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The following document dealing with perspectives for Scotland for 2017 was discussed, debated and agreed at the Socialist Party Scotland conference that took place on February 11th 2017. The document covers issues including the prospects for an indyref 2, the SNP's move to the right, Brexit, the Corbyn phenomena and its limited impact in Scotland, the prospects for increased working class struggle and the crisis of the capitalist economy.
"I view the current global economic environment as the most uncertain in modern history." Ethan Ilzetzki, London School of Economics. "Political and geopolitical upheaval could strike almost anywhere." Gillian Tett, writing in the Financial Times, 30/12/16.
These two comments sum-up the unprecedented turmoil, uncertainty and volatility facing capitalism on a world scale. Almost a decade on from the global economic crisis of 2007/08, the inability of the bourgeois and their system to find a route to sustained economic recovery is driving political and social upheaval internationally.
2016 was a nightmare for the ruling class. The Brexit vote of June 2016, the election of Donald Trump as US president-elect in November and the defeat of Prime Minister Renzi in Italy in December were no isolated events. They all represented, even if in a distorted form because of the lack of a mass left and socialist alternative, a revolt of big sections of the working class and the oppressed. Mass anger against austerity, rage at the one-sided nature of the so-called recovery and a hatred of the political elite were all dominant themes, as they were in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
It is possible and even likely that 2017 will see a continuation of these major setbacks for the capitalist class. The general elections in France and the Netherlands could see further defeats for the preferred candidates of the bourgeois. The rise of the racist right and of reactionary populist candidates is a feature of the "collapsing political centre ground". But we have also explained that the potential for a mass, left and socialist – in a broad sense – alternative to emerge is also posed in this period.
Upheaval in the US
This was exactly the situation that emerged through the candidature of Bernie Sanders in his attempt to win the nomination for the pro-capitalist Democratic Party. Bernie Sanders was and still is the most popular politician in the US. Millions of young people especially were mobilised in support for his stand and the call for a "political revolution against the billionaire class". Had Sanders taken the decision to launch a new party and continue as a candidate in the November 2016 election after being defeated in the rigged Democratic primaries, he would have won millions of votes and would almost certainly have undercut Trump's support to such an extent that Hillary Clinton would have won the election.
As it was Trump's election will, and indeed has already begun to, provoke mass opposition to his racist, bigoted, anti-working class and anti-women polices. The real pro-billionaire character of the Trump presidency will also become clear over time. Indeed, the trade unions and workers' rights, as well as women and immigrants, could be one of the first targets for attack. Even before he takes office, the appointment of a string of Goldman Sachs executives to his government and panel of advisors is indicative of the corporate-dominated nature of a Trump presidency. However, it's also possible that Trump will attempt some populist concessions and a certain amount of public spending projects to shore up his base. The potential to build a fighting socialist alternative is already clear in the growth of Socialist Alternative in the US.
Limits of right wing reaction
The main feature of the current situation internationally has been a shift leftwards among big sections of young people and workers. This political radicalisation was given expression through the Sanders' campaign, as well as the fight for $15, Black Lives Matter and Occupy before that. It was the decision by the Democratic establishment to block Sanders and run with the establishment candidate of Clinton that handed the presidency to Trump. Nevertheless, it's important to remember that Trump received 3 million votes fewer than Clinton and could only win 46% of the popular vote. Many who voted for Trump, minus the "alt-right" etc – can also move into opposition to his agenda once it becomes clear that it is, in the end, a continuation and even a stepping up of corporate rule by a billionaire.
Trump in the US, Le Pen in France, Ukip in Britain and other right-wing forces have tapped into mass anger at the impact of capitalist globalisation, unemployment and the race to the bottom in wages and conditions at work. But this is only possible where a viable left has been blocked or has not yet emerged. But in all these cases, even where the right come to power, it will ultimately prepare the way for an even bigger swing to the left and a mass radicalisation against their rule. Posing the urgent need to build new mass parties armed with a socialist programme for ending capitalism.
We have to patiently explain that what is taking place is not a repeat of the 1930s as some of the "liberal intelligentsia" fear. The rise of fascist regimes, or even a form of racist dictatorship and the wholesale removal of democratic rights, is not possible. The balance of forces is still overwhelmingly with the working class and who would never accept such a situation.
It should be remembered that fascism only came to power after the colossal revolutionary defeats suffered by the working class in Germany, Spain etc that laid the basis for these regimes to emerge. Even then, the working class had the opportunity to win power not once but on a number of occasions. Only the lack of a mass revolutionary party and clear-sighted leadership, not the willingness to struggle by the masses, allowed fascism to win power. There is, however, an urgent task for the working class to act decisively and collectively to defeat racism and division and the attacks of the capitalist class and the right. Central to this is the need to establish mass, combative political and industrial organisations – both parties and trade unions.
Corbyn: a missed opportunity
The US is not the only country where the emergence of a new mass party of the left was posed. Hundreds of thousands of young people, the radicalising middle class and sections of workers joined the Labour Party to support Jeremy Corbyn, primarily in England and Wales. This was an elemental movement which we supported and participated in. Effectively, it was an attempt to create a new party by tearing it from the dead-hand of the pro-capitalist leadership that dominates this former workers' party. Because of the historic role of the trade unions in the Labour Party, the emergence of a new workers' party was posed. This was possible with the proviso that the pro-capitalist elements of the party were driven out by insisting on full democratic rights and participation for members and the trade unions, including the mandatory re-selection of MPs, councillors etc and control over policy.
This has not happened, primarily because Corbyn and those around him sought compromise with the Blairites even after winning two election contests and a huge mandate. Corbyn has shifted his policy platform to the right, dropping a series of left policies and opposing the re-selection of MPs. The consequences of this approach has been to disorientate and demoralise a layer of the Corbynistas. It has also left the Labour Party, in terms of the Parliamentary Labour Party, the NEC, councillors etc and many local constituencies, in the hands of the right who will never accept Corbyn as leader. They are in fact waiting for an opportune time to remove him, possibly in the run-up to a general election. The right's main policy is one of destabilisation and the slow strangulation of the Corbyn leadership in order to prepare for electoral defeat. In this they have the full backing of the capitalist class and the majority of the "liberal" media.
Ironically, if Corbyn and his supporters in the Labour Party (the Socialist Party in England and Wales has been effectively refused the right to participate) were to launch a struggle to reclaim Labour from the right, including a fighting opposition to all cuts, public ownership etc, this would actually enthuse their base and wider sections of the working class. As it is the possibility of a new workers' party emerging from the Corbyn movement has been pushed back, at least for now. The ill-preparedness of Corbyn, Momentum, et al to face up to what needs to be done is rooted in their political outlook. Their very weak version of reformism, one that doesn't clearly oppose capitalism or offer a developed alternative to the market and in favour of widespread nationalisation, is an obstacle to the emergence of a new workers' party. Even now, it's not entirely ruled out that Corbyn could move further to the left, provoking the right into a new round of their civil war.
Nevertheless, the left populism that has emerged in the last period around movements like Sanders, Corbyn, and also in some of the left formations in Europe, are a pre-cursor of what will become more developed left reformist ideas as a step to a mass socialist consciousness at a later stage. It is essential that we continue to intervene in these movements with a clear programme of what needs to be done to create a new mass party with a fighting socialist and anti-capitalist policy.
Scottish Labour
The Corbyn surge has not been reflected in Scotland to a significant degree for reasons we have explained. Scottish Labour's calamitous role in opposition to Scottish independence, alongside years of pro-capitalist policies under the Blairites, has shattered its social base among the working class. Indeed, the support for Labour in Scotland has now descended closer to the single-digits suffered by the former social democratic parties in Europe, including Greece, Ireland and France. The latest opinion polls have shown Scottish Labour on 15% support, an astonishing 10% behind the Scottish Tories who are on 25%. Even more remarkable is that backing for Labour among the under-50s stands at a disastrous 10%.
A section of Labour voters who support the union have clearly shifted towards the Tories in Scotland. According to the YouGov poll in November 2016, 27% of those who voted Labour in the 2015 general election have switched to the Ruth Davidson-led Tory Party. This was a key factor as to why the Tories defeated Labour into third place in the May 2016 elections for the Scottish parliament. The prospects for a Labour recovery in Scotland ahead of the council elections in May are limited, despite the growing mood of opposition to the SNP. As we have explained in our material, without a clear break from austerity by Labour-led councils, the removal of the Scottish Blairite leadership and a change in their policy of blanket opposition to Scottish independence, it is difficult to see Labour avoiding the likely loss of all the councils they currently control outright in Scotland.
The Corbyn-supporting left in Scotland have been incapable of mapping a road to recovery. They ruled out a challenge to Scottish leader Kezia Dugdale, even when it became clear that she was supporting the post-Brexit coup by right wing Labour MPs against Corbyn. Momentum/Campaign for Socialism supporting councillors have continually voted through cuts and have even backed the privatisation of the Glasgow ICT service, which has provoked a strike of workers in opposition. Scottish Labour MSPs' alternative to another SNP cuts budget for 2017 was to propose tax rises, correctly for the highest earners but also on all workers through an increase of a penny on the basic rate of income tax. The Scottish Labour left's continual blanket opposition to a second indyref, let alone giving critical support to independence in the context of a voluntary socialist confederation, as we do, has allowed the SNP to pose unchallenged as the defender of democratic rights.
Stephen Low is a leading figure in the Campaign for Socialism group. Writing in the Morning Star newspaper in a column entitled Combating Nationalism with Socialism in January 2016, he correctly criticised the SNP for being a "pro-austerity government". He went on to bemoan the public support for the SNP and the fact that the Tories had supplanted Labour as the second party in Scotland. "This won't change for the better until Labour is seen, once again, as a trusted vehicle for social change. This isn't the case just now, squeezed as we have been between competing Scottish and British nationalisms." Low's conclusion, that somehow Labour are victims of reactionary forces out-with their control, is symptomatic of the ideological dead-end the Labour left are stuck in. They seem blind to the elemental class revolt that the 2014 indyref represented at its base. And the huge potential that exists to confront the SNP for their pro-capitalist policies while maintaining a principled socialist position on the national question. This would necessitate the Labour left putting forward a real anti-austerity policy of no cuts budgets – instead of defending Labour councils that carry out cuts – as well as wide-ranging socialist policies for the transformation of the economy.
SNP move rightwards – space opens up to the left
