text: rating: 2.5The first screenplay by Ethan and Joel Coen that they haven't directed in almost three decades - since they co-wrote Crimewave with Sam Raimi and let him helm it - Gambit puts paid to the notion that only the Coen Brothers can direct a Coen Brothers script. Still, that's not to excuse the pair for what is evidently a lukewarm remake of the 1966 Michael Caine-starring con caper, doing its charming cast a huge disservice, entirely a consequence of a script that reads like a first draft, alongside a director who doesn't seem to know what to do with it. Colin Firth plays a foppish British art curator named Harry Deane, who decides to exact revenge on his churlish boss, Lord Lionel Shabandar (Alan Rickman), by tricking him into buying a fake Monet painting, with the help of an effervescent if slightly unpredictable Texan rodeo Queen, PJ Puznowski (Cameron Diaz). While director Michael Hoffman (The Last Station) certainly gets at something by playing off Diaz's Southern, good 'ol gal against Firth and Rickman's decidedly more dour, quintessentially British prigs, he's also too keen to coast on the laurels of his cast - inexorably short-changed as they are - and can do little but battle uphill against the Coens' aggressively mediocre script. Granted, there are a few nice flourishes - namely a brief sequence in which monkeys ride dogs, for no apparent reason - but the real reason to see it, if there is any, is the cast. Firth always fills out a suit nicely, and that small subset of people gagging to see Alan Rickman in the near-buff will have their day, but it's the hilariously-accented Diaz who, despite being almost mute for the first quarter of the film, gets the chance to damn-near run away with the film. Meanwhile in supporting roles, Tom Courtenay has a few inspired moments as Firth's velvet-voiced conman-in-arms, and Stanley Tucci is laudably over-the-top as a German art curator. In the end, it turns out that the biggest scenery-chewers - we're looking at Diaz and Tucci especially - are the ones who seem the most aware that what they're making really isn't very good. Above all else, it seems like the actors are having a good time, even if the feeling doesn't quite transpire through to the audience. The Coens' scattershot script, low on both charm and energy, is the most problematic element, giving the talented trio of leads very little to work with. It is as though in trying to stay reverent to the original film's screwball roots, the Coens have attempted to mine the well-plumbed depths of the genre's lore, coming up with countless situations in which Firth is summarily humiliated, usually relating to his clothes being despoiled in one way or another. Otherwise, it's an uninspired slew of rampant animals (a lion shows up, because why not?), dick jokes, race gags, and farts; indeed, The Ladykillers' vibe is alive and well here, then. Also, the vague whiff of romance shoe-horned into the final reel doesn't work at all, though at least it doesn't go the full, sickening whack. The problem is simply that we don't care; the muddled narrative keeps the viewer plenty busy trying to make head or tail of it all, while the characters aren't in the least bit developed beyond breezy caricature. At the end of the day, though, we need little more proof as to Gambit's quality than the simple fact that the Coen Brothers chose to pawn their script off on another director rather than film it themselves. Sure, it provides a few light laughs and is inoffensive enough, largely owing to its merciful runtime - scarcely touching 80 minutes without the bookending credits sequences - but a film with such a game cast and keen swagger should bite much, much harder than this. Gambit is released in UK cinemas October 21st.


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17 Jul Paints for wood: development and innovation
Sivam paint products for wood have reached high levels of performance and aesthetics which are a determining factor in helping exports abroad.
The paint product is the outward appearance or skin of the furniture, protecting it and giving it those aesthetic and protective qualities that ensure the manufactured product will enjoy a long and useful life.
The most commonly used product technologies in the woodworking sector are still today based on polyurethane and undergo continuous improvements to reduce toxicity.
There are in fact formulations that are free from aromatic compounds and there are developments to further reduce the content of organic substances, i.e. raising the solid content while maintaining the aesthetic quality.
Over the past ten years the SIVAM Research and Development laboratories have improved and developed the following technologies.
- Transparent and pigmented polyester primers with a high solid content. New polyester resins in acrylic monomer have been developed in these formulations to eliminate the presence of styrene. As well as ensuring a higher solid content, these products guarantee the absence of residual emissions from styrene, a requirement of some countries such as the USA and Japan.
- Aromatic-free polyurethane primers and top coats; the elimination of aromatic compounds significantly reduces the danger for operatives.
- High performance mono and bicomponent water-based paints. Developments in these technologies are considerable and allow us to offer water-based products with aesthetic and performance levels that are similar to, and in some cases even better than, solvent-based polyurethanes. Research into new polymers and our formulative capacity today allow us to offer bicomponent lacquer finishes for the kitchen manufacturing sector. In this sector, where the painted product is subjected to considerable chemical-physical stress, there is in fact a reference Standard, UNI 11216, which establishes the minimum requirements for the painted surfaces and the new bicomponent water-based products now amply conform to these requirements.
- The special effects developed have a high material component in the various types of products, cement, rust, copper, velvet, rubber, dewy, velvet, shimmering, iridescent, anodized, ceramic and slate. Some effects have been formulated starting with water-based polymers, thereby helping to reduce the emission of organic substances into the atmosphere. With regard to these products we cannot speak of technological innovation, but these are instead new aesthetic proposals to offer to artisan and industrial furniture manufacturers. This is a sector in which supports other than wood are being increasingly developed.
- A further line of study concerns the formulation of polymers and paints from renewable sources to cut down the environmental impact at global level. The results so far achieved are positive but they are not yet feasible on an industrial scale. I believe there will be some interesting developments in terms of product development and sales results.

subset: commoncrawl


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Why Foreign Policy Should be a Millennial Priority
Polls show younger Americans are wary of U.S. intervention in overseas matters, preferring a focus on domestic policy. They need to hear why our role matters and why choosing between domestic and foreign priorities is a false choice.
A friend of mine, in his twenties, recently moved to northern Europe for a job opportunity. Shortly after his move, he couldn't help but gush about the wonders of Europe as compared to his experience growing up in the United States. He marveled at the efficiency and ubiquity of the public transportation options, the universal health care, the "free" college education provided to many citizens, and the constrained foreign policies of his new home.
Many of our differences of opinion simply wouldn't have been resolved through friendly conversation. But I felt compelled as much by patriotism as by logic to press him on one matter: would any of those things that he so admired been possible without American leadership?
After all, without American intervention in the Second World War, without the billions of dollars of aid provided through the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe and restore its economic footing at the war's conclusion, and without America acting as the guarantor of European security in the decades that followed, European capitals may not have had the inclination — much less the resources — to foster what he saw as a thoroughly modern society.
He conceded the point, but it was clear that he hadn't thought of it that way, or if he had, that perceptions of American failure were more at the forefront of his mind than were the countervailing facts about all the good that has come from American involvement in world affairs.
Foreign policy is not a millennial priority
He's not alone: many younger Americans don't appear to appreciate the vital role that American leadership has played — and continues to play —in the international system. Or if they do, they fail to see how it relates to them.
In what has become an oft-quoted, though still illuminating, statistic, nearly half of all American millennials told the Chicago Council that the United States should "stay out" of world affairs in 2014, more than any other generational cohort.
They tend to score lower on measures of patriotism, hold a rosier perception of global security threats than their older counterparts, and seem less confident that American involvement would help ameliorate international crises. On the surface, many young people seem to view America as a source of the world's problems rather than as a driving force behind solutions.
Many younger Americans don't appear to appreciate the vital role that American leadership has played — and continues to play —in the international system. Or if they do, they fail to see how it relates to them.
It would be easy to dismiss these attitudes as a reflection of the so-called "selfie" generation, a group that has been characterized as being more self-involved and less engaged with the world around them than any that preceded them. But the reality is more nuanced.
Millennials that went to college are three times more likely to have studied abroad than the generation before them, and as the first generation to grow up with the Internet, their access to ideas and people across the world is simply unprecedented. As America's most diverse demographic group, many millennials are exposed to a wide variety of international viewpoints right at home. But if young Americans are aware of the world around them, why do they fail to see all of the benefits of their country's international involvement?
Part of the answer is that young Americans simply don't view foreign policy as a top priority for Washington. According to a 2015 Pew poll, the educational system, the economy, and better access to employment all rank as higher priorities than combatting terrorism to Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, and reducing the deficit, addressing the "moral breakdown of society," and improving race relations all rank higher than the need to strengthen the military.
These leanings help explain the runaway popularity of candidates like Bernie Sanders with young Democrats and Donald Trump with their Republican counterparts. Millennials recognize work that needs to be done at home, and appear to prioritize that over involvement in foreign affairs.
Choosing between domestic policy concerns and engagement in foreign affairs is, of course, a false choice. America's foreign affairs budget represents less than one percent of the federal budget; trade agreements add to the homeland's prosperity as much as they do those of foreign lands; and defense spending is at a lower level, as a percentage of GDP, than at any time since the Second World War. Our involvement in foreign affairs is affordable and pays dividends.
Choosing between domestic policy concerns and engagement in foreign affairs is, of course, a false choice. … Our involvement in foreign affairs is affordable and pays dividends.
Cooperation over confrontation
Even if they don't view it as a priority, millennials do, in fact, appear to understand the importance of foreign aid and trade. Surveys show that they are far less critical of free trade agreements than more senior Americans, and that they are broadly supportive of missions that provide humanitarian assistance. Their instincts in this respect are spot on: When it comes to foreign aid, our investments continually pay off. To cite just two examples, the $12 billion investment in Europe through the Marshall Plan helped establish a market with which America now exchanges more than $1.5 trillion in goods each year, and aid provided to South Korea following the Korean War had a similarly striking impact.
This same appreciation does not, however, extend to American engagement in the international security sphere. Poll after poll shows that millennials prefer cooperation to confrontation, that they prefer restraint to intervention, and that they believe that diplomacy is a better tool to ensure peace than is a strong military.
They seem to disapprove of what they see as unilateral military interventions, as if these do not occur only after other tools of national power fail, and only when vital national security interests are at stake.
No supporter of American international engagement would dispute the importance of trade, of foreign aid, or of diplomacy. But the fact of the matter is that without a strong military, America's leverage in these realms decreases.
Without America's protection of the high seas, for example, the flow of trade would be far less reliable. Without a capable and forward-deployed military, provision of aid during America's recent disaster relief missions would have been far more difficult. And without a strong military, diplomatic negotiations become less credible. The linkages between these aspects of American engagement are a key perception gap that needs to be filled.
Millennials also need to hear just why engagement in foreign affairs should remain a top priority of the federal government. The fact that America's leadership role in international affairs allows it to influence the rules of international trade and to stand up for the world's most vulnerable populations in the face of natural disasters and human rights abuses will naturally appeal to young Americans.
But they also need to hear, in clear and accessible terms, why American engagement is a good investment in national security: it allows America to address crises far from America's borders, and prevents the creation of power vacuums that, if neglected, may necessitate a much stronger and more difficult response down the road.
Millennials need to hear why American engagement is a good investment in national security: it allows America to address crises far from America's borders, and prevents the creation of power vacuums that, if neglected, may necessitate a much stronger and more difficult response down the road.
Which brings me back to my visit to Europe. I asked my friend what people in his host country thought about Russia's increased assertiveness, about the waves of refugees now pouring into Europe, or about the potential that the United Kingdom might leave the European Union.
His answer? "They hope that the problem will just go away."
It's an answer that you might get if you asked Americans about some of the problems facing our nation. America, though, cannot actually ignore international problems. Our role in the international system is too vital; too irreplaceable. The prosperity, security, and freedom of the American people as well as countless others are tied up with America's continued engagement in the world.
I pressed him again: "Without America, could Europe actually ignore these issues? Would it be in America's interests to just let international issues unfold without its input?"
"Of course not," he said. And he was exactly right.


