new crisp sheets and a new pillow to fluff. i love being on the road, seeing new things, eating at new restaurants and escaping "the norm" for a few days. i love letting my cell phone die and disconnecting for a little while. i love not thinking about school or work or chores or bills while i am gone. i love being away.
but, i really really love coming home.
there's nothing better than coming back. especially when it involves curling up in the sunshine with my little family again. a hot shower for me, phone calls for g and then we are all ready to snuggle up on our cozy couch and get re-acquainted with our dvr for the afternoon. | {
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I LIKE HIM....------ See More▼---------NOT HE IS:A JERKRACISTIDIOTSELFISHARROGANTHEARTLESSDUMBSELFISHVERY SELFISHSTUPIDAMBITIOUSSELFISHMORE SELFISHWHAT @KitKatwashere@LoneSoul@MysticMedievalSamuraiPrincess@Iceland_Mr.Puffin@annagibbs2003@Insane_feline@UmbreonGaming SAID
In 1988, the private Boeing 727 of Donald Trump arrived from Los Angeles at LaGuardia Airport carrying aboard a young Orthodox Jewish child name Andrew Ten. Sadly, the young boy was suffering from a rare and still-undiagnosed breathing illness. Andrew’s parents needed to fly their son to New York to seek medical treatment, but commercial airlines refused to fly the child because he could not travel without an elaborate life-support system, which includes a portable oxygen tank, See More▼ a suction machine, a breathing bag and an adrenaline syringe. Trump gave his personal jet to the boy’s family without hesitation.
I don't really know, since I don't live in the US. But from what I've heard, he's a f*cking douchebag prick shithead, who shouldn't have even been considered a candidate. And wtf is this "It wasn't easy growing up, my father gave me a small loan of a million dollars" a SMALL LOAN?! WTF TRUMP! PEOPLE WOULD KILL TO HAVE A LOAN LIKE THAT, AND YOU'RE CALLING IT SMALL?!But if he DOES become President, somebody had BETTER assassinate him!
Calling me the fag??? Just FYI im being the mature one keeping my cool, and I don't care if he has more money than me, trust me without a doubt he has more money than you.And whats up with you and Hitler????
A jokeLiarHypocriteA HittlerHorrible plannerStupidCan't shut up See More▼DeceiverProof that with age wisdom does NOT grow/expandFull of it(What Trump said.Quoted EXACTLY:“All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me—consciously or unconsciously. That’s to be expected.” )
(More info on how stupid this guy is:www.thefiscaltimes.com/2015/07/10/15-Facts-You-Didn-t-Know-About-Donald-Trump
I never said I could do better.This isn't about me or you.This is about how America would be 'saved' right?'Saved' by an egoistic man such as Trump.I can uasually respect others opinions that are opposite to mine,but seeing how you can't see all the possible damage he'll do,I just can't respect yours.If he made a wall blocking out Mexico,than we'd be closed off See More▼ from a whole entire cultural world.And maybe he wouldn't stop there.Maybe he'd cut us off from everyone one else.Maybe he'd want to cut us off from Canada,London,Europe,and ect. just because of stereotypes.He does want to keep Mexicans out cause they're rapists and murders,right?Whos to say he won't stereotype everyone else outside of the US?I would never have been so against him in the first place if he hadn't had been so stereotypical.This isn't meant to be offensive or rude like your comment to me.
@RaspberryJello to correct you the 1910s or below was a sexist time. Sexists dated woman and only respected her? But today is the 2010s stuff like that would be nonsense. OMG MY MIND IS QUESTIONING EVERYTHING NOW
Not direct ones.I know that some abusive people can date the opposite sex can be sexist as well, and are abusive because of it.To be historical, the 60s were a very sexist time and before that as well.