A growing space to the left of the SNP in Scotland now exists for precisely such a socialist and anti-austerity alternative. There has been a marked change in mood amongst big sections of the working class towards the SNP leadership since the highpoint of May 2015 when the SNP won 56 of the 59 available Scottish MPs. The "anti-establishment" and "anti-austerity" credentials of the SNP have been battered by the role of the party in power. The Brexit vote has led the Sturgeon leadership to move even further to the right. She is now acting as a spokesperson for the interests of the British capitalist class through her demand for continued membership and access to the European single market.
The impact on the SNP leadership of the EU referendum, the collapse in the oil price and the defeat of the referendum in 2014 has been significant. In 2011-12, Scotland's geographic share of North Sea oil revenues was worth £9.6 billion. Last year, 2014-15, they slumped to £60 million. This has contributed, alongside the lack of any real recovery in the economy, to a sharp increase in the overall notional Scottish fiscal deficit, which currently stands at 9.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), double that of the UK figure.
There is currently a growing phalanx of leading SNP politicians who are calling for the party to be more "honest" about the economic challenges that would face an independent Scotland under capitalism. George Kerevan, an SNP MSP, commented recently that: "an independent Scotland would face five years of fiscal consolidation". In other words continued austerity. In response to these economic difficulties the SNP have established a "Growth Commission" to discuss ways to reduce the deficit and grow the capitalist economy post-independence. The chair of the business-dominated commission is ex-SNP MSP Andrew Wilson, who is managing director of a major lobby firm that advises big business.
At the SNP party conference in October 2016, businesses were able to sponsor a "members lounge" for £23,000, a lounge exclusively populated by SNP MPs, MEPs and MSPs for £11,500 or the conference dinner for £12,500. For a mere £200-a-head you could go to a dinner attended by Nicola Sturgeon and finance secretary Derek Mackay at which, "corporate organisations and professional associations could learn more about the SNP in a relaxed and informal setting." The SNP's MP for Dundee West – a constituency containing some of the poorest areas of Scotland – has recently put an offer in to buy a castle in Angus for over £600,000.
Almost one-third of the SNP's intake to Westminster in 2015 were in receipt of income from the rental market for properties they own, over and above their MPs salaries. 90% of the party's MPs, MSPs and MEPs are drawn from the top three occupational groupings. These examples illuminate the reality of a party whose main representatives – drawn overwhelmingly from the middle class and small business layers – are completely removed from the lives of the working class majority in Scotland. Individuals from a working class background, such as Mhairi Black, are a tiny minority among the elected representatives of the SNP.
The new establishment
In addition, the recent Scottish Government budget for 2017 was yet another round of austerity that will deliver more deep cuts for public services. The SNP even refused to use the new powers over income tax to raise tax levels on the richest in society. With the SNP set to take control of a large number of councils in May, the potential for a series of explosive battles against the SNP is posed both now and over the next 12 to 24 months. Particularly as the scale of planned cuts have been heavily weighted for after the 2017 local government elections and in the run-up to 2019/20. The SNP are the political establishment in Scotland. And yet they are presiding over the deepest assault on public spending since the 1930s.
These factors have led to a dramatic falling away in membership and activity, especially by the new layer who joined the SNP following the 2014 indyref when the party membership rocketed to over 100,000. While electoral support for the SNP is still around the 46% mark, the numbers prepared to vote for the SNP have dropped significantly. This has been reflected mainly in high levels of abstentionism and low turnouts. 1.3 million fewer voters took part in the 2016 Scottish parliament elections compared to the 2014 referendum, and 660,000 less than in the 2015 Westminster election. Nicola Sturgeon herself was extremely popular when she took over the leadership of the SNP from Alex Salmond after the indyref. Her approval ratings as first minister, which were as high as +56% in May 2015, have now slumped to just +11%. Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has now surpassed the SNP leader in the latest polls.
At this stage there has not been a surge towards another political alternative. Scottish Labour, for reasons mentioned previously, are unable to offer a viable option to the hundreds of thousands who are open to a radical, left and anti-austerity programme. Scottish TUSC, in a small but important way, have given a glimpse of what is possible. In the 2016 election our votes in Dundee, Glasgow and Renfrewshire trebled compared to 2015. There was a very clear change in receptiveness to the need for a fighting alternative to the SNP. We are likely to find a similar, and possibly even a greater, opening during the council elections in May 2017.
It is vital that we continue to advocate the need for the trade unions, the biggest workers' organisations in Scotland, to take to the political plane with a no cuts platform, including standing and supporting candidates in elections. Our call for the unions to play a key role in the building of a new workers' party in Scotland retain their validity. While it is not totally excluded that the Labour left and the affiliated trade unions could challenge for the leadership of Scottish Labour and attempt to shift the party to the left, this is not the most likely perspective at this stage. Therefore, we should continue to call for the trade unions to work alongside TUSC and others in building that alternative to austerity as a step to a new mass workers' party in Scotland. As part of our tactics in the trade unions we should argue for the devolution of the political funds to the Scottish membership and structures, where applicable, to take account of the different political situation that exists.
Indyref 2: SNP kick the can down the road
Much to the shock of the SNP leadership, the majority vote in Scotland to remain in the EU has not resulted in an increase in support for independence. It still stands at roughly the same level as it was in 2014 – 45% for independence and 55% opposed. In the run-up to the EU referendum, Scotland being "taken out of the EU against its will" was supposed to be a "material change of circumstances" that would justify a second indyref.
The quandary facing the SNP leadership is the need to delay a concrete timetable for a new referendum while awaiting a sustained shift in the polls in favour of independence. For this reason there is now no prospect of an immediate proposal for an indyref 2 from the SNP. However, the possibility of another referendum before 2020 is becoming more likely. Sturgeon has sought "compromise and consensus" and was prepared to "put aside the issue of another referendum" until the Brexit talks are completed. The referendum was "on the table" as a negotiating tactic to try and wrestle the best deal, as they see it, from the Brexit talks. For Sturgeon and the SNP that means continued membership and access to the European Single Market while accepting that Scotland would be outside the formal structures of the EU. This in itself is another retreat from their initial position, which was that Scotland should still be part of the EU even after the UK leaves.
Sturgeon and the SNP strategists have spent much of the period since the Brexit vote redefining Scottish independence as a last resort through which membership of the EU and the single market could be maintained. But this has clashed significantly with a big layer of working-class pro-indy supporters who voted to leave the EU. Reflecting this reality, Kenny MacKaskill, the former SNP Justice Minister, writing in the Herald newspaper appealed to Sturgeon to de-couple the issue of independence from EU membership. "Independence in the EU many well be less popular that straight-forward independence. Many of the most ardent Yes voters were also Leave supporters."
In December 2016 the SNP unveiled their new negotiating stance on Brexit. These were, according to Nicola Sturgeon, "a significant compromise on the part of the Scottish Government" that "fall short of what we consider to be the best option for Scotland and the UK – full membership of the EU." The Scottish Government are now arguing for membership of the single market for Scotland and the UK through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) or the European Economic Area (EEA). If the UK ends up outside the single market – a so-called hard Brexit – it will be difficult for the SNP to avoid beginning the formal process of triggering a second referendum on Scottish independence. This could, however, be a very long and protracted process.
One of the factors in the change of tack is that the SNP are losing ground among their working-class supporters, including over their position on the EU. Polling indicates that in December 2016, only 76% of those who voted Yes in 2014 would make the same choice again in an indyref 2. Effectively a quarter of those who backed independence in 2014 – overwhelmingly working class – are now saying they have changed their position. In contrast, there has been a growth in support for independence amongst a section of middle class voters who opted to stay in the EU and who opposed independence in 2014.
The intensity of the mood around the national question has dipped over the past year. A large majority are opposed to the holding of a referendum in 2017. For some pro-indy supporters this will be a consideration that it would not be possible to win a majority Yes vote just now. However, it also reflects a growing disenchantment with the SNP, the intractable economic problems and the viability of a independent capitalist state – including the fall in the oil price – as well as a new and important focus on class issues. This third factor is also driven by the many trade union struggles that are now taking place against the Scottish government and the SNP's role in austerity. Increasingly the SNP are being seen as a political party hostile to the interests of trade unionists and workers in struggle.
Capitalism is crisis – in or out of the EU
The overwhelming majority of the capitalist class in Britain wish to retain membership of the EU and, in particular, membership of the single market. Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP leadership are defending the interests of the the ruling elite in calling for as soft a Brexit as possible. The Brexit vote was therefore a major blow to the economic interests and indeed the prestige of the ruling class. Brexit – particularly a hard Brexit – will introduce new features of dislocation and crisis into the economy. However, in or out of the EU on the basis of capitalism, inequality, austerity and further attacks on the working and middle class are inevitable. We stand for a socialist Brexit; that is a breaking with the neo-liberal, pro-privatisation and anti-working class treaties that make up the EU. We must link this to the struggle for a voluntary socialist confederation of Europe as the only way out for the working class majority. Retaining membership of the EU or a "soft" Brexit will not end the attacks.
According to the Financial Times: "Growth will slow markedly in 2017, household incomes will be squeezed by higher inflation and businesses will hold back on investment decisions." (2/1/17) The likely slowdown in the UK economy will mean a growth rate of around 1.3% for 2017. While much of this will be blamed on the post-Brexit vote conditions, as we have explained, the era of relatively dynamic growth for capitalism is over. "Since the Global Crisis, per-capita (per head) income in developed countries has stagnated. Europe took until 2015 to recover to the 2008 level. There has been a structural transition to minimal, essentially zero, growth." Enrico Perotti The bourgeois' inability to find a way out of structural low growth, low productivity and low investment is symptomatic of its parasitical character today.
Brexit also threatens the destruction of the Tory Party. The May-led government is weak and deeply divided. As the negotiations over Britain leaving the EU unfold, the divisions in the Tories will grow to crisis levels. Even a formal split is possible, as happened in 1846 over the Corn Laws. On the one hand May cannot be seen to abandon openly the mandate of the over 17 million who voted to leave the EU. On the other side are the interests of the capitalist class as a whole, including in Europe, who wish to soften or to even avoid a Brexit altogether. Either way, the potential for an early general election is inherent in this situation. The outcome of which would be very uncertain. Above all, the potential for the working class to go on the offensive against austerity – a policy unaltered by the May government – and to press for its own class interests will grow.
Workers' struggles on the increase
Struggle plays a vital role in the sharpening of class-consciousness and the drawing of political conclusions. We base ourselves on the working class and its mass organisations for a reason: because they are the decisive force that can and will lead the struggle to overthrow capitalism and establish a socialist democracy. Prior to that, the increased confidence and cohesion that comes from taking strike action and engaging in struggle generally is a key factor, although not the only one, in preparing the ground of the emergence of a powerful anti-capitalist and socialist outlook.