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Dennis entered the industry in 1988 as the first service engineer for Stereolithography technology. He has been involved in servicing Additive Manufacturing (AM) equipment for his entire career and formerly owned and operated National RP Support until its acquisition by 3D Systems in 2011.


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With Kayah and Kayin states mostly off-limits to tourists, it's the large Shan State (a good deal of which is itself closed) that epitomizes the appeal of the hilly east of the country. A day-trip on Inle Lake, visiting stilt villages and colourful markets, is top of the list, although for many travellers the trekking opportunities around Kalaw are equally appealing. Fewer visitors make it to Kengtung, but it has its own isolated charm and offers the chance to trek to villages where traditional animist beliefs still hold sway.
When it got too hot in the lowlands for the British during the colonial era, they retreated to hill stations like KALAW. Today the climate is still part of the appeal, even if it can get a bit chilly at night in winter, and the town is a base for some excellent treks to ethnic minority villages.
Other than the market, which is open every day but spills out into the streets when it's Kalaw's turn to host the rotating market, there isn't a lot to do in the town itself besides visit its pagodas. These include the mirrored Aung Chan Tha Zedi in the centre and small Thein Taung Paya, uphill from the Union Highway and notable mainly for the views back towards the town.
Shan State markets
A number of markets in this region operate on a five-day cycle, with three or four markets taking place on each day of that cycle. With the possible exception of the very touristy Ywama "floating market", they're fascinating places – particularly early in the morning – where people from remote villages sell their produce or livestock and buy essential goods. Tour operators, guides and hotel staff should know the schedule; and it's common to visit the relevant market during a boat tour.
There are many options for one- or two-day treks around Kalaw, following trails through the hills to villages inhabited by Palaung, Danu, Pa-O, Taung Yoe and other ethnic groups. Don't expect untarnished nature – there has been significant deforestation in the area, and the routes mostly run past fields and plantations – but nonetheless, these hikes are a great way to get a glimpse of rural life.
The most popular longer trek is to Inle Lake, which normally takes three days, although it's possible to shorten it to two (skipping some of the route by car) or lengthen it to four. There are many different routes and finishing points on the western side of the lake, including Khaung Dine and Indein. Usually one night is spent in a village home and another in a monastery.
The trails can get very muddy during the rainy season (June to October), while in peak season the overnight stops on the Kalaw-to-Inle trek can become pretty busy.
Its prominent position within the Golden Triangle – the opium-growing zone covering parts of Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand – meant that for many years Kengtung (pronounced Cheng-tung, and also known as Kyaing Tong) was off-limits to tourists. These days, however, the main rebel groups have signed ceasefires with the government and visitors are allowed in with some restrictions: the only way to get to Kengtung from within Myanmar is by flying, although you can visit overland from Thailand. This tends to mean that travellers on tight budgets leave it out of their itineraries.
It's certainly worth the visit if you can afford it; Kengtung itself is one of the most appealing cities in the country, with a definite Thai feel: monks wear saffron robes, Thai baht are accepted in some hotels and you may hear yourself being called falang instead of "foreigner". Most people, though, visit for the excellent hiking possible in the surrounding area.
What to see and do
Set across hills and with a lake close to its heart, Kengtung is a pleasurable place simply to wander around. The Thai influence is clear in both the architecture and the names of temples such as Wat Jong Kam and Wat In, both of which have clusters of Buddha statues in their main pagodas.
There's also a long history of Christian missionary activity in the area; a large complex in the west of town includes the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and St Louis' Seminary. The giant Buddha nearby, known as Ya Taw Mu, has his back turned away from it.
While there are a few decent mid-range places in town, the pickings are pretty slim for travellers on a tight budget.
Foreign visitors are not allowed to stay over in the villages around Kengtung, and most of the day-hikes are at least an hour's drive from town, which makes hiking here relatively expensive. Trips can be arranged direct with freelance guides or through accommodation; one of the cheaper options is with Harry's Trekking House. The guide fee – typically $20 per day – is supposed to go straight to the guide, although many hotels and guesthouses quietly take a cut.
The most popular destination is the Pin Tauk area (transport from K35,000), as the three-hour walk passes through the villages of several different ethnic groups (Akha, Eng and Khun Shan, plus Silver Palaung if there's time). Hikers may be dismayed to find, however, that most of their interaction with locals involves being offered handicrafts.
Other hikes are likely to be more rewarding, including to the Akha villages of Hokyin Hill (transport from K35,000), the former British hill station of Loimwe (transport from K50,000), and – furthest afield, near the Chinese border – the villages of Wan Nyet and Wan Saen (transport from K60,000), where Loi people live in longhouses.
The small town of PINDAYA is located in the heart of one of the most important agricultural regions in the country. The drive itself is a good reason to make the trip, as the patchwork of red soil, green crops and variously-hued flowers is simply stunning. It's also oddly reminiscent of southern Europe, at least until you see a small Danu child riding on the back of a water buffalo. You'll have to pay a $2 entry fee for the area as you get close to Pindaya.
Shwe Oo Min
The main attraction in the town is Shwe Oo Min, an atmospheric series of caves crammed full of Buddha statues – some date back centuries, but the collection is still expanding. The first section of the cave is packed with a vast number of almost identical golden images of the Buddha, while the further chambers – which are less cramped – exhibit more variety in materials and styles but still with the same subject.
It's possible to continue north from here along the hillside via other shrines and a monastery.


