text:
1. "...how could the courts rule on this matter of faith, they (BJP) asked righteously"
2. "For a man (Atal Behari Vajpayee) who resolved with his party -- then not in office, OK -- that the dispute could not be resolved in the courts, this is a complete and abject turnabout."
3. "Seeing hope now in the courts is as frankly silly as when Advani shouted hoarsely from his Toyota that no court on earth could decide this matter of faith"
So, from above three sentences used by Dilip, one could conclude that the BJP and especially so, Advani had asserted that: matters of faith cannot be decided by courts of law. Elsewhere in the same article, he is quoted to have provided both legislation or out-of-court settlement between the two religious communities as viable alternatives to break through the impasse.
The reasons I make the above assumptions are because they seem reasonable ones to make, and that there is little reason to be skeptical about them. Though I must point out that the first assumption has been contested. This contention, and the sequence of important events and their historical background could be found in two Wikipedia articles - Babri Mosque (click) and Ayodhya Debate (click), which I have incidentally used as my primary sources of information. This dispute is sourced in the 16th century, much, much before I was born. As is usually the case, history is rarely chronicled reliably, which is of special significance in the given issue. Moreover, I am not a professional historian, nor a journalist to have kept tabs on all the major events. Lastly, I was quite young when the Babri Mosque was demolished in 1992, of which I remember little. So obviously, my knowledge and understanding of the issue cannot be taken as an authoritative one, still I have formed opinions on it, which are in flux, and yet I venture out to publicize them for two reasons. One, there is hardly any subject on which the 'final word' is ever spoken. Meaning, we always come across new pieces of information that alter our opinions, or new arguments to shift our positions. So in most areas of life, we form opinions or reach decisions despite possessing knowledge and understanding that could be assessed as only far from complete, so why not on this one? Two, as I am not a stakeholder of the disputed site, nor an influential person insofar as my opinion can have a bearing on the final outcome of verdict to be announced on the 28th of this month, I believe, there is no harm in coming out with it (my take).
In very brief, I discuss the timeline of Ayodhya dispute, as I understand it:
1. 1558: 'Mir Banki' - a General of Babar, the Mughal ruler, destroys the Ram Temple.
2. 1850s: In the interim, both Hindus and Muslims used to worship at the site. However, there were clashes between the two communities in 1850s, and the British had built a fence around the main structure. Hindus were not allowed entrance, and they used to offer prayers on a raised platform. The festival of Ram Navmi (which marks the birth of Ram) was also celebrated by the Hindus at the site for at least since over a century.
3. 1883-86: Few representations were made by Hindus seeking permission to build a Temple on the raised platform, which were rejected by the British Judges.
4. 1934: There were some religious clashes between Hindus and Muslims, the Mosque was damaged, which was made good by the British.
5. 1936: Within the provisions of an act passed in 1936, the Mosque and the surrounding area were recognized to be owned by the 'UP Waqf Board'
6. 1949: Gradually, as claimed by Hindus, Muslim interest in the site had waned and by 1947, they had stopped offering Namaaz there. Moreover, the government had disallowed Muslims to enter within 200 m of the site. Only Hindus were allowed to enter, but that too through a side-door. [Here though, I must point out that if Muslims were anyway not offering prayers there, why would there be a need to make the site out-of-bounds for them? So, something is not making definite sense to me, but as I mentioned above, some of the details of events and reasons behind them remain unclear.]
7. 1949: Idols of Ram and Sita were sneaked into the Mosque at night. This was reported by the police, when discovered. The following morning a large mob of Ram devotees had tried to enter the Mosque, but which was prevented from doing so. At this point, the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru on learning of the incident had ordered removal of the two idols from the temple. Significantly, a Waqf Inspector at around that time had complained that Hindus would jeer at Muslims entering and exiting the Mosque for offering Namaaz (something that contradicts the claim that Muslims were not using the Mosque).
8. 1984: Though Hindus had since long been interested in the reclamation of the site and restoration of the Temple, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad revived this demand more vocally and had resolved to build a Temple devoted to the infant Ram at the site.
9. 1985: Rajiv Gandhi government had passed a resolution to have the main locks of the Mosque opened for Hindus, the Allahabad High Court also ordered the same in 1989.
10. 1989: In November (prior to General Election), the VHP had obtained permission (from whom? - that is unclear) to perform Shilanyas ("stone laying ceremony") at the site. This had sparked Muslim unease and protests.
11. 1992: December 6 - the Babri Mosque was demolished, in which prominent leaders of the BJP, like L. K. Advani have been implicated to have played a provocative role by the Liberhan Commission instituted by the then Congress government.
12. There are claims that during excavation remnants suggesting existence of Jain or Buddhist architecture were also found. However, I do not know if these claims are verified, and that in which stratum of the soil were these remains found - that is what would eventually determine what was the first place of worship built at the disputed site.
As is the case with complicated problems, let me try to bring in an analogy, which I hope would simplify the considerations involved.
There are two neighbors - 'A' and 'B'. 'A' owns a board game, which is his major source of entertainment. 'B' is a much more powerful person, and for some reasons, snatches away the game kit from 'A'. Moreover, 'B' does not have much use for the game kit as he does not enjoy board games much. Whether 'A' had protested or not is not clearly known, though he would have, as can be thought of as natural with any kind of extortion. At the same time, the B-family erases the preexisting design on the board, and replaces it with one that would make it conducive to a set of rules different from the one by which the A-family plays. Significantly, they also remove a few squares from the board that are most vital to the A-family's set of rules of game-play. Now, 'B' 'bequeaths' the game kit to his son, who in turn bequeaths it to his son, and henceforth. Now, the game kit ends up with one of the descendants of 'B'. Just like 'B', 'b' also does not find that particular board game too interesting. Correspondingly, the contemporary of 'b' is 'a', who is a descendant of 'A'. All through the course of time, certain indeterminate (but perhaps, large) fraction of the descendants of 'A' very much want the game kit to be theirs, and are opposed to its possession by the B-family, which the A-family members feel is illegal. The reason protesting A-members cannot seek legal redress is because the B-family also happens to be the village head, who sits in judgment of all such disputes! Then, the village head changes. This time it is 'J'. Again, members of the A-family demand that the game kit be returned to them, but the new village head tells them that "as the incident of snatching away the game kit was too old, nothing could be done about it". Now, the new village head recognizes the A-family's need for entertainment and thus takes a view more sympathetic than had been taken by the B-family, and asks that the A-family be allowed to use certain section of the board, but still leaves its possession with the B-family, and in fact legitimatizes such possession of the board by B-family using a new provision of law. Moreover, the new judge does not allow restoration of board's original structure as otherwise the game kit would be rendered useless for the B-family, which would amount to injustice, because the new Judge deems the B-family to be the rightful owner. Then, again the judge changes to 'j' [please note here that 'j' follows most of the laws 'J' had defined and also does not recognize himself as truly distinct from 'J' by way of honoring the precedents set by 'J' and also by recognizing the records of ownership maintained by 'J'] . By now, the A-family becomes much more powerful than the B-family. Some of the A-family members forcibly insert the missing squares so that the board would become fully functional for the manner in which they want to play their game. However, 'j' intervenes, and has those squares removed. But 'j' also disallows the B-family from using the board, though its 'possession' remains with the B-family itself. Ultimately, 'j' allows A-family to use the entire board, but without allowing re-insertion of the squares nor allowing any kind of redrawing. Also, some of the A-family descendants want to make the board look more beautiful, of course which is denied by 'j'. Concurrently, the B-family was offered another board to design its game on, which was rejected by those members of the B-family that were deemed as the both the representatives of the B-family and also as 'owners' of the original board by both 'J' and 'j'. So one of these days, few of the A-family members completely erase the designs drawn by the B-family. The B-family vehemently protests this. This act by the A-family is seen widely as illegal, because the erasure of the design did not have the sanction of 'j'. Another reason it is critiqued is is because the B-family protests the act and sees it as bullying. Later, some sketchy evidence emerges that even before the board was owned by A-family, it was owned by the 'C'-family!
Well, I have laid the analogy above. Obviously, being an analogy, there are bound to be significant incongruities between it and the 'real' situation. Significant among them being:
1. In the analogy, the warring parties are well-recognized individuals with unambiguous property rights to begin with as far as the ownership of the game kit are concerned. Whereas, this is not the case with the disputed land. Though, it seems in 1936, the British 'invented' the ownership of the site by awarding it to the 'Waqf' board or in other words, awarding it to the Muslim community, thus granting a status of a syndicate
2. The emotional attachment aspect of both the communities towards their respective structures (whatever be its degree or justifiability) has been overlooked. But this because, I believe, justice should not be based on emotional attachment.
3. The motives of the A- and the B-families in wanting to hold on to the board have again not been figured. This is similar to the second point above, meaning, what one plans to do with what one possesses is not an index to whether that person is the 'rightful' owner or not.
I again encourage the reader to point out other significant departures in the analogy from the real thing.
Now, let us analyze the entire dispute over the game kit more closely. At the heart of the entire issue is one of 'ownership' - the idea that a board can be owned by a person or group of persons, who reserve the right of what could be done to that board, what could be done with that board, and most important, who else to allow or to disallow from using it, and what kind of uses to allow/disallow.
Let me start with a 'sub-analogy' (that is, an analogy within an analogy): Suppose, 1 steals a watch from 0, and then gives it to 2. Can we now consider 2 to be the rightful owner of the watch? Would we consider 0's demand legitimate that the watch be returned back to him?
I am guessing, most would answer that in 'no' and 'yes' respectively. The reason behind our answer would be that:
"To have the legitimate right to transfer the ownership of something one must own it in manner that is considered legitimate in the first place."
... [a.1]
But let us slightly complicate the sub-analogy above: what if 2, instead of keeping the watch for himself, transfers it to 3, who transfers it to 4, and who to 5. Would 0 still have the right to claim the watch as his own? Would 5 be considered the rightful owner of the watch?
I guess, many would still respond that the watch be rightly restored to 0, and that 5 cannot claim any ownership of the watch, because just like how transfer of watch from 1 to 2 would be not recognized as legitimate, that of 2 to 3, 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 would also not be recognized as legitimate. This leads us to yet another assertion:
"The illegitimacy of transfer of ownership is independent of the number of hands the property passes from 'under'. In other words, a series of transfers of ownership does not make legitimate the final transfer, if the first transfer of ownership was illegitimate (stealing, for instance)."
... [a.2]
So, using the above two points and applying them to the original analogy of game board, one would assume that 'b' never really was in its possession, as the first acquisition of the board itself was by an illegitimate method (extortion). This, because A had never willingly handed over the game board to B. So can we say that 'A' was the rightful owner of the game board, and by extension, so is 'a'? And as corollary, 'b' is not the rightful owner of the board?
It might be tempting to answer the above as 'yes' and 'yes', but let me try to explain the complications involved.
The answer in affirmative would depend on our assuming that the forceful acquisition of the board was illegitimate. The reason I say this amounts to an assumption and not some kind of verifiable, absolute truth is because, the said extortion seems illegitimate from the perspective of current code of ethics and the penal law we follow! And we cannot use the legal system of our times to impose the conclusions that follow on an entirely different system of justice (that must have existed when 'B' took away the board from 'A'). And it can also be safely assumed that the system of justice that prevailed when 'B' took away the board from 'A' did not find the act illegitimate, otherwise the ownership of the game board would have been restored to the original owner 'A'. Some might point out that the justice system back then must have not existed, or that it was undemocratic, barbaric, etc. But while trying to assess whether the transfer of ownership by 'B' to his son 'b' was illegitimate or not, we need to prove that the method by which 'B' had acquired it from 'A' was illegitimate exactly at the time when it was being acquired! Let me veer off into another small example. Let us assume there was a time when spitting on the roads was not illegal, and then a few years later when spitting was made punishable someone brings to a court's notice a video clip of a person spitting on road. Would we then apply the current set of rule to an act (and punish the spitting person) when different set of rules had existed, and under which spitting was not illegal? I guess, most would say that the spitting person cannot be punished. So, applying similar logic, if the system that existed during the extortion of game board did not find such acquisition illegal, then all the subsequent transfers that led 'b' to ultimately come in possession of the game board would also be legal. So, I submit that:
"The legitimacy or illegitimacy of an act are determined by the code of ethics and law that had prevailed and to which the concerned parties ('aggressor' and 'victim') were subjected. And the said legitimacy versus illegitimacy cannot be determined retrospectively using the current system of law and ethics."