2016 saw small but important strikes in Scotland that represented a certain revival in the confidence of workers to take action. There were national strikes by college lecturers and college support staff over pay, train guards on safety, RMT workers on CalMac ferries over privatisation and PCS members in the Scottish museums, all of whom won important victories. In addition, the first strikes in over two decades by North Sea oil workers took place against the onslaught on pay and conditions in the industry. Oil workers' unions are also currently preparing a ballot over pay. The partial recovery in the oil price in the past period can embolden oil workers to demand a return of what has been lost since 2015. There are also ongoing strikes in the Post Office and possible further action over the removal of the Royal Mail pension scheme.
At a local level there were a number of struggles in local government, many of which were led by our comrades in conjunction with other trade union fighters. The West Dunbartonshire secondary teachers action lasted for 13 weeks and included six days of strike action. It was a strike that ended in an important victory over cuts to teacher posts and had national repercussions throughout the union- the EIS – and has been seen as a fighting example for other branches. The role of our forces was critical in this struggle and underlines yet again the decisive difference that even one or two Marxists can make in a trade union.
If this was the case in West Dunbartonshire, then it has been shown many times over in Glasgow, and in particular the 10,000-strong Unison branch that we play a leading role in. In a whole number of disputes – school janitors, community safety staff, ICT workers etc – workers have had the confidence to move into struggle. The socialist policy of the Unison branch in Glasgow, of opposition to all cuts and a refusal to accept concession bargaining, has had a huge effect. We have been singled out for attack by the Labour leadership of Glasgow council for our defence of the working class and our refusal to accept austerity. This has also had a big impact in other local government branches of Unison as well as Unite, GMB etc, who have agreed a no cuts policy.
On a British level, the leading role of our party in the civil service union, PCS, has been a tremendous example of what a fighting socialist leadership means in practice. For this reason the Tory government singled-out PCS in an attempt to effectively destroy the union by attacking its ability to collect subs from its members. The incredible campaign by the union in defeating this attack is a testimony to the role of our comrades. PCS will be involved in a series of struggle in the next year as well. These include an emerging campaign over jobcentre closures, as well as further attacks on pay and terms and conditions and redundancy rights.
The general secretary election in Unite will be a crucial battle in the coming months. We are giving critical support to Len McCluskey against a right-wing candidate who is also backed by the capitalist class and the right in the Labour Party. This election is also widely seen, rightly, as an attempt to undermine Jeremy Corbyn's position and to try and turn the tide against the shift to the left in the trade unions generally over the last few years.
Despite our criticisms of Corbyn and McCluskey we are not neutral in this struggle. A defeat for the candidate of the right would be a step forward and give confidence to workers who are taking action or will do. Conversely, if McCluskey was defeated it would be seen as a victory for the right and the ruling class. For this reason, the entry into the contest of a candidate of the ultra left is a major mistake and can play into the hands of those capitalist forces who wish to inflict a defeat on the working class and the left generally. We are also standing comrades from the party in Scotland, England and Wales for the NEC of Unison and Unite. There is a new situation opening up in Unison that can see a major breakthrough for the left.
With a growing mood in favour of action, our key demands for nationally coordinated strike action and a 24-hour general strike will come back to the fore. A victory for McCluskey in Unite and a swing to the left in Unison at a national level – Britain's two biggest trade union – would also open new opportunities for advancing the case for mass coordinated strike action. Of course the craven leaders of the right-wing unions, the TUC and the STUC for that matter, will view this prospect with horror.
Looking ahead to 2017, pay is increasingly emerging as a key battleground. The prospects for rapidly rising inflation in the next months, and against the backdrop of a fall in wages of around 10% since 2009, can lead to an outbreak of further strikes seeking pay rises. The Resolution Foundation commented in December 2016: "we are on course for fast, significant and repeated falls in real earnings growth early in the New Year…almost all of this drop is being driven by rising inflation."
There are already record levels of in-work poverty in Scotland. Incredibly 58% of the working age adults who live in poverty are in working households (figures for 2015). For children, the position is even worse. 66% of children in poverty in Scotland live in a household where at least one parent is in work. This scandalous situation underlines dramatically the appalling levels of low pay, as well as the numbers forced into part-time and self-employed working. Not surprisingly, median income in Scotland is no higher than in 2009/10 and is set to fall back again in 2017. At the same time income inequality has grown to record levels.
Under these conditions there can be explosive moods developing on pay as workers draw the conclusion that "enough is enough". Strike ballots are possible for local government workers early in 2017. Given our role in key unions such as Unison, PCS and others we are well placed to assist and help develop the potential for national and coordinated strike action.
Nor is it only in the workplaces, crucial though they are, that the class struggle can erupt. Battles over cuts to the NHS – which are at least £500 million this year – will inevitably provoke community campaigns and protests. This was the case in the Lochee area of Dundee for example. Again the role of our comrades was vital in what ended up as a victory and extra GP resources for the area. However, we need to continually put the case for the linking up of local struggles against cuts both city-wide and in a national movement. It's crucial that the health sector trade unions unite with the communities in a joint campaign to defend the NHS from cuts.
Young people moving left
One of the features of the situation is the increased potential for unorganised workers to take to the road of struggle. Recently in England there have been examples of the Uber and Deliveroo workers taking action to organise themselves, including strike action and protests. For young workers in particular the questions of pay, security of work and the levels of exploitation they face are potentially explosive. The new openings for our work among young people must also include an orientation to young workers.
There has been a significant change in the outlook of big sections of young people in Scotland. Primarily, this is driven by the horrendous economic and social prospects that exist under capitalism for the younger generation. In many ways this was the wellspring for the interest in politics that exploded through the indyref of 2014. Young people in Scotland were hugely attracted to the movement. The surge to the SNP particularly affected the youth, although many supported and joined the Greens as well. However, the craven failure of the SNP to deliver on its anti-austerity rhetoric has created a big vacuum and has led to a layer looking consciously for a political alternative to the left of the SNP.
It's not an exaggeration to say that there is a genuine interest in socialism and socialist ideas now. This includes on the campuses where we have done most of our work over the past 6 months with some success. International events like the Sanders' phenomena have also played a role, as has the Corbyn surge in acquainting young people with "socialism" for the first time. This interest will increase in the next period. As will a mood to fight on cuts to education in schools, colleges etc, student debt, low pay and zero-hours as well as on other issues including sexism, racism and LGBTQ rights. The new round of attacks on welfare, Bedroom Tax Two and other attacks can also lead to further radicalisation and, crucially, the potential to organise young people in a struggle. Our work among young people is, along with the trade unions, key areas of our work.
Women fighting back
Internationally, there has been a wave of radicalisation among women. Big struggles have erupted over abortion rights, including in Poland and Ireland. In Latin America thousands have mobilised against sexism, violence and sexual assault. Following the election of the misogynist Trump in the US, a new wave of struggle is certain if, as seems likely, attempts are made to attack the Roe v Wade abortion legislation.
In Scotland, the impact of cuts to public services, where the majority of the workforce are women, has and will increasingly see women taking to the road of struggle and strike action. Cuts to vital violence against women projects such as Women's Aid and Rape Crisis, in addition to the attacks on welfare and housing provision, will also affect women hard. We have also seen the emergence of many young women becoming interested in socialist ideas on campuses across Scotland. The opportunities to continue the building of our work among women will grow in 2017. United working class struggle against sexism, violence and austerity cuts is increasingly seen as the way forward.
Combating racism
Following Brexit there has been a rise in racism and anti-immigrant views and this also applies in the US post Trump's election. The rise of racism in the context of the capitalist crisis and the need to combat all forms of discrimination are key issues facing the workers' movement. The role played by the right-wing, anti-immigrant populists like Ukip, whose ideas are also increasingly adapted by the "mainstream" parties, requires a left and socialist alternative to be built on a mass scale. There are many young people and workers who will want to fight on the issues of opposing racism in the next year.
The SNP and other pro-capitalist parties who support the EU have made much of the so-called "four freedoms", including freedom of movement. For socialists, we need to be clear that "free movement of labour" is a tool used by the bosses to aid their exploitation of the working class as a whole. We therefore don't support "free movement" of capital, labour, goods and services etc as practised by the bourgeois, which is a weapon to drive down wages and undermine workers' rights. Instead we defend all workers, including migrant workers, having the rate for the job, trade union rights and workers' control of conditions at work. We defend the rights of all migrant workers and immigrants and oppose all forms of racism at all times.
A socialist world would be a world without borders, with genuinely free movement, unlike what passes for it in Fortress Europe where thousands of refugees are left to drown in the Mediterranean. Since its inception, however, the workers' movement has not supported capitalist 'free movement', including of labour, which undermines and drives down workers' conditions and consequently aggravates racism and nationalism, but rather has fought to maximise workers' control of conditions at work, the highest form of which, of course, would be a democratic socialist society with a planned economy.
Capitalism represents a dead end for the overwhelming majority of the world's population and a ticking-time bomb for the environment. After the collapse of Stalinism in 1989/90, Francis Fukuyama, the American economist and philosopher, proclaimed "the end of history". That neo-liberal capitalism was the highest and final form of human society, ideas he has largely had to abandon. Today, the pessimism of the bourgeois is evident in these words from Martin Wolf of the Financial Times: "The hopes of a brave new world of progress, harmony and democracy, raised by the market opening of the 1980s and collapse of Soviet communism between 1989 and 1991, have turned to ashes."
It falls to the working class, the oppressed and the poor to forge a new socialist world from the ashes of capitalism. This year – 2017 – is the 100th anniversary of the greatest event in human history – the October 1917 Russian Revolution led by the Bolsheviks. It is these ideas – in their modern form – that will offer the way forward in the struggle to end a diseased capitalism and establish a real democratic and socialist future.
Despite the throwing back of consciousness that followed the collapse of Stalinism, and which we are still dealing with today, consciousness is changing. There is widespread rejection of capitalism in its neo-liberal form. Socialist ideas are becoming more relevant and increasingly in tune with the outlook of growing layers of the working class and young people. Our task this year is to reach out to those sections and build a stronger and more combative revolutionary party in Scotland in 2017.


