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Obama's BRAIN initiative is a hot topic.
As Barack Obama introduced a new program to expand science research this week , Jimmy Fallon took an opportunity to get another dig in at Joe Biden. President Barack Obama's BRAIN initiative was a source of humor last night for the NBC host as he noted that one would find Spongebob Squarepants while mapping the vice president's brain. On The Colbert Report , host Stephen Colbert devoted his entire second segment and guest slot to the BRAIN project, suggesting Obama is wasting taxpayer money because maps and ice picks are much cheaper.
On The Daily Show , Jon Stewart called back to last week's examination of VA records with a full middle segment on the topic. In it, he compared the VA to an episode of Hoarders. For the entire segment, read Bob Brewin's analysis on Nextgov .
North Korea dictator Kim Jong-Un's sabre-rattling remains a source of jokes for hosts, as well. David Letterman and Jay Leno had bits about them, with Letterman showing a video of North Korean military capability. Fallon joined in with a comparison chart between the two most famous Kims in the news today.
Fast forward to 4:45 to see Colbert's psyche break over the BRAIN Initiative.

subset: commoncrawl


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by Katherine Horvath
I stand amazed at what my body accomplished at IRONMAN Texas just a few weeks ago. I only started running two weeks before the race—only three or four times, and no longer than 10 miles on any day. My longest bike ride was somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 miles, and, like running, I didn't ride much going into the race. But I did swim. Sunrise ocean swims followed by Masters workouts in the pool. I swam a lot. I wonder if my stamina and endurance built up from swimming helped carry me through the race.
On May 17, I learned the definition of mind over matter. With roughly 40 miles left to go on the bike, I slammed into an athlete stopped at an aid station and flew off my bike, scraping myself up pretty badly. Two volunteers picked me up, escorted me into the tent, and bandaged me up. Every bone in my body said to not finish the race. I was tired, nauseous, and in pain. I just wanted to crawl into bed. But my mind wanted something else. My mind wanted me to become IRONMAN. And so I said yes.
I got back on my bike, and rode for 40 more miles with bloodied and skinned palms gripping my brakes and handlebars, and my shoulders and back aching. I was determined not to DNF. So I kept pedaling. I'd get to the finish line eventually.
We all know that it's more about ourselves than a race with each other. We were all comrades rather than adversaries.
The last 40 miles seemed like an eternity. I couldn't pedal faster than around 14 miles per hour. I tried as hard as I could but my strength had taken a dive along with my body. Every movement seemed to create limitless pain. Never in my life was I happier to get off a bike. And I wasn't alone. People were hobbling everywhere, bent over, wandering over to the transition tents, and making jokes about never wanting to see their bikes again.
My bike to run transition was a long 18 minutes. I was so happy to be in a chair in that tent being looked after. They gave me water and ice, and helped me change. They told me I was doing great and that I was going to finish this race. So again, despite my body proclaiming no, I kept moving.
The run started as a walk for me, but it felt amazing to have running rather than bike shoes on my feet and solid ground underneath me rather than just a small bike saddle and two wheels. But after mile nine, my body had had enough. I kept moving, alternating running and walking, and around mile 12 started to feel nauseous. A man asked if I was OK. I told him I felt really nauseous and he said I was likely dehydrated. He gave me his last six salt tablets. I resisted, telling him he needed them, but he said I needed them more than he did.
Those salt tablets saved me. Within minutes I was feeling a lot better and could run again. Later on, another competitor shared his ibuprofen with me to help with the pain in my knee, legs and hands. Countless competitors encouraged me along the way, and the streets were lined with people cheering us on. Our racing bibs had our names on them and so they would shout, "Go Katherine! You got this girl!" Every time I passed people, their cheers would make me speed up.
In Texas, I learned that IRONMAN isn't just a race, it's a testament to the human spirit. It brings out the best in people, from the competitors to the spectators to the emergency personnel and volunteers. We all want to succeed, and we all want others to as well. Maybe because of the length and challenge of the race, we all know that it's more about ourselves than a race with each other. We were all comrades rather than adversaries. We pushed each other on, encouraged and motivated each other.
Later that night, 15 hours, 45 minutes and 45 seconds after I got in the water, my training merged with the support of the crowd came to fruition. Three days before my 40th birthday, I became an IRONMAN. And it was all worth it.


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Morning Five: 01.17.10 EditionPosted by nvr1983 on January 17th, 2011
- When we reported on Angel Garcia leaving Memphis to pursue a professional career in Spain approximately a month ago, we jokingly noted that it could be the start of a new trend. It turns out that we may be onto something as Kansas State recently announced that Freddy Asprilla, a transfer from Florida International, had opted to leave the school to pursue a professional career overseas. While it appears that Asprilla was having some difficulty to adjusting to playing under Frank Martin, his AAU coach states that the real reason he turned pro was to earn money to support his ill mother. We wish Freddy the best of luck in his professional career (particularly if the latter is true).
- We usually don't pay attention to mock drafts or player ratings until the end of the season when players are deciding whether or not to go pro, but Chad Ford's most recent Top 100 caught our eye because of how the top players are rated: (1) Perry Jones (talented, but very inconsistent — four points in a loss at FSU followed by zero points in a close win over Texas Southern); (2) Kyrie Irving (phenomenal, but injured with a toe injury that apparently cannot be described); (3) Harrison Barnes (the preseason #1, but very disappointing so far); (4) Enes Kanter (a talented inside player, but banned from playing this year); (5) Terrence Jones (phenomenal this season); (6) Jared Sullinger (your current national player of the year favorite). Outside of the dominance of freshman in the top six, we are struck by the fact that the two most productive players are rated below an inconsistent big man, a point guard with an injury that nobody can figure out, a massively disappointing freshman, and a Turkish big man who was given the NCAA's equivalent of an individual death penalty.
- The New York Times takes a look at something that we mentioned earlier this season and we expect that many of you have also considered–the Kalin Lucas you see post-injury is not the same player you saw last year. We aren't sure if it was just poor editing on the part of the The New York Times, but we were surprised by the fact that Tom Izzo was, in fact, surprised to realize that Lucas wouldn't have the same explosiveness he had last year after a relatively short period of rehab. Our question all along has been how long will it take Lucas to return to a reasonable representation of what he was last year. The answer to that will likely hold the key to whether or not the Spartans can turn around their season in time.
- It technically isn't college basketball, but we are assuming many of you tuned into ESPN2 on Friday night to catch Michael Gilchrist and Austin Rivers square off. Both players had solid games, but in the end Gilchrist and his St. Patrick team (ranked 2nd nationally) were too much for Rivers and his Winter Park squad. We are assuming that plenty of Kentucky and Duke fans tuned in to watch two players who are expected to be the next superstars for their programs. One thing that struck us was how so many of the St. Patrick players looked to at least be college players at some level while the Winter Park players looked more like high schoolers.
- Finally, in light of the struggles of many highly ranked teams on the road this season, we found the question — How many points is Cameron Indoor Stadium worth? — posed by Gary Williams to reporters on Friday to be particularly interesting. We know that the Vegas odds-makers probably have a number at least for general home team advantage if not team-specific home court advantages. So our question to you is how many points is the home court worth at some of the toughest places to play in country?