President, now show some respect to him. I'm not saying that I voted for him, I'm saying that so far he's done a pretty good job. Even though you might not like him, you need to show respect and give him good advice to him. Think about this, for the people that hate Donald trump: Do you think everything that people are doing because they don't like him is necessary? Go back to social studies or something that teaches you about the 3 branches of government! Executive is president, See More▼ Legislative is Congress, Judicial is Supreme Court and lower courts. If the congress finds something bad he did, something that's was illegal, he might just get impeached. Impeached means kicked out from being president. If the president passes a law that's against the constitution the judicial can kick that law outta here. I'm not saying that he can't do anything to the congress or judicial either, but I'm saying look at the things we're able to do to keep him in check. Be reasonable and think about what you're gonna post on here!!
Im glad you both agreed on one thing. The argument was stupid and it had no point! @Angel_of_Death@lofooIts my fault for dragging on the argument, im sorry. It was non of my business and i butted in. I take full responsibility!
just sayin, if all trump is doing is taking vacations and doing nothing to improve of country then hes not that great of a president. and plus, i would rather have hillary as my president, than trump because i dont want a homophobic, racist, and sexist person as my president. im sorry that i wouldnt have respect for someone who is that ignorant, because if it See More▼ was any other person and NOT the president you would be siding with me. im an inactive user who checks qfeast to clean out my notifications and newsfeed, so stop dragging the subject that was dead months ago.
People over react is what i'm saying and that really annoying. I also see your point. He has been on vacation but for all the days that he hasn't been on vacation, he's done good. Also if you think I did vote for him, I can't. I'm not old enough.
Latest Questions
So many of my peers and I have noticed that my history teacher acts kind of...strange. We aren’t really sure if it’s just us, or if he’s actually a pervert.
He tends to hover over any girl wearing shorter clothes, or anything t... | {
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Someone misspelled the name of the Vatican’s raison d’etre, Jesus, on a commemorative medallion, striking 6,000 gold, silver and bronze coins with the name Lesus. Several of the medallions were sold before someone noticed the error. The remaining medallions were recalled, making the four that were sold collectors items.
The coins were struck by the Italian Mint to honor the papacy of Francis I and carried a Latin inscription which the Pope said inspired him to join the Catholic priesthood:
I suppose the capital L could be confused with a J if you’re looking in a mirror. But more likely “Jesus” was presented as Iesus, since I was J in ancient texts–remember INRI (Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum) the Latin reading as “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews” — and whoever was doing the inscription for the coin thought I was a lower case L (l) not a J and made a copy-editing decision on their own.
Didn’t anyone who speaks Latin check the proofs? Maybe the devil IS in the details–and the Vatican! | {
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A Curious Calling: Vicky Alhadeff
Looking for a new vocation? Perhaps being a pet behaviourist is your calling too
RECENTLY I took home a young hound named Marley, a foster puppy whose owner had to give him up. Quaking with nerves and wanting only to nestle on my lap, he left me in a permanent state of cuteness overdose. Within three days, however, his inner beast had chewed its way out. My phone was in pieces. My sleeves were ragged. My face was never free of puppy-spit. This week’s interviewee couldn’t have been more appropriate.
Vicky Alhadeff is a pet behaviourist, specialising in cat behaviour. Through teaching people to read and speak their pets’ language, she helps restore harmony to fractured human-animal relationships. Also a vegan and an animal activist, her approach is one of holistic compassion. At home, I tried a little ‘Doglish’ on Marley and he’s been as cool as his namesake ever since.
I was on a photography job on New Year’s Eve and noticed this horse standing knee deep in muck and I stopped to see if I was seeing things. He was in this tiny enclosure. The editor, the assistant editor and I ended up rescuing him off this traveller and taking him to a sanctuary.
How long have you been doing this for?I completed the diploma in 2007. I’d been a press photographer for ten years; I loved it but it was intense and quite exhausting. I always wanted to work with animals but I had no idea how. I grew up in Zimbabwe so I was always aware of racism and I wanted to campaign against apartheid. Then I moved into a flat with three friends who were Hare Krishna who said, “Vicky, this meat eating has got to stop.” When I became vegetarian I started taking photographs to expose the meat and dairy industry. I did some pictures at an abattoir, some of battery hens.