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Conference Delegate Travel
Travelling to a conference on the LNER route? Save up to 30% off your LNER train when you book in advance using your unique conference delegate promotional code.
Please read all of our terms and conditions below before booking.
Terms & conditions
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Due to engineering works and amends to our scheduled services the promotional rates are not valid for travel on the following dates:
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Aerosol Transmission of Coronavirus: Classrooms Need More Ventilation
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1,000 students wearing face masks in a densely packed lecture theater – unimaginable in times of the coronavirus pandemic. But the risk of aerosol transmission in large, modern lecture theaters is lower than in many classrooms, according to calculations by RWTH researchers. The data also allow conclusions to be drawn about family celebrations.
In a comparative analysis, researchers from RWTH and their partners have assessed the risk of transmission of coronavirus through aerosols in classrooms. They found that compared to other types of room, classrooms pose a higher risk if they are not mechanically ventilated and if there are no guidelines in place to ensure sufficient ventilation.
This is due to the relatively high occupancy rate and the fact that teachers and pupils tend to spend long periods of time in classrooms, as Professor Dirk Müller from the Institute for Energy Efficient Buildings and Indoor Climate explains. The study compared the of risk of infection in various types of room. According to the study, classrooms and sports halls pose a greater risk than fully occupied lecture theaters with a capacity of 1.000, for example.
Classrooms, lecture halls, open-plan offices, and sports halls were evaluated in comparison to a reference situation, in which 25 individuals spend one hour in an average-size, automatically ventilated classroom with an air exchange rate of 4.4 times per hour. In the researchers' simulation model, this reference situation defines a relative risk of one. Measured against the reference, the researchers consider the risk of infection in lecture halls and open-plan offices to be relatively low. The only situation that is even more critical in terms of infection risk than the classroom situation is the use of sports halls – under physical strain, individuals emit larger amounts of small airborne particles.
Larger Gatherings at Home Pose a Risk
"Data has now confirmed that entertaining larger gatherings at home can be much riskier than events in a public setting. In the private sphere, with window ventilation alone, the air exchange rate is often so low that the transmission of the virus via aerosols works well," says Müller. The risk of infection would be much lower in many public buildings equipped with ventilation systems. Well-ventilated rooms such as modern lecture theaters would also be much less of a problem, even with high occupancy rates.
Classrooms without mechanical ventilation might pose a higher risk of infection, especially in winter, when the windows are not kept open long enough to secure sufficient ventilation: often it is too loud outside to keep the windows open, or school students are sitting in freezing classrooms. As a result, there is insufficient ventilation, despite the regulations in place. According to Müller, recent studies have shown that window ventilation in classrooms often results in insufficient air exchange rates, as indicated by high carbon dioxide concentrations.
In a classroom holding 35 persons, the risk of infection may be almost twelve times higher than in the reference classroom. Even with a reduced occupancy of 18 persons, the air in the room would have to be exchanged 3.3 times per hour. This corresponds to an outdoor air volume flow of 660 cubic meters per hour.
Ventilation Technology Helps Protect Against Infection
How often do the windows have to be opened to achieve sufficient ventilation? The Aachen researchers and their partners are involved in formulating ventilation on behalf of the German Environment Agency. These also include guidelines on how to find out whether ventilation is sufficient: According to Müller, the carbon dioxide concentration in the room can be determined with the help of a simple measuring device.
An important factor is what the pupils are actually doing in a room: is it mainly the teacher who is talking, are the pupils engaged in group work activities, or are they engaged in physical activities? Sports activities indoors should only take place with a reduced numbers of participants; outdoor sports are to be preferred.
According to the calculations of the researchers, the risk of infection in large lecture halls is quite low; nevertheless, they recommend wearing face masks. Although the density of people in the lecture hall is comparable to that in a classroom, there is a much larger vertical column of air for each individual present as well as mechanical ventilation. An air exchange rate of two to three times per hour, which is typical for these buildings, is sufficient not to increase the relative risk of infection. The situation in open-plan offices equipped with ventilation systems is also considered unproblematic. In accordance with occupational health and safety regulations, the available office space and its movement areas are so generously dimensioned that even when fully occupied, the risk of infection through aerosols is relatively low.
"From my point of view, we should get a more rounded view of the situation before deciding on measures," says Müller. This also applies to the obligation to wear of face masks in some pedestrian areas: "From a ventilation technology perspective, it can be assumed that virus transmission is not possible as long as the physical distancing rules are observed there."