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There have been rumors floating around for quite some time that Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), the chip behemoth that still hasn't quite made the inroads in tablets and smartphones that many have hoped to see by now, had won the next-generation Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Nexus 7. While these rumors seem plausible, particularly as Intel is making an aggressive push into the low-end and mid-range tablet market with its Bay Trail-T system-on-chip, a new rumor, courtesy of Digitimes, has popped up.
A Nexus 8, you say?
According to a piece from Digitimes, Google is preparing a next-generation, 8-inch tablet (presumably known as the Nexus 8). This tablet is likely to be designed and built by ASUS (the brawn behind the previous two very successful Nexus tablets). Further, Digitimes notes that sources from the upstream supply chain claim that this tablet will be powered by an Intel Bay Trail-T system-on-chip.
For those of you unfamiliar with the story, Bay Trail-T is Intel's current-generation 22-nanometer tablet-oriented system-on-chip. This product was originally designed for Atom notebooks/netbooks, as well as high-end tablets, but Intel decided to attack the broad swath of the tablet market (in particular, the value/mid-range space) with this particular product. Since Bay Trail-T's platform bill-of-materials is higher than that found on competing platforms, Intel is aggressively making up the difference in the form of rebates to its OEM partners to drive adoption.
How likely is this to be true?
This is unconfirmed and, frankly, for a tablet that is likely to be launched in the June-August time frame, anything could happen. That being said, it's unlikely that Intel will achieve its goal of "over 40 million tablets" sold during 2014 without at least a few major wins, and given that Intel already has a very strong relationship with ASUS from the PC world, this isn't incredibly far-fetched.
Further, if Intel and Google are able to deliver a 64-bit version of Android, this could be a great marketing point that no other merchant chip vendor in this space could provide today. While hardcore techies know that "64-bit" isn't really a reason to get excited, this is a marketing buzzword that just can't be ignored. Additionally, Bay Trail-T is a solid performer (if a bit lacking on integration and graphics leadership), so ASUS wouldn't be choosing a bad part by any means.
Qualcomm and NVIDIA likely to fight hard
While Intel is powerful and its relationships with both ASUS and Google are strong, it would be a mistake to assume that NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) won't fight hard for these sockets. NVIDIA actually had the very first generation Nexus 7 with its Tegra 3, but lost it to Qualcomm in the second-generation Nexus 7.
It's unclear whether Google will offer both a Nexus 7 and a Nexus 8, but investors should rest assured that both NVIDIA and Qualcomm will fight Intel tooth and nail to win any Nexus slots available. Further, both NVIDIA and Qualcomm have pretty compelling silicon coming down the pipeline with their Tegra K1 and Snapdragon 805 parts, respectively, so it's not as though Intel's Bay Trail is invulnerable.
Closing thoughts
Intel needs a big tablet win to really validate the x86 architecture on Android. While Google has supported x86 for quite some time, and while Intel has bent over backward to provide as much developer support as possible, there needs to be a lot of hardware that developers will feel remiss to ignore. If Intel wins the Nexus 8, then this will probably be the key win to finally establish x86 as a viable architecture on Android -- even if Intel has to essentially recognize zero net revenue on these parts thanks to BoM subsidies.


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Buying Used and Vintage Clothes
One way to reduce the number of new clothes you cause to be manufactured, and thereby improve your green quotient, is to buy clothes from the past. Lots of good-quality and barely worn clothes in secondhand, vintage, and nonprofit shops fit the bill for something different, and they're certainly better than buying new from an environmental point of view.
The great thing about becoming a convert to buying previously owned clothes is that it fits perfectly within the three Rs model of reducing, reusing, and recycling. Even though the clothes may have been made from unsustainable materials, keeping these clothes in the supply-and-demand loop reduces the demand for manufacturers to supply a new stock of unsustainable clothes — and it keeps that groovy 1970s polyester shirt out of the landfill a while longer.
Raid the wardrobes of your older relatives (with their permission, of course). You may find all sorts of gems that no longer fit their owners but that you can remodel or alter to fit you — and they're free!
The only trouble with vintage clothes shopping is figuring out which retailers are selling authentic vintage clothes and which ones are selling clothes made to look like vintage clothes. Protect yourself by researching the style and age of clothing you're interested in so that you're able to spot obvious fakes (plastic buttons before plastic was in wide use, for example, or fabrics that are inappropriate for the era). Start with nonprofit shops and markets and online auction sites. Enter vintage fashion into your favorite search engine, and you'll find dozens of stores. Then research the stores to check their reputations; don't be afraid to ask a business owner questions such as where the store gets its clothing.
When you go shopping for used clothes in bricks-and-mortar stores, take along clothing you want to get rid of. You may be able to arrange a trade-in or simply sell the items to the same store you buy from.


