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North West Water Workers Strike On Pensions
GMB North West Water Workers 27 Hour Strike At United Utilities On 19th And 20th February Over Cuts To Pension Scheme
Members are not in dispute with the customers so there is an agreed process should a major incident or other emergencies impacting on life and limb says GMB.
GMB water workers in the North West employed by United Utilities (UU) will take strike action for 27 hours from 5 am Friday 19th to 8am Saturday 20th February in a long running dispute over the company's proposals to save money by introducing unilateral changes to the defined benefit (DB) pension scheme. See notes to editors for copies of previous GMB press releases on the progress of the dispute since 19th October 2015.
Last month GMB announced that it was going ahead with a formal official strike ballot to ensure that the company gives an undertaking to make no changes to the scheme without negotiations. The ballot closed on the 26th January with 82.1% of members voting to take part in industrial action.
On Thursday 11th February GMB issued formal written notice to the company that all members will take strike action between the hours of 05:00 Friday 19th February to 08:00 Saturday 20th February 2016.
During the dispute there will be picket lines at 18 main water and waste water treatment works (wTW and WwTW)(media should check with local GMB officers for times):
- Blackburn WwTW, Cuerdale Lane, PR5 0UY
- Burnley WwTW, Woodend off Barden Lane, BB12 9DS
- Carlisle WwTW, Willowholme Ind. Estate, CA2 5SH
- Crewe WwTW, Main Road, CW5 6DU
- Davyhulme WwTW, Rivers Lane, M41 7JB
- Dukinfield wTW, Gate Street, SK16 4RU
- Eccles WwTW, Peel Green Road, M30 7DR
- Ellesmere Port WwTW, Little Stanney, CH2 4HZ
- Fazakerley WwTW, Stonesbridge Lane, L10 5HA
- Franklaw wTW, Catterall Lane, PR3 0PJ
- Whitebull wTW, Preston Road, PR3 3BL
- Lingley Mere, Lingley Green Ave, WA5 1DS
- Liverpool WwTW, Regent Road, L3 0BE
- Oldham WwTW, The Causeway, OL9 9XD
- Sweetloves wTW, Belmont Road, BL1 7EB
- Watchgate wTW, Selside, LA8 9LQ
- Wigan WwTW, Deans Lane, L40 4BL
- Workington WwTW, Siddick Road, CA14 1JU
Eddie Parker, GMB regional officer, said "On 26th January United Utilities offered to withdraw the current proposal on the basis that once the future service cost is known in early May, Company proposals will be made and both parties will commit to conduct meaningful consultation on all potential options to address the cost issue, including changes to the DB scheme, closure of the DB scheme and mitigations.
The company asked GMB not to go ahead with the industrial action that the members had voted for. GMB rejected the offer on a number of reasons as follows:
- The company have now reaffirmed with absolute clarity that they will not share the full actuarial valuation figures. This means that the "meaningful" talks referred to in the offer will be based on information that is 3 years old. What UU have offered instead is visibility on future service costs. However the company have now made it clear that this is on the proviso that such information will not be open to negotiation/consultation; instead access to this data will be granted solely for validation purposes.
- Given the fact that the Unions will not be given the opportunity to influence these figures in an attempt to bring them down to what the company view as an acceptable level, either via access to the wider actuarial valuation or the limited future costs information, the GMB find this part of the offer unacceptable.
- Whilst UU have now temporarily withdrawn the proposal, this has come with a number of strings attached. The company have made it clear that the offer of withdrawal is on the basis that the Unions commit to talks which will include changes to the current pension scheme, up to and including closure. When challenged further on this point the company confirmed that the withdrawal offer will be taken off the table in the event of the Unions failing to commit to such talks.
- Having only last week been provided with overwhelming support to protect the scheme in its current form, GMB believes that entering into such talks would be contrary to the clear mandate provided by our Members.
- The company's agenda appears to indicate that they will force closure rather than negotiate with a Union/s which are clearly committed to continuation of the DB scheme.
GMB consider that to enter into talks on the basis of the company's offer would mean we become embroiled in discussions which will include closure of the scheme.
Since the unions will be provided with limited information and will not have the opportunity to influence future service costs, we believe it's almost inevitable that these costs will come back in the 30%+ range. At this point we think it's highly likely the company will simply state that the scheme is unaffordable and will point towards the prior formal commitments the Unions will be bound by as a result of this offer in order to force talks on potential scheme closure.
The strike scheduled to take place on Friday 19th February is the only industrial action GMB have planned at this point in time. GMB will continue to monitor the situation and will keep Members informed of any developments.
GMB would like to stress that we are in dispute with the managers and shareholders of UU and not the customers. GMB has agreed an escalation process should there be a major incident such as the recent Cumbrian floods or other emergencies impacting on the life and limb of customers during the course of industrial action.
GMB understand the gravity of the current situation and will continue to make ourselves available in an effort to avoid strike action should the company wish to approach us with a view to talks on an acceptable solution."
Contact: Eddie Parker 07740 804046 or Eamon O'Hearn 07918 777097 or GMB press office 07921 289 880 or 07974 251823 or 07860 401860 or 07970 863411
Notes to editors
GMB previous press releases
1 GMB press release dated January 12, 2016
The company claim that the scheme as it stands now, without any potential increases in future costs, is unsustainable despite evidence to the contrary says GMB.
GMB members employed by United Utilities (UU) in the North West are to take part in an official ballot for industrial action on the company's plan for all staff to move from a defined benefit final salary pension to a defined contribution pension scheme after 31 March 2016. This ballot coincides with strike ballots for the other unions in the company.
The ballot follows an overwhelming vote by members in a consultative ballot to reject the company plan. See notes to editors for copy of previous GMB press release on the issue. The ballot opens today (12th January) and will conclude on 26th January.
The consultative ballot followed a GMB meeting with senior representatives of the company on 16th October to commence consultation on pensions. The company began a formal 60 day consultation on 16th November which will conclude in mid-January. A number of consultation meetings took place in December with the most recent meeting taking place on 5th January when the company agreed to extend the consultation period but not withdraw the closure of the scheme.
Eddie Parker, GMB regional officer, said "During the consultation process the company responded to JTUF's request for UU to withdraw the proposal to close the pension scheme pending the outcome of the full triennial actuarial valuation, at which point meaningful consultation could then begin afresh with JTUF having been supplied with up to date, definitive facts and figures.
The company refused JTUF's request to withdraw the proposal. Instead the company offered to extend the consultation into June 2016. This in no way satisfies JTUF's request for the issue to be 'properly dealt with in a sensible manner without time constraints' and doesn't even satisfy the statutory minimum 60 day consultation requirements, as would be case had the company accepted JTUF's request to begin afresh once supplied with this crucial information.
The company's stance is inconsistent at best. For example, their rationale for the expected increase in future service costs is heavily dependent on numerous assumptions including market conditions and investment performance e.g. life expectancy, return on investments and long-term interest rates etc. Yet when asked whether the company will benefit from circa an additional £20m p.a. once the pension deficit is repaired post 2020 the company response is 'The current plan is that the existing deficit will be fully funded by 2020 however this is heavily dependent on a multitude of assumptions including market conditions and investment performance and so we would be cautious to assume that from 2020 the company will not need to contribute further'.
On one hand the company expects JTUF to accept that the pension scheme must close due to predicted rising future service costs, whilst on the other hand they state that similar such assumptions should be approached with caution when challenged about the additional £100m per AMP the company will have at their disposal post 2020.
Further evidence of inconsistency can be found in relation to UU's claim that only a company contribution rate in the 'teens' is acceptable going forward. When challenged, the company have now confirmed that they actually built in a request at the current contribution rate of 26.5% as part of the PR14 submission. However they appear to be unable to confirm or deny whether or not this was actually accepted, despite no apparent protests from Ofwat.
JTUF has seen no evidence whatsoever as to why a FTSE 100 company which operates within a stable monopolised industry, with guaranteed revenue streams and extremely healthy long term profits and dividend returns, cannot absorb and/or mitigate any potential additional costs related to future pensionable service in order to protect employees within the DB pension scheme.
Throughout the consultation process to date, the company have not once suggested that they are willing to put an extra penny into the pension scheme in order to protect those affected. The company claim that the scheme as it stands now, without any potential increases in future costs, is unsustainable despite evidence to the contrary.
At the most recent meeting on January 5th, JTUF offered to withdraw their formal written notice to ballot for industrial action in exchange for the company withdrawing their proposal to close the scheme in order to allow meaningful consultation to take place. Unfortunately the company have chosen to decline this offer.
Members of all four Unions made it clear via the consultative ballot result that they reject the company's proposal to close the pension scheme. Given UU's continued intransigence on this matter, JTUF now view the consultation as merely a fait accompli with no real will or effort on the company's behalf to protect the scheme and their employees. We believe the company's mind was made up from the outset of this process and at this point in time JTUF can see no further real progress being made through talks alone. That is why we are moving to the industrial ballot."
2 GMB press release dated 1st December 2015
We are considering alongside the other unions the next steps with the possibility of moving to an industrial action ballot says GMB
GMB members employed by United Utilities have voted by a massive margin in a consultative ballot to reject the company's plan for all staff to move from a defined benefit final salary pension to a defined contribution pension scheme after 31 March 2016. See notes to editors for copy of previous GMB press release on the issue.
The consultative ballot followed a GMB meeting with senior representatives of the company on 16th October to commence consultation on pensions. The company began a formal 60 day consultation on 16th November which will conclude in mid-January.
Eddie Parker, GMB Regional Officer, said "The company 60-day consultation on the proposal can hardly be called a consultation when the Company has already declared that it wants to close the scheme before talks have even commenced.
The proposal is another blow to hard working members at United Utilities who had already accepted cuts to their pensions to keep them sustainable.
The Company has enjoyed a £226M tax windfall over the past 5 years, due in part to low interest rates. It is now proposing to close the scheme because low interest rates are affecting future liabilities. You can't make it up.
United could have paid off the deficit with the tax windfall over the past 5 years.
GMB is now considering alongside the other unions the next steps with the possibility of moving to an industrial action ballot".
3 GMB press release dated 19th October 2015.
NAO report of £1,250m windfall proves that water companies can't cry poverty as they seek to shift more costs and efficiencies onto the workforce says GMB
GMB National Water Forum, covering nearly 10,000 members in the water industry, on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th October in Sheffield will consider proposals on the closure of the United Utilities Defined Benefit Pension Scheme for active members as of 31 March 2016. The scheme was closed to new entrants in 2006.
There will be GMB United Utilities Representatives meeting on Thursday 22nd October followed by meeting of the joint unions in United Utilities on Friday 30th October to agree a joint union response to these proposals.
GMB members at United Utilities provide water and sewage services to around seven million people in North West England. These members look after the water and wastewater infrastructure across the North West covering:
Over 42,000 kilometres of water pipes, from Cumbria to Cheshire.
Over 76,000 kilometres of sewers.
569 wastewater treatment works.
94 water treatment works.
Over 56,000 hectares of catchment land.
Last week GMB and Unite issued notice to Northumbrian Water that members will commence indefinite industrial action short of a strike from 4.30pm on Tuesday 20th October in a separate dispute over pensions. See notes to editor for copy of previous press release on the dispute.
Eddie Parker, GMB regional officer, said "GMB met with senior representatives of the company on 16th October in order to commence consultation on pensions. The company proposes to move active Defined Benefit member's to the existing UU Defined Contribution Pension Scheme on 1st April 2016. The accrued pension value as of 31st March 2016 will be protected in line with the relevant scheme rules.
The company have made the union aware that they intend to communicate to all impacted employees immediately and then begin a formal 60 day consultation beginning on 16th November.
The union have conveyed their extreme disgust, dissatisfaction and concerns with these proposals.
The discussion at the GMB National Water Forum on a response to these UU pensions proposals means that it is very likely that the prospect for industrial action will move a step closer.
Eamon O Hearn, lead officer for the Water Industry, added "Last week the NAO reported that water companies gained £840m from lower-than-forecast rates of interest and £410m from reduced corporation tax rates.
The NAO report proves that water companies can't cry poverty as they seek to shift more costs and efficiencies onto the workforce.
GMB members have played a key role in delivering significant improvements in service and delivery standards, despite continued reductions in front line staff since privatisation.
The warning that there is little scope for further efficiency gains left in the industry will come as cold comfort to GMB members in Northumbrian Water or in United Utilities, and in the wider industry, who have seen their pensions attacked in order to drain profits out of the UK and into the hands of opaque holding companies.
GMB welcomes the NAO call for greater transparency over the financial and corporate structures of water companies which echoes previous GMB campaigns against private equity barons.
Their raids on pensions and reductions in workforce numbers have drained profits out of the UK and even the NAO are saying there is little left to cut."