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The Prank
Translated from Hindi by Jutta Austin
Behind Panna, a BMW came lurching like an awkward young bride, as if a drunk lost in his own world was making his way heedless of his surroundings, or may be some world-weary driver had chosen on a whim to let go of the steering wheel. His number plate said V14GRA which looked like 'Viagra'. "Stupid idiot", said Panna and watched warily in case Mr 'Viagra' would prove himself true to its swaying. In order to reduce the risk of an accident, Panna slowed down and drove further away from the other car.
The rustling, impatient leaves blazed like the sunset. The trees stood there, clearly dismayed. Perhaps they knew that they could only move on by letting go. Panna thought that maybe the confused trees had gained consciousness after all; autumn was passing and the lazy leaves were not even thinking of tumbling down. A soft breeze was blowing, a light rain coming down as a fine drizzle. As Panna reached the entrance to Brondsbury along Willesden Lane, she marvelled in amazement. The line of trees had changed colour overnight. Their overhanging branches were touching passers-by and drawing them towards them, 'Look – look at our showy finery!'
Panna drank in the sight of the red and purple leaves and wished she could park the car at the side of the road and look at this scene to her heart's content. The church built on the side of Christ Church Avenue always attracted her. About a dozen trees stood in its courtyard. If only somebody would fix up a swing on one of the trees in the middle so she could swing on it until all the leaves had been shed. Then she would climb down, would take a nap on those scattered leaves and rise really refreshed. But if she were to arrive late at the hospital, there would be no knowing when she could get another appointment. A swelling had appeared right in the middle of her forehead, impossible to hide from anybody. Whoever sees it gives his opinion without fail,'Panna, drop everything and get it looked at. Perhaps it's nothing, but…'. It was this but which made Panna herself worry. With great difficulty she had persuaded her GP to send her to a specialist.
As Panna moved forward while still gazing at the leaves, she saw that one lane of the road had been closed by orange cones and the traffic was crawling with the speed of a tortoise. There was now only one lane left for the traffic in both directions, controlled by a temporary traffic light. The green light in Panna's direction seemed to last only a very short time, and while it lasted only three or four cars managed to move on due to some 'lazy stupid idiot.'
'If everybody got on with it quickly, at least ten cars could move on as soon as the light turns green. But no. And why not get an automatic car? Men need their toy anyway whether it has a gearbox or not.' Panna just needs a reason for her muttering. In her opinion, an automatic car is much better than a manual one. To stop one just puts one's foot on the brake, to move all one has to do is press down the accelerator. Why should we have to bother with slotting the clutch in and keep changing gear? Why on earth do people in the 21st century still want to buy a manual car? Such skinflints, they toil to save up all that money but won't buy an automatic.
'It's not money, Mum, one has more control on manual', says her son Aditya.
'Bullshit.' These days, Panna always seems to be in a bad mood. She never used to resort to such rude words in front of her children.
'Mum, mayor Ken Livingstone and David Cameron are also travelling by cycle to the parliament. You must care for the environment, too.' Panna's daughter-in-law Ashima believes that Panna is always in a bad mood because she is driving in London. Even when she just needs to buy a loaf of bread, she takes the car, and why not, after all, it's no joke to take the driving test in England, and even pass at first attempt. Both Aditya and Ashima only passed the third time round.
'Leave me alone. I feel safe in my car.' Angrily, Panna silences them. In the car she experiences a sense of freedom and safety which she does not find anywhere else. And it's due to the car that she has made some girlfriends. In return for driving them here and there in her car, they pay her in kind. One may bring chapatis and chivra (rice flak snack), another gives her carrot and green pepper pickle.
Panna thought that taking her neighbour Pushpa along today would have made the time pass more easily, but she talks so much, one can hardly think anymore. She really should have gone by bus or train. It was useless to have brought the car; it cannot escape this jam.
As she reached the corner of Edgware Road, the lights turned red, but Panna was certainly not going to stop. Looking around to make sure there was no policeman standing somewhere, she quickly drove forward. She knows that there is no camera on this corner. She seems to be growing more fearless these days. Instead of watching the traffic light in her direction, she keeps her eyes on the light in the other direction. As soon as it turns red she puts her foot down on the accelerator knowing well that there will be other people beside her who won't stop for the red light. That is of course how accidents happen, but Panna does not give much thought to such a possibility.
Behind Panna was Kilburn Station. It occurred to her to leave the car at the side of the road and take the train instead, but there are double red lines along Edgware Road, if she leaves the car there she'll end up paying at least 60 pounds fine. The traffic wardens walk about like hungry lions looking for victims to assail. But what else can they do, their livelihood depends on the commission for these fines. It would take her one and a half to two hours before she would return. In the meantime, she might even have been given two tickets. Her car might even have been towed away and then it would cost at least £100 to £150 to get it released.
Passing Kilburn High Street she saw that some big trucks and transit vans had stopped on the road, blocking more than half of it. They were unloading fruit and vegetables and loading their carts as if the street was their personal property. They could not care less if anybody might be in a hurry. Red-green apples, pears, cherries, water melons, sweet melons. Panna realised that it would certainly take her ten-fifteen minutes to get past them, so why not stop and buy some fruit, but at the moment the cart owners were busy doing their own dealings so would hardly give her the time of day. Stopping one's car here is prohibited anyway, but there are always small and big vans and carts standing there. Panna has heard that these stupid shop owners bribe the police with apples and oranges.
Twenty minutes have passed standing still in one place. She has heard that one uses more petrol in an automatic car. 'Mum, whenever you stop, always pull your handbrake. You are not only safer that way but will also save petrol.' Aditya is always interfering.
Panna pulls the handbrake but having done so knows that when the traffic starts moving she'll press the accelerator down and forget to release the brake. If anybody found out how bad her memory has become they might seize her driving license. Even after pulling the handbrake she does not take her foot off the brake pedal, so that she can move quickly as soon as the traffic stirs. This method does, however, mean that both her hand and foot are growing increasingly numb. The traffic remained standing where it was. Panna thought that if you were in such a situation in any town in Italy or India the noise from the horns would have split your eardrums by now.
It was only last year that for four months Aditya had to travel with Panna in the mornings because he had no car insurance. His office was next door to Panna's anyway. Aditya felt that it was ridiculous to pay as much as at least £1300 for his car insurance, but travelling with Panna meant listening to her criticising everything and everybody. Perhaps this habit of Panna's had troubled Aditya, and that was why he had invented a game where you had to join the letters and numbers on the number plates of the cars around you and make up words. By this method any vowel could be added. The shape of some numbers resembles a letter; those can be used just like letters. For example, the figure 4 looks like an A, 5 like an S and 6 like a G. But in any case, the human brain can create anything. Only yesterday Panna has seen a big Jaguar car with the number plate S7OWD. Her mind had quickly perceived the '7' as an 'L' because that produced the word 'SLOW', and the last letter 'D' could in conjunction with 'slow' be understood as 'down'. Wow, what a number plate, 'Slow down'. Panna had felt a wave of elation. As soon as she arrived home, she told Ashima about it, who laughed out loud, 'Mum, aren't you getting obsessed with those number plates?'
This game was not entirely new to Panna, because in the past she used to add the numbers of cars and analyse the drivers according to numerology. A pastime such as reciting verses was not for Aditya, and Panna could only sing songs from old films, whereas Aditya knew nothing else but new fusion. When Ashima was with them she would arbitrate between them, because she knew both new and old film songs.
Once Panna had acquired a taste for the number plate game, her mind would always race ahead and focus on the number plates. In this game, one is naturally influenced by one's prejudices. Panna, too, criticises the drivers behind her or in front on the basis of her own prejudices, sometimes even to the point of name-calling. Sometimes she arrogantly stresses her own importance, sometimes seeing someone's posh car or an impressive number plate makes her tense. Trying to guess the status and state of mind of the drivers around her on the basis of their number plates certainly passes the time pleasantly.
Panna threw a glance at her left wing mirror and saw that the driver behind her had managed to pass her by going via a petrol station. He was now in front. A 'fuck' escaped her lips inadvertently. The number on his slate-coloured Rover was L6JI8 (Legit).
'Legit my foot. He's bound to be involved with some illegal business for sure.' She was still engaged in her conjectures about the 'legit' driver's shady activities when a car pulled up on her left side and stopped at the point where vehicles could turn left. As soon as the light turned green he shot out in front of Panna's car. 'Stupid idiot,' said Panna and sounded her horn. The number of that ford Focus was 'P4GLA' (Pagla).
'Hey, that stupid driver is really crazy.' If Panna had not been able to stop there would have been an accident. The man's shirt was dirty and crumpled. Panna decided that he might have a greengrocer's shop in Wembley. Gujaratis don't usually take such risks, so he must have some really urgent business going on, the poor man. The police may have raided his shop, or maybe the illegal extension in front of his shop was removed. In a gesture of 'sorry' he was waving his hand and shaking his head.
'If he had so much as touched my car I would have dealt with the stupid idiot.' Surrounded by 'Legit' and 'Pagla', Panna took both car numbers down in the diary she kept on the passenger seat. It makes no difference whose fault it was, the innocent driver suffers the outcome just as much. It's true that the insurance premium would only rise for the guilty party and it's him who would lose his no claim bonus, but Panna's time would also be wasted with wrangling with the insurance company, there would be a stream of correspondence with them, and maybe 'Pagla' would claim himself to be innocent.
As she reached Marylebone Bridge, the traffic was completely jammed like solid cement. As soon as the lights turned green, people would start to change gear so that they could move forward when the traffic moved, but not even one car was able to get away. It's no use. She won't now reach the hospital. God knows how much her cancer will spread before she can get another appointment, or she may even be mourned by then. According to her friends the reason for not getting appointments for months is that they wait for the patients to die so that the GPs save money. Here the hospitals give priority to children and young people. Anyway, why should they prolong the sufferance of the old people?
Panna thought that she now needed to turn left and take Abbey Road. Emerging in front of the Beatles' studio she would be able to reach the hospital directly, but it was completely impossible to turn left from under Marylebone Bridge. Perhaps the whole problem with Edgware Road was because of the traffic on Marylebone Road.
The driver in front of Panna seemed to be lost in God knows what absorbing thoughts, because despite the lights turning green he did not move; by the time he had come to his senses the light was red again. The drivers behind Panna made their anger known by forcefully tooting their horns.
'If this stupid idiot had been quick I'd have got out of this mess a long time ago.' Panna had grown so impatient that she began to worry in case she would simply drive forward and give the car in front a shove. 'You may not be in a hurry, mate, but others need to get there in time.'
The car behind Panna was a Volkswagen Polo with the number plate B14RLA (Birla). Its driver was about to lose his temper. As he sounded his horn twice, the white driver of the car in front of Panna climbed out of his Hyundai Ethos (number plate P6NIS) and approached her, throwing both his arms into the air in anger. When Panna saw his number plate she blushed in embarrassment. How could anyone accept such a number plate? He must really be a crazy person. She quickly shut her door and windows, put her mobile phone to her ear and started talking in pretence as if she was calling someone.
'You stupid idiot, I was not the one who honked, it was the driver behind me,' Panna wanted to say to him, but turning a deaf ear he continued to shout abuse. When he lifted his middle finger in the air to indicate 'up your arse', Panna felt her blood boil. Her brain had now reached the state one would expect the head of a sacrificial lamb to be in when burning in the fire. She was returning every abuse, 'crazy son of a bitch, heel, stupid idiot, I'll give you one so your teeth fall out, blasted monkey, go back to your tree!'
All sorts of obscene revilements directed at the 'stupid idiot' are now pouring out of Panna's mouth in quick succession. Such indecent abuse is part and parcel of life in England. First of all there is the dusty atmosphere, and then there are all these people fighting the traffic morning and evening while working 14 to 16 hours a day just to earn enough to eat. So why should they not succumb to road rage?
In Panna's view nobody cares about anyone these days, gone are the days when people exchanged potatoes with wheat. Everybody counts for the same in the super bazaar now; each to his own. Every week Panna sees plenty of accounts of road rage incidents on the television. Rather than taking her frustration out on the children it's surely better that she also spits on the roads before returning home.
By now a few more people had left their cars in order to intervene; one does not often get the chance to experience such a spectacle. Even the shopkeepers had stepped outside their shops along the side of the road. It is mostly Arabs who live along Edgware Road. Seeing an Asian woman, they immediately took to support her.
Like a numb, rolled-up cat in the cold will revive and purr in the sunshine so Panna livened up. When the white man saw how many people were taking Panna's side, he quickly went back to his car and sat in it. By the time he had strapped himself in and started the car, the lights had turned red again. This time Panna's horn joined all the other ones honking.
Sounding the horn made Panna feel as good as if someone had scratched her back or dressed a wound she had. Venting her anger calmed her down. She now noticed the yellow box drawn on the road in front of the white driver, and according to traffic rules he was not allowed to drive forward until the road was clear. The poor white man was innocent. If he had stopped inside the yellow box he could have been fined, but people don't really care about the rules, especially foreign people. Panna believes that this could be the reason why they and the English are clashing. Anyway, she was now worried about how she could tell Aditya and Ashima the whole matter of the 'penis' man. Nobody would believe her. Aditya can do a google search and find all the number plates one can buy. If 'penis' is not among them then surely that must mean that somebody has that number. Then Panna wondered why she should wrack her brains over this. Some things one just has to keep to oneself, maybe just to entertain her and her closest friends.
'Oh no!' In the middle of a roundabout one wheel of her car had plumped into a hole in the road and began to rattle. These holes are the excuses for lots of money being squeezed out of the council. She, too, is going to write to the council asking them to pay for the repair of her wheel damaged in the hole. The wheel somehow emerged from the hole, but Panna continued her grumbling, 'If the government can't look after the traffic in London, how will they be able to deal with the traffic for the Olympics? Wherever one goes the roads are dug up and no workmen in sight. To get into London one even has to pay £8, and rumours have it that mayor Ken Livingstone is about to raise this fee to £12.'
'Sister, those contractors and the council are in collusion, having dug up the roads they have intentionally left them,' Panna's neighbour Chaman Lal said when washing his beloved Honda Civic. With great care he had had 'Chaman' written on his number plate (C-11MAN). A dot had been put between the two numbers '1' after the 'C', so that it looked like 'H' from a distance.
'God almighty, road tax, insurance, MOT, breakdown cover, congestion charge, residents' permit and on top of that the daily fines, we pay them so much money, and for what? These broken roads?' said Panna in a troubled voice.
'Sister, you just tell me then where that money goes to?'
'Who can tell, brother, they don't even keep the signposts in order, they confuse people and only want to extort money from them.'
'My son has registered his car in France so that he won't have to pay the fines he is given here. You should also register your car abroad, you could save a lot of money.'
'No, no, brother, if somebody found out, then who would deal with the courts?'
'Come on, you're just too scared, nothing would happen. The chairmen and presidents of the big companies filch millions of pounds quite openly, and nobody says anything. They're the ones who should be dealt with, they hold open discussions, but there's zero action'.
'Brother, those people make deals with the politicians, don't they? The government knows full well that what is going on is not all right, but they still hand out titles and ranks to them, 'Melord', 'Sir this', 'Sir that',' agreed Panna keenly.
'Well, sister, just take Wembley Stadium. Even after spending five times the money it remains unfinished.'
'Our British people are a laughing stock all over the world!'
'Exactly, these white people sweep the corruption and dishonesty in their own country under the carpet and keep themselves busy exposing the secrets of other countries.'
'It's white collar corruption.'
'They are quite incapable of managing a smallish England but keep slandering a country as vast as ours.'