How did you move onto pet behaviour?I was on a photography job on New Year’s Eve and noticed this horse standing knee deep in muck and I stopped to see if I was seeing things. He was in this tiny enclosure. The editor, the assistant editor and I ended up rescuing him off this traveller and taking him to a sanctuary. The sanctuary had this magazine called Horse Rescue. In there was this tiny advert, “Do you want to become an animal behaviourist?” It was like an epiphany. I thought this is exactly what I want to do for the rest of my life.
What are the most common problems people come to you with?Often cats’ problems are to do with other cats – cats visiting their gardens, cats peeing, pooing or spraying indoors. You have to work out ways to make the cat feel secure in his or her home. They have large territories – up to five or six gardens. The territories of different cats will overlap. They’ll have agreements about who’s patrolling when. For me, it’s part of the appeal of them. They have this whole secret life.
There’s a cat that lives with me who won’t go near anyone. Sometimes she sits close by but she’d never let you stroke her...People often call in about so-called ‘petting and biting syndrome’. Humans are very touchy-feely. Animals aren’t really. It’s our need to stroke them and stroke them. They think, “That’s enough!” Cats and dogs have calming signals to communicate with each other. We have to learn what those signals are and then we can mimic them and calm them down – licking lips, yawning, sitting sideways on. With cats you can do slow blinking and looking away. Direct contact for us is polite, for them it is scary. A smiling mouth is also scary because it’s showing all our teeth.
Is it different for different breeds of dogs or cats?Each breed has specific needs, which help to create the feel-good factor when they are met. For example, terriers were bred to dig – to dig up creatures – and so providing them with digging opportunities such as a digging pit with buried treasure or a stuffed Kong will help to contribute to providing them with a fulfilling life. I love learning how to make dogs’ and cats' lives as fulfilling as possible. That's what appeals to me the most about this work.
What’s the best way to train a dog?Work with a positive, award-based framework. Telling off is not instructive. We speak English and dogs speak ‘Doglish’. The point of training is to learn a common language. If we can show dogs what to do and how to do it, then it helps them a lot, as opposed to telling them off, which doesn’t tell them what they should do instead. It should be about setting them up for success and making training fun.
It sounds like a good way to treat humans, too…Absolutely. Karen Pryor who is the mother of clicker training penned a book called Don’t Shoot the Dog!, and she talks about clicker training for everyone. With kids it’s called ‘tag’. It works because we all like to be noticed if we do something right. Then you want to do it more and more.
You also volunteer at Battersea Dogs Home...As a dog walker and socialiser. There are a lot of stressed and frustrated dogs there. Kennels are a stressful environment.
Why are so many dogs taken there?A lot of people have lost their homes or there is an illness or death in the family. A huge percentage is just found abandoned – on the streets, in the parks, tied up somewhere. Or people leave them outside Battersea. Some of the female dogs are just being used as breeders and their teats are hanging down to the ground. They’re very fearful because they probably haven’t had much contact.
You’re also vegan and an animal rights activist...Being vegan is the logical conclusion of my love for animals – not exploiting them or using them in any way. I do photography for Viva! and Animal Aid. Then I got involved in school talks. It’s really rewarding when children respond so passionately. Sometimes you get students who are very cynical but I think that is a cover. You show a DVD or slide show and there are some really graphic, gruesome images. The whole industry is so sick. It’s completely money driven. | {
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PDF OCR is based on OCR technology to convert scanned PDF paper books and documents into editable electronic text files fast and easily. PDF OCR has a build-in text editor which allows you to edit ocr result text without MS Word. PDF OCR also supports batch mode to OCR all pages of pdf file to text at a time. PDF OCR has a Scanned Image To PDF Converter, which means you can create your own scanned PDF books. | {
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"You know, he was in pain all the time, but he was a performer. No one, not even him, would have known that would have bothered him years later," she said.
There are other rumors about what could have caused Prince's death. His brother-in law said he had been up working for six days straight. This was a few days after being hospitalized in Illinois for the flu, which a source told Entertainment Tonight may have turned into walking pneumonia. | {
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