text:
Upgrade your existing home to the one you've always wanted with additions, remodels, and custom designs.
Whether you need a contractor for a complete framing job or flooring installation, you can trust our licensed professionals.
Discover affordable construction services for virtually any job, big or small, at Hensen Builders Inc.
Remodeling and New Construction

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A very happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone (I'm speaking in my best Irish accent, can't you tell?). We hope everyone enjoys wearing their green outfits and sipping on some green beer! Have a great weekend!
Bergerons Florist is the premier Washington DC florist, dedicated to offering brides the highest quality service and attention to detail. With its flagship store located in Springfield, Bergerons is thrilled to have a second studio at Bergerons at the Mayflower in the heart of DC.
Posted on 03/17/2017 at 07:00:00 AM
8434 Alban Rd,
Springfield, VA 22150
Phone. 703-455-0220
Email. email@example.com


text:
Dairy chief urges caution on post-quota milk price
Fears for milk returns echoed by EU Commissioner Dacian Ciolos
Ireland's second largest co-op is heading for a massive super-levy bill for the next two years.
Dairygold is 3.5pc over quota this year and is likely to be closer to 10pc over next year, according to Dairygold CEO, Jim Woulfe.
Strong milk prices and the anticipated end to milk quotas in just over 12 months will drive production, but dairy bosses are warning farmers not to bank on the current high prices lasting for the rest of 2014.
"There's a real danger of farmers getting too comfortable at the current price of 39c/l," Mr Woulfe told a Teagasc seminar in the Horse and Jockey, Co Tipperary last week.
These fears were echoed in Bucharest, where EU Agriculture Commissioner admitted to being nervous that a flood of milk next year could undermine dairy markets.
"The market is good at the moment but we know from the experience of 2009 that it only takes a very small over-supply to have a huge negative impact on prices," Commissioner Ciolos told the Farming Independent.
However, he denied that he had any wish for the quota system to be extended for the dairy sector.
"I've no intention of returning to a quota system but we do need the means to react faster than we did after 2009. The establishment of the EU's milk observatory should help that but we may need other measures."


text:
First Tutors helps you to find a local geology teacher in Barnoldswick and anywhere in the UK. Private geology tuition is an excellent way to improve confidence as well as increasing grades and doesn't have to be dull! Please use our service to find Barnoldswick geology tutors and select which best fits your requirements.
First Tutors is the best place to discover through one search the top Barnoldswick geology tutors for your needs, helping you find a local Barnoldswick geology tutor for any subject, for example, GCSE English, A-Level Maths or even university Biology. We also help with language tuition, so if you want to learn Spanish, take a Arabic course or prepare yourself for German life, we can help - and all in Barnoldswick! We order geology Barnoldswick tutors in your area according to their geology tuition charges and distance from you.
If you are a Barnoldswick geology tutor wanting to offer your local geology tuition services in Barnoldswick or anywhere else across the UK, please register with First Tutors or find out more about what we do here. Home geology tuition is a great way to re-affirm your geology knowledge while helping someone else, all in the Barnoldswick area!


text:
- English
- français
Harmonic Active Contours
We propose a segmentation method based on the geometric representation of images as two-dimensional manifolds embedded in a higher dimensional space. The segmentation is formulated as a minimization problem, where the contours are described by a level set function and the objective functional corresponds to the surface of the image manifold. In this geometric framework, both data-fidelity and regularity terms of the segmentation are represented by a single functional that intrinsically aligns the gradients of the level set function with the gradients of the image and exploits this directional information to overcome image inhomogeneities and fragmented contours. The proposed formulation combines this robust alignment of gradients with attractive properties of previous methods developed in the same geometric framework: the natural coupling of image channels proposed for anisotropic diffusion and the ability of the subjective surfaces of Sarti and Sethian to detect weak edges and close fragmented boundaries. The potential of such a geometric approach lies in the general definition of Riemannian manifolds, which naturally generalizes existing segmentation methods (the geodesic active contours of Caselles et al., the active contours without edges of Chan and Vese and the robust edge integrator of Kimmel and Bruckstein ) to higher dimensional spaces, non-flat images and feature spaces. Our experiments show that the proposed technique improves the segmentation of multichannel images, images subject to inhomogeneities, and images characterized by geometric structures like ridges or valleys.
- doi:10.1109/Tip.2013.2286326
- View record in Web of Science
Keywords: active contours ; image segmentation ; level sets ; LTS5
Record created on 2013-03-22, modified on 2017-05-10


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I use this cleanser every morning to was my face. It's very gentle and great if your skin is irritated or red. It smells great and isn't prohibitively expensive. Only downside is having to order online because I can't find anyone in US who carries it. The whole Intral line is great.
These reviews are the subjective opinions of ChickAdvisor members and not of ChickAdvisor Inc.


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A Blade in the Dark (1983)
When the lights go out, the knife goes in.
Bruno is a composer trying to write a score for a horror film. Looking for some solitude in order to complete his work, Bruno rents an isolated villa in the European countryside. Unfortunately, just as he has begun to get some of his score done, he discovers the dead body of a young girl he had just met at the house. Soon, another woman is brutally murdered, and Bruno quickly becomes obsessed with finding the killer. And, when he hears what appears to be a clue on his film's soundtrack, he believes the answer to the mystery is hidden in the film he's scoring.


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Duo Deals: Capitals Re-Sign Kuznetsov, Trade JohanssonThe Caps continue to double down on in-house talent, but tough decisions had to be made to gain more salary cap space.
Trotz: Kuzy Hit Wall Last Year, Still Doesn't Have Confidence BackBarry Trotz thinks Evgeny Kuznetsov will break out soon, but there's a hump to get over first.
Alex Ovechkin is Very Bad at Golf, But Evgeny Kuznetsov Is Very GoodImagine playing golf behind Alex Ovechkin.
Kuznetsov to Replace Ovechkin for All-Star GameOne Capitals star is replacing another in the NHL All-Star game.
Big 3 Leading Way in Capitals' Incredible SeasonThe trio of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov is leading the Capitals in a storybook season.
Capitals Surge to Seventh-Straight Win, Remain Atop NHLBraden Holtby stopped 29 shots, Jason Chimera had a goal and assist and the Washington Capitals beat the struggling Montreal Canadiens 3-1.
Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, Backstrom Form Powerful TrioThe Capitals are thriving early thanks to the emergence of Evgeny Kuznetsov and the addition of T.J. Oshie, as well as the usual suspects.
Kuznetsov Leading Balanced Capitals EffortThe Capitals are riding a balanced effort during their hot start, but their 23-year-old star is leading the way.
Source: Kuznetsov Could Surpass Ovechkin as Capitals' Best PlayerThe Capitals are every bit as excited about Evgeny Kuznetsov's potential as their fans.
Capitals Call Kuznetsov 'Harry Potter' and 'Magic Man'Brooks Laich explained why the Capitals call 23-year-old Evgeny Kuznetsov "Harry Potter" and "Magic Man."
Capitals Avoid Arbitration, Re-Sign KuznetsovAfter a busy start to free agency, the Caps took care of their own, inking RFA center Evgeny Kuznetsov to a two-year, $6 million extension.
Listen to John Walton's Game 7-Winning Radio Call: 'Evgeny Means Necessary!'Listen to Capitals announcer John Walton's radio call of Evgeny Kuznetsov's Game 7-winning goal, an incredible moment for Capitals fans.


text:
Time until Thousand Arms release!
Already released in Japan [JP] on PlayStation
Thousand Arms
|Time left
|Japan [JP]
|North America [NA]
The game takes place on a "steampunk" type of world. The Dark Acolytes, a mysterious organization of cyborgs and robots, is trying to find the five legendary Sacred Flames, and bring chaos to the World in the process. Meis, a womanizing "Spirit Blacksmith" with the ability to make magical weapons, finds himself chosen to find the flames before the Dark Acolytes do. However, to increase the power of his weapons, Meis must have the help of a woman, and must increase his 'intimacy level' with her by going out on dates. Along his journey, he meets a colorful cast of characters, including girls to date and allies to join his party.