... [b.1]
Now let me bring in another complicating factor. If someday using points a.1 and a.2, Red Indians in the USA appeal to the people of other ethnicities to leave their continents as they were the rightful owner of everything that existed in there and that each and every instance of acquisition of any kind of property was forceful and thus illegitimate, and so were the subsequent transfers, what would our response be? Would we be able to 'do justice' to their demand? I guess, most would be in an ethical dilemma at this question. What would justify the retention of status quo, that is, keeping the property with current owners and thus rejecting the claim of the Red Indians? [Here, I am not getting into distracting details like whether 'pure breed' Red Indians still exist or not; the question is purely hypothetical]. What would again prevent us from transferring back all the property rights to the Red Indians would partly be the reason b.1, but apart from that the fact that on analysis of many such historical cases of acquisition, it seems that the aggressor becomes the rightful owner of something if the original owner stops complaining or is put in such position by the aggressor that the victim cannot complain (say, by actually killing or threatening to harm). From citing of these instances, one could conclude that:
"If acquisition of a property is forceful, and if the new ownership is maintained for long enough so that the original owner is in no position to complain/protest or stops complaining/protesting, then even most current systems of law and ethics recognize the aggressor as the rightful owner and the original owner is thought to have been validly dispossessed of his property."
... [b.2]
Though, b.2 seems barbaric and quite at odds with our current world view, the fact is, for practical concerns, we are forced to take that position. And no, I won't even go into the perhaps-by-now-debunked 'Aryan invasion theory' and how all the 'Aryans' - whoever they may be - and the exhortation that they leave the Indian subcontinent to the native people - whoever they may be! ;) So, from the above two arguments (b.1 and b.2) it seems that the game board could be entirely turned over to the B-family. Please note that though there are exactly two reasons each to restore the board to A-family or alternatively, to maintain the status quo by entirely transferring the ownership to B-family, the b-points (that is, those that support B-family's ownership) supersede the a-points in their applicability. So, we can conclude here that B-family should be the rightful owner of the game board, provided it could be proved that B-family had completely decimated the A-family or had threatened the A-family sufficiently into conceding its ownership. But that is something that as of now remains indeterminate and the decision in that regard would depend on the evidence of such complaints/protests provided by the A-family.
But, but, but... every time the system of ethics and justice changes (which would usually happen with the change in the ruler), it automatically takes it upon itself to make null and void all the previously established norms of ownership and its transfer. This also enables the new regime to set new norms of ownership and also allows it to nullify the existing ownerships. It is precisely this mechanism that had allowed the justice system that had existed at the time when 'B' had forcefully acquired the game board from 'A' to do so. In simple words, the moment 'B'-family started applying its justice system (by virtue of being the village head). It had assumed the power to dissolve the previous norms of ownership and also the specific instances of ownership (e.g., the A-family's ownership of the board). Because had it not nullified the preexisting norm as well as the status of ownership, it would have never allowed 'B' to take ownership of the board. It is not difficult to see that the guiding philosophy of that justice system was sadism - of gaining pleasure through troubling the A-family and asserting B-family's supremacy over the A-family. Whether this goal was noble or ignoble or moral or otherwise is not the concern. But that the new justice system started reevaluating the individual instances of ownership based on its own goals and the ideals it envisaged.
"Each time a new system of justice and ethics takes over, going by the historical precedents, it has the right to consider null and void all existing claims of ownership. Moreover, the new system will try to take decisions based on its fundamental philosophy and the goals the regime it serves seeks to achieve."
... [c.1]
Above point c.1 sounds contradictory to b.2, but there is a subtle difference. b.2 says that we cannot call some act illegitimate using current standards if at the time of commission of that act it was not recognized as illegitimate. Whereas, c.1 legitimatizes the rights of a new justice system to consider null and void all instances of preexisting ownership, irrespective of whether those instances of ownership were considered legitimate or not. In fact, it is the same logic that had also allowed 'J' to further legitimatize B-family's ownership of the board in face of continual protests by the A-family and its attempts to take back the possession of the board.
"Same considerations would apply to the struggle of ownership between the C-family and the A-family. Original and rightful owner of the board could be considered to be the C-family (instead of the A- or the B-family) if it could be proved that they had also continuously protested the forceful taking over of the board by A-family just like A-family (seemingly) had protested such taking over by the B-family."
Here, one more thing that needs to be considered is that by virtue of the fact that 'j' is a descendant of 'J', and in fact considers his own justice system and that of 'J' to be one continuum, it also gives 'j' the power to review and overturn the decisions taken by 'J'.
A small note: I had done all the above analysis, and drafted most of it independently using my understanding of ethics, law, concepts of ownership, human behavior and history. However a few days earlier, I had come across the concept of 'adverse possession' (click). Its concept is very similar to the point b.2 above. Wikipedia defines the concept as:
"Adverse possession is a process by which premises can change ownership. It is a common law concept concerning the title to real property (land and the fixed structures built upon it). By adverse possession, title to another's real property can be acquired without compensation, by holding the property in a manner that conflicts with the true owner's rights for a specified period."
The same Wikipedia article further gives the minimum criteria that must be fulfilled for the disseisor (the aggressor who seeks to supplant the original claim to ownership) to become the new rightful owner:
- Actual possession of the property - The disseisor must 'use' the new property.
- Open and notorious use of the property - Use of the property must not be covert, and the original owner must be aware of such use by the disseisor.
- Exclusive use of the property - The disseisor must exclude others (including the original owner) from using the property. This would be seen as the disseisor claiming ownership of the property.
- Hostile or adverse use of the property - The disseisor has to occupy and use the property in a manner that is protested or disapproved of by the original owner.
- Continuous use of the property - The disseisor must use the property continuously from the time of taking over its possession to the point in time when the matter is brought under consideration.
Though, the Wikipedia does not mention it in the list of minimum criteria, it talks of two similar premises, on which the concept of adverse possession is based - the doctrine of laches (that the original owner, if not making claim to his adversely possessed property in timely manner is seen to have lost the claim) and statute of limitations (the time within which a crime has to be reported, otherwise the court would not take it up for hearing).
I have no idea of the sections of property acts in India that deal with adverse possession, and it also needs to be pointed out that the Wikipedia article is largely based on the US justice system, and the provisions there could be somewhat different. Moreover, I read that this provision that is seen to be sympathetic towards a hostile trespassers and unjust to the original owners is falling out of favor. The only reason I had brought up this concept was because it adds another angle to the legal aspects of the problem.
So, now applying all the above conclusions that were drawn from above premises, analogies and examples to the situation at hand, i.e., the Ayodhya dispute, we can conclude that what needs to be done would be largely based on the discretion of the present Indian Judiciary, because based on precedents set, it has the right to consider null and void all the titles of ownership that had existed before its establishment. Moreover, it is also within its power to review the decision by the British government of recognizing the ownership of the 'UP Waqf Board', more specifically whether such recognition falls in line with the founding principles of the Indian Constitution. Also inadvertently, the Indian Judiciary would be passing a judgment on what it thinks of the acts of Babar's general - Mir Banki - that is, whether it approves of the manner of acquisition of property by way of not reversing such possession despite having the right to do so. Please note that in the conclusions that I have derived, [a] series stands for arguments that support restoration of the disputed site to the (representatives of) Hindus, [b] series stands for complete restoration of the disputed site to the (representatives of) Muslims, and [c] series stands for arguments that lead to outcomes based largely on discretion.
I also need to point out here that, irrespective of whether the Court hands over the title deed of the disputed land to (representatives of) 'Hindus' or not, the act of Babri Mosque demolition would be deemed a crime as at the time of demolition, no one was authorized to demolish it.
Also, as I mentioned further what further complicates the matters is, though the majority of Indians view the Babri issue as a struggle between the Hindu and the Muslim communities, the fact is that the courts do not recognize an owner-entity called 'Hindu community' or 'Muslim community'.
Now, returning to Mr. Advani's assertion that matters of faith cannot be decided by courts of law, I would just like to ask, then what is all that precedes? Of course, I am no expert in law, nor of philosophy/ethics. But despite my limited knowledge and understanding, I have tried to resolve the larger issue into its individual attendant smaller issues. The claim from faith is one of the most horrible one. It seeks to spit in the face of one ability that separates humans from other animals - that of observing, questioning, thinking and answering. This intelligence is what separates humans from other species. An out-of-court settlement though seems a good solution as it might, in opinion of few, prevent lot of violence and blood shed, but in reality, it might be an unethical way of dealing with things also. Meaning, who would negotiate, and on what basis would we be able to determine who they represent? What if the 'UP Sunni Waqf Board' does not represent the views/aspirations of all/majority of Muslims? Or alternatively, is 'The Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas' truly representative of all Hindus' views/aspirations? Also, a legislative action would not be appropriate as the legislature is not trained nor qualified to weigh the various evidences available. So, whatever be the dispute, faith, which is antithetical to human capacity to reason cannot be invoked for resolution.
I hope that I have been able to highlight the major ethical considerations in my analysis. It is easy to confuse that I was trying to deal with the legal aspects of the problem, because law is very much based on ethics. However, I have studiously avoided dealing with legal issues, because I am not an expert, I do not have all the evidence at my disposal, and also because, in some areas law might not coincide with what is most pragmatic or what could be perceived as most ethical.
One of the most important problems I wanted to highlight was that as the human race has progressed ahead, somehow, perhaps because of lesser scarcity of resources for basic survival, frequency of armed conflicts has drastically come down. Some might wish to disagree, but it must be noted that this shift can be gauged from the fact in quite a few discussions, violence is seen as reprehensible and it is accepted that it should be used as the last resort. [I do not know how it used to be in the past, but it seems mass murderers were celebrated as 'conquerors' and 'successful' kings, etc. It also seems that in the past, high premium was laid on physical strength and the ability to inflict wounds and kill. But such people are not usually celebrated in the civil society]. What this shift in public opinion, which tilts towards universal human rights, has done is that violent means of acquiring property are outlawed and are severely criticized in the public. This has reduced the number of instances of such forceful acquisitions. But when we look back in history, such forceful acquisitions were considered quite legitimate, and in fact were even celebrated. So, when we try to determine the legitimacy of current ownerships that were at behest of such coercion, we are faced with an ethical dilemma. Can such properties that were acquired by the ancestors of current owners through force (illegally bu current standards) be considered legal/legitimate/ethical. This confusion arises, because one of the important caveats in application of both ethics and law is consistency, meaning that two similar/identical acts carried out in exactly same circumstances but involving different people at different time and place should be considered similarly/identically legal/legitimate/ethical or otherwise.
So, the question is: what point in time shall we set before which the forceful acquisition of any property that would have occurred should be considered legitimate and whatever would occur later than that would be considered illegitimate?
- I am not an expert at law. This analysis is an outcome of my crude understanding of various issues involved. Also, it was not keeping in view the technicalities of law and the need for evidence (e.g., whether a Temple devoted to Ram existed at the disputed site and whether what was demolished in 1992 was indeed a Mosque going by the legal definition of a Mosque), but rather my crude understanding of ethics, on which legal system of almost all democratic and liberal countries are based.
- Many have argued that the site should be taken over by the government (using the Constitutional provision equivalent to that of 'eminent domain') and used for larger good of the public. I very strongly opposed to this idea. Because, this view would then allow for sadistic elements in the society to dispossess others of their legitimately owned property simply by disputing its ownership fully knowing that others would urge the property's taking over by the Indian State. E.g., if I break the glasses of a pub at a disputed site, can then others urge that instead of trying to establish its genuine ownership using evidence available and the provisions of law, that the government take it over and convert it into a hospital for larger good of the society because nobody needs a pub anyway?
PS: A good article I had come across explaining the basic issues considered by the Allahabad High Court could be found here - The Ayodhya Anatomy (click) by The Telegraph (Calcutta).