The two neighbours had only just begun to enjoy their gossip, when they heard Aditya and Ashima laugh inside the house. God knows why these children dislike hearing anybody criticised. After all, criticism should be seen as the basis for improvement.
Somehow the traffic unravelled and Panna turned left. She was trying to go into the right lane at the next traffic light, when a Lamborghini P8WR (Power) pulled up to her from behind. The digit '8' had been written like an 'O'. Did a car like a Lamborghini really need such a powerful number plate?
There were cars parked in the lane in front of Panna, so she was a little worried that 'Power' would overtake her. Panna had right of way, so why should she let him go first? Only because he is white and has a posh car? Then she wondered why he would want to screw her, but as soon as the lights turned green, she pushed down the accelerator and moved forward with a vroom. Indicating to his left, he stuck close to Panna's boot and took to tail her, as if wanting to challenge her about daring not to let him pass. Panna thought that maybe she ought to have let the stupid idiot overtake, but how can it be right to let some boorish person break the rules just because one is scared of him?
It is obvious that he'll be the son of some rich parents, who would have spent his entire life so far looking after his own interests and trampling on those beneath him. Maybe this Lamborghini is a present for his 25th birthday. Born into the upper classes, educated in private schools, grown-up together with the children of people of rank, connected with all sorts of important people, opening and closing businesses according to his fancy and today when he is flying high on his wild horses, how dare Panna with her second class Fiat tried to stand up to him! Panna, a middle-class middle-aged retired teacher, who married a middle-class civil servant and bore him two children; who believe that they were born out of their parents' lust, a husband who had by now taken to living openly with his young neighbour and she had to provide his children with all those conveniences and comforts which she herself had never been able to experience; she, who lives in a 2-bedroom house, who now after retiring receives not only her pension but also a free travel pass and health care, whose children do not need her anymore, who works for a charity in order to make time pass and who is wondering what the relevance of life is?
These days Panna has become cautious but there was a time when she herself could act very foolishly or become unwittingly caught up in stupidities which seemed to prove her of murderous intent. This happened in those days when Panna had just passed her driving test. It was the first time she had mustered the courage to take the car on a motorway. She had heard that if one can master the Hangar Lane crossroads one could drive anywhere in the world. Why they call them crossroads was beyond Panna. Tens of roads pour out from these crossroads. In the days when they were not controlled by traffic lights there were many accidents every day. Unfortunately, these crossroads are close to Panna's house, and wherever she might need to go she will have to negotiate them. Once she had to go to Slough to the birthday party of the son of one of her friends, Chandni, and the A40 emerges from these cross roads.
Panna spent the whole night thinking the manoeuvres through, but the next morning she felt like leaving it and not going at all. Why should she take on all this hassle? But Chandni had involved her too much. She had taken on the responsibility for the sweet dish, and she would not be able to take such a big pot plus two boxes of sweets without the car. She managed to reach the crossroads all right, but to join the A40 from there seemed very difficult. The fast moving cars did not make way for her. When people see the green 'L' plate at the back of the car they keep quiet and tolerate the new driver, but for how long would they remain calm? Panna had been driving a car for tens of years, but she had never taken the 'L' plate down, so people endured her mistakes because they believed her to be an inexperienced driver. Behind her a long line of cars had now formed. Taking her life into her hands she stuck her head fully out of the window looking for a gap in the traffic. The fast driving cars and trucks could easily have knocked her head off. God knows how her wedge-like Fiat escaped all those elephants.
She was too worried about the trip back to enjoy the party, and before she knew it her fear came true and it was time to drive home from Slough. And then it did not even happen at the Hangar Lane crossroads but as she joined the A40 leaving Slough. Coming from the right, her car collided with the car of another woman. Panna's heart left her chest and stood on the street. Her car door had been bashed in somewhat. Thanks to God's mercy nobody had been hurt. Panna accepted straight away that it had been her fault. The woman remained civilised and neither screamed nor shouted, as Panna had expected. The two of them calmly exchanged details of their cars and insurance companies and each went on her way.
The next morning, when Panna arrived at the garage to have her car repaired, the mechanic reviled her right there in front of her son, because she ought not under any circumstances have accepted that she had been at fault. It had given her son the much wished for opportunity to ridicule her. 'When Mum drives, all that one can do is to hold on and pray for life.' Panna considers herself a 'safe driver', and does not understand why the children make fun of her.
Fortunately, she does not have to use a motorway to travel between home and the office in the West End, but the slow moving town traffic can drive people crazy. At a high speed, a car emerged from the right. It was a Mercedes SLR with a very amusing number plate, 5IR. The digit '5' had been written like an 'S' and at a glance the number could look as if it said 'SIR'. Maybe this person worked for the government or he had been titled by the queen. She had heard that the eldest son of a Lord are is a Lord too, may be the sons of 'Sirs' are themselves sirs. So why should their cars lag behind? Perhaps he was an official in the Indian government, where bureaucracy is far more entrenched than in England. Panna had once had the opportunity to go to a festivity at India House, where everyone kept saying 'yes sir', no sir'. When she had spoken to an official in Hindi, he insisted on answering her questions in English and not forgetting plenty of 'yes ma'm', 'no ma'm' either.
"You stupid bitch" shouted someone in passing and drew Panna's attention back to the road. She was driving along the motorway with the speed of an ox cart. What would people do other than shout abuse? The superior number of that superior car was 'D-4NTE'. A nail had been hammered into the plate under the body of the '4' and given it the shape of an 'A'. Panna felt like applauding the imaginative powers of the driver. Only a man would be reckless enough to spend so much money on his number plate. A woman would deliberate ten times, thinking about better things she could spend with her money on instead. Mumbling to herself, Panna crossed into the right lane in order to throw a glance at the driver. As she had expected, it was a young man. God knows how many pounds he would have spent on that number plate. For her last birthday Panna had hoped that Aditya would buy her a number plate with 'Panna' on it. When she had not received the present she craved, she had felt very dejected. She had always fulfilled all the small dreams of her children. If she can't look to them for her hopes and wishes now, then who else is there? Anyway, a new number plate would probably not look right on such an old car.
As Panna accelerated and drove past 'Dante', she relaxed a little. But then the young man, looking angry, shot past her again. Panna had only just got away with it. God knows how many times she has to curb herself in order to remain cautious from now on. Aditya has explained to her several times, "why hustle someone, Mum, if something happens, you will suffer for life." The main reasons for accidents and road rage are only pride and arrogance. If only she could keep herself under control.
A major part of Edgware Road has now been closed to traffic for two weeks. To avoid delay while returning home, Panna decided to drive to the A40 via Bayswater Road to go through the centre of Harlesden, emerging on the other side. This way does add two miles to the journey but it's fast.
Panna thought that it is an art in itself to sit in a crowded railway carriage and apply make-up in front of everybody, but this was the first time she had seen someone doing it in her car while waiting at a red light. The driver behind her sounded his horn fiercely to make the white young woman realise that the lights had changed to green. The princess was in the middle of applying her lipstick so she remained where she was. After all, she still needed to use her eyebrow pencil. 'People just never have peace, the poor thing is hardly going to find time in the office.' Panna has heard though that people do not only brush their teeth and take a bath after arriving in the office but also eat their breakfast there. They start receiving their salary from the minute they have registered themselves as present. If only things were like that in Panna's office, but there they don't even pay for overtime.
Just then a motorcyclist came to stop beside the white woman's window and took to purposely staring at her. She stuck her head out of the window and railed at him, but the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet and did not understand anything. Mumbling, the young woman quit doing her make-up and took her mobile phone up to her ear.
In front of Panna was a car with one of those broad behinds reminiscent of African women. Instead of reading its make and number plate, Panna looked at the driver, a woman who was holding a colourful mobile to her ear and talking emphatically into it. Her fat and coarse shoulders were completely naked.
'What's your problem, bitch?' shouted the black woman, spotting Panna looking at her.
'I have no problem whatsoever, what's yours?' shouted Panna back in the same manner.
'Why are you staring at me?'
'Because I have never seen anything like you before', said Panna with a grin and drove on quickly, leaving the annoyed woman behind. She was so taken in by the doe eye Turbo that she had lost interest in other drivers or their number plates
Panna was waiting to turn right from Bayswater Road when she saw a bright blue Volkswagen Golf 'K4FIR' (Kafir, meaning infidel) stopping in the lane on her right. Three African youths and a young woman sat in it, grinning meaninglessly as if they had no control over it. Perhaps they had all been drinking. Panna had to turn left here. Besides Brondsbury, she loves this place. The houses lining it on both sides look like ivory castles. She feels as if in a dream. She wonders if the people who live there do appreciate it, but they probably don't even have time to think about it, they'll be far too busy keeping track of their millions. Panna usually goes through Hyde Park in the morning, where people go for a run or to sit on benches with their hot tea or coffee and read newspapers. It should really be forbidden to drive through it.
Panna was in the correct lane, but as soon as she turned, 'Kafir' switched from her right side to her left and emerged in front of her. The African passengers were laughing loudly and nastily, the odious sound reminding Panna of Shiva's hideous followers; she sensed some unknown danger. She had turned in vain, and even though it would have taken a little longer to go via Edgware Road she would certainly have reached home safely.
From the A40 Panna had to go towards White City and then turn left towards Harlesden. There were plenty of exits before then where Kafir could have turned off, but they kept pursuing Panna doggedly. For them this 'race' was just a big joke. Avoiding a collision with the speeding Kafir, Panna kept changing lane so that she could take a different route at the first opportunity, but Kafir remained stuck to her rear like a magnet. Panna is always more afraid of Africans than of white people, although Aditya and Ashima are of the opinion that white people are more cruel than the other races, especially the members of the British National Party who are renowned for their racism. She glanced at the petrol indicator and her heart sank. The warning light was on. Angrily she thought of Aditya who always uses up the petrol when he takes the car. What now? Her ears began to ring. She thought that it would be safe to stay on the main road, among other cars. When she stopped at a red light after the Stubbs Road crossroads, she took out her mobile phone and dialled 999 to call the police.
"Which service please?" a voice asked.
"Police please", she said.
"Yes, what seems to be the problem?"
"I am on the Stubbs Road near Harlesden, a Volkswagen Golf K4FIR has been following me for a long time."
"Don't worry, madam, we will find you in no time. Could you please give us your registration number, and what is the colour of your car?"
"Shit!" Before Panna could reply, the battery of her mobile phone went dead. Aditya had explained time and time again that she must always keep the battery charged, but she keeps forgetting.
In the meantime, the lights had turned green. Instead of continuing straight on, Panna quickly turned off into a small lane on her right. She looked in vain on both sides for its name sign and flared up in a rage. 'Those stupid idiots haven't even put up a name sign for the street. How would one find it in the A to Z? They rob us of all this money but the roads are broken and have neither proper lighting nor name signs.'
The 'Kaffirs' were standing in the left lane and had no opportunity to change their direction and follow Panna, because behind and beside them were other cars. They were forced to keep going straight on. Ahead was a T-junction, and Panna was guessing that they would perhaps turn let towards Harlesden. She thought that if she kept going along this road and then turned left somewhere, she should reach Harrow Road, but she was quite lost. She had no idea where she was. On top of that her tank was just about empty. There was noone around – not a soul in sight. If she were to fall into the hands of the 'Kafirs' in this street, then God help her. They would have all the peace and comfort in the world to prey on her. Her heart was in her mouth. Sweat stuck her hair to her head.
Just then she saw the main road ahead and a telephone box on the corner. She drove in to the side and stopped the car, then looked for coins in her purset. Then she remembered that it is free to dial 999. She worried about the police detaining her for wasting their time. In the meantime, a car had appeared in the distance and was coming nearer. So Panna positioned herself in the middle of the road. She knew that just waving her hand would not make anyone stop. These days one can't stop anyone, those villains get someone to stop and then rob them.
'Please, help me, some people are following me. Could you please call 999 and give them my details?' Agitated, Panna approached the car window and implored the driver. The white driver stared at Panna from a face void of all emotion and all interest in Panna's predicament.
'My mobile is not working. I could give you money for the call. Please, please.' Panna took a £10 note out of her purse and offered it to him but he only shrugged his shoulders and drove like one making his getaway.
Panna took off her black shawl, put it on the seat and also removed the bindi from her forehead. She had heard that African and white hooligans consider Asian women very easy prey, especially Indian women. And now even the leader of the BNP had been released. The members of his party strut about arrogantly, terrorising, tormenting and killing people at will. Well, what good will come from being afraid? Just look at the Muslim girls, how fearless they are. Since people have begun to object to the burqa, more and more of them go out wearing it.
Panna slipped into the phone box on the corner and was just about to dial 999 when she heard the laughter of the Kafirs, a laughter which she would remember all her life. At least they were on the other side of the main road. She ran back to her car and sat in it. 'How can I be so stupid?' She had left her key behind in the phone box. As she was about to dial the number, she had put the bunch of keys on the bracket.
'Dear God! Help me!' Panna would have to go back to the phone box. Every second counted. Cruising around, the Kafirs had by now reached this side of the road. There was no other road. Panna could now only turn left, thus baiting the Kaffirs. To turn right was prohibited. She could have gone into reverse and backed the car, but if she went back into this dark street the police would certainly not be able to find her, she needed to go into the main street. If only she had a navigation system, she could get from anywhere to anywhere and the police would find her easily. Only last week Ashima had said to Panna, 'Mum, why don't you buy a tom-tom? You don't have to worry about finding your way then!' But Panna can't bear spending even small amounts of money. 'After all, I am a true gujerati.'
Just as the kafir car turned into Panna's road, she drove quickly into the main road. Before they had reversed, Panna had moved well ahead, but what with her old Fiat and their Volkswagen Golf it would take them less than a minute to catch her. The black girl whose black worm-like curls were covering her face was holding a thick, baton-like cane in her hands and brandishing it out of the back window.
Panna has several times in TV films seen hooligans and baddies assault people with batons. 'Oh God! Is this how I'm going to die?' She thought, terrified.
Just then a Rolls Royce overtook her. Its number was V61MPT (very important). Panna thought that this car must surely belong to someone important. If she could attract his attention she would be able to escape, but to play a prank with the owner of this car would also come expensive.
Panna flashed her headlights to indicate to the man in the next car that she was in trouble, but he did not react. The kafirs were now directly behind her. Panna no longer had any way out. The tank would be empty any moment. The police were nowhere in sight.
Panna had not expected the driver of the Rolls Royce to be another African. He stopped his car on the hard shoulder, climbed out and set to examine it. Flashing one's headlights means that the other person needs to check his or her car, a door may be open or the brake lights may not be working. Before he would return into his car and disappear, Panna, full of fear, also stopped and disembarked. The Kafir car passed her very closely, and from it someone threw a spinning cane at Panna. The African man was standing nearby, and if he had not pulled Panna towards him and pushed her on the ground she could have been seriously hurt. The cane went straight onto Panna's car and smashed a window.
'Bloody idiots! Do you know them?' 'Very important' asked Panna. She was terrified and could only shake her head in negative answer. 'Very private' put a hand on Panna's shoulder, trying to comfort her.
'Hey lady, are you all right?' He asked. And then just as he was dialling the police on his mobile phone, they heard the police sirens approaching.
'That's quick, ain't it?' said 'Very Important.'
Story Contemporary: Prank- Divya Mathur
The Prank


