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Bluebells at Sheffield Park and Garden
Mid April until late May is the perfect time for a visit to see the bluebells at Sheffield Park and Garden. There are plenty of places to enjoy them, whether you prefer to stick to the paths or pull on your wellies and venture off track. Here are the best places to spot them around the estate this spring.
In the garden
As you meander along the paths, you will find seas of blue throughout the garden as bluebells enjoy the dappled shade of our vast tree collection. Generally arriving a little later than the woodland bluebells, the garden display sits among other spring colour such as rhododendrons and fritillaries.
" How the merry bluebell rings To the mosses underneath... "
Walk Wood
Having been left undisturbed for years, this historic woodland has one of the best displays of bluebells at Sheffield Park and Garden. Walk Wood is a hidden delight of peace and tranquility, carpeted with bluebells throughout April and May. As it is off the beaten track, sturdy footwear is recommended and it may not be suitable for buggies and pushchairs.
East Park
The East Park circular walk has a spectacular show of bluebells and also gives glimpses back into the garden across the lakes. It's also great for dog walkers, as this is the area where dogs are free to run off-lead.
Bluebell special events
Planning your visit
Sheffield Park and Garden is located midway between East Grinstead and Lewes, 5 miles north-west of Uckfield, on the east side of A275 (between A272 and A22). If approaching north-bound from Lewes, we are just past the Bluebell Railway, over the River Ouse bridge on the right. Coming south-bound from the A22 Wych Cross, follow the brown signs for Sheffield Park and the Bluebell Railway.
Parking is free and we have accessible parking available. It can sometimes become full on busy days and occasionally we have to close it to avoid queues onto the busy A275. We ask that you avoid parking on the A275 in these instances as it dangerous for you and other road users. Please note we have speed bumps on our driveway which may not be suitable for low clearance vehicles.
Normal admission charges apply for entry to the garden and Walk Wood. East Park, Ringwood Toll and Skyglade are outside of the pay barrier. Please ask at Visitor Reception where the bluebells are looking their best on the day of your visit and ask for a trail if you would like a suggested route around the garden or estate.
Bringing your dog
Well behaved dogs on short-leads are welcome in the garden and Walk Wood after 1.30pm. Dogs are also welcome on the parkland on leads and off-lead in East Park at any time. Leads are available to borrow from Visitor Reception.
Eating and shopping
The Coach House tearoom is open every day serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, hot meals, children's lunch boxes, cakes, biscuits and more. If you're in the garden and would like to pick up a drink and a snack, visit The Shant (marked number 8 on your map), for refreshments on the go. There are also two giftshops open for browsing for souvenirs and gifts, food and drink, books, and pocket money toys.


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The First Way
There are four main ways that moisture enters a common crawl space. The first and most obvious way is through the open dirt. As the ground outside the home is saturate with rain, the moisture level in a crawl space raises rapidly. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold. This means the most devastating months are the warm ones. This excess moisture condensates to cooler surfaces like water lines and the foundation walls. It also settles on the ground when the temperature falls, gets absorbed by the wood structure and any insulation that is installed in the crawl space. The building code in nearly every area of the country requires a vapor retarder with a perm rating of less that 1 to be installed on the floor of the crawl space. There are no requirements to how it should be installed, just that it must be. This leaves a wide gap in the final performance of a vapor retarder. If anyone wants to find recommendations on how to install; there are many opinions on the internet. It is not really a mystery if you know what it is suppose to do. For the sake of conversation, let's say we go down to the local hardware and buy some plastic and install it in the crawl space according to the local building code. The problem of moisture entering the crawl space from the ground is fixed! Right? Well not entirely, any gaps in the plastic (at the seams, around supports and where it meets the wall) will still allow moisture to escape. It will continue to allow this to happen until the air, the wood structure and the concrete foundation are saturated. To make it more complicated, when the temperature falls in the evening the excess moisture leaves the air and settles like dew on top of the plastic only to evaporate again when the warmer air returns. Then the next time your plumber has to go down there to fix a frozen water line the plastic will probably not be in the same place as it was when you installed it causing your efforts to be wasted. The other common issue is when the crawl space floods, water gets on top of the plastic and can not be absorbed by the earth. This of course leaves a breading ground for bacteria and mosquitoes while introducing a new long lasting supply of moisture.

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The best case scenario is it could work very well and I've been told I could feel better after just two weeks. I don't like to think of the worst scenario. This is the biggest dilemma I have faced in a long time and an incredibly difficult one for me to try and fathom out.
My voice has gone again, either due to the goretex shifting in my vocal cord after a mammoth coughing fit or something more sinister. I'll find out about that on Wednesday at another clinic.
|Myself with Elliott 13 and Luke 26. Both a happy and sad day.
I have managed to fit in two birthdays in between all this horror. My eldest son Luke was 26 and my youngest son Elliott was 13 on the same day (29th January). It was lovely to see them both together and we even managed to have a small family gathering to celebrate. I even managed to swallow some of the birthday cake Cathy made.
This is just a short update. More will follow after my clinic on February 1st. By then some decisions will have been made.


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Wild pigs scurry out of our way as we rip roar through the jungle, before resting the ATV near a slow, gurgling river. I know we're not being followed, but I still look hesitantly over my shoulder, a bit sheepish over what I'm about to do. I'm hot and sweaty, and have just spotted a lone vine dangling from a mango tree beside the river. I take a running leap and swing on the vine Indiana Jones style. Swaying over the murky river feels positively decadent after careening over miles of rugged terrain, and the fact that I'm in the exact spot where Harrison Ford shot Raiders of the Lost Ark makes the moment even more delicious.
I'm with my family at Kipu Ranch, a stunning 3,000-acre parcel of land on Kaua'i. We've come to this laid-back island laced with lush rainforests and cascading falls for the same reason as most folks. Hawaii hits all the right buttons with its tropical breezes and Shangri-La-like landscape, yet you're still in the good, old U.S. of A. Translation: you reap all the benefits of an exotic local without the hassles. You can be assured communication won't be a problem, hygiene standards will be up to snuff and there'll be great weather.
With direct flights from several Canadian cities, the garden isle is quietly luring Canadians away from Oahu and Maui. You won't find mega malls nor concrete condo towers blocking splendid ocean views. Not when buildings are required to be lower than the palm trees (that's four storeys, max), and only three per cent of the land has been developed. Plus, Kaua'i has almost as many family-friendly attractions as it has feral chickens (and that's a lot).
Here are three of the ways families can explore the oldest island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
Waterfall Picnic Horseback Ride
Trail rides at Princeville Ranch Adventures begin with a hug and a kiss. You need to hug your steed with your legs and make smooching sounds to get these horses going across the verdant open pastures of the North Shore. Moseying past Brangus cattle, and abundant fruit trees, the history of the region, flora and fauna is revealed by guides (along with a few celebrity factoids).
With recent visits from Oprah, Obama, Katy Perry (who ziplined) and Julianne Moore (who opted for a private horseback ride), Kaua'i is a hot spot for A-listers as much as it is for families.
"Locals don't get caught up in celebrity hype, and Kaua'i lets them get away from it all," says our guide Scott Young, as he points out the holiday homes of Pierce Brosnan and Ben Stiller from his horse.
After an hour of riding, you'll tie up the horses and wind your way through the jungle on a steep trail lined with rope handholds and the petals of African tulips (that are occasionally used as scented toilet paper by vaqueros). While it takes some effort to descend into the Kalihiwai Valley, you'll be glad you did once spotting Kalihiwai Falls, a secluded 80-foot waterfall. After your picnic lunch, be sure to plunge into the bracing falls before riding off into the sunset.
Family Surfing Lessons
The birthplace of the stand-up paddle phenomenon, Hanalei Bay is a mecca for surfers of all abilities. It's even home to some of the pros, including the legendary Laird Hamilton.
"In the winter, the bay is like looking into the pages of a surf magazine, if you know how to spot the pro surfers," says Lynn Alapa, owner of Hanalei Beach Boys Surf Shack.
This spot is truly unique, as the energy of the ocean is fanned along a horseshoe-shaped bay, creating a huge range of conditions that accommodates all abilities.
"You can have triple overhead waves on the point and still have beginners learning closer to shore," claims Eli Frank, our surfing instructor.
With waves all year long and a sandy ocean floor, it's an ideal location for young children and beginners to learn. Lessons 20 feet from beach are available for kids five years and older, so long as they can swim well. If your child is under 12 years old, private lessons are recommended.
Newbies are taught how to paddle and stand, plus board awareness before setting off to brave the waves. Kids often manage to stand up on their first attempt, though parents may not fare as well.
ATV Movie Tour
Remember the contested beach in the movie The Descendants? Or how about the volcano that towered over the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park? There's only one way to see the sights immortalized in some of the biggest blockbusters of our time, and that's by 4X4-ing across Kipu Ranch.
Once owned by a Hawaiian princess, two rows of Cook Island Pine trees line the entryway to the ranch, symbolizing you're entering royal property. After a brief ATV orientation, you'll take the road less travelled through thick vegetation and past striated sea cliffs that tower 3,000 feet above the Pacific. More than 60 movies have been filmed on Kaua'i, and this tour covers the highlights. From George of the Jungle to Tropic Thunder to the latest Pirates of the Caribbean, you're simply part of the set design as you explore the Jurassic Park wilderness at your leisure.
No doubt about it, Kaua'i (like all Hawaiian islands) can be expensive. Save money by opting for a condo and your making meals in. Don't feel like cooking? Most grocery stores have well-stocked deli-counters with rotisserie meat, plus the famed Kalua pork. With three locations on Kaua'i, Bubba's Burgers is where locals go for grass-fed Kaua'i beef, unless you're in Princeville. There, you'll want to try the gas station burgers at Princeville Center.
Jody Robbins is a freelance Calgary writer. Follow her parenting and travel adventures on TravelswithBaggage.com or on Twitter.


