text:
Professor Matthew L. Williams
Chair in Criminology - School of Social Sciences, Director - ESRC Social Data Science Lab, Data Innovation Research Institute, Director - ESRC Centre for Cyberhate Research and Policy
- Email:
- email@example.com
- Telephone:
- +44(0) 29 2087 4853
- Location:
- 2.28, Glamorgan Building
- Media commentator
- Available for postgraduate supervision
I am Director of the Social Data Science Lab at the Data Innovation Research Institute, Director of the Centre for Cyberhate Research and Policy and Professor of Criminology in the School of Social Sciences at Cardiff University. My main areas of research activity are:
- Hate Crime, Hate Speech and Extremism Online
- Computational Social Science
- Cybercrime / Human Factors in Cybersecurity
Hate Crime, Hate Speech and Extremism Online
I have a long-standing interest in hate crime and the migration of all forms of hate to the Internet. In 2010 I captured a Big Lottery grant (3 years, £570k) for the 'All Wales Hate Crime Project', on which I was sole PI. This remains the largest and most comprehensive dedicated academic study of hate crime conducted within the UK, surveying over 1800 respondents, interviewing over 60 victims across all recognised strands (race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and gender identity) and reaching out to over 5000 community members via a dedicated project officer. This project built upon my previous two studies into homophobic hate crimes in Wales (Stonewall Cymru Counted Out! Survey 2003 & Counted In! Survey 2007). The Big Lottery project achieved outstanding impact. The findings were received by the Wales Minister for Communities at the project launch in the National Assembly for Wales and formed the key source of evidence for the Welsh Government's Framework for Action on Tackling Hate Crime. The key findings from the project were recently published in the British Journal of Criminology. More recently I have studied the migration of hate crime and speech to the Internet. As part of my PhD thesis I examined how forms of illocutionary speech in online communities could constitute hate crime. I continued this research by capturing the ESRC/Google Data Analytics grant 'Hate Speech and Social Media: Understanding Users, Networks and Information Flows'. Major outputs from this project include 'Tweeting the Terror: Modelling the Social Media Reaction to the Woolwich Terrorist Attack' Social Network Analysis and Mining and 'Cyberhate on Social Media in the Aftermath of Woolwich: A Case Study in Computational Criminology and Big Data', British Journal of Criminology. Both were picked up in the national and international press including the BBC, Times of India, Zee News, India, and Sun News, Canada. Following on from this study, in partnership with Rand Corporation and Rand Europe, I successfully led a team at Cardiff in a bid to the National Institute for Justice, US Department of Justice 3-year project 'Understanding Online Hate Speech as a Motivator for Hate Crime'. This project was covered in the Financial Times, LA Times, New York Post and Sky News. In 2017 I was successful in a bid to the ESRC to fund the Centre for Cyberhate Research and Policy, tasked with examining the production and spread of hate speech on social media related to Brexit. This project is covered in The Times, Independent, Guardian, Telegraph, Politico, BBC News, MSN News, The Register, ComputerWeekly, Verdict, and Police Professional. My research into hate crime and speech also appeared on an episode of Panorama on BBC One in October 2017. Watch on BBC iPlayer here.
Computational Social Science
I am Director of the Social Data Science Lab that forms part of the £64M ESRC Big Data Network for the Social Sciences. The Lab core team and Research Fellow are supported by a grant from the ESRC (2017-2020). I was also a lead on Cardiff Online Social Media Observatory (COSMOS) programme of work (2011-2015). Both the Lab and COSMOS represent the largest investment in social media research in the UK (funded by ESRC, EPSRC, JISC, DoH, HPC Wales, Welsh Government, Metropolitan Police Service, Department for International Development, Airbus and Admiral Insurance (£4M)). This programme of work directly relates to my career-long interest in computational social science that dates back to my PhD on virtual communities and cybercrime (supervised by Prof. Paul Atkinson). I was Principal Investigator on the founding COSMOS grant 'Digital Social Research Tools, Tension Indicators and Safer Communities: A demonstration of COSMOS' (ESRC Digital Social Research Programme) and the follow on grant 'Social Media and Prediction: Crime Sensing, Data Integration and Statistical Modeling' (ESRC/National Centre for Research Methods Methodological Innovation Project). I also played a major role as a Co-Investigator on the following complete computational social science grants: 'Understanding the Role of Social Media in the Aftermath of Youth Suicides' (Department of Health for England); 'Public Perceptions of the UK Food System: Public Understanding and Engagement, and the Impact of Crises and Scares' (ESRC & Food Standards Agency); 'Digital Wildfires: (Mis)information Flows, Propagation & Responsible Governance' (ESRC Global Uncertainties Ethics and Rights in Security); 'Detecting Tension and Cohesion in Local Communities with Social Media' (Airbus Group); High Performance Computing, Scalability and Big 'Social' Data (HPC Wales/Fujitsu); 'Hate Speech and Social Media: Understanding Users, Networks and Information Flows' (ESRC/Google Data Analytics); 'Supporting Empirical Social Science Research with a Virtual Research Environment' (JISC); and 'Requirements Analysis for Social Media Analysis Research Tool' (ESRC/DSR).
I am currently working on five projects that continue my work in this area: 'Social Data Science Lab: Methods and Infrastructure Development for Open Data Analytics in Social Research' (ESRC, with Burnap, Rana & Sloan); 'Event Detection using Open Source Communications' (Airbus Group, with Burnap); 'Investigating the link between social media activity and reporting crime' (Metropolitan Police Service Centre for Scientific and Engineering Excellence); 'Impact Acceleration Award – Embedding Open Source Intelligence Analytics within the Metropolitan Police Service' (ESRC); and 'The 2016 Welsh Election Study: A Study of the 2016 Election to the National Assembly for Wales' (ESRC). In 2014 I was appointed by the ESRC to their Social Media/Phase 3 Big Data Network Working Group.
Before my computational social science work I was involved in the Cardiff Digital Ethnography and Hypermedia research programme (with Atkinson, Coffey & Dicks) as Co-Investigator on 'Ethnography for the Digital Age' (ESRC) and 'Methods and Issues in Qualitative Online Data Sharing and Archiving' (ESRC Qualitative Archiving & Data Sharing). On the topic of computational social science I have published in the major social science methodology journals (Sociology, Qualitative Research, International Journal of Social Research Methodology (IJSRM), Sociological Research Online, Methodological Innovations and Building Research Capacity) and have edited a special issue of IJSRM on Computational Social Science: Theory, Method and Data. I have also written the Digital Social Research chapters in the leading methodology textbooks in criminology including 'Doing Criminological Research' (Jupp: Sage); 'Doing Research on Crime and Justice' (King & Wincup: Oxford) and 'Online Social Research: Methods, Issues & Ethics' (Chen & Hall: Peter Lang). In 2013 I was awarded a 12 month Cardiff University Research Leave Fellowship to further develop my work in this area and to establish international links with Rutgers University, Duke University and Twitter US.
Cybercrime and Human Factors in Cybersecurity
I have applied my significant amount of digital methodology work to the study of cybercrime, that formed the focus of my PhD thesis. In 2010 I was successful in capturing a ground-breaking research grant 'e-Crime Reduction Partnership Mapping Study' (with Levi) from Nominet Trust. The project was championed by the Rt. Hon. Alun Michael MP and the findings were launched at Westminster to MPs and industry. Our recommendations highlighted the need for a UK cybercrime reduction partnership and in 2013 HMG's Cybercrime Reduction Partnership was formed and I was invited to join as one of only two academics. The research was presented at a keynote address, and at conferences in Europe and Australia and published as two journal papers and one book chapter. In 2013 I was a key player in the successful capture of the RCUK Global Uncertainties Consortia for Exploratory Research into Cyber Security grant 'Identifying and Modelling Victim, Business, Regulatory and Malware Behaviours in a Changing Cyberthreat Landscape' (£1.2M) that continues my work in this area. I have published extensively in this area in high profile international journals including: British Journal of Criminology, Deviant Behavior, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Policing & Society, Security Journal, Journal of Sexual Aggression, Information Management & Computer Security and International Review of Law, Computers & Technology. Recently I edited the special issue of Policing and Society entitled: Policing Cybercrime: Networked and Social Media Technologies and the Challenges for Policing. I have written chapters in several key criminology textbooks and edited collections on the topic, including 'Criminology' (Hayle et al.: Oxford); 'Handbook of Crime' (Brookman et al.: Willan); 'Handbook of Internet Crime' (Jewkes & Yar: Willan); and 'Crime & the Internet' (Wall: Routledge). My book, Virtually Criminal published by Routledge was short listed for the British Sociological Association's Philip Abrams Memorial Book Prize in 2007. In 2013 I was invited by James Brokenshire, then Minister for Security, and David Willets, Minister for Universities and Science to join, as one of only two academics, HMG's Cyber Crime Reduction Partnership. In 2014 I was invited by Professor Sir Alan Wilson, Chair of the Home Office Science Advisory Committee, to join HMG's Costs of Cybercrime International Expert Advisory Group. I am currently conducting an analysis of fear of cybercrime for the Home Office. I also currently act as an expert reviewer for the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Board of Physical Sciences Cyber Security Programme. I have been an academic reviewer on HMG's Office for Science Foresight project 'Future of Identity', an academic advisor to the ACPO/College of Policing project 'National Assessment on threats and opportunities posed by the use of Global Digital Communication Technologies', and an academic advisor to the DTI foresight programme and the eCrime Wales Project.