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Since 1982, He-Man and Skeletor have been entwined in an epic planetary battle for some reason. In the TV series The Toys That Made Us, the He-Man episode explains that even the designers at Mattel admitted their idea was light on plot. Also, controlled substances may have been involved. After all, these are the designers who came up with characters like Fisto, Stinkor and Snout Spout. Still, their Masters of the Universe line was a raging success and sparked the imaginations of kids in the 80s and more than a few adults now. One such adult is Eric Druon, who has captured He-Man and Skeletor's likeness nicely as LEGO BrickHeadz. By the power of Grayskull, I have the power…to be adorable!
Tag Archives: Skeletor


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Last year, reports of fires and explosions led to a massive recall of the Galaxy Note 7, making a few customers look at their cell phones with wary eyes.
This is more than a big deal for Samsung, a company that has tried to build a brand built on quality and trust:
�Samsung has built a brand based on quality, and all products used in consumers� homes require a level of trust. The company has taken a hit to its image for both quality and trustworthiness.� – Globe and Mail
They did what any company would do, they issued a recall and tried to fix the damage as fast as they could by issuing replacement phones�and then came nightmare number two.
The phones weren�t fixed. Customers started reporting that lithium batteries in the new phones went up in flames, and Samsung had to kill the Samsung Note 7 completely. It really doesn�t get much worse than that:
�This is a calamity,� said Srinivas Reddy, director at the Center for Marketing Excellence at Singapore Management University told Bloomberg. �The threat for Samsung is how soon they can get back. If they don�t get back soon, it provides a vacuum for others to creep in.�
Brand disasters like this can happen to anyone, from a small scale to a larger one like Samsung�s phone disaster.
Here are five steps you can take to repair the damage when your brand goes up in smoke.
Step 1: Listen and be a part of the conversation.
The first and most important step to reputation management is to listen and be part of the conversation. If your customers don�t feel like you�re taking steps to right any wrongs you may have made, their trust in you and your products will plummet quickly.
The Gap and Comcast are two victims of such customer service blunders�simply because they weren�t prepared to handle customer service through popular channels like social media.
Use social media to listen and respond quickly to customer service concerns. Have your finger on the pulse of the issue at hand before it grows to the point where it�s out of your control. Even responding with a something like a simple link to the correct website page is helpful�and shows your customers you take them seriously.
Step 2: Establish a crisis management team.
When the going gets really rough, you need a team in place to handle the damage. In cases like the Samsung disaster, digital chatter around the issue soon gets out of control, and can become something that can outgrow the bandwidth of your customer service team.
Consider forming a team from your public relations (PR), human relations (HR), legal and marketing teams. Appoint a spokesperson from each department to handle situations where your brand�s reputation could be at stake.
This doesn�t necessary have to be a single team dedicated only to brand reputation management, but having a plan in place developed by key stakeholders in your organization before disaster strikes will help you respond in a timely manner.
Step 3: Let customers know when the problem will be fixed, honestly.
The biggest mistake that Samsung made was jumping the gun on telling customers and the media that the problem with the Galaxy Note 7 was fixed�when it clearly wasn�t.
If you have a small team, and don�t have enough bandwidth to stand on call and respond to customers in real-time, set expectations on when they can expect to hear from you, and when they can realistically expect their problem to be resolved.
The most important part of this tactic – you need to be able to stick to your timeline. Worst case scenario, you can lose your credibility when a second problem backfires (in the case of the Galaxy Note 7� literally).
Step 4: Have a plan to talk to the media, and a back-up plan if their coverage is negative.
After you�ve addressed your customers directly, you should make plans to structure a conversation with the media � especially if they�re already contributing to the negative image of your brand.
If they�re not interested, become the media yourself by aggressively publishing new content about your company. Include reviews and testimonials to regain control of how potential customers view your brand in search engines.
Step 5: Do something positive to put yourself back in the positive spotlight.
When you�ve done all you can do to mitigate the damage done to your brand from your misstep, start building a plan to bring the media�s attention to a more positive story about your brand�something valuable and trustworthy for your audience.
Consider participating in community events, linking your next product release to a social cause or mission, or make a big donation. Highlight any positive project for your customers to combat the negative image they�ve been seeing and hearing.
Bonus Step: Don�t be afraid to seek outside assistance if it gets really bad.
In some cases, your business team might just be too small to handle a major brand reputation disaster on their own. In these cases, consider bringing in outside help to build or repair your brand reputation when needed.
Start with your executives � having an expert handle the persona of your executives can go a long way in helping your audience reconnect with your brand on a personal level, and bring your human story to the forefront.
The bottom line � bad brand impressions stick. Dragging your feet or not following through on your word can do horrible damage to a brand. Getting ahead of the game could help save you in the future from any unseen problems.