text:
Waiting On Wednesday: Plus One by Elizabeth Fama
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly feature by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming book releases that we're excited about! It's a fun way to share with others the books that you're eagerly awaiting to be released and you are excited about. This week's pre-publication that "I-Can't-Wait-To-Read" selection is:
Plus One
Elizabeth Fama
Hardcover, 373 pages
Expected publication: April 8th 2014
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Divided by day and night and on the run from authorities, star-crossed young lovers unearth a sinister conspiracy in this compelling romantic thriller.
Seventeen-year-old Soleil Le Coeur is a Smudge—a night dweller prohibited by law from going out during the day. When she fakes an injury in order to get access to and kidnap her newborn niece—a day dweller, or Ray—she sets in motion a fast-paced adventure that will bring her into conflict with the powerful lawmakers who order her world, and draw her together with the boy she was destined to fall in love with, but who is also a Ray.
Set in a vivid alternate reality and peopled with complex, deeply human characters on both sides of the day-night divide, Plus One is a brilliantly imagined drama of individual liberty and civil rights, and a fast-paced romantic adventure story.
I love a good star-crossed romance and terrific world-building, and Plus One sounds like it has both. The writing is suppose to be sumptuous (author of Monstrous Beauty) and I'm so intrigued by the premise of the night and day dweller concept. This books sound like it pacts some thought provoking ideas and some terrific drama making it no fluff bunny. I'm totally in love with the cover and can't wait to discovery Elizabeth Fama's beautiful story.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
For the last in this #HowToDraw series, we're going BIG with #HowToDraw elephants.
When we first started work on this little series of animations, our hope was to share our enthusiasm for teaching others how to draw. And, perhaps more importantly, to highlight the benefits of expressing yourself and your ideas through drawing.
So many people think they can't draw. Give them a felt-tip and blank sheet of paper and they freeze. But we know that anyone can learn to draw simple shapes, and that's all you need to master visual thinking and visual communication.
Our Academy is dedicated to sharing the skills you need to become more visually articulate, improving your ability to solve problems, gain fresh perspectives and communicate clearly in the process.
So, if you haven't already, take 30 seconds out to watch this lovely new animation (a more tactile take on whiteboard animation) - or do every one of our lessons in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea!
And if you want to know more about how to turn your drawing skills into visual thinking skills, sign up for the next Academy workshop.
Honestly, this one really is mice and cheesy... I mean... nice and easy.