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The Buccaneers improved to 5-4 with their 34-24 victory over the Chargers on Sunday afternoon, good news that was tempered by the neck injury suffered by Quincy Black in the third quarter.
Black and Chargers running back Ryan Mathews both lowered their heads and came together helmet to helmet at the end of a one-yard loss by Mathews. Black had to be immobilized on the field and then carted off of it. He offered a thumbs up to the crowd on his way out of the stadium, ending what was a pretty scary couple of minutes with reason for optimism.
We don't have a full picture of Black's injury yet, but the first reports are that it could be fairly serious. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Buccaneers are unsure if Black will be able to return to the field this season. Black was released from a Tampa hospital on Sunday night and will undergo more tests on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
Black made his fifth start of the season on Sunday and made six tackles before leaving the game.


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Brothers In Arms seeks to pull away from the clichéd mass of World War 2 shooters and put you in a first person World War 2 historical experience. Covering seven days, starting at midnight on D-day, you play an Allied paratrooper Sergeant from the 101st Airborne leading his squad through enemy lines. The squad is responsible for helping secure the area for the landing army and the events are based on history. Your squad is separated by fireteams, one of which is a tank in some missions. As you play as Sgt. Matt Baker you are free to assist either fireteam, or blaze your own path. Your squadmates are all unique and identifiable, helping to push this game to the next level of story telling.
better than earnd in blood