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This Technical Bulletin is applicable to all accredited management systems Certification Bodies and is to provide an update regarding recent changes to IAF document MD 17.
IAF MD 17 Witnessing Activities for the Accreditation of Management Systems Certification Bodies has been updated and was published on 7th May 2019 with a 1-year application period meaning that by 7th May 2020 the new version must be fully implemented and in use by all accredited Certification Bodies.
The update clarifies the accreditation cycle requirements over which the witnessing activities have to be planned and executed, the update also incorporates witnessing requirements for OH&SMS which were formerly included in IAF MD 22, as well as a further clarification regarding witnessing rules for initial and scope extensions.
UKAS has reviewed the updated MD and is incorporating these clarifications, as necessary, into our planning processes. UKAS Publication TPS 66 will be updated accordingly in the near future.
If any individual Certification Body has any concerns about the introduction of the updated MD they should firstly contact their Assessment or Case Manager.
Should you require any clarification on the above, please contact; Steve Randall: Accreditation Specialist, Certification – [email protected]; or Kevin Belson: Technical Manager – [email protected].
Download printable version of this Technical Bulletin.


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Rachelle Rea plots her novels while driving around the little town she's lived in all her life in her dream car, a pick-up truck. An Oreo addict, she is also a homeschool graduate and retired gymnast. She wrote The Sound of Diamonds the summer after her sophomore year of college.
Connect with her…
Website: http://RachelleRea.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/InspiringDaring/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/RachelleRea/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/RachelleRea
Instagram: @RachelleDianeRea
Goodreads: http://is.gd/F7HILk
Savanna: Welcome to the blog, Rachelle. I'm so happy to have you here! And congratulations on your newest release, The Sound of Silver. I LOVED the first in the series and can't wait to read this one!
When and where did you first get the idea for the Steadfast Love Series?
Rachelle: Thanks so much for having me here today, Savanna! I love your first question, because the idea for the whole series came while I was driving. Well, maybe I shouldn't say for the whole series. Here's what happened: A song I was listening to on the radio inspired the title of the first book. I wrote the first book, but when I finished it, I realized to my great frustration that the characters weren't done with their story, even though I had been quite adamant that I would write a stand-alone novel. But the story wasn't finished, so I kept writing.
Savanna: I'm so glad you did! 😉 I know readers often pick out favorite quotes from a novel. Do you have a favorite of your own from The Sound of Silver?
Rachelle: Yes! In fact, my friend Mindy, a calligrapher, even created a beautiful piece of art from one of my favorite quotes: "Within the pages of books one's heart can be revealed."
Savanna: Beautiful and true!
Can you tell us what first drew you to writing Inspirational Historical Romance?
Rachelle: My first exposure to the genre came when I read Heartsong Presents novels when I was twelve. Those small books introduced me to how much I believe in the power of story, especially love stories set in times gone by.
Savanna: 2015 has been a busy year for you with your first two releases! 🙂 Can you tell us one of the moments you'll remember most from this special year?
Rachelle: Holding my book for the first time was a big deal! I remember the boxes coming in, then sitting on the couch with a copy in my lap, just staring and realizing I was beaming a bit… 🙂
Savanna: I don't blame you! 😉 They're beautiful. What a special moment!
I saw on your website that you also write reviews, articles and offer editing services. What's one of your favorite things beyond writing novels that you enjoy?
Rachelle: Editing is such fun! I daresay I enjoy editing a page full of my own (or others'!) words just as much as I enjoy splashing words onto a blank page.
Savanna: That's really cool, Rachelle. I'm so excited for you and thrilled to have you here with us today.
Is there anything else you'd like to share? What project(s) are you currently working on?
Rachelle: I'm really excited about all that 2016 may hold! My third book, the last in the Steadfast Love series, releases the day after Valentine's Day! Beyond that, time will tell 😉
Savanna: Can't wait! Be sure to keep us posted. And I hope you have a blessed Christmas season!
Rachelle has graciously offered to give away one copy of The Sound of Diamonds to one lucky winner. Enter below and the book could be yours!
Thanks for entering! U.S. winner will receive a signed print copy; international winner will receive an e-book. Contest ends December 8, 2015. The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!


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ROBAMA is a European manufacturer of dyes, optical brighteners and auxiliaries, mainly for paper, textile and leather industries.
Founded in 1925, begun its activity in the textile area first as distributor and later as manufacturer. In the 70's, the company bets on the diversification and starts with two new industries; paper and leather. In 1994 joined the German Group Trumpler International through Trumpler Española S.A. and the head office itself Trumpler GmbH & co, which operates in over 40 countries worldwide.
In 1999, a subsidiary in Mexico was founded. An strategic company, as part of the expansion policy in Central America and North America, allowing Robama to extend the distribution to more than 20 countries.
S.A. ROBAMA is built on responsibility, effort and continuous improvement to satisfy customer's needs, being arranged and respectful with the environment. The way to transmit these values to the organization is through the Quality, Environment Policy and the Prevention of Labor Risk System, based on norms like ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and OSHA18001 on which the management of S.A. ROBAMA feels obliged with
- Prevention and Education
The staff's education on prevention and the development of its aptitudes is highlighted
- Research and Development (R&D)
This activity can be considered as one of our most important instruments for the development of new products, for the improvement of technology and the safety or environmental behavior of current products as well.
- Purchase
Strict selection of suppliers capable to satisfy permanently our standard quality requirements.
The manufacturing procedures are controlled with rigorous instructions and the critical parameters are performed with calibrated or verified instruments. The production equipment has computerized maintenance schedules controlled by the data processing Prisma.
- Environment
We strictly meet with the regulations and specially highlight following points:
- High reduction of pollute substances through our wasted water treatment installations.
- For the manipulation of the goods, as well as for the transport (by land -ADR, by sea – IMDG or by air – IATA) our packaging and labeling requirements are constantly adjusted to the regulations currently in force.
- Introduction of a Product Security Documents Managing System (WERCS).
- Technical Support
We collaborate with our customers to solve their problems:
- We meet with several requirements (Reach, Oeko-Tex, BfR, GOTS and Blue Angel).
- We offer technical advice on use of our products.
- Technical information