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Kleefstra Syndrome
Categories: Eye diseases, Fetal diseases, Genetic diseases, Mental diseases, Metabolic diseases, Neuronal diseases, Oral diseases, Rare diseases
Aliases & Classifications for Kleefstra Syndrome
MalaCards integrated aliases for Kleefstra Syndrome:
MalaCards categories:
Global: Rare diseases Metabolic diseases Genetic diseases Fetal diseases
Anatomical: Eye diseases Oral diseases Neuronal diseases Mental diseases
Summaries for Kleefstra Syndrome
NIH Rare Diseases : 53 The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.Orpha Number: 261494DefinitionKleefstra syndrome (KS) is a genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, childhood hypotonia, severe expressive speech delay and a distinctive facial appearance with a spectrum of additional clinical features.EpidemiologyThe prevalence is unknown. To date, 114 cases have been described.Clinical descriptionPatients with KS have a distinctive facial appearance comprised of brachy-microcephaly, midface hypoplasia, unusual eyebrow shape, synophyrs, cupid bow upper lip, full everted lower lip, protruding tongue and prognathism. With age, facial features become coarser and dental anomalies, like retention of primary dentition, are seen. Birth weight is normal but half of children go on to suffer from obesity. Childhood hypotonia causes motor delay but most children walk independently by age 2 or 3. Most patients have moderate to severe intellectual disability with expressive speech delay and little speech development (nonverbal communication is possible). Additional features include congenital heart malformations (interauricular communication, ventricular septal defects, bicuspid aortic valve, pulmonary valve stenosis (see these terms)), genital defects in males (hypospadias, cryptorchidism, micropenis), renal defects (hydronephrosis, chronic renal insufficiency, renal cysts, vesico-ureteral reflux), epilepsy, recurrent infections, severe constipation and hearing problems. In adolescence/adulthood behavioral problems (aggressive/emotional outbursts, attention deficit problems, self-mutilation and severe sleep disturbances) can begin. Autistic-like behavior can be noted earlier in some children. Recurrent pulmonary infections, overweight and behavioral problems seem to be reported more often in those with KS due to a point mutation, whereas microcephaly, short stature, respiratory complications and tracheomalacia are more frequently seen in those with KS due to a 9q34 microdeletion.EtiologyKS is caused by either a point mutation in the euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene (rarely) or by a microdeletion in the chromosome region 9q34.3 (seen in >85% of cases), leading to the loss of the entire gene. This gene encodes an enzyme that modifies histone function and is essential for normal development. Larger deletions (>1mb) are associated with more severe symptoms.Diagnostic methodsDiagnosis of KS is determined by the presence of the characteristic clinical features and molecular genetic testing. A microarray detects any duplications/deletions. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) can then be used to detect the specific 9q34.3 deletion seen in KS. Sequencing of the entire coding region of the EHMT1 gene can detect sequence variants.Differential diagnosisDifferential diagnoses include Down, Pitt-Hopkins, Smith-Magenis, Rett and 2q23.1 microdeletion syndromes (see these terms).Antenatal diagnosisAntenatal diagnosis is offered to unaffected parents of a child with KS as they have a higher risk of having another child with this disorder.Genetic counselingMost reported cases have been de novo but familial recurrence has been seen. KS has a theoretical autosomal dominant transmission, but the majority of patients do not reproduce.Management and treatmentTreatment requires a multidisciplinary team, specializing in patients with intellectual deficiencies. Special education and vocational training along with speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy are recommended from an early age. Standard treatment is necessary for those with renal, cardiac and urologic issues and for hearing loss. Psychiatric care along with behavioral intervention therapy may be needed. Cardiac screening (for the presence of arrhythmias) as well as intestinal and renal/urologic monitoring is recommended. Medical follow-up is life-long.PrognosisThe prognosis of KS is variable but in most cases it is not a life-threatening disease.Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
MalaCards based summary : Kleefstra Syndrome, also known as chromosome 9q deletion syndrome, is related to kleefstra syndrome due to a point mutation and autism spectrum disorder, and has symptoms including seizures An important gene associated with Kleefstra Syndrome is EHMT1 (Euchromatic Histone Lysine Methyltransferase 1), and among its related pathways/superpathways are Lysine degradation and PKMTs methylate histone lysines. Affiliated tissues include heart, tongue and brain, and related phenotypes are malar flattening and hypertelorism
Disease Ontology : 12 A syndrome that is characterized by childhood hypotonia, a distinctive facial appearance, speech impediments, developmental disability, epilepsy, congenital and urogenetic defects, microcephaly, corpulence, and psychiatric disorders and that has material basis in a microdeletion in the chromosome region 9q34.3 or by a point mutation in the EHMT1 gene located in that region.
Genetics Home Reference : 25 Kleefstra syndrome is a disorder that involves many parts of the body. Characteristic features of Kleefstra syndrome include developmental delay and intellectual disability, severely limited or absent speech, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia). Affected individuals also have an unusually small head size (microcephaly) and a wide, short skull (brachycephaly). Distinctive facial features include eyebrows that grow together in the middle (synophrys), widely spaced eyes (hypertelorism), a sunken appearance of the middle of the face (midface hypoplasia), nostrils that open to the front rather than downward (anteverted nares), a protruding jaw (prognathism), rolled out (everted) lips, and a large tongue (macroglossia). Affected individuals may have a high birth weight and childhood obesity. People with Kleefstra syndrome may also have structural brain abnormalities, congenital heart defects, genitourinary abnormalities, seizures, and a tendency to develop severe respiratory infections. During childhood they may exhibit features of autism or related developmental disorders affecting communication and social interaction. In adolescence, they may develop a general loss of interest and enthusiasm (apathy) or unresponsiveness (catatonia).
Wikipedia : 75 9q34 deletion syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder. Terminal deletions of chromosome 9q34 have been... more...
GeneReviews: NBK47079
Related Diseases for Kleefstra Syndrome
Symptoms & Phenotypes for Kleefstra Syndrome
Human phenotypes related to Kleefstra Syndrome:32 (show top 50) (show all 64)
UMLS symptoms related to Kleefstra Syndrome:
Drugs & Therapeutics for Kleefstra Syndrome
Cochrane evidence based reviews: kleefstra syndrome
Genetic Tests for Kleefstra Syndrome
Anatomical Context for Kleefstra Syndrome
MalaCards organs/tissues related to Kleefstra Syndrome:41
Heart, Tongue, Brain, Testes, Eye, Bone
Publications for Kleefstra Syndrome
Articles related to Kleefstra Syndrome:(show top 50) (show all 72)
Variations for Kleefstra Syndrome
ClinVar genetic disease variations for Kleefstra Syndrome:6 (show top 50) (show all 288)
Copy number variations for Kleefstra Syndrome from CNVD:7
Expression for Kleefstra Syndrome
Search GEO for disease gene expression data for Kleefstra Syndrome.
Pathways for Kleefstra Syndrome
Pathways related to Kleefstra Syndrome according to KEGG:37
Pathways related to Kleefstra Syndrome according to GeneCards Suite gene sharing:
GO Terms for Kleefstra Syndrome
Cellular components related to Kleefstra Syndrome according to GeneCards Suite gene sharing:
Biological processes related to Kleefstra Syndrome according to GeneCards Suite gene sharing:
Molecular functions related to Kleefstra Syndrome according to GeneCards Suite gene sharing:
Sources for Kleefstra Syndrome