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Smithfield Foods brings delicious and nutritious meat products to millions of people in the UK and around the world in a manner that sets industry benchmarks for sustainability.
We work in all sales channels and market segments with a broad portfolio of branded and private-label meat products, providing everything from traditional deli meats to more modern, convenient foods: pork, poultry, cooked meats, canned meats, hot dogs, pizza toppings, pâtés, meal components and fresh meats.
Smithfield Foods is an international food producer with production and sales across the world in strategic locations.
Smithfield Foods brings delicious and nutritious meat products to millions of people in the UK and around the world in a manner that sets industry benchmarks for sustainability.
We work in all sales channels and market segments with a broad portfolio of branded and private-label meat products, providing everything from traditional deli meats to more modern, convenient foods: pork, poultry, cooked meats, canned meats, hot dogs, pizza toppings, pâtés, meal components and fresh meats.
Smithfield Foods is an international food producer with production and sales across the world in strategic locations.
These terms of use govern your use of the Smithfield Foods web site ("our Website"). If you do not accept these terms of use you should cease use of our Website immediately.
Code of conduct
When accessing any part of our Website you agree:not to use our Website in such a way that disrupts, interferes with or restricts the use of our Website by other users; to ensure that any materials transmitted by you through our Website (on any forms or email facility or otherwise) are not false, offensive, defamatory, threatening, obscene, unlawful and do not breach or infringe the rights of any person anywhere in the world; and not to reverse engineer, decompile, copy or adapt any software or other code or scripts forming part of our Website nor attempt to transmit to or via our Website any information that contains a virus, worm, trojan horse, or other harmful or disruptive component.
Your use of the contents of the Website
We own or are licensed to use all copyright and other intellectual property rights in the Website, including all intellectual property rights in text, icons, images, data, information, programming, scripting, design, layout and all other elements of the Website. You may download, view and print pages from our Website for your own personal or business use, provided that you do not remove in whole or in part any trade marks, copyright and other proprietary notices contained in or appearing on any material you download or print from our Website. All other rights are reserved, and you should ask our permission before making any other use of the Website.
You may create a link to our Website from another site, but any such link should be to the homepage of our Website at www.smithfieldfoods.co.uk and must not be used in a misleading or defamatory context. We reserve the right to withdraw our permission for any such link by giving you notice. Links from our Website are provided for information and convenience only and we have no control over and cannot therefore accept responsibility or liability for the content of any linked third party website. We do not endorse any linked website.
Our Website uses cookies to record information about your use of the Website, and the Website may not function correctly if the cookies facility in your browser is disabled. In order to prevent the continued use of cookies to record your use of the Website either leave the Website, or disable all cookie functionality within your web browser software.
Disclaimer and limitation of liability
We cannot guarantee that our Website will always be available to you, owing to the nature of the internet. You should satisfy yourself that you have appropriate protection against computer viruses whilst using the internet, and that your connection to our Website is secure. Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information on our Website was accurate at the time of publication, it is subject to variation at any time without notice and we give no warranty whatsoever that any such information will be accurate or complete at any particular time or at all. In particular, product information including pricing and specifications are liable to change from time to time, and you should confirm the price and specification of any product displayed on the Website before ordering. Our Website and any information or other material contained in it are made available strictly on the basis that you accept it on an "as is" and "as available" basis. Where you rely on any information or other material contained in our Website, you do so entirely at your own risk and accept that all warranties, conditions and undertakings, express or implied, whether by common law, statute, trade usage, course of dealings or otherwise in respect of our Website are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law. We exclude all liability whatever, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in respect of any loss or damage resulting or arising from any non-availability or use of our Website or of any other Website linked to it, or from reliance on the contents of our Website or any material or content accessed through it.
Contacting us
We are Smithfield Foods Limited of Norfolk Tower, 48-52 Surrey Street, Norwich NR1 3PA. If you have any queries about these terms of use you should contact us by emailing email@example.com
Governing law
These terms of use shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England in respect of any disputes which may arising in relation to our Website.
These terms of use govern your use of the Smithfields web site ("our Website"). If you do not accept these terms of use you should cease use of our Website immediately.
By using this website, you signify your consent to us collecting and using personal data about you as specified below in accordance with this policy statement. Should we choose to change these terms for any reason, the changes will be posted here so that you are always kept informed about the collection and use of your personal information, and when we disclose it.
How we may collect personal information about you and how we use it
You may provide personal information when communicating with us. You may use our services and give your name and e-mail address to make a comment about our services or web site. If you enter a competition or promotion we will ask your name, address and e-mail address. We will collect information about your interest in the site when you tell us and by analysis of customer traffic. We may use personal information collected about you to help us develop the layout of our website to ensure that our site is as useful, easy and enjoyable as possible. We may use personal information collected about you to let you know about functions on our web site or changes to our terms and conditions of use.
Traffic data
We may provide aggregate statistics about sales, customers, traffic patterns and information to third parties, but these statistics will not include any information that identifies you.
Disclosure Policy
Your personal information will never be passed onto a third party. However, we reserve the right to access and disclose individually identifiable information to enable us to comply with applicable laws and lawful Government requests to operate its systems and to protect itself or its users.
How do we protect your information?
We have strict security procedures covering the storage of your information in order to prevent unauthorized access and to comply with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. This means that sometimes we may ask you for proof of identity or for other personal information before we can process your enquiry further.
What are cookies and how are they dealt with?
A cookie is a piece of information that is stored on your computer's hard drive. It is normally sent by a web server to you and enables the server to collect information back from your site visit.
How to contact us
If you have any questions regarding this policy please visit our 'contact us page' for all our contact information.
Smithfield Foods works closely with its EU- and US-based suppliers who provide fresh and processed meats to the UK to ensure that all the appropriate welfare and quality standards are achieved and maintained. Our supply base is regularly audited by internal and external experts and non-conformances are addressed as soon as they are identified.
Farm Standards and Animal Welfare
Our European 'UK welfare standard' pig farms meet UK farm assurance standards and additionally abide with the legal requirements of the local country of production. We are not afraid to change local practices to raise standards. Within our fresh pork offering, our Polish farms and suppliers do not routinely dock tails or clip teeth, and only do this if absolutely necessary to reduce animal suffering. In addition, all our pigs destined for the UK are finished in deep straw, giving them a more comfortable environment.
We are always seeking to identify additional opportunities where we can work with our suppliers to further exceed current EU animal welfare and farm standards, taking best practice from excelling EU countries.
All of our Smithfield controlled EU & US farms are IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) compliant and take an integrated approach to controlling the environmental impacts on air land and water of emissions arising from their production facilities.
Technical Services and Monitoring
Our highly qualified Technical Team, based in the UK, provides guidance and support to all our EU & US suppliers in the management of the quality standards required to supply meat/meat products to the UK market. They ensure that our internal quality standards are maintained throughout all stages of the supply chain, so if a problem is identified it can be dealt with quickly. Each of our suppliers has also got dedicated technical teams to ensure on-site compliance with our food safety and testing policies.
In addition to inspections by local vets in each country, our fully trained and experienced welfare officers, based in the UK, carry out regular site audits and inspections to ensure the farm standards programme is being adhered to and that all sites remain fully compliant. Independent industry-recognised auditing companies such as Genesis and Integra also audit our farm assured farms, which are accredited to an independent UKAS accredited farm assurance scheme. UK farmers groups and our customers have also inspected some of our Polish farms.
Health and Safety
All Smithfield Foods products that are currently supplied, and all new products developed for the UK market, comply with EU legislation and standards for food safety. All the production sites are certified by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and International Food Standard (IFS), which are recognised standards for food safety. Only companies that meet these standards are admitted as suppliers to the major UK retailers.
Close supervision of meat production, control over processing technology and final products are paramount. The detailed HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) system ensures the optimal safety of products to the consumer. This systematic approach to food safety addresses all the physical, chemical and biological hazards as a preventative measure rather than relying on finished product inspection. HACCP is used in Smithfield suppliers to identify all the potential hazards so that key actions can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk entirely. The system is used at all stages of food production including processing, packaging and distribution. It is internationally recognised as a logical tool for undertaking science-based food safety evaluations based on risk assessment and prevention rather than traditional produce and test methods which are less appropriate for perishable food items.
Smithfield Foods Ltd is proud of their "farm to fork" traceability system in all our farms whereby, through a system of coding, we can trace the process from live animal to finished product. This traceability programme is verified as part of BRC and IFS inspections.
Smithfield Foods Group Ltd Modern Slavery Statement
Smithfield Foods Group Ltd (SF UK) and its subsidiaries are committed to ethical and socially responsible conduct in the workplace and to the protection and advancement of human rights.
This statement sets out SF UK's actions to understand all potential modern slavery risks related to its business and to put in place steps that are aimed at ensuring there is no slavery or human trafficking in its own business and its supply chains. This statement is made pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our Group's slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ending 31 December 2018.
Organisation structure, business and its supply chains
SF UK is wholly owned by Smithfield Foods Inc. (US), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of WH Group Limited (HKEX: 0288).
SF UK imports pork and poultry products from group owned businesses in Poland, Animex Foods zoo sp k (Animex) and Romania, Smithfield Prod SRL (Prod). There are currently 11 production sites in Poland and 5 in Romania. Livestock is sourced from a combination of company owned and contracted farms, as well as procuring on the open market.
SF UK does not own any manufacturing or distribution assets in the UK and all UK supply chain activities related to the distribution and storage of products is outsourced to third parties.
Effectiveness in ensuring trafficking is not taking place - Due Diligence Processes
Smithfield Foods Ltd is an AB member of SEDEX (Supply Ethical Data Exchange), a not-for profit organisation which is dedicated to driving improvements and ethical business practices in global supply chains. Animex and all its production sites are B members of SEDEX. Prod is not a member of SEDEX. A requirement of membership is the completion of a Supplier Audit Questionnaire (SAQ), enabling both our organisation and our customers (who are members of SEDEX) to view the ethical data of the supply sites. In the last 12 months a further production site in Animex has undergone a SMETA ethical audit which means a total of 5 sites have now been independently audited.
In the last 12 months SF UK has required non-group suppliers to complete an ethical audit supplier questionnaire. We have also updated our training materials to reflect the latest information from Stronger Together and other anti-slavery initiatives. We have also subscribed as an affiliate organisation on TISC Report (Transparency in Supply Chains online database)
In order to ensure there is no modern slavery or human trafficking within our supply chain we will undertake the following steps in the next 12 months:
Smithfield Foods Inc. has a global Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which sets out its commitment to ethical trading. The Code of Conduct includes, among other things, certification that employees will comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Human trafficking and slavery is a violation of such law and would constitute a breach of our Code of Conduct and could lead to disciplinary action against the employee, including dismissal.
Smithfield also has a Whistleblowing Policy and a confidential, freephone hotline for employees to voice any concerns they may have. The Whistleblowing Policy and hotline number is provided to all staff upon commencement of employment and numbers are displayed to ensure all staff have access.
Training provided to staff
Modern Slavery training is provided to all new staff as part of their Induction training, as well the Company's Code of Conduct All SF UK employees are required to complete an annual certification confirming they understand and will adhere to our Code of Conduct, as noted above.
Ian Lindsay
Managing Director
18 March 2019
19th December 2018
This document applies to, and is published on behalf of, Smithfield Foods Group Limited, Smithfield Foods Limited and Pek London Limited.
The directors consider the publication of the information below as meeting the duty to publish a tax strategy as set out in the Finance Act 2016.
This document covers all aspects of taxation, in particular UK taxation in the following areas:
Our approach
We are committed to:
Our approach to risk management and governance arrangements
Our Board is accountable for risk management including tax risk. Responsibility for taxation sits within the finance department and is the responsibility of the Finance Director. A culture of good governance and compliance is promoted. Appropriate training, oversight and internal controls are implemented and periodically reviewed.
Risk appetite and attitude to tax planning
Our appetite for tax risk is low. Our business model and operating structure is simple and is not subject to significant judgement in the application of tax law. We seek to manage our business and tax affairs in a straightforward manner and aim to pay the right amount of tax in accordance with the spirit of the law.
We believe in safeguarding our reputation and our relationships with all the stakeholders in our business. We only utilise tax reliefs for the purposes for which they were intended. We do not engage in aggressive tax planning, we do not seek to structure transactions in an artificial manner, and we do not condone, permit or promote tax avoidance or abusive tax practices.
We will sometimes seek external tax advice, for example in areas where we may have insufficient internal expertise due to recent taxation developments or a new or unusual situation such as a large or one-off transaction.
Approach to dealings with HMRC
We aim to maintain an open and honest relationship with HMRC based on collaboration and integrity.
We aim to provide all necessary and required information accurately and on time.
We support, comply with and engage with visits, audits or requests for information.
We take action if we discover errors or omissions by disclosing the situation and working to resolve it promptly, and put in place measures to prevent recurrence.