text:
Price: USD $59
A red heart floating on the breeze. I've morphed the title to fit the roundness and angle of the balloon and applied subtle grunge to show the uneven application of ink. I didn't go overboard because it's a small space and I want the title to be clear. This ebook design would work best with very short titles, but medium length would be fine. Feel free to use this title if it suits.
Order this design (code 016ADR)


text:
"It would be hard to find a trendier restaurant in Galveston than Sky Bar. It serves creative sushi combinations made from sea bass, tuna and salmon in an ambience that seems to have more in common with Santa Monica than the nearby Strand district of Victorian splendor."
-The New York Times
Posted on 12/01/2013 at 11:42 PM


text:
Google Pixel 3/3 XL Insurance
Google Pixel 3/3 XL Insurance
Thanks for sharing your details. We will let you know when insurance for {{mobCtrl.mobileBrand}} is available.
Oops! We still don't insure all brands as of now. Help us with your details and we will contact you as soon as we add your phone.
Popular brands
Search Results
- {{value}}
Search for Mobile Model
Oops! We still don't insure all brands as of now. Help us with your details and we will contact you as soon as we add your phone.
- {{brand.model}}
If there is any other phone you'd like to buy insurance for. Please check by clicking the button below.
Which mobile do you want to protect?
{{mobCtrl.mobileBrand}} Edit
- The mobile's first model will be displayed here.
- ...and the second one here.
- Also any other model will show up here.
Popular brands
- {{key}}
Oops! We still don't insure all brands as of now. Help us with your details and we will contact you as soon as we add your phone.+91
Search Variant
- {{brand.model}}
Oops! We still don't insure all brands as of now. Help us with your details and we will contact you as soon as we add your phone.+91
The next step is to download the Digit Mobile App. Mobile insurance can be bought only on the app because we need to test your Mobile Screen before buying.
Click on the button below to download our app
Mobile Insurance for iPhones will be launched soon. Currently it is only available for Android phones. Please share your contact details, We will keep you informed.+91
Thanks for sharing your details
What's great about Mobile Insurance for Google Pixel 3-3xl-insurance by Digit?
- New & Used phones - Now mobile insurance for brand new phones as well as old/used ones.
- Accidental Screen damage covered - Screen damages are the most common of all heartbreaks! All screen damages due to accidental or liquid damage are covered!
- Low prices - Buy this mobile insurance cover at almost the cost of a Screen Guard!
- Worldwide cover - Travel around the world worry-free. Our mobile insurance policy is valid everywhere.
- IMEI linked cover - Whether you use the phone or your family or friend does, this mobile insurance policy will be valid for all. It is linked to the IMEI of the phone & not the user.
- Reimburse up to Sum Insured - At the time of buying, we will show you an amount, called Sum Insured. Post claim approval, you can get your repair costs reimbursed up to your respective sum insured.
Google Pixel 3/3 XL Mobile Insurance Plans
We have primarily two mobile insurance plans to choose from, depending on how long you plan to use it for!
6 months cover
If you're planning to change your mobile soon and do not want a long-term commitment, get a mobile insurance for 6 months only.
12 months cover
If you've just got a new phone or plan on using your current one for another one year, it's wise to get a mobile insurance for up to 12 months.
Buying is as easy as 1-2-3
Download our app using this link. This will allow us to check for any internal or external damages on your mobile screen.
Shoot and upload a video of the phone you want to insure using the link that will be sent to your alternate mobile number. This will allow us to check for any external damages to your phone.
Make the required payment for the plan chosen. Once the screen tests are confirmed, we'll send you your policy via email!
And, how to claim for your mobile insurance?
- Step 1 - Tell us about your heartbreak: Call us at 1800-258-5956 within 48 hours of the screen damage
- Step 2 - Online Self-Inspection: We will send you a link for a quick online self-inspection of your phone to determine the damages to the screen.
- Step 3 - Repair your Phone: Once your claim is approved, you can get your phone repaired at any service center you like within 7 days of approval.
- Step 4 - Get amount Reimbursed: Once you've got your phone repaired, share a video of your repaired phone and the respective bill (with GST invoice) with us so we can reimburse the amount (up to your sum insured) back to you.
Insurance for popular Google Pixel Phones in India
Mobile Phone Insurance for popular brands
Last updated: 2019-09-21
CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.
Go Digit General Insurance Limited (formerly known as Oben General Insurance Ltd.), Address: Atlantis, 95, 4th B Cross Road, Koramangala Industrial Layout, 5th Block, Bengaluru 560095, CIN: U66010PN2016PLC167410, IRDAI Reg. No. 158.


text:
Wow! June has definitely zoomed by; actually, more like the past couple of months. It's funny how quickly time flies and it only tends to speed up as we get older (but younger at heart, each day!). Hope everyone is enjoying their time out there (especially for those of you in SUMMER!!). Moving on, I've started a Facebook page, hooray!!! So go LIKE me and I'll like you even more ;)
Okay, okay...I know what you're really itching for are the food photos so sorry for the wait. Been learning about lighting and playing around with my flatmate's camera so here are the results when I was cooking Pad Thai the other night. Special thanks to Richard for teaching me and shooting some photos! Let me know what you think of them:
|Chopping up some capsicum (red bell pepper) and baby corn
|Soaking up the rice noodles before cooking them and cutting up some tofu
|Fish sauce: a very necessary ingredient in Thai cooking, stir-frying the veggies, and the noodles
|Result: a vegetarian Pad Thai
|Don't forget the bean sprouts
|Note to self: don't forget crushed peanuts next time!


text:
A to Z of the 2017 SIHH: Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Richard Mille, Ulysse Nardin, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels
Welcome back to the third and last episode of this year's A to Z of the 2017 SIHH.
Parmigiani Fleurier
The brand from the Val de Travers introduced the Toric Chronometre, a very classic and refined 3-hand watch, with a large date window at 6 o'clock. This watch comes with an automatic movement in two different case finishing; one in white gold, the other in red gold. This is a tribute to the very first watch Michel Parmigiani designed and produced at the origin of the brand some 20 years ago.
The next watch presented is a steel version of their very well balanced Tonda 1950. For this new version, the brand made it so slightly larger, as it comes in a 40mm case, instead of the 39mm of the previous gold versions.
Parmiginai also introduced a new Tonda 1950 Meteorite but for the first time we see a white finishing for this meteorite dial, something they managed to pull off with a new type of treatment. This watch comes in a titanium case and there are also a blue and a black meteorite version.
The brand enjoys a long partnership with Bugatti and as 2016 marked the launch of the Chiron car, Parmigiani has now come up with the Bugatti Aerolithe Performance timepiece where you will be able to see the incredible speed performance of the car on the tachymeter scale of this flyback chronograph.
And finally, they introduced an Ovale Pentographe, the timepiece with the magical folding hands following the ovale shape of the case as it's running, but here the novelty is that the movement is made out of gold. If you want to know more about this watch and it very original hour and minute hand display, we invite you to check the special report we published a little while ago about it.
2017 marks the 60th anniversary of a very iconic watch for them: the Altiplano. They didn't go too crazy for this celebration, but instead introduced a few rather elegant limited editions playing with colors and material.
As a quick reminder this watch's main characteristic is its ultra thin dimension and when it came out in 1957, the thickness of the original 9P manual winding movement was set at only 2mm and 2.4mm for the 12P automatic version introduced in 196. This "ultra plat" dimension of their watches really represents an important part of the brand's identity.
Richard Mille
This year's focus was set on the RM50-03, the lightest split second chronograph ever made weighing only 40 grams, strap included, and only 7 grams for the movement alone and we dedicated a full report on this.
This performance has been achieved by the extensive use of carbon and titanium, but also with the introduction of a new material called graphene or Graph TPT in the Richard Mille vocabulary. This material is also used by McLaren in their F1 cars, making the partnership between Richard Mille and the sport car manufacturer a very tangible one. And for information, the discovery of this graphene material simply got the scientific team from Manchester University the Nobel Prize of Physics!
Ulysse Nardin
It was the brand's first participation at the SIHH and when it comes to technique and innovation, well there is a lot to be said about Ulysse Nardin.
They have been pioneers in many different fields of horology and some 10 years ago, they introduced the Innovision with 10 incredible innovations, 8 of which are found in today's watches of the brand. So this year, they presented the Innovision II, again 10 crazy innovations and we seriously hope we'll have the opportunity to do a special video report on this, because it simply deserves it.
URWERK are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year and they are the ones that triggered this independent watchmaking scene that we love so much. As a celebration piece, they introduced the UR-T8, combining much of their identity in one timepiece, an upgraded satellite hour indicator mechanism, plus a very original reversing system, but again full report to be seen here.
Vacheron Constantin
We will focus on one single timepiece presented by the brand, because what a timepiece!
Following the development of the most complicated watch ever manufactured, the Ref. 57'260 and its crazy 57 complications, Vacheron took some of that know-how and introduced an incredible timepiece called the Cabinotier Astronomica Grande Complication.
With that many complications and therefore indications, it's a two-sided watch to hold all of them and remain legible. This watch features a perpetual calendar with practical sunset-sunrise indicators found at 6 o'clock. It also holds a clever tide indicator at 11 o'clock, but what we liked the best concerns the equation of time, something generally quite complicated to read and understand. Here what they've done is they added a special gold minute hand that shows you in "real time" the actual sun time. You have a regular minute hand that gives time as we're used to, meaning with equal and linear increments, but this special hand will either precede or be in front of this regular minute hand depending on the date and you will therefore be able to view and grasp very simply the variation of solar time!
This is a unique timepiece, reason why it is in the Cabinotier collection where they only do one offs and one last thing, it holds 6 barrels giving this watch 21-days of power reserve, quite impressive.
Van Cleef & Arpels
And finally let's talk about Van Cleef & Arpels who got us used to some rather poetic timepieces over the years and again they did not deceive us with probably one of the nicest and interesting watch on display at this edition of the SIHH.
This watch is the Lady Arpels Papillon Automate and we know that the brand likes butterflies and other nice little insects and this time they actually brought to life a charming little butterfly inside this watch.
You will find a small hour and minute indication at 2 o'clock, but it's the animation, which is really quite something. But before going over about it, let's just add that it's also and naturally a fine display of artistic craftsmanship with for instance something not yet seen with this curbed "plique-à-jour" enamel giving a further sense of 3D within the dial.
So let's now talk about the real fun stuff, because this butterfly flaps its wing, but it does so erratically throughout the hour and that's really the nice touch to this automata watch. It doesn't do so every 5 minutes, but erratically 19 times per hour, how cool is that!
In addition to that, the wearer can activate this function whenever she wants (yes, this is a feminine piece) by pressing a push button, but the cool part doesn't stop there. This watch holds two barrels, one for the time and one for the automata. Ok, everything still pretty straight forward, but depending on the wearer's activity, meaning if you're moving a lot, then the automata will perform its little trick more often than the 19 times mentioned before and up to 40-50 time per hour! It will do so because it has more energy charging up the barrel, but despite this, the flaps of the wings will remain constant and not become crazy because it's all fueled up.
And the last nice thing, this automata function works a little bit like a power reserve indicator, meaning that when energy is real low, than the butterfly will flap less times than the 19 times and if you wind up your watch, the butterfly will constantly flap during this operation and will stop when it's fully charged. This watch is a numbered edition, so not limited and part of the collection.
And to end up with Van Cleef, they presented a much bigger automata, the Automate Fee Ondine, with its wonderful animated fairy and waterlily sitting on undulating water. This is an incredible object showcasing so many different crafts and it's just a pure pleasure to look at. Years in the making, but the result is spectacular, poetic, wonderful!!! And yes, it also gives time with this cute love bug, naturally well gem set as you can imagine!