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23 Sept 2004
Hong Kong Watches & Clocks
Vol 4,
Company Profile
Beautiful Faces
Changing Time
Changing Time
Wing Fung Metal Works Mfy
A constant focus on quality is paying dividends for Wing Fung Metal Works Mfy
Times are always changing when it comes to timepieces, which is why Wing Fung Metal Works Mfy has dedicated itself to making elegant yet trendy desk clocks that meet evolving market needs.
Yip Sau Wing founded Wing Fung in 1987, having worked as an apprentice in the 1970s in a tiny workshop in downtown Hong Kong making watchstraps.
"My boss used to import genuine branded watches from Switzerland, and my job was to change the leather straps into gold ones so that he could re-export to Southeast Asian countries," Yip recalls.
He took over the business and ventured onto the Chinese mainland in 1987, opening a factory in Huiyang, Guangdong Province, to make brass watchstraps.
Intense competition soon forced him to give up watchstraps for mini desk clocks, which proved so profitable that, three years later, Yip moved to a 5,000-square-metre plant.
He also hired 250 workers to man more than 80 machines making desk clocks and other premium products such as key chains, clock necklaces, pen stands and money clips.
Yip's markets have also changed along with his products, evolving from Southeast Asia to the US, which takes 70% of his business, and encouraging him to open Benson Precision Inc in Canada in 1999 to better cater for overseas clients.
Wing Fung designs more than 10 new products every year "in the hope that at least one of them will become a hit" and will sustain orders for a while. "We offer nearly 200 different product items, and are also making desk clocks for a world-renowned Japanese watch company," Yip claims.
Good quality, low prices and prompt order fulfilment are the golden rules of continuing success, maintains the OEM/ODM clock manufacturer.
"I am adamant about good craftsmanship," says Yip. "I made gold, silver, then brass straps, but I didn't make alloy straps when everybody else was making them as I couldn't lower myself to such poor quality."
Apart from frequently monitoring production himself, Yip employs about 20 staff dedicated to quality control, which is a detailed process not done by random sampling.
"We make several tens of thousands of clocks every month, and our QC team checks each and every piece, at every stage, to make sure flawed items are returned and refined," he says. "That's why we don't have a lot of wastage."
Today, he sometimes uses alloy in his products for low-cost orders, but he always compensates with good craftsmanship; an approach that has seen Yip's major US client vote Wing Fung "the best supplier" since 1999.
Yip meets the challenge of maintaining this enviable ranking by undertaking a stringent streamlining process to make production more efficient, paying workers on a piece-rate basis rather than by time and replacing manual procedures with automation wherever possible.
On the promotional front, Wing Fung has traditionally relied on advertisements, but in the last two years Yip has joined the Hong Kong Trade Development Council's watch and clock fairs. "They have been very useful in gaining new clients," he adds.
Son Benson has been helping to create a new website, which is another exercise to cut costs. "We'll try to put all our products on the site, which is more convenient for clients and will save us the cost of sending catalogues," says Benson.
He is upgrading the website to include a factory tour and an order management function to facilitate order taking, and believes it will become Wing Fung's major marketing point that will attract clients from all over the world.
Wing Fung Metal Works Mfy
Flat 33, 11/F,
Shing Yip Industrial Bldg,
19-21 Shing Yip St,
Kwun Tong,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
Tel: 852-2382-6469
Fax: 852-2718-2003
Email: email@example.com
Web: www.wingfungwatch.com.hk
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Three choices for sham US varsity students-radio tags come off 2 Indians
US immigration authorities removed radio tags of a couple of Indian students of a sham university in California as it asked all duped students to contact them directly to find out their options...
US Immigration Authorities, Indian Students, Sham University, California, Tri Valley University, Andhra Pradesh, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, Kalpana Peddibhotla, Indian Consulate in San Francisco, South Asian Bar Association, US Citizenship, Immigration Services, Student and Exchange Visitor Programme
US may reinstate visas of Tri-Valley students
The US Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) has indicated that it is ready to consider reinstating the immigration status of those Indian students...
US Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Immigration Status, Indian Students, Student Visas, California, Sham University, Visa Status, Susmita Gongulee Thomas, Consul General, Indian Consulate San Francisco, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Criminal Violation, Indian Consulate, San Francisco, Criminal Violation of Immigration, Tri-Valley University, South Asian Bar Association
Total 'Records' available now: 2
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I know speaking to other spankos, coming across a spanking reference or someone mentioning spanking brings on different feelings for us than the vanilla world. I know for me, my eyes may bulge, I may get weird exciting feelings or if it's in a vanilla setting with people around, there may be feelings of embarrassment. The latest example for me is a reference in a book I'm reading for fun. I had no inkling that any spanking reference at all would be brought up.
I would say most of us have had childhood heroes. If I had to pick one for myself it would have to be Michael Jordan. I just loved any thing to do with him, from the first time I watched him. I've read countless books. I have all kinds of videos. Even now any kind of article he's in I immediately read it. Unfortunately back then there was no NBA League pass so I could only watch a handful of the games. But I checked the score of every single game. His excellence and magical abilities on a basketball court is probably the main reason I became a big time sports fan.
Well a few months ago I came across this self-help book that made me think of someone, and thought it would be something that this person might find helpful. Being that you need to spend a certain amount to get free shipping on amazon, I decided to buy a couple of books for myself as well. The book that is the subject of this post is called "If These Walls Could Talk: Chicago Bulls." It's written by a beat writer by the name of Kent McDill who is the only writer to cover the Bulls through all 6 of their championship years. He tells all kinds of behind the scenes stories. I've always been a fan of books that gives me a backstage pass into what went on behind the scenes.
Even with my admiration for Michael Jordan's ability on the basketball court, and the way he seemed to carry himself with class with the media, he did have his demons. He was angry, vindictive, a gambler, a womanizer, etc. But those first 2 traits are probably what drove him to be the absolute assassin on the court that he was. Well as big a fan of Jordan as I am there are a lot of stories in this book I never knew. He had fears that really shocked me. When he was young he was in the ocean with a friend of his, and the friend got caught in a current and tragically died. From that day forward he would never go into water and never learned how to swim. He wouldn't even go near a pool if it was recommended to rehab for an injury.
The first thing I thought to myself when reading this is, wow that is really tragic and sad. Second thing that came to mind is "WOW, Michael Jordan has a fear of something that I wouldn't think twice about!" Just amazing that someone I put on a pedestal(and admittingly still do) had his fears as well. He is not quite the fearless superhuman that I thought.
Now to get to the spanking reference. And not surprisingly Dennis Rodman is involved.
"I heard a disturbance behind me and looked down the whole wide aisle between the video poker and slot machines and saw two tightly wrapped women waking in front of two tall men. The men were Rodman and his personal bodyguard, whose name was George.
What they were doing with the women is this: the women would stop in front of Rodman and George, and bend slightly at the waist to point their backsides toward the men. The men would then slap the women on the butt, and the women would prance merrily a few steps away with high giggles before setting up again for another slap."