Interdisciplinarity is a key feature of my research and I have worked with members of staff in the schools of Computer Science, Psychology, Law, Business, Mathematics and Dentistry. I have been successful in gaining grants from the ESRC, EPSRC, AHRC, JISC, Big Lottery Fund, Welsh Government, Nominet Trust, Stonewall Cymru, TUC Wales, Safer Wales, Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, Google, US Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, High Performance Computing Wales/Fujitsu and the Airbus Group. My research income to date is in excess of £6M.
I am member of the ESRC's Peer Review College and I sit on the Editorial Boards for British Journal of Criminology, EPJ: Data Science and Journal of Computational Social Science.
- 2015 - present: Professor (full), Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2013-2015: Reader, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2007-2013: Senior Lecturer, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
- 2004-2007: Lecturer, Cardiff School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
Over the last decade I have formed an international reputation for my interdisciplinary research in the fields of Cybercrime, Cyberhate & Computational Social Science.
Summary of Key Achievements:
- Grant capture totalling over £6.5M over 36 projects, 16 of which are from RCUK amounting to over £4.5M. I was/am currently PI on 14
- Invited speaker at 50 US, Australian, Asian & European conferences and a delegate at 23 others
- PI on the Online Hate Speech Project ($886K) funded by the National Institute for Justice, US Department of Justice
- PI on the All Wales Hate Crime Project (£570K) that was used as key evidence in the Welsh Government's Hate Crime Framework 2014 and continues to shape national policy
- Solely represented the Social Data Science Lab in visits to Rutgers, Duke & Twitter US
- Invited to speak at Cambridge Institute of Criminology Public Seminar Series in 2015
- ESRC sponsored delegate at the EU Trans-Atlantic Workshop on Big Data in DC, US
- Appointed to ESRC's Peer Review College and Social Media Research Working Group
- Appointed by Sir Alan Wilson to Home Office Cybercrime International Advisory Group
- Invited by James Brokenshire, Minister for Security, and David Willets, Minister for Universities to join HMG's Cybercrime Reduction Partnership in 2013
- Editor of British Society of Criminology house journal and guest editor of 2 special issues
Contributions to the Field: I sit on the Editorial Boards for British Journal of Criminology, EPJ: Data Science and Journal of Computational Social Science. I was co-editor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the international peer-reviewed journal of the British Society of Criminology. I am a reviewer for many international journals including Criminology (US). I have reviewed grant applications for the ESRC, EPSRC and the Nuffield Foundation and in was invited to act as an expert reviewer for the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. I was also invited to participate as an Expert Evaluator on the Horizon 2020 Digital Security Call and was recently made a member of the ESRC's Peer Review College and their Social Media Working Group. I have launched findings in the National Assembly for Wales, and in Westminster to MPs, Google, Facebook & Twitter. I was invited by the Ministers for Security and Universities & Science to join HMG's Cybercrime Reduction Partnership, was appointed by Professor Sir Alan Wilson, Chair of the Home Office Science Advisory Committee to HMG's Costs of Cybercrime International Expert Advisory Group, and was adviser to HMG's Office for Science 'Future of Identity' project, to ACPO's 'National Cybercrime Assessment', to DTI's 'Foresight e-Crime Project' and to WG's 'eCrime Project'. I provided evidence at a WG disability hate crime inquiry, at the EHRC Disability Inquiry, and at HMG's Parliamentary IT Committee. I have provided interviews to the media (ITV & BBC), to the US public journal Scientific American and my work on big data has appeared in the ESRC magazines Britain in 2015 & 2016.
Honours and awards
- My book, Virtually Criminal published by Routledge was short listed for the British Sociological Association's Philip Abrams Memorial Book Prize in 2007
Professional memberships
- Member of the British Society of Criminology
- Member of the European Society of Criminology
- Member of the American Society of Criminology
External Engagement
Appointed to ESRC's Peer Review College and Social Media Working Group to shape strategy
ESRC sponsored delegate at the EU Trans-Atlantic Workshop on Big Data in DC, US
Editor of British Society of Criminology house journal and guest editor of 2 special issues
Invited to participate as an Expert Evaluator on the Horizon 2020 Digital Security Call
Appointed by Prof. Sir Alan Wilson to Home Office Costs of Cybercrime International Advisory Group
Appointed to organising committee for Web Science Trust (WST) Singapore Summer School and asked to present and represent COSMOS by Prof. Dame Wendy Hall
Reviewer for the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) Cyber Security Programme
Invited by James Brokenshire (Minister for Security) and David Willets (Minister for Universities) to join as one of only two academics HMG's Cyber Crime Reduction Partnership in 2013
Adviser to HMG's Office for Science 'Future of Identity' project
Adviser to ACPO's 'National Cybercrime Assessment'
Adviser to DTI's 'Foresight e-Crime Project'
Adviser to WG's 'eCrime Project'
Adviser to WG disability hate crime inquiry
Adviser to Equality and Human Rights Committee Disability Inquiry
Adviser to Equality and Human Rights Committee Homophobic Hate Crime Reporting Programme
Adviser to HMG's Parliamentary IT Committee
Undergraduate Teaching
- Foundations of Contemporary Criminology (Yr 1)
- Offending and Victimisation (Yr 2)
- Responses to Crime (Yr 2)
- Policing: Theory, Evidence and Policy (Yr 3)
- Criminolgical Practice (Yr 3)
- Diversity, Crime and Criminal Justice (Yr 3)
- Digital Society: Theory, Method and Data (Yr 3)
Postgraduate Teaching
- Researching Crime, Safety and Justice
- Responses to Crime, Safety and Justice
- Open Data Analytics with COSMOS (SSRM Workshop)
I am currently external examiner at the University of Edinburgh, Open University and University of the West of England, Bristol. I was external at the University of Hull.
As Principal Investigator
- Centre for Cyberhate Research & Policy: Real-Time Scalable Methods & Infrastructure for Modelling the Spread of Cyberhate on Social Media, ESRC, £479,978
- Social Data Science Lab: Methods and Infrastructure Development for Open Data Analytics in Social Research, ESRC, £705,050
- Understanding Online Hate Speech as a Motivator for Hate Crime, National Institute for Justice, US DoJ, $885,820
- Cardiff University Research Leave Fellowship: Contemporary Forms of Hate, Cardiff University, £13,000
- Perpetrators of Hate Crime, Welsh Government, £22,000
- Social Media and Prediction: Crime Sensing, Data Integration & Statistical Modelling, ESRC under the NCRM Methodological Innovation Call, £194,138
- Digital Social Research: Measuring Racial Tension for Safer Communities, ESRC, £97,506
- All Wales Hate Crime Project, Big Lottery Fund, £569,194
- Cybercrime Reduction Partnership Mapping Study, Nominet Trust, £74,199
- All Wales Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Hate Crime Survey, Welsh Government, £17,984
- Cybercrime Rapid Evidence Assessment, Welsh Government, £4,500
- Stonewall Cymru Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Hate Crime Survey , Stonewall Cymru, £5,568
As Co-Investigator
- Event Detection using Open Source Communications, Airbus Group, £936,000
- The 2016 Welsh Election Study: A Study of the 2016 Election to the National Assembly for Wales, ESRC, £257,148
- Hate Crime Detection with Social Media, Centre for Scientific and Engineering Excellence, Metropolitan Police Service, £50,000
- Impact Acceleration Grant, ESRC, £25,000
- Impact Acceleration Grant, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, £5,000
- Cyber-related economic crime and implications for policing approaches, City of London Corporation, £25,000
- Public Perceptions of the UK Food System, ESRC/FSA, £291,200
- Social Media Digital Wildfires: Hateful Information Flows, Propagation and Responsible Governance, ESRC, £248,413
- Detecting Racial Tension and Cohesion in Local Communities with Social Media, Airbus Group, £51,040
- High Performance Computing, Scalability and Big 'Social' Data, HPC Wales / Fujitsu, £45,000
- Understanding the Role of Social Media in the Aftermath of Youth Suicides, Department of Health, £200k
- Identifying and Modelling Victim, Business, Regulatory and Malware Behaviours in a Changing Cyberthreat Landscape, EPSRC/ESRC under the Global Uncertainties CEReS call, £1.2M
- Hate Speech and Social Media: Understanding Users, Networks and Information Flows, ESRC/Google, £124,986
- Supporting Digital Social Research for the Social Sciences with a VRE, JISC, £55,519
- Requirements Analysis for Social Media Analysis Research Tools, ESRC, £5,000
- Translating Tales of the Trickster, AHRC, £23,901
- Methodological Issues in Qualitative Data Sharing and Archiving, ESRC, £84,645
- Ethnography for the Digital Age, ESRC, £174,529
I am interested in supervising postgraduate degrees in the following areas: Cybercrime, Hate Crime, Policing, Social Media
Current and past PhD Supervision:
- Louise Madden - Women's use of the Internet (Complete)
- Penny Miles - Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Citizenship in Latin America (Complete)
- Mike Thomas - Civil Partnership Unions in Canada, US and UK (Complete)
- Matt Jones - Occupational Experiences of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Police Officers (Complete)
- Will Chivers - Online Counter Surveillance (Complete)
- Liam Rowley - Virtual Worlds and Art Education (Complete)
- Ian Thomas - Men Who Have Sex with Men and Mobile Technologies (Complete)
- Heather Panter - Heteronormativity and Homophobia in US and UK Policing (Complete)
- Daniel Gray - Misogyny on Social Media (Year 4)
- Lisa Calloway - Surveillance and Social Media (Year 4)
- Luke Roach - Governance of Cyberhate on Social Media (Year 3)
- Scott Kerpen - Social Construction of Sexual Orientation on Social Media (Year 3)
- Arron Cullen - Social Media and Perceptions of Policing (Year 3)
- Sefa Ozlap - Reactions on Social Media to Terrorist Attacks (Year 2)
- Wafa Sloaiman M Alorainy - Classification of Cyberhate on Social Media (Year 2)
- Erik Cheeks - Illicit Drug Flows (Year 2)
- Simon White - Estimating Crime Patterns using Open Source Communications (Year 2)
- Ben Foster - Measuring Online and Offline Community Tension and Hate (Year 1)
- Jodie Luker - Understanding the Impacts of Online Hate Speech on LGBT Victims (Year 1)


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Compared to other regions, the Arab world has been experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates -- over 2% per year -- which has led to more than its doubling within the last 30 years. Worldfocus discusses Middle Eastern demographics with Patrick Gerland, a demographer at the United Nations Population Division.