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In the vertical city that is Hong Kong, it's no surprise that hotels go as high as 60, 90, 118 floors. On rare occasions, these cloud-piercing towers provide no more than 500 square feet of space. But what Hong Kong hotels lack in size, they make up for in hospitality—from a welcoming plate of fruit and steaming pots of tea, to complimentary toothbrushes and free Wi-Fi. Whether you're searching for grand colonial-era architecture or larger-than-life design digs, Hong Kong's best hotels span budgets and styles, locations and crowds. Here are a few of our favorites.
Courtesy Langham Hotels & Resorts
Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, just steps from the city's major shopping malls and restaurants, The Langham draws a mix of clientele—lots of business travelers, as well as Burberry-clad leisure folk, a few families, and non-guests in search of an authentic English afternoon tea experience at Palm Court. As you enter the grand lobby—all marble floors, beige marble walls, and towering chandeliers—the frenetic streets of Tsim Sha Tsui fade away and a sense of calm takes over.
Inga Beckmann Photography
Adjacent to Hong Kong's International Finance Centre and office towers, the Four Seasons is in an unbeatable location if you're here on business. Guests, many of whom are in town for conferences and meetings, are likely to be turned out in Chanel, Gucci, Zegna, and even the handiwork of celebrated Hong Kong tailor WW Chan. The multiple dining venues provide a nice work break: The Lounge is a favorite for power lunches and unhurried afternoon tea; on the fourth floor, three-Michelin-starred Lung King Heen draws as many locals as guests with its fine-dining Cantonese; two floors up, Caprice turns out world-class French cuisine; and a martini is a must at Blue Bar, which as an alfresco terrace, as well as pretty Murano glass mosaics.
Courtesy Mandarin Oriental
Recalling its roots as one of Hong Kong's first luxury hotels (est. in 1963), the entrance to this Mandarin is all glossy black marble. A famous afternoon tea is served in the Clipper Lounge off one side of the lobby and cocktails and live music in the mahogany-colored Captain's Bar off the other. The old-school glamour comes with a prime location, steps from Hong Kong's preeminent business and shopping district.
Located inside the high-end Landmark Mall, the Mandarin Oriental's little sister is easy to miss. The serene reception area and library-like lounge lie up a flight of steps; all-day dining and drinks happen at the MO Bar, at street level below the lobby. Wellness travelers, style mavens, and creative types, will love the hotel's spa-like vibe, contemporary design, and attention to detail. The central location—with shops and corporate offices at your doorstep—is just icing on the cake.
Courtesy Hyatt
Combining the efficiency of a business hotel with the indulgences of a resort, the Grand Hyatt is a well-oiled machine in the Wan Chai district. It's an ideal location for business travelers—connected to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and right across the street from a collection of government offices. Dining on-site after a long day is never second-fiddle: There is the excellent Grand Hyatt Steakhouse; award-winning One Harbour Road, serving traditional Cantonese cuisine; Kaetsu and The Teppanroom, both serving Japanese; Tiffin, a classic and comprehensive European buffet; Grissini, an Italian favorite; and the recently renovated Grand Cafe, with harbor views and all-day dining.
Courtesy JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong
The excellent location (atop Pacific Place mall and the MTR) is ideal for zipping around Hong Kong. Add to that the health facilities, diverse restaurants, and comprehensive services and you have a favorite among the business set. The action-packed address feels a little chaotic during the day, but winds down in the evening. That's when it's time to pick your poison: modern classics at Flint Grill & Bar, Cantonese dim sum at Man Ho, seafood favorites at Fish Bar, or live music and cocktails at Bar Q88.
Michael Weber/Courtesy
Its central address—behind a curving stone entrance and spread over 49 floors above the high-end Pacific Place mall, off leafy Hong Kong Park—is reason enough to book here over the other top hotels that form the city's skyline. But hands-down it's the guest rooms and penthouses that really make the Upper House the place to stay in Hong Kong. Because it occupies what used to be serviced apartments, local guru Andre Fu made the comfortable, calming rooms feel like someone's home. He did the unimaginable and designed them with real humans in mind. There's a free, help-yourself minibar; light switches that can be easily found; and a bed so comfortable that guests ask about the make and model so they can order one back home. The same goes for the bathrooms, with their room-for-two tubs and plenty of natural wood and marble. There's no spa or pool (yet), but deeply pampering in-room treatments can be arranged. In the restaurant on the top floor, Gray Kunz's Café Gray Deluxe, the lamb tagine is so tender there's no guilt for skipping a chance to have dim sum and Hong Kong's signature egg tarts. This showpiece for Swire Hotels' House Collective (also in Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu) is as slick and sophisticated as ever—an original design hotel that's true to its label. Doubles from $460.
Adam Bruzzone/Courtesy Conrad Hong Kong
Business travelers will have everything they need at Conrad, from free Wi-Fi and excellent service to a convenient location near Hong Kong's top offices and restaurants. After a day of meetings, the relaxing rooms and harbor views make the hotel feel like a refuge. Spring for a room that includes access to the Executive Lounge. You'll have the added benefits of private check-in, complimentary breakfast, and nightly happy hour serving complimentary cocktails, wine, and snacks.
Courtesy Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Conveniently located in the heart of Admiralty, right by Hong Kong's major fashion and finance centers, the hotel promises a fantastic location, personable staff, and classic European elegance. The views alone qualify the lofty room rates. About half of the rooms overlook the harbor, while the rest frame the lush Peak mountain—not a shabby alternative. Foodies will love the lineup at the Shangri-La: Surf 'n' turf at Lobster Bar & Grill, excellent Chinese at Summer Palace, authentic tea in the lobby lounge, and French cuisine with 180-degree harbor views at Restaurant Petrus.
Courtesy InterContinental Hotels Group
A sprawling piazza with a "feng shui" fountain marks the entrance to the InterContinental Hong Kong, which hugs Victoria Harbour on the eastern side of the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade. As an international name-brand with a lofty reputation, the InterContinental Hong Kong draws a mix of suited corporate guests, wedding parties, and leisure travelers. If nothing else, come for the five award-winning restaurants—including world-famous Nobu, one-Michelin-starred Rech by Alain Ducasse, and two-Michelin-starred Yan Toh Heen. Note: The hotel will be closing soon for a 12-to-16 month renovation.
Courtesy Hotel Icon
This stylish eco-hotel is anchored by the tallest vertical garden on the continent, soaking up natural light from the triple-height lobby. Creative professionals populate the café as well the outdoor pool, which appears to spill into Victoria Harbor. Be sure to dine at least once at top-floor Above & Beyond Cantonese restaurant, where you'll have excellent harbor views. The dim sum or Cantonese-inspired afternoon tea will surprise you with an array of dynamic flavors and textures.
Courtesy The Mira
Walking into The Mira's minimalist lobby feels like entering another galaxy—one light years away from the crowded Tsim Sha Tsui streets outside. As one of Hong Kong's only luxury design hotels, The Mira attracts cross-generational fashion and creative professionals. In other words, hip young Scandinavian couples share space with middle-aged CEOs dress in Diesel jeans. The hotel's Michelin-recommended Cantonese dim sum spot, Cuisine Cuisine, fills up quickly with local diners during lunch hour—a testament to the high-quality ingredients and time-honored dishes.
In the center of Tsim Sha Tsui, the 19th-century colonial Hullett House (formerly Hong Kong's Marine Police Headquarters) has an imposing white facade and manicured lawns that aren't hard to miss. You might assume that this heritage hotel maintains a Victorian-era aesthetic inside and out, but the high-design suites are an unexpected contrast. Each has its own dramatic theme—see the Ma Wan Suite (channeling a Confucian temple) and the Deep Water Bay Suite (overflowing with contemporary Chinese pop-art). Not surprisingly, the Hullett tends to attract travelers looking for an out-of-the-box experience.
Courtesy W, Hong Kong
The all-glass lobby of the W Hong Kong transports travelers into an enchanted forest, with outsize insect sculptures, a textured Japanese "sand" wall, tree trunk-like columns, and rows of LED twig lights. The reception is set on the sixth floor, so you'll ride a glass bubble lift, catching a glimpse of the fascinating shipping port (piled high with colorful cargo containers) along the way. The elevator opens into an enormous lounge-like room with lots of natural light and artwork that underscores the wonderland vibe.
Courtesy The Peninsula
Let's say you're arriving by land and not by helicopter (though that's an option, should you wish). The first thing you'll see is a colonial white facade attended by a fleet of Brewster green Rolls Royce Phantoms and pillbox-topped pageboys. Classical music from a live string quartet wafts throughout the space as you make your way to check-in. This unique blend of old-world colonialism, contemporary comforts, and world-class service make The Peninsula Hong Kong a standout, whether your mission is business or pleasure.
Courtesy The Fleming