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On the 26th November I promoted an important meeting that was about to be held by the Arun and Rother Rivers Trust (ARRT) to discuss the management of the Arun catchment.
The event actually took place on 6th December and was a great success.
Hosted by ARRT, the Arun and Rother Connections (ARC) Partnership and the South Downs National Park Authority, the event provided an opportunity for people to learn more about the catchment. It was an open event, held over two sessions at Pulborough Village Hall which encouraged people from within and around the catchment to debate and discuss their concerns for the rivers and streams, the different ways of managing them and to identify funding possibilities and opportunities for working together.
Sir Sebastian Anstruther, Chairman of the Arun & Rother Rivers Trust, said of the event: "I'm delighted that so many people took the time to attend our event, which shows just how important our rivers and streams are to people living in and around the catchment. "It was great to hear views from a range of people who work or live by the water - farmers, landowners, anglers and those who just enjoy living in and around them.
"Our local rivers are precious and important for our economy, health, well-being, leisure and for the wider environment, but they are under increasing threat. By working together we can develop a clear vision for a rich and thriving river system and the views, contacts and discussions from this recent revent will help us shape how we do that. We will continue to keep local people informed and involved as we progress with our work."
I went to the evening session and was delighted (although not surprised) by the positive attitude by all in the room. I am lucky in that I live in the area as well - so it is my home-patch. The meeting helped confirm my long-held belief that if you get real people in a room talking about real issues in their local patch then it is not too difficult to get a consensus - no matter what sector or special interest group people feel they come from.
A good day, and congratulations to all who organised it.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Local people join debate to shape the future of our rivers
Posted by Tony Whitbread at 11:04
1 comment:
- Unknown said...
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Local disability support business Helping Hand Is Here was announced as a finalist at Thursday's Casey Cardinia Business Awards 2014 Finalist function.
Recognised for their disability service workshops and training, individual disability consultancy, online product and service disability directory and portable medical notebook organiser, competition judges agreed that Helping Hand Is Here deserved celebration.
Founder Michelle Jankovic expressed the feeling of joy when "handing clients referrals to much needed disability support." Well-known for referring people with disability, their carers and families, disability organisations and workforce to disability support services, Helping Hand Is Here is passionate about connecting our disability community together.
Michelle Jankovic: "The foundation of Helping Hand Is Here, is my faith and direction from Jesus. From His vision and my lived experience as a Carer, together walking side by side, Helping Hand Is Here was birthed to support with passion our disability community." The Word is the lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119: 105)
Michelle Jankovic: "I'm extremely proud to say that Helping Hand Is Here has just developed and launched its Portable Medical Notebook Organiser. A portable storage device for individuals for birth to adult, storing medical documents to be instantly at hand at any appointment." Found at: www.helpinghandishere.com.au/portable-medical-notebook-organiser/
Deputy Mayor of City of Casey Amanda Stapledon: "I would like to congratulate Michelle Jankovic on a brilliant and innovative service that benefits so many people with disability and their carers in Casey and beyond. I wish Michelle well into the future and so pleased she has been recognised".
Michelle Jankovic: "Thank you Casey Cardinia Business Awards and proud sponsor Safe Super Homes for recognising Helping Hand Is Here initiatives celebrating the hard work undertaken by our local business across the Casey Cardinia Region and beyond.
The Winners of the Casey Cardinia Business Awards 2014 will be announced at a Gala dinner on Thursday 9 October 2014. For more information about Helping Hand Is Here, visit www.helpinghandishere.com.au or phone (03) 9017 4649.
Deputy Mayor Cr Amanda Stapledon with finalist Michelle Jankovic
Peter Jankovic with his wife, Michelle Jankovic
Celebrations all round for the finalists of the Casey Cardinia 2014 Business Awards


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SAN JOSE / State proposes revisions in execution style / Drug doses would be changed to hasten death
State officials proposed changes Friday in the way condemned inmates are executed, in hopes of satisfying the federal judge who blocked last month's scheduled lethal injection of the man who raped and murdered a 17-year-old Lodi girl.
Chief among the state's changes would be a constant flow of a sedative designed to ensure that the inmate remains unconscious while two other lethal drugs are injected into his body.
The doses of all three drugs would also be adjusted to cause death more quickly, the state attorney general's office said.
The changes were announced at a court hearing in San Jose in the case of Michael Morales, whose execution remains on hold. Morales' lawyers have argued that some inmates executed recently may not have been fully unconscious and therefore could have been in excruciating pain as they were put to death.
"We think that under this protocol, the executions will be carried out as they have been, safely and humanely, but even faster," said Nathan Barankin, spokesman for Attorney General Bill Lockyer.
Richard Steinken, a lawyer for Morales, said the state had merely "adjusted the components of the cocktail" without addressing all the problems that led to U.S District Judge Jeremy Fogel's intervention last month. Steinken noted that the state was not proposing to have a doctor monitor the prisoner during the execution, a precaution that Fogel previously suggested.
Morales, 46, of Stockton, was convicted of raping, bludgeoning and stabbing 17-year-old Terri Winchell to death in a vineyard north of Lodi in January 1981. Courts have rejected appeals of his death sentence, and the only remaining legal issue is how he should be executed.
Fogel, citing evidence of possible problems in six lethal injection executions at San Quentin State Prison, ruled last month that Morales' scheduled Feb. 21 execution could proceed only if the state added safeguards to make sure the prisoner was unconscious while receiving doses of paralyzing and heart-stopping drugs.
Fogel said the state could either station an anesthesiologist in the death chamber to monitor the inmate or assign a licensed medical professional to inject a lethal dose of the barbiturate sodium pentothal into the inmate, eliminating the second and third drugs.
The execution was postponed indefinitely when two anesthesiologists who initially agreed to monitor Morales walked out after learning they might have to take a more active role, and no medical professional could be found who was willing to inject the sodium pentothal.
Fogel has scheduled a hearing for May 2 and 3 in San Jose to determine whether California's lethal injection methods have flaws -- in equipment, staff training or the drugs themselves -- that would leave the prisoner in substantial danger of remaining conscious and in severe pain while dying. A state lawyer unveiled the proposed revisions at a preliminary court conference Friday.
The principal change is that sodium pentothal, formerly injected in a single massive dose, would now be administered in a smaller initial dose in one vein to cause unconsciousness. A larger supply of the drug would flow into a second vein for the rest of the execution while the paralyzing and heart-stopping drugs entered the first vein.
"The initial dose will make them unconscious, and the continuous infusion will keep them that way during the relatively short time the execution will take," Dane Gillette, senior assistant attorney general, said after the hearing.
He said the state would reduce the first dose of sodium pentothal because of a concern that the heavy infusion of the sedative was interfering with the effects of the other two drugs. The dose of the second drug, pancuronium bromide, would be reduced slightly, while the amount of the third drug, potassium chloride, would be more than doubled. Gillette said the net effect of the adjustments would be to hasten death.
The state lawyer said prison officials had decided on the changes after discussions with medical experts and officials in other states. He said he didn't know whether any of the 36 other states that execute people by lethal injection administer sodium pentothal in a continuous flow.