Posted: March 23, 2010 15:14 Comments: 7

subset: commoncrawl


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On November 10th, Dr. Andrew Kuchins discussed his impressions of the 2016 meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club and presented the key takeaways from the meeting, which took place in Sochi from October 24 to October 27, 2016. Dr. Kuchins began by outlining the structure and purpose of the Valdai Discussion Club, describing its increasing inclusiveness, size and extravagance over the last decade. He went on to describe his impressions of President Vladimir Putin's overall mien at Valdai over the past few years, ranging from "white-hot" anger in 2014 to limited hopefulness in 2015 and finally to a sense of bitter resignation in 2016. Dr. Kuchins then turned to Putin's main talking points and comments at the most recent meeting. He reported that Putin expressed disappointment with the failure of the Syrian ceasefire agreement and frustration with the progress of the Minsk agreement and the stalled status of the situation in Ukraine. Putin downplayed Russia's suspension of the treaty on weapons-grade plutonium, noting that it was not a withdrawal from the treaty. Dr. Kuchins reported that Putin questioned the past and future of INF Treaty in the context of Russian vulnerability to nuclear attacks as opposed to the relative lack of immediate nuclear threats to the United States.
Next, Dr. Kuchins outlined the positions of Igor Shuvalov and Alexei Kudrin on Russia's economy, as presented at Valdai. In regard to sanctions, Kuchins reported that Shuvalov expressed confidence that Russia could sustain itself for "a very long time." Kudrin pointed out that sanctions have cost Russia 1% of its GDP per year, which is not enough to warrant a change of policy on the part of the Kremlin. In terms of upcoming reforms, Shuvalov assured the attendees that Russian society was entirely ready, while Kudrin was more cautious about the presentation of sensitive issues such as pension reform to the public. In his presentation, Kudrin spoke to the need for a positive foreign policy and a strong European Union – within limits – for successful economic development. When questioned, Kudrin admitted the greater willingness of the Russian government to accept foreign input on economic reform rather than on foreign and security policy, and spoke to the possible benefits of a more active civil society, more competition in politics, and a more cautiously and carefully-paced approach to the allocation of budgetary resources to military expenditures.
Lastly, Dr. Kuchins discussed the final takeaways from President Putin's remarks at Valdai. Firstly, Mr. Putin insisted on Russia's inability to significantly affect U.S. elections and the necessity of banning intervention in national elections, while not explicitly denying Russia-backed intervention in the cyber sphere. The Russian President then discussed what he saw as a worldwide trend of rebellion against elites and the establishment, creating surprises for the authorities and the media. These surprises, he said, could no longer be chalked up to chance or foreign intervention. Overall, Mr. Putin characterized himself as an outsider, siding with the people in their grievances with the elite.


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Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
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The Standards of Recognition
Since the delegates of this Conference change each year, it important to restate the Standards of Recognition adopted for our guidance when this Commission was formed in 1952. These are the guidelines used to evaluate Regularity of a Grand Lodge, and thereby determine whether it is worthy of consideration for Recognition by our member Grand Lodges.
This Commission provides this data for use by our Grand Lodges, and does not attempt to influence or recommend what action should be taken. The Commission serves in an investigative and advisory capacity only.
The standards of Recognition are summarized as follows:
1. Legitimacy of Origin
2. Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction, except by mutual consent and/or treaty.
3. Adherence to the Ancient Landmarks � specifically, a Belief in God, the Volume of Sacred Law as an indispensable part of the Furniture of the Lodge, and the prohibition of the discussion of politics and religion.
These are called Landmarks, and they all existed prior to 1717. They owe their unchangeableness largely to the fact that without them Masonry would lose its identity, become something different and cease to exist as Masonry.
That it adheres in principle to the Ancient Landmarks, customs and usages of the Craft, as set forth in the Constitutions adopted by the Grand Lodge of England in 1723.
Section 107, #5
Rank in Authority of Masonic Law. When Masonic Laws conflict, they shall rank in point of authority as follows:
1. Landmarks.
2. Constitution of the Grand Lodge.
3. By-Laws of the Grand Lodge.
4. Esoteric Work.
5. Regulations of the Grand Lodge.
6. Lodge By-Laws.
7. Customs and Usages.
8. When laws belonging in the same class conflict, the one last enacted prevails.
Section 3304
Landmarks. A landmark is a law or custom of the Fraternity that has existed "from a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary," and of such nature that it cannot be repealed or changed without making the Fraternity a fundamentally different institution.
Section 3305
Originally posted by protocolsoflove
reply to post by Erbal
I said it once and I'll say it again. Smoke screens. Intentional confusion.
...I probably know more than most master masons anyways.
That's a dangerous assumption.
Humanity has been deceived for thousands of years. This is the bottom line!
Not by Freemasonry.
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by EarthCitizen07
As I said before and still stand-by, there is nothing wrong (or unethical) with secrecy. You decry secrecy and yet partake of it...everyone does.
What they teach in Lodges is private. We have no obligation and you no right to force us out of our private meetings.
...I probably know more than most master masons anyways.
That's a dangerous assumption.
Humanity has been deceived for thousands of years. This is the bottom line!
Not by Freemasonry.
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by EarthCitizen07
I'm not saying all the secrets are the same. I'm saying naturally that secrecy is not a bad thing, it's how one uses it.
Except your paranoia and suspicions cannot usurp my rights. There is nothing in Freemasonry that would allow for "plotting against the people".
What is considered "higher up"?
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by EarthCitizen07
So if your wife confides in you, you're not going to keep those secrets?
As I said, they naturally are not nefarious or wrong.
Your simple logic would fall under the non sequitir fallacy.
Originally posted by KSigMason
reply to post by EarthCitizen07
Man, I'd hate to be your spouse and share any intimate secrets with you as you'd just share them with any person on the street.
I'd say I would explain to you what a non-sequitir argument is, but I'm heading to bed. It is late.
Originally posted by EarthCitizen07
That is indeed the case and anyone who has dug deep enough can probably say this with 100% certainity.
All one has to do is review mainstream history to alternative history, private banking and the promotion of capitalism over socialism, the advocacy of religious dogma over spiritualism, constant wars, racism, etc.
These things cannot happen by themselves. Order out of chaos. problem-reaction-solution
But they always blame human nature as though humans are a bunch of retarded apes in central africa.


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text:
You were the hit of Sophie's 7th birthday party! The kids loved the balloon sculptures, crazy hats, and jet packs. I got several great comments from parents about how much fun their child had with the balloons. My silly Sophie had a blast!
Alex Mother of birthday girl February 4, 2016
I love working with you and your creations are amazing! You're terrific with kids and have an amazing spirit!
Lynn Becker Face Painter February 4, 2016
My girls specifically request Benny's Pizza every Wednesday night to see "Africa" (Erica) and get a balloon (usually a princess of some sort)! They love talking with you and think it's so cool you always remember their names! Thanks for all the fun memories!
Alisha Benny's Pizza customer February 4, 2016
Our daughter has practically grown up with you. She loves that you always remember her name and what she likes. She loves to give you new things to make and you always knock it out of the park. Your personality is wonderful and our kiddo adores you.
Michelle Benny's Pizza customer February 4, 2016
Our last backyard carnival had a pirate theme and the kids still talk about "Captain" Erica and her magic hedgehog. Although they love the balloons you make for them, they really enjoyed your magic show. You always go above and beyond to make the day special and we appreciate it!