Formerly a staid business hotel, the Fleming is fresh off a dramatic high-design makeover inspired by Hong Kong's famous Star Ferry. A bright red elevator that feels like the hull of a boat transports guests to a nautical lobby anchored by a wall of vintage Hong Kong mailboxes. The hotel still pulls a primarily business crowd, thanks to its location near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, but the new design will likely attract high-level professionals from creative industries and stylish leisure travelers who appreciate great design.
Matteo Carcelli
Marked by black steel doors, the narrow entrance to TUVE is so moody and dark that entering feels like sneaking into a secret lair. The sparse decor—open concrete reception area, perforated metal wall, slivers of light—will feel cold to some, cool and futuristic to others. After you check into your room (just one of 64), head down to the atmospheric ground-floor restaurant, the Silver Room. The design may echoe the hotel's industrial aesthetic—plastic walls, white leather banquettes, marble tabletops—but the food is homey Italian pasta, seafood, and wine.
Courtesy Little Tai Hang
Set in the quiet neighborhood of Tai Hang, Little Tai Hang exudes low-key relaxation. A cozy library adjacent to the marble-clad reception area looks like an inviting place to curl up with a book. The hotel lacks the full-service amenities of Hong Kong's larger spots, but the mid-century British style draws creative-minded business travelers who appreciate the relaxed neighborhood, apartment-style rooms, and proximity to major commercial hubs like Causeway Bay.
Courtesy Hotel Stage
Located on a quiet street in Kowloon, Hotel Stage straddles the culture-rich Jordan and Yau Ma Tei districts, offering a convenient location for business travelers who appreciate functionality and great design. You'll notice quite a few professionals in the lobby, as well as a small contingent of families and trendy-looking European couples dressed in Converse and COS tops. The surrounding area overflows with local restaurants, shops, temples and markets—it's an ideal base for culture enthusiasts who want to dive into old Hong Kong.
Courtesy Mandera Hollywood
A technicolor mural depicting Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn makes it impossible to walk by this hotel without looking twice. Inside, the bold design—black-and-white patterned floors, curvaceous furniture—pays homage to film's golden age. If you want to go all-in on the theme, book the Monroe Suite, the hotel's pink-hued tribute to the star. The 700-square-foot apartment-style suite holds Monroe memorabilia, retro decor, and fresh flowers in every corner.
Courtesy Kerry Hotel
Sitting along the harbor front of Hung Hom in western Kowloon, the Kerry Hotel graces an overlooked area of the city—a former part of Victoria Harbor before the land completed reclamation seven years ago. Award-winning architect Andre Fu designed it to be a hub of leisure and business travel, which explains its 546 rooms, four restaurants and bars, and the largest assortment of meeting and event spaces in Hong Kong.
Courtesy The Murray
The Murray opened in early 2018 with much fanfare, following a mammoth renovation project led by Lord Norman Foster's firm Foster + Partners. Arched colonnades, distinctive recessed windows (an energy-efficient design to stream natural light), and a lofty lobby add up to an architectural masterpiece. Dining at The Murray might be the highlight of your stay. A splashy rooftop restaurant and bar called Popinjays serves epicurean bites; Murray Lane, a Wall Street-inspired bar, slings cocktails; Garden Lounge offers a glamorous afternoon tea; Tai Pan specializes in modern European fare; and Guo Fu Lou delivers refined Cantonese cuisine in a garden-like setting.
Michael Weber
It's tough to find a better location than The Pottinger, which honors its namesake heritage street with tasteful contemporary Chinese decor, museum-worthy photography, and destination restaurants and bars. Reinforcing the heritage concept, the rooms have Chinoiserie-chic touches like pale pink silkscreen headboards, poppy-colored red accents, and creamy leather furniture. Multiple dining outlets promise to entertain: classic Italian Gradini Ristorante E Bar Italiano is perfect for a date night (plus fantastic breakfast), while two-Michelin-starred Ta Vie takes diners on a French-Japanese gastronomic journey.
Courtesy Ovolo Southside
Industrial and a bit gritty, the Wong Chuk Hang district feels a world away from the luxury fashion and glass highrises of downtown. But with a new MTR station, the artsy enclave is easier than ever to access. Ovolo Southside, the city's first warehouse-turned-boutique hotel, embraces the district's industrial essence. The ground floor entrance that was once a truck turntable is now a pop-up event space. The concrete-floored lounge has communal tables (perfect for remote workers), a coffee bar, and a pool table.
Courtesy Hotel Jen
Hotel Jen Hong Kong is located in the gentrifying district of Shek Tong Tsui in Hong Kong Island—about three metro stops west of Central. Positioned as the Shangri-La's hip younger sister, Hotel Jen attracts remote workers and urbanites who appreciate playful design and up-and-coming neighborhoods. On the lobby level, there's a modern bar where guests can hop on the Wi-Fi and relax with a beer or meet up with friends for afternoon tea. On the 29th-floor rooftop there's a lap pool that sits parallel to Victoria Harbour.
Michael Weber
Cordis has a lot going for it: The location (surrounded by markets, local food, and mega malls), an award-winning Cantonese restaurant, an enormous wellness center, and a convenient Club floor. Expect a mix of business travelers and families from the U.S., Europe, and China spread out among 665 rooms and suites. You'll want for nothing food-wise: There's the Asian-inspired tapas and craft cocktails at Alibi - Wine Dine Be Social; The Place, a massive buffet; and Ming Court, which serves Michelin-recommended Cantonese cuisine. If the weather plays nice, stop into The Garage Bar, an outdoor terrace bar inspired by American food truck culture that specializes in craft beer and tacos.
Courtesy The Luxe Manor
Located in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, The Luxe Manor delivers on its name. The lobby, moody red and black outfitted with light fixtures that resemble hot air balloons and a mural-like mosaic, evokes a Chinese-European palace. Guest rooms look a little bit Alice in Wonderland, with a mix of European furniture, orange drapes, and empty pictures frames arranged on the walls in an artistic manner. There are even themed suites, including Mirage (an ode to surreal artwork) and Nordic (a wintery wonderland). The over-the-top-ness might not be for all tastes, but if you're into bold designs and surreal art, you'll love it here.
If you grew up with a YMCA, the name might make you think of well-used, fluorescent-lit athletic facilities. This is not that kind of YMCA. Skylights flood the three-story wood-paneled entrance with natural light. The basic rooms aren't huge, but easy access to the Star Ferry, metro, and cruise terminal make The Salisbury a comfortable (also affordable) stay in the center of Hong Kong's main arteries. It's also part of a larger sports complex, which means athletic types will have a lots of options—including a six-lane swimming pool, Jacuzzi, indoor rock climbing wall, squash courts, dance studio, and sauna.
Courtesy Mira Moon
Walking through Mira Moon's ground-floor entrance feels like arriving at a Chinoiserie-chic palace. The corridor is lined with gold-latticed mirrors and red egg chairs, with a gorgeous mosaic tile floor and an enormous black Chinese lantern that seems to float overhead. The whimsical decor, designed by Dutch guru Marcel Wanders, attracts fashion bloggers, young creative types, and art lovers to 91 guest rooms and suites.
Courtesy of Tai O Heritage Hotel
To reach this heritage address, you'll first need to make your way to the far side of Lantau Island, then walk through the little fishing village of Tai O. Follow the coastline for about 20 minutes and you'll see this 19th-century beauty rise above the South China Sea. The hotel provides a peek into a fascinating cultural corner known as the Venice of Hong Kong, where colorful fishing cottages sit on stilts above the water. As such, it draws leisure travelers and history buffs from all over the world hoping to experience another side of the super modern city. There's even a walking tour guide on-staff, who will share fascinating stories about the old days in Tai O.
Courtesy Lan Kwai Fong Hotel
Lan Kwai Fong Hotel sits in one of Hong Kong's top neighborhoods, surrounded by cool coffee shops and a melange of restaurants. The convenient location might be its best feature, followed by harbor-view rooms, classic Chinese design, and generous complimentary perks. But we're also fans of the pretty Breeze Lounge and Michelin-starred Celebrity Cuisine (a classic Chinese restaurant).
Courtesy Hotel Sav
Hotel Sáv (style, attitude, vision) has been designed as a "color journey." Lobby color changes depending on the day's chosen vibe: Fridays are purple and mysterious; Tuesdays are yellow and imaginative; Saturdays are light blue and peaceful. Similarly, each floor sports different designs from regional artists. For the 20th-floor Hong Kong Fashion rooms, for example, Sáv collaborated with 15 different local fashion designers, including Grace Choi and Mountain Yam. The wallet-friendly prices and upbeat design tends to attract tuned-in young travelers.
Courtesy Ritz-Carlton
The crown jewel of Hong Kong's International Commerce Centre (ICC) in West Kowloon, the Ritz-Carlton occupies the 102nd through 118th floors, right atop the Elements Mall. There is an adjacent MTR station but let's be honest—most visitors are pulling up in Rolls Royces. A ground-floor lounge welcomes visitors with sky-scraping ceilings, plush couches, and a patisserie. The city's fastest elevator will zip you to the 103rd floor where check-in, diamond jewelers, four restaurants, and the world's highest bar await.