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Law360, New York (November 03, 2014, 2:29 PM ET) — S corporations are a highly popular tax structure for small businesses, thanks to their pass-through tax treatment, but as they increase in number, they're also attracting increased scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service, which is redoubling its taxpayer compliance efforts among individuals and closely held businesses, experts say.
It's estimated that the U.S. has a $450 billion gap between taxes that are owed to the government and taxes that are actually paid on time. The staggering number has put taxpayer compliance back in the forefront for the IRS, after it shifted resources in the 1990s away from auditing activity and toward information and technology building, says Larry Brant, a tax partner with Garvey Schubert Barer.
S corporations combine the best aspects of the partnership and the corporation, allowing businesses to use a corporate form while funneling income and losses directly to the company's individual shareholders like in a partnership so that the money is taxed at the individual level instead of at both the individual and the corporate levels, as is customary in C corporations.
And while audit risks for S corporations are generally small, the perks they enjoy are subjecting them to increased scrutiny, experts say.
"Taxpayers need to be on their game because the IRS is back in the audit business, and penalties are stronger than they've ever been before," Brant said.
Below, tax experts share four common audit risk areas for corporations taxed under Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code.
Unreasonably Low Compensation
S corporation shareholders are heavily advantaged when they pay self-employment taxes because they pay payroll taxes only on income that is classified as wages, unlike sole proprietors, who have to pay self-employment taxes on all income. This loophole incentivizes S corporation shareholders to give themselves the lowest wages possible and take the rest of their income in the form of deductions. But the IRS is watching.
The agency often audits S corporations and their shareholders over unreasonably low compensation — an amorphous label that lacks a uniform standard within the courts and instead depends on questions of facts and circumstances, Brant says.
The IRS often goes after low-hanging fruit in such cases and audits taxpayers that report little or no income, but all S corporations and their shareholders should beware, experts say.
"What I tell our S corporation clients is that they want to annually document their compensation decisions, their rationale for shareholder employee compensation decisions," Brant said. "This would include developing a compensation methodology based on qualifications, nature of work, information about what other companies pay. It's an art."
"More often than not, if you give the IRS a substantive explanation of how you reached that compensation, they tend to accept it," Marcum LLP tax partner James Wienclaw said.
Insufficient Basis for Loss Deductions
When S corporations generate losses, their shareholders can deduct those losses up to the value of their investment in the company, otherwise known as their basis. But basis can change year to year and can be difficult to track. So when S corporations start to generate consistent losses, they may attract the attention of the IRS, which will want to ensure that the corporation's owners have enough basis to take those losses, tax attorney Ronson Shamoun of the RJS Law Firm says.
Basis calculations can be difficult to make since S corporations aren't required to report basis on their annual distributions to shareholders. Sometimes, shareholders will be aware of their basis because they are heavily engaged in the company's inner workings, Brant says. But in many circumstances, shareholders won't know their basis in the company, which creates substantial problems on audit.
"We try to track basis as best as we can as practitioners, but in situations where clients move around, basis analyses often lose integrity or get lost," Wienclaw said.
S corporations themselves are best positioned to know and keep track of shareholder basis, and for that reason, it's advisable that they share that information with shareholders on an annual basis, says Jason Watson of the Watson CPA Group.
Shareholder Loans
If S corporation shareholders receive loans from their companies, they should ensure the loans are backed by notes so as not to create unintended consequences, Wienclaw says.
S corporation distributions must be allocated in accordance with a shareholder's ownership in the company, and if a loan is issued without a note, it can be classified as a distribution that upsets that balance, triggering an audit.
"The IRS can come back and say, 'This isn't a bona fide loan, and you have a disguised shareholder distribution.' This will require other shareholders to receive their pro rata distribution to avoid termination of the S election or a potential gain on distribution," Wienclaw said. "These are serious issues. When you borrow corporate funds, you really should have a note with an interest rate to legitimize the loan and put substance to it because substance usually carries over form."
Watson says S corporations should work to resolve these loans as quickly as possible.
"Sometimes you just have to create a loan so your balance sheet balances. You can get away with that for a year, but you want to get that cleared up right away so that typically by the time the IRS catches up with you, you can explain that you've already fixed the matter ."
Ineligible Shareholders
S corporations can only have certain kinds of shareholders — such as individuals, estates and certain trusts — and cannot count partnerships and foreign owners among their ranks. Occasionally, S corporations will unwittingly issue new stock to ineligible shareholders and inadvertently terminate their status, so these corporations have to be vigilant about the shareholders they bring into their midst, Wienclaw says.
"The IRS has gotten more lenient on these issues, so if you make a good faith effort to correct the problem in a very timely manner, they may allow you to correct that mistake," he adds. "But you need to show that you tried to fix things in an expedient manner."
–Editing by Kat Laskowski and Christine Chun.


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In the furious aisles and chaotic catacombs of Fairway in Paramus, where I'm the general manager, I am surrounded by every specialty food imaginable where all gather with a certain gusto of gladiatorial battle. And anyone would be ready to wage war over the tempting Jamon Iberico de Bellota from the Iberian pig of Spain. While this great ham has been around for over 1,000 years, it has only been available in the U.S. since 2008 — it was only then that it could secure USDA approval for import.
The Iberian pig — also the pata negra or, black hoof — lives out its 14-month life roaming free on an expansive combination of forest and pastureland called the Dehesa. In addition to the wild herbs and grasses, the Dehesa contains the holm oak trees that yield the all-important acorn or, the bellota. It is during the last four to five months of the pig's life when it forages primarily on acorns; this period, from October through February, is called the montenera, and it is during this time where the pigs will gain 50% of their body weight and grow to the necessary slaughter weight of 350 to 375 pounds. The acorn, high in oleic fat content, is what gives this cured ham its special and unique marbling. As monounsaturated oleic fatty acids also comprise olives and olive oil, the pig is jokingly referred to by some in Spain as, olives with legs.
Care of the animal is taken not only through its life but in its death and throughout the requisite, three-year curing and re-creation of finished product — with an air of somber, Spanish religiosity in the midst of Roman aqueducts, the distant memory of the Moors, and the omnipresent Catholicism, the slaughter is called, the sacrifice. Only the hind legs are used for this ham, they are covered in Andalucian sea salt where they will remain one day for every kilo. Wiped clean, the legs are hung in special houses at 1,900 feet above sea level where their tomb is watched over carefully by a trained Jamonero who alternately closes and opens the shudders on ends of the building to allow the mountain air to circulate and micro-flora to grow on the exterior skins. It resurrects in three years, emerges, it is certified, and then shipped.
Specialty deli counters like ours (based on availability) will slice it thin, translucent. When served, allow it to lie on your tongue for a few seconds and melt into an almost-liquid of oil, of herbaceous nuttiness, and you will know one of the truly great foods on earth. Take a moment, then, and appreciate the sacrifice and the meditation. This is not a moment of gusto.
Have you tried the Jamon Iberico de Bellota? Share your experience.


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Subiaco Abbey Angus
405 N Subiaco Ave | Subiaco, AR 72865 | 479-934-4567
History of Subiaco Abbey Farms
A web site was unheard of back in the late 1800s when our monks first plowed fields, planted a vineyard and orchard, and tended a few chickens and cows. These pioneer monks were continuing the tradition of working the land surrounding the monastery, that had been practiced through the centuries. The thought was that as the monk worked the land, the land formed the monk into a person of prayer, dependent on God's loving providence for sustenance and material welfare.
In time, corn and cash crops were added to the list of products derived from the monks' farming effort. In early 1900, Holstein cattle were introduced at Subiaco to provide milk, butter, and cheese for the monks and students of the Academy.
For the next sixty years, the brothers would milk and feed the dairy herd every morning and evening, often missing community prayer to get the job done. Since 1964 when the dairy cattle were auctioned off, the face and nature of farming at Subiaco has changed, as have the personnel that do the work. Other more industry-wide changes have influenced the tradition of farming. Today, "specialization" is the way to succeed in farming, and those who select their specialization carefully fare well, in spite of start-up struggles.
We are making use of the latest technology and available expertise to reap rewards for effort invested. Adapting proven methods of cattle breeding and pasture management are important to our future in farming. So too, hiring the right people to work with us, especially in the face of our own decreased labor force, owing to the "graying" of our monks who served for years on the farm.
We appreciate your interest in this endeavor and welcome your comments. Special thanks to those who are inclined to make donations or gifts to further the development in these early years of the new century of our farm entity. May God reward you for your generosity.
A New Breed for Subiaco
Long familiar with milking cattle (the dairy herd was auctioned off in 1964) and then with beef
cattle of various breeds (the existing cattle were auctioned off in 1998 with a billboard sign on Highway 22 calling them "holy cows"), the decision to get into the breeding of registered Black Angus cattle was a well considered and timely one for Subiaco Abbey. The upgrading of Subiaco's cattle stock was necessary to insure greater profitability. The production of purebred cattle got its boost when two Angus breeders donated 41 purebreds to the abbey. A donation by Ankony Angus of Clarkesville, Georgia, of an Angus bull, Ankonian Subiaco, has also been of great help in getting breeding started. The hope is to have 200 cows in a few years, making Subiaco a prime supplier in the area for this breed. At present, we are improving pastures and doing the painstaking record keeping and weighing of individual cows at regular intervals. This is required in raising purebreds, and will be a model for other ranchers.


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text: Stittsworth Meats Share: Meat Market Stittsworth Meats Visit Website 722 Paul Bunyan DR NW Bemidji, MN 56601-2439 (218) 751-1320 (888) 233-6328 Facebook Hours: Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm About About Stittsworth Meats home of the famous Stittsworth's brats! Offering lean ground beef, a variety of steaks, pork roasts, beef roasts, hams, a variety of deli meats and cheese. Now in our new location!