Kim Private party customer February 4, 2016
Our son absolutely loves your storytime at Firefly Cafe! You do such a great job engaging the kids with enchanting stories and songs. Thank you for sharing your gifts with children!
Lisa Firefly Play Café customer February 4, 2016


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Q — I was on cloud nine when I met my then-girlfriend, who's now my wife of several months. She's witty, charming, attractive, funny, loving and affectionate.
We had a dream life. Until her ex-best friend came into the picture.
This woman claims that my wife had unpaid debts which she insists that I settle, though stemming from long before we'd met. My wife's unaware that her ex-friend approached me to settle her debts. I refused, and told the woman that I wasn't interested.
Then this "friend" dropped a bombshell on me, asserting that my wife had worked as an exotic dancer at adult establishments which later progressed to her offering intimate companionship services as an escort.
I didn't want to believe her but after conducting some extensive sleuthing I learned that it's all true.
Her ex-friend shared with me a sex tape that shows my wife engaging in intimacy with at least 10 men during one of her paid encounters.
I'm very angry and troubled by these upsetting revelations.
Please note that this letter is not a critical chastisement of sex trade workers. I sympathize with the plight of women who opt for work in occupations that come with inherent risks.
I've not yet raised this with my wife and am unsure how to do so.
She was previously known by a different name, had lived in a different city, etc., none of which she shared with me. If she was seeking a fresh start at life, I'd have appreciated if she'd disclosed all this to me up front when we started dating.
I'm seriously considering speaking to a lawyer and even contemplating divorce. Please advise.
Duped and Deceived
A — Some readers may doubt the authenticity of your letter, due to its almost Hollywood-like dramatic storyline.
However, I receive enough tales of far more outlandish situations and relationships that I will take this one at your word.
Two major red flags in this story:
1. The informant is no ex-friend, but rather a nasty, jealous, conniving person who tried to shake you down for money. If she persists, have a lawyer deal with her claims.
2. You adored your wife and loved your life with her, yet you rush to consider divorce before even talking to her about her past.
She deserves a hearing. Yes, you also deserved the truth, but if the facts are real and if you truly "sympathize with the plight of women who opt for work in (risky) occupations," then listen with an open mind.
Hear her story. Take some time to decide — maybe with counselling help — if you can accept her past. If not, then part amicably. She hasn't ruined your life and now has her own disappointments to handle.
Q — I'm not an adult. My best friend is boy crazy and desperate for a boyfriend! But she discriminates against any other race but Caucasian.
She gets annoying. I think her discrimination needs to stop. I tell her that any race of boys can be cute, but she doesn't listen.
My Bestie Discriminates
A — You're both young but very different. You're open-minded; she's closed-minded, with racist attitudes.
You're a caring friend; she seeks attention from many.
Mostly young people who hold prejudices against other races learn these from their parents and/or a community of bigoted adults. She may even be afraid of having a boyfriend who's "different."
I predict you won't tolerate her attitudes for long. Meanwhile, change the topic. It is annoying.
Regarding splitting the money in your will to be split by inheritors 50-50 (May 17):
Reader — I think that no matter what a will stipulates, siblings or beneficiaries will always be unhappy with something. Even when the split is 50-50, there's sibling conflict and hurt.
My friend encountered this and was hurt when his parents left an equal will as he'd been their primary caregiver for 20 years. His siblings had refused to help yet everyone received the same inheritance.
He suspects his parents worried that there'd be greater conflict. Sadly the conflict never went away and the son who did everything for them is hurt.
The right thing would've been that my friend gets more or the siblings give him more (fat chance).
If you can give extra while alive, do that because no one can tell you how to spend your money. Once a will is involved it gets ugly.
Discovering a partner's unknown and troubling past is shocking, but still deserves an opportunity for honest discussion.


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To be sure, much of the recent economic data has seemed to back Labour claims that the economic recovery is stalling.
On top of the dead weight of high oil prices and the never-ending eurozone crisis, the UK economy now has to contend with renewed weakness in the US.
The headwinds remain as fierce as ever. As downward revisions to the IMF's UK growth forecasts confirm, things aren't turning out as rosy as the Coalition had hoped.
Yet lacklustre though the recovery might seem, it hardly amounts to the end of the world. The slow pace of the economy's bounce back to full employment is neither surprising nor, as the IMF again made plain on Monday, does it provide reason for the Government to perform a reversal on the deficit.
It's a puzzle as to why, but the Government seems constantly to find itself on the back foot on these issues. The alternative fiscal expansionism of the shadow Chancellor, Ed Balls, ought to be swatted away like an annoying fly, yet he seems to be progressively gaining the upper hand. Where's the Plan B, he demands, and much of the media listens.
Perhaps the IMF's unambiguous endorsement will give Mr Osborne the confidence he needs to return to the attack. The reason there is no Plan B is that Labour left things in such a mess that there's absolutely no scope for one.
Mr Balls offers nothing more than the bankrupt (literally) strategies of the past of ever greater government spending. It ended in disaster last time and it's even more likely to do so today.
True enough, the UK has recovered less rapidly than most other major advanced economies. Virtually all of them have entered something of a soft patch over the past month, but unlike the US, Germany and France, output in the UK remains far below pre-crisis levels.
A number of inter-relating reasons are behind the difference, none of which have much to do with the speed of the Government's fiscal consolidation.
Much of the recovery elsewhere in the developed world has been led by a bounce back in manufacturing. Britain's comparatively small manufacturing sector has made it less responsive to this upturn in production.
Conversely, a very high proportion of output is accounted for by household consumption. This source of growth has been undermined by high debt and squeezed incomes.
The UK's relatively large financial services sector has also made the economy particularly prone to the phenomenon observed by Reinhart and Rogoff in their book This Time is Different – namely that financial crises tend to inflict long-lasting damage on economic activity.
Now obviously it would be silly to pretend the fiscal adjustment is having no effect. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the fiscal squeeze pushed through in 2010/11, largely in the form of higher taxes and reversal of the fiscal stimulus, amounted to 2.25pc of output.
The pace of this adjustment eases somewhat going forward, though it becomes increasingly reliant on expenditure cuts. To the extent that the fiscal consolidation does impact on growth – the OBR estimates the squeeze costs about a third of every one percentage point of growth – we are therefore already a good way through the worst.
In its latest health check on the UK economy, the IMF reflects the prevailing Treasury/Bank of England orthodoxy in thinking that the present weakness in growth is just a temporary soft patch, brought on largely by higher fuel prices and taxes.
If the world economy keeps bounding away at above trend growth rates of 4.5pc, there is no reason why improvements in investment and net trade shouldn't drive UK growth back up to 2.5pc next year, the IMF believes.
But what if they don't; what if weak growth and high unemployment become entrenched? For these circumstances, the IMF does indeed suggest a sort of Plan B.
The key point here, however, is that at least some part of this Plan B is already in the script. If growth falls well short of expectations, causing lower tax receipts and higher welfare payments than anticipated, then the automatic stabilisers kick in.
Under the present trajectory of deficit reduction, the Government achieves its fiscal mandate of balanced budgets a year ahead of schedule, which gives quite a bit of headroom. Growth would need to become seriously impaired for the mandate to be breached.
But what if this does come to pass? For this scenario, the IMF suggests more quantitative easing and temporary tax cuts, targeted at low-income groups and job creation.
These suggestions look sensible enough, but even if construed as a Plan B they are hardly endorsement of Labour's alternative economic strategy, where it is an article of faith that the spending cuts themselves are pushing Britain back towards recession. The IMF specifically rejects such a notion.
There are plenty of things the Government can be attacked for, but its determination to tackle the deficit is not one of them. Rather, the missing ingredient in economic policy is the lack of any convincing growth strategy. March's inappropriately named "Budget for growth" barely made a start on this front.
More de-regulation, more tax cutting, more public investment in infrastructure, education and training – all these things are essential if the long march back to a competitive economy is to be achieved.
Yet the second two require even deeper, compensating cuts in current spending. Buying votes still comes before investing in the nation's future.


text:
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text:
40. But am I correct in understanding that they
use the track north of York as well?
(Mr Leah) The trains themselves are turning back at
York, mainly, at the moment. They are pathed to Newcastle, but
because of the bridge going into Newcastle there is a restriction
there. So GNER are actually using them between York and Kings
41. Thank you. Can I just ask also, is Railtrack
concerned by the competing pressures it faces through, first of
all, the fact that the Rail Regulator is imposing the threat of
higher targets and higher fines if these are not met for punctuality
and other performance targets; whereas it is the Railway Inspectorate
that is putting separate and possibly competing targets on the
safety aspect? Is that a concern that Railtrack would have?
(Mr Corbett) The answer is yes. Managing safety on
the railway is about managing a whole set of complex interrelationships;
because on the one hand you have got growth, on the other hand
you have got the requirements for better train performance, and
you have got safety, and they are all in conflict and they need
to be held in balance. And since privatisation, when the railway
was fragmented, it has, I believe, become harder actually to manage
that balance, because the accountabilities are more diffused amongst
the different companies and because the powers have been separated
as well; so I believe that the job of balancing those interests
is harder today than it was before privatisation. Having said
that, the safety record of the railway factually since privatisation
has steadily improved, but I think it is a harder job than it
was. And the railway is a very complex system, and if you suddenly
jerk one bit of it you will have an effect on another bit of it.