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Outline* The shown information is the one as of the awarded date and might has been changed.
- Outline
'Trial-writing' a pen in a stationary shop: it is an act in which the personality of the writer and his unheard voice surface unexpectedly. Under the supervision and with the collaboration of 'trial-writing collector' Hiroki Terai, we gathered over 12,000 pieces of paper used for trial-writing from stationary stores around the country. Words found on these pieces of paper were combined and made into a song. In a way, this is an attempt to make a songwriter out of everyone around the world.
- Producer
Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. + DENTSU INC.
- Director
DENTSU INC. Makoto Nagahisa, Yuto Ogawa, Yusuke Imai, Shoko Hamano, Motoatsu Mibu + Dentsu Public Relations INC. Yohei Nemoto + DENTSU CREATIVE FORCE INC. Hitomi Omoto + Hiroki Terai
- Designer
GEEK PICTURES INC. Mamoru Inagaki, Hidehiko Ikemiya, Mizuho Takei + Shoichi DAVID Haruyama + Tomori Ugatani + Takuji Takemoto + Chie Ninomiya + Kanae + Takumi Kudo + Shun Ryuzaki + Rie Suzuki
- More information
- Already in service/use
- 2017/11/14


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Whole grain oat flour and oat bran (34%), Sugar, WHEAT flour, water, canola oil, Cocoa powder, dark chocolate 4% (SOY lesitine), cocoa powder, spinach, cocoa, cocoa butter, aromas, vanilla sugar, salt, creams (E450i, E500).


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Last updated on August 2020
Ibrutinib and Obinutuzumab With or Without Venetoclax in Treating Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Brief description of study
This phase III trial studies how well ibrutinib and obinutuzumab with or without venetoclax work in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Ibrutinib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as obinutuzumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as venetoclax, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving ibrutinib, obinutuzumab, and venetoclax may work better than giving ibrutinib and obinutuzumab in treating patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Detailed Study Description
I. To compare the progression free survival (PFS) of the time limited administration of the three-drug combination ibrutinib-obinutuzumab-venetoclax (IOV) to ibrutinib-obinutuzumab (IO) in untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients younger than 70 years of age.
I. Evaluate overall survival (OS) of patients based on treatment arm. II. Monitor and assess toxicity of treatment based on treatment arm. III. Compare minimal residual disease (MRD) status as assessed by flow cytometry at baseline and then sequentially during treatment of the two treatment arms.
IV. Collect baseline and response evaluation (after cycle 19) bone marrow and paired blood specimens for evaluation of MRD.
I. To compare quality of life (QOL) in CLL patients during the first 19 cycles of treatment among patients on each treatment arm.
II. To compare QOL over the long-term in CLL patients receiving continuous therapy using ibrutinib to that of CLL patients who completed time limited therapy.
III. Evaluate adherence to therapy for the two arms (one of which requires more intense, but shorter duration treatment, and one of which requires less intense, but indefinite duration therapy) and explore how adherence in each arm relates to progression-free survival (PFS).
I. To determine the effects of tobacco, operationalized as combustible tobacco (1a), other forms of tobacco (1b), and environmental tobacco exposure (ETS) (1c) on provider-reported cancer-treatment toxicity (adverse events [both clinical and hematologic]) and dose modifications.
II. To determine the effects of tobacco on patient-reported physical symptoms and psychological symptoms.
III. To examine quitting behaviors and behavioral counseling/support and cessation medication utilization.
IV. To explore the effect of tobacco use and exposure on treatment duration, relative dose intensity, and therapeutic benefit.
OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.
ARM A: Patients receive ibrutinib orally (PO) daily on days 1-28 and obinutuzumab intravenously (IV) over 4 hours on days 1, 2, 8, and 15 of cycle 1 and on day 1 of cycles 2-6. Patients also receive venetoclax PO once daily (QD) on days 1-28 of cycles 3-14. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 19 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM B: Patients receive ibrutinib PO and obinutuzumab as in arm A. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
All patients, including those who discontinue therapy early, are followed for response until disease progression, even if non-protocol therapy is initiated. Patients are then followed every 3 months for first 2 years, every 6 months for years 3-5, and then every 12 months for years 6-10. All patients must also be followed through completion of all protocol therapy.
Clinical Study Identifier: NCT03701282


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Saturday, August 7
Plural and Current
today's reading.
1 John 2:18-28 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour...
1 John 2:18-28
think about it.
How do you identify a false teacher or antichrist (2:21-23)? How do you identify one who knows the truth (2:23-25)? How does the truth give you confidence?
the blog.
Although we're not in Revelation this weekend, we are still hearing from John and he talks to us about antichrists. Last week in Revelation we looked at and read about "the Antichrist" (capital "A" and singular). But here in 1 John 2:18-28 John uses the term antichrists (lowercase "a" and plural) referring to anyone who denies the Father and the Son and that Jesus is the Christ (vs. 22). John warns us about how these antichrists will try to pull us off course and deceive us but then concludes the passage with a little encouragement and the directive to abide in Christ.
So what does 1 John 2:18-28 tell us about antichrists right now? What are some things we can do to stand strong when we have a one-on-one encounter with someone who tries to pull us away from the Lord? Tami W.
Join the discussion on the P4 Blog
Get more on this topic with Back to the Bible
Powered by 4 is all about engaging God's Word and living it out--in community. So if it's encouragement you want or motivation you need, join the discussion on the P4 Blog--a place to weigh in on the daily scripture as well as share thoughts & questions. And, for a more in-depth look at the Powered by 4 readings, tune in to the daily Back to the Bible radio program with Woodrow Kroll.


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White smile is what a common man deserves. However, after undergoing the teeth whitening before and after inspection, some people will be shocked when they realize that their smile is not whiter. The unfortunate fact about teeth whitening products is they are quite expensive. But, purchasing them on a right place could save you some money. In fact, you should seek the help of your dentist in order to know about highly quality yet affordable teeth whitening before and after products. Many dentists would have included these products in prescription.
Before teeth whitening
Before choosing teeth whitening, there are certain facts you need to be aware of. They are as follows:
– Bleaching is a bad option for adolescents and kids. The reason is during this age, the teeth will be enclosing bulky nerves closer to enameled surface of the teeth, which can be easily damaged by the chemical substances used during the process of bleaching.
– Bleaching agents used for teeth whitening will contain peroxide substances. These substances have caused allergies in a lot of people.
– The mouth trays must be placed at the right spot to offer protection to the gum and other parts of mouth making sure no leakage of peroxide happens. The amount of bleaching gel should be just sufficient for bleaching. You should rinse your mouth without fail followed by every whitening session.
– You should be well educated regarding the amount of peroxide to be used for bleaching and other risks of teeth whitening before and after procedures. Do not forget that bleaching should not be considered as a routine for teeth whitening.
After teeth whitening
Making proper use of teeth whitening products is all that you need to do after teeth whitening bleach. Not all people will be able to afford the dental whitening guided by a dentist. Such people should look for some alternatives. There are quite a few ways to safeguard the whiter smile. Some natural methods will be the best to go with. Given below are some affordable options to teeth whitening before and after.
– There are many brands available when it comes to teeth whitening products. Since the prices applied on these products by different brands will not be the same, you should make sure to compare the prices. At the end of the day, you will be able to make out which brand offers the most affordable products. Some merchandisers will also offer these products in a bulk like six months or a yearly pack.
– Make sure to inspect the photos of the products you are planning to choose. In fact, the photos and the reviews posted by the users of those products will be good enough to decide the quality and price of those products.
– You should be ready to quit some routine that changes the color of your teeth. Smoking and eating sweets have brought about discoloration in many people.
– To maintain your healthy white teeth, you should also follow a proper diet.
Teeth whitening before and after tips must be strictly followed in order to preserve the white color of teeth and keep infections at bay.
Related posts:
- Tips for teeth whitening at home – Cut the cost! Do teeth whitening right at home
- 6 Simple Teeth Whitening Tips
- Tips to use on how to whiten teeth at home – Secrets revealed
- 7 Simple yet Sparkling Tips on How To Get Whiter Teeth!
- The best teeth whitening methods
- Teeth Whitening Procedures
- What are the Benefits of At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits?
- Get white Teeth in an Hour with Laser Teeth Whitening!
- Calculations and costs involved in teeth whitening!
- What is meant by teeth bleaching?