text:
Editor's note: This story was originally published Aug. 11, 2017. On Thursday, President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency.
Ted Price used to believe that people who abused opioids suffered from a failure of will. But after a freak spinal cord injury in 2006, Price's views changed.
"I could see [the pain]. It was bright. That's how I describe it. It felt like there was a vise around my leg that was on fire. ... It was unbelievable how awful it was," Price said.
The opioids that doctors gave him didn't do anything to help. Surgery alleviated the pain, but the scars of how much everything hurt still haunt him.
Price believes people become hooked out of their desperation for relief — and they'll use opioids even though the drugs are addictive and can result in overdoses. Opioid abuse "comes out of a desire that people have to make pain go away," Price said. "And anybody that's ever had pain for any period of time knows what that feels like. You want it to go away."
Price, an associate professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, researches chronic pain and helped start a local company, CerSci Therapeutics, that aims to develop drugs to alleviate pain without the addictive properties of opioids.
The company is headquartered at UT-Dallas' Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The institute acts as an incubator space for companies that have their roots in the university. Along with funding from private investors, CerSci recently received grants from the National Institutes of Health that add up to nearly $1.8 million.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription opioids are involved in more overdose deaths than any other drugs used in the U.S. Since 1999, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled, along with sales of the drugs.
The scope of the problem has gotten so large that last month the Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, a group President Donald Trump set up in March, filed an interim report urging the president to declare a national emergency to help combat the issue. On Thursday, the president said the crisis is a "national emergency " in response to a question from a reporter.
Price said there are multiple reasons why opioid use became so widespread, at least among doctors prescribing them.
One was a push to help patients who were in pain by giving them opioids. Additionally, he said doctors began prescribing opioids for 30 days when only a few days' worth was needed. Doctors also started prescribing opioids for chronic pain even though the drugs hadn't been proved effective for that kind of pain.
"Everybody involved was trying to do the right thing. But the science just wasn't there to support what was happening one way or another," Price said. "And as more people started to work on this issue, they started to find that not only is it unlikely that opioids are helping, there still have been very few, if any, clinical trials to show that opioids work for chronic pain. ... The opioids actually make it worse."
CerSci, which started in 2015, is working on two drugs that alleviate pain and are not opioid-based.
Scott Dax, a medicinal chemist and the company's chief scientific officer, discovered the molecule associated with one of the drugs.
The drug, if approved by the FDA, would give doctors the ability to treat patients in pain without engaging reward centers and inhibiting respiratory centers in the brain, Dax said. They're currently testing the molecule and drug in animal trials.
Dax and the team believe the compound could help replace opioids in post-surgical recovery and relieving painful nerve damage involved with diabetes and chemotherapy.
Lucas Rodriguez, CerSci's CEO, said their drugs can't fully replace opioids. He said opioids are still very effective in traumatic procedures involving gunshots, broken femurs and other major injuries. But the team at CerSci thinks its products can greatly decrease the amount of opioids prescribed.
"We believe that in a post-surgical pain setting, you can go home with a prescription for [our products] and not have to worry about your kids getting into the medicine cabinet and stuff like that because they're just not addictive or respiratory depressants," he said.
David Genecov, a craniofacial surgeon based in Dallas, was one of the earlier investors in the company.
"Doctors really don't want to give out opioids," he said. "They do because that's what they have available to them. ... A lot of these guys, they're looking to find something different. And if you can give the drug in the operating room and give it afterwards, then that has a lot of value."
Human trials for CerSci's products are still at least a year away, and side effects are still unknown at this point. Price said they have done a lot of research on potential side effects and feel confident that the side effect liability is likely to be low.
Price said pharmaceutical companies have mostly moved away from early-stage development since the economic crash of the late 2000s. Now that's largely left up to startups like CerSci. The field for creating non-opioid pain relief is small, at least for now. But Price sees it growing.
"The more competition we have, I think that that would end up with better outcomes for patients eventually, and that's what we all want," Price said.


text:
on threes...
3 things you wish for:
1. For my husband and I to always be as happy as we are right now.
2. To someday live closer to my family.
3. A cat.
3 things you would do to/for yourself if there was no one to judge you (or if you had the guts!):
1. Quit my job and be an actress.
2. Dye my hair dark dark dark brown.
3. Buy a cat. (My husband would judge. And be mad.)
3 bad habits you have:
1. Terrrrrrible at returning phone calls.
2. I'm lazy.
3. I put off doing the dishes for the entire week, then whine when I have a sinkful of dirty, corroaded plates and silverware to scrub until I ache.
3 insecurities you feel:
1. That people think I'm fake.
2. That I won't be able to afford to stay at home when we finally have babies.
3. My fair skin.
3 talents/skills you wish you had:
1. Being a work-out nazi. Or at least having some amount of motivation to work-out.
2. A good sense of direction.
3. Being an amazing cook.
3 things you would do if you had more time:
1. Theatre.
2. Volunteering.
3. Go back to school for photography.
3 things that bring you peace/relaxation:
1. Snuggling with Jay.
2. Driving with the windows down. (NOT, I repeat, NOT on the freeways, people. Hello tangled hair.)
3. Reading.
3 things that spark your creativity:
1. Seeing other people's art.
2. Photography.
3. New experiences.


text: Florida elections supervisor: state voting system is flawed 05/29/12 11:45 PMUpdated 09/06/13 07:02 AM By Jordan Michael Smith Mike Ertel, elections supervisor for Seminole County, Florida, said on Tuesday night that the Republican-spawned drive to purge 180,000 individuals from the state's list of eligible voters is flawed. "I'm willing to say the system that was put in place is not timed in the most efficient fashion to build voters' confidence," Erdle said, speaking on The Ed Show. "I think the list [of purged voters] should have been vetted quite a bit more before they were given to us."Directed mostly at Latinos, African-Americans and young voters— precisely the individuals most likely to vote Democratic— the Republican Governor Rick Scott's decision to purge voters by demanding they prove their citizenship has become a national scandal. A 91-year-old World War II veteran was among those sent a letter informing him that he needed to appear at a hearing if he wanted to be able to vote.Maureen Russo, a 40-year-old registered Florida voter joined The Last Word Tuesday to talk about receiving a letter from a Broward County election supervisor, asking her to prove her citizenship. She opted to send a copy of her passport instead of attending a hearing. Two weeks later, despite receiving a telephone call from the election supervisor, she still feels insecure about being able to cast her ballot in November."The problem with this kind of massive purge. When you do something like this, this close to the election, and you do it in secret, and you do it without double checking, there is no choice but to have errors, to have legitimate people kicked off the rolls," said Michael Waldman, Brennan Center for Justice President, speaking on The Rachel Maddow Show.According to Waldman, the Justice Department needs to get involved by invoking the Voting Rights Act. "Already, the state of Florida just recently said, 'Hmm, maybe we ought to double-check this before we start purging people.' So, the more people yell, the more of an impact it will have.""The governor should stop this process immediately… this is a purely political ploy," Rep. Ted Deutch said to msnbc's Lawrence O'Donnell. Deutch, who represents Florida's 19th district, adds: "In Dade County, with the largest number of voters who have received this notice, there are people who, by failing to respond, are having their voting status wiped." Explore:Elections, Lean Forward, Voter Fraud and Voting Rights Bristol Palin to Obama: Don't listen to... Romney goes on the offensive in high... More Like This Best of MSNBC