And, to an extent, we have seen that in the last week, since the
train crash at Hatfield, when we put in place the procedure for
investigating all the other sites where we know that there are
these little cracks in the rails, and where we put speeds on while
we do ultrasonic testing in order to try to ascertain how far
down the rail the cracks have gone so that we can then take the
necessary remedial action. What we have actually done is reduce
the likelihood of a broken rail, but, at the same time, of course,
we have also reduced the train performance. And, if you think
about it, there is a complex balance between speed, punctuality,
number of trains on the network and safety, and that is, I believe,
harder to manage now than it was; but that is the challenge, that
is what we have to do.
42. Could I just ask, finally, would Railtrack
support calls from, amongst others, this Committee to have an
independent Rail Inspectorate and that rail accidents would be
investigated in the same way as aviation and maritime accidents
are currently investigated?
(Mr Corbett) Our submission to the Cullen Inquiry
supports independent accident investigation. The challenge now
for the industry is to get more joined up so that managing this
balance is easier than it has been; the Regulator is getting more
joined up, and I think the various parties in the industry are
getting more joined up. Because on privatisation it was fragmented,
the contracts that were set up were largely adversarial, they
pointed people in different directions; that has given us all
big management problems, and I think we now have to join it up.
Chairman: We will want to come back to that,
Mr Corbett.
43. Mr Corbett, you have attended this Committee
many, many times and I can recall, on a number of occasions, hearing
you say that safety is a top priority, and the purpose of my question
is to try to delve into that assertion, if you do not mind. Therefore,
my first question is asking for confirmation. Would you confirm
that you wrote to the Rail Regulator earlier in the year accusing
the Rail Regulator of "wasting management time" with
his demands for stronger measures to address the problem of broken
(Mr Corbett) I would like to put that into context.
Broken rails have been a top priority for ever. It became a particular
priority last year when the number had gone up, and we put in
place a big recovery programme, which involved investing an extra
£100 million, cold bolthole expansion, reintroduction of
rail-grinding, more ultrasonic testing, and so on, and that programme
was driving down the number of broken rails. The fact is, we do
have a huge agenda, it is monumental, and during the summer there
was a debate between myself and the Rail Regulator about what
the best way to facilitate delivery was, and whether or not continually
demanding more and more targets and more and more action actually
was the right approach, rather than prioritising and enabling
us to manage. And there were two letters that I wrote to the Rail
Regulator, that I copied to the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord
Macdonald and Sir Alastair Morton, putting forward this point
of view; but those letters also said that, of course, broken rails
are a top priority, of course we would co-operate with the consultancy
study that he proposed. I did request that instead of immediately
having to staff up the consultancy study at the beginning of August
we be given a month to find the right people to work on it. We
have now had that consultancy study, we have got the draft, and
it is very useful, it confirms that we are doing a lot of good
things, but it does give us some very interesting pointers for
the future; and I believe that is going to be published in a couple
of weeks.
44. So you have put it into context, and I am
looking at the graph you have been good enough to supply us with,
that broken rails did go up significantly, and now, as you rightly
say, they are on a downward path, but they are about the same
as they were in 1996-97. So would you accept that the Regulator
was correct to bring this to your attention, and would you confirm
that you did describe his intervention as "wasting management
(Mr Corbett) He did not need to bring the facts to
my attention because I was aware of them, and that was why we
had this huge recovery programme in place. I made the point to
the Rail Regulator that I felt attention ought to be brought to
things where we did not have programmes and where we were not
making progress.
45. So you resented his having taken an interest
in broken rails?
(Mr Corbett) I think how you regulate
a company is a very difficult thing, because the Regulator has
huge powers but the accountability is with the company. And I
think the key challenge facing the Regulator is to move the company
forward at an appropriate pace and get it to deliver what is required
in the public interest; that is the Regulator's challenge. We
have a very energetic Regulator, and I did feel in the summer
that he was trying to cram a quart into a pint pot and that we
were being asked to do too many things too quickly, and that it
was stretching the front line and was stretching our capacity
actually to deliver on everything. And I felt that to have another
go publicly on broken rails, when actually we had these huge programmes
in place anyway, I did think that that just highlighted the issue
of what we are up against.
46. In the light of recent events, do you think
that response, although you have put it into context, as you describe
it, that response to the Regulator's intervention, earlier on
in the year, which we are discussing, was ill-judged?
(Mr Corbett) It was not so much the intervention,
it was the way it was done. I received a letter saying that we
had to staff this up immediately, and then I read about it in
the newspapers the next day, and I personally would have preferred
an approach whereby the `phone was picked up and the Regulator
said "I think it would be a good idea if we had a consultancy
study done on broken rails, don't you? I do have to satisfy myself
that you are making progress on it," etc., etc., and then
we could have worked out what to do and we could have done it
more collaboratively. That was really the point that I was making.
47. I see. Could I now move on very quickly,
with Mrs Dunwoody's permission, to a further report that I think
does address itself to the safety procedures within your company.
Mr Brian Clancy, the Chairman of the Association of Consulting
Engineers, which represents most of Railtrack's engineering contractors,
as I understand it, is on record as believing that the company's,
your company's, continued cost-cutting has undermined rail safety.
He is quoting as saying: "Railtrack bosses need to radically
alter their approach and accept that more money needs to be spent
. . ." How do you respond to that statement from Mr Clancy?
(Mr Corbett) In the last three years we have doubled
our investment, you can see that from the charts, and over 80
per cent of that investment has a safety benefit. We are in the
middle of the Train Protection Warning System, implementing that,
will cost almost £400 million. So we have significantly increased
our investment on safety. And, as you know, the ATP is going to
go onto the fast lines. I think the point that Mr Clancy is making
is that under the old contracts with the maintenance contractor,
that were put in place on privatisation, the payment that the
maintenance contractor received automatically just drops, like
that, and he is raising the issue whether that financial pressure
affects the safety culture at the front line. And I think this
is something that does need some serious consideration, because
although you can say the legal accountability is with individuals
or with a company, and you can say, well, in the contract it says
this and that and they have to maintain the railway to standards,
and so on, in my view contracts and legal accountability are not
actually nearly as powerful as leadership and culture, and I think
that is an issue that now has to be looked at. One of the things
that has happened on privatisation is that you have got different
safety cultures emerging in different parts of the system, and
the companies are all under different pressures, and I think it
goes back to the point I was making earlier that if you move one
bit you move another one.
48. I do not understand different railway cultures,
Mr Corbett. I think I can grasp a safety culture, but I really
do not think I can grasp, certainly in this environment, what
a different number are. Could I finally move on to your relationship
with your sub-contractors. According to press reports, and I am
looking at one in the Daily Telegraph, dated 30 October,
Railtrack said that it was unaware that one of its contractors
had sent a memo. ordering engineers to cut back on train replacements,
this is a memo. that allegedly was sent out by GT Railway Maintenance,
who was one of your major sub-contractors; the memo. appeared
to place a greater emphasis on profit margins than on passenger
safety. Is that report correct, you were unaware of that?
(Mr Corbett) There are 20,000 people employed by the
maintenance contractors, they are huge companies, and there are
many, many memos that will be going around in those companies
that we are not aware of. I think Mr Leah has been dealing with
the investigation into that, and perhaps he should comment.
(Mr Leah) We are talking about the letter that was
in the News of the World and the Sunday Times?
49. Yes.
(Mr Leah) After reading that letter myself we did
immediately follow up with GTRM to see the background and put
it into context and see what it was all about; long discussions
with their Managing Director, as well as other people in their
company. And the memo. which was written and printed in that particular
newspaper was, in fact, a letter which clarified, because there
was some dubiety, the standards and the advice to give to ultrasonic
testing personnel, and it was about two types of defect; and the
standard was a standard which could actually have some misinterpretation,
and it was all to do with welding.
50. Just a minute, Mr Leah. You are telling
us that you actually had some set of standards, on something as
basic as welding, and they were capable of misunderstanding, is
that what you are saying?
(Mr Leah) What GTRM were doing, Madam
Chairman, was to make certain that their ultrasonic testers were
perfectly aware of the reality and the understanding of those
standards; it was to do with the type of defects that are found
in a rail. Now the letter went on to say, or the article went
on to say, that there were many defects in an area around the
Willesden and Kenton area, and it was to do with what we call
tache ovale defects in the track, which Richard, as an
engineer, would be able to explain more than I, but it also talks
about when rails need to be clamped, when they do not need to
be clamped, and that they need to be changed or inspected again
in 13 days.
Chairman: I think Mr Stevenson will want to
bring you back to the point.
51. I realise I have asked about four questions,
but, I have to tell you, Mr Leah, and I accept this is a problem
here, I am becoming more confused as we go on. All I want to know
is, do you confirm that, as a company, you were unaware of that
(Mr Leah) We were unaware of that memo., yes.