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The 2019 Pageant of the Masters will take audiences around the globe and into the past, present and future in search of great art and amazing stories.
140 juried artists from Orange County exhibit their original fine art at the Festival Art Show
Sign up for an art workshop and create your own masterpiece
What to expect, what to bring and other helpful hints
Discover dining options at the Festival
Become a member today!
Find out more about our applying for our foundation grants and scholarship programs
A look back as the Pageant of the Masters celebrates over 85 years of living pictures


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Using advogato (and my log), since I'm not on the Planet (yet).
I've just read Daniel's post, and since shame is a powerful drive, here's my non-requested answer.
I'm one guy - quite possibly, the only one - that switched from a full-fledged XML parser like libxml2 to GMarkup. Believe you me: I would have rather stayed within the blissfulness of DOM, within the ease of development of a complex and powerful parser, within the safety of one of the best XML parser around the F/OSS world.
I would have used libxml2 (and in fact, I did begin using it) - because of the work that DV (and every other developer involved) put into libxml2; I state that again: it's a wonderful library, and it's great to have it, and for it I'll have to buy Daniel enough beer to knock him unconscious until Gnome 2.14. :-)
That said, I switched to GMarkup because libxml2 is also a heavy dependency for Gtk+. It's a 1M+ library, and a dependency some devices can't afford to have on the chain - I think specifically of embedded devices.
Supporting a platform standard like the storage for recent files and bookmarks only on desktop boxes, because they can afford to have libxml2 pre-installed is not an option.
I remember discussing on the XDG list with Daniel and others about the desktop-bookmark spec; the spec started as a GMarkup format, and then I was convinced to use XBEL. It was a good idea - and once properly standardised, it could lead to data sharing between various environments; a goal that the previous recent-files spec missed badly.
Having GMarkup to parse a valid XBEL stream, even with every limitation it has (UTF-8 only, a bit shaky XML:NS support, etc.), has been possible (even thinkable) just because I had beside my open Gedit window another window with a XBEL parser written using libxml2, reminding me how a full-fledged XML parser should work.
So, thanks Daniel for libxml2 - your great work has been and it's still really appreciated and useful. Sadly, there are requirements, in this world, and many times they collide with what we would like.