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Reading and Phonics at Brindishe
Reading and Phonics
At Brindishe Schools our aim is to ensure that every child is fully prepared with the skills required to be a confident, skilled and expressive reader. All children will be taught these skills each week through a mixture of individual, shared, guided and whole class reading sessions. Children will develop their reading fluency and their ability to respond to relevant questions and related tasks. The way we teach reading is tailored to meet all the children's needs and abilities. A range of appropriate strategies will be used by our teachers to identify and support each child's next steps.
We want children to develop a real love of books and reading and so we make sure that children have access to, and are introduced to, high quality books and texts every day in their class libraries and around the school. We want children to see books, stories and reading as an enjoyable and stimulating experience and to read for pleasure as well as for purpose. This will be promoted every day as well as the reading skills they will need. We also foster a love of reading through such things as special author visits to the school, making sure children know about and visit local libraries, holding story telling weeks and our celebrating World Book Day.
We use a 'real books' approach to learning to read, using books by published authors. We do not use a specific reading scheme at Brindishe Schools. Our experience is that reading schemes can often narrow a child's interests and create dependence on 'the next prescribed book' at the 'next prescribed level'. Reading Scheme books can be formulaic and rather limited. Our aim is to develop children to be versatile readers who want to pursue their own interests and develop their imaginations. We do have some fiction and non-fiction 'reading scheme' books in our classroom libraries. These are generally used to support younger or less experienced readers who will read them alongside similarly leveled 'real' books.
At Brindishe Schools each child in Early Years and Key Stage 1 takes home a book every night to enjoy. This may mean listening to an adult read, reading to an adult or to themselves. Reading Response books in Early Years, KS1 and KS2 can provide a constant link between home and school and this home-school link is vital to developing confident and skilled readers. We will provide regular opportunities to explain to parents and carers their vital role in helping their child become a successful reader.
We follow the synthetic phonics programme known as 'Letters and Sounds' (Phases 1 – 6). This starts with Phase 1 in the Nursery and in our Reception classes the children experience an intensive phonic programme (Phases 2, 3 and 4). This covers all 44 phonemes in the English language, and enables children to begin to hear individual sounds within words (to segment), as well as put the sounds together to make a word (to blend them). This continues into Year 1 (Phases 1-5), where children will continue to develop their phonetic knowledge to support with reading and writing, and in Year 2, where children develop their understanding of spelling rules and patterns (Phase 6).
Phonics sessions also include learning to read and write high frequency words appropriate to each phase. Children are encouraged to apply this knowledge in shared or guided writing sessions and in their independent writing.
If you would like to know more about how we teach reading or phonics at Brindishe please contact the headteacher who will put you in touch with a member of our English team.


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Take a bus trip with your child from the library, to the school, and back to the library. This event is held on the same day as the School Tour for incoming Kindergartners and their parents. This will give your child an opportunity to adjust to the new experience of riding the bus before the first day of school.
Story Hour on Tuesday at 11 am -- August 10, August 17 and August 24
Upcoming Young at Heart Programs --
August 16th at 1:00 pm - Digital Photo Editing
August 23rd at 1:00 pm - Movie "The Great Gatsby"
August 30th at 1:00 pm - Board Games
Teen and 'Tween Programs --
August 17th at 2 pm - Fun with Photos
August 24th at 2 pm Movie - Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel


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Targeting Out of Province Talent
When you're in need of staff and the demand for hiring is high, where do you turn? Out of province talent is always within reach, but have you ever considered launching a campaign designed to specifically target this pool of people? Attracting outside of provincial borders relies on a plan for passive and active job seekers that consists of: walking in their shoes, building a relationship, and offering an incentive.
Walking in their shoes
Who are they? Where do they live? How do they get to work? Where do they like to eat? You need to walk a mile in their shoes in order to truly understand how to reach them. Get to know their interests and their likes and their dislikes so that you can spend the time and money finding them the right way. Look into popular local media outlets, out-of-home advertising at bus stations, popular grocery stores, radio stations, professional associations and community centers.
Targeting students? Focus your resources on local college or university job fairs so you can pitch your company to them face-to-face. Sponsorship of sports games, conferences, and networking events is another way to stay on their radar in a more subtle, subliminal way.
Building a relationship
The best way to build a rapport with someone is to own your area of expertise and leverage it to attract specialized skill sets. Referrals, direct recruitment methods, and personal networks within a certain field provides a steady supply of individuals who are interested in new opportunities and need assistance in their search.
Social media channels such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook allow recruiters to build and maintain ongoing contact with the passive job seekers. Through the sharing of articles pertaining to employment and current posting, recruiters can constantly connect with 1000's of individuals every day that may not be actively looking for new employment. When positive contact is made with a potential candidate, the next logical step is to get them to submit their resume on your website. Once the potential candidate has been redirected, they can find postings for current job openings and register into your system, receiving updates on new positions as they become available.
What are you bringing to the table?
Benefits packages are, according to a survey of what people are looking for in a job, the second most important thing someone looks for aside from salary. The workforce is tired mentally and physically, so offer up coverage on massages and ample vacation time for them to take a much needed break. Stress is also a productivity killer, so ensure they de-stress by offering up affordable rates on gym memberships, personal days, and other perks that help lessen the load of the daily grind.
Are you willing to cover relocation costs? If you're expecting someone to uproot their whole life and family from another province, consider covering the costs associated with relocation so the idea of moving is more desirable. If you're targeting a family, they are likely to have a lot more to move than a single student looking for experience, but aside from their age and status most people will still require assistance moving their belongings across provincial borders.
A hefty salary increase is another incentive for those looking for a career change. Money is a motivator, so if you check out the compensation guide and ensure you're giving people a fair wage, you're off to a great start.


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With the Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa on your moto z, just ask and Alexa responds, even when you're mobile. Play music, get news, ask questions and more. Whether you're across the room or on the go, four powerful microphones ensure Alexa always hears you. No hands, no problem.
Easily use Alexa to connect to a variety of smart devices. Leaving work earlier than planned? Alexa on the Moto Smart Speaker can adjust the temperature and turn your lights on before arriving at home. Ask Alexa to request a ride home after an evening out or read the items on your grocery list so you don't have to bother searching for your phone in pockets or bags while navigating the crowded store. Need to see what's on your schedule, to-do list, and view the weather forecast for the day? Just ask Alexa and the info appears on your moto z screen.
Just like all of our moto mods, Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa is easy to use — simply snap it on your moto z and head out. Charging is also easier than ever with the new dock design that's perfect for the nightstand; whether at home or in a hotel room, your phone charges while still providing the convenience of Alexa. Plus, up to 15 hours of built-in battery life means you don't have to worry about draining your phone's battery to power the smart speaker.
Whatever your day may call for, Motorola and Amazon Alexa can help you through it with ease.


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We ship worldwide by express courier (tracked shipping). Rates change according to weight and shipment options are selectable during checkout.
Returns, Refunds and Exchanges Policy
How To Return An Item
Your item must be in its original unused condition to be returned, unless there is a manufacturer defect. Your must return the item within 30 days of your purchase.
- Please email firstname.lastname@example.com to request a refund and we will assign you a tracking #.
- Mail your returned item to:
Saponificio Varesino Srl
Returns Department Tracking #
via per Cadrezzate 16
Brebbia(VA) Italy 21020
- Include in your package a signed letter stating the reason for your return and the original receipt.
Return Exceptions
Some items can not be returned if they are opened. These include music, software, and video games. Merchandise that has been worn, used, or altered will not be accepted for return or exchange.
Restocking Fee
All items are subject to a 10% restocking fee, this will be deducted from your refund. We also do not refund the original shipping and handling that you paid on the order.
If your clothing item is in like new condition, you may exchange your clothing item for a different size or color. You will not be subject to a restocking fee in this case, but you still will have to pay return shipping.
Payment Policy
Accepted Methods of Payment:
- Paypal
Credit Card Charges
Your credit card will be charged when you place your order. If we are not able to fulfill your order for any reason your credit card will be refunded.
Mailing Address For Check/Money Order
Saponificio Varesino Srl
Returns Department Tracking #
via per Cadrezzate 16
Brebbia(VA) Italy 21020
Shipping Policy
All orders are shipped within 48 hours Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm.
We use the following carriers to deliver our orders:
- FedEx (World)
- AIREXPRESS (Italy Only)
- Italian Postal Service (Poste Italiane)
Order Tracking
If a tracking # is provided by the shipping carrier, we will update your order with the tracking information.
Shipping Rates
The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products, and your location. Before the final checkout page you will be shown what the cost of shipping will be, and you will have a chance to not place your order if you decide not to.
Back Orders
If an item goes on back order we will ship you the part of your order that is in stock. When the item becomes available we will ship you the rest of your order. You will not be charged any additional shipping and handling for the second shipment.