52. Secondly, you say you are aware of it now,
and can I refer then to a part of the report that concerns itself
with this memo. that your company was unaware of; and, may I suggest,
it appears to me to be a pretty important memo. that your company
was not aware of. Dealing with repairs, not testing, not ultrasonic
testing, dealing with repairs, the memo., according to the report,
says, and I quote: "Repairs would then be carried out"
repairs, mind you, "at the discretion of the repairers, if
they have the resources to do that." (A) Do you give your
sub-contractors that discretion; if you do, do you not think it
is a pretty dangerous practice to embark upon? And I certainly
would welcome your reaction to (a) that part of the memo. and
my questions as a result.
(Mr Leah) We do not give discretion. There are two
issues here, classification 2(f) and classification 2(c). Let
me tell you what those are, and you will see there is no discretion.
Two, means that clamp plates must be fitted immediately to the
rail, and (c) means that that defect must be removed within 13
weeks, or seven days if it cannot be clamped. And (f), 2(f), means
fit the clamps and weld and repair to the engineer's timescale,
and that engineer's timescale is one that is also laid down. So
that is pretty well tied up and documented. And that is what has
been returned to me from GTRM, that they have abided by that instruction.
53. But, clearly, if this memo. is confirming
it has been confirmed by you, even though your company was not
aware of it, it would appear from the contents of that memo. that
GT are giving you some information, or want certain information,
and they are sending out memos to their staff that does things
entirely differently?
(Mr Leah) That can be further investigated. The memo.
which came from GTRM, of course, I requested it from GTRM because
of the newspaper reports, and I asked them to put it into context
and I asked them to confirm to me that what they were doing, especially
in the geographical area that was outlined, were within our standards,
and they have confirmed to me that it is within their standards.
54. But have you asked them whether it is true
that anybody doing ultrasonic testing who finds a crack is asked
not to go any further, and that, in fact, many of them are being
reclassified not as a crack but as a defect, which, of course,
would mean they did not have to have a speed restriction?
(Mr Leah) I have not asked that question.
55. Is it not a good question to ask? Do you
not think, in the light of the fact that there is some worry about
ultrasonic machines, some that do not work, some that are not
available, some that may be misinterpreted, perhaps you need a
little clearer instructions on the interpretation of ultrasonic
(Mr Leah) Absolutely. We did ask the question though
of GTRM regarding their ultrasonic records, and their ultrasonic
records have been inspected, especially with the derailment that
happened at Stafford, which was a broken rail, not long after
the tragedy at Hatfield, and those records were kept and were
kept in a way that we would think they should have been.
56. But you did not ask them whether, in fact,
there were any cases of anyone using ultrasonic equipment who
had been told if they found a crack not to proceed?
(Mr Leah) That question was not directly asked, no.
Chairman: I see.
57. A moment ago, you seemed to accept, Mr Corbett,
that there was some conflict, or might be some conflict, between
performance incentives and penalties and safety. Do you think
that conflict played any part at all in the events leading up
to the tragedy at Hatfield?
(Mr Corbett) I think there is a conflict between performance
and safety. It is easy to give an example. If you have got a London
terminus and you have got 200 trains going into it at 30 miles
an hour, and then the next year you have 300 trains going at 60,
manifestly you have got two different types of risk; but it is
our job to balance those different factors and to ensure that
the railway is safe, that is our responsibility. It is too early
to say from Hatfield yet whether that balance went wrong locally,
but it is fundamental to the investigation to understand why those
speed restrictions did not go on when it is the individuals' jobs
to put them on, it is in the contract that they should put them
on, it is their legal accountability, and so on. And I think we
do have to understand whether or not there is not an issue at
the front line in the maintenance contractors within Railtrack
about that, and that maybe the driving to meet performance targets
has, as it gets lower down the organisation, created a sort of
noise and a set of effects that we did not intend to. Certainly,
nothing that has come up to me, in my position, has suggested,
until Hatfield, that this was an issue, because we see the safety
indicators basically all moving in the right direction, and the
programmes we put in post Ladbroke Grove have all re-emphasised
the absolute importance of safety. But we do need to understand
better on the front line what the impact of the drive for performance
58. So would you agree with the Regulator when
he said, in the Financial Times, "good management of performance
and safety are entirely consistent and inseparable"; would
you agree with that assessment?
(Mr Corbett) I think that if you overemphasise one
particular part of the equation you affect the other part, and
I think that good management is about balancing it.
59. So you would not agree with the Regulator
really, you are saying it is about balance? But he said the two
are inseparable and good management of the railways equals safety;
but you are actually saying the two might well be, there may be
a conflict between safety and incentives, and so you would therefore
not agree with the Regulator at all then?
(Mr Corbett) I think it is harder to balance the safety
performance equation if you have a set of external pressures on
you that are focusing on one particular bit of it. I do think
it is harder to balance it; but that is our job, to balance it.


text:
Reuters Staff
1 Min Read
Aug 31 (Reuters) - Huishang Bank Corp Ltd:
* Current public float of bank's H shares is 19.68% and remains below minimum of 25% Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage:
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text: Hello everybody, I Downloaded Trauma Center: Second Opinion-VORTEX (NTSC)... and did first use RegionFrii_v1.21_WII-SYNDiCATE and then WiiBrickBlocker v1.3. Start up the DVD in my Wii (Pal 2.2E), pushed "run/start" when the gamescreen came up and then the tv got Black and the Wii remote died but the wii was on. So I took out the DVD and tried to shutdown the wii console with the buttons on the consloe but it didnt work so I cut the electricidy. Put the electricity back on and now the wii is dead. no sound no light nothing.... Have install Clonekey with wiikey 1.2 disc.... mario. What to do? Have I brook my wii? Or is it possible to get it running again. Have I fucked the power supply in the wii? any idea? Best regards Jimmy


text:
Metra said Monday that it appears a train crew did not follow procedures Saturday when a 4-year-old boy's foot got caught in the door of a train as it started to leave the station.
The boy, D.J. Newton, was not injured, said his mother, Eileen Kermer, 31, of Worth. She said, however, the incident has caused the boy to become "petrified" of riding the train.
D.J. used to love trains, Kermer said, "but not any more. He said he would never go on that crazy train again."


text:
Saigon New Apartments for Sales (Ho Chi Minh City)
Located in Thao Dien ward of District 2, Xi Riverview Palace is far 6km away from CBD and 1km from Hanoi Highway. This place is also nearby a lot of famous international schools like BIS, AIS, HIS. And it is convenience to go to An Phu Market and Metro supermarket.
Now Available:
Unit type: Protected content (3beroom, 3 bathroom)
Price: from Protected content
Jones Lang Lasalle is sales agent for Xi Riverview Palace
Please contact: Mr. Long Chau
Phone number Protected content
Protected content


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Here you will find our most commonly asked questions – just click on the "+" sign to expand the answers. Please let us know if your query has not been answered below, and we will happily respond to your specific requests.
Are the retreats supervised by qualified health professionals?
Yes. We provide constant support to our clients and have Western qualified retreat hosts, qualified practitioners in Natural Medicine, Naturopathy and Nutrition; who work closely with our clients to achieve their personal goals. Our team have over 15 years combined experience specifically working with fasting and detox clients, and extensive additional experience offering a diverse range of natural health modalities to our clients throughout our retreats.
This is our definitive point of difference from other retreat offerings in Bali, and one which we feel is paramount to the safety and support of our clients, and the amazing results we deliver! We typically have two Western qualified retreat hosts guiding you through your transformative retreat experience. We are not the cheapest option – but we do feel we provide the greatest value to your physical, emotional and spiritual health. And we believe that investing in your health is pivotal to reaching your full potential and making an impact on the world around you.
I've found a similar retreat that is cheaper, where is the extra value in going with Natural Instinct Healing?
There are some amazing programs out there, and we tip our hat off to anyone who has established themselves in the industry and continue to provide a quality service! The value we believe we deliver, above and beyond any other program, has been listed below:
Western qualified professional support during your retreat: There is typically a Western Qualified Practitioner on site from 8am to 7pm every day throughout your retreat. We generally have two Western qualified retreat hosts on our programs, who rotate on a schedule which means they usually both are on site for 4-6 hours a day. Our practitioners are qualified in Naturopathy, Nutrition and/or Natural Medicine – and we feel strongly that this is vital to the safety and support of our clients. Our team members have been facilitating detox retreats in Australia, Thailand, Europe and Bali – and have guided hundreds (approaching thousands!) of guests through the cleansing and detox process.
Holistic approach to health: We not only focus on the physical detoxification of our your body, but have a strong and supportive emphasis on your emotional and spiritual health. It is very common, as we detox the body, that emotions also come forth for cleansing – with this in mind our therapists are experienced with reiki, emotional cleansing, flower essence therapy, and a host of other modalities to ensure your experience is an empowering journey as you reconnect and step into your full potential.
Accommodation: We accommodate our guests in comfort to ensure the experience is as much a holiday and rejuvenation as it is a total transformation of their health and wellbeing. For those who wish to upgrade we have tiered levels of accommodation to cater for everyone.
Empowering our guests: We are committed to not only inspiring healthy lifestyles, but also empowering and educating our guests so they go home with practical tools to implement healthy lifestyle changes into their lives. As part of all our programs we have interactive workshops covering health, raw food kitchen classes, nutrition, conscious cleansing, emotional clearing, and meditations.
How many people do you usually have on your retreats?
We do not have a minimum participant number – so when we confirm your booking we will run your retreat! We aim keep things personal to enable our retreat hosts to "hold space" for our guests appropriately, as such typically our groups have a maximum of 12 guests. More often our guest numbers on retreat are typically 6-8 guests. This is unique to the industry… and we feel we have greater results in this intimate setting where our qualified practitioners and retreat hosts have ample time to share with each individual guest.
What dates can I come for a retreat, are there set dates?
Yes we have set scheduled retreat dates. These can be found by clicking on the "bookings" heading, which will give program options and dates. Typically our 7 & 10 night Fasting Detox and Superfood Cleanse programs are offered on all retreat dates, and our 14 night Total Transformation is offered every 2nd retreat dates.
What program should I do? What are the differences?
All our detox programs follow a similar activity schedule and have the same inclusions (except for daily food intake), and can all run in unison with one another during the same retreat period. The major difference is the 'depth' of detoxing guests can expect on the different program offerings. We've provided a summary below; keeping in mind each and every guest has a unique physical, emotional, and spiritual experience:
Total Transformation – the program is an advanced cleanse specifically designed to gently ease guests into and out of the fasting process. Perfect for guests with an extended amount of time available to completely unplug and make the necessary changes toward a healthy and positive direction in life. This is our ultimate retreat offering, and at some point in the future we'd love to have all our clients joining this program! The TT program is offered every 2nd retreat period i.e. approx. once per month.
Fasting Detox – this is a deep and thorough cleanse and our signature program offering. Expect a complete reset of bodily systems, full detoxification, and major physical, emotional, and spiritual breakthroughs! The fasting process is the quickest and most effective way to achieve major 'results'. The 10 night Fasting Detox is our most popular program.
Superfood Cleanse – this program is for guests who would like a gentler cleanse and not interested or able to do a full fasting detox. The Superfood Cleanse can be tailored to different 'depths' of detoxification. An all-liquid diet gives the digestive system a great chance to slow down, and focus energy towards the body's healing process. It is a popular choice for guests starting their journey in the 'cleansing world', and great chance to rest, rejuvenate and get 'back on track'!
When should I arrive to Bali for my retreat? Can i come early and/or stay after?
Ideally coming in the day(s) prior to the program start date is perfect, as it gives you a chance to settle into your room and Bali, and often a chance for a 'final supper' at one of the amazing healthy restaurants in Ubud 🙂 We offer a 25% discount on pre and post retreat accommodation, and you can select this from within the rego form, or simply email us later with your requested extra nights. Staying on for a night or two afterward your program is also common for guests who want to explore the amazing healthy food culture on offer in Ubud. Literally every 2nd cafe or restaurant is serving up amazing, cheap, healthy and most often organic meals!
Day One of your retreat will include a personal health assessment and retreat orientation; our retreat hosts will begin these from 11:00am for guests. The group retreat orientation is typically scheduled for 3-4pm on Day One (prior to that it is a whole lot of massages, relaxing by the pool, and getting comfortable in your room!). We understand connecting flights often arrive mid afternoon on Day 1. This is not a major problem; keeping in mind that for those fasting you will only consume water and freshly squeezed juices whilst in transit to Bali (and if arriving late afternoon on Day 1 you'll miss the group retreat orientation, which we'll make up in person the following day).
On the Last Day guests "break" their cleanse in the morning at approx. 9-10am, finishing up by 10am-11am and checking out prior to midday. Ideally flights leaving after 2:30pm ish on the final day are best. Anything earlier will mean leaving the retreat centre before the final retreat 'closing circle'. Subject to availability checkouts can be arranged.
I can't find the prices? Where are they?
Full pricing and room availability can be found for each program after selecting your preferred program and clicking 'register here' from within the BOOKING page (which is a main menu option page). You will be taken directly to the registration page which outlines room options and pricing (pricing varies as we have tiered room options). All prices are all-inclusive of the program and accommodation.
Alternatively you can view the "personal investment" aka pricing schedule online by clicking this link: http://naturalinstincthealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Retreat-Price-List.pdf
What currency are your prices in?
All prices on the website are in USD unless noted otherwise. We have a global network of clients from all corners of the world, so to keep things stable we use the USD. We hope you understand.
I'm looking at coming with my partner or a friend. Do you offer discounts for twin share?
Yes. We offer a 15% discount for couples and twin share bookings (i.e. 2 pax in one bedroom). This discount rates are already reflected in the "share bed" or "twin share" room booking options when registering for a program. Twin share, with 2 separate beds in the one room, is currently only available in the Muladhara, and Manipura rooms. Whereas all rooms, except the Anahata rooms, can accommodate 'shared bed' bookings.
I can't find your retreat centre on Trip Advisor, why is it not on there!?!
All businesses have a choice to be on Trip Advisor; for several reasons we choose not to be on there. One reason is that ultimately we believe (and know from industry feedback) that a lot of the 'feedback', positive or otherwise, is bogus i.e. fake testimonials done in an attempt to either 'boost' the businesses profile, or negative feedback from others setting out to shame their competitors. So we choose to let your guests do their own talking, and accompany each testimonial with a photo, name, and employment of the past guest.We also have had some beautiful guests share their experience via video testimonials. These can all be found in the "About" heading of our website.
I'm on medication(s), can I still join a detox program?
If joining our fasting detox program we will need to know specific details around what medication and dosage, for what condition, so as to ensure our program will not be contraindicative to your healing journey. Rarely have one of our programs not been suitable for a client based on their medication intake.
During your initial intake on day one of the program, one of our qualified Naturopaths assess your overall health history and discuss with you what time of day will be best for you to continue taking your medication. You will not be asked to stop taking your medication.
The absorption of most medications through the liver is roughly 2-4 hours. It can take longer (4-8 hours) depending on the drug and its route of absorption – in these instances your medication will need to be taken at night at 8-9pm (approx. 4 hours after your last detox-bentonite clay shake). Then it has 8-10 hours of absorption throughout the night.
Our Naturopaths can prescribe additional system support (herbal, homeopathic, etc) that will support you during the detox. We have a variety of serotonergic herbs that will enhance and support the absorption and pharmacodynamics certain medications. Typical medications will be absorbed provided there is a 2-4 hour 'time window' away from the detox-bentonite clay shakes. This question is asked a lot and is always a big concern for guests that are taking a few different medications, so we understand your concerns.
The colonics and enemas are only able to remove what is in the colon. By the time a medication has been processed by the liver, the renal system and the stomach, it is only the excipients of the tablet left in the colon to be removed. Excipients are the fillers, binders, chemicals and powders that make up the tablet. The active medication is already absorbed and the body excretes the residue of the tablet.
As always the details outlined above are our opinion based on experience, and no substitute for professional advice from your local doctor, health professional, etc.
I have a specific condition and/or disease. How do I know if a retreat will be suitable for me?
Please ensure you mention your condition and/or disease in as much detail as possible within your initial enquiry to us. We will respond with questions to clarify the status, severity, and nature of the condition. From there we can provide you with our qualified health opinion.
Do you use self-administered enemas or colonic hydrotherapy?
We utilise self-administered enemas as part of our program. We feel they are less obtrusive on the body, and a "gentler" way of cleansing the colon. Our guests have been getting some great results! We also recommend and coordinate as an optional extra for our guests to have a "high colonic" as part of the program. This is facilitated at a nearby resort by a professional therapist.
What are your usual guests' age and background?
We have guests from all walks of life. That's what keeps our job so interesting! Guests all have their own reason for joining us, so there is not an average age or demographic per-say; more so an eclectic mix of colourful characters!
What is the procedure for securing a booking, is there a deposit I need to pay?
In order to secure a booking we require a 25% non-refundable deposit. The balance is required no later than 30 days prior to arrival. All bookings are now made through our booking portal online. Click the 'bookings' heading on website to go proceed. Payment is 100% secure, safe, and seamlessly made via credit card.
I know some of the NIH team already. Do you know who will be hosting my retreat?
Our amazing team at Natural Instinct Healing are also on their own professional, personal, health and healing journeys – so we cannot guarantee which of our team members will be onsite at any one time to guide you through your specific retreat experience; only that you will have qualified and constant support throughout your stay with us. Typically we have a roster that includes two retreat hosts on every retreat. If you have a preference and/or connection to one of our team members please let us know within your initial enquiry.
Will I have time during my retreat for relaxing, shopping, down time, etc?
Natural Instinct Healing are well experienced in the art of providing constant support to guests while giving them the space to enjoy Bali! Generally the day starts with Yoga or Exercise Therapy at 8:30am, a workshop every 2nd day at 12:00pm, and then massages and/or steam and sauna sessions mid afternoon.
For those wishing to unplug and relax there is plenty of time for a good book around the pool! And we have a full time driver on hand for transfers into and around town – for those guests looking to enjoy some retail therapy 🙂
Do you treat guests with a history of substance abuse / addictions?
People from all walks of life join us, for all different reasons – but please note we are not a 'substance' detox centre for guests with addictions and a history of substance abuse e.g. alcohol, amphetamines, heroin, marijuana, etc. We will be happy to recommend alternative options for these guests – one which is particularly well regarded in Bali.
If you have been clean (absolutely no use of any substances aside from tobacco) for an extended period (12+ months) and would like to discuss joining us as a further extension of your cleansing journey please do so. We just need to check in with you around your sobriety and a couple of unique questions so as to ensure we can deliver on our promise of supporting you through a transformative process.
FAQs FOR CONFIRMED RETREAT GUESTS
Here are the FAQs for our clients booked and coming soon! Just click on the "+" sign to expand the answers. You should have also received a booking conformation email outlining pre-retreat preparation and finer details of the awesome experience ahead!
Do I need a Visa to come to Bali?
Rules and regulations DO change daily and between different countries, so please be familiar with your own responsibilities.
A lot of countries (incl. Australia, UK, US, NZ, etc) now receive a free 30 Day tourist 'Visa on Arrival (VOA)' at the airport. Some countries still need to still pay for the visa which is US$35, or the equivalent in other major currencies. Please make certain you have at least 8 months on your passport before it expires.
Note: If you intend to stay in Indonesia more than 30 days then you must pay for a Visa on Arrival, which can then be extended beyond the month (up to 60 days in total at time of writing this).
What happens when I arrive at the airport in Bali?
Airport transfers are included in your retreat package. We'll have a smiling Balinese driver waiting as you exit the airport with a sign with your name on it. You will then be chauffeured in a comfortable air-conditioned car up to Ubud, which is approx. 1.5hrs from the airport.
Checking through the airport can be hit and miss… Sometimes you can breeze through in 30 minutes, other times it can take up to an hour or more to pass through immigration and customs. But rest assured the driver will be waiting on the other side regardless of how long it takes! As you come out of the airport there will be a sea of drivers waiting to collect people (which can be a daunting welcome to Bali!), take your time to look around as one will have your name on a sign!
For guests wanting to exchange foreign cash upon arrival we strongly recommend waiting to do so at a reputable exchange house near the retreat centre in Ubud. They provide a much better exchange rate and professional service.
I've arrived to airport and can't find driver... Help!?!
Arriving to Bali airport can be a bit chaotic sometimes, welcome to Indonesia! First and foremost take your time to look around as one of our drivers will have your name on a sign, hidden amongst the sea of other drivers awaiting their guests…
If you have looked for, and double/triple checked, and still can't see your smiling driver then don't panic – as the Balinese say 'relax, breathe, and make the next best move'. And that would be giving our Transport Manager, Pak Made, a call on +62 812 388 464 14. He'll coordinate with his driver at the airport to track you down at a specific meeting point. Pak Made speaks perfect English.
If you can't get through to Pak Made then please try the Retreat Centre landline on +62 361 970 778. Depending on your time of arrival there may be a Western or Indonesian staff on hand at retreat centre to handle your call. If all else fails try calling or texting the mobile +62 812 396 171 44.
What should I bring to Bali and the retreat?
Please note we encourage you to bring all non-chemical products for your retreat! This can include facial and hair care products, toothpaste, etc… We do supply 100% natural products in your rooms including coconut oil, liquid soap/shampoo, etc. There are also some great local organic shops in Ubud that specialise in non-chemical and organic products. Other recommendations include:
- Swimwear for water therapy, dipping pools, steam, and sauna;
- 2 x Sarongs for massages and water ceremony (we also have extras you can borrow);
- Light jumper (it does get cool in Ubud!);
- Sunscreen and Hat;
- Comfortable clothes suitable for yoga & exercise;
- Foot wear/runners for morning rice paddy walks;
- Sanitary pads and/or tampons for females clients.
Please also bring anything else that you always wish you had more time for! e.g. Musical instruments, books, etc. We do have a retreat library, paints, and other things to support your creative side on site at the retreat centre.
I'm bringing foreign cash, can I exchange somewhere?
For guests wanting to exchange foreign cash upon arrival we strongly recommend waiting to do so at a reputable exchange house near the retreat centre in Ubud. We always use the same one and have never had any issues, and they always have an up to date and reasonable exchange rate. We advise not to do any exchange at the Bali airport.
What time do I start and finish my retreat?
Ideally coming in the day(s) prior to the program start date is perfect, as it gives you a chance to settle into your room and Bali, and often a chance for a 'final supper' at one of the amazing healthy restaurants in Ubud 🙂 We offer a 25% discount on pre and post retreat accommodation, and you can select this from within the rego form, or simply email us later with your requested extra nights. Staying on for a night or two afterward your program is also common for guests who want to explore the amazing healthy food culture on offer in Ubud. Literally every 2nd cafe or restaurant is serving up amazing, cheap, healthy and most often organic meals!
Day One of your retreat will include a personal health assessment and retreat orientation; our retreat hosts will begin these from 11:00am for guests. The group retreat orientation is typically scheduled for 3-4pm on Day One (prior to that it is a whole lot of massages, relaxing by the pool, and getting comfortable in your room!). We understand connecting flights often arrive mid afternoon on Day 1. This is not a major problem; keeping in mind that for those fasting you will only consume water and freshly squeezed juices whilst in transit to Bali (and if arriving late afternoon on Day 1 you'll miss the group retreat orientation, which we'll make up in person the following day).
On the Last Day guests "break" their cleanse in the morning at approx. 9-10am, finishing up by 10am-11am and checking out prior to midday. Ideally flights leaving after 2:30pm ish on the final day are best. Anything earlier will mean leaving the retreat centre before the final retreat 'closing circle'. Subject to availability checkouts can be arranged.


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When you're the number one search engine in the EU and have a market share of just north of 90%, the antitrust watchdogs keep a pretty close eye on you. Google's been under scrutiny for quite some time, and now the company has agreed to level the playing field to make things right.
The investigation started backed in 2010 over concerns that Google was unfairly promoting its own services — like YouTube, Google Maps, and shopping search — on search result pages. What some call "unfair leverage," others might call "deep integration," but Google has decided that the time has come to extend the olive branch.
For the next five years, Google will implement several changes designed to highlight when it's promoting its own services. In some places, Google will also start promoting competitors' offerings.
Where Google currently displays, say, a link to YouTube videos that line up with your search terms, it will also list links to three competing sites once the proposed changes are implemented. The same goes for Maps links, though it begs the question… which three sites will be linked?
YouTube is the web's most popular video destination by a wide margin. In many EU countries, the second most-visited video domain is serving up porn, but it's hard to imagine Google slapping up links to such sites. Sites like Vimeo and DailyMotion are more obvious choices, but they're so comparatively low on the traffic totem pole that it's hard to imagine Google's concessions having any real impact.
Google has also pledged to more clearly illustrate which search results are promotions for its own sites, which, again, probably won't make any difference to the person staring at the screen.
While the first two concessions aren't going to shake things up, a third might. Google has also agreed to provide newspaper publishers with a tool to control what content appears on Google News.
Several big newspapers in the EU have had a beef with Google because of its agregator, believing that the company was profiting from their content. In fact, Google just finished battling German newspapers in court last month over this very issue. Ultimately, the court agreed that since Google doesn't display ads near Google News snippets (in Europe anyway) there was no profit-making going on.
Nevertheless, newspaper publishers that have a problem with Google reusing their content willy-nilly will soon be able to intervene on their own behalf. You'd have to assume the process will be completely manual and somewhat time-consuming (newspapers publish a lot of content every day, after all), so again, there probably won't be any serious impact from this concession, either.
Then again, anti-trust concessions aren't necessarily as much about actually leveling the playing field as they are about making the field appear more level.


text:
Is Lockerz a scam or is it legitimate? Just this afternoon while I was doing my routine, my co owner of this blog was bothering me to sign up for a Lockerz account, The website is simple, You earn points by playing games, watching videos, answering questions daily, referring friends and by signing in. You earn 2-4 points just for doing so, and when you accumulate enough points, you can redeem your prizes like Macbook, Ipods and others.
But the BIG, HUGE, SUPER question is, Is Lockerz for real, is it legit? Well I've googled it and majority says that it's not scam and about 20-30 percent say it's a scam. I've also looked @ youtube for reviews and there are actually some users who uploaded the unboxing of their prizes so I'm really confused if it's legitimate or what. So I've decided that I'm gonna give it a try. I'm aiming for a Macbook pro that I can use for my business. I'll be updating this post if I get an answer myself if it's for real or not.
So for those who want to take this Lockerz challenge/experiment with me, please enter your email address below so I can send you an invite. The site is on its beta stage so you can only sign up by invite.
Good luck!
Update: after 2 days I've already accumulated 254 points and 15 friends have accepted my invite. I basically did it by watching vids . I need 5 more to be a Locker Z lister and play games as well (which means more PTZ). I should also receive a Lockerz shirt upon 20 friends joined and I will be able to know if Locker Z is legit – If they can't me a cheap shirt there's no way on earth they can send me expensive gadgets.
Will update this post when I reach 1000 Ptz
for Lockerz invites, please email firstname.lastname@example.com