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By Geneive Abdo
Over the past several weeks, leaders of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood have placed on public display the lessons they have learned as Egypt's officially banned but most influential social and political movement by trying to pre-empt alarmist declarations that the country is now headed for an Iran-style theocracy.
Members of the venerable Brotherhood, founded in 1928 by an Egyptian school teacher to revitalize Islam and oppose British colonial rule, have so far stated no plans to run a candidate in the next presidential election, and they surprised many by their halting participation in the transitional government, after the fall of President Hosni Mubarak. They also have made it clear that they have no desire to seek a majority in the Egyptian parliament, when free elections are held, as promised by Egypt's current military rulers. In fact, the Brotherhood has voiced its commitment to work with all groups within the opposition – including the secular-leaning youth who inspired the revolution – without demanding a leading role for itself.
These gestures have produced two reactions from Western governments and other international actors heavily invested in Egypt's future: Some simply see this as evidence that there is no reason to fear the Brotherhood will become a dominant force in the next government.
Others view the Brotherhood's public declarations with skepticism, saying the promises are designed simply to head off any anxiety over the future influence and scope of the religious-based movement. For example, British Minister David Cameron, who last week became the first foreign leader to visit Egypt after Mubarak's downfall, refused to meet Brotherhood leaders, saying he wanted the people to see there are political alternatives to "extreme" Islamist opposition. Such simplistic characterization of the Muslim Brotherhood simply echoes Mubarak's long-term tactic to scare the West into supporting his authoritarian rule as the best alternative to Islamic extremism.
But the future on the horizon for the Brotherhood lies most likely somewhere between these divergent views. Now that Egyptians have freed themselves from decades of restraint and fear, a liberalized party system will logically follow, reflecting the values, aspirations and religious beliefs of Egyptian society as a whole.
What the outside world seems to have missed during the many decades since the Brotherhood was banned is the fact that the movement has never been a political and social force somehow detached from Egyptian society. Rather, the widespread popularity of the movement – which is fragmented along generational lines – can be best explained by the extent to which it reflects the views of a vast swathe of Egyptians.
The Brotherhood has waited patiently for society to evolve beyond the Free Officers movement of former President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Beginning in the early 1990s, it was clear that Islamization was taking hold in Egypt. In my book, No God But God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam, which documented the societal transformation from a secular to more religious Egypt during the 1990s, I made it clear that the Brotherhood was on the rise. This was in part responsible for the Brotherhood's strong showing in parliamentary elections in 2005, when they ran candidates as independents because Egyptian law prohibits religiously-based parties to run candidates in elections.
The question now is whether Egyptian society has moved beyond the Brotherhood. Did the January 25 revolution create a new set of priorities apart from the fundamental tenets of the Brotherhood? These include:
– Enforcing sharia as the primary source of legislation in Egypt. Now, it is primarily applied only to family law, even though Article 2 of the Egyptian constitution states sharia should be the primary source of all legislation.
– Establishing socially conservative policies, such as a ban on the public sale of alcohol, , which Islam forbids.
– Rescinding a number of foreign policies supported by the United States, in particular Egypt's 1979 peace agreement with Israel.
From the television coverage of the revolution centered in Tahrir Square, it might appear that Egyptian society has moved on beyond the Brotherhood to a population of secular, Westernized, young street protesters who are just as detached from the Brotherhood as the Free Officers were in the 1950s. But this is a superficial reading of where society stands in its relationship to the Brotherhood.
There is also a practical reason the Brotherhood could wind up with a significant portion of seats when parliamentary elections are held, even though Brotherhood leaders have stated in recent days that they would seek no more than 30 percent. Assuming elections are held next fall, the Brotherhood will be one of the few groups organized enough to run effective campaigns. The only organized parties under Mubarak were those loyal to the regime, such as the National Democratic Party, and they have now been discredited. It will take years for other political groups to become effective voices in the political debate.
One political party, al-Wasat, founded by Abou Elela Mady, was just legalized, after a 15-year ban. Although the party is far less conservative than the Brotherhood – its leaders split from the Brotherhood long ago – nevertheless al-Wasat is Islamist in its leanings.
A military council, which now rules Egypt, has announced that elections for parliament and president will be held within the next six months. Given the new political landscape and values and beliefs of Egyptian society, religious considerations can be expected to play a prominent role in the new parliament.
Egypt offers the best example in the Arab world where Islam means many things to many people, and there is a sizable part of the population which believes that religion should inform the new, post-Mubarak political system. This does not mean Egyptians want anything like a theocracy – but, then, neither does the Brotherhood. But it is a safe bet that many of the ideas the Brotherhood has advanced for many decades will factor into any new Egyptian government.
Geneive Abdo is director of the Iran program at the National Security Network and The Century Foundation, two Washington-based think tanks. Formerly the Iran correspondent for The Guardian, a regular contributor to the Economist, and liaison for the United Nations' Alliance of Civilizations, Abdo is also the author of Mecca and Main Street: Muslim Life in America After 9/11 and No God but God: Egypt and the Triumph of Islam.