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Delaying a Project's post-implementation review is folly
Conclusion: Astute managers know that once a project is completed, skilled staff will be reassigned and their recall of the lessons learned and what worked and what did not is quickly lost. This is because corporate memory dissipates the longer the recall is delayed.
Apart from determining whether the objectives of the project were or were not achieved, an open and frank conversation needs to occur regarding the project's outcomes and stakeholders need to be:
- Brave enough to admit failures and shortcomings
- Modest when highlighting successes
- Generous in giving credit to all who contributed to the project's success
- Prepared to adopt practices and approaches that worked well
- Comfortable in disseminating the review's findings to all who need to know.


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Education is the base in which a society stands and moves forwards onto the future. However, for high quality education to happen, schools, teachers and students must have the proper tools and skills.
Time to give back to the community and improve education
Definity First socially responsible with the society, believes in reaching out outside our doors and give back in any way possible to the people that will define the future of our society.
During this past holiday season we reached out to a school in Monterrey, Mexico - Profesora Margarita De Gortari Carbajal to help them improve their computer classroom and to provide them with tools for a more efficient school administration.
Our end goal is to help the education sector to have the basic equipment and to upgrade their computer classroom area for both their staff and elementary students. We know that learning to use technology effectively in the classroom means transforming people's lives and creating a positive change in the world. We believe that technology is a key skill that society must have to be able to compete in an already competitive world.
We value all classrooms, either at school or inside our doors and the role of mentors and teachers, we know we must provide a flexible learning environment that will foster growth and inspire our children and consultants to reach beyond the average and change our society and our organization.
Our commitment is to our people, our consultants and our children, come join us and share your ideas on how we can help improve our organization and our society. We know we are still far from our goal, but what really matters is to give one step at a time, and we will surely get there.


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Q. How do I know if an article is fake news?
Several methods can be used to determine if an article is fake news.
- Read and Evaluate: Read and grade the article like your professor would do, looking for spelling and grammar errors, and checking for sources. Accurate articles are professional and contain sources for the presented facts.
- Verify Information: Verify the sources, facts, and quotes. One method of verifying a fact is with other articles on that topic. Use keywords from the article in searches to find other articles for fact comparison. For online articles, click on the source links to verify the facts. You can also perform searches on images to assist with verification.
- Use fact-checking websites: Fact-checking websites like Snopes, Politifact, FactCheck and others, have often already checked the truthfulness of popular articles and topics.
- Look for facts, not emotions: If the article brings up strong emotions, find other articles on the topic.
- Ask a librarian for help.
For more information, try this library guide: "Fake or Fact: Evaluating news, information, and sources." It provides selected books, articles, videos, and websites to help with spotting fake news.
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Speak to one of our FSCJ librarians for a live chat either online or through text. You can also submit a question and we will e-mail you with a reply within 24 hours.
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Today is the day of the Edison Parade of Light and Lehigh Acres is part of it with a float.
Thank you to all the sponsors, students who build the float and Mike Burgers for putting this together for our community. Great job!
The parade starts today at 7 pm tonight and goes from FT High School to Down Town.
Have a great time at the parade!


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ONDCP leads and coordinates the development, implementation, and assessment of U.S. drug policy. Among the key issues addressed by these policies are those dealing with the trafficking, use and consequences of the various drugs consumed in the United States. These drugs include opioids (including the misuse of prescription opioid medications, heroin, and fentanyl); cocaine; marijuana; methamphetamine; and new psychoactive substances. Information on each of these drugs and the U.S. government's response to their trafficking, use, and consequences can be found by visiting the links below:
Prescription Opioid Misuse, Heroin, and Fentanyl
Fentanyl Safety Recommendations for First Responders
New Psychoactive Substances


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Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7510 can now be updated to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean AOSP custom ROM developed MapleSyrup on XDA-Developers. Front-facing cmaera does not work, but most of the other features work perfectly fine and you can see Jelly Bean working on your Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablet.
Android 4.1 is not yet officially announced for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but we are expecting Samsung to announce soon about the release dates. As you continue reading below, we will guide you though the entire process of installing Android 4.1 Jelly Bean AOSP on Galaxy Tab 10.1 P7510.
Disclaimer: All the tools, mods or ROMs mentioned below belong to their respective owners/developers. We (TeamAndroid.com) or the developers are not to be held responsible if you damage or brick your device. We don't have you on gun point to try out this tutorial 😉
Features not working:
- Front-Facing Camera
Make sure you have installed all your USB drivers for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 to connect it with the computer. Download Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 USB drivers! Apart from just the USB drivers, there are a few more things that you need to take care of.
1. You need to enable USB debugging mode. This helps to connect your Android tablet with the PC. See here: How to Enable USB Debugging.
2. Your tablet battery should be 80-85% charged. If your tablet goes off suddenly because of battery, during flashing ROMs or installing mods and updates — your tablet might go dead permanently. See here: How to Check Battery Percentage.
3. Backup all your important data that you might need as soon as your flash a new ROM, or make a backup for just in case, you never know when anything might go wrong. See below on how to backup data:
- Backup your SMS messages. How? –> How to Backup/Restore SMS Messages.
- Backup Contacts, Gmail and Google Data. How? –> Sync with Google Sync.
- Backup Call History. How? –> How to Backup Call History.
- Backup WhatsApp Messages. How? –> How to Backup/Restore WhatsApp Messages.
- Backup APN Settings: GPRS, 3G, MMS Settings.
Now, let's proceed with the tutorial below and update your tablet to the latest Android 4.1.1 custom ROM update.
HOW TO: Install Android 4.1.1 AOSP ROM on Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7510 (WiFi)
We have put together a detailed step-by-step instructions guide on how to install Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean on Galaxy Tab 10.1. If you are used to installing custom ROMs on your Galaxy Tab 10.1, then this should not be any different for you.
However, for beginners, you need to root your Galaxy Nexus and install a custom recovery. Please Google that up if you are unsure and make sure you read the tutorial once before actually performing it on your tablet.
Just To Remember:
- This Android 4.1.1 AOSP is only for Galaxy Tab 10.1 P7510 and I am not sure if it will work on the other variants of the Tab 10.1 on other carriers.
- My phone had ClockworkMod recovery installed. Please make sure you have this recovery!
- Make a Nandroid backup of your previous phone set up before proceeding – for just in case anything goes wrong.
Complete Step-By-Step Instructions:
Step 1 – Download Android 4.1.1 AOSP and Google Apps (Jelly Bean) for Galaxy Tab 10.1 on your PC, if you haven't already.
Step 2 – Connect and mount your Galaxy Tab 10.1 USB memory on your computer using the USB cable.
Step 3 – Now copy/paste the ROM zip and Google Apps zip files to your SD card. Make sure the file is in the SD card root.
Step 4 – Then turn off your phone.
Step 5 – Now to get in the bootloader mode. Turn on the phone while pressing and holding the Volume Down and Power buttons.
Step 6 – Follow the navigation instructions on the screen. Select BOOTLOADER and then go to RECOVERY.
Step 7 – In ClockworkMod recovery, wipe data first. Then scroll down to "flash zip from SD card" and press the power button to select it.
Step 8 – Press the power button again and select "choose zip from sdcard".
Step 9 –Now using your volume keys, navigate to ROM zip and select it using the power button. Confirm the installation on the next screen and the installation procedure should start now.
NOTE: Repeat this step for the Google Apps zip file as well.
Step 10 – After the installation completes, go to "+++++Go Back" and reboot the phone by selecting "reboot system now" from the recovery menu. The phone will boot now and it might take about 5 minutes to boot on your first time. So, please wait.
That's it! Your Galaxy Tab 10.1 should have Android 4.1.1 firmware installed on your tablet! Go to Settings >About tablet to verify.
Have fun playing with it! If you have any issues, please fire them up in the comments below!
If you're still not interested in trying out Jelly Bean (Android 4.1) on your phone, try some alternatives:


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familychannelYouth activitiesRemove
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Information, help and advice
Edutain+ (Sports for Young People with Disabilities)
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (10am - 3pm) throughout July and August
What is Edutain Plus? Edutain+ is a programme of sports activities for children and young people (aged 11-16 years) with disabilities who live in or study in Westminster. Sports include: • New Age Kurling • Parachute Games • Football • Basketball • Boccia • Table Cricket • Polybat • Athletics Summer 2019 Timetable Sessions for Summer…
Westminster AcademyThe Naim Dangoor Centre255 Harrow RoadLondonW2 5EZ
Edutain+ @ Westminster Academy
10am to 3pm during holidays only
Edutain+ a multi-sport provision for disabled young people. The scheme will take place during the summer break.
020 7641 2012
European Football Academy
Childcare on Domestic Premises
Making a difference in a child's life through football.
Man Capital, 4-5Grosvenor PlaceLondonSW1X 7HJ
020 7838 7328 07428 384 583
Events at Westminster libraries
Westminster libraries host many events and workshops which differ in each library. Check out what's on at your local library.
Express Plus
Express Plus is an arts therapy service that supports young people age 7-25. We provide a safe and comfortable space for young people to express their thoughts and feelings through creative ways with a trusted, listening adult. We work with young people and their parents…
Fisherton Street Youth Club
For young people of all ages. The youth club is open every Thursday and takes place in the heart of the Church Street Estate in the Fisherton Community Centre Hall.
Fit for Sport at Moberly Sports Centre
Childcare on Non Domestic Premises
Activities will include: swimming, arts & crafts sessions, parachute games, team games, sports specific activities and much more. Swimming Pool Sports Hall Community Room Toilets/Changing rooms
Moberly Sports Centre, 25Chamberlayne RoadLondonNW10 3NB
Fit For Sport At St Clement Danes C Of E Primary School
Childcare on Non Domestic Premises
At St Clement Danes C Of E Primary School, we believe getting active is the perfect way to kick off the start of a new term. Fit For Sport has planned lots of new and exciting activities to keep our pupils active and engaged whilst…
St. Clement Danes SchoolDrury LaneLondonWC2B 5SU
020 8742 4993
Fit For Sport Kids Camp At St Christina's School
School Holidays only
Activities will include Arts & Crafts sessions, Parachute Games, Team Games & Sport Specific Activities *Please note that these activities are subject to change. Animal handling experts, Zoolab, will be joining us at camp on Monday 12th August so expect to meet some of the…
25 Saint Edmunds TerraceSt Johns WoodLondonNW8 7PY
Football at Queen's Park Gardens
Monday 16:30 - 18:00
As part of the Neighbourhood Sports Programme Everyone Active will be hosting football in the gardens. Monday 16:30 - 18:00 FOOTBALL
67Ilbert StreetLondonW10 4QH


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How appealing does drinking poop water sound? Your answer is not very likely, and if offered a glass you would say no. But for 750 million people in the world today, that is a question answered every day as communities collect their water from rivers or streams where sewage has contaminated the water. The cause of this problem is 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. Additionally, 2 billion people use toilets connected to septic tanks which are improperly emptied into areas where water contamination can occur. The World Economic Forum ranks the water crisis as being the number 1 risk currently facing society. Its apparent in all our lives that clean water is important which is why Bill Gates, one of the world's most widely recognized innovators and philanthropists, wants us to say yes to the poop water question.
In emergency preparedness literature, they explain that if your home is connected to a municipal water source you could drink from the water tank (not from the bowl) on your toilet if absolutely necessary. After all, the water entering your toilet is the same water you get from your faucet. Think about that for a moment. Our toilet water is cleaner than the waterways that 750 million people access to drink. If those people had the same quality water going into our bathrooms, we could prevent an estimated 700,000 child deaths every year.
When thinking about where we get our drinking water it is important to know that 2.5% of total water on Earth is freshwater, with less than 1% of that being readily accessible to humans. With news reports focused on lingering droughts and ever increasing demand for resources, safe water becomes all the more important. For many countries who can't afford the infrastructure to control the flow of waste and fresh water, a need for new solutions are required using practical technologies that are both cost effective and efficient.
Fueling the Future of Sanitation
Sewage contains 20% biomass and about 80% water. Now imagine a machine that burns biomass as fuel. In this machine raw sewage is dried. The resulting sludge is boiled to separate out the water. As the process continues, an incinerator burns the remaining solids to produce high-temperatures and high-pressure steam which drives an engine to generates electricity which in turn runs the machine. The resulting water vapor is then filtered to remove additional substances. The by-product of this entire process is purified drinking water, excess power for use in local communities, and ash that can be used as fertilizer. That is exactly how Janicki Bioenergy's Omni Processor works, and it is being pioneered by Microsoft creator Bill Gates. You might have seen Bill's appearance on Jimmy Fallon where he challenged the Tonight Show host to pick and drink one of two glasses of water then guess whether it came from a bottle or was poop water, a term coined to bring attention to the concept of converting sewage to safe drinking water in about 5 minutes. After Bill and Jimmy each downed a glass it was revealed both were filled with water sourced from the omni processor located in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, where the prototype is currently located.
For Bill Gates, the pursuit to reinvent how we deal with waste began in 2011 when the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation challenged eight universities to the Toilet Challenge. Each university was given $400,000 to develop a toilet that: Removes harmful waste and recovers resources such as energy, water and nutrients; operates 'off the grid'; costs less than 5 cents per day; promotes sustainable and financially profitable sanitation services; and is a next-generation product that both the wealthy and developing nations want to use. Each university approached the challenge in unique ways. For example, The California Institute of Technology (who won the top prize) used solar panels to power an electro-chemical reaction that breaks down waste and stores excess energy for night-time operation.
While new toilet technology can reduce the harmful effects of waste, it didn't solve the infrastructure problem many countries face. Bill Gates and his team at Janicki Bioenergy are betting on the success of the omni processor as it aims to meet the needs in both rural and urban environments. The first prototype, the S100, is a proof of concept that costs about $1.5 million, significantly less than sewer lines and processing plants. The machine is capable of handling sewage for a community of 100,000 people and produces 2,800 gallons of drinking water and between 100 and 250 Kw net electricity per day. Each machine requires only one or two operators at any given time and could pay for itself by selling excess electricity and fertilizer. A second prototype, the S200, will processes around 7 times more sewage while only being 20% bigger in size.
The Clean Water Conclusion
It is said that for every $1 invested into better sanitation, $5 in social and economic benefits are created through the reduction of healthcare costs and increased productivity. This is especially true for women and children who spend an estimated 140 million hours a day searching for and collecting water. Economic benefits are great but saving lives is better. Cutting down on disease and making clean water less scarce presents new opportunities to parts of the world struggling to meet their most basic needs.
The goal is to roll out thousands of omni processors in the near future combined with newer toilet technology to drive community entrepreneurship and innovate the way we currently deal with sewage. Not only in developing countries but within all communities regardless of region or socio-economic status as we look to a sustainable future.
Would I drink poo water? Yes.


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Preparing to Buy
When purchasing a home preparation is key in success. Taking the time before hand to go over some key elements in the process will result in a successful experience. It is most likely the largest financial investment that you will ever make, so take some time to make some decisions and set up some parameters.
The Wish List
Before you start looking it is important to sit down and make up a list of what is important to you in a house, a location and essentially your lifestyle. You also need to make a distinction between your wants (nice to haves) and your needs.
Some Things To Consider:
- New or old home – Are you seeking a home with charm and character or do you prefer something with a little less maintenance?
- Lifestyle – A key element in the process. Lifestyle plays a huge role in deciding where you want to live. Are you someone who likes to walk everywhere, have a sense of community are amenities important to you and if so which ones? Do you like running, biking or sitting in a park? All these questions revolve around your lifestyle and how you like to live. In other words your lifestyle.
- Location – Where do you want to live? Most people want to live in neighborhoods with good schools, relative proximity to work, friends or family can also play a role. Then there are those who prefer a walking lifestyle – where all amenities are close at hand. Others prefer a little more space – perhaps a nice size lot. These are all considerations when trying to find that right fit.
- Affordability – How much are you able spend? This will in large part determine where you are able to live and what type of home you are able to buy. It will depend on a few factors including, how much of a down payment you have, what the lender is willing to lend to you and what monthly payments you can make comfortably while still being able to eat!
- Thinking ahead – It is always a good idea to try and think a little ahead and plan. As an example, if you are planning on having children in a few years, you may want to think about the number of bedrooms or the schools in the neighborhood. If you are planning on a getting a dog in a few years – maybe you need a backyard. Do you have an aging parent who may need to live with you in a few years – maybe you need an in law suite or something that has the potential to create additional space.
- Prioritize – Lastly it is important to list what is most important to you. Some people need space so the location becomes less important. Other people want a lifestyle that enables them to walk to shops, schools and amenities – so location is the main focus. Everyone has different lifestyles and therefore different priorities.
- Deal Breakers – Some things for some people are what we refer to as deal breakers. As an example some people will not live on what would be considered a busy street – no matter how nice the home or how good the value. It is important that you figure out what these are and communicate them to your agent – this will save both time and energy looking at homes that you will not buy anyways.
Other Things To Consider:
- The floor plan- open concept? centrehall?….
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
- Garden/yard or no yard
- Parking/how many spots/garage/no garage
- Updated kitchens/bathrooms
- Hardwood floors
- Close to transit or ability to walk to work and shopping
- Finished basement
- Fireplace-wood /gas
- Updated wiring/plumbing
- Schools/community centres