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|Crowbar - 'Symmetry In Black' (Century Media)
|CD Reviews
|Written by Darrel Sutton
|Monday, 26 May 2014 04:00
It's hard to believe that Crowbar have been going for 25 years. I vividly remember the first time I let the enormous, down-tuned riffs engulf me and to this day songs like 'The Only Factor' and 'Lack Of Tolerance' are, to me, the epitome of what heavy music really is. And, to a certain extent, not a lot has changed with the Crowbar sound over a quarter of a century. The personnel that have manned the ranks may have changed fairly constantly but the band's founder and mainstay Kirk Windstein has never wavered in his belief and vision for the band. There may have been his long-term membership of Down, which ran in parallel for 22 years and achieved more commercial success, and his more recent side project of Kingdom Of Sorrow but, if you were to cut Kirk open you'd find Crowbar tattooed right through the middle of him. Hence the reason that he has called time on his Down membership to concentrate his efforts on Crowbar.
The press release accompanying this album claims it sees the Crowbar sound moving forward and from the opening strains of 'Walk With Knowledge Wisely' it's very apparent that their sound has certainly evolved. Sure it's still extremely heavy but the overall feel of this record is one of great maturity. At times over recent albums Crowbar have been brutally heavy without really producing a consistent set of songs. The albums have certainly been no duffers, last album 'Sever The Wicked Hand' in particular paving the way for this record extremely well, but this record, particularly after repeated listens, certainly seem to be justifying Kirk's 100% devotion to the Crowbar cause. Whether it's the lumbering catharsis of 'Symmetry In White', complete with the cleanest vocals I've heard on a Crowbar record in ages, or the hardcore-tinged riffing of 'Symbolic Suicide' the levels seem to have been upped just that little bit more. With a truly tight-knit line-up firing on all cylinders the overall feeling of the record is of a band showing it's built to last for many years to come.
The riffs of Windstein and his muse of the fretboard Matt Brunson (who he also teamed up with for Kingdom Of Sorrow) are the foundation of the band but songs like 'The Taste Of Dying' or 'Shaman Of Belief' are much more than exercises in down-tuned excess. They are fucking great rock songs. And Crowbar, despite any preconceptions, are a fucking great rock band. Period.
To pick up your copy of 'Symmetry In Black' - CLICK HERE


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Tour - Reef Plus at Maroma Adventures
Riviera Maya
on Saturday, Jan 20, 2018 - 2 Adults, 0 Children
Enjoy a few hours of serenity surrounded by the breathtaking natural landscapes that make of Riviera Maya a destination not to be missed.
Admire a captivating mixture of the turquoise waters of the ocean and the blue sky as you indulge in a peaceful catamaran outing through the Caribbean sea. During this sailing tour, you will get the chance to see the world beneath the waves while snorkeling in two captivating coral reefs, and exhilarate with a thrilling spinnaker flight (weather permitting).
Your experience includes three hours and 30 minutes on the catamaran, 45 minutes in every reef, a delicious buffet meal accompanied with domestic open bar, roundtrip transportation, snacks, and bilingual guide.
3 h 30 min
Available on the following days
-Monday to Sunday from hotels in Playa Mujeres, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum
-The tour starts at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm
-Departing point for those coming from Cozumel: Playa del Carmen
-Buffet meal (salad bar, chicken fajitas, beef fajitas, fish, and pasta) accompanied with domestic open bar
-Bottled water and soft drinks on the catamaran
-Bilingual guide
-Local medical insurance
-Roundtrip transportation
-Snorkeling gear
Not Included
-Reef tax (USD $2)
-Lockers and key (with additional fee of USD $5, at the end of the tour USD $3 will be returned)
-Biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent
-Change of clothes
-Extra cash for tips (optional) and souvenirs
-Minimum age to participate: 6.
-Minors aged 6 to 9 pay the child rate.
-This tour is not suitable for pregnant women, or persons with recent surgeries, heart conditions, or back problems.
-Groups of 20 passengers are offered a boat for private trip.
-Maximum passenger capacity per shift: 350 (5 vessels with a capacity of 50 and one with a capacity of 100)
-For groups, the program may be modified according to customer needs.
Cancellation Policies
Full refund will apply in the following cases:
1. When the service is canceled by the supplier.
2. Due to illness, presenting a doctor's report.
3. The Cancellation or date change is made prior to 11:00 am the day before the service.
* These policies apply to personal reservations. For policies applied to groups, please contact your Groups executive.
No refunds will apply:
1. If the client does not show on the date and time of service.


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Candy Crush. So last night, my wife and I were playing Candy Crush on 3 different devices. Yes, it is a big part of our recreation life. Sad and funny. So which wretched company created this time-sucking game?
King Entertainment is publicly traded under the ticker symbol of KING (nice). Looking at their investor relations presentations here, you get a good summary. As with any IR website, remember this is what they tell their bosses – Wall Street analysts.
Monster revenues. These guys make a crazy amount of money. In Q1, $604MM with a 44% EBIDTA margin. With that run rate, they will make 2.4 billion in revenues with $1 billion in profits. What? Where does that money come from?
364 million monthly unique users (MUU). So that means globally, they have a population the size of the USA playing some form of game monthly. Amazing.
Where does the money come from? Clearly not all of those people pay money. The majority do not. It's a freemium model where they give the base game out for free, and those interested can buy more cheats, hacks, and power moves. Looks like about 8.5 million people pay to play, and that amount has been increasing to where it is now. . at $23.64 a month. 8.5 million people paying an average of $283 annually. Yikes.
Yeah, but isn't it a 1 hit wonder? If I were an investor, this would be my first question. Remember how Zynga was Farmville crazy, and then people tired of it. . . sending the stock crashing? Looks like KING is aware of that and addressing it head on. In the most recent quarter, 62% of their revenues were not Candy Crush.
Paying dividends. Unlike most young, fast-growth, tech companies, KING is paying out dividends to their shareholders like a stodgy utility. I guess they see their growth somewhat limited and would rather give money back to shareholders and buy back stock. Interesting because that is some financial savvy, and self-awareness in a tech start-up that I would imagine is rare and probably wise. More cynically, it is a good way for people with shares (founders, angels, and venture capitalists) to get their money out without noticeably "selling" their own shares.
Stock has not been great. Looking at the stock trend it has been going side-ways or down since the beginning. Nothing inspiring for a long-term investor here. Probably better to just stick with the game. Even $23 a month for the hardcore user is cheaper than losing money in the stock. Sugar Crush.
Related posts:


text:
The Beginnings of Our Country: The Story of America for Young Americans: Part One
1933 · Philadelphia/Chicago
by BURNHAM, Smith & Theodore H. Jack
Philadelphia/Chicago: Winston, 1933. Very Good. Very good minus hardcover. Text clean. Illustrated. Small stamp inside rear cover and on front endpaper. Corners on cover slightly rubbed and bent. Spine ends rubbed. Small writing in white ink on spine. Red cover. Please Note: This book has been transferred to Between the Covers from another database and might not be described to our usual standards. Please inquire for more detailed condition information. (Inventory #: 267418)


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OFFERED WITH NO ONWARD CHAIN is this four bedroom semi detached property located in a sought after location close to the amenities that Sedgefield has to offer. VIEWING HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. The property is warmed by gas central heating and benefits from upvc double glazing. Internally the layout comprises to the ground floor; entrance, lounge with bay window and well proportioned kitchen diner with integral appliances and sliding patio doors to rear garden. To the first floor are four bedrooms with the master enjoying en suite facilities. A modern family bathroom completes the living accommodation. Externally there are gardens to the front and rear, drive and garage. EPC Rating 'D'
Property Type:House - semi-detached
Property Status:For Sale
Call us


text: Thanks to all for the drain plug techniques. Fortunately, penetrating oil and driving around for a day (heat cycled) seemed to cure the frozen bolt. I only needed a foot long wrench to get the plug out. It also seemed that the "Huskey" socket will exercise its lifetime warranty. It has a fracture crack on the side that opens up under torque. Maybe preventing all the torque from getting to the plug yesterday. -Scott in BOSTON


text:
Literature Review Tutorial. January 31 st , 2014 CRM4304. Reminder… What is a literature review?. Analyzes a body of literature Organizes this body of literature by themes or categories
Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author.While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server.
January 31st, 2014
Source: Manuel des sciences sociales, Campenhoudt & Quivy
2 options
- Make a grid for each article where you insert the main ideas and number them so that you can refer to directly to your notes
- Make a grid for all your articles, present the main idea of each article and this will make it easier/quicker to organize your literature at the end.