text:
|Shakshuka - baked eggs
|The Jackson - big breakfast
|The Latke - potato stack
|Challah French Toast
LONG TIME NO BLOG. It's been what? More than a year since my last blog entry; it's been an eventful past year, new job and re-location – hence the non-existent blogging of food (although I'm still active on instagram). Mind you though, I've still been constantly breakfasting, I've just been
busy lazy. Anyhow, for the next few posts I plan to post up, some of them are quite recent and some will be backtracking a bit.
Shouk café is a neat café tucked in a corner in Paddington, with a breakfast theme of Middle-Eastern inspired. It's quite deceiving appearance wise. Like most housing and stores in the Paddington area, the front of the shop appears quite narrow and short in space, but as you go towards to the back it sprawls out into a nice open space.
The mister and I visited this place twice, first time we went we ordered the Shakshuka (baked eggs) and The Jackson (aka Big Breakfast). The baked eggs were served out on a really hot shallow clay dish, served with toasted challah. Challah looked similar to a brioche bun – but after asking Dr Google, found that it's bread that doesn't use any dairy, milk or butter in the making of it, compared to brioche, which does. I suppose it explains the texture, still light and a little on the drier side, and didn't have the same density and texture as brioche. Not necessarily a bad thing, it was just different. It did however complement the baked eggs well, which was rich with the combination of the tomato sauce, olives and feta. A delicious savoury combination. We opted to add the merguez sausage that was a little extra, but not a regrettable choice at all.
The big breakfast, I think, can speak for itself. It was definitely substantial, a very suitable choice for those who want a hearty breakfast. The standouts in the big breakfast were the latke – which is very much a potato pancake (not quite as deep-fried as a hash-brown), the pickled red onions, and the garlic butter braised kale. The latke was crispy on the outside and delicious potato-y goodness on the inside. I really liked it because it's not as deep fried and oily as a traditional hash brown, and also didn't lack in terms of taste at all - sometimes with deep friend goods all you taste is the oil. The other two sides, the pickled onions and garlic butter kale just added that extra something to the meal! If anything it balanced out the meat/carbs flavours part, and prevented the meal from becoming to "heavy" in flavours (given that majority of the meal was carbs and meats).
Our second trip back consisted of the Latke stack and the Challah French Toast. The presentation of both was definitely a treat to the eyes. The Latke stack – potato pancakes stacked with cream, dill, pickled red onions, two poached eggs, and our request of haloumi which they actually layered into the stack! I mean come on, lightly deep fried potato and haloumi? The combination was genius.
The Challah French Toast was beautifully presented and consisted of Challah soaked in a spiced egg mixture and served with candied walnuts, balsamic maserated berries and a vanilla-pistachio semmifreddo (aka a frozen wedge of ice cream – as pictured). I think unfortunately to say, it definitely looked better than it tasted. The actual French toast itself was probably the disappointing part of the dish – the egg mixture didn't soak all the way through the bread which resulted with the outside being cooked in mixture and majority of the content of the middle of the bread inside remain as… well… fresh bread. So in that it was disappointing. Perhaps it's to do with the choice of Challah bread as opposed to regular bread? I'm not sure if that's the intention to have it like that but I guess I'm use to, and prefer, having French toast that is fried on the outside and cooked through in the middle. The ice cream and candied walnuts on the other hand was super. It's not every day you get a huge wedge of ice cream on your plate for breakfast. Aside from the actual toast – the combinations of the candied walnut for the extra crunch was delicious along with the tartness of the berries and the savoury sweetness of the pistachio ice cream.
Definitely a place to re-visit, there are still a few items on the menu we are eyeing to try! This place is a must if you're the kind of person who is after a heartier sort of breakfast selections. Also, not to mention, they do get busy, so if you go during busy periods, expect a wait. They do take names and numbers if you wish to come back - if anything they are quite prompt with that!
Definitely a place to re-visit, there are still a few items on the menu we are eyeing to try! This place is a must if you're the kind of person who is after a heartier sort of breakfast selections. Also, not to mention, they do get busy, so if you go during busy periods, expect a wait. They do take names and numbers if you wish to come back - if anything they are quite prompt with that!


text:
Zebraman (2004) Takashi Miike
Labels : 00's , Japan , Japanese Craziness , Takashi Miike , 0 com
Zebraman (2004)
Genre: Comedy | Sci-Fi
Country: Japan | Director: Takashi Miike
Language: Japanese or English (3 separate Audio Tracks)
Subtitles: English (Optional, embedded in Mkv file)
Subtitles: English (Optional, embedded in Mkv file)
Aspect ratio: Widescreen 1.85:1 | Length: 117mn
Dvdrip H264 Mkv - 850x480 - 23.976fps - 2.16gb
Being a failure as a teacher and a family man, Shinichi tries to escape everyday life by dressing up as "Zebraman", the superhero. Although the TV series was canceled after only 6 episodes, this cannot stop him from acting out his escape fantasy in a self made zebra-suit. He gets more then he could ever wish for when his black-and-white dressed alter-ego seems to be the only thing to stand between absolute (green) evil and a happy ending.
Zebraman (2004)
If you enjoy this blog, you can support it by buying a NITROFLARE premium account from the links above. For just a few bucks, you will get full speed and unlimited downloads from a great filehost. If you find a dead link, just leave a com and I'll try to fix it as soon as possible. Cheers.


text:
The Independent-The Tide Has Changed (World Village)
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Sponsored LinksAds by Google
The best Meal Ever
Comes with 70% discount. Enoughsaid. Let's eat. Groupon.
Equity Release Calculator
UK's No.1 Equity Release SpecialistSee How Much You Can Release Today.
Spread Betting - Try Now
Try GFTs Award-Winning TradingPlatform. Free Practice Account.
iTunes Album Art Grabber
TuneUp Automatically Adds AlbumArt to Your iTunes Music Collection
With an artist as fecund as Atzmon you learn that some you win, some you lose.
Following the excellent In Loving Memory of America (and preceding a new collaboration with Robert Wyatt), this celebration of his band's 10th birthday returns to familiar Middle Eastern modes and lugubrious sax solos. It also rather uncomfortably mixes the genuinely sublime (sad ballads such as "And So Have We", "We Lament") with the ridiculous, most notably in the Shuttleworth-meets-Brecht vibe of the opener and closer.


text:
Lemon Raspberry French Toast Casserole
Servings:*8 servings
- 1 pound loaf of french bread, cubed
- 2 cups fresh raspberries, divided
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 6 eggs
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract, (optional)
- 1 lemon's zest, (about one tablespoon)
- 1 lemon's juice
- Grease 9x13" baking dish with cooking spray. Place half of the cubed bread in the bottom of the baking dish, top with half of the raspberries, then repeat with remaining bread and raspberries. In a bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, maple syrup, extracts, zest and lemon juice. Pour mixture over bread and raspberries. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. On the morning of, remove from refrigerator and let sit for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 350 F. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until lightly golden and cooked through. Cover with foil for the last 10-15 minutes to prevent the top from burning. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup. Enjoy!
- Recipe by: greens & chocolate | http://www.greensnchocolate.com/
* Recipes created for given quantity. Changes to quantities are for planning purposes only and have not been tested.


text:
UPDATE: Body found buried in backyard of Norman home identified by medical examiner
NORMAN, Okla. – Officials with the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office have identified a body that was found buried at a home in Norman.
Earlier this month, officers were asked to check the welfare of a person at a home in the 6800 block of E. Robinson St.
When they could not make contact with the resident, authorities issued a missing persons report.
During the investigation, officials discovered a body buried in the home's backyard.
Officials have now identified the body as 69-year-old Virgil J. Alexander.
The medical examiner has not completed the investigation and a manner or cause of death has not been determined.


text:
Real estate tax deduction: What you should know as an agent
In this article we'll talk about real estate tax deduction. If your question is "Is real estate tax deductible" then it is that joyful time of the year again: tax season!
Moreover, what better way to celebrate it than with some real estate tax deduction tips. So let's grab a real estate agent tax return sample and see how we can keep more money in our pockets!
Agents across the country look for a way to maximize their deductions as many of them have a variety of expenses.
The better you are at identifying which realtor expenses you can use as deductions, the more of your hard-earned money stays in your pocket. This knowledge is invaluable whether you are doing your taxes or you have an accountant.
You should always avoid overpaying on your quarterly and year-end taxes.
Being an independent real estate agent is great, you are your own boss, you can work on your own schedule, you can earn much money if you work hard enough, but, since brokerages are not traditional employers, taxes are not withheld from your paycheck.
That does not mean that you are tax exempt. Trust us, the IRS will collect what is theirs. Additionally, you as a real estate agent are responsible for self-employment tax, which covers your Social Security and Medicare tax.
Independent businessman such as yourself is facing many responsibilities, we know, and that is exactly why it is important to know what to you owe when you owe it, and yes – how to reduce your taxes.
So, are realtor fees tax deductible? Yes, they are. Do we know any tax strategies for real estate agents? Yes, we do. In this article, we will share some of those tips and strategies. So, grab your real estate agent tax deductions checklist and let's begin.
An everyday real estate agent's business can average $6,500 in expenses, while top-tier players can exceed $10,000. Why is this important? Tracking and deducing all of your eligible business expenses can shrink your net income, meaning that you will pay less tax.
Transportation deduction – Vehicle mileage
One of the real estate agent tax deductions is bound to your means of transportation.
The reality is that you spend countless hours driving between properties and appointments, so you must know how to determine whether you make the standard mileage deduction, or track all your vehicle-related expenses.
High mileage drivers (10,000 or more) are likely to get the greatest tax benefit if they opt for standard mileage deduction. On the other hand, if you are a low mileage driver, it is better to track the expenses.
What about taxi or uber fare?
Urban agents avoid owning a car in a large city. Instead, they opt for taking a taxi ride, Uber or Lyft as a way to quickly and easily move around town. While in the backseat you have additional time to check and answer emails, talk to your clients or make phone calls.
And all of those fares are tax deductible.
Tax deduction via marketing? Sign me up!
You read that right! Every successful real estate agent invests in marketing and advertising materials, and the good news is that business cards, flyers, ads and promos are all tax deductible.
Even writing and designing fees, as well as whether the materials are produced by a part-time hire or an agency, are also deductible!
Working from home or brokerage office?
Attention, home-based agents!
Real estate agent taxes are deductible if you dedicated an area of your home for work, and even if you have office space at your brokerage (that is, unless you are deducing desk fees already).
The office deduction offers two methods of deducting taxes: the regular, and the simplified. The usual pick here is the simplified method, but if you live in a high-cost area and have a large home office, the regular method is perfect for you.
What about my office supplies and equipment?
Using stationeries, photocopies, and other office consumables are mandatory for any real estate business, and some of those supplies and equipment are tax deductible. These include furniture, fax machines, computers, telephones, copiers and so on.
Regarding telephones, having a dedicated landline telephone for your office allows you to deduct its expense fully. If you are a cell-phone user, you can deduct the business percentage of the expense.
Business meals and entertainment deduction
Real estate agents can deduct meals as a business expense when they are travelling on business and when dining with clients to conduct business. Fifty percent of your total expense can be deducted, and that includes tax and tip for the meal.
In case the agent had an event for the general public, such as an open house, he can deduct 100 percent of the cost of food and refreshments.
Deductible commissions? No way!
If you are working with other agents or other employees and paying them commission, you are eligible to deduct business expenses fully.
Additional education and training
Education and training are eligible for realtor tax deductions, which in real estate business can save a lot of money. The industry and the market are everchanging, and if you do not invest in continuous education, you will quickly be crushed by the competition.
Some states even require you to continuously learn and grow.
Taking classes, training courses and real state seminars to maximize your potential and advance your career is a must, especially since you can deduct registration fees, certain travel costs, and related materials. Of course, there are some requirements:
- The training course or class must be from the same trade or business.
- Taking the course cannot be to meet minimum educational requirements.
- The course must improve or maintain the skill related to your field of real estate.
Can I deduce fees, licenses, memberships, and insurance?
Good news is that the annual fee which is a common cost in the business is real estate tax deductible. What does that mean?
It means that licence renewals, professional memberships, and MLS are all eligible for a tax deduction. Also, business insurance and Errors and Omissions are fully deductible expenses.
Professional Growth and Travel
As we already covered, top real estate agents are constantly on the lookout for the latest professional classes, trade shows, or coaching. Since they often have to travel to attend an event or meet with a coach, they can deduct transportation and accommodation costs.
Retirement plan as a way to deduct tax
Another way to get tax write offs for realtors is to contribute to a retirement plan. This way of deducting tax is limited by your contribution limits, which, in case you contributed to a traditional IRA may be fully or partly deductible.
Ending thoughts on a real estate tax deduction
The real estate agent tax deductions worksheet is nothing to be afraid of. Sure, the numbers and percentages can look a bit intimidating, but an experienced real estate agent sees this worksheet as a way to keep more money in his bank account.
If you enjoyed reading this article about real estate tax deduction, you should read these as well:


text:
Our Creativity Labs provide parent & child and/ or children-only the space to learn, experiment and master a series of unique skills to perform a group output, facilitating collaboration and cooperation in children and inspiring them to think big.
Each Creativity Lab has been carefully devised by an expert, who has proven recognition within his/her area of expertise, giving children the benefit of years of experience. Sessions vary between 1 to 2hrs depending on the children's age and may or may not include parents.
Whether you're a preschool, playgroup or activity center, contact us to arrange a Creativity Lab at your location!


text:
BRO-LATES? Pilates class for men coming to Toowoomba
PILATES for men? Yes, it's definitely happening here in the Toowoomba region.
A series of pilates classes set up specifically for men will kick off today at the Highfields Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Men over 16 years of age can sign up for the class, with money raised supporting Cancer Council Queensland's Biggest Morning Tea on Monday, May 22.
Classes run tonight from 6.40pm, followed by May 22 and 29.
For more information, call 4699 6530 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
What is My Home Worth?
Receive a custom evaluation for your home, including comparisons to other homes that have recently sold or are on the market. This guarantees you receive the most accurate information available. To find out what your home is worth, fill out the information below:
When you're looking for a partner to help you negotiate the complexities of selling a home, you've come to the right place. The experience, dedication and strong communication you'll receive here will help ensure the successful and profitable sale of your home:
1. The Local Advantage - More than 53 years of real estate experience in Georgetown County with personal knowledge of the community, the schools, health care, local customs and even the best restaurants that will become your favorite!
2. Internet Advertising - Since the lion's share of home buyers starts their search on the internet, top placement on search engines is essential. You'll gain access to placement on Google, Bing, and other websites. This will maximize your exposure and bring a large number of potential buyers to view information about your home.
3. Email Campaigns - It's important to "work the network." We can work together to identify the right people to target your home-and get in touch with them by email to drive excitement and interest.
4. Personal Touch - Of course, technology alone won't sell your home. Face-to-face interaction provides the advantage to sell your home-and you won't have to worry about a thing. The details will be handled with care and constant communication, to ensure the marketing and sale of your home go smoothly.
To find out more about selling your home, click here


text:
Awesome porn video with SpongeBob and Sandy Cheeks exposes a tight cunt, tossing forward and back as the squirrel moves her hand on a huge cock of SpongeBob, covered with a net of veins. It plugs her mouth tightly, making it hard for Sandy to swallow, but she does her best, taking the thick knob down her throat to rub it well. She doesn't have to caress her pussy to get pleasure, because feeling SpongeBob in her mouth is pleasant enough for the nymphomaniac squirrel. The yellow bloke pats her on the shoulder to make her move her nasty mouth faster.
Umm. My girlfriend and I enjoyed it a lot. It turned us on so bad that we wanna do each other now. And I'm obviously insane. ._. @| D:< HAHAHA. WHAT. YOU'RE WTF?! WHAT ?! NO?! … AS ALWAYS. ((( THAT TURNED YOU ON? THEN OMG. -P
thats hot
but weird
wow so good


text:
I like things and this is where I talk about the things that I like.
Jane: GREATEST SONG TO START AN ALBUM. You're dropped right into pop-punk goodness and you know exactly what you're getting. The first song sets the tone for the entire album and they struck gold with Attention. They're so full of youthful energy and angst. Beckett begs for your Attention right away, and you pay him yours. You want to hear what he has to say and you are strapping in for the ride.
Sam: Yes, a perfect start! It throws you right into it and packs a powerful punch without being overwhelming. I love how soft his voice is at first before building up into the chorus. It's impossible to not pay attention to William Beckett when he sings.
Jane: Season is an incredibly strong song, but the verses pale in comparison to the incredible chorus. And that's saying something, as the verses are pretty damn great. I love Butcher's drumming in this one, it gives the song an a great beat.
Sam: Ah, Butcher <3 One of my all time favourite drummers. I haven't listened to this song in forever, but I know that at one time, it was one of my go-to TAI song. Like you said, Jane, the beat is gorgeous and there are amazing lyrics all around!
Jane: We literally do slow down in this song but we rev right back up in the bridge and the chorus. God this song is so pop-punk, I love it so much. It means instant dance party for me, and I'm talking crazy outrageous all-out dancing. I'm dancing in my head while I write this on the subway (and maybe doing a bit of head bobbing, so sue me).
Sam: THIS WAS MY FIRST TAI SONG!!! I have a very vivid memory of the first time I heard it (when I was 17, because clearly I was a little late to the pop-punk game), and it continues to be special to me for that reason. Fun fact: the lyric "then we'll turn it up and we'll play a little faster" was used as a chapter title in Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway, and if I hadn't already loved that book to begin with, the use of TAI lyrics would have completely sold me on it.
Jane: I clearly need to read that book now!
Jane: The way this song begins is so intoxicating, by slowly bringing in one instrument at a time, coming to an intense head at the bridge and chorus. The chorus has so many of TAI's most popular lines, 'Hold your head high, heavy heart,' 'Make plans to break plans.' This is a really good concert song, so much fun to scream along to.
Sam: I don't really have anything to add to your analysis, that's basically the perfect way to describe it. I love how raspy his voice gets on that pre-chorus "am I gonna die?" line.
Jane: That part is so sexy, hot damn.
Jane: Okay, we've come to my least favourite song on the album. I mean, it's okay, but it really doesn't stand out for me. It doesn't really make me want to sing or dance along. I'm not sure if this is a Kill Bill reference (The Bride's alias is Black Mamba) but if it is, I have no idea what it has to do with the movie.
Sam: I never expected this song to be so divisive! I really like it, it's my best friend's TAI jam, but I recently found out my sister doesn't like it and neither do you, Jane! I can't say what it is about this song I like so much; I suspect it's because it was one of the first TAI songs I heard. I like shouting the "sick and tired of waiting, sick of this fucking apartment" line and the drum intro makes me want to flail around.
Jane: That's fair, I do like that line too.
Jane: This song brings a bit more energy to the album and definitely always makes me want to bop along. Again, not one of my favourites (the middle of this album most certainly makes a dip in quality for me) but it's a hell of a lot better than Black Mamba. Beckett going into a lower register really makes the song, it's super sexy. Not too much to say about this track, good but not the best.
Sam: I tend to forget about this song. It's not bad, per se, but if I'm not listening to it, I can't call to mind what it sounds like. That being said, when I actually listen to it, I bop around, otherwise it just sort of fades into the rest of the song. I do like the drums in this one, though.
Jane: Those are my feelings exactly, you nailed it.
Jane: THE VERY FIRST TAI SONG I EVER HEARD! This song holds a very special place in my heart, and every time I hear it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy and smiley. It also has my very favourite line of any TAI song: "And if I die in my sleep, are you still willing to be everything you promised you would be?" Just the way that it's sung, and the placement in the song, it's all just pure perfection. I'm totally jamming right now.
Sam: This song, man. I don't know why it's so addictive, but it is.The "auction" description at the beginning: "he's got a decent voice, he's got that crooked smile"...thanks for giving me a list of qualities to look for in a guy, William.
Jane: This song is again on the alright side, it's a bit more hardcore (or at least that's what I assume TAI was going for) as it even gets a bit screamy by the end. Not a fave but I can appreciate TAI trying a slightly different sound. It's a bit monotonous for me (literally, Beckett sings in one note for awhile) but it's a really good song if you're feeling angry and want to hit things.
Sam: Another one that's good but never really stood out for me. I'd say that, sonically, this is more of a Santi-esque song, so it almost feels out of place on Almost Here, which is arguably "lighter" than Santi.
Jane: You're so right! I never thought about it being like Santi but now that you say it, that is so accurate.
Jane: TAI tries their hand at storytelling in this song which is about an abusive couple. I quite like this song but it takes a bit of time to get to the best part of the song which is the chorus. The beginning is just Beckett and a backing guitar which is very powerful in its own right but everything really gets amazing when it goes into the epic chorus. "Always up or down, never down and out, dream of demons when you sleep, make you stutter when you speak," YES.
Sam: Usually I'd feel impatient if a song too that long to get to the chorus, but I've always liked the "storytelling" aspect and the gradual buildup. The chorus is epic though, and it makes waiting for it worthwhile.
Jane: And we finally get to the titular track. I love this song it brings all the energy and angst to a great peak. I really can't speak highly enough of this last song, it's just so anthemic, so powerful, such a great way to end a very solid album. It's just… gah. So good!
Sam: It's an excellent closer for sure, and it definitely brings everything (the energy and overall tone of the album) together nicely. I have to admit, I rarely listen to this song unless I'm listening to the album in full! I think that happens to me a lot with album closers, but after re-listening to it for this review, I'm going to have to introduce it into my day-to-day life - it's just too good to only listen to once in a while!
And that's it! Next week will be Everything in Transit by Jack's Mannequin. Later days!