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Leftist Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz says special prosecutor Angela Corey should drop the second-degree murder charge against George Zimmerman, the Hispanic man who shot Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26 in Sanford, Florida.
The evidence that Zimmerman told the truth when he said Martin attacked and tried to kill him, Dershowitz wrote in the New York Daily News, is too much to ignore. And the only right thing for the prosecutor to do, he concluded, is forget about nailing Zimmerman for murder.
Dershowitz has been speaking out about the case since the prosecutor released an affidavit that Dershowitz said fell fall short of what is legally required. Most notably, it lies by omission, he implied.
Prosecutor Unethical
The Harvard law professor unbosomed his opinion after prosecutors released the evidence in the case, including photos and a report about Zimmerman's injuries sustained in the fight for his life against the enraged 17-year-old football player.
As The New American reported last week, the medical evidence backs up the account Zimmerman gave police: that Martin brutally attacked him, breaking his nose and bashing his head into the ground, before Zimmerman pulled his gun and shot the teenager.
The medical report showed that Zimmerman had a "closed fracture" of the nose, lacerations on his head and a minor back injury. Photos confirm the written report.
As well, the autopsy on Martin showed Zimmerman shot him at close range, which is, again, consistent with Zimmerman's account, and that Martin had an abrasion on one of his fingers and trace amounts of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system. Whether Martin was stoned when he attacked Zimmerman is unclear.
Dershowitz says the time has come to drop the case. "If this evidence turns out to be valid, the prosecutor will have no choice but to drop the second-degree murder charge against Zimmerman — if she wants to act ethically, lawfully and professional," he wrote, adding,
There is, of course, no assurance that the special prosecutor handling the case, State Attorney Angela Corey, will do the right thing. Because until now, her actions have been anything but ethical, lawful and professional.
Dershowitz also reprised earlier his remarks of a few weeks ago, which suggested that the prosecutor's affidavit was faulty because did not contain exculpatory evidence. "She was aware when she submitted an affidavit that it did not contain the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. She deliberately withheld evidence that supported Zimmerman's claim of self-defense," he wrote.
A few weeks ago, Dershowitz noted that such affidavits must contain "all relevant information," and that not including evidence that would prove Zimmerman's innocence is "unethical," "immoral" and "irresponsible." He even called the affidavit "stupid."
This week, Dershowitz explained more:
The New York Times has reported that the police had "a full face picture" of Zimmerman, before paramedics treated him, that showed "a bloodied nose." The prosecutor also had photographic evidence of bruises to the back of his head.
But none of this was included in any affidavit.
Now there is much more extensive medical evidence that would tend to support Zimmerman's version of events.
Dershowitz also explained that Florida's Stand Your Ground Law might not be an issue in the case, and that even if Zimmerman cannot use the law as a defense, he may still have a legitimate claim of self defense. "A defendant, under Florida law, loses his 'stand your ground' defense if he provoked the encounter — but he retains traditional self-defense if he reasonably believed his life was in danger and his only recourse was to employ deadly force," he wrote.
Thus, if Zimmerman verbally provoked Martin, but Martin then got on top of Zimmerman and banged his head into the ground, broke his nose, bloodied his eyes and persisted in attacking Zimmerman — and if Zimmerman couldn't protect himself from further attack except by shooting Martin — he would have the right to do that. (The prosecution has already admitted that it has no evidence that Zimmerman started the actual fight.)
Dershowitz is highly concerned that Corey said her job was to get "justice for Trayvon Martin" but not for George Zimmerman. That, Dershowitz wrote, is not a prosecutor's job. Nor he wrote, is her job to get a conviction to avoid racial troubles that might arise should Zimmerman go free:
As many see it, her additional job is to prevent riots of the sort that followed the acquittal of the policemen who beat Rodney King.
Indeed, Mansfield Frazier, a columnist for the Daily Beast, has suggested that it is the responsibility of the legal system to "avert a large scale racial calamity." He has urged Zimmerman's defense lawyer to become a "savior" by brokering a deal to plead his client guilty to a crime that "has him back on the streets within this decade."
But it is not the role of a defense lawyer to save the world or the country. His job — his only job — is to get the best result for his client, by all legal and ethical means. …
The prosecutor's job is far broader: to do justice to the defendant as well as the alleged victim.
As the Supreme Court has said: "The government wins ... when justice is done."
Zimmerman's lawyer is doing his job. It's about time for the prosecutor to start doing hers.
Evidence Likely Means Acquittal
Corey charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder in early April. At the time, legal experts wondered how she would get a conviction given the high standard of evidence required to prove such a crime. That evidence must include proof that the accused "evinc[ed] a depraved mind regardless of human life." The defense experts concluded that she "overcharged" to force a plea deal from Zimmerman.
But then the prosecutor released the affidavit, which suggested they had no case. Dershowitz noted as much at the time: The evidence, he said, is "so thin that it won't make it past a judge on a second degree murder charge." He also called the affidavit a "grave ethical violation" because of what it didn't include: the evidence supported Zimmerman's claim that Martin attacked him.
Indeed, Dershowitz confidently said the evidence was so weak Zimmerman would be probably be acquitted, and he accused Corey of trying to score political points with the charge. "I think what you have here is an elected public official who made a campaign speech last night for reelection when she gave her presentation and overcharged," he said. "[I]f the evidence is no stronger than what appears in the probable cause affidavit — this case will result in an acquittal."
Now Dershowitz flatly calls on Corey to drop the case.
Related stories:
Medical Report Shows Martin Attacked Zimmerman
Sister of Beating Victim in Mobile Says Theft Was Motive
Trayvon Martin Shooting Allegedly a Motive in Three New Crimes
Prosecutors In Zimmerman Case Release Affidavit, But Face Trouble Getting Conviction
Zimmerman Charged With Second-Degree Murder
Zimmermans Ask Holder: Why No Charges Against Black Panthers
Sharpton, Jackson Media Silent About Hate Crime In S.C.
Spike Lee Settles With Couple; Zimmerman's Father Speaks
Photo: Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz is shown in a file photo from 1995 at his office in Cambridge, Mass.: AP Images


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In this week's TV roundup, Troy and Abed are on the rocks, Ewan McGregor wants Louie CK to put his money where his mouth is, Lady Gaga talks kids and Bethenny Frankel shows off a little more than she bargains for.
1.) Ewan McGregor might try to blow Louie CK at some point.
In an old stand-up special, Louie CK remarked that Ewan McGregor is the only guy he feels legitimately gay for—gay enough that he's let McGregor give him a real gay blowie. Now, Ewan's asking if it was all just talk.
2.) Community's number one romance might be in jeopardy.
Not cool. Not cool cool cool.
3.) Jennifer Lawrence and Jimmy Fallon play a little non-traditional basketball.
Not the Shamrock Shake! Do you know how rarely you can get those?!
4.) Speaking of JLaw, Kristen Bell is very obsessed with The Hunger Games.
And she is gunning for the role of Johanna Mason.
5.) What do you ask a 25-year old pop star at the height of her career?
DUH. You ask if she wants babiezzzzzz.
6.) Will Ferrell's brother Terri refuses to leave The Gilmore Girls set.
Terri Ferrell brings the term "squatting" to a whole new level.
7.) Homo Slo-Mo.
Cooling down is one of the most important parts of working out.
8.) Bethenny Frankel has a wardrobe malfunction on Anderson.
I love when Anderson Cooper gets the giggles.
9.) Celebrities read mean tweets about themselves on Kimmel.
HAHAHA. Humility, you guys.
10.) Liz Lemon will be Kristen Schaal's mentor on 30 Rock.
Ugh, the male gaze.