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"Capricorn was a tall man, and gaunt, as if the skin had been stretched too tight over his bones"
Andy Serkis 2003 - Credit: Stefan Servos
Inkheart was made into a movie in 2009, which starred many famous actors including Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren and Paul Bettany. In the movie, Capricorn is played by Andy Serkis (left), who looks rather different to the above description- Serkis is most famous for playing Gollum in Lord of the Rings, but in reality he's a lot healthier looking than his on-screen counterpart. Perhaps the director didn't realise before he cast him?
You can watch the Inkheart trailer and decide what you think of his performance (and the movie in general) on the website.


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Ya uhhhhhh sorry
Evan was a normal middle school boy. He got picked on by the eighth graders and loved by his closest friends, Luke, Bryce, and Jonathan, who he has a crush on. Everything is normal, until a murder happens. The four friends become scared for their lives. Will they survive? Or will they be brutally murdered? You know what to do!
Cover by Me!
- allisonawesome
- brohm
- cute
- death
- gay
- h2odelirious
- h2odeliriousxvanossgaming
- h2ovanoss
- middleschool
- murder
- vanossgaming
- youtubers
KiraVengeance Sep 09, 2016
I got the time and this is coooool, thanks for giving me something to read and not get bored with homework! xD <3
primrosetc Dec 11, 2016
I have a bad feeling about that emoji face and why it's there.
KiraVengeance Sep 09, 2016
H2OVanoss AND murder? I needed this! 😂😂 Sadly, I don't have the time to read it now, but I'll do it as soon as I can!💕


text:
You know how I know I'm spoiled?
I downloaded the Be the One EP from Moby's website a few days ago and caught myself getting pissed because it was only three songs! I had to remind myself, "dude, it's FREE!!"
The ubiquity of Moby's breakout album, Play (just about every song was licensed to a TV show or commercial of some sort) is now over a decade behind us (and the fact that the album's still enjoyable after all of that speaks volumes about how good it is). If you were a fan of that album, you should be able to get into this EP, not to mention everything that he's recorded then and now-the man is nothing if not consistent.
This EP's a teaser for Moby's upcoming full-length studio album, Destroyed, which gets it's release sometime in May. The three songs on Be the One will also feature on Destroyed, according to Moby himself. You know, I'll ride a little extra for Moby, because unlike a lot of popular musicians, he actually seems to have a personality and some self awareness. Follow his tweets (@TheLittleIdiot) for proof.
Man, it's shaping up to be a pretty big spring for good music. Between this and Wendy & Lisa, it's also been a pretty good week for (legally) free music! Enjoy!


text:
In Washington, the cherry blossoms are blooming and at home our farmers are busy working the fields. Spring is officially here. I hope that as you enjoy the beautiful days ahead of you, that you take time to think about and thank the farmers who are working so hard to make sure that your family has safe, nutritious and affordable food.
The farmers in our District and State face daunting and unique challenges as they work to sustain quality, safety and profitability. Farmers are subject to every possible local and regional variable such as weather, taxation, regulation and fluctuating prices of goods and services, all while producing goods that are subject to global market pressures and competition. Agriculture has always been a vital part of America's economy and culture. While other industries have come and gone through the centuries, agriculture has remained at the heart of American life.
Agricultural goods were among the very first products to be 'Made in America'. And such goods remain a key component to our nation's trade strategy, with food and fibers leaving America every day bound for all parts of the globe. We must increase these exports by fighting for trade deals that give our farmers and producers access to world markets. American farmers and ranchers have the know-how and work ethic and ingenuity to feed and clothe, and perhaps someday, fuel the world. I will continue to work in Congress to see that their hard work and investments are rewarded with a fair chance to compete in the global marketplace. Our nation has a rich history of providing the world with high quality products, and our agricultural products lead the way. We are a nation founded on the hard work of growing and selling of goods, and we must keep that tradition alive.
One of the keys to continuing our nation's economic recovery is to fully utilize the skills and resources we have here. From soil to seed to sweat to good business sense and sound stewardship of the environment, agribusiness and agriculture do just that. Family farms are economic engines in small, rural communities, providing jobs and purchasing goods that make the rural way of life possible for us all. The best way to preserve our small communities and the rural way of life that so many of us cherish is to increase our exports and decrease barriers, imposed from Washington, to efficient production and foreign trade.
Growing and maintaining a safe and constant supply of food and fiber in America is a matter of national security. As we have learned in a very painful way with gas and oil prices, when a nation loses the ability to produce the key elements for sustaining life and economic growth, it becomes subject to the whims of dictators, the goodwill of cartels and the mercy of other nations whose interest are not our own. We must work to insure that we are never so dependent on foreign powers for our food and clothing as we have become for our energy needs. Farmers and ranchers are all that prevent that from happening.
Agriculture also helps make possible the implementation of another American value: Charity. Be it Haiti, Japan, Ethiopia or Afghanistan, when nutritional relief arrives to help sustain those afflicted by tragedy, war or disease, it is often the products grown in America that arrive by truck convoy and airlift to keep the less fortunate of the world alive until situations in their countries stabilize. It is through the production capacity and strength of the agribusiness sector that America is able to project goodness and charity around the globe.
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I believe government should limit the restrictions placed on businesses which hire people, pay taxes and churn dollars through local economies, and farms and ranches certainly fall into that category. And I will make this case in the coming year as the 2012 Farm Bill is taken under consideration. Every four years, Congress sets the guidelines that will govern and regulate the agriculture industry, and I'm doing all I can to make sure our local farmers have a voice in this process. I'm continuing to meet with farmers and ranchers throughout the district, and hear the many ways in which policies are both helping and hurting business. Just as with any small business, too much government intervention adds increased burdens and requirements that many smaller farms and smaller businesses can't overcome. We need to get government off the backs of people who are creating jobs and providing the food for our tables, and remember who America's first environmentalists were--our farmers.
And finally, on a local note, in the coming weeks, farmers markets and produce stands will begin to open across the district, offering fresh, locally grown goods. If you get the chance, stop in, shop a bit and take the opportunity to visit with the local agriculture producers and vendors in your area. It is a wonderful opportunity to share with your children and grandchildren the lesson of where our food comes from and meet the everyday heroes who keep our food supply bountiful. I hope to see you there.
Source: http://kissell.house.gov/2011/03/this-week-in-washington-103.shtml


text:
Dorothy Duder North Hollywood, California
- Yield
- Serves 4
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1/2 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
- 10 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 teaspoons onion-herb seasoning mix (such as Mrs. Dash)
- 1 tablespoon oriental sesame oil
- 3 large bay leaves
- Cooked white rice
- Whisk vinegar, chicken broth, garlic, soy sauce and pepper in small bowl to blend. Season chicken breast halves on both sides with seasoning mix. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sautéuntil golden, about 4 minutes per side. Pour vinegar mixture over chicken. Add bay leaves. Reduce heat to low, cover skillet and simmer until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer chicken to plate. Boil pan juices 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt. Spoon over chicken, discarding bay leaves. Serve with rice.
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories173
- Carbohydrates6 g(2%)
- Fat6 g(9%)
- Protein22 g(44%)
- Saturated Fat1 g(5%)
- Sodium601 mg(25%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat2 g
- Fiber1 g(2%)
- Monounsaturated Fat2 g
- Cholesterol64 mg(21%)


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In this Geo-Jargon Monday,we'd like to tell you what "TOTT"is.
TOTT is…
Tools of the trade. This generally indicates that some type of tool or instrument may be required to retrieve or gain access to a cache. The nature of the tool is usually not specified,but there may be hints within the cache page. It could be an actual tool,such as a screwdriver,or something as simple as a long stick to retrieve a cache from a high perch.
Thanks to Prime Suspect and his GeoLex,the Lexicon for Geocaching,for the use of these fantastic definitions of all things geocaching!
Got your own tip? Comment on this post to share!


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Female rapper Diamond, formerly of the group Crime Mob, signed a multilayer solo deal with Warner Bros. Records recently, in which they plan to invest in the rapper as an artist and brand, via various endorsements, as well as TV and film opportunities.
"I'm so excited about my new solo deal with Warner -- it's been a long time coming," Diamond said of the venture. "It's important for me to give my fans the Diamond they already know, but to also give them something new from me. I hope to work with a few of my favorite people in the industry, from Timbaland to T-Pain on my new album, so there's definitely going to be a few surprises in store."
"Diamond is an incredible talent," added Kevin Black, Head of Urban Music at Warner Bros. "She has what it takes to succeed not just in the rap game, but all areas of the entertainment business."
The Atlanta native became a member of the group Crime Mob in 2003, and the following year the group signed to Crunk Incorporated. Their self-titled debut album featured the hit single "Knuck If You Buck." The follow-up came in 2006, titled Hated On Mostly, which spawned the smash "Rock Yo Hips."
Last year, Diamond left the group to seek a solo career.
Since then, in Spring 2008, Fila featured Diamond in their new ad campaign -- How Do You FILA -- which was included in several national magazines including XXL, Blender, and Giant.
Her as-yet-titled solo debut is expected to drop in 2009.