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Yrjö Hakanen, Chairman of the CP of Finland – 18.02.2012
Greece is to be made into a precedent of how the bill of the financial crisis is to be paid by the working and poor people. At the same time the crisis is used to attack workers' rights and democracy, to carry out privatization and to implement a huge income transfer in favour of big capital. The perpetrators are the same representatives of financial capital, of the European Union and of the governments, who are to blame for the crisis.
The Communist Party of Finland expresses its solidarity with the Greek workers and people, with the trade union movement and left-wing forces who struggle against the austerity policies pursued by the European Union, the International Monetary Fund and the plutocracy.
The CPF condemns the participation of the Government of Finland in such policies which crush the democratic rights of the Greek people, reduce the wages by half of the pre-crisis levels, operate drastic cuts in social security, privatize public services and generate growing unemployment and poverty. It is a shame that such policies are supported within the Finnish government by leaders of the Social Democratic Party, the Left Alliance and the Greens Party, too.
We Communists are on Saturday 18 February in Helsinki part and parcel of the demonstration of solidarity and support for the struggle of the Greek people: "We all are Greeks, the struggle is common. We have had enough of austerity and of the oligarchy!"


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Durban - The style of rugby that balances defence with attack is a style the Sharks players have embraced themselves. Not because they have to, but because they really want to.
One such player is Philip van der Walt who is 'enjoying' his first Super Rugby pre-season with the Durbanites, having joined the side ahead of the Currie Cup midway through last year.
'Enjoying' is possibly a bad choice of word, given the rigorous and strenuous programme the players endure as they build a platform of skills, ability, style, fitness and conditioning ahead of next year's competition.
But everyone knows what is necessary, and they all buy into the effort they need to put in.
"So far it's been great, it has been different with the new coaches, but I think we've gone along very well so far and the guys are working really hard," he told the Sharks' official website.
One thing the players can't get away from, and it's something the new players in particular find the hardest to deal with, is Durban's relentless and energy-sapping heat and humidity.
"You have to adapt, you try plan around it and sometimes you just have to work your way through it," he says. "And if you do the hard yards through the worst of the conditions, I believe you'll be better prepared for playing in those conditions during the season because you're used to them and the other teams aren't."
Although this is his first Super Rugby pre-season programme with the Sharks and he can't compare differences to previous years, what he is able to identify as a crucial factor is the commitment from everyone.
"There is a lot of passion shown," he explains, "and for me, that's important. Not only from the players but also the coaches. And it's contagious which is good because the pre-season can become long and very tough but you know you're preparing yourself for something great and to have people helping you, people who are passionate, that makes it so much easier.
"There has been huge attention to detail, especially in terms of improving our attack and defence which is just as important and then in finding that balance which, in this era of the game, is crucial."
He adds that working with Robert du Preez and Sean Everitt as the attacking coaches has been a new approach. "I've found Robert a very approachable coach which is nice. He knows what he wants but he's also a keen listener, he wants to know what input you have as a player."
While there will be times when the team turns it on in attack, and others when they adopt a more prudent style - it's all about playing the conditions, territory and opposition - the ultimate aim is when they have the ball, not to give it away unnecessarily.
"For sure, it's always nice to get your hands on the ball and to be part of a team that people enjoy watching," he adds. "We're all very competitive and when you have to defend to get the ball back, once you get it back, you don't want to give it back to them easily; that becomes a long day at the office.
"We're looking forward to the season and I believe that with the players we have, we will be able to play some really good rugby."


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Friday, August 14 2020, 08:44:16 +12:00
SKU: 377720 Product ID: 269573
Format ‐
Xbox One
Genre ‐
Action & Adventure
Rating ‐
Consumer Advice ‐
M Science fiction violence, online interactivity and in-game purchases
Release Date ‐
.Xbox One Closed Beta (Pre-order code required): 14 – 16 August Xbox One Open Beta (no code): 21 – 23 August
Price Guarantee: If the price drops before the release date, you will pay the lowest price.
When will I get my order? Unless specified above, your online pre-order will leave our warehouse via CourierPost one business day prior to the official release date. Please allow standard delivery times on top of this.
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Release Date 01/09/20
Deluxe Edition includes:- Marvel Avengers game- 72-hour early access- Obsidian nameplate pack- Obsidian outfit pack- Marvel Unlimited: One free month subscription to Marvel Online Comics (available in English only)
Pre-Order for early beta access!
Pre-Order Marvel Avengers and get early beta access*! Online purchasers will get a code via email before beta release.
*Subject to availability. Beta access release date(s), duration(s), platform availability, and region availability to be announced. Internet access required. Platform-specific paid online subscription may be required. Free Square Enix Members account required.
Marvel's Avengers invites players to live their Super Hero dreams. Outstanding storytelling and an ever-expanding universe come together in the definitive Avengers gaming experience. Master extraordinary abilities, customise a growing roster of Heroes, assemble into teams of up to four players, and defend the Earth from escalating threats.
Marvel's Avengers begins at A-Day, where Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Thor are unveiling a hi-tech Avengers Headquarters in San Francisco — including the reveal of their own helicarrier powered by an experimental energy source. The celebration turns deadly when a catastrophic accident results in massive devastation. Blamed for the tragedy, the Avengers disband. Five years later, with all Super Heroes outlawed and the world in peril, the only hope is to reassemble Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Marvel's Avengers features a cinematic story, complete with the high-octane action that Crystal Dynamics is known for. Featuring regular content updates, the game will take players on an epic journey delivered over multiple years. This is what's next for the Avengers.
Play an original Avengers storyMarvel's Avengers is a unique take on these iconic Super Heroes, including Captain America, Iron Man, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Thor. This character-driven story celebrates authentic Marvel heroism and humanity in a cinematic campaign filled with single-player and co-op missions.
Embrace your powersUnlock powerful skills and new gear to build your ideal version of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. When combined with original, fan-favourite, and classic outfits, there are nearly limitless ways to customise these iconic Heroes.
Assemble onlineUp to four players can assemble online to defend the Earth from escalating threats. The narrative will be delivered over multiple years, with no random loot boxes or pay-to-win scenarios. Every new Super Hero and region will be delivered to players at no additional cost if you own the core game.
Primary Format - Games - Xbox One
Game Genre - Action & Adventure
Rating - M
Consumer Advice - M Science fiction violence, online interactivity and in-game purchases
Game developer - Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, Nixxes Software, Crystal Northwest
Game publisher - Square Enix
^Discounts apply to most recent previous ticketed/advertised price. As we negotiate on price, products are likely to have sold below ticketed/advertised price in stores prior to the discount offer.
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Creativity and Blogging. And why you should dream on.
Hello there! I'm getting back in my elements of blogging after a long hiatus. And I feel so natural, as if this is how it was supposed to be. Nothing has changed, you are here, and I'm here. Together we will discover ourselves, our purpose, the meaning of life, one moment at a time. I … [Read more…]


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Les Arts Florissants, directed by William Christie and now in its 35th year is one of the three resident ensembles at Paris' new Philharmonie.
Program is:
Charpentier – Te Deum H.146
Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville – Motet In exitu Israel`
Rameau – extracts from Indes Galantes : "Les Sauvages"
If modern music is more your speed, the Ensemble Intercontemporain is playing also streaming a concert from the Philharmonie at the same time. Stream available til mid-July ici.