text: 7 May DRC Investigators Continue To Excel In Research May 7, 2018 By The Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center 2 DRC Director's Report - May 2018 This month I feature two additional grant awards that have been received by faculty members in the FOEDRC. Dr. Lira Vitor, Assistant Professor in Health and Human Physiology and member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Center and the Obesity Research and Education Initiative at the University of Iowa, received an American Heart Association (AHA) Scientist Development Grant. This 3-year $308,000 award is for a project entitled, Molecular insights into the exercise-mediated protection against diabetic cardiomyopathy. Dr. Lira's Lab will study an important mechanism for heart failure in diabetes called diabetic cardiomyopathy. This condition, affects more than 40% of patients with type 2 diabetes, leads to heart failure and lacks effective therapy. Exercise protects the diabetic heart, at least in part, by stimulating the pathway of autophagy, which degrades malfunctioning proteins and cellular structures. The goal of this project is to elucidate the role of the protein kinases ULK1/2 and the transcription factor ATF4 in the exercise-mediated regulation of cardiac autophagy in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Determining the molecular regulation of cardiac autophagy by exercise in obesity and type 2 diabetes, might reveal alternative targets for therapy. Second, Dr. Andrew Norris, the Associate Director of the FOEDRC and Associate Professor of Pediatrics was recently awarded a $1.9M grant from the National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health. The proposal entitled Splanchno-Hormonal Mechanisms of Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes seeks to elucidate a novel mechanism that may explain the increased risk for diabetes in individuals affected by cystic fibrosis. Specifically, Dr. Norris has identified that a hormone called pancreatic polypeptide may play a pivotal role. For unclear reasons most people who have cystic fibrosis will develop diabetes by middle age, placing them at much higher risk of lung failure and death. Studies in Dr. Norris' laboratory showed that low levels of a hormone called pancreatic polypeptide (PP) raises diabetes risk in patients with cystic fibrosis. The proposed study aims to understand why PP is low in cystic fibrosis and to apply this knowledge to develop new therapies for diabetes in cystic fibrosis patients. PP-based therapies may have potential to treat other types of diabetes as well. The FOEDRC is very proud of the achievements of our outstanding faculty. Related Articles FOE DRC Investigators Continue To Excel In Research Faculty members in the FOEDRC continue to excel in their ability to obtain competitive extramural funding for their research projects. In this month's newsletter I will highlight new grant awards obtained by two of our members and next month I will feature another two. Dr. Julien Sebag, Assistant Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and member of the FOEDRC was recently awarded a 5-year $1.9M grant from the NIDDK for a project entitled: Investigating the requirement of MRAP2 for ghrelin function. American Diabetes Association Supports FOEDRC Researchers DRC Director's Report - January 2018 Three researchers from the FOEDRC received new grants from the American Diabetes Association for groundbreaking research. The ability of our members to receive these competitive awards is truly remarkable and underscores the quality and rigor of the research that is being conducted in the FOEDRC. There are few institutions that received multiple awards in this current round of ADA funding. The awards to Drs. Ling Yang, Rajan Sah and Adam Rauckhorst are summarized below. DRC Researchers Publish Major Breakthrough In Understanding How Diabetes Induces Eye Damage In the retina, diabetes damages nerves before it damages blood vessels. Diabetes is a major risk factor for severe vision loss and blindness. A condition known as retinal diabetic neuropathy causes visual impairment through the degeneration of small nerves (neurons) in light-sensitive tissue called the retina, which lines the back of the eye. FOEDRC Continues To Lead In Studies Increasing Our Understanding of FGF21 DRC Director's Report, July 2017 As diabetes researchers work to identify potential new treatments for diabetes, colleagues at the FOEDRC continue to advance our understanding of how newly discovered hormones might work in ways that may lead to new ways to treat and prevent obesity and diabetes. One such hormone is fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). Dr. Matthew Potthoff recently showed in mice that this hormone critically regulates the "sweet tooth" in mice. In a recent follow up study with collaborators from Denmark and published in the Journal Cell Metabolism, it is now confirmed that FGF21 also regulates sweet preference in humans. Now, Dr. Potthoff's team has solved another piece of the puzzle by showing how and where FGF21 might act to regulate the body's metabolism. DRC Researcher Chris Adams Develops New Therapy for Age-Related Muscle Atrophy Scientists at the FOE Diabetes Research Center and University of Iowa have discovered the first example of a protein that causes muscle weakness and loss during aging. The protein, ATF4, is a transcription factor that alters gene expression in skeletal muscle, causing reduction of muscle protein synthesis, strength, and mass. The UI study also identifies two natural compounds, one found in apples and one found in green tomatoes, which reduce ATF4 activity in aged skeletal muscle. Adams Named Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Chair Christopher Adams, MD, PhD, has been named the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Chair. This position has been endowed by the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) to propel and accelerate the pace of discoveries in the FOE Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC), whose mission is to advance knowledge of the mechanisms of diabetes and its related complications through cutting-edge research. Showing 2 Comments UK Dissertation Writing Service The opportunity on itself a great deal like the formation to introduce the continue to-excel research precious information always I get acknowledge really the place where exceed amount of knowledge in the best writing with descriptions. 6 years ago best essay writing service You have posted such precious and informative post here, which gave me lot of information. I hope that you will keep posting these kinds of tips and we will have more informative and helping news from you. 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Should I actually make investments in Bitcoin?
Anything We say is not used as economical advice.
That being said, bitcoin is usually definitely worth considering.
Sufficient reason for bitcoin crossing the $10k tolerance earlier this 7 days, it can no wonder persons think it is bubble. The idea dropped down below $1, 1000 in 06 of this particular year, and has absolutely skyrocketed ever since.
Shareholders usually poopoo cryptocurrency with regard to its unbelievably volatile trading markets. With volatility, while, arrives drastically elevated profit margins. In less-than-6-months, bitcoin features increase in value by simply more than 1, 000%.
To a lot of it's a positive sign of your bubble. To be able to other people, it's a unique probability to make a good fortune in a short interval of that time period.
But let's phase back for a new subsequent. Think about that within terms of economics. Whenever you appear on the supply plus demand graph, you see that will as supply increases, request lowers. And as supply reduction, demand increases.
This is definitely generally known as an inverse partnership.
Request is created via something known as "scarcity". Shortage means to wear quick supply. Think about that such as water in a draught. There is little normal water available, therefore demand greatly increases.
On the other hand, rain while in a good monsoon is throughout extreme excess. And individuals need nothing to do with increased water.
These are good examples you see in real living, but let's look on scarcity, in terms regarding crypto.
There will simply ever end up being 21 thousand bitcoins mined. In typically the world, there are about thirty-three million millionaires.
Possibly if each one of those millionaires wants an entire bitcoin, it's impossible. You will find simply not enough bitcoins to go around.
Shortage builds need.
Crypto Currency , in the Unified States (and other well off countries), people don't always see bitcoin as anything at all other than an purchase. But that mindset fails to take into account all those which are affected by economic downturn.
Look at Venezuela. They're facing additional than 4, 000% involving inflation. Their fiat currency is essentially useless. Since August 2015, there had been about 450 companies that will recognised bitcoin. In Nov 2016, there were even more than 85, 000 taking the cryptocurrency.
That will stat is a year old, together with Venezuela continues in order to be plagued with the fiscal death spiral. So , the number is surely higher.
Actually more than one hundred, 000 miners have came into the game in the united kingdom. Bitcoin is more stable the Venezuela's fiat, and as a result is viewed as a viable kind of money.
Now, we have seen bitcoin's value found in the eyes from the wealthy, and we've noticed the value in the sight of those in economical crises.
So to answer your query, yes. Bitcoin is worth contemplating seeing as an expenditure.
Have various other burning questions about bitcoin you'd like answered? Mind over to Becca's internet site, and sign up regarding the girl e-zine. Your blockchain game is about for you to be ridiculous!


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Sporty Spirit – from RAPID to RAPID
The first product that Laurin and Klement decided to enter for a competition event was a motorcycle – that was in 1901, and Narcis Podsedníček won the Paris-Berlin race on it. Since then ŠKODA has built a number of race cars while putting its sporty spirit also to some of its series production models.
Let us now highlight the most important ones between the 1930s and 1980s.
ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo 1937
In 1934 ŠKODA launched the POPULAR, a car that soon became the country's best-seller. This success story was continued by the luxury ŠKODA 640 – SUPERB and the lower-medium-class RAPID.
In a way, the RAPID was ŠKODA's first-ever series production sports car. Its name comes from the Latin word "rapide", which means fast. The car was fitted with an inline four-cylinder engine (26 or 31 HP), its fuel consumption was 8 litres/100 km and its maximum speed was 90 km/h. In 1938, under the name RAPID OHV, the power output grew to 42 HP and the maximum speed to 110 km/h.
ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo
ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo Roadster 1937/38
ŠKODA POPULAR Monte Carlo Roadster 1937/38
By coming second in their category at the 1936 Monte Carlo Rally, Zdeněk Pohl & Jaroslav Hausmann in a POPULAR SPORT inspired the brand to produce a special series named POPULAR SPORT MONTE CARLO.
Unfortunately, ŠKODA only produced 70 cars of this model before the outbreak of World War II (mainly roadsters and a small number of coupés). The body was made up of a wooden frame and metal parts.
ŠKODA 110 R 1973 and next years
The "building of socialism" was not exactly an era for sports cars, and although the brand did produce some prototypes and race cars, the first post-war series-production car with a sporty spirit was the ŠKODA 110 R of 1970, a two-door coupé manufactured by the Kvasiny plant.
The rear-mounted engine drove the rear wheels, and the car's maximum speed was 140 km/h. The frameless side-door windows were a unique thing at that time. The brand produced more than 56,000 cars of this model over ten years. The 110 R was used as the base for producing the 130 RS, the country's most successful rally car for a long time.
ŠKODA 110 R 1973 and next years
The success story started by the 110 R was followed by another two-door coupé, the GARDE, whose production was launched in 1981, again in Kvasiny. In 1984 this car was slightly modernised and renamed to RAPID. From May 1982, the GARDE was also assembled in the BAZ plant in Bratislava, thus becoming the first series production passenger car manufactured in Slovakia.
Kvasiny produced the modernised RAPID 135/136 until 1990. The car featured an independent rear wheel suspension system with trailing arms and four-piston callipers on the front brakes.
Much changed after 1990. ŠKODA AUTO initiated cooperation with Volkswagen and the brand continued to celebrate success in motor sport. After some time, sport cars returned also to serial production in the form of RS models. These will be presented in more detail in a future article on ŠKODA Storyboard.


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I saw this post on one of my favorite blogs and was excited to get to help! Downy is providing these kits in partnership with Quilts for Kids to provide quilts for children in the hospital. If you read some of the stories your heart will MELT!
The fabric I got was cute Cars characters and Mickey Mouse for the back. After following the directions for how they requested them to be quilted I added a little extra cute detailing.
In the kit you get an embroidered tag to add your name and the name of your quilt. After thinking hard this is what I came up with:
I did have some experience with quilting and I had my mom help me with a few of the finishing details. In total the project too me about 5 hours to complete. Please consider helping out!