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John Mearsheimer appears in special broadcast of Empire on AJE
John Mearsheimer appears in special broadcast of Empire on AJE
Scroll down to link for Dutch documentary which includes interview with Mearsheimer in English at http://tinyurl.com/mearsheimer
Who does he think he is fooling?
Palestinian child pays price of Israel's siege
Full version: Born in Gaza:
US support of Israel's brutal oppression of the Palestinians PRIMARY MOTIVATION for tragic attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 and earlier 1993 WTC attack (simply look up 'Israel as a terrorist's motivation' in index of James Bamford's 'A Pretext for War' book as well):
What Motivated the 9/11 Hijackers? See testimony most didn't:
Purpose of the 9/11 Attacks:
Read the Los Angeles Times article referenced near the beginning of following URL:


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Healthy Meeting Essentials
Meeting attendees tend to indulge more and move less when they are away from home and their normal routines. These tendencies are not good for them, or your meeting. Sluggish meeting attendees are not attentive, participatory meeting attendees.
Creating a culture of health and wellness in meetings and conferences is an important way to help people eat well and be physically active, foster healthier work environments, and cultivate social norms around healthier choices and behaviors.
With advice from Angela Amico, from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, along with their actionable toolkit and savvy infographic, you will be well on your way to healthier meetings with attention to easy and sustainable changes to your existing meeting format.
Join us to discover:
- The rationale for a healthier meeting
- Specific recommendations and guidelines for improvement
- How to best work with your CVB, hotels and venues for results that matter


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|Professional Automotive Repair Technical Discussions for April 18, 2008
International Automotive Technicians' Network (iATN) - Members Only
|(Also Available: All, Asian, Chrysler, European, Ford, GM.)
|Vehicle Owners: If you are seeking an automotive repair professional to service your vehicle, visit the iATN Repair Shop Finder.
Open Help Requests for European
|Help Request
|1998 Audi A6 2.8L no tiptronic or 5th VIN: AUD27543F8
THis is the same problematic Audi with no communications at ALDL connector. Had a bad ABS module, replaced and fixed ABS although still no communications. At the preliminary advice of other members, I started checking fuses, found one (#13 I think) that was fr...
|2002 Audi A4 3.0L Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: WAULT68E92
I have an intermittent misfire on #4. I swapped coils and plugs, miss still on #4. I have spark and noid light. It seems like it has to sit for 20-30 minutes before it acts up and only lasts for 30-45 seconds. I also hear slight valve noise. I am thinking lift... Trouble codes: P0300, P0304
|2002 Audi A4 1.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: WAULC68E02
Hi all. This was handed to me. Shop took car to install used engine, customers family are regulars. Aquired a used genuine 02 A4 Quattro 1.8 turbo from local salvage (So they promised) and in it went. Would start, but VERY hard to start. found code for CAM SEN... Trouble codes: P1530, 17700 (MAP controlled engine thermostat circuit open)
|1996 Mercedes-Benz SL320 3.2L wipers, turn signals VIN: WDBFA63F3T
vehicle came in the shop for body repairs. customer says this condition happened all about the same time. he told me when it started he could use the left turn signal but not the right. and then no signals at all. wipers are inop. washers work. defrost light i...
|1997 Mercedes-Benz E420 4.2L No Start VIN: WDBJF72F1V
no start, no power to fuel pump. I do not have a 5v (red/grn wire) signal at the fuel pump relay in the relay module with key on or cranking. If I manualy close close the relay coil I can get the car to start. I'm looking to see where to go next as I don't hav...
|2002 Mercedes-Benz C240 2.6L coolant level indicator VIN: WDBRF61J02
Hi everyone This vehicle came in with the multifunction indicator showing that the coolant level and windshiel washer level low. We replaced both sensors and it still is showing that both levels are low. Do I need to reset the sensor circtuit with a scanner or...
|1994 Mini Cooper 1.3L Poor Idle Quality VIN: XNNAYNBD09
There isn't a lot of information on this import. The idle is hanging at 1300 RPM with the throttle closed. There appears to be excessive fuel dripping from the injector/throttle body. The TPS is showing a linear resistance starting at 2.1K. There doesn't appea...
|2000 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, MIL Lamp on VIN: YS3EF48Z5Y
hello all, this slaab came into us with a coolant leak from the headgaskets. prior to repair, no MIL light, no driveability issue. Customer gave us the go ahead, to repair the headgaskets. went throught the repair with out too much hassle. standard headgasket ... Trouble codes: P1300
|2003 Saab 9-3 Linear 2.0L 2-3 VIN: YS3FB49S63
While test driving vehicle after the repair I found that it has the common problem of a 2-3 shift flare. I connected the Tech2 and retrieved the TCM software information, this is where I need help. The Tech2 will not read the vin #. When I go into SPS I cannot...
|1999 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8L right front door lock VIN: WVWAA63B8X
Have a 1999 Passat here orginally had power windows not worknig and right front power lock not working (power only, works manualy. Found & repaired the broken wires (was alot of water on floor) to the CCM (comfort control) module under drivers seat and that fi...
|2002 Volkswagen Golf GL 1.9L Cuts out, MIL Lamp on VIN: 9BWGP61J11
This car will intermitently lose throttle control and the check engine light will come on with code 16610 (p0226).We replaced the computer for ecm codes coming back and that seems to be fixed but we still have this problem with the throttle cutting out and cod... Trouble codes: 16610 (p0226 Throttle position sensor -c- circuit range/performance), 16989 (p0605 Internal control module ROM test error)
|2004 Volkswagen Golf GLS TDI 1.9L belt tensioner VIN: 9BWGR61J14
At idle you can see the tensioner bounce wildly and a slight rattle can be heard inside the car. When letting out the clutch from a stop the noise inside the car is very pronounced. There is no noise once the car is underway. We installed a new belt and tensio...
|2004 Volvo XC90 2.5T 2.5L Cluster/SRS VIN: YV1CZ59H54
We have a 2004 Volvo XC90. The complaint from the customer was that when she slowed and went over a speed bump, all the instruments stoped working and the engine stalled. The vehicle restarted right away, all the insruments worked but the CEL light and SRS lig...
Fixes & Summaries for European
|1996 Audi A6 2.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: WAUJA84A6T
I haven't had the car back into the shop yet to follow the tips that I received. The replies consisted of advice to remove the intake manifold and then separate the throttle body from it and clean all the passages associated with EGR flow, paying special atten... Trouble codes: P0441 (Insufficient EGR flow.).
|2004 Audi A4 Quattro 1.8L Trunk Release switch VIN: WAULC68E84
Thank You Antonio, The car was in valet Mode, I did not see any indication that it was valet mode. The trunk key Lock cylinder needs to be in the horizontal position for the switch on the door to work. Thank you again, I just glad I didnt spend a lot of time...
|1986 BMW 325e 2.7L ride control VIN: VBAAB6408G
thank you to all that replied. the final fix on this was; i took driveshaft out for the third time. on the final repair i used a bmw factory center support mount, had the driveshaft re-balanced by another co. the little bimmmer is smooth as silk...sweet. thank...
|1996 BMW 740iL 4.4L Defrost Ducts VIN: WBAGJ832XT
I am writing to thank the men who took the time to offer their help or lack of help. Perhaps the way that i asked my questions at first impacted how it is that those people who only know how to use thousand dollars tools - replied back - use thousand dollar t...
|2003 Jaguar S-Type 4.2L MIL Lamp on VIN: SAJGAQ3V63
Considering infomation I received there is a lot of vacuum leaking problems with these engines causing P0171 and P0174 codes. I my case I checked every possible vacuum leakage source. No leakage found. Considering code will be set just because adaptations va... Trouble codes: P0171 (lean - bank 1), P0174 (lean - bank 2).
|1995 Land Rover Discovery 3.9L ABS warning light VIN: SALJY1288S
Well friends this Rover is fixed; I had to stop and think,howcome my tech was able to read code 2-14 and after replacing the left speed sensor I could not get the warning light to flash a code ? what went wrong? It turns out that my jumper cable from my new So...
|1993 Mercedes-Benz 500E 5.0L MIL Lamp on VIN: WDBEA36E0P
Thanks to all that responded. I searched for the diagnostic module under the dash but this car does not have one. I disassembled the control unit box and looked for corroded wires there since there was moisture in it when I first opened it. Everything was ok. ...
|2001 Mercedes-Benz C240 2.6L battery VIN: WDBRF61JO1
thanks all for your great help...i did replace the modules an vuala problem gone... thank you.. ill be helping as many as i can..
|2002 Volkswagen Passat GLS 1.8L MIL Lamp on VIN: WVWPD63B12
Thank You all that replied. Ray and Syed had it. Keep it simple stupid. I had already been checking for shorts, fuse was blowing only on drive and only after a few minutes. It couldnt be just a grounded wire. While in deep thought staring at engine I saw a wir... Trouble codes: P2400, P2401, P0445, P0245, P0037, P0418.
|2003 Volkswagen GTI 1.8L Charging
After checking all my resources including IATN,we ended up replacing the alt with a 110 amp bosh unit.Ran the car for 30 minutes and it charge with 14 volts 40 amps at idle. Old alt had a 90 amp rating but according to vin it should have a 110 amp alt.I still ...
|2005 Volkswagen Touareg 3.2L Poor Idle Quality, Hesitation, Cuts out, Misfire, MIL Lamp on VIN: WVGBG77L95
Hello everyone, The first reply from Jeff was the correct answer. I searched my information system for codes, and did not have any referral to any TSB.(Mitchell) So, I have learned that I must search thru all the TSB's for driveability, to find the one fo... Trouble codes: 16555 (Fuel Trim Bank 1 Lean), 16558 (Fuel Trim Bank 2 Lean), 16684 (Multiple Misfire detected), 16685 (up thru 16690 cylinder misfire).
|2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI 1.9L MIL Lamp on, NO POWER VIN: WVWSR61J25
first of all thanks to everybody that took their time to reply, got some very good suggestions. finally installed brand new manifold/turbo assembly, that came with the vane position sensor. reset codes and car drives good now. I'm assuming that the use on biod... Trouble codes: 16512 (valve coolant circuit n21a temp. below control limit), 16618 (turbo pressure control limit exeeded p0234 intermittent).