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It's never easy going back to school. You have to get up earlier, you have to do homework, and worst of all, you'll probably have to step outside your comfort zone at some point and try something new. Usually the start of a new school year involves diving in and just hoping for the best, but this year I'm offering you all a little help. Having the right strategy can be the key to surviving a new year, whether it be on a math test, a research paper, or just trying to figure out where that crusty book in the back of the library is hiding.
If you need help with any of those things, check out some of our school-friendly titles below:
1) The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking
By: Edward B. Burger & Michael Starbird
This book presents practical, lively, and inspiring ways for you to become more successful through better thinking. The idea is simple: You can learn how to think far better by adopting specific strategies. By using these straightforward and thought-provoking techniques, you will regularly find imaginative solutions to difficult challenges, and you will discover new ways of looking at your world and yourself–revealing previously hidden opportunities.
Check out the introduction here.
2) The Calculus Lifesaver: All the Tools You Need to Excel at Calculus
By: Adrian Banner
For many students, calculus can be the most mystifying and frustrating course they will ever take. The Calculus Lifesaver provides students with the essential tools they need not only to learn calculus, but to excel at it. The book combines ease of use and readability with the depth of content and mathematical rigor of the best calculus textbooks.
Check out the first chapter here.
3) How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method
By: G. Polya
In this best-selling classic, George Pólya revealed in lucid and appealing prose how the mathematical method of demonstrating a proof or finding an unknown can be of help in attacking any problem that can be "reasoned" out–from building a bridge to winning a game of anagrams. Generations of readers have relished Pólya's deft instructions on stripping away irrelevancies and going straight to the heart of a problem.
Check out a preview here.
4) The Elements of Library Research: What Every Student Needs to Know
By: Mary W. George
This short, practical book introduces students to the important components of the information-seeking process. It provides a foundation for success in any research assignment, from a freshman paper to a senior thesis. Unlike guides that describe the research process but do not explain its logic, this book focuses entirely on basic concepts, strategies, tools, and tactics for research–in both electronic and print formats.
Check out the first chapter here.


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Isaiah 53:5
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Matthew 8:17
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Psalm 103:3
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Matthew 4:23
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 8:3
And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Revelation 22:6
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.


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Balanced Spectrum® Floor Lamp
Try this product for 90 days. If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied, we will gladly exchange your purchase or credit you for the purchase price.
any time of the day.
- Full spectrum bulb - like sunlight indoors
- Reduces eyestrain, fatigue and headaches caused by other lighting types
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Republicans run from Romney
Mitt Romney is rapidly becoming the candidate that Republicans would like to forget.
Less than two weeks after his narrow popular vote defeat to President Barack Obama, members of his own party are fleeing from him with surprising speed — especially in the wake of the GOP nominee's explanation for Obama's win: "gifts" to Democratic constituencies.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Republicans at a crossroads)
Unlike Romney, previous losing GOP candidates like current and former senator John McCain and Bob Dole built up decades of goodwill that ensured a degree of respect and loyalty after their presidential defeats. But there's little of that for this year's failed candidate, who was never part of the Washington establishment.
"Post Romney, post haste. That's I think where we are," said Rick Tyler, the GOP strategist who attacked Romney as head of the pro-Newt Gingrich super PAC. "I don't get the sense that anybody really wants him to stay around, and I don't get the sense he wants to say around either."
The GOP inevitably would have moved on from 2012, driven by a lack of authentic admiration for the former Massachusetts governor and a desire to win in 2016. But Romney's comment on a conference call last week that Obama won because he gave "gifts" to African-Americans, Latinos and young people hastened a process of coming-to-terms that took much longer after 1996 and 2008.
The criticism of the "gifts" gaffe is emblematic of the broader desire to "turn the page," as Iowa GOP Gov. Terry Branstad puts it.
For his part, Romney has not spoken publicly since the loss on Nov. 6. The "gifts" comment came on a conference call for top donors. He was last spotted Saturday night at a movie theater near his La Jolla, Calif., home. He went to see the fifth and final installment in the "Twilight" franchise — an apt metaphor, when most Republicans would prefer he just ride off into the twilight.
University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato said McCain and Dole were well liked by at least some parts of the Republican Party structure.
"I just don't think Romney ever established an emotional connection with much of anybody in the party," said Sabato. "He was essentially a cyborg designed to win the presidency, and when he failed he was placed in the disposal bin."
Following their losses, former nominees like McCain and John Kerry returned to Congress and played substantial roles in policy and politics. Both McCain and Kerry campaigned for their party's nominees this year. Kerry played an even larger role in prepping Obama for the debates as the stand-in for Romney and is now being considered for a Cabinet job in a second Obama term.
But Romney has no political job to retreat to, and is likely to take refuge in his family or the business world, where he spent the bulk of his professional life. It's hard to imagine the former Bain Capital CEO playing king-maker in 2016 or stumping for congressional candidates in 2014 — or even that they would want him to.
"Both Bill Clinton in 1996 and Barack Obama in 2008 were larger than life forces," said Dan Schnur, the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. "It was easy for Republicans to attribute the loss to the unusual strength of a candidate on the other side. This defeat isn't all about demographics, but it's a fairly large contributing factor."
Schnur — who was McCain's communications director in 2000 — pointed to the fact that Romney represented the demographic problems facing the Republican Party, whose base is increasingly older, white men in a country that is becoming more diverse.


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NYC spring break!
a massive photo dump from our recent trip to NYC for poppy's spring break! had tons of fun seeing old friends (aaron, nicole, mike, yufei, nick and danielle), shopping some (marimekko, abc carpet and home purl, polarn o. pyret, uniqlo, etc.), walking lots, going to the MOMA and boating on the pond in central park, eating entirely too much good food at all our favorite haunts (la pain quotidian, velselka, cafe katja, les halles, two boots pizza, and more!). arrived home safely yesterday, after a perfectly lovely 6 day stay.
poppy's favorite part of the trip? her multiple visits to the very cool updated playground at union square park!