text:
Local leaders look to Twin Cities for ideas on Second Street redevelopment
What can Rochester learn from the Twin Cities as it undergoes dramatic transformation over the next two decades?
That was the question on the minds of local leaders as they visited Minneapolis and St. Paul on Friday. The tour, led by urban design gurus Tim Griffin and Tom Fisher, zeroed in issues related to transportation investment and the types of public infrastructure and private investment that accompany it.
"We wanted to show the relationship between transit to surrounding development," said Griffin, director of urban design at the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation. "We don't want to prescribe to do this, this and this. The whole purpose of this trip is to expose people to a lot of different ideas and then see how it coalesces in Rochester."
The trip was organized by the DMC Economic Development Agency. Patrick Seeb, the agency's director of economic development and placemaking, spent 20 years leading the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation before coming to Rochester.
The objective of the visit — like others to Bellevue, Wash., Cleveland and Madison — was to explore best practices and apply them to Rochester.
"We're still very young in the change process, even though it seems like we've been talking about [DMC] for a long time," said Seeb.
Much of the conversation on the trip focused on lessons learned in Minneapolis and St. Paul that can be applied to the St. Marys district. In addition to DMC and city staff, the tour included individuals from the three neighborhoods — Folwell, Kutzky Park and Historic Southwest — that will be most impacted by new development in the corridor.
The St. Marys district was not included as one of the top three priorities for the first five years of DMC's implementation, but nonetheless has been facing intense development pressure — highlighted by a proposed $100 million project along Second Street and 14th Avenue Southwest.
That makes now a critical time for planning public infrastructure projects, from transit to park space. But as we undergo the change process, Griffin cautioned that creating a positive public realm is "not about creating the space you want, but determining the activity you want and designing around it."
Take the Green Line. The 11-mile light rail system, which connects the central business districts of St. Paul and Minneapolis, launched in 2014 and is now considered a model for future transit systems. The project has spurred billions of dollars in new investment along its route and has been hailed for its ability to not only move people, but also increase social mobility.
Though it's not a type of system being considered here, more efficient bus and transit options are being planned for Second Street. And like the Green Line, any project in Rochester, according to Griffin, should focus on creating places — with unique character traits and functions — around transit stops.
"You're not really designing a transit system; you're designing and connecting places in a way they're together and cohesive as a pedestrian district unto themselves," said Griffin.
Another big question for the district as it redevelops will be how it handles the challenge of connecting three levels — street, subway and skyway — of pedestrian access. The core of downtown Rochester already features a robust network of underground tunnels and skyway connections, and many believe the St. Marys area will need to offer a similar system to remain competitive.
The challenge, according to Griffin, will be how to accommodate the needs of those looking for a climate-controlled connection while also activating the public realm at the street level in a way that encourages retail and other types of use.
"There's only so much that a business district can support," said Griffin. "So when you start introducing skyways and subways and things like that, you're distributing that retail over an entire area."
Other stops along Friday's tour included the redevelopment district around the new U.S. Bank Stadium and Alatus's Latitude 45 Apartments, a luxury housing complex similar to the one being proposed near St. Marys.
Follow Sean on Twitter.
Featured content:
(Cover photo: The Med City Beat)


text:
As beautiful a state as Massachusetts is, it has now clouded itself in pure ugliness, thanks to its recent abatement of Aaron Hernandez' previous guilty verdict in the murder of Odin Lloyd. That's right…you heard me correctly. Because the coward murderer known as Aaron Hernandez killed himself in prison, an old Massachusetts law allows his judgement of murder to be abated (removed) from court records. What does this mean? It means the New England Patriots may, in fact, owe Hernandez millions of dollars, believe it or not! Some speculate (including this very opinionated writer) that Hernandez understood the old law of Massachusetts and upon writing one of an alleged 3 "suicide notes", called to the old law of Massachusetts when he wrote to his former fiance, "YOU'RE RICH". Currently, Hernandez' estate is work $0.00000000. Why would he say to his former fiance that she's rich? Obviously he understood the washed up law, which for some unknown reason Massachusetts and Judge Susan Garsh still follow. And seriously, Judge Susan Garsh??? What does this say for Odin Lloyd's life, which was cut short when Hernandez shot him 6 times and killed him? What does this say to Odin Lloyd's family? What does this say about Susan Garsh's ability to perform her duties as a judge? What's next? Are we going to start throwing people in jail for not carrying a rifle to church on Sunday??? So you know, that is still considered a law in Massachusetts!!! Just in case you find yourself in front of Judge Susan Garsh at some point in your life, here's a website, which lists out laws that Massachusetts hasn't found the time to move on from…click here.
But what's truly disturbing at all of this is that it technically allows a murderer to no longer be considered a murderer. So you understand, the abatement law allows for a conviction to be removed if the convicted dies in prison while his or her conviction is in the appeals process. So, what you're telling me is that not only is no one in Massachusetts intelligent enough to remove this old law but they couldn't even consider suicide in this law? As we all know, even if you have life insurance, if you kill yourself, you don't get the life insurance pay-out. Why? Because that would obviously motivate people to kill themselves. This, too, motivates cowards like Aaron Hernandez to take the easy way out. No. to me, and in the minds of any sane individual, Aaron Hernandez will always be a murderer and will always be a coward. Nothing changes that. The only silver lining in all of this is that prosecutors will now try and appeal this situation and have it reversed. If Hernandez' family does, however, end up getting money and getting paid from the Patriots, rest assured that there are still pending civil trials in the accused Hernandez murders of Odin Lloyd, Daniel de Abreau and Safiro Furtado (quite a list Hernandez built up in his short scumbag life!). You can bet that all of those families will come after every single penny the Hernandez family ever sees.
Moral of the story…come join us in the 21st century, Massachusetts.


text:
Call us 01924 456 330
Choose from Over 50 Fabrics
Independently Verified by Yotpo
The Sueno Vivienne Upholstered Bed is a truly stunning edition to any bedroom. This is a high quality Upholstered Bed with a classic chesterfield inspired headboard. The Vivienne Upholstered Bed is upholstered in a choice of beautiful hand-selected fabrics that offer soft yet stylish appeal. Sueno adds its own touch with an undeniable clean finish on both the chunky head & foot-boards. The Vivienne Upholstered Bed is constructed from a solid hardwood mix and comes with solid metal bar and beech sprung slats for added mattress support. The feet are stained to a deep wenge (Dark brown) tone to compliment the range of fabrics and offer excellent stability.
The Vivienne Upholstered Bed sets the mark in upholstered bed design & forms part of our unique upholstered bed collection available only at Sueno. Customer enquiries are always welcome.
Freshly made and ready for dispatch within 2-6 Weeks.
Delivery lead times to remote areas may vary.
Please visit our Delivery Guide for more information.


text:
Minister of Commerce Donville Inniss is insisting that the rate of duty should be lowered on imported hydraulic cement.
Following a meeting with officials of Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) and Arawak Cement Limited, he said Government will be sticking to its decision to lower the tariff rate. He also suggested that the 60 per cent tariff, which was aimed at protecting cement produced in Barbados by the Arawak Cement Limited, might soon be at an end.
While acknowledging that the companies have concerns about the decision to lower the rate of duty on some types of cement entering Barbados, Inniss said that he explained the rationale behind Government's decision.
He stressed that the intent was not to cause any harm, but more or less to help drive efficiencies in the system, and to ensure consumers got a better price on the much-needed raw material.
"We would have our differences on the methodologies employed and the policies being pursued, but, at the end of the day, we want to ensure that Arawak Cement Limited remains a viable entity in Barbados," he said.
Noting that the company was in the midst of ongoing restructuring, he lauded Arawak Cement's commitment to increasing exports of Portland Grey cement.
Group Chief Executive Officer Jose Seijo, General Manager of Arawak Cement limited Rupert Greene, Business Consultant David Inglefield and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce Philmore Best also attended the meeting. (BGIS)