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There are three ways to terminate an employment agreement under Dutch law:
1. Mutual consent of both parties;
2. Termination by employer or employee with a permit;
3. The employment agreement is dissolved by the court with a meritorious defence of the employee.
Dismissal under Dutch Law
Ad 1: The first possibility to terminate an employment agreement is to reach a settlement in mutual consent. No legal proceedings are necessary and the employment agreement and the conditions for termination are settled between employer and employee. In case of a conflict between employer en employee that can not be solved both sides will usually seek legal advice. It is common practise for Dutch employment lawyers to try and reach a settlement between employer and employee out of court. It is my rough estimate that only 10% of all employment conflicts is dealt with by a judge and maybe even less. The reason for that is the court formula (to be explained hereunder) that is used by judges to establish the amount of severance payment the employer may have to pay, is also used by the Dutch employment lawyers to work out the settlement. Dutch employment lawyers are very familiar with the court formula and it's application in many court cases. Therefor the employment lawyers will always try to negotiate a settlement out of court on the basis on the court formula. For questions mail to email@example.com.
Settlement out of Court; the usual way to settle employment dispute
The employment agreement will be terminated in a way parties have agreed upon in a so called "package deal" in which every aspect of the employment agreement and the termination thereof will be arranged. Parties will usually draft a settlement agreement with the arrangements they have agreed upon and which employer and employee will sign.
Permission Employment Authority for Dismissal
Ad 2: According to Dutch Law employment agreements for indefinite period cannot be terminated without a permit of the UWV. So, if an employer in the Netherlands wants to terminate an employment agreement, he has to have a permit of the UWV before he can give notice. The employer can file a motivated request with this agency that he wants terminate the employment of employees because of economic reasons (position of this employee is lapsing, or (a plant of) the company is closing).
After the permit has been granted the employer can give the employee notice per the end of the month in which the permit has been granted. Of course the employer still has to take into account the proper notice period.
Claim for Unfair Dismissal in the Netherlands
After termination of the employment agreement, there is still the possibility that this termination is a manifestly unreasonable dismissal and the employee can claim damages at the court.
This procedure at the UWV takes quite some time (6-8 weeks)and afterwards the employer is also obligated to take into account the notice period. After giving notice, the employee can be of the opinion that the dismissal is unfair and that he wants to claim damages in Court Employees (and their lawyers) will anticipate on this and weigh their chances in court, in order to try and come to a settlement out of Court.
Termination procedure in Dutch Court
Ad 3 Additionally, it is possible to request the court to terminate the employment agreement. This procedure will take less time than the procedure at the UWV. Furthermore, there is no possibility to appeal to the decision of the court, so both parties know where they stand.
In this case parties apparently have not been able to come to a settlement and/or the employee maintains the position that there are no valid reasons to terminate his employment agreement. If the court is of the opinion that the employment must be terminated, the court will grant a severance payment to the employee. In the Netherlands you have a so-called "sub district court formula" or "cantonal court formula". I will discuss this formula hereunder. But again also for this legal proceedings the Social Plan is important: based on the fact that the Plan has a very high legal status and is agreed upon with the representative unions, a possible court will take this Plan into account as reasonable for the severance payment.
Severance payment in the Netherlands
The sub district court formula is the guideline to indicate the severance payment. The court will –in most times- use this guideline to determine a severance payment. Besides, this guideline is also used by parties to determine a severance payment in a settlement between parties.
The sub district court formula is as follows:
A = working years of the employee.
The working years until the age of 35 will count as 0,5. The working years between the age of 35 and 45 will count as 1. The working years between 45 and 55 will count as 1,5 and the working years above the age of 55 will count as 2.
B = monthly salary + 8% holiday allowance and structural bonuses.
C= 1, when the termination take place on neutral bases. This C (multiplier) can go up and down, for instance 1,5 or even 2 or to 0,5. Furthermore, the factor can go up or down in case the employee proves that his position on the labour market is bad and that it will be very difficult for him to find a new job within a certain period and e.g. the employer proves that he is unable to pay any severance payment as a result of his bad financial position.


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The 7 Key Takeaways From Xi Jinping's Vision For "A New Era" In China
Posted by Tyler Durden on October 18, 2017 3:33 pm
Tags: Anti-corruption, Army, Asia, Capital Markets, Central Committee, China, Chinese communists, Communist Party, Communist Party of China, congress, Corruption, Crown Prince Party, Foreign relations of China, Hong Kong, Jim Reid, Liberation Army, Macau, Monetary Policy, national security, NAVY, One Belt One Road Initiative, One country, two systems, Politburo Standing Committee, Politics, Socialism with Chinese characteristics, Taiwan, unemployment, Xi Jinping, Xi Jinping visit to the United States, Yuan
Categories: Anti-corruption Army Asia Capital Markets Central Committee China Chinese communists Communist Party Communist Party of China Congress Corruption Crown Prince Party Economy Foreign relations of China Hong Kong Jim Reid Liberation Army Macau Monetary Policy national security navy One Belt One Road Initiative One country, two systems Politburo Standing Committee Politics Socialism with Chinese characteristics Taiwan unemployment Xi Jinping Xi Jinping visit to the United States Yuan
As reported first thing this morning, China's President Xi Jinping outlined his vision for the next five years, ushering in a "new era" (a term he repeated 36 times) of development in China, as the Communist Party's 19th Congress opened in Beijing on Wednesday. During a 3½-hour long speech, Xi said the internal and external situations facing China were undergoing complicated changes which the party needed to address. Xi started with the opening remark that "the prospects are bright while the challenges are also grave", before reminding his audience of his achievements over the past five years, which included: poverty reduction, strengthening the one party rule, national security, cutting down pollution and the Belt and Road infrastructure initiatives. One can also throw in "nationalizing China's capital markets" in this list.
Further, as DB's Jim Reid wrote overnight, Xi's anti-graft drive has achieved an "important and irreversible' momentum and he insisted that China has 'zero tolerance" on corruption. On the long term, he wants to set the agenda for the country to be "a modern, socialist power" by 2050. On the economy, he says the liberalisation of both interest rate exchanges will continue as "the door China opened will not close but will open wider and wider".
Elsewhere, Xi wants China to make the "quality and efficiency" of growth a priority and deepen supply side reforms as well as insisting on the need to reduce excessive capacity and debt ratios. On housing, he said "houses are for people to live in, not for speculation" and he promised to provide more homes through a variety of different channels.
Before his formal address, Deputy central bank chief Pan also noted that he expects that the Yuan will have a more secure foundation after the congress allowing the central bank to push exchange rate market reforms.
Xi also vowed to step up ideological guidance within the party, strengthen its anti-corruption campaign, retain the government's grip on Hong Kong and Macau, and oppose any moves towards independence in Taiwan.
Courtesy of SCMP, here are the seven major takaways from Xi's report:
1. A new name for Xi's political philosophy
Xi said China has formed "socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era". The idea will be the guiding principle for the country's development in the coming years. The slogan was released amid speculation about how Xi's political thought would be enshrined into the party's constitution. There are 14 elements behind the concept, with one key idea being that the party should lead in every aspect of life in China.
Xi said the dream of national rejuvenation would only be a fantasy without the leadership of China's Communist Party. The party should lead in all areas and the authority of the party central leadership should be respected, he said. Cadres should keep in line with the party leadership, while the party should tighten its lead on ideological work. "The party resolutely opposes all attempts that will weaken, distort or reject the leadership of the party and the implementation of socialism," he said adding that a "principal contradiction" had emerged in Chinese society because of uneven development and the public's demand for a better life.
2. Becoming a nation with leading, global influence by 2050
Xi laid out some ambitious targets for the next 30 years and more. The first batch should be achieved from 2020 to 2035, Xi said. China will be a top ranked innovative nation by 2035 with a large middle-income population and narrower wealth gap. China's soft power should be boosted, Xi said. From 2035 to 2050, China should become a nation with pioneering global influence.
3. Keeping up with the "irreversible" momentum of anti-corruption campaign and maintaining the rule by law
China will set up a leading group for comprehensive rule by law. Xi repeatedly talked about the concept during his speech and vowed the party and the government would rule the country under the law and through public oversight. No one would be able to put themselves above the law, he said. He added that China must watch out for any attempt to copy Western-style democracy.
Xi also issued a warning to delegates at the Great Hall of the People on corruption, saying China insists on "zero tolerance" of graft. He said the government has been unswerving in "fighting tigers, destroying flies and hunting down foxes", referring to the government's sweeping anti-corruption campaign. He said a national supervision law would be formulated and shuanggui – a party disciplinary practice – would be replaced.
4. Protecting national sovereignty
China's capability to deal with national security should be boosted as the nation will resolutely protect its sovereignty and interests. Xi said China has made a "historical breakthrough" in national defence and military reform. The navy has protected the nation's maritime interest and its army rapidly upgraded its weaponry. For the coming years, China will continue pushing for integration between the civilian and the military sector. The People's Liberation Army should be a "world class" force by 2050. China also opposes separatism under the guise of religion or extremist thought, Xi said.
5. Upholding central government authority over Hong Kong and Macau and opposing Taiwan independence
Xi said the "one country, two systems" principle will not be changed nor distorted in Hong Kong. The central government's jurisdiction over the two Special Administrative Regions, which also includes Macau, should not be shaken, he said. On Taiwan, Xi said Beijing has properly handled the changing situation facing the island and will continue to resolutely oppose any move to seek independence for Taiwan.
6. Creating a level playing field for foreign businesses
Countering foreign diplomats and business concerns that the government was blocking overseas investment, Xi said China would give equal treatment to all businesses. "The China which has opened up will not close, but will open wider and wider," he said. China's GDP has increased from 54 trillion yuan (US$8.2 trillion) five years ago to 80 trillion yuan and the government would aim for growth that is of higher quality and sustainable, he said.
7. Protecting the public interest
Fighting poverty was crucial for China to become a moderately prosperous society, Xi said. All provinces which are under the poverty line should climb above that threshold by 2020. He also pledged to create more jobs for college graduates and migrant workers. Addressing concerns over rising property prices, Xi said houses were for people to live in, not for speculation.
* * *
Not enough? Then here are 6 more key highlights, this time from Goldman's China economist, Yo Song, who writes that "overall the report sent few new signals on either near-term cyclical policy or longer term structural policy, in our view, although there are a few changes/ highlights/ new concepts to note, which we outline below."
- Change in the "principal contradiction facing Chinese society," which is usually viewed as the guidance on the Party's key area of focus. In the report, Xi said that "the principal contradiction facing Chinese society has evolved to be that between unbalanced and inadequate development, and the people's ever-growing needs for a better life," a change from previously, "the principal contradiction in our society is still between the ever-growing material and cultural needs of the people, and the backwardness of social production." (This statement had been in place since 1981.) We view this change in "principal contradiction" as an acknowledgement of the need for more efficient and balanced economic development. Instead of purely focusing on the speed of economic growth, policy makers now also emphasize higher productivity, higher profitability, more innovation and efficient distribution, as well balanced development between urban and rural areas, and among different regions of the country. This is also consistent with the tone from policy makers in recent years (e.g., the "new norm" from Xi, and "focusing on not just the quantity but also the quality of development" in the Central Economic Working Conference).
- Xi's thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. The report came up with thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, which should be effectively a summary of Xi's thoughts and will likely be incorporated into the Party Constitution during the Congress. There are 14 fundamental principles, which have been mentioned previously in different situations, with the first being "ensuring Party leadership over all work." On economic areas, Xi mentioned "continuing to comprehensively deepen reform and "adopting a new vision for development," which reiterated Xi's five development concepts (i.e., innovation, coordination, green development, opening and sharing), and reemphasized letting the market play a decisive role in resource allocation. Environmental issues are listed as a separate principle under "ensuring harmony between human and nature," and the report mentioned plans to "implement the most rigorous ecological and environmental protection system."
- A new two-stage development plan. In the report, Xi emphasized importance of the period up to 2020 as "the decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society," and said that "all requirements on building a moderately prosperous society from the 16th, 17th, 18th Party Congress must be followed." Presumably, this would include the goal of doubling income by 2020 established in the 18th Party Congress, though it was not explicitly mentioned here. Then Xi proposed a two-stage development plan from 2020 to the middle of the 21st century, with the first stage from 2020–2035 to see that socialist modernization is basically realized, and the second stage from 2035 to the middle of the 21st century to develop China into a great modern socialist country. However, there are no quantitative details in the plan currently.
- Characterizing the economy as turning from a high-growth phase to a high-quality development stage. The report also mentioned building a modern economic system. Major measures for this include deepening "supply side" reforms (e.g., reiterating key structural tasks such as over-capacity cuts and de-leveraging), strengthening innovation, promoting SOE reforms with mixed ownership, developing a twin policy management framework with both monetary policy and macro-prudential tools, "significantly" loosening market access to domestic service sectors and protecting foreign enterprises' legal rights in China.
- Other highlights included a proposal to establish a central leading working group on the comprehensive rule of law, although the exact form of the group has not yet been specified. In social areas, Xi highlighted a policy intention to widen the coverage of education, reduce income gaps between low- and high-income groups, strengthen social protection (e.g., retirement, unemployment), reduce poverty and deepen ongoing medical service reforms. He also reiterated that, "houses are for living, not for speculation" and mentioned plans to "speed up the development of a housing system with supply from multi entities, protection from multi channels and combination of rental and sale."
- The next publication will be the list of Central Committee members on Oct 24, followed by revealing of appointments to the Politburo Standing Committee on Oct 25.
The above was summarized best by UBS' chief economist, Paul Donovan, in just one sentence: "China's economic challenge is that the successful model of the last twenty years will not work in the next twenty years."
And while we previously gave a full preview of what to expect from the 19th Congress, here is a 2 minute summary for those pressed for time:


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As far as inflation is concerned, a vindication of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is equally premature. First of all, it's not that Quantitative Easing will lead to inflation; it's that QE is inflation. Secondly, there is a lag between QE and rising consumer prices, so the jury is still out as to how high consumer prices will ultimately rise as a result of current and past Fed policy mistakes. - in Europac
Related, ProShares UltraShort 20+ Year Treasuries ETF (TBT), iShares Barclays 20+ Yr Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)
Peter Schiff`s comments on the economy, stock markets, politics and gold. Schiff is the renowned writer of the bestseller Crash Proof: How to Profit from the Coming Economic Collapse.


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Bought this entire set for .50 a piece - 16 pieces = $8+ tax - couldn't pass it up! It is one of my favorite Pflatzgraff Sets!
The salad/desert plates are Pflatzgraff but not Vienna Floral - but they were soo pretty and a very good match for this set!
Used a bright green charger, white lace napkins and silver dragon fly napkin rings!
Placed my silver tea service on a yellow flowered tea towel!
Thought it came out very pretty - will be my last spring tablescape since "summer" will officially be here in less than 10 days!!!!
Thanks for stopping by, please leave some encouraging words so I know you were here and can visit you! As always, thanks to Susan at BNOTP for bringing us all together again this week! Remember: "Around the World, life is best around the table".


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Today is January 15, 2011. Love stating the obvious. Yep. That's the date.
A lot of us don't have to go to work on Monday, but few of us really appreciate why. Here's why:
Today, 82 years ago, a little baby was born in Atlanta, Georgia. His mother Alberta named him after his father, Michael, a Baptist Minister, but when the family traveled to Europe in 1934, the Reverend decided to change both his name, and his son's, to Martin after the German Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther.
That little boy grew up, along the way skipping both the ninth and twelfth grade and graduating high school at the age of 15 years old, then going on to college and earning is PhD in Philosophy at the amazing age of 25. He became a charismatic speaker and a leader of men and women on the road to freedom.
Then on the 28th of August in 1963, more than 2,000 buses, 21 special trains, 10 chartered airliners, and uncounted cars converged on Washington. Something like 200,000-300,000 people were part of The Great March on Washington and that little boy that grew up to be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. People listened. They keep on listening. That's what we hope, anyway.
By 1968, however, Dr. King had stirred the pot to the point where he wasn't as popular as he once had been. He had continued to rally against the Vietnam war and to uplift and support the poor of this nation. He had made a great many enemies. He was a threat…to someone…to someone that had something done about it. Some ass-hole shot him dead.
He was only 39 years old…younger than I am now.
Today, on the birthday of that amazing man…his ACTUAL birthday, not the bank holiday…I give you his words. Take the time to read them. Take the time to realize we still have "Negroes" in this country that are not free…"Negroes" that are still crippled by the chains of discrimination.
In this time we live in, when two people that love each other cannot get married merely because of their gender, when a loving couple with a loving home can't adopt children that need homes because they're both the same sex and sleep together in the "biblical sense", when men and women are beat and killed everyday because they are "gay", and when young people…or ANYONE, for that matter…are harassed to the point where they see no other course than to take their own life…there is a mighty need to have a Dream. A Dream to End the Hate, To Find Equality and Freedom…FOR ALL.
© 2011 D. Kessler
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.
Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.
But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.
In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.
We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.
But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.
The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.
We cannot walk alone.
And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.
We cannot turn back.
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹
I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest — quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.
Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.
And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today!
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²
This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.
With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
And this will be the day — this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:
My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,
From every mountainside, let freedom ring!
And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.
And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.
Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.
Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of
Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.
Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.
But not only that:
Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.
Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.
Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.
From every mountainside, let freedom ring.
And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:
Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!
(Delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr., on 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.)