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No. 3 Buckeyes punch ticket to Big Ten title game vs. No. 13 MSU
Urban Meyer knows how difficult it is to avoid upsets in college football.
To do it for two years in a row is almost unbelievable.
"Every once in a while I'll take a peek at the scoreboard and think, `Ooh. What happened there?"' the Ohio State coach said after the third-ranked Buckeyes rolled over Indiana 42-14 on Saturday. "For this team to (win) 23 times in a row, that's an incredible testimony to the players and coaches."
Braxton Miller ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns and passed for two more as the Buckeyes set a school record for consecutive wins. Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida, refused to measure his current team against his title-winning squads with the Gators.
"If you're asking me to compare, I don't know if you can," he said. "I'd have to go back and really, really think about it. I know this team is playing at a very, very high level. They're focused each week. That's our job to maintain focus again this week."
In the waning moments, the remnants of a crowd of 104,990 loudly sang, "We don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan." The Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) close out the regular season at The Big House next Saturday against their archrivals.
"I can't wait," said Carlos Hyde, who had 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns while becoming the first running back to top 1,000 yards in Meyer's 12 years as a head coach. "It's a big game. One of the biggest rivalries in college football."
Saturday's game was played at times in swirling clouds of snow with temperatures in the 20s. It was all but over at halftime after Ohio State built a 28-0 lead.
The victory put the Buckeyes in the conference championship game on Dec. 7 against Michigan State.
Ohio State's defense – led by linebacker Ryan Shazier's 20 tackles – throttled the Hoosiers (4-7, 2-5), who came in averaging 39 points.
Miller completed 11 of 17 passes for 160 yards with one interception, hitting Dontre Wilson and Devin Smith on second-half scoring passes of 24 and 39 yards, respectively. He was still in the game early in the fourth quarter, and his long pass to Smith made it 42-0 as the Buckeyes tried to grab the attention of BCS poll voters with a landslide margin.
"It's just striving for the best," Miller said. "We ended the season 12-0 last year and we weren't able to play in a bowl game or the Big Ten championship game (because of NCAA sanctions). That's what we were striving for. (We want to) accomplish that and keep going forward, keep winning games and just make Ohio State proud."
It was one rough day for the Hoosiers. Kicker Mitch Ewald came in a perfect 8 for 8 on field goals, but his 42-yard attempt in the second quarter clanked off the right upright and a 36-yard try in the third quarter did the same thing off the left upright.
The Hoosiers' points came on Nate Sudfeld's 4-yard pass to Shane Wynn and 25-yard pass to D'Angelo Roberts in the final 6 minutes.
"We put up a lot of yards today," said Sudfeld, who completed 25 of 41 passes for 224 yards. "But we weren't able to finish. I don't know why."
After scoring at least 28 points in 10 consecutive games, the Hoosiers have managed just 17 points in consecutive losses to Wisconsin (51-3) and the Buckeyes. They finished with 442 yards to 471 for the Buckeyes, but were outrushed 311-122.
"The stats look a little close except the scoreboard," Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said. "And that's the one that counts."
The Buckeyes inflicted enough damage in the first half to reserve a spot in the Big Ten title game.
On their third snap from center, Miller found a gaping hole on a draw and picked up 41 yards. Hyde then sidestepped a tackler at the line of scrimmage and thundered in on a 16-yard run.
Miller got his first scoring run of the day when he scampered through another huge hole and then vaulted into the end zone at the right post for a 37-yard TD.
Bradley Roby's blocked punt led to Miller's 5-yard TD run – he was upended by cornerback Tim Bennett, placing the ball's nose on the goal line as he came crashing down on his head.
He wasn't hurt.
"Everybody asked me on the sideline when I came off," he said with a laugh. "But I'm good. I'm fine."
The Buckeyes snapped a tie for the school record with the 1967-69 Ohio State teams, which also won 22 in a row. That streak ended with a painful loss at Michigan – a defeat that touched off the famous "Ten-Year War" between Woody Hayes and his former assistant and nemesis, Bo Schembechler.
Meyer will undoubtedly remind his team of that defeat in the coming days.
"(Athletic director) Gene Smith came down to present our players with the game ball for having the longest winning streak in Ohio State history," Meyer said. "We kind of avoided that thing like a team going through a no-hitter. Now that we have it, we've talked about it, and it's over.
"And we can move on to rivalry week."


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Defending champion Chile defeated Germany 2-1 yesterday to top its group and advance to the final of the World Team Cup. Chile will next face Argentina or Australia, and will be looking to become the first back-to-back champions since the United States in 1984-85. Nicolas Massu was stretched by Rainer Schuettler, taking 2 hours, 19 minutes to claim a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory. Fernando Gonzales then secured Chile's place in the final with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win over Tommy Haas. Germany won the doubles, as Haas and Schuettler beat Adrian Garcia and Nicolas Massu 7-5, 6-2. Schuettler, the 2003 Australian Open runner-up, was placed under pressure by two early breaks. The first set was decided when he dropped his serve in the third game, and he was broken again in the opening game of the final set. The German also had to fight off a break point at the start of the second set, but he went on to win Massu's serve to love at 5-4 to take the match into a decider. Haas had the opportunity to turn around his match against Gonzalez in the second set when he held a set point at 5-4, but Gonzalez denied him with an ace. In the other Red Group match, the Czech Republic battered Spain 3-0, winning all three matches in a total of 2 hours, 50 minutes. Jiri Novak topped Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (3), 6-1, with Lopez winning only four points in the last six games. Radek Stepanek dominated Albert Costa 6-4, 6-3, with the Spaniard's only break point coming as Stepanek served for the match at 5-2. The doubles lasted just 35 minutes as Novak and Stepanek overwhelmed Galo Blanco and Alex Corretja 6-0, 6-1, with Novak heading the ball over the net to win match point. Australia and Argentina meet in the deciding Blue Group match on Friday. The final is on Saturday. (AP)
Topics : Tennis
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Bill Golden
RE/MAX Metro Atlanta Cityside
Mailing Address 1189 S. Ponce de Leon Ave NE Ste A
Atlanta, GA 30306
Office Phone (404) 371-4419
About me...
I am a seasoned Realtor, and have been selling real estate in the Atlanta area for over 30 years. Consistently a top producer, I specialize in representing both buyers and sellers in the in town neighborhoods. My business is based on referrals, so I pride myself in doing the very best job for each and every client.
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All rights reserved. US Reg. Copyright TX-5-910-991, TX-5-910-992, TX-5-910-993, and TX-5-910-994.
Each RE/MAX® Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.


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- Published: 12 December 2010
- Hits: 5429
In Eph. 1:13 is mentioned the gospel of our salvation. Paul had been preaching this gospel from a house in Rome, chained to a soldier. The Ephesians had heard of this gospel and believed. Hence the saints and faithful mentioned in verse 1.
Again in 2:5, the apostle adds a parenthesis, By grace are ye saved. Then in 2:8 the find, For by grace are ye saved through faith.
What is this salvation? Is it salvation from something? Or is it a salvation to something? Is it the obtaining of everlasting life? We hesitate to write on the subject of salvation because so few have any idea of what it really means.
In 2:1 we have a wondrous truth which has been obscured by the translators. The words in italics have been added to fill what was left out. It is a figure called ellipsis. It should read, And you hath He filled, who were dead to trespasses and sins. The word filled is used in the verse before. So it is a blessed truth that our reckoning ourselves indeed dead to sins can make way for the infilling of the fulness of God, Christ being the Filler. This is a part of the great salvation.
Then dropping down to verse 5, we see these words repeated, Even when we were dead to sins. What then? Quickened ...raised...seated.
But there is much more. All through this there is a wonderful identification with Christ. We are quickened together with Him. We are raised together with Him. We are made to sit together with Him. This is true togetherness. And it is made possible by our having died with Him to trespasses and sins.
Our great salvation then has to do with a baptism or identification with Christ. This is the one baptism (Eph 4:5 ). This salvation is far beyond the partaking of the divine nature and having everlasting or age-abiding life. It takes us right into the holy of holies at the right hand of God.
All too often the quickening, as a present experience, is left out or neglected. Many preach; Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ coming again. These are very important, but some momentous events have been left out. Christ ascended! It is the ascended Christ who has spoken to us in these days through His servant, Paul. And it is with the ascended Christ that we are quickened together.
The quickening makes it possible for us to live in newness of life. We are to reckon ourselves as dead, but also living unto God. Dead to the world and to sins, and living to and for God. The quickening makes it possible for Christ to live in us and to work thru us. This makes for the good works.
It is blessedly true that this great salvation has delivered us out of the authority of darkness and has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. But we cannot stop there. There is much more.
We have not mentioned all that God is doing for those who have died to sins. There is a goal. It is found in verse 7, That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. But in all of it, remember the refrain, By grace are ye saved.


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|( 26 upvotes )
|I'll show you tough! I once had a rejected Motifake and went on about my business. (Well, maybe a tear or two, but that was it.)
|mah bros. . .
|( 20 upvotes )
|( 23 upvotes )
|LOL. True. Good Job, man.
|To distracted to see the stampede?
|To distracted to see the stampede?
|( 16 upvotes )
|bb mtn 2? I cant wait! I made my teen ager son watch it with me and I pointed at all the b*** sh**s.. No pun intended.
|he must be auditioning for broke back mountain 2. (I'm so going to get killed for that)
making chuck norris invalid
|The gun is icing.
|( 18 upvotes )
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