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I had the pleasure of attending a very interesting lecture at Fordham Law School, entitled "The Law, Science, and Ethics Behind the Nonhuman Rights Project and Its Struggle to Achieve Fundamental Legal Rights for Nonhuman Animals". The principal presenter was an attorney, the leader of that project, who deeply loves animals. He has brought numerous lawsuits attempting to persuade courts to declare chimpanzees to be legal persons, and thus entitled to rights and protection under the law.
This subject is particularly interesting to me, and I am completely in support of the argument that we have a moral obligation to love and treat animals humanely. I am a vegetarian, and I have very serious moral objections to the way that industrial farming treats animals. Pope Francis, in Laudato Si', was very firm in insisting on the immorality of animal cruelty and the duty to treat animals humanely.
But even more important to me is the issue of legal personhood. In the law, only those entities that are deemed "persons" possess the ability to assert rights, duties, freedoms and immunities that are legally enforceable. In essence, the law will only recognize you and defend your rights if it considers you to be a "person".
Under current American law, legal personhood is recognized for human beings (with an important exception I'll discuss in a second) and entities that are created under the law and called "juridical persons" (e.g., governments, corporations, partnerships, and other associations). No American law has ever recognized legal personhood in non-human animals.
Unfortunately, the two most notorious Supreme Court decisions in history both specifically denied personhood to a class of human beings. The Dred Scott decision held that blacks were not persons under the law and thus "they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect" — so they could be held as chattel slaves. The Roe v. Wade decision similarly held that "the word 'person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn" — and thus they could be killed with impunity. An equally appalling New York State Court of Appeals decision, Byrn v. New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, also specifically denied that unborn human beings are legal persons and thus have no rights that are bound to be respected by those lucky enough to be already born.
That brings us to the lawsuits that seek to have chimps defined as legal "persons". It would be easy to view these actions as ludicrous, and I imagine that most people would dismiss them as such. As a legal matter, I believe that the cases are meritless. Their theory rests on the inconsistency of the law recognizing some humans as persons, while denying that status to others — which is true, but irrelevant when it comes to animals, which are, by definition, non-human. And it relies heavily on an eighteenth-century English case that decided that slavery was not recognized under English common law. But if you cite the common law as authority, you have to accept it whenever it's contrary to your position too. And English and American common law — as well as statutory and constitutional law — have never treated animals as persons, and always considered them to be property. Wishful thinking and good intentions can't make the law into something that it has never been.
But an unconvincing legal theory is not the most dangerous thing about these lawsuits, and the entire effort to have animals recognized as legal persons. The animal personhood effort is premised on the fundamentally flawed idea that there is no relevant moral difference between humans and other animals — a rejection of "human exceptionalism", which has been an axiom of law and society throughout history. Instead, they seek to define personhood by reference to characteristics such as whether the animal is "autonomous and self-determining", or whether they "possess the complex cognitive abilities sufficient for personhood" (to quote from the chimp's court filings).
But these are inherently arbitrary. Who decides what is sufficient, and what is not, and by what standard? Do we draw the line at the "complex cognitive abilities" of chimps, or at dolphins, cats, dogs, chickens, insects, etc.? Who is to say what degree of "autonomous and self-determining" is enough to grant rights, and when it is not? How an anyone tell, without any bright line standard — such as the obvious difference between the human species and an animal species?
Even aside from the legal chaos and arbitrariness that would result, there's an even greater danger — if that's the standard for determining personhood for animals, what if the same standard is applied to humans?
We know that the courts have no problem deciding that unborn children aren't persons. But what about newborn babies, who clearly are not "autonomous and self-determining" yet, and haven't developed to the point where they "possess complex cognitive abilities"? How about those who are in a permanent vegetative state? Or advanced Alzheimers patients? Will they be defined as non-persons, so that they have no protection under the law — and they can be treated as property to be mined for their organs, or killed if they become too expensive to maintain?
This is not an idle set of questions, or a speculative "slippery slope". There are people, like the Princeton philosopher Peter Singer, who would gladly exclude from legal personhood those humans who lack sufficient "complex cognitive abilities" to satisfy his personal standards.
When law is made, laudable motives are not sufficient. It's wonderful that the Nonhuman Rights Project loves animals, and we absolutely need to grant greater legal protection to our fellow creatures. But the unintended consequences of legal changes must also be considered. And the inevitable result of the animal personhood legal theories would be dangerous — and deadly — to humans.
Tags: Animal rights, Pro-Life


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Actor Peter Stormare has joined the cast of director Tim Sullivan?s 2001 MANIACS. Best-known for roles in THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, FARGO and BRUISER, Stormare appears in the film?s opening moments as Professor Ackerman, in scenes replacing those previously shot with John Landis in the same role. ?We originally filmed Landis and [TWO THOUSAND MANIACS! producer] David Friedman in Atlanta,? Sullivan tells Fango. ?But the scene wasn?t ?big enough? to start the film, so we reshot it in LA, in a real classroom. But thanks to DVD, you will eventually see the deleted scene.?
?Peter was kind enough to do a cameo for us, and he?s hilarious,? 2001 MANIACS producer Eli Roth adds. For the first news on the film, see FANGORIA #232.
Courtesy of Fangoria


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From Rates to the Poll Tax: Local Government Finance in the Thatcher Era
From Rates to the Poll Tax: Local Government Finance in the Thatcher Era
Since the reorganisation of Scottish local government in 1975, financing the system has been a central political problem. No fewer than four reviews have been undertaken, in 1976, 1982, 1986 and 1990. This focus is integrally related to concerns with the British economy and the scale of public spending in general. Local government is big business, and authorities are among the largest employers, spenders and investors in their communities. In the financial year 1990-1, Scottish local authority expenditure was in excess of £5,000 million per annum, or £1,000 per capita. Such spending accounts for large shares of both GDP and public sector expenditure and constitutes approximately 49 per cent of the Scottish Office Budget.
Our concern in this study is with the impact of financial reforms on local spending and taxation in the period since 1979. Financial control was, however, a major concern of the previous Labour Government. The reorganisation of Scottish local government in 1975 was presented as a means of strengthening local democracy, but by 1976, the new local authorities were being told that the 'party was over' by a Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer. The IMF loan, high inflation, problems with the value of sterling, all combined to produce a dramatic change in the fiscal environment of local government, from one of expenditure growth to one characterised by financial retrenchment or fiscal stress. In this new atmosphere, Labour's 'softcore monetarism' enforced cuts in capital expenditure and demanded (and received) cuts in revenue expenditure from local government as can be seen from Table 1.1 (Midwinter, 1984a). A committee of inquiry into local government finance reported on the need for radical reform to promote responsibility and accountability, and interim increases in grants helped alleviate high rates increases (Layfield, 1976). However, it is the impact of the Thatcher Government which is most often presented as eroding local democracy (Jones andStewart, 1983). But is such a view justified? Rhodes has observed that the Labour Government had effected reductions every bit as great as the Conservatives (Rhodes, 1984).


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Like I said a few months ago, I'm starting up a Key Review Marathon: Reviewing all the main Key works. I'll try for a bi-weekly schedule with this marathon, but that might be tricky due to the length of these.
EDIT: Yeah, couldn't really finish it. Maybe I'll give the rest a shot, but it'll probably be like this for now.
What I have done:
Maybe in the future:
- Little Busters - Need to play it .-.
- Tomoyo After -Same...
- Air - Sigh.
- Kud Wafter - waiting for a translation
- Rewrite Havest Festa! - waiting for a translation
- Angel Beats VN - waiting for release & translation


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SAN ANTONIO (AP) � People at risk of a stroke because of narrowed neck arteries can be safely treated with a less drastic option than the surgery done now, the largest study ever done on these treatments concludes.
If Medicare agrees to cover it, hundreds of thousands of Americans a year might be able to have an artery-opening procedure and a stent instead of surgery to remove built-up plaque, doctors say. A stent is a wire-mesh tube that props the blood vessel open.
Stents have long been used to fix heart arteries but are approved for use in the neck only for people too sick for surgery. The new study, in people with less severe disease, suggests stents might find much wider use.
�The sea of people is gigantic� who could benefit, said Walter Koroshetz, deputy director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the study�s main sponsor.
�We now have two safe and effective methods� to treat neck vessels, said Thomas Brott of the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. He led the study and spoke yesterday at an American Stroke Association conference.
However, the treatments have different complications, and not all doctors are convinced stents are as safe. Three previous studies found they were not, including one published online Thursday by the British journal The Lancet.
The reason: Even though stents prevent strokes in the long run, the procedure itself can trigger a stroke if a bit of plaque travels to the brain.
The new study revealed a tradeoff: Strokes were a more frequent complication with stents, while heart attacks were more common after surgery.
Doctors say which option patients choose may depend on their general health, what risks they are willing to accept and how badly they want to avoid surgery. Surveys show that people worry more about stroke than a heart attack, said Lee Schwamm, a top neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
�They�re terrified of surviving a stroke with major disability ... ending their years in a nursing home,� he said.
In the study, �stroke was by far the more disabling complication,� said Wesley Moore, a University of California at Los Angeles doctor who oversaw the surgery part of the study.
About 795,000 Americans each year suffer a stroke. Many are caused by a clot that forms in a narrowed neck artery and travels to the brain. Doctors can check for narrowed arteries by using a stethoscope to listen for abnormal sounds in neck arteries, and a painless ultrasound test can show blockages.
The top treatment has been surgery: with the patient under general anesthesia, the artery is cut open, the plaque removed, and the vessel sewn back together. Stents won approval as an alternative for certain patients in 2004; half a dozen companies make the devices now, although Abbott Laboratories stands to benefit most because its stents were in the study.
To place them, doctors put a tube in a blood vessel in the groin and push it to the narrowed artery. A parachute-like filter is placed to trap bits of plaque that dislodge and keep them from traveling to the brain. A balloon is inflated to flatten the clog, the stent is placed to hold the artery open, and the filter is removed. The patient is